Michigan Football: Reacting to Wolverines new offensive staff

After leading West Bloomfield to a state championship last week, Ronald Bellamy is joining the Michigan football staff and now we know what his position will be.

There was talk of him coaching special teams, but on Monday, Michigan football announced him as wide receivers coach. He will coach the position with Josh Gattis, who is still offensive coordinator.

“Ron is a high character individual as well as an outstanding coach and mentor,” Jim Harbaugh said via Rivals. “He displays a lot of energy and enthusiasm for teaching and developing young men and has created lasting relationships with his players.”

The hiring of Bellamy is the end of a big staff turnover that was expected. Harbaugh promised to make changes to the staff and let go of Don Brown, Mike Zordich and offensive line coach Ed Warinner.

The last one was a bit of a surprise. Yet, there needed to be an opening if Bellamy was going to come on board and Sherrone Moore makes sense as a former offensive lineman.

That’s not to say that Moore is going to be as good at developing talent, but there is a strong case to be made that he will do a better job of getting elite players to Ann Arbor and that’s important.

Michigan football actually announced extensions with Moore, who is co-offensive coordinator in addition to being the offensive line coach and Jay Harbaugh who will coach tight ends and work with special teams.

Breaking down Michigan’s moves

Moore is without a doubt the best recruiter on the offensive staff and locking him up is a win for the Wolverines. I’m sure that Gattis will still call the plays but the additions of Mike Hart and Bellamy should bring some excitement to the offense, not to mention better recruiting results.

For starters, Bellamy is going to be a real difference maker in the state and as the former head coach of West Bloomfield, the Wolverines could have the inside track for guys like Dillon Tatum, a 2022 recruit who could play for his former head coach at Michigan.

Beyond that, both he and Hart coaching wide receiver and running back, respectively, should help those positions be more productive.

The best asset for this staff on both sides of the ball may be the recruiting prowess, but a number of guys are coming with NFL experience, in nearly each assistant played or coached in the NFL.

That’s how Harbaugh built his early staffs and while it’s certainly risky to get rid of a technician like Warinner, you have to appreciate the bold action.