USA Today Article Assembles Tweets and Criticism of Harbaugh, UM After Loss
I've been a strong backer of Harbaugh, and think that the kind of crazy that prevails here after a loss is often more a product of fan hysteria than rational thought, but--hey--complaining it the real national sport and it's mostly a male province. (People who call the players p*ssies have their own issues and probably need to see a shrink in order to figure out what they're compensating for, but the rest is for the most part fair game.)
OTOH I do think that two bowl massacrees in two years by light middleweight teams is indefensible and that Harbaugh--given the money he makes--must squarely answer questions about his clock management and whether the offense will become more dynamic.
(I noted with interest that Clemson keeps a "touch sheet" and works to make sure it is spreading the ball to all its most talented offensive players; maybe a good idea to adopt.)
A lot of the national narrative about Harbaugh has been BS, traded back and forth between talking heads who just don't have insight to offer. Unfortunately, yesterday reinforced almost all their talking points.
Far from being unimportant, though--maybe obviously--yesterday's loss thrust some of these percolating questions so far out in front that I don't think they can continue to be overlooked. Jim needs to speak to them and Warde does, too.
In the interests of provoking that conversation--and because some of these tweets etc. are truly funny--I offer the following from USA Today. A few made me cringe, but laughter can be cathartic, especially when you have no choice but laugh at yourself:
December 30th, 2018 at 11:55 AM ^
Can we hire Tony Elliott from Clemson and pay him 1.4 million per year?
39 yo. Broyles Award winner. Coaching a true freshman QB to the title game.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:14 PM ^
The guy is a Clemson alum with a great gig and his next job is likely a HC job. No way he moves up north to OC at UM.
We will have to find a less decorated but equally skilled version of Tony. Probably need to consider Div II coaches from Ferris St or NW Missouri to give them a national platform to prove themselves to get a DI job.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:28 PM ^
Why do all these other schools find these gems and we don't? Does Harbaugh have too much clout that he feels the need to go after "name" guys like Pep? When he was at Stanford he brought in a ton of great assistants who were essentially no-name guys. Hell even David Shaw was a Stanford grad whose career he owes to Harbaugh. He needs to return to the methods that made him successful to begin with.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:32 PM ^
He found Chris Partridge, who Bama tried to pluck away last off-season
December 30th, 2018 at 11:55 AM ^
Fire Harbaugh & back the Brinks truck up to Stoops house.
December 30th, 2018 at 11:57 AM ^
I’d totally be on board with this, but it won’t happen under Warde.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:06 PM ^
This is almost as smart as going after les miles. Dumbest take this weekend and there's been some dumb takes.
December 30th, 2018 at 1:10 PM ^
Stoops averaged 10 wins at Oklahoma..
Harbaugh is pretty much doing the same here at michigan.. not sure what you think stoops would accomplish.
Bring in a shit defense and a good offense?
We tried that with rich rod it didn't fuckin work.
December 30th, 2018 at 2:52 PM ^
Wow does this fanbase have some really stupid and loud components.
One would think the lesson would have been learned after the outcry against Carr led to Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke. A miracle was dropped in our laps that after those two nightmares, the program got Jim Harbaugh.
But nope, dipshits gonna dipshit.
Thankfully, the MGoBlog provides them the perfect outlet for it.
December 30th, 2018 at 4:50 PM ^
I’d really prefer we find someone capable of coaching both offense and defense at some point.
December 30th, 2018 at 11:58 AM ^
(I noted with interest that Clemson keeps a "touch sheet" and works to make sure it is spreading the ball to all its most talented offensive players; maybe a good idea to adopt.)
I was actually very interested in this as well - I have always been a huge fan of introducing at least some basic statistical analysis into in-game management and it would be fascinating to see Michigan try this out and record the results of each call along with it to look for trends which might lead to adjustments in play design.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:23 PM ^
This is so sorely needed with this staff. I think if they actually started to visualize just how ineffective those 3rd and 4th down runs directly up the middle with Karan or Mason are, they might actually adjust them, or, preferably, scrap them entirely.
