DetNews: Harbaugh’s Michigan staff earns his faith
Nice piece reminding us of how well this coaching staff works together. It's not all about Harbaugh. This is probably recap for those who read the press conference threads this week, but I had no idea that Fisch called the game winning TD pass play...and it wasn't even on the play sheet or Rudock's wrist band.
Also, I think John Niyo is the best, most consistent sportswriter in Detroit. He rarely shows biases IMO and doesn't have a mission to troll everybody.
November 17th, 2015 at 10:38 AM ^
when he decided to take less money so he could pay his assistants more...THAT was when I knew he would put a tremendous amount of faith in their decision making.
November 17th, 2015 at 10:44 AM ^
Did you really just write, "It's not all about Harbaugh"? How dare you, sir? How DARE you???
November 17th, 2015 at 10:46 AM ^
Through and through. Bo definitely talked about trusting those you hire, because if you hire them and you don't trust them to do their jobs, then why'd you hire them?
I also feel that, should the play have failed, JH would've also done like Bo and said that he's to blame for the call, because he's the head coach and the decisions, good and bad, all the reponsibility, falls on him. This is why I love reading the pressers, because I feel like I have a window into what it was like to have Bo as a coach.
November 17th, 2015 at 11:49 AM ^
November 17th, 2015 at 1:36 PM ^
In Bo's Lasting Lessons, Bo talked about the game where U-M gave up two return TDs to Rocket Ismail. Apparently kicking it to Rocket, especially after the first TD, was mostly his assistants' idea (IIRC he said that everyone on the headset chimed in, "No, we can stop him Bo! Let's send a message!"). However, after the game, when everyone wanted to know why the hell U-M kicked it to Ismail twice, Bo took full responsibility. His perspective was that he hired and placed trust in those guys, so it wasn't just taking the fall; it really was his responsibility.
November 17th, 2015 at 10:52 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 17th, 2015 at 10:57 AM ^
“I’m gonna die leaning on my staff, too,” Harbaugh said Monday. “I trusted Jedd, what he was seeing, and the rest is history.”
You can tell that the level of communication and input - all of which flows through Harbaugh at some point - is just phenomenal, and it is part of what is translating into results, I would think. The message and the strategy are being discussed and reinforced together in games and in practice and that is much more than we can say about previous years, at least recently.
I do like that Niyo points out the FG before halftime against Indiana - the clock management on that really was superb, I thought.
November 17th, 2015 at 11:24 AM ^
I would love to know how Jedd ended up here...others seem to have worked with Jim directly. Jedd (and Zordich) seem to be more out of left field.
November 17th, 2015 at 11:28 AM ^
John Harbaugh recommended Jim to him. Jim & Jedd spoke a few times on the phone. Jim hired him without ever meeting him.
November 17th, 2015 at 11:05 AM ^
November 17th, 2015 at 4:00 PM ^
He's already got one.
November 17th, 2015 at 11:45 AM ^
"Good shit, Jedd!"
November 17th, 2015 at 11:52 AM ^
In the last 30 years, the only UM assistants who've gone on to have anything close to true success as head coaches are Les Miles and Lloyd Carr, both of whom were originally hired by Bo. Since Schembechler retired, the coaching tree other than Miles and LC consists of Hoke, Stan Parrish (who'd already been a head coach prior to coming to Michigan), Debord, and English.
The combined D-1A/FBS record of Hoke, Parrish, Debord, and English is a sparking 110-201-1.
November 17th, 2015 at 12:06 PM ^
November 17th, 2015 at 12:30 PM ^
While it seems probable that he'll get a HC gig soon, as of today Austin has never been a head coach.
November 17th, 2015 at 12:12 PM ^
Yep Harbaugh is important for the now but as important for next few decades. However long he lasts he is going to continue to build his already impressive coaching tree out and unlike Carr (no hate) we are going to have multiple high level candidates in the coming decades if we insist on hiring someone who was here at some point. He and Urban have an amazing eye for coaching talent.
November 17th, 2015 at 12:10 PM ^
Been saying this since 2012 - position coaches are the least appreciated part of a winning football team. Guy at top obviously sets precedent but you do not have unlimited time to teach and study as you do in NFL. You need people who relate to young men, know the game well but are true teachers who can distill information in limited amounts of time.
November 17th, 2015 at 3:27 PM ^
employ position coaches primarily as recruiters, I think position coaching (as in actual technical coaching) is probably seen as far more important on forums than in the minds of most head coaches. It's not really rocket science.
November 17th, 2015 at 12:19 PM ^
That we probably have 7 or 8 guys on this staff who are more qualified to be the head coach than our previous head coach
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 17th, 2015 at 12:31 PM ^
November 17th, 2015 at 12:36 PM ^
Durkin is the DC and Linebackers Coach. Prior to the MSU game and after the 3 straight shutouts, I would guess he'd get an A or A- for both responsibilities.
Now, I'm not so sure.
It will be most interesting to see how LB schemes are integrated into the overall D plan and what, if any, adjustments are made to reverse the recent performance of our LBs.
Maybe LB play has declined because there is too much on Durkin's plate?
November 17th, 2015 at 12:45 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 17th, 2015 at 2:46 PM ^
You may be correct re this, and maybe I'm just not knowledgeable enough to see it, but what change was made? If a new LB scheme was instituted because of the NT situation, it needs to be revised. If there was no major change from previous games, there probably needs to be, IMO. Personally, I'm hoping for a more aggressive style, especially blitzing. Our LBs didn't seem to be stoppers in the last game, so I don't see blitzes as taking them out of tackling opportunities. Curious to know what changes some of the X&O guys on this Board would propose.
November 17th, 2015 at 1:43 PM ^