Regardless of who is QB#1, Jack Tuttle will be #2? Why? Because if QB#1 is not cutting the mustard in a game, the HC will want to go to a reliable back-up rather than bring in a high-risk unknown. Tuttle is a lower ceiling but higher floor alternative and I think that's what they would want at that particular situation.
I was surprised the QBs weren't more "ready". Why wouldn't they have been practicing, without coaches, in the off-season, in order to come into spring practice better prepared?
Maybe this last departure is a further indication that those leaving don't have that much conficence in Sherrone Moore and the future at Michigan, moving forward. It seems like the possibility of a wholesale departure of most of the staff would have been checked out by the AD (and Sherrone) prior to Moore's promotion.
I don't think there is any question about Leonhard's track record as a DC and he has an impressive career as a walkon who developed into an All-Big 10 DB and then a multiyear player in the pros.
I would expect the biggest issues are: Is he interested and does he fit with M's staff & vice-versa.
Well, in regards to your 1st paragraph, Leonhard grew up in the culture and philosophy that started with Barry Alvarez more than 30 years ago. He was a proven leader as demonstrated by his defenses, which were highly regarded by virtually everyone.
As for the 2nd paragraph, it's questionable if "blowing up" the program makes sense. The "program" did not "stink". It was developed by Barry Alvarez and was very successful over the years (29 bowl games since 1993). It historically featured a dominant OL, an elite RB, and a strong defense. Not elite, but successful.
Also, it wasn't Chryst's "program". He was not successful at running it but that's a different matter. The program (culture and philosophy) worked for Wisconsin.
Interesting that you are against bringing in a "shiny new regime" and a different HC ("scraping the program") yet that's exactly what W has done.
I agree with you, and I thought W should have kept Leonhard, but you missed my point. Like W, there should be a search for a HC and not just a handing off. And, I maintain that Leonhard had a better resume compared to Moore at the time of the HC leaving.
When Paul Chryst, Wisconsin's HC, was fired during the 2022 season, their Defensive Coordinator, Jim Leonhard, replaced him as interim HC. Leonhard had credentials (UW player, NFL player, and renowned Defensive Coordinator for multiple years) that far surpassed those of Sherrone Moore, but Wisconsin by-passed Leonhard and instead hired Luke Fickell as their new HC. I think Michigan should try to get the best possible person out there as HC. I don't know who that is, but UofM's AD should have a well-researched list as the current situation is not a surprise.
A huge shout-out to Jesse Minter, his defensive schemes, and the players on defense, especially the "Front Seven", who were superb all year and carried the team again. I was especially impressed with Michigan being able to rotate so many players on defense every game. I think that ended up being huge in the 4th quarter on several occasions, including this one.
When Cazzie was a freshman, so was I. If people think the Yost Hockey Arena is loud, they should have have been at Yost Fieldhouse when Russell and Buntin played there. I've never experienced anything like it since. The Big 10 was stacked and the BB was great.
Part one: Juwan's son, Jace, reacted very negatively to, or in the presence of Sanderson. I'm guessing it was pretty blatant, that Sanderson didn't let it pass, and that it was privileged behavior that's been around the BB program since Juwan took over. I think that for Sanderson, it was probably the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back as he saw the players' attitude adversely impacting his ability to conduct "Camp Sanderson".
Part two: it's either him or me and UofM chose to keep Juwan.
Thanks for your insights and willingness to talk, knowing that you will pay retribution for being correct in your analysis, and for pointing that out to those who don't like what you had to say. Some people really do not appreciate being proven wrong.
This whole episode is finally starting to make sense. Bad judgement by a couple of staff members and maybe an unwillingness to admit wrong-doing until backed into a corner?
Personally, I hope this brings all of the team members and coaching staff even closer together and helps them win out.
If UofM's 3 best OL are the two guards anc center, why not spread the distance between our OLine players, seal the DEs to the outside, and run up the middle, with the RB deciding which gap looks best?
JJ's last interception, heaving it downfield while he was running to the sideline, was eerily similar to the non-pick 6 interception he threw in the TCU game. That's troubling. I thought he learned he shouldn't make that throw, but I guess not. Hope he doesn't repeat that error in a big game.
