BananaRepublic

December 7th, 2023 at 12:13 PM ^

I agree. Guy held his own in a very high pressure situation and grinded out some very impressive wins. But he was literally just the in-game HC. Are we going to look at game management there and say that the in-game coaching was incredible? By my eye, he puckered VERY hard the whole time and his players balled out for him and the team. Definitely much better than folding there but I was not exactly dazzled by his play calling and game management

Joined: 09/04/2017

MGoPoints: 2315

WampaStompa

December 7th, 2023 at 12:20 PM ^

I disagree about the game management. Against PSU and OSU I generally thought the clock management was good, 4th down decisions were all good and gutsy, he threw in some well times trick plays, adjusted well to what was going on in-game, and found ways to win against two top-5 defenses. How many Michigan teams in the past, even  Harbaugh teams, would have persevered and found a way to win when the opposing defense was dominating our tackles and completely tying one hand behind the offense's back, or when JTT is single handedly destroying every run play where he's not a focus of attention?

Joined: 11/20/2018

MGoPoints: 3054

BananaRepublic

December 7th, 2023 at 12:33 PM ^

I don't think he was bad. I think he was extremely conservative. We have a great team and it was a strategy that ended up winning the games but I didn't see much beyond that. I think this team is very good and they ground out a win against PSU and OSU when the offense got put into moth balls late (or for an entire 40 minutes of game time wrt PSU). All credit to him for getting done when put in a tight spot and I get coaching not to lose in those situations, of course. But that doesn't mean he should be a no brainer HC hire. He ONLY had the gameday HC duties and he performed those adequately. Very solid but let's not pretend it's the same job.

Joined: 09/04/2017

MGoPoints: 2315

WampaStompa

December 7th, 2023 at 12:14 PM ^

I agree with you in general, that blue bloods should look for proven winning HEAD coaches. As there's a lot more that goes into being a head coach than other positions.

But I can see the reason for optimism. Moore has been on a bright track. He was a good TE coach, he has been a good OC, he has been an outstanding OL coach, and the players all love him. And that's to say nothing of how many responsibilities he's balanced amid the Harbaugh suspensions.

Also, even though Harbaugh was the leader in charge that built the team to where they were at the time of the game, Sherrone called incredible games at PSU and against OSU. All the cards were stacked against him at PSU - finding out mere hours in advance that he would be head coach, a crowd so loud that our offense couldn't hear the snap count, DEs that were destroying our tackles and getting JJ killed and required him to scrap things and make big adjustments mid-game. And yet he stuck to what he thought would work, and wasn't afraid to run the ball 30 times straight if that's what it took to win. The in-game play calls against PSU and OSU were all Sherrone and I think they were all gutsy and good decisions, with minimal disruptions or bone headed timeouts in the heat of the moment. Those are all very positive signs, not to mention Harbaugh has been saying for a long time that he thinks Moore is more than ready to be a head coach.

Joined: 11/20/2018

MGoPoints: 3054

Connecticut Wo…

December 7th, 2023 at 12:27 PM ^

I find myself in the same camp as WampaStompa.  Admittedly, it would be helpful if Harbaugh had a coaching tree that indicated success when removed from the Harbaugh sphere.  Not sure Shaw was the best sign of that, but Fisch seems to be doing well.  Certainly not something that directly correlates, but it would provide some level of comfort.

Joined: 08/13/2014

MGoPoints: 337

BananaRepublic

December 7th, 2023 at 12:41 PM ^

I get that PSU worked out and so I'll never hold that against him but that is what full turtle looks like. It just so happens that we played a lot of elite defenses with less elite offenses to finish the season and so the turtle factor is expected to go up but I'm just not going to look at FG - Punt - Punt - Punt to open the second half against PSU as an amazing adjustment and incredible gameplan. On the drives before we shut down the pass game, we scored 2 TDs and punted 2 times. Both TD drives were 75+ yards. Our drives after we shut it down were a 45 yard field goal drive 2 three and outs, 1 six and out and then a Blake Corum 1 play TD run on a very short field.

Again, fantastic in that we won the game. But the much lauded adjustments were mostly just deciding to smash an offense which had been moving the ball into a wall and hope the defense would hold off a PSU surge. It worked that time

Joined: 09/04/2017

MGoPoints: 2315

1VaBlue1

December 7th, 2023 at 12:59 PM ^

JJ was 7/8 passing, and all of those completions were quick outs to the sideline when he was going to feel pressure soon.  On the plays when he tried to go further downfield, the pressure was quick and encompassing.  Continuing to throw the ball was going to result in either a strip sack, or a pick-6 when a corner jumped one of those sideline outs.  Once we were up 2 scores, that game was over except for something like a strip sack or a pick-6.

I have ZERO problem with Moore Iowa-ing the PSU game away.  The fact that it came as a humiliating 32 straight runs is extra icing on that chocolate cake.

