Jim Harbaugh doesn't win as much as he does by luck, by accident, or by hitching up to an already rolling train. In fact, he's taken train wrecks (most notably Stanford and the San Francisco 49ers) and gotten everything back on track, via all the singularly focused intensity of Raymond Babbitt locking in on Judge Wapner and The People's Court.
He'll find a way. If there isn't one easily observable, he'll create it, via bulldozer, steamroller or Hellfire missile.
He rolled into Ann Arbor and couldn't have liked the looks of the quarterbacks room. Most coaches would have preached patience, expressed confidence in their guys and promised to do their level best. That's not good enough for Harbaugh. He wants to win, and he wants to win NOW. Nothing else (short of doing it within the rules) matters.
So he brought in three quarterbacks beyond the boys in the room. One of them, fifth-year senior Jake Rudock, is very likely to start in Michigan's tough opener at Utah. In fact, he could be the difference between winning that game and losing it.
The QB invasion certainly isn't Harbaugh's first, or even most important, move. The coaches he brought to Ann Arbor are at another level. Most of them came from another level, and they've demonstrated James Joseph's same commitment to and savvy in getting it done.
They've even got Erik "Soup" Campbell - one of Michigan's top coaches from the days when challenging for the Big Ten title and knocking off Ohio State proved fairly routine - working as an "operations assistant."
And make no mistake … they plan to operate.
So it wasn't any big surprise to hear Harbaugh confirm what many suspected: redshirt freshman Jabrill Peppers is going to get a crack at offense. Again, this isn't a complicated dynamic. Harbaugh wants to win. He knows how. He also knows he might have a tougher time doing so with the dearth of playmakers on offense at present.
Some say Michigan doesn't have any, and that's a little harsh. Junior running backs Derrick Green and De'Veon Smith have shown some flashes, and redshirt junior Drake Johnson certainly did before ripping up his ACL again against Ohio State. But none of them has put together a full season of demonstrating standout ability.
Part of that, of course, falls to the offensive line, which absolutely fed into the demise of the previous coaching staff. The new boss, Tim Drevno, has shown Harbaugh over and over and over that he's going to take an O-line and make it a force. That's what Harbaugh needs. That's what Harbaugh demands.
The wide receivers? Again, lots of hopin' and could-be projections, but no surefire studs … at this point. Yes, guys like freshman Brian Cole and redshirt freshman Drake Harris could emerge. Yes, veterans like redshirt juniors Amara Darboh and Jehu Chesson could take it up a notch.
But is any opposing player in Chicago over the next two days going to take a look at Michigan's roster and say, "Whoa, that guy is unstoppable. We will be aware of him at all times." Not likely. They'll murmur a nicety or two about junior tight end Jake Butt, because he's the name they'll remember. And then they'll move on.
Harbaugh stressed that to win on the road - something Michigan hasn't done with consistency in a long while - you have to "pack your defense." That's a good start, but you also have to score, and he knows that as well. Peppers could provide a jolt to an otherwise safe, perhaps plodding crew.
Some will say, "Oh, that's pathetic, pinning any hopes on a redshirt freshman who really hasn't done anything at this level. That's how far Michigan has sunk."
Two things about that. One, there isn't any question the Wolverines need help on offense, and if they were more strongly configured going in, Peppers' potential contributions - be they at slot receiver, wildcat quarterback, or even running back - might not make as much of a stir. But two, Harbaugh isn't into hopes and dreams.
He's seen Peppers perform. He's seen a lot of great players, and knows this one is special - physically gifted, smart, savvy. There's no wishing, crossing fingers, closing eyes and tapping heels together here. If Peppers stays healthy, he'll be really, really good.
And the guy throwing the switches - the guy who has to win like Great White sharks need to feed - knows it.
As an aside, it's interesting sitting down with him in a small group, nine or so beat reporters around a table, talking. No live tweeting. No video. Just a conversation. He's relatively open, and relaxed. Now, he's not going to sit there and tell you anything he doesn't want you to know. But it's very different than standing at a podium and being asked, breathlessly, for the 100th time, what it feels like to be the coach at his alma mater.
So he shared a little about his trip to Paris with wife Sarah. He said it's the first time the two of them have been away, no kids, for more than a couple of days. As hard as he works, he's also about executing the down time well, too.
"I was in a little period where I was learning from the Parisians," he said, quietly, with a hint of playfulness. "They kind of talk softer, and slower, and not quite as aggressive. So this is the new me. Hope you like it."
