This quote from the comments of the last post kind of got me thinking:

ramosa Says:
12/12/2007 10:48:00 AM
simply put, you don’t promote people who underachieve. english has underachieved as the defensive coordinator, so he should NOT be promoted to head coach. the same goes for debord, who underachieved as the offensive coordinator. UM needs change.

Michigan has lost six games in two years with English as its coordinator. Those two years featured very different challenges in creating defensive schemes.

In the first year, it was all about letting his talented players make plays. Everyone who had watched the fairly complicated system Hermann used was amazed at how fast and loose all the defenders played when they were able to just play aggressively. In his second year, I felt it was all about covering up weaknesses, namely the linebackers. With both of these challenges, it seems as though Ron English has achieved, but numbers work better than feelings.

In both of these contests, the defense gave up over 30 points, but as Tim pointed out, these teams were able to exploit the one weakness the badass defense of 2006 had. Going out on a limb, but for part of the 2007 season, the secondary was better than any time in 2006. After Leon Hall there was no one, and Adams and Englemon really stepped up this year. There is no way that Michigan could cover 4-5 receivers with at least 3 quality defenders. Most of the time, the pass rush stopped this issue before it started, but Troy Smith being the Michigan Destroying Robo-QB he is, could run around and toss darts while being harassed, and USC’s offensive line played a hell of a game protecting John Booty (why do only a few players get to go by three names? I’d have liked to hear Leon Lastarza Hall). This isn’t a scheme issue, but rather an”our rock their paper” sort of issue.

Michigan also dominated average to above average offenses in Notre Dame, Wisconsin and Michigan State. I find it hard to say based on the 2006 season that Michigan’s defense underachieved.

First of all, the defense in 2007 was supposed to be merely an afterthought to the OMFG juggernaut offense that will score 75 points each game!!! A great defense from last year lost all of its impact players including one (Branch) once in a lifetime type of player. Michigan surely just needed an adequate defense in order to run the table…

So… the Horror. Michigan’s defense sucked in the first half. Johnny Sears and Stevie Brown combined to smoke a bowl of suck in the first half. The defense allowed 28 points and looked like it might allow 50. Then, English realized that what was out there wasn’t working, changed things up, and only allowed six points the entire second half. If people are worried about in-game adjustments, English has to be considered a pro. The defense didn’t lose this game for the Wolverines. If KC Lopata was the kicker or Shaun Crable understood such complex principles as “blocking,” this discussion wouldn’t be happening.

Next… Oregon. Ugly, Ugly, Ugly game. The defense was completely outclassed and Oregon could have easily put up more points. Two important points though: the defense was out on the field for most of the game; also, who stopped the Dixon-led Oregon offense? USC couldn’t do it and they have more NFL-caliber players than the Miami Dolphins. The lowest UO point total with Dixon was 24 (a mere 17 points north of what the Michigan offense put up). Oregon was simply the better team, and the only way a Michigan coach could have schemed a way to win that game was to go the Tonya Harding route.

On (to)… Wisconsin. This game is proof why a playoff system would kill college football. The result technically didn’t matter for Michigan’s future as a win over THE OSU state University of Ohio would get them to the Rose Bowl and a loss would cause all Michigan fans to simultaneously go crazy. It seemed that for the entire game, the dogs were called off. People were playing not to get hurt and to save themselves for the big dance. From what little I know about Ron English, I doubt this strategy came from him. Throw in Tyler Donovan playing the best game of his life and the fact it was at home so that Official Wisconsin RB On Probation could play, and it was a recipe for a let down.

Finally… Ohio State, again. I’m not really sure what more people could have wanted the defense to do. They were on the field almost the entire game and still held a potent Ohio St. offense to 14 points, and only one really good drive. If the offense could have done anything, ANYTHING, this game most likely would have gone the other way.

