Former DC Mike MacDonald swooping in to save the program??
Per Adam Schefter, MacDonald interviewed for the Chargers job today.
Could our one-year wonder who taught the program how to stop OSU play the hero one more time and take the Chargers gig off the table??
January 14th, 2024 at 5:23 AM ^
I've told myself Wink Martindale would be a good choice. He was the DCof Baltimore when Mich installed the new defense. Also think Elston and Clinkscale could run the defense too
January 14th, 2024 at 9:28 AM ^
No thanks on Wink...he is an NFL coach and they don't get that tempo that happens in college. Look how McDonald struggled for a little with tempo (think MSU game)
Minter had multple stops in college as a DC so he understands the tempo
January 14th, 2024 at 9:31 AM ^
Good point
January 14th, 2024 at 7:01 AM ^
I thought he was a game show host.
January 14th, 2024 at 9:51 AM ^
Tic-Tac-Dough
January 13th, 2024 at 10:50 PM ^
I mean, Justin Herbert is like a 6’-5” version of JJ. If I’m Jim, it’s got some appeal
January 14th, 2024 at 12:30 AM ^
I've seen a lot of hyperbole re: JJ, but this is the most far-fetched. I love JJ and all that he has done for the program, but he is nowhere near the caliber of prospect of Justin Herbert. Herbert has a way better arm, is a faster processor, has nearly as good of mobility, and better pocket presence.
I'm half-expecting people on the blog to say JJ is a better prospect than CJ Stroud or Drake Maye. The hype train is getting a bit ridiculous.
January 14th, 2024 at 12:56 AM ^
I mean, yeah... Herbert has been in the NFL for four years. I would hope he's a vastly better prospect than JJ.
January 14th, 2024 at 1:00 AM ^
Sorry, my tenses are incorrect. Herbert was a way better prospect coming out of college. I agree that comparing him now to JJ would be ridiculous. The big knock on Herbert was that he was "too quiet" to be a leader, which is ridiculous. They said the same thing about Stroud and it was garbage as well.
January 14th, 2024 at 1:03 AM ^
What JJ has in spades over Herbert is intangibles. He won the national championship and Herbert didn't even make playoffs with that good defense. Physical tools is nothing without intangibles, and vice versa.
January 14th, 2024 at 4:32 AM ^
“Intangibles” aka what people say when they want to justify something that flies in the face of all reasonable evidence.
I love JJ but let’s pump the brakes here.
January 14th, 2024 at 12:22 PM ^
“Intangibles” is BS. Championship teams aren’t composed of 1 player. I can think of many college QBs who had “intangibles” but didn’t cut it in the NFL. Tebow, anyone? Mac Jones. Etcetera.
January 14th, 2024 at 9:07 AM ^
JJ is 20 years old. Your negative assessments are no more valid than the positive ones. Harbaugh basically calls JJ a generational talent. I think the kid has a very high ceiling.
January 14th, 2024 at 10:34 AM ^
I do not agree here. From a physical talent standpoint, there is VERY little difference between the 2. Justin has a slightly better arm strength, but I would say that JJ is more accurate (Herberts percentages were low to mid 60's in college - very good, but JJ is better 64% last year, 72% this year).
Processing, even. JJ has shown repeatedly this year to go through progressions...
Ability to throw on the run. JJ has the slight advantage. When Justin runs, he needs to reset his feet before he makes a good throw. How many times in the past 2 years have we seen JJ rollout and throw while on the run....?
Intangibles, right now at this point of college careers, JJ is clearly ahead of Justin...
You are falling for the same trick that many do....rating straight line arm strength too high in the list of attributes of a QB. Bill Walsh use to say that arm strength was like the 5th or 6th trait he considered when evaluating a QB...
With that being stated, both can, and will be, great QBs in the NFL...
January 14th, 2024 at 12:20 PM ^
Not sure about "way better arm". Maybe has a better arm. Reasonable to say faster processor and better pocket presence. Both those can and should improve with experience though JJ is more of a natural scrambler so pocket presence may be less of his super power. Improvisation may be the compensating value. JJ definitely needs to get the ball out faster.
January 13th, 2024 at 11:16 PM ^
Jim Harbaugh does not give a shit about the pro money. Did you see him tonight? It's all about the contract. I say, give him the most money ever, and the buyout? Fuck the buyout. Make it no buyout. It's all about faith. He wants Love. Let's give him Love. Everything about tonight says College ball. He will NEVER get this Love in the pros. Lets do this. He wants to coach the next QB. He aint hitting shoulder pads in the pros.
