Detroit news article Trieu: New Michigan coaches already show their recruiting grit
January 17th, 2018 at 8:07 AM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 8:43 AM ^
Bad recruiters... Yes, the #14 class in the nation (according to the 247 composite) is horrible, and the staff should feel bad!
Hyperbole aside, it's not fair to say they're "bad recruiters". But it's also not fair to say everything is right with them. I do think something is amiss based on the whiff's we're seeing late in the process (again?). I like the class, but I do wish there were a couple more high end guys (Friday, OT Patterson, NPF...).
I also think the staff shakeup has as much to do with coaching as it does with recruiting. The staff, very obviously, didn't mesh well last year. And I think it wore on everyone. I'm hoping to see a more cohesive offensive plan this season from a staff having more fun.
January 17th, 2018 at 9:48 AM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 10:06 AM ^
Wait, why does the S&C have to be meaner? Does being mean somehow make you a good S&C coach?
January 17th, 2018 at 10:43 AM ^
Willing to confront the players.
Makes them work out harder.
"I thought I knew what effort was before, now with Strength Coach X, I realize I had no idea."
Part of the whole thing of "Tough and with Standards = Mean" in most peoples minds, I wouldn't view it as anything other than short-hand.
January 18th, 2018 at 12:30 PM ^
I get what you're saying, but I wouldn't consider teaching athletes to believe in themselves and learn how to push past their perceived limitations as being mean. I would hope they are being encouraged and supported while being challenged. While I was an assistant strength coach at Quinnipiac we would never allow our athletes to say "I can't." They could say "it's hard" or "I'll keep working at it.". And, we always supported them through the process of learning to push themselves. But, that is not mean. I can see how some of today's generation might perceive it that way however.
January 17th, 2018 at 10:36 AM ^
I think he means being a hardass. Gets on people and won't let them slack. A 'no excuses' kind of guy.
January 18th, 2018 at 12:48 AM ^
Exactly, any new S&C coach is always sold as tougher, more demanding and having an edge on the last guy. I'd be hard pressed to find any offseason negative press on any position coach hire
January 18th, 2018 at 12:33 PM ^
The best strength coach I've ever worked for was not mean. He was very supportive. Yes, he challenged his athletes, but he always supported them and taught them that they could do everything he was asking of them. At the end of the day he was only asking for effort, which everyone was capable of. The results would take care of themselves.
January 17th, 2018 at 12:25 AM ^
if you need a football fix. an old game with Keith Jackson and Bob Griese announcing was just uploaded to youtube. the 1989 Michigan @ Iowa game. Taylor in at QB. the resolution is garbage since it was 1989 but still fun to watch McMurtry, Calloway, Steve Everett, Chris Hutchinson. also leroy hoard, freshman desmond howard and grbac as the backup qb.
January 16th, 2018 at 11:53 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 12:05 AM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 12:06 AM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 12:10 AM ^
Now we're sharing the same dream. Our hearts, they beat as one!
January 16th, 2018 at 11:55 PM ^
Okay awesome! Now show me some big time wins
January 17th, 2018 at 12:08 AM ^
Yeah, boys! Get after it!
January 17th, 2018 at 12:56 AM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 1:06 AM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 2:11 AM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 4:44 AM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 5:53 AM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 8:13 AM ^
But I think its Pep and Drevno that aren't "grinders" on the trail.
January 17th, 2018 at 8:50 AM ^
This would be my assumption, also. Frey has been known as a good recruiter and an excellent OL coach for a long time. Smith played in the NFL and did a helluva job coaching safeties - good enough that he got a clear promotion to DC - so it would be unfair to lump him in with the staff shakeup (IMO).
Drevno has been the primary recruiter on all of the 4-star OL, so I I think he does the crootin' work, just may not be a great closer. Pep... He's been in on some kids, but seems to be largely in the background. Not sure what he brings to crootin'.
But hey, if Moore, Enos, and Washington can crootin' as well as Mattison and Partridge, then all the 5-stars are belong to us!
January 17th, 2018 at 10:58 AM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 6:47 AM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 7:39 AM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 8:52 AM ^
Apples, oranges, and limes... Georgia coaches don't have to leave thier home state to have a crootin' class that's top 20. Michigan must travel all over the lands just to stay top 20, let alone have some top 10 action.
January 17th, 2018 at 10:26 AM ^
recruits a top 10 class every year just based on in state kids, the state of georgia is loaded every year. the state of Michigan is no where near georgia thus making it really tough to recruit at a high level UNLESS you WIN! Michigan has to pull kids from other states which makes it hard for kids to decide do i wana play for a mid tier big ten team or a team that competes for the playoff every year.
If michigan beat ohio state last year and won big ten and even lost playoff to say clemson and went even just 9-4 or 10-3 this year i gurantee their recruiting would be better for this 2018 class.
January 17th, 2018 at 10:34 AM ^
Guess how many kids from state of georgia are ranked ahead of state of Michigans highest ranked recruit?
21 kids!!! marquan mccall is highest ranked in michigan, overall is 157, 21 kids in georgia are ranked higher than him. if georgia signed in state kids only they would have a top 5 class every single year
wheres michigans class this year highest ranked players? 2 of top 3 are form Georgia!
January 17th, 2018 at 7:43 AM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 12:27 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 8:23 AM ^
Always.
January 17th, 2018 at 9:05 AM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 8:29 AM ^
“I look at where they put some of these guys -- Washington in Ohio and Georgia, two of the tougher areas to recruit for Michigan, and anybody for that matter -- and I think that’s an indicator the staff thinks they hired a potentially elite recruiter,”
Aside from grinding, I am also pleased that they are targeting some of these hires because they are not only good coaches but well-versed in areas which are typically tougher grounds for certain schools not within driving distance of the kids in that general area, if you will.
January 17th, 2018 at 9:04 AM ^
I think Harbaugh realizes that that 2017 failed in a lot of areas. I'm glad to see him addressing those areas.
January 17th, 2018 at 9:15 AM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 9:44 AM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 9:33 AM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 9:55 AM ^
Good to hear this. We still had a good class, but I see that our recruiting has slipped a litt in state and in Ohio. And the 2019 in state class of high school seniors is probably the highest rated of all time. More high 4 stars than I can rememebr and a 5 star lineman to boot. We are not in on any of the top players in the state save for a safety who is a strong lean to us. Doubt we can pull Dobbs or Barnett away from MSU, but I'd love to see us get a few of the other top 250 players behind them.