Mailbag question: If and when, who?
Posted at 8:00am — 12/7/2010
Mailbag question: If and when, who?
I think that the measure of a good coach — no matter the sport — is that he (or she) can take the cards dealt and make the team better than expected. My biggest complaint about RR is that he’s failed to do this. Even less-talented players can play without mistakes, and play as a well-oiled machine, so that even in a loss the fans can be proud of them. All in all, with the exception of beating up some lesser teams, Michigan has not looked like a well-coached team.
So my question is, if a change takes place, what are your thoughts about Harbaugh replacing RR? Yeah, he’s “hot” right now, but is his record good enough to make a long- term commitment to him? If not Harbaugh, or Les Miles, who I feel would be a better choice, who else do you see as a potential replacement?
It seems like the ideal candidate would be a coach flexible and adaptable enough to work with what we already have while implementing his preferred system over time. Does such a beast exist?
I think RR’s single-minded fixation on the spread and the 3-3-5 have hurt us. The better teams seem to incorporate the best of the different styles. I’d like to see a coach with a more eclectic approach at coach. Fit the system to the players at hand, not the other way around. I’m tired of hearing the excuse that we don’t have the players for RR’s system.
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GBMWolverine’s response
As we have mentioned on our message boards several times in the past couple of weeks, whoever is coaching Michigan next season needs to be a long-term solution and not just a short-term fix. This is not saying Coach Rod will not be back, but just going with the question.
The worse thing that could happen is for Michigan to be Notre Dame, changing systems every few years and basically spinning the wheels.
One good thing about Coach Harbaugh (if of course he would come to Michigan or would be interested in the job) is he is young and has a long career in front of him. We have seen Coach Harbaugh adapt to his personnel and quite frankly think he would adapt his offense to what is already at Michigan.
We have seen Coach Harbaugh use the read-option with his current quarterback at Stanford. Of course not as often as Michigan uses this offensive scheme. He had a running/spread type quarterback when he was at San Diego and we have seen him adjust his offense at Stanford as well to his personnel.
Coach Miles is not old, but quite a bit older than Coach Harbaugh and that is something that has to be considered. Also, others things would factor into Coach Miles being at Michigan and quite frankly we do not see him as a first option or for that matter an option at all.
The bench for new head coaches is not very full at this point and programs are making quick moves.
Most of the top coaches are already entrenched in successful programs and unlikely to switch, as when Michigan hired Coach Rod. There are no guarantees the next head coach will be successful.
There are also several other coaches we are hearing that might be on a “potential” top five list.
The best a program administrator can do is pick someone who shares the same philosophy as the program does, someone who shares the same long term vision for the Michigan program, someone who loves Michigan and respects the rich football history and tradition, and finally someone who has demonstrated success.
After that, it comes down to hard work and preparation. There are no short cuts, no magic formulas, no easy way to success; just out working the other top programs on the recruiting trail and also on the football field.
Written by GBMWolverine Staff
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