In 2007 it was supposed to be all about the offense. It seemed, more often than not, it was the defense who were the unlikely heroes of games. Ron English deserves a lot of credit for this. He took a defense with a mediocre line (Crable undisciplined, BGraham not very effective against the run, Will Johnson disappointing) and horrible linebackers and made it work to an incredible extent. They gave up a lot of points, but with the fumbled snaps, fumbles by every running back not named Mike Hart, Evil Henne interceptions and Mallet forcing throws, it’s almost surprising they didn’t give up more.

I guess people could say “English can prove himself in the bowl game!” I know Hercules completed his tasks, but that shouldn’t be the standard you hold everyone by. Tim Tebow and the Florida offense are very good. They will score points. Auburn (designated spread option stopper) held them to 17 and next after that is Georgia who held them to 30. Both of those defenses have better personnel than Michigan. If Michigan is going to win, it’s going to have to be the offense. Hopefully DeBoard isn’t auditioning.

Posted under Coaching

After my post last week, I don’t think very many people were convinced that Ron English will be a great head coach. Despite possessing many of the qualities that a head coach needs (recruiting, aggressive, media savvy, and dare I say it?: black), while lacking many a coordinator must (X and O proficiency, talent development), people disagreed. A fair amount of them have cited the fact that they believe English is more of a “friend” rather than someone who will “enforce” his players.

My anecdotal evidence to the contrary is as follows:
As many of you know (though some may not), I am the general manager of the University of Michigan student television station, WOLV-TV, as well as the producer of the football show, aptly named “Varsity Blue.” This places me in the unique position of not being an actual member of the mainstream media, while still having some of the privileges of said group. (For the record, I consider Daily writers to be actual MSM members).

Last year was the Year of Infinite Lack of Pain Prior to November 18. During the YILPPN18, I traveled to three Michigan away games (Notre Dame – which I still consider one of the best days of my life, Penn State, and Ohio State – which I did not attend as a media member). This story takes place on October 14, 2006 in State College, Pennsylvania. My companions on the Penn State trip were Paul, VB “writer,” and Danny, my current roommate. Since both of these gentlemen are inadequate at filming from the field, I was entrusted (by myself) to take care of these duties.

At halftime, Michigan clung to a 10-3 lead. Despite the fact that Michigan’s defense had held Penn State to a single field goal, defensive coordinator Ron English was far from pleased. On Penn State’s lone scoring drive, they traveled from their own 14 yard line to Michigan’s 5. On my trip from the (cold) field to the (warm) press box, I had to take an elevator. This is primarily due to the “erector set” nature of Beaver Stadium.

On the trip from the field to the elevator, I walked into a ground-level tunnel (shut off from access to the public), and through the underbelly of Beaver Stadium, towards a shaft that was surrounded by nothing but struts and supports. Nothing, that is, except a press room.

Apparently, Penn State’s visitor locker room is lacking in meeting areas, because the press room was being used by Michigan for a defensive meeting. The door was cracked, and as I walked by, a coach or grad assistant, was lecturing the team, in near monotone, on what they needed to improve. Upon completion of his speech, he ceded the door to an as-yet-not-present Ron English. The instant Random Coach #1 was finished, Ron English burst into the room.

“All right you stupid motherfuckers, listen up,” was the way Coach E started his halftime speech. RC#1 realized the door was still open at this time, and saw that I was outside, enthralled by what I was witnessing. Unfortunately, my education was far less important than the integrity of The Fort, but the point was made.

I almost never consider myself an insider, but in this particular subject I do. People who only see Ron English interact with his player in the public forum are missing out. They may think he tries to play the soft “friend” role, but that isn’t necessarily the case: when he needs to, English can be intense not only to his opponents, but to his own players as well. English is a motivator at heart.

Posted under Coaching

No, I haven’t gone crazy. Is Ron English a better candidate than Les Miles? No. Is he a better candidate than Greg Schiano? No. But English is not the catastrophic, absolute disaster candidate that many in the world of Michigan sports seem to believe.
The first criticism of Ron English leveled by most detractors is that he is not a great X and O defensive coordinator. Examples like OSU 2006, USC 2007, and App State 2007 are cited. Taking any of these into account, the talent that Michigan had at its disposal is certainly relevant. Ohio State and USC spread Michigan out, and without enough defensive backs to cover the elite athletes, there was little that “scheming defensively” could do.

