BHB readers have had a lot of good comments this week, lets address some of them here today. I will forgo the Big Ten preview as Michigan's fire storm still seems to be burning on SportsCenter.
Concussion-gate: Brady Hoke looks like a fan walking the sideline. He claps some, he calls for the punt team and he talks to an official every now and then. He may talk to a player but he never seems to do a ton of "coaching" on the sideline. Here is the issue as I see it. Shane should have been removed from the game after his end zone fumble and ankle turn. After the first series, it was very apparent that Michigan wasn't going to win with Shane under center. I know Devin has not played well this year, but what was the purpose to throw the game away? To send a message to him? I know Shane is tough, but he is not ready to play yet.
How long was he going to keep Shane in? Until he got a concussion? I guess not. How is a guy with little to no experience and now on a bad ankle going to play? Not Well. What a terrible decision. What does a guy have to do to get fired around here?
Moving Games to Dallas: I don't have a problem doing a neural field site every once in awhile. In fact, Brandon should have never yet Michigan travel to MSU two years in a row and should of have forced the Big Ten to have the game played at Ford Field. The issue with the Dallas games is every time he does that he is taking a home game away from season ticket holders. If Michigan is going to charge thousands of dollars just to have the right to buy season tickets, I sure as hell want to see Michigan play Florida in the Big House and not in Dallas.
Stephen Ross: I think every major program has a Stephen Ross around. If you donate millions you get to be heard. Oregon has Phil Knight, Maryland has Kevin Plank (the Under Armour founder), OK State has T. Boone Pickens, and so on. Stephen was willing to hire Harbaugh to the Dolphins, when Michigan was trying to hire him, so I'm not sure he is in the best position to make too many demands on the Michigan program. His Miami Dolphins haven't been the shining example of how to run a program either. A little known fact is William Davidson the former Pistons Owner was paying part of Tommy Amaker's salary while he was the Michigan Basketball Coach.
Gibbons: Yes, Michigan did the right thing in the end. The thing that makes Brandon and Hoke look so bad is the cover up and the lies on why he wasn't active for OSU and the Bowl Game. The guy that gave Hoke his most successful moment as the Michigan head coach, was thrown out of school for sexual assault. Ironic or karma?
What's next?
It's hard to say, everything that I hear is that Hoke will be around until to the end of the season. Let's face it folks, Michigan has a real chance to lose every game remaining on their schedule. He is a dead man walking and he knows it. There is now a real good chance this team mentality is already in operation shutdown. If the offense can't score, your not going to win too many games.
I don't know about Brandon, I guess at some point he might resign if the pressure gets too hot. He can go work for Ross in Miami. With every bad loss, the heat and the ESPN coverage will continue on both of these guys. It seems to me, you have to fire the AD so the new guy can hire a coach.
Recruiting?
Michigan has a small class this year, which is somewhat lucky in a coaching change. If Michigan learned anything from the Hoke hire, they can't hire a guy in January and try to fill a class in a couple of weeks. This class will take some major hits but could finish well if they get a coach with a brand name gets hire.
Who is the next head coach?
Is this the perfect storm for Jim Harbaugh? No idea, I think he really wants to be in the NFL and we know there will be a number of teams wanting to hire him (see above). The issue is his coaching style, he is more Bo then Pete Carroll. His coaching style is a much better fit in college then in the NFL. If he realizes that, I think Michigan has a real shot. The key is Michigan can't f-up the window like they did last time. Other NFL teams can't speak to him right now. Hire an AD and get him to work on Michigan's home run coach right now. Even if its a hand shake agreement for the end of the year.
Unless John Harbaugh is burned out in the NFL, he is not coming here. He won a Super Bowl for goodness sakes.
I'm fairly confident that Les Miles would take this job in second. He still has a ton of A2 baggage and he isn't getting any younger. The fact is Michigan needs a big name to turn this ship, even if it's for the next 5 years. He might be guy you sign for one contract and you say turn this place around. He has a name that would make an impact on the recruiting trail. He will wear his hat too high, clap with his fingers open, eat the field turf and win 10+ games a year.
I like the idea of Mike Gundy or Kevin Sumlin but neither is coming here.
I don't even want to hear Gruden's name mentioned.
I have a thought for you that hasn't been mentioned: Josh McDaniels the OC from the New England Patriots. I know, I don't know if he would be a good fit either, but hear me out for a second.
- He has been a head coach
- He is a young guy
- He could come with the support of Tom Brady
- Bill O'Brien had the same job and was successful in the Big Ten
Firing Brandon and Hoke is step 1 and step 2, but really getting the right guy here is much harder then we all think or expect. It's really the most important step after two hiring mistakes.
6 comments:
Thanx bob it's good to know if someone asks u for your opinion...u give it..
Rutgers has sold out for Saturday... Only their sixth sell out in the last six seasons.
The Scarlet faithful are excited to watch them beat a storied program, in their inaugural Big Ten season.
Focusing on what is wrong with M's offence.....I'd like to hear someone ask Nussmeier at a press conference about the QB reads in his offence....not just the 1,2,3 progressions, but the checkoff guy (does he exist). I noticed with the Borges O that, not only were receivers not coming back or remaining viable after things fell apart, but there never seemed to be a RB or TE with a blocking assignment peeling off of the block for a quick outlet pass. Even though all they had to do was to turn toward the QB. I'm seeing the same thing with the Nussmeier O - When the QB get's in trouble does the strong side RB or TE have any checkoff assignment.... I never see it, but it is needed with a weak O-Line. I remember Brian Griese was always checking off to a peeling off RB or TE when the long pass wasn't there and pressure came. We really need this as part of the O game plan and I just don't see it any more....why? It looks like the QB's only emergency out is to eat it or throw it away. It's surprising that Borges didn't implement this since in the West Coast O typically after the quarterback makes three reads and if no opportunity is available after three reads, the QB will then check off to a back or tight end. Not that our QB's can make three reads prior to pressure, but should check off as soon as pressure is felt. Ok, rambling enough, but why isn't Nussmeier implementing this?
I just read this in USA Today. Uh oh....
Schlissel, the former provost at Brown, admitted to reporters in his first week on the job in July that he had little context with which to make decisions about a big-time athletic program.
Ironic that RR beats national #2 Oregon, in his second season at AZ, with only two classes of his 'style' of player....
While Brady gets blown out by ND (who I don't think will end the season in the top 10) and a mediocre Minnesota, struggles with Miami of Oh on a 18 game losing streak... with a full roster of his recruits....
Nice that he's still refusing to wear a headset. Why would he want to make it easier to avoid another disaster like we had with Shane in the MN game?
If M would have coughed up $10k more Casteel would have come and RR would still be here, probably winning. Instead of paying $10k more when they should have, they payed millions more for this...uhhhgggg....when will the circus end.
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