DB Coaching - High Pointing the Ball
I noticed that our DBs (particularly the safties) are not attacking the ball at the high point (the highest point you can touch a ball - think vertical testing at the combine) and are instead of letting the ball come to their body. Saw Dax do this multiple times tonight, even on the game-winning INT. Anyone else notice this or other persistent basic technique failings?
Seems like basic stuff that is costing Michigan this year (I can think of 3< times this season that this lack of technique has cost us probable turnovers). I played some safety in HS and this was drilled into us almost daily. Surprising to see this repeatedly happen with our semi-pro team.
November 22nd, 2020 at 4:21 AM ^
Reynolds would have had an INT if he had tried to highpoint the ball instead of running into Dax.
November 22nd, 2020 at 5:41 AM ^
Zordich didn't forget how to coach. The DB's are fine when you have talent, and Dax is talented, but when you are trying to cover holes all over the field, sometimes you are out of position. This should be in defensive snowflakes.
November 22nd, 2020 at 8:12 PM ^
Kinda confused by this reply
- As noted below, isn't Shoop supposed to be the safeties coach? Therefore, Zordich isn't really relevant to this issue as it pertains to safties?
- Being talented and using the right technique are two different things.
- Being out of position and exhibiting bad techniques are not necessarily the same thing. Particularly in the instant case where Dax was in a good position but seemed to play the ball poorly.
- This issue seemed to be a separate discussion than a single post to be lost in a snowflakes thread. Seemed as though other members of the board felt that way as well.
November 22nd, 2020 at 7:36 AM ^
Its not as easy as you think, well I think its easy. It always amazes me about the amount of high level athletes who can't high point a ball. Its just a skill that a lot of people don't have and is easy to teach but hard to get kids to do.
For example its a strength in nba scouting reports which you would think every basketball player could do
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:15 PM ^
Listening to this is like watching a game with my father in law.
You're probably one of those "IF YOU TOUCH IT, YOU SHOULD CATCH IT!" guys. Or "WHY DONT THEY PUT BOTH QBS IN THE FORMATION..AT THE SAME TIME?! THIS COACH NEVER WANTS TO TRY ANYTHING!"
November 22nd, 2020 at 7:37 AM ^
I was going to post this same thing. Dax consistently jumps to try to let the ball hit him in the chest - it happened on Rutgers’ first big pass of the game as well as on his INT. On the first one it was almost as if he didn’t know the WR was there, had he attacked the ball it would have easily been a pick, if not broken up. He did the same thing in the Indiana game on the pass Hawkins broke up before it got to him. I’m curious if that’s a coaching issue, or just something he instinctually does, as it seems so common.
November 22nd, 2020 at 8:19 AM ^
Need more "tip-drills" !!!
November 22nd, 2020 at 8:33 AM ^
They basically don't have a safeties coach, which seems bad.
November 22nd, 2020 at 10:07 AM ^
Thank you for posting this Yeah I noticed Dax doing that twice. The first time I said ok he checked out, then the last interception to end the game, I saw a guy who doesn't know fundamental football. That great athlete you'd play with in a pickup game but was clueless. As great of an athlete he supposedly is, it's pretty moronic to not high point it. He blew that twice last night.
Beginning to see a pattern of exceptional athletes recruited like Milton and Dax, but they just don't really know how to play the game. As if Jim recruits these guys and hopes to coach them up.... Better to have the guy like Cade who knows how to play. A guy like Danna. Might not be great athlete but boy sure knows game.
This is indicative of Magnus ratings too. Gave a 65 to Cade and a big number to Milton.
November 22nd, 2020 at 11:02 AM ^
You're on fire today.
Danna is undersized but he's a very good athlete.
November 22nd, 2020 at 10:20 AM ^
Maybe because the safeties are being coached by a student assistant while the designated safeties coach is being paid to sit at home.
November 22nd, 2020 at 10:26 AM ^
The ol designated safeties coach, the one who can actually teach a zone defense.
November 22nd, 2020 at 10:38 AM ^
Agree, Dax twice, and although I think Reynolds is better than Hawkins by a fair amount, I didn't think he went strong enough after the ball on Rutgers last regulation TD. Seems it's an issue for all the db's.
To add, why is Ross playing, he is certainly not one of the 3 best LB's on this team, even with McGrone out.
November 22nd, 2020 at 12:13 PM ^
Good point about Reynolds. I will be curious to see how he grades out. But I thought he played pretty well.
November 22nd, 2020 at 10:40 AM ^
Our DBs are, seemingly, always out of position too.
I lost count yesterday of the number of times a Rutgers receiver got the ball and there was no Michigan defender accounting for him.
November 22nd, 2020 at 11:00 AM ^
The safeties are currently being coached by an analyst because Bob Shoop apparently can’t since August due to personal issues.
It’s been showing.
November 22nd, 2020 at 11:14 AM ^
Got a link to share why? I'd love to know
November 22nd, 2020 at 12:24 PM ^
I saw something about Shoop not being around in as well - just in passing. I think it was a tweet from Sam Webb noting the potential recruiting bump from whomever is replacing/covering for Shoop.
I never saw anything else - maybe it is available on the premium sites - but I would hazard it is a precautionary COVID thing given the extreme low profile of the info.
November 22nd, 2020 at 11:21 AM ^
Is there a coaching version of injured reserve? If he can't be close to the kids because of covid or something, then pay him to be something other than a position coach (film study or something) and bring someone in that can actually do the job. It may be slim pickings mid-season (especially this season) but there must be a safeties coach out there willing to get some experience coaching at Michigan.
November 22nd, 2020 at 11:18 AM ^
Agree that I see our DBs trying to cradle catches. One stated philosophy was to recruit more multisport athletes. Basketball players already know how to high point the ball and high pointing is a fundamental taught by every DB coach I've ever talked to or coached with. At this stage, it is a breakdown in execution.