Michigan Football: Breaking down reported hire of Christian Robinson

Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh has been working on finalizing his staff and Friday, more news came to the front as Harbaugh is reportedly poaching an assistant from the SEC. 

According to the website Football Scoop, a well-known site for coaching rumors, Jim Harbaugh and Michigan football have hired Florida assistant coach Christian Robinson away from Dan Mullens.

Robinson played in the SEC and spent some time at Georgia, where he worked with Mike Macdonald who is expected to be named defensive coordinator.

Here’s an excerpt from the article about Robinson:

"“A former Georgia player who’s worked in the Southeastern Conference at his alma mater, as well as Ole Miss and Mississippi State in addition to his trio of seasons in Gainesville, Florida, Robinson is viewed as an energetic young coach who is strong in fundamental teachings of the linebacker position and also an asset on the recruiting trail.”"

Robinson fits well with the other hires Harbaugh has made this offseason as he appears to be trending toward the younger coaches who can make an impact recruiting.

That doesn’t mean these guys don’t know scheme or how to coach their positions either. Robinson is known as a technician in terms of the fundamentals but I like the idea of adding younger guys to to the staff who are hungry to recruit and to win.

Robinson also makes sense because of his ties to Macdonald, which is the same reason I like Jesse Minter as a possible coach in the secondary.

However, with Brian Jean-Mary on staff and Macdonald also having experience as a linebackers coach, the hiring of Robinson makes it feel like Jean-Mary could be on his way out.

Yet, according to Sam Webb of the Michigan Insider ($), Jean-Mary isn’t out yet and could still be on staff if Macdonald chooses to coach the secondary as a position instead of linebackers.

Steve Clinkscale is another name that Webb mentioned and it’s one that came up last year in connection with Michigan football. He would be a home run too in the secondary.

On the Jean-Mary front, he has been out recruiting and that gave credence to the idea that he would be part of the staff going forward. He also has previous experience as a defensive coordinator.

So even though the Robinson hire might leave less room for a guy like Jean-Mary, it wouldn’t surprise me if he was still on staff when it’s all said and done.

But as of right now, count me as excited about the moves Harbaugh has made on defense.