1. Disagree. I found it to be a pwerful story - well written, with very good cinematography, music, and acting.
2. I believe the people behind this movie are actually trying to impact child trafficking which is more than I can say about most people in Hollywood or at the higher levels of our government.
Very glad to see UofM focusing, once again, on recruiting Ohio. I remember 2-3 years ago when a large number of people on this blog dismissed that approach, preferring to concentrate on other geographic areas. Michigan succesfully recruited players from Ohio when Bump Elliott, Bo Schembechler, and Gary Moeller coached. Somwhere along the way, attention got shifted to a "National Focus" and I think that was a mistake. Nothing wrong with going after selected recruits outside of Ohio and the Midwest, but UofM always has a geographic with those closer to home, IMO.
Yep and I was at the game. UofM's Thom Darden went over the top of an OSU offensive player to intercept the ball and thwart an OSU drive near the end of the game. It caused Woody Hayes to rip up a sideline marker. At the time of the interception, my eyes were on Woody. Everyone who could stepped away from him, fearing what he might do. The poor guy holding the sidline marker couldn't move. Hilarious. I can still laugh as I recall what happened.
Many of JJ's mistakes were caused by the OL which allowed TCU defenders to pressure him all night. JJ could not sit comfortably in the pocket and sometimes he scrambled too soon because of that pressure.
I'm a believer in "Exit Interviews". If the person leaving is forthright/honest, the information can/should be helpful to the organization. I realize most people here feel like negative comments are "burning bridges" but maybe there is some merit to what All & McNamara are saying. Not sure if they shared their thought privately before going public. The fact that they were both elected captains is significant. IMO.
In 2021, after 4 years as Iowa's O-line coach, Tim Polasek left to become the OC at Wyoming. George Barnett took over. No idea about Iowa recruiting and developing O-linemen since, but it apparently hasn't gone well.
Biran Ferentz is the OC AND coaches QB so he's clearly the reason for the horrible Iowa offense and QBs.
I'm glad to see Minnesota schedule a "Big Boy" game with arguably the best team in the SEC. Wish Michigan would do the same. Disappointed when the UCLA home and home was cancelled. Hawaii, Colorado State, and Connecticut just don't cut it.
What bothers me most is all of the gesturing by UofM players bringing attention to themselves when they think they've done something good (in a 10-10 tie with IU). I'd rather see them thinking about how they're going to help the team on the next play.
Nick Sheridan, former UofM QB, was fired as IU's OC in mid-November last year. Given the above, it appears he may not have been the problem. Maybe not the answer either. He's currently the TEs coach at the University of Washington. They're 4-1, so I'm betting this season is a lot more enjoyable for Sheridan.
My biggest concern is that it looked to me like the WRs couldn't get open. Why? Did Maryland know the routes? Was the play calling too predictable? Did the WRs need to adjust their routes to counteract the coverage? Would hitting on the deep routes have opened up the coverage?
I almost never listen to the podcasts. I tuned in to hear this one because I'm an OLD guy, remember, very vividly, watching and attending football as far back as the 60s, and wanted to hear what you guys had to say about Coach Moeller. I almost didn't make it to the 5 minute mark because of all the childish banteer & inside jokes. I stopped listening and went to the comments where I saw yours. So, that's my feedback.
I've only watched small parts of 2-3 games, and I readily admit that I am not technically qualified to make any kind of in-depth assessment. However, it did seem to me that the team did not do well in response to full court pressure and had difficulties in-bounding the ball. Is it just me or did anyone else notice that?
I'm not a fan of either ND or Brian Kelly, but this is just flat-out wrong. ND almost always has one of the top10 most difficult football schedules and for many of the opponents, ND is their biggest rivalry game. So no, SOS is not the reason ND has had a tradition of winning.
I graduated in 1966. The 1969 game was much bigger. Bo was unproven, OSU was the top ranked team in the country (by far), UofM's football program did not have a winning tradition, and the result set the table for the 10-year war & 30+ years of winning.