Especially against Ohio State, the defensive coordinator can hardly be blamed. Jim Tressel coached a hell of a game, including a play-action bom on second and very short that everyone in the stadium except Ryan Mundy saw coming. Also, the Buckeyes scored on two long touchdown runs during which Antonio Pittman and Beanie Wells each broke tackles (poor technique, not the fault of the coordinator) at most levels of the defense to reach the grass that was painted red. While on some plays, Michigan had linebackers covering slot receivers, the Wolverines had very little adequate personnel at their disposal (and in a zone this shouldn’t matter as much), leaving English in poor position to make something happen.

Against Appalachian State, players on both sides of the line admitted that Michigan was not ready to play against the reigning 1-AA champs. The Wolverines were destroyed by App State through the air. Part of this was personnel selection (Stevie Brown at FS and Johnny Sears at CB), which can be blamed on the DC, but the general attitude of blowing off a lower-division opponent to focus on later teams rests on the headman.

Another criticism leveled by detractors of English is the fact that he does not make adjustments for the second half of games. This is obviously untrue, as opponents have scored far more points on English defenses before the break. In 2007, 148 points were scored by Michigan opponents in the first half, as opposed to 97 in the second (60.1% scored in first half). In 2006, 95 ponts (46.3%) were scored by opponents in the first half, but this includes meaningless scores by many teams that already had no chance to win the game (nearly all except Vandy (scoreless in 2nd half), IU (scoreless in second half), Ohio State and USC (Ohio State scored 2/3 their points in the first half, and USC appears to be the only time English’s adjustments were legitimately without reward). While a case may be made for English’s defenses ceding more points than they should, halftime adjustments are not a huge issue.

The anti-English crusaders may state that, adjustments or not, English’s defenses have given up too many points. However, while X and O proficiency may be part of the criteria, they aren’t the most important criterion.

A head coach must surround himself with good assistants. While it is obviously too soon to know if English would do this, one must assume that, given the current sentiment among UM fans, he at least would not hold on to DeBord (huge improvement in one fell swoop!). It is unclear what other changes he might make.

The philosophy of the head coach, rather than his specific schemes, are the crux of his coaching identity. Ron English defenses, in both 2006 and 2007, have been aggressive. If there is one thing that Michigan fans have consistently complained about in the post-Woodson Carr era, it is a lack of aggression, both offensively and defensively. English would obviously continue to embrace an aggressive defensive philosophy, and it may be reasonably inferred that this would translate to his decisions on the offensive side of the ball as well.

The head coach must be a good recruiter. If nothing else, this is what has been English’s calling card during his time as a coach of the Michigan Wolverines. Such players as Jonas Mouton, Boubacar Cissoko (as-yet unsigned), Donovan Warren, and Michael Williams were all recruited by English. All of these players garnered five stars from at least one recruiting service. Recruiting, perhaps the most important duty of the head coach, would not be a worry if English were named head coach.

The other key area in which head coaches are expected to excel is media relations. While English has limited experience, and in that experience he has often been coy, Lloyd Carr is a prime example of a head coach getting by without being cordial to the media. If anything, English would be a step up from Lloyd, and probably a significant one.

Am I advocating Ron English as head coach? If all the better prospects fall through, maybe I am. However, he is clearly a fall-back choice, if candidates such as Les Miles and Greg Schiano continue to rebuff the courting of Bill Martin. However, as fall-back choices go, Ron English is certainly not the catastrophe that many would like to believe.

Posted under Coaching

According to Baton Rouge newspaper The Advocate, Les Miles’s contract has been approved by a committee from the LSU board of supervisors. The full board is expected to approve said contract tomorrow.

