DC Candidate: Mike Elston
Elston is ND's current DL coach as well as their associate head coach. He joined their staff when Kelly arrived and has had various roles namely coaching DL, LB, and recruiting coordinator. Seems to me that ND's defense has always been very good and their DL play is a strength of their team. He also has history with Michigan as a player from 1993-1996 as well as a grad assistant from 1997-2000.
One thing that could complicate this is if Clark Lea (ND's current DC) takes a head coaching gig somewhere since it is likely Elston is the next man up for the DC gig. But if that doesn't happen, I think it would be prudent to get someone who brings experience coaching multiple spots on the defense as well as recruiting to be Michigan's next DC.
December 11th, 2020 at 11:51 AM ^
I think we could do better, but I will take this guy over DB.
December 11th, 2020 at 11:57 AM ^
Fire the money cannon...... everyone here will love, worship, adore him.... until his D gets torched by THE ohio state penitentiary.... then all you'll hear are calls for his head.
December 11th, 2020 at 12:20 PM ^
Banging hoors
December 11th, 2020 at 5:27 PM ^
Hoors and unlimited Rumham.
December 11th, 2020 at 12:37 PM ^
The money canon is a bit dry at the moment...
December 11th, 2020 at 1:02 PM ^
More cannon balls!
More cow bell!
December 11th, 2020 at 2:19 PM ^
I had a case of cannon balls once, don’t want again.
December 11th, 2020 at 2:51 PM ^
Are they cheaper by the case?
December 11th, 2020 at 1:24 PM ^
You win the Internet for this one!!! You can have all my points +1
December 11th, 2020 at 11:57 AM ^
sure lets do it. I'll call Jim and Warde today and let him know whats up
December 11th, 2020 at 11:58 AM ^
I believe last year he was able to catch up with Hutchinson Sr at the ND game, and a few other Michigan coaches and friends. He's also a great friend of Brian Griese, and from ...wait for it. OHIO.
Keep hearing Hartline name come up as the next great OC or possible head coach. He has had multiple offers to the NFL but never went. I wonder if anyone can pluck him out of Cbus? Would he come to Ann Arbor with Luke Fickell, and Marcus Freeman?
Cheers
December 11th, 2020 at 12:00 PM ^
I would love a staff of Hartline, Fickell and Freeman. Maybe it will take a bunch of Buckeyes to finally beat them.
December 12th, 2020 at 2:25 AM ^
Nah, we need 'Michigan Men' only for return to glory.
December 12th, 2020 at 4:10 PM ^
Hahaha! I love the sarcasm!...that was sarcasm I hope...
December 11th, 2020 at 12:18 PM ^
I've known Hartline for years. I don't have a lot of hope unfortunately.
December 11th, 2020 at 2:55 PM ^
I'm not surprised. He's been there for most all his career including playing.
Here's hoping Day pisses him off and he leaves, whether for here or elsewhere.
December 11th, 2020 at 12:31 PM ^
If Michigan got Hartline, Freeman, and Fickell it would probably be the best staff as far as recruiting that Michigan would ever assemble.
December 11th, 2020 at 12:01 PM ^
Don Brown helped shut down an overrated Florida State team and that was his calling card. Also, BC held the ball well on offense pretty well which let him keep his D off the field a ton.
It's easy to be a good DC when you have Taco, Wormley, Glasgow, and Hurst on your DL with Jourdan Lewis at CB and Jabrill Peppers being able to play all over the field. Also, when you have Devin Bush, Rashan Gary, and Chase Winovich coming OFF THE BENCH....Gerg could have had a top 10 D with that group.
Now with an undersized nose and a 3* corner...you don't look like such a genius.
December 11th, 2020 at 3:27 PM ^
Oh please. Don had very good defenses at BC and at Michigan except for this year and 2 OSU games. He didn’t get much out of Hutch, Paye or McGrone and he got zero from Ambry. Remove the top 4 guys from any unit and they’ll struggle. I want a new DC, but your characterization of him is bullshit.
December 11th, 2020 at 3:52 PM ^
What about in ‘16 against FSU? ‘17 PSU? ‘19/‘20’ Wisconsin? Bowl Game against Florida?
To just say UM has had a great defense in all but this year and against OSU is inaccurate.
December 11th, 2020 at 6:17 PM ^
I suspect Greg Mattison left because he wasn't allowed to offer a scholarship to a large nose tackle type. (He had a fair quota of scholarships but seemed to be some friction there and now we have a small defensive line.) Is this on Harbaugh or Brown?
Brown had 4 starters left in the 2nd half against Florida. Brown gets a pass from me on that game but once again the offense picked up a delay of game penalty (after a timeout or change of possession) and that is on Harbaugh. Offense has been much more of an embarrassment than the defense from my point of view. I will weep for joy the next time I see a Michigan team score on a 2-minute drill.
December 11th, 2020 at 4:11 PM ^
Durkin's D was better.
December 11th, 2020 at 5:07 PM ^
Bullshit. Durkin ran a horrible game plan out there against Ohio State and had people questioning if he had checked out already. He ran a simple defense and had nothing to fall back on when out talented or the offense adjusted to him.