I do have some questions about the Maryland play calling, and several drives against OSU.  But otherwise, I am perfectly happy with how the PSU played out.

Joined: 01/31/2016

MGoPoints: 127621

WalterWhite_88

December 7th, 2023 at 12:15 PM ^

So you'd like to burn everything down and start fresh with an outside hire, and risk another Rich Rod/Brady Hoke type experience and mass exits from recruits instead of sticking with the continuity of the recent amazing and consistent success of our program by having Sherrone Moore take over when Harbaugh leaves? For me personally, I would love to just keep the current train rolling instead of starting from scratch with an outside hire. 

Joined: 06/14/2019

MGoPoints: 4644

King Tot

December 7th, 2023 at 12:21 PM ^

I am fascinated by the people who continue repeat this silly talking point. Kirby Smart, Ryan Day, Lincoln Riley, and Dabo Sweeney were all hired with no previous head coaching experience IIRC.

It depends on the individual/situation. Moore has already proven he can win the big games, is familiar with the culture Harbaugh built, and would be most likely to retain the other staff/players/recruits. 

The only outside hire I would be interested in is Kalen Deboer.

 

 

Joined: 11/29/2016

MGoPoints: 19368

MgoLurk

December 7th, 2023 at 11:37 AM ^

Until its signed with a big buyout attached, its going to be a long off season listening weekly to the Harbaugh to every team without a head coach.

Joined: 07/07/2022

MGoPoints: 1630

greymarch

December 7th, 2023 at 11:42 AM ^

That's damn big hurdle, especially for someone like Harbaugh.  Harbaugh's ultimate accomplishment is to win a Super Bowl.  Getting Harbaugh to give up that goal for at least another year...ugh.   Not sure Harbaugh would sign such a contract.  Harbaugh turns 60 this month.  How many more chances does Harbaugh have to win a SB?  One more chance? Two if he is lucky?

 

I agree the university should put something in the contract demanding he doesnt go to the NFL, or he loses a tremendous amount of $$$.  This constant dancing with NFL teams at the end of each season damages the program.

 

Hopefully Harbaugh signs the new contract.

 

#GoBlue

#Bet

Joined: 02/06/2010

MGoPoints: 4886

goblu330

December 7th, 2023 at 12:02 PM ^

It may be his goal to win a Super Bowl, but it is not like he can do that by just taking an NFL job.  So much of the NFL depends on personnel, and that is a crap shoot.  Signing with a team is like step 1 of 644 things that have to go right, and none of them are guaranteed.

And frankly it would be odd if he signed a contract with the intent to accept NFL opportunities this cycle.  It would seem that he would just see what this cycle has to offer and then sign if nothing interests him.

It does bother me a bit that the NFL coaching roulette will start before the CFP.  Last year the team did not look particularly well prepared against TCU and the NFL chatter had already started at that point.

Joined: 01/07/2022

MGoPoints: 32215

ShadowStorm33

December 7th, 2023 at 12:30 PM ^

It may be his goal to win a Super Bowl, but it is not like he can do that by just taking an NFL job.  So much of the NFL depends on personnel, and that is a crap shoot.  Signing with a team is like step 1 of 644 things that have to go right, and none of them are guaranteed.

Exactly. He walked into an ideal situation in SF, a talented roster that was underperforming. Only other recent example I can think of is Belichick taking over NE in 2000. Good teams don't typically fire their coaches, and the majority of the teams that will be looking for a HC range from bad to dumpster fire.

While obviously we hope that he wants to just stay and dominate here (plus champion players' rights, give the middle finger to Petiti, etc.), even if winning a Super Bowl is still an active goal, hopefully he's aware enough to understand that it's not realistic for the vast majority of teams with HC openings (and thus he'd only leave if the right opportunity presented itself). Unfortunately the confidence that goes hand in hand with coaches also means they're often blind to just how unwinnable the situations they're walking into are (Beilein going to the Cavs is a great example)...

Joined: 07/22/2008

MGoPoints: 23217

MacGyver

December 7th, 2023 at 11:44 AM ^

Sounds stingy. Harbaugh is at least 20% more valuable than Day. Make it an even dozen million per year. Unless of course they're making it less than Saban's current annual amount with some nice incentives for winning the Rose Bowl and a National Championship.

Joined: 12/25/2018

MGoPoints: 12140

ashman444

December 7th, 2023 at 11:44 AM ^

Add a clause that makes him volunteer to be completely inaccessible until all NFL job vacancies are filled this year. No more screen time or devices. Change the wifi password at the office. Stamp Return to Sender on all his mail. Confiscate all tin cans & string, walkie talkies, CB radios, and Ouiji boards. Remove any lattice on the side of his house where would-be suitors could climb to get to his window in a big dramatic gesture.

Joined: 10/19/2015

MGoPoints: 180