However, Detroit Free Press columnist Drew Sharp reported on 1270 WXYT this afternoon that Martin, Carr and Miles will all be in Orlando tonight for the Outland Trophy ceremony, for which Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long and LSU DT Glenn Dorsey are both nominated. According to Sharp, it is expected that the two UM representatives will meet with Miles. Last night, Glenn Dorsey, one of Miles’s players, took home the Rotary Lombardi Award in Houston. Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long was also a finalist. Reportedly, Carr was in attendance, while Miles and Martin were not.

Posted under Coaching

I echo the sentiments of MZone today, down to the reverence for MGoBlog.

Bill Martin did what he promised he’d do. Did Skip Bertmann play him like a drum? Yes, but I doubt Martin has a secret plot to sabotage Les Miles’s candidacy for the job.

Posted under Coaching

What a day.

The take-home point from the Les Miles debacle is not “LSU offered more money, so Les is going there.” Sure, that may be true, but something much more important happened. A completely unexpected turn of events notwithstanding, Les Miles will not be coming to Michigan. Not next year, not ever. Miles knows this. By treating Michigan the way he did, he officially torched any remaining bridge he had to Michigan.

The most interesting part of this, is that Miles has made no secret of his desire to end up as the head coach at Bo’s school eventually. It’s been his goal ever since he played under Schembechler. So maybe Miles doesn’t love Michigan as much as he says, or maybe he really does just value money more than the loyalty he’s been preaching about since his days at Oklahoma State.

If Les Miles loved Michigan as much as he says he does, he still might not be the next Wolverines head coach. What he did, however, was prevent himself from ever being the coach here. Enjoy your $35 Million, Les.

Posted under Coaching

Jim Carty reports that Les Miles has reached a deal with LSU for a contract extension, keeping him in Baton Rouge. No further details on who will be the next Michigan coach.

http://blog.mlive.com/annarbornews/2007/12/les_miles_to_stay_at_louisiana.html

Posted under Coaching

(Thanks to MGoBlog, among many others.)

Internet rumor of the day comes to you courtesy of TigerDroppings, an LSU sports/recruiting site (a la Scout or Rivals, but to the best of my knowledge, unaffiliated). Various members of their message board claim to have heard directly from LSU players that Les Miles has announced to his team that he is leaving LSU to become the head coach at Michigan.

Of course, this is internet rumor until a source other than anonymous message board members confirm it.

Posted under Coaching

At this point in the coaching search, a lot of information has become available, and a lot of same information has ceased to be relevant. So where does the search stand now?

1. Les Miles appears to be the #1 candidate, with no clear #2 after the elimination of Kirk Ferentz from contention.
2. LSU has granted Michigan permission to talk to Miles about the coaching job. This permission isn’t necessary, but it shows Michigan’s willingness to do things the “right way.” The permission is also a good indicator that Miles will be the next head coach of Michigan, as information of this nature typically doesn’t leak out unless something is imminent.
3. Carr has been against Miles for a while, but if nothing else, it seems as though he is resigned to the fact that Miles will inevitably be the next UM coach.
4. Les Miles’s LSU Tigers play Tennessee for the SEC championship on Saturday. Assuming the Miles-to-Michigan rumors are a done deal at this point, Michigan fans will likely be rooting for the Tigers.
5. After this game (again, assuming Miles has reached an agreement with Michigan), it is unclear whether Miles will stay on to coach LSU in the bowl game, or (perhaps more likely), cease head coaching duties at LSU immediately, and begin some of the head coaching duties at Michigan. An announcement may be made as early as next week.
6. What duties would Miles be responsible for? First and foremost, reaching out to recruits to establish a stability on that front, as well as assembling a staff. Then, being around the current team during their bowl preparation (without actually being involved), will assist him in getting accustomed to his personnel, their strengths and weaknesses, and what schemes will work best for them, etc.

More on the Miles story as information becomes available.

Posted under Coaching

Per ESPN.

Posted under Coaching