Will Josh Gattis have enough time to fix the Michigan offense?

Josh Gattis hasn’t worked out as planned for Michigan football but will he have enough time to turn things around? 

In 2018, Michigan football started 10-1 and was a win away from its first appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game. Arch rival Ohio State and “The Game” was the only thing standing in the Wolverines’ way.

The Wolverines were even the betting favorite (-4.5) for the first time since 2011, Michigan’s last victory over Ohio State. Unfortunately, Michigan football fell to Ohio State once again and gave up 62 points in the process. Sure Michigan scored 39, but 20 of those points came in the fourth quarter when it was playing catch-up and the game was already decided.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh responded by hiring Josh Gattis as the offensive coordinator.

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Traditionally, Harbaugh has a favored a methodical, conservative, and smashmouth brand of football in his tenure as Michigan head coach. Gattis was brought in to open up the Michigan offense and help the Wolverines keep up with not only Ohio State, but the other elite programs in college football.

While Michigan has usually been able to hang its hat on its defense, Alabama, Clemson, and Ohio State are usually elite on defense too. Those three are also only getting better quarterback play and getting more explosive on offense too. Thus far, the results of the Gattis hire have been mixed.

In 2019, Michigan football got off to a slow start offensively adjusting to the new scheme among other things. However, in the second half of the year, the Wolverines averaged 35.6 PPG, were one of the 10 most efficient offenses in the country, and finished the year 21st in offensive SP+.

Meanwhile also in 2019, LSU brought in Joe Brady as its passing game coordinator and LSU arguably had the best offense in college football history. Like Michigan, LSU had spent the previous few seasons brimming with offensive skill talent but held back by mediocre quarterback play. If they were able to fix their offense like that in one season, it makes you wonder when is that kind of transformation coming for Michigan?

Last year, Michigan could never get track on offensively. The Wolverines ranked 42nd in offensive SP+, 66th in scoring and 56th in yards per play.

Covid-19 was a factor, but every school had to deal with the virus. Chief among the Wolverines issues were play-calling and questionable personnel usage, starting with the four-man running back rotation.

What does this mean for Gattis’ future?

Michigan has the talent to turn things around offensively, but it is young. Transfer QB Alan Bowman will enter the quarterback battle in fall camp and he has experience. However, it is more likely that Michigan’s starting quarterback will be a freshman, either RS freshman Cade McNamara or true freshman J.J. McCarthy.

Running back Blake Corum and wide receivers A.J. Henning and Roman Wilson got experience last season, but retain freshman eligibility because of the free year granted by the NCAA. Upfront, Trevor Keegan, Karsen Barnhart, Trente Jones, and Zak Zinter all have freshman eligibility.

That is eight or nine freshmen that could be significant contributors for the Wolverines this season. The good news is that all of them are four-star and five-stars.

I’m willing to bet on young talent because once they get experience and the light turns on for them, the team will be better off in the long run. However, there will be growing pains. While I am fine with that approach, Josh Gattis may not have that much time.

Gattis received a one-year contract extension in May, extending his contract through 2022 and he is now co-offensive coordinator along with Sherrone Moore.

If the Wolverines struggle offensively again, Gattis has not shown enough to suggest he should be brought back for a fourth season. Additionally Michigan has more than financial resources to absorb Gattis’ $1M salary for 2022 if it wants to move on.

Another factor is quarterbacks coach Matt Weiss. Weiss is seen as a rising star in the coaching community and is thought to be a future NFL offensive coordinator. It is hard to imagine him being just a quarterbacks coach for much longer.

Is it possible Harbaugh brought in Weiss as an in-house replacement for if things don’t go according to plan?  It is hard to know for sure but if Michigan struggles again, Josh Gattis is not going to be the only one leaving Ann Arbor.

Like Weiss, Joe Brady left the NFL (Saints) to head to LSU and Weiss left the Ravens to come to Michigan. It is possible that Michigan has its own version of Joe Brady sitting right under its nose.