I'm probably a minority, but I have not purchased tickets to attend a game for several years and no longer really support the program because:
The product on the field is very unsatisfactory to me personally - predictable, underachieving, and generally boring.
Ticket prices and related costs are out of line, IMO.
I view the facilities for UofM athletes as being over the top - they're like an upscale country club, IMO.
Most of the football players are not really students.
I see much of the UofM faculty, administration, and graduates as being pretty far left and generally supportive of policies and practices I oppose.
Overall, I no longer have the interest and passions in/for UofM that I once possessed. I'm pretty sure I won't be missed but I believe I'm not alone in my thinking.
Clinkscale seems to be the consensus "guy". However, the "significant stats" that were presented, showing his team's ranking for passing defense YPA, didn't jump out at me as being that impressive. The results were mixed - both high outcomes and low ratings. I found myself wondering what Zordich's stats were for the same time period. And, I also wondered if there were some other relevant stats to go by. I spent about 15 minutes trying to find comparable data but I couldn't do so.
Recent Comments
Regardless of who is QB#1, Jack Tuttle will be #2? Why? Because if QB#1 is not cutting the mustard in a game, the HC will want to go to a reliable back-up rather than bring in a high-risk unknown. Tuttle is a lower ceiling but higher floor alternative and I think that's what they would want at that particular situation.
I was surprised the QBs weren't more "ready". Why wouldn't they have been practicing, without coaches, in the off-season, in order to come into spring practice better prepared?
The NIL era is exactly what the Fab Five wanted. How's that working out?
Maybe this last departure is a further indication that those leaving don't have that much conficence in Sherrone Moore and the future at Michigan, moving forward. It seems like the possibility of a wholesale departure of most of the staff would have been checked out by the AD (and Sherrone) prior to Moore's promotion.
Jim Leonhard is currently being considered as the DC at Green Bay. He turned down the position in 2021 to remain at Wisconsin as their DC.
Badgers news: Jim Leonhard could earn coveted Packers DC gig - Bucky's 5th Quarter (buckys5thquarter.com)
I don't think there is any question about Leonhard's track record as a DC and he has an impressive career as a walkon who developed into an All-Big 10 DB and then a multiyear player in the pros.
I would expect the biggest issues are: Is he interested and does he fit with M's staff & vice-versa.
Don't know where you heard that Leonhard "stabbed Chryst in the back". I have some well-connected friends in Madison who say that is BS.
Well, in regards to your 1st paragraph, Leonhard grew up in the culture and philosophy that started with Barry Alvarez more than 30 years ago. He was a proven leader as demonstrated by his defenses, which were highly regarded by virtually everyone.
As for the 2nd paragraph, it's questionable if "blowing up" the program makes sense. The "program" did not "stink". It was developed by Barry Alvarez and was very successful over the years (29 bowl games since 1993). It historically featured a dominant OL, an elite RB, and a strong defense. Not elite, but successful.
Also, it wasn't Chryst's "program". He was not successful at running it but that's a different matter. The program (culture and philosophy) worked for Wisconsin.
Interesting that you are against bringing in a "shiny new regime" and a different HC ("scraping the program") yet that's exactly what W has done.
I agree with you, and I thought W should have kept Leonhard, but you missed my point. Like W, there should be a search for a HC and not just a handing off. And, I maintain that Leonhard had a better resume compared to Moore at the time of the HC leaving.
When Paul Chryst, Wisconsin's HC, was fired during the 2022 season, their Defensive Coordinator, Jim Leonhard, replaced him as interim HC. Leonhard had credentials (UW player, NFL player, and renowned Defensive Coordinator for multiple years) that far surpassed those of Sherrone Moore, but Wisconsin by-passed Leonhard and instead hired Luke Fickell as their new HC. I think Michigan should try to get the best possible person out there as HC. I don't know who that is, but UofM's AD should have a well-researched list as the current situation is not a surprise.
OSU is spending $13,000,000 on NIL:
Lane Kiffin Raises Eyebrows Over Ohio State's Reported NIL Spending Money (msn.com)
I've got an idea: Give a directive to the attorneys on both sides to "get it done" or they all get terminated.