Everybody laughed, of course. The new Harbaugh, in a matter of days, is going to look and sound an awful lot like the old Harbaugh. The latter represents precisely what anyone caring about Michigan football wants to hear.
He'll find a way. If there isn't one easily observable, he'll create it, via bulldozer, steamroller or Hellfire missile.
He rolled into Ann Arbor and couldn't have liked the looks of the quarterbacks room. Most coaches would have preached patience, expressed confidence in their guys and promised to do their level best. That's not good enough for Harbaugh. He wants to win, and he wants to win NOW. Nothing else (short of doing it within the rules) matters.
So he brought in three quarterbacks beyond the boys in the room. One of them, fifth-year senior Jake Rudock, is very likely to start in Michigan's tough opener at Utah. In fact, he could be the difference between winning that game and losing it.
The QB invasion certainly isn't Harbaugh's first, or even most important, move. The coaches he brought to Ann Arbor are at another level. Most of them came from another level, and they've demonstrated James Joseph's same commitment to and savvy in getting it done.
They've even got Erik "Soup" Campbell - one of Michigan's top coaches from the days when challenging for the Big Ten title and knocking off Ohio State proved fairly routine - working as an "operations assistant."
And make no mistake … they plan to operate.
So it wasn't any big surprise to hear Harbaugh confirm what many suspected: redshirt freshman Jabrill Peppers is going to get a crack at offense. Again, this isn't a complicated dynamic. Harbaugh wants to win. He knows how. He also knows he might have a tougher time doing so with the dearth of playmakers on offense at present.
Some say Michigan doesn't have any, and that's a little harsh. Junior running backs Derrick Green and De'Veon Smith have shown some flashes, and redshirt junior Drake Johnson certainly did before ripping up his ACL again against Ohio State. But none of them has put together a full season of demonstrating standout ability.
Part of that, of course, falls to the offensive line, which absolutely fed into the demise of the previous coaching staff. The new boss, Tim Drevno, has shown Harbaugh over and over and over that he's going to take an O-line and make it a force. That's what Harbaugh needs. That's what Harbaugh demands.
The wide receivers? Again, lots of hopin' and could-be projections, but no surefire studs … at this point. Yes, guys like freshman Brian Cole and redshirt freshman Drake Harris could emerge. Yes, veterans like redshirt juniors Amara Darboh and Jehu Chesson could take it up a notch.
But is any opposing player in Chicago over the next two days going to take a look at Michigan's roster and say, "Whoa, that guy is unstoppable. We will be aware of him at all times." Not likely. They'll murmur a nicety or two about junior tight end Jake Butt, because he's the name they'll remember. And then they'll move on.
Harbaugh stressed that to win on the road - something Michigan hasn't done with consistency in a long while - you have to "pack your defense." That's a good start, but you also have to score, and he knows that as well. Peppers could provide a jolt to an otherwise safe, perhaps plodding crew.
Some will say, "Oh, that's pathetic, pinning any hopes on a redshirt freshman who really hasn't done anything at this level. That's how far Michigan has sunk."
Two things about that. One, there isn't any question the Wolverines need help on offense, and if they were more strongly configured going in, Peppers' potential contributions - be they at slot receiver, wildcat quarterback, or even running back - might not make as much of a stir. But two, Harbaugh isn't into hopes and dreams.
He's seen Peppers perform. He's seen a lot of great players, and knows this one is special - physically gifted, smart, savvy. There's no wishing, crossing fingers, closing eyes and tapping heels together here. If Peppers stays healthy, he'll be really, really good.
And the guy throwing the switches - the guy who has to win like Great White sharks need to feed - knows it.
As an aside, it's interesting sitting down with him in a small group, nine or so beat reporters around a table, talking. No live tweeting. No video. Just a conversation. He's relatively open, and relaxed. Now, he's not going to sit there and tell you anything he doesn't want you to know. But it's very different than standing at a podium and being asked, breathlessly, for the 100th time, what it feels like to be the coach at his alma mater.
So he shared a little about his trip to Paris with wife Sarah. He said it's the first time the two of them have been away, no kids, for more than a couple of days. As hard as he works, he's also about executing the down time well, too.
"I was in a little period where I was learning from the Parisians," he said, quietly, with a hint of playfulness. "They kind of talk softer, and slower, and not quite as aggressive. So this is the new me. Hope you like it."
Everybody laughed, of course. The new Harbaugh, in a matter of days, is going to look and sound an awful lot like the old Harbaugh. The latter represents precisely what anyone caring about Michigan football wants to hear.