December 12th, 2020 at 2:30 AM ^
DB's problem, well, Michigan's problem is that DB is a one-trick pony. He runs one type of defense and if the opposing coach(es) are savvy enough to outfox that scheme then a loss (often a BIG loss) is inevitable.
December 11th, 2020 at 12:02 PM ^
Seems like a good candidate. Certainly a better suggestion than some that have been posted on this board recently.
December 11th, 2020 at 12:11 PM ^
As good a choice as any... Does Matt Campbell know him?
December 11th, 2020 at 12:36 PM ^
IF Campbell were to be the next coach at UM, I am hoping he brings his current DC Jon Heacock. Guy is a great coach.
I could also see Heacock being named the HC at ISU if Campbell were to leave.
December 11th, 2020 at 12:48 PM ^
Concur. I like any defense that can consistently neuter the Big 12's high flying offenses!
December 11th, 2020 at 3:23 PM ^
Was watching a isu game! They were up by 30 in the 4th quarter! Heacocks defense let a 20 yard play happens once they got off the field ( didn't give up any points) he gave a tongue lashing to his defense for that play! After that I was a fan!!! Would love to see him come if Campbell ends up coming!
December 11th, 2020 at 10:45 PM ^
Did anyone know that Heacock was a GA for Michigan in late 80’s!?! He isn’t that young, hopeful he comes with MC and Isu doesn’t look at him as a serious replacement.
December 11th, 2020 at 12:15 PM ^
ND had a train wreck defense a few years ago bordering on Kelly moving to the hot seat. They were a disaster.
I think the pinnacle moment was leaving an outside receiver in a big game uncovered on that side of the field at the snap.
We have issues at DC, DL, LB. Elston seems like a good hire...but if you have one season to save your ass wouldn’t look for the highest ranked consistent proven performer and dump can’t say no money on him?
December 11th, 2020 at 12:22 PM ^
That was Vangorder's Defense
December 11th, 2020 at 12:40 PM ^
Noted Michigander and haver of resting asshole face.
December 11th, 2020 at 2:22 PM ^
Vangorder’s face was a default choice for police sketch artists.
December 11th, 2020 at 6:13 PM ^
I thought Notre Dame's defense against us last year was great. For us anyway.
December 11th, 2020 at 12:26 PM ^
Elston has been Kelly since 2004 at Central Michigan, then went with him to Cincy, then with him to ND. I also believe he was in Kelly’s wedding? (A bunch of the coaches were). His daughters are in HS and are going to ND when they graduate, so he’s pretty entrenched there.
December 11th, 2020 at 12:44 PM ^
Maybe, but that could also mean he's getting restless after so long and would be ready to step in to a bigger job, elsewhere if necessary. Few coaches are content to hitch their wagon to one guy for two decades.
December 11th, 2020 at 1:30 PM ^
Doesn't ND offer free tuition for employees - Michigan doesn't - and didn't Mattison even mention that as a reason he was leaving? And I said it then, for what he was making, unless he had quadruplets entering college at the same time, Michigan in-state tuition for him would be chump change.
December 11th, 2020 at 4:41 PM ^
ND's free tuition for employees is quite generous-they pay for the children of employees to go wherever they wish. ND is paying the tuition for my nephew's daughter to go to Case Western.
December 12th, 2020 at 2:35 AM ^
I never heard this. Amazing!
December 11th, 2020 at 12:32 PM ^
Seems like he would be a solid hire. If we're sticking with Harbaugh, I would throw a million bucks at John Heacock from Iowa State. He's an innovator and his defense fits our current personnel perfectly.
December 11th, 2020 at 12:36 PM ^
Wheels are in motion. We need to be patient.
December 11th, 2020 at 12:47 PM ^
Mind your damn business. I like reading Mgoblog while traveling between lights. Passes the time.
Oops. sorry. Not what you meant. Would you clarify if this is about a new DC? A new Head Coach or neither it was intended as an email to your coworker?
December 11th, 2020 at 1:18 PM ^
Feel like you are just quoting a Seinfeld episode.
December 11th, 2020 at 12:55 PM ^
Bring back Chris Partridge!
December 11th, 2020 at 12:58 PM ^
Partridge was a phenomenal recruiter, but his only experience as a DC is serving as the co-DC for the worst defense in America according to YPP. They're giving up 7.06 yards per play this year!
December 11th, 2020 at 4:13 PM ^
Was he ? Got Gary and a few others but they mostly left or didn't pan out. HOKE was a phenomenal recruiter. The best.
December 11th, 2020 at 4:57 PM ^
There's no reasonable way to deny that Partridge was a phenomenal recruiter. Some of his guys left. Many didn't.
2016: #12 recruiter in America
2017: #1 recruiter in America
2018: #35 recruiter in America
2019: #6 recruiter in America
December 11th, 2020 at 1:16 PM ^
Ole Miss had the #89 composite ranked class 2 weeks ago, they are up to #18 and not done yet. CP was great in Ann Arbor, with Lane and bags of cash he's deadly!
cheers
December 11th, 2020 at 1:04 PM ^
In his defense, he is a Michigan man.