A huge shout-out to Jesse Minter, his defensive schemes, and the players on defense, especially the "Front Seven", who were superb all year and carried the team again. I was especially impressed with Michigan being able to rotate so many players on defense every game. I think that ended up being huge in the 4th quarter on several occasions, including this one.
When Cazzie was a freshman, so was I. If people think the Yost Hockey Arena is loud, they should have have been at Yost Fieldhouse when Russell and Buntin played there. I've never experienced anything like it since. The Big 10 was stacked and the BB was great.
Part…
It's pretty simple.
Part one: Juwan's son, Jace, reacted very negatively to, or in the presence of Sanderson. I'm guessing it was pretty blatant, that Sanderson didn't let it pass, and that it was privileged behavior that's been around the BB program since Juwan took over. I think that for Sanderson, it was probably the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back as he saw the players' attitude adversely impacting his ability to conduct "Camp Sanderson".
Part two: it's either him or me and UofM chose to keep Juwan.
Had a chance to end the game. JJ is "off". Again. I don't understand how he can make such awful plays.
Thanks for your insights and willingness to talk, knowing that you will pay retribution for being correct in your analysis, and for pointing that out to those who don't like what you had to say. Some people really do not appreciate being proven wrong.
This whole episode is finally starting to make sense. Bad judgement by a couple of staff members and maybe an unwillingness to admit wrong-doing until backed into a corner?
Personally, I hope this brings all of the team members and coaching staff even closer together and helps them win out.
If UofM's 3 best OL are the two guards anc center, why not spread the distance between our OLine players, seal the DEs to the outside, and run up the middle, with the RB deciding which gap looks best?
Does this mean when UofM's OLine has to play a DLine one on one, they're not really that good?
JJ's last interception, heaving it downfield while he was running to the sideline, was eerily similar to the non-pick 6 interception he threw in the TCU game. That's troubling. I thought he learned he shouldn't make that throw, but I guess not. Hope he doesn't repeat that error in a big game.
1. Disagree. I found it to be a pwerful story - well written, with very good cinematography, music, and acting.
2. I believe the people behind this movie are actually trying to impact child trafficking which is more than I can say about most people in Hollywood or at the higher levels of our government.
3. What is a "Qanon guy"?
I coached (mainly U12) and refereed for about 25 years. My thoughts re you teaching younger players:
The most important skill a soccer player can develop is to dribble well.
Get a low-level coaching license.
Focus on one skill and divide practices into 3 segments: 1v1, small sides, scrimmage (they like this the most).
Add Bill Buntin to the list of centers better than Hunter Dickinson. I agree HD was 'good' but not a top 25 player in the history of UofM BB.
Very glad to see UofM focusing, once again, on recruiting Ohio. I remember 2-3 years ago when a large number of people on this blog dismissed that approach, preferring to concentrate on other geographic areas. Michigan succesfully recruited players from Ohio when Bump Elliott, Bo Schembechler, and Gary Moeller coached. Somwhere along the way, attention got shifted to a "National Focus" and I think that was a mistake. Nothing wrong with going after selected recruits outside of Ohio and the Midwest, but UofM always has a geographic with those closer to home, IMO.
Yep and I was at the game. UofM's Thom Darden went over the top of an OSU offensive player to intercept the ball and thwart an OSU drive near the end of the game. It caused Woody Hayes to rip up a sideline marker. At the time of the interception, my eyes were on Woody. Everyone who could stepped away from him, fearing what he might do. The poor guy holding the sidline marker couldn't move. Hilarious. I can still laugh as I recall what happened.
50 years ago, Thom Darden's interception triggered Woody's tirade, clinched Michigan win | Sandusky Register Sandusky native a standout at Michigan, sealed a win over Ohio State in 1971.
Unlike UofM, UGA's OL had no problem with TCU's DL.
Many of JJ's mistakes were caused by the OL which allowed TCU defenders to pressure him all night. JJ could not sit comfortably in the pocket and sometimes he scrambled too soon because of that pressure.
Who coaches UofM's OL? Where was he tonight?
