Wolverine Wednesday: Done and Don

Sporting News

This has been a long time coming.  Don Brown was removed as Michigan's DC on Tuesday afternoon.   If you have read this blog for over 2 years, you know how I feel about Don's 1 dimensional defense.   I'm sure he knows a ton of defense, but it sure as hell didn't look like it on the field.  It did look like it on the defensive stats rankings.   

If your defense can't beat good teams, is it truly a good defense?   That was the question I have asked myself over and over about Don Brown.  He would have the #1 defense in the country and OSU would put up 60.  How is that good defense?  Once the playbook is out, on beating your defense, everybody will do it and we saw an example of that this year.  

A DC has many jobs but I believe the 2 most important are recruiting and game plan scheme.   Both of those have been well under where they should be the last few years.   Don was strong in recruiting DE, LB, and sometimes CB.  He couldn't recruit a DT to save his life and left huge holes on the defensive line and in the secondary.  He was very honorable in telling recruits he most likely was not coming back next year but stay with your commitment to Michigan. 

Michigan will owe him $1.7M and that price is worth every dollar to head in a new direction. 

Who's next?

1. Derek Mason, was on Jimmy's staff at Stanford and became the DC after he left.   Was just let go at Vandy and could bring some toughness to this defense. He also knows how Jimmy likes to work.   Worked and recruited at 2 high academic institutions. 

2. Will Muschamp maybe the best DC available, but not sure he will mix well with Jimmy.   The guy can coach defense but is he ready to work with Harbaugh?  My guess is no.

3. Tim Banks, is the co-DC at Penn State and grew up in Detroit.  He played and coached at Central Michigan and known as a great recruiter in the state of Michigan.   If your looking for a guy on the rise, he could be a good hire.  

4. Jim Leavitt, is the FAU DC and coaches for Jimmy's buddy Willie Taggart.  Not sure he would take a coach from a friend and the guy is a bit of a wildcard personality wise.  He did turn around a terrible Colorado defense a few years ago.  (FAU plays tonight against Memphis)

5. Nate Woody, DC at Army.  Was the DC at Georgia Tech and App. State prior.  He even spent a year on Jimmy's staff last season before getting the Army gig.  Maybe a long shot here, but Woody might be in the mix.  Army is 9-2 this season. 

I'm also guessing Michigan is not done with coaching changes.  This is assuming of course that Harbaugh signs an extension and stays the course.    

Michigan needs a DC that brings a new set of eyes, a complex ever changing defense, and a strong recruiter.