That I see is that the flexibile schedule underestimates how many people travel to home games from 2+ hours away and/or by plane. You have to book these trips out in advance and people (myself included) often plan their fall around the 1 or 2 trips they get to make home for Michigan games. That doesn't work if you have no idea what the schedule looks like from weeks 3-8.
It will help to have defensive back specialists teaching the kids how to play. It's not a new point, but it really was insane to dramatically change the fundamental style of the defense when the D backs coach was coaching the position for the first time. I kind of expect a dramatic improvement in our man to man simply because Zordich and Jackson will be far better positioned to coach the players.
This is especially true for Zordich. It's easy to forget because he made most of his impact at safety for the Eagles, but Zordich floated between safety and corner for most of his early NFL career. Given that he was a safety all through college and not a natural corner, I suspect this means he had to learn a ton of technique late in life. Having that kind of technique training experience can only help in teaching high school corner how to play press man at the next level.
I think that if you'd given Harbaugh more than a month to recruit against UCLA we would have won some of those recruiting battles.
The constant refrain is that recruiting is all about relationships and, for the most part, our coaches did not have prior relationships to call on. Mora had 2 years to build relationships with these guys. The fact that we lost out to those relatioships isn't indicative of anything systemic. Just the nature of the coaching change beast.
As an OC, I'd be super concerned. Dude is coaching WR. Yes, I know he's the passing game coordinator, but the gap between that and OC/QB coach is a chasm when it comes to his impact on QB development and overall offensive profile.
While I agree that Fisch has an odd resume, I agree that it's a little unfair to judge him based on his Jax results. I don't think I've ever seen an offense with more 1st and 2nd year players than in Jax this year.
Given that he's been Power 5 and NFL Co-ordinator combined with Harbaughs track record, I tend to take the sunny position that we got a tremendously experienced coach (with a large number of Florida ties) to come join the staff. Nothing wrong with that.
For next year I'm most excited for the defense. While our defenses under Hoke have been good, they've never taken the next step. They've played well and kept us in games, but I think we've all been waiting for them to become the kind of holy terror defense that can win some games by themselves. I think adding a Durkin and Jackson will make a huge difference.
I am especially excited to see our defense (presumably) cope with tempo. Mattison did a lot of good things but watching us get murdered by every no huddle got kinda old. I think Durkin changes that right away.
I'm excited for the offense long term because I think that Harbaugh and co can make our offense something distinct and special. My inclination is to say there's always value in zigging when everyone else zags and going to an intelligent man ball formulation definitely does that. In the long run I think being a distinctive offense makes us difficult to prepare for and also serves as useful recruiting tool. And yes, I do strongly distinguish between the kind of manball sets that Harbaugh runs and the stupid version run by Borges/Debord
For 2015 I'll take the defense. For 2017 and beyond I think I'm more excited for the offense.
Here's hoping the new staff can help pry some of those guys out.
I've just been thinking about more of a 3-4 front with bigger guys occupying blockers because that's been something we've been able to recruit as well as develop of late.
This is not to say those guys can't also be rushers, but it seems like something closer to our natural compence. The Heininger Certainty princple hasn't really applied to outside rushers.
New staff, I know. Really this is because I love some of our guys as 3-4 ends (Henry and Wormley in particular).
Given the unpredictability of recruiting, it never hurts to buy as many lottery tickets as possible. Even if they end up moslty 3-stars, it's better to have those guys around on the off chance that they turn into valuable upper class contributors than skipping out in the hope of getting someone better.
Than the funeral dirge that was Recruitin roundups from.... September to January.
If they can reel in even a B-/B class this year that'll do a lot to alievete some of the future crunch and cut down on some of the roster holes that are taking shape.
RLB- I think Ojemudia would be good and I just think we have the athleticism at LB to make this work. Or at least we have a better chance than we do to make our limited DE depth work.
It also seems, in terms of future recruiting, that it's likely a little easier to find the 3-4 kind of players than it is to find the kind of dominant rush DE that helps make a 4-3 go.
I'm not saying it has to be one or the other, but based on recent recruiting efforts we've had a lot more success bringing in 3 tech/3-4 DE type players than we have had finding rushers off the edge.
I know everything is going to hybrid but more and more I kind of warm to the idea that this is a good way to help sort our both our current roster and our 2017 recruiting crunch.
I don't think there's anything really telling here. I suspect Stanford interviewed because it's worth it to keep his name out there and it's always wise to expand your network to include someone like Urbz.
But he's a BSU grad and, given the stepping stone nature of that job, I could see him making the choice to stick around for a few years and see is Harsin leaves as opposed to going to OSU.
If anyone can appreciate the alumni pull this year, it's Harbaugh.... I mean Michigan.
After looking at this depth chart analysis (as well as WMUKirk's posts on Durkin) does anyone else get the sense that we may begin shifting more towards a 3-4 base as opposed to a 4-3.
I don't have a preference, but given the current state of the D-line (lack of outside speed rushers/heavy on athletic DT) it would make a certain amount of sense to make that shift. I think the only DE who really wouldn't fit would be Ojemudia, but he seems like he would also fit in nicely as a rush OLB. For that matter, I think Henry and Wormley would make a fantastic pair of 3-4 ends.
Given all of this, it seems like Durkin favors a 3-4 front and we would have the personel to run one. Thoughts?