January 14th, 2024 at 2:24 AM ^
Honestly? This feels spot on. Make it about mutual trust and I bet it’ll become about permanence.
January 14th, 2024 at 8:41 AM ^
The contract issues, as has been discussed ad nauseum here, is not about money or a buyout. The 'love' he wants is likely some contractual assurances that Michigan won't fire him for cause if the NCAA lays down some asinine level 1 violations for the two nothing burger issues - burgergate and signgate. Or at the very least they need to have his back and be ready to take legal action against the NCAA.
IF Michigan can structure the contract with those things I think, in my personal opinion which is totally meaningless, that Jim comes back. Everything this man does and says is about how much he loves Michigan.
That said, I do not have faith in the administration to have the balls to fight the NCAA if need be, or perhaps they simply cannot alter their standard clauses in employment contracts to cater to Jim Harbaugh - as some have mentioned as possible reasons the contract does not 'show the love'.
January 14th, 2024 at 12:24 PM ^
Likely a combination of things, not least of which is the legal fiduciary duty of Michigan‘s administration to look out for the best interests of the institution rather than one individual.
January 13th, 2024 at 11:27 PM ^
McDonald is headed back to the Doobie Brothers.
January 13th, 2024 at 11:34 PM ^
Yah Mo B There
January 14th, 2024 at 11:44 AM ^
If I hear Yah Mo B There one more time I’m going to Yah Mo burn this place to the ground.
January 14th, 2024 at 12:00 AM ^
“Hey talk to this guy right here”. -Jim Harbaugh any post game interview.
January 14th, 2024 at 2:12 AM ^
Mikey D, you are the chosen one. You will bring balance to the NFL, and grant Michigan more years with the Harbaugh.
January 14th, 2024 at 2:46 AM ^
Could have sworn I read current NFL assistants couldn't interview until January 22 or something
January 14th, 2024 at 2:50 AM ^
Must have been a phone or zoom interview
January 14th, 2024 at 7:37 AM ^
Honestly I want harbaugh to get whatever job he wants. Not be denied an opportunity
January 14th, 2024 at 8:04 AM ^
He’s deserving. He got to work under 2 of the best coaches in football. It’s not like he hasn’t seen how to operate a program or franchise. If he fucks it up it’s because he tried reinventing the wheel. Also, the chargers suck and are destined to suck for years to come.
January 14th, 2024 at 10:03 AM ^
It certainly appears the Chargers are the only viable "threat" in terms of Jim leaving. I do want to make it clear. IF Jim leaves, I will cheer for him wherever he goes. He came here, made a promise to put Michigan back on top. He met that promise and that deserves a ton of respect.
But the selfish side of me wants him to stay for another 10 years and build upon the legend he has established...
January 14th, 2024 at 10:24 AM ^
What people seem to forget is nobody other than the University of Michigan has offered Jim Harbaugh a job.
The Chargers have a long list of candidates that they have and are interviewing. Jim Harbaugh is sixty years old and comes with a hefty price tag, and a lot of demands.
I just don't see it.
January 14th, 2024 at 10:48 AM ^
This thread is proof you all would rather be riddled with anxiety than happy.
January 14th, 2024 at 11:48 AM ^
I feel seen.
January 14th, 2024 at 11:50 AM ^
Let's hope so!!! Don't want any of the current staff going anywhere.
January 14th, 2024 at 11:58 AM ^
I love that our coaches (plural) have great opportunities, even if it means that we lose some of our best talent. I'm happy that this crew achieved their (and our) dream. Now, Godspeed one and all.
Michigan is a program that should be able to attract top level coaching talent, so I'm at peace with however this plays out. We could keep the band together and rerun Harbaugh, Minter, Moore and JJ. Or we could have a brand new operation. I think we can be successful either way.
Team 144 was one for the ages. Now I can't wait for #145 to come in and raise another banner.
January 14th, 2024 at 12:02 PM ^
Jim wore his interview suit to the celebration.
That means . . . um, I have no idea what that means.
It may just be his Shakespeare speech suit.
January 14th, 2024 at 12:09 PM ^
Is it unusual for a dc currently in the playoffs to interview for another job during their bye week?
January 14th, 2024 at 1:16 PM ^
Minter isn't here much longer anyway. I'd hope the team priority would be to do everything possible to get a DC to run the same defense.
January 14th, 2024 at 1:54 PM ^
The defense is good, but needs to continue to evolve. If Michigan remains the same they will get Don Browned again.