Time for Michigan Football to see what Matt Weiss can do

Now that Josh Gattis has moved, it seems like a perfect time for Michigan football to see what Matt Weiss can do. 

On Sunday, Michigan football offensive coordinator Josh Gattis left to accept the same position at Miami. While Gattis won the Broyles Award given to the nation’s top assistant, on-the-field I do not see his departure as a significant loss.  During his first two years, Michigan’s offense was inconsistent and often failed to deliver on his promise of “Speed in Space”.

Last summer, Michigan football brought in Matt Weiss from the Baltimore Ravens. While Weiss served as Michigan’s quarterbacks coach last year, he was the Ravens run game coordinator. He was heavily involved in the run variations Michigan ran last season and it makes you question how much Michigan’s success on the ground could attributed to Weiss vs. Gattis, who is comfortable with the passing game.

As I wrote last summer when Gattis was on the hot seat, Matt Weiss may have been brought in to serve as a potential in-house replacement for Gattis. Now that Gattis is off to Miami, Weiss is the favorite to be promoted to OC and big things are expected.

What Weiss could bring as OC

Weiss came to Ann Arbor with a sterling reputation as one of the brightest and rising coaches in the game. While in Baltimore, Weiss gained experience as assistant quarterback coach, assistant receivers, and running backs coach.

The Ravens led the league in rushing in 2019 and 2020 while Weiss was the running backs coach, though it helps to have Lamar Jackson under center. He is also heavy into analytics and led the Ravens charge in that department.

While Weiss will be a first-time play-caller — along with co-OC Sherrone Moore — he will have a ton of talent to work with. Michigan returns quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy and Cade McNamara and running backs Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards in the backfield. Wide receivers Ronnie Bell, Corneilus Johnson, Roman Wilson, A.J. Henning, Andrel Anthony, as well as tight ends Erick All and Luke Schoonmaker make up the group of pass-catchers.

Weiss is considered as a future NFL OC in coaching circles. If he lives up to his reputation and with all the talent he will have to work with, Michigan football may be searching for another offensive coordinator again before too long.