December 30th, 2018 at 1:52 PM ^
Well then how would we body blow them? Guess we might actually have to start swinging at chins early and knock teams out but Pep loves the up the middle body blows. Only problem is the good teams handle them with ease and by the 4th quarter we’re down 21 points. But god dammit, let’s keep body blowing them!
December 30th, 2018 at 12:31 PM ^
When Ben Mason gets more touches than Tarik Black, you've got problems.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:47 PM ^
B b b but, those who stay... Fullback... Bo...manball.
December 30th, 2018 at 11:58 AM ^
Most of Harbaugh's criticisms have been valid, it's just now people are not burying their heads in the sand about it.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:17 PM ^
Look around the board. Plenty of people still are.
December 30th, 2018 at 11:59 AM ^
No rational fan can disagree with any of those tweets. Such a letdown this entire team and staff has been since the Indiana game.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:32 PM ^
It started directly after the PSU victory when they went to Piscataway and allowed Rutgers to stay with them the entire 1st half and allowing them 200 rushing yards. Turns out that wasn't just a let down game, it was a harbinger of things to come.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:49 PM ^
Thought exactly this. Went into those tweets expecting to roll my eyes, but they're spot on. I think this one struck me the most. It's spot on:
"Michigan's receivers would be great at any other school. Harbaugh has no clue how to use them other then blocking in his 1876 offense"
December 30th, 2018 at 11:59 AM ^
I don't think we'll get anymore out of Harbaugh publicly than we've already got. And Warde won't say a thing, because speaking publicly about such matters is not his thing. I do agree, though, that the talking heads regurgitate junk, that has now become a lot of truth. The offensive decision making and play calling is poor, and there is no denying that.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:01 PM ^
Fire Warde too. What kind of idiot let's ND get 2 home games in a row.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:01 PM ^
For everyone complaining we need to pass more, we threw 2 interceptions and Shea was sacked 5 times. McKeon dropped a pass and Black bobbled what should have been a TD reception. Shea airmailed what should have been a 30-40 yard gain over Eubanks’ head.
Meanwhile, Florida ran 40 times for 257 yards. Our offense didn’t show up and our defense didn’t show up. That collective failure falls squarely on the head coach. His approval to 4 key starters sitting out gave the message to the entire team that the game was less important than the future prospects of 4 selfish individuals.
There should be equal blame to spread around these 3 causes:
1) Offensive execution. 2 TDs were taken off the board due to a guy stepping out of bounds and one of these fantastic WRs I’m hearing about not catching the ball. Shea’s INT is equal parts him under throwing an open WR and that WR not adjusting to the ball.
2) Defensive scheme that didn’t account for QB runs.
3) Coaching malpractice allowing the team to show up unprepared and unmotivated.
But go ahead, keep blaming Pep if that makes you feel better.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:12 PM ^
Bush and Gary were injured so those are legitimate. And they’re 1st rounders.
Idk what the hell Higdon or JBB were thinking. Florida has NFL players too and none of them sat out.
Seems like Harbaugh doesn’t care about bowl games himself.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:12 PM ^
Florida’s big play run formations were set up creatively sprinkled in with what seemed like less than great effort to get the play shut down.
December 30th, 2018 at 1:10 PM ^
There is nothing wrong with being a run-first offense. Bama and Clemson are both 60/40 run teams under Saban and Dabo, just like Michigan and Florida. Hell, there are only 2 teams that are more than 60/40 pass in the whole country (Wash St and N Mex St). There are only 13 teams that are 55/45 pass, and only 41 that are more than 50%. Defenses know teams are more likely to run, especially given down and distance. (First ever link below, I hope I do it right.). Most of the teams in this group never win shit, and the ones that do are close to 50/50 run/pass. I will never criticize Harbaugh for being skewed to running.
https://www.teamrankings.com/college-football/stat/passing-play-pct
That being said, the 40% of plays that are pass plays need to be used to get chunks/exploit match ups or set up run plays that are well drawn up. The staff gets a huge F on this. Bama and Clemson get A+ here.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:05 PM ^
I was all in on the Harbaugh train too. The Msu punt debacle made me suspect. Then the monsoon game decisions added to it. The Osu game plan & the clock management this year is the nail in the coffin.
