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Michigan Wolverine Football: The Coaching Staff

By Eroc Wolverine

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GBMWolverine Michigan Football TidbitsPosted at 7:00am — 2/15/2015

Michigan Wolverine Football: The Coaching Staff

Phase One: Moving In Done

Phase two will now start; that phase is getting the Wolverine team to move on, as in upward. The job is not an easy one, the expectations are high, but as Jim Harbaugh mentioned, there are no guarantees. He knows his mere presence is insufficient to cause by itself a great change. But the naming of Harbaugh as Head Coach was certainly a start; one that few would go out on a limb and challenge.

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Of course, there is the meaningless and worthless jabs some will take as every breath of Harbaugh’s is chronicled. Why Coach Harbaugh actually tripped a little going up to the podium; somehow that became news. And I see that one Einstein already has listed the failures and mistakes Harbaugh made in his short recruiting season. Laughable and simply amazing is an accurate conclusion to the above. So, discounting such events that equate to nothing in the long term, let us look back and give a little semi-synopsis of these first six weeks.

Jim Harbaugh’s connections, with the help of plenty of obvious Michigan money, within the profession paid off for Michigan when hiring the new staff. Collectively, this staff is very impressive. There are professionals with years of experience at high profile jobs, there are former NFL players and coaches, there are specialists, not generalists; most importantly this staff can clearly document coaching success.

There are a few peeps from critics claiming that the current staff may not be up to recruiting snuff to get top talent to Ann Arbor. But his staff has sufficient recruiting talent that if the wins start to accumulate, other maters should work out.

Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines /

Michigan Wolverines

One approach that Harbaugh has taken is to form somewhat of a corporate structure with the offensive staff. There is Harbaugh himself, who will not be passive in evaluating and forming the offensive approach. He has proven leadership and quarterback coaching skills.

Tim Drevno has worked with Harbaugh, as have many others on this staff. He has produced successful tight ends and linemen at Stanford and San Francisco, and lastly in his one season at USC. He brings some experience to the offensive coordinator position, but plenty to the running game.

Jedd Fisch did a very nice job as the Jaguar offensive coordinator the last two years. His talent level was near minimal on offense and his job the past year was to bring along Blake Bortles. Apparently a disagreement with how to accomplish this aim sent Fisch northward. There are some knowledgeable folks in Jacksonville that thought Fisch could have been a keeper.

Fisch will work with quarterbacks, wideouts, and possesses the title of passing game coordinator. Michigan has never. lately, put the two realms of offensive attack together as an effective unit, due to many factors, but at least the organizational and coaching talent structure is improved and the expectation and methodology is coordinated.

Pitty the fool who messes with Tyrone Wheatley. Ty does not have a cruise control speed and the young running backs will learn from a Michigan legend with plenty of NFL and coaching success.

Not every team can reach out and grab a coach with the success of John Baxter. For nearly a decade, the UM special teams have gyrated between average and just plain mediocre. Baxter provides young talent with a chance to see the field. His success at Southern California the last few years with less than a full roster is noteworthy.

Baxter brings a laser focus and intensity to doing things the right way; this may be his most important gift. Not hurting the cause is Baxter also having coaching experience with tight ends. So, three coaches on the offensive side will provide an upgrade to the management of this position.

With the exception of Greg Mattison, the defensive staff will be a new look venture.

D. J. Durkin was a big get for Michigan. Florida’s problems of the past two years were more offensive in nature, especially concerning the quarterback production. He brings some youth, enough experience, and exposure on the big stage. Durkin is known for recruiting and his mere presence has already yielded positive results in Florida.

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    • A defensive coach needs talent. Durkin inherits some good talent on the defensive line, adequate linebackers, and some trouble in the secondary. The Gators have far more speed than Michigan, but finishing 2nd in the SEC in defense, with the pressure the Florida offense put on the unit is impressive. Linebackers are his specialty.

    Michael Zordich, like Durkin, is one of the Youngstown gang. He worked with the Philadelphia Eagles after a long professional career. As many remember, Zordich was an All-American at Penn State.

    Greg Jackson is the other secondary coach, having coached with Jim Harbaugh at San Francisco. Like Zordich, Jackson had a long professional career.

    Zordich and Jackson have quite the challenge. But with tons of professional experience as defensive backs and great x and o knowledge, things could uptick.

    Next, a little look back at the recruiting class before heading onto foundational building.

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    Written by GBMWolverine Staff — Doc4Blu

    Go Blue — Wear Maize!


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