Michigan Football: Is Don Brown more valuable than Jim Harbaugh?

Jim Harbaugh has proven his worth as a head coach for Michigan football, but is he more valuable than defensive coordinator Don Brown?

This might be kind of a stupid question. But more and more I have been starting to wonder, who is more valuable to Michigan football, Don Brown, the defensive coordinator or Jim Harbaugh, the head coach?

Obviously, it’s not an answer that really matters in the end. Both coaches seem happy with Michigan football and hopefully, both will be in Ann Arbor for many years to come. However, you have to wonder, if Brown ever left, what kind of impact that would have?

To be fair, even before Brown came on the scene, Michigan was doing some pretty good things on defense. In 2015, with D.J. Durkin directing the show, the Wolverines ranked fourth in the FBS in total defense, allowing just 280 yards per game.

That group, like this one and really all four defensive units under Harbaugh, have been extremely talented. And since Brown came aboard, he has had the luxury of coaching guys like Chris Wormley, Taco Charlton, Jourdan Lewis, Jabrill Peppers, Khaleke Hudson, Rashan Gary, Chase Winovich, Maurice Hurst, Devin Bush and many others.

Michigan football has been a factory for defensive talent the past few seasons and since Brown took over in 2016, the Wolverines have ranked first (2016), third (2017) and first (2018) in the nation in total defense.

What’s even more impressive than those numbers is the fact that Brown’s defenses at Michigan have led the FBS in pass defense for three straight seasons. In 2016, the Wolverines gave up 142 yards per game, followed by 150 through the air in 2017 and just 123 this season.

That truly is incredible defense. His man-to-man coverage techniques have also worked really well and have helped guys like Lavert Hill, David Long and Brandon Watson excel. Of course, you might be saying that Brown is simply doing this because Michigan is so loaded with talent.

In a way that’s true and as we all know, every good coach needs talent. Yet, the talent level isn’t nearly the same at Boston College, where Brown coached before and what did he do, he led the Eagles to the best defense in the FBS in 2015.

That shows Brown can get it done. The Eagles also ranked 11th in 2014. Certainly, Harbaugh gets credit for bringing Brown to Ann Arbor. In fact, it might be the best move he has made as head coach.

But sometimes, you do have to wonder, who is more valuable now to the team’s success, Harbaugh or Brown?

Overall the answer is probably still Harbaugh and the fact that Michigan football has surged back into national contention again is a credit to him.

His work in recruiting has been outstanding and with Shea Patterson, as well as others down the pipeline like Dylan McCaffrey and Joe Milton, he seems to have finally figured out the quarterback position. Also the offensive line with the addition of Ed Warinner.

So at the end of the day, Harbaugh still means more to the program, however, the impact Brown has made the past three years can’t be denied. Here’s hoping he is Michigan’s defensive coordinator for a very long time.