Fire the whole crew except for Partridge & Gmatt.
Fire Warde too if he won't do it.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:26 PM ^
I'm sure you know that is counterproductive
December 30th, 2018 at 12:42 PM ^
Who should we hire?
December 30th, 2018 at 1:06 PM ^
Matt Campbell
December 30th, 2018 at 1:47 PM ^
I guess no one. Lets just keep Harbaugh until he dies then prop him up on the sideline after that because all those with all the football knowledge know there is no one better.
BREAKING NEWS: There are better coaches than JH and if truth be known would express interest in coaching the Wolverines if the HC position became available.
Your thought process on this is archaic as Jim's offense.
December 30th, 2018 at 3:06 PM ^
Not saying there isn't anyone better, just that I can't think of anyone better who'd take a job where you get fired for a 38-14 record over 4 years. Also, the guy I was responding to is clearly a moron if he thinks we can "fire everyone" except two position coaches. Mattison would probably just retire, he's about to anyway, and Partridge would be snatched up by an Alabama type, even if a potential replacement wanted them to stay.
I'm not saying Harbaugh's perfect or the best or that he doesn't need to change. He clearly does, but he is capable of making those changes himself. Humans are dynamic and capable of development and adaptation. Change can and will occur within an "administration" to borrow the term for a presidency under a certain individual. I'm sick of everyone acting as though firing someone is this panacea. I'm sure Nebraska fans thought firing Bo Pelini would solve their problems, too, but it just created more.
December 30th, 2018 at 1:05 PM ^
Time management was the final straw for me too. 20 seconds to get your QB the play between every play. Then down multiple scores in the 4th and huddling? Joke was on me as I kept saying to myself "they have to go no huddle here, they're down three scores." Never happened. At least they didn't put their hurry up on film for next year.
December 30th, 2018 at 1:14 PM ^
DL play was a big part of the losses, which is GMatt. This solves nothing. I do agree that Partridge is a keeper due to recruiting alone. Harbaugh's merry band of NFL guys has no interest in recruiting. They must think there is a GM doing it or something.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:05 PM ^
At some point, Harbaugh is what he looks like. The narrative has been that Harbaugh is a choke artist who can never win the "big game".
His biggest wins this year were PSU and NU. That's not proving anyone wrong.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:56 PM ^
That is a narrative I have trouble with. Wisconsin and MSU were considered big games -until we won them. At least you didn't erase the Penn St. win!
December 30th, 2018 at 1:11 PM ^
Wisconsin and MSU were both huge wins given pre-season expectations. However, you need to be honest and realize that those teams ended up 8-5 and 7-5 for a reason. They weren't NEARLY as good as everyone expected and it's not as if they looked great before we played them, and then suffered a bunch of unexpected injuries that ruined their sessions.
Ex-post, Northwestern was a much bigger win than either MSU or Wisconsin. So let's lay out Harbaugh's year:
Beat a good, but not great NU
Beat a Franklin coached PSU (sans Moorhead)
Beat a much worse than expected MSU and Wisconsin
OK, pretty solid. Now for the bad
Lost a winnable game against ND, but early in the season with a new QB. That seems OK to me. How about you?
OSU game... need I say more?
Bowl game... USC v2.0 only with even WORSE offense.
