Give me the ONE thing that Harbaugh has done that impresses you...

[Reality Man]

there are many things but the ONE thing that Harbaugh does that is brilliant is that he uses his entire roster to foster competition at every spot. You could be 3rd string and work hard and play well during the week and you will see time.

It's the carrot or the stick and it seems like he prefers the carrot. I mean instead of saying to 'x' player you are not playing well enough he just tries to get other players to push the player at the spot. Basically I can replace you with these other guys so get better or you will be on the bench. I don't care if you are a senior or frosh...best player plays and it's day to day.

He wasn't joking when he said it's a meritocracy.


RM

 

[ecrosswhite]

He hired the NJ HS coach and locked in top recruits in the nation with that move (Garry #1 overall and Walker#1 running back in the nation).

 

[ArrowheadBlue]

Is not afraid to hire solid assistants who, in turn, crank out very respectable players

 

[Doneoett]

Utilizes the fullback.

 

[Reality Man]

That is a really good one actually. Quick traps. It's like he forces the opponent to play the run and move up the lb'ers to play these physical fb's. Let's be honest...it's tough to tackle and bring down some 240 lb fb and then it opens up the underneath passing with play action fakes.

Harbaugh clearly learned under Schembechler that the fb is good for quick traps and to open up the middle of the field.


RM

 

[klemman]

Interesting thing with the so-called conventional pro set offense with the fullback, has become the odd offense in college football. That's not to demean it, as