Who coaches UofM's OL? Where was he tonight?
Agree. TCU's OL dominated our DL. Our DL got very little pressure on the TCU QB, who seemingly had all day to pick out his receivers.
I'm a believer in "Exit Interviews". If the person leaving is forthright/honest, the information can/should be helpful to the organization. I realize most people here feel like negative comments are "burning bridges" but maybe there is some merit to what All & McNamara are saying. Not sure if they shared their thought privately before going public. The fact that they were both elected captains is significant. IMO.
In 2021, after 4 years as Iowa's O-line coach, Tim Polasek left to become the OC at Wyoming. George Barnett took over. No idea about Iowa recruiting and developing O-linemen since, but it apparently hasn't gone well.
Biran Ferentz is the OC AND coaches QB so he's clearly the reason for the horrible Iowa offense and QBs.
If McNamara had JJ's arm or JJ had McNamara's brain...
Link: Wisconsin Football: Former 5-star tackle Logan Brown hits transfer portal after dismissal from team - Bucky's 5th Quarter (buckys5thquarter.com)
I'm glad to see Minnesota schedule a "Big Boy" game with arguably the best team in the SEC. Wish Michigan would do the same. Disappointed when the UCLA home and home was cancelled. Hawaii, Colorado State, and Connecticut just don't cut it.
I'll call it now. Turtle time. Anyone disagree?
Play calling is more than offensive. Much easier to defend when you know the play being called.
It's clear that Joel Klatt is not a UofM fan.
The offensive play calling is offensive.
What bothers me most is all of the gesturing by UofM players bringing attention to themselves when they think they've done something good (in a 10-10 tie with IU). I'd rather see them thinking about how they're going to help the team on the next play.
Nick Sheridan, former UofM QB, was fired as IU's OC in mid-November last year. Given the above, it appears he may not have been the problem. Maybe not the answer either. He's currently the TEs coach at the University of Washington. They're 4-1, so I'm betting this season is a lot more enjoyable for Sheridan.
My biggest concern is that it looked to me like the WRs couldn't get open. Why? Did Maryland know the routes? Was the play calling too predictable? Did the WRs need to adjust their routes to counteract the coverage? Would hitting on the deep routes have opened up the coverage?
I almost never listen to the podcasts. I tuned in to hear this one because I'm an OLD guy, remember, very vividly, watching and attending football as far back as the 60s, and wanted to hear what you guys had to say about Coach Moeller. I almost didn't make it to the 5 minute mark because of all the childish banteer & inside jokes. I stopped listening and went to the comments where I saw yours. So, that's my feedback.
Didn't Dexter get a new coach in 2018? Wonder if that coach is a candidate for a coaching position at UofM.
I've only watched small parts of 2-3 games, and I readily admit that I am not technically qualified to make any kind of in-depth assessment. However, it did seem to me that the team did not do well in response to full court pressure and had difficulties in-bounding the ball. Is it just me or did anyone else notice that?
double post
How much of this lack of defense is due to the absence of Luke Yaklich? Serious question.
I'm not a fan of either ND or Brian Kelly, but this is just flat-out wrong. ND almost always has one of the top10 most difficult football schedules and for many of the opponents, ND is their biggest rivalry game. So no, SOS is not the reason ND has had a tradition of winning.
I graduated in 1966. The 1969 game was much bigger. Bo was unproven, OSU was the top ranked team in the country (by far), UofM's football program did not have a winning tradition, and the result set the table for the 10-year war & 30+ years of winning.
I'm probably a minority, but I have not purchased tickets to attend a game for several years and no longer really support the program because:
Overall, I no longer have the interest and passions in/for UofM that I once possessed. I'm pretty sure I won't be missed but I believe I'm not alone in my thinking.
Clinkscale seems to be the consensus "guy". However, the "significant stats" that were presented, showing his team's ranking for passing defense YPA, didn't jump out at me as being that impressive. The results were mixed - both high outcomes and low ratings. I found myself wondering what Zordich's stats were for the same time period. And, I also wondered if there were some other relevant stats to go by. I spent about 15 minutes trying to find comparable data but I couldn't do so.