Michigan Football: Harbaugh’s Things To Do List -- Part II

Posted at 4:00pm — 12/31/2014

Michigan Wolverine Football: Harbaugh’s Things To Do List — Part II

The Woods are Still a Little Dark and Deep

There is much work to be done in the defensive backfield. The next defensive backfield coach(es) will need to quickly change bad habits and get what can be procured from this group. Peppers will make a coach look smart, but the defensive linemen must adapt more than a mere motto (earn the right to rush four) to make a defensive back’s life more tolerable by creating some havoc.

More from Michigan Football

The coach that takes over the defensive line has potential. This unit could show dramatic improvement next year. It will need to be much more physical. That is where the strength and conditioning question comes into play. There is no preconceived idea of how Coach Harbaugh will approach Michigan’s situation.

Harbaugh’s second task will involve recruiting. He will need to make quick decisions on who to send out to hold the commits and which decommits to visit and further woe. There will be some new potential commits, perhaps from far outside the area. Harbaugh will need to set up his local recruiting network. Coach Hoke had this going until the losses mounted and this task should be somewhat easy to accomplish. It is never too early for 2016 recruiting, but that may have to move to the back burner.

Michigan Wolverines /

Michigan Wolverines

Harbaugh’s third task is critical; he will need to create an instant atmosphere among the returning players, his assistants will be involved. The prediction here is that the players will quickly figure it out and accept the program going forward. There will not really be a choice. Coach Hoke left with brief and well-wishing comments, there is no animosity to overcome, no division.

Harbaugh is a formist, his first thoughts turn to time-honored foundations and non-negotiable beliefs. He is also a clear mechanist; this will help in building the machine. He is a parts person, one who can mold. Harbaugh will be the first to admit Bo was the ultimate formist and a grinding mechanist, so grinding that some parts were disposed of, but parts that stayed would be champions.

Harbaugh and his staff have to be master orchestrators during spring practice. Every spring practice season is important, but 2015 takes on increased magnitude; new schemes, new coaches, new pressure, increased competition level, and loyalty to a cause must be established, if not polished into a final product.

Harbaugh has already established one task. By his mere presence he has infused excitement and established a persona, perhaps, somewhat like Arnold Palmer. This can only help and good luck to negative recruiters trying to beat up Harbaugh.

Harbaugh is the conductor of the choo-choo and new track is being built. And so on to football.

More from GBMWolverine

Please comment on our GBMWolverine Message Board about this article and read what others comment and give us your thoughts, agree or disagree.

Just a reminder you must be a member to participate on the Message Board. Here is the link GBMWolverine Register for those people interested in becoming a member.

You can contact us at our e-mail address: GBMWolverine

Written by GBMWolverine Staff — Doc4Blu

Go Blue — Wear Maize!

Home/Michigan Football