Recent Comments
That I see is that the flexibile schedule underestimates how many people travel to home games from 2+ hours away and/or by plane. You have to book these trips out in advance and people (myself included) often plan their fall around the 1 or 2 trips they get to make home for Michigan games. That doesn't work if you have no idea what the schedule looks like from weeks 3-8.
Not unreasonable given the current safety depth chart.
Given the coaching changes, the renewed interest could also reflect a preference on the part of Pep Hamilton for someone with Martin's skill set.
I agree that it's also indicative of some shakey movement on Collins, but I don't think it's an accident that Pep is doing an in home this week.
I don't know any SJSU fans. But If I did, today would be the day to hand out whiskey and candy.
And they say comedy is dead
Surely there is a fat slugger we can overpay. Problem solved.
If only we can find a miracle that will allow him to compete for the 2015 job
If "unreasonable" is all that's happeneing, I'd call it a win and walk away.
It will help to have defensive back specialists teaching the kids how to play. It's not a new point, but it really was insane to dramatically change the fundamental style of the defense when the D backs coach was coaching the position for the first time. I kind of expect a dramatic improvement in our man to man simply because Zordich and Jackson will be far better positioned to coach the players.
This is especially true for Zordich. It's easy to forget because he made most of his impact at safety for the Eagles, but Zordich floated between safety and corner for most of his early NFL career. Given that he was a safety all through college and not a natural corner, I suspect this means he had to learn a ton of technique late in life. Having that kind of technique training experience can only help in teaching high school corner how to play press man at the next level.
I think that if you'd given Harbaugh more than a month to recruit against UCLA we would have won some of those recruiting battles.
The constant refrain is that recruiting is all about relationships and, for the most part, our coaches did not have prior relationships to call on. Mora had 2 years to build relationships with these guys. The fact that we lost out to those relatioships isn't indicative of anything systemic. Just the nature of the coaching change beast.
We are at the point where we got an experienced Pro and College OC to come coach our WR and are bitching about it.
Harbaugh Uber Alles for reals
As an OC, I'd be super concerned. Dude is coaching WR. Yes, I know he's the passing game coordinator, but the gap between that and OC/QB coach is a chasm when it comes to his impact on QB development and overall offensive profile.
While I agree that Fisch has an odd resume, I agree that it's a little unfair to judge him based on his Jax results. I don't think I've ever seen an offense with more 1st and 2nd year players than in Jax this year.
Given that he's been Power 5 and NFL Co-ordinator combined with Harbaughs track record, I tend to take the sunny position that we got a tremendously experienced coach (with a large number of Florida ties) to come join the staff. Nothing wrong with that.
We already have a magical prophet.
Here's hoping the new staff can help pry some of those guys out.
I've just been thinking about more of a 3-4 front with bigger guys occupying blockers because that's been something we've been able to recruit as well as develop of late.
This is not to say those guys can't also be rushers, but it seems like something closer to our natural compence. The Heininger Certainty princple hasn't really applied to outside rushers.
New staff, I know. Really this is because I love some of our guys as 3-4 ends (Henry and Wormley in particular).
Given the unpredictability of recruiting, it never hurts to buy as many lottery tickets as possible. Even if they end up moslty 3-stars, it's better to have those guys around on the off chance that they turn into valuable upper class contributors than skipping out in the hope of getting someone better.
Than the funeral dirge that was Recruitin roundups from.... September to January.
If they can reel in even a B-/B class this year that'll do a lot to alievete some of the future crunch and cut down on some of the roster holes that are taking shape.
Also, it will be awesome.
RLB- I think Ojemudia would be good and I just think we have the athleticism at LB to make this work. Or at least we have a better chance than we do to make our limited DE depth work.
It also seems, in terms of future recruiting, that it's likely a little easier to find the 3-4 kind of players than it is to find the kind of dominant rush DE that helps make a 4-3 go.
I'm not saying it has to be one or the other, but based on recent recruiting efforts we've had a lot more success bringing in 3 tech/3-4 DE type players than we have had finding rushers off the edge.
I know everything is going to hybrid but more and more I kind of warm to the idea that this is a good way to help sort our both our current roster and our 2017 recruiting crunch.
THE PEOPLE DEMAND MOAR MOCK TURTLENECKS
I don't think there's anything really telling here. I suspect Stanford interviewed because it's worth it to keep his name out there and it's always wise to expand your network to include someone like Urbz.
But he's a BSU grad and, given the stepping stone nature of that job, I could see him making the choice to stick around for a few years and see is Harsin leaves as opposed to going to OSU.
If anyone can appreciate the alumni pull this year, it's Harbaugh.... I mean Michigan.
After looking at this depth chart analysis (as well as WMUKirk's posts on Durkin) does anyone else get the sense that we may begin shifting more towards a 3-4 base as opposed to a 4-3.
I don't have a preference, but given the current state of the D-line (lack of outside speed rushers/heavy on athletic DT) it would make a certain amount of sense to make that shift. I think the only DE who really wouldn't fit would be Ojemudia, but he seems like he would also fit in nicely as a rush OLB. For that matter, I think Henry and Wormley would make a fantastic pair of 3-4 ends.
Given all of this, it seems like Durkin favors a 3-4 front and we would have the personel to run one. Thoughts?