That looks like a guy who under a favorable analysis matches up with the prevailing narrative.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:15 PM ^
I would like to see a reporter ask Harbaugh about his use (or lack) of timeouts at the end of the 1st half and his thoughts on tempo when you are down three scores in the 2nd half.
No coach is perfect but they all sure as hell should be able to learn.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:47 PM ^
Do you really believe JH would any kind of legit answer? He would give the reporter a deer-in-the-headlights look, long pause, and say “Ahhh, we ran the play that was called at the time, but it didn’t work.” Full stop.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:17 PM ^
Dismissing the legitimate critcisms of Harbaugh as hysteria is exactly why there has been no pressure to change. Harbaugh is still in denial saying no major changes needed. What an insulting and embarassing thing to say by the leader of the program. His program has major flaws and if he can't see it and refuses to fix it, it will never get better. Warde needs to insist on a complete overhaul of the offensive coaching staff including appointment of a true OC. No more stupid fucking committee offense.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:29 PM ^
I hope I'm making a distinction.
December 30th, 2018 at 1:08 PM ^
Warde is a pussy. He won't do shit. The donors have to get involved. Otherwise, this is what we'll get every year or worse.
December 30th, 2018 at 1:13 PM ^
It seems like the daggers are about to come out. You have loudmouths like Marcus Ray talking shit already, but how far are the other former players from revolting?
December 30th, 2018 at 3:05 PM ^
Problem is that too many dipshits here can't make the distinction between criticism and firing.
Many want Harbaugh fired.
When those of us who don't try to make that point, we're dismissed as thinking he doesn't deserve criticism or that changes don't need to be made.
Harbaugh should and will remain the head coach. And he has changes/improvements to make.
Both can be and are simultaneously true.
But I'm sure that what's to follow will be a litany of stupidity and logical fallacies that have become all too common for this blog.
We all watched this fanbase shit on Lloyd Carr and erroneously think that there would be a line of uber-qualified HC candidates fighting each other for this job. And we saw that wasn't the case, only to watch a guy whose team should have been playing for a NC take the job because he lost at home to a 38 point underdog, followed by a guy who was in over his head before his first press conference ended.
And now we're watching 2007/2008 all over again because the dumb faction of this fanbase is too stupid to know it's stupid and too dumb to understand it when it's pointed out to them.
December 30th, 2018 at 3:10 PM ^
That was 11 years ago for fuck's sake. Teams hire good coaches every year. Shit, Florida hired one last year who kicked the shit out of Harbaugh.
December 30th, 2018 at 6:24 PM ^
Bamf is a dipshit pay him no mind
December 30th, 2018 at 12:21 PM ^
The sad part is that Saban tweet imitating Harbaugh sounds vaguely like one of his press conferences. I get that coaches aren't supposed to publicly throw their staff or their players under the bus and I support all of that. Still, Warde or Harbaugh or someone needs to ensure that these press conferences actually start to convey something, anything.
Right now, they're just a complete waste of time, which only irritates us all the more. For Harbaugh's own sake, he needs to start showing a bit more in those. He has the power to inspire our fanbase, and he needs to do that, frankly, IMO. More and more of these canned, throwaway lines and non-responses just feed the trolls and start to warm up his seat.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:37 PM ^
If announcements were made regarding personnel to reporters at press conferences, good luck attracting future talent. The HC job is not about appeasing Twitter users.
Mullen is a good offensive coach. It's an interesting point people are making about evolving the offense, especially given that college offenses are more innovative than NFL. I'm sure it's no mystery to Harbaugh that he will have to adapt.
December 30th, 2018 at 1:13 PM ^
It hasn't been a mystery for a few years now. He hasn't adapted. The truly irrational fans are the ones who keep saying JH knows the issue and will adapt.
December 30th, 2018 at 3:20 PM ^
He adapts, but in half measures which take too long. Drevno sucks? Fire him? No. Ok, let's hire Frey and give him another year to set back our OL development. Pep sucked in year one and two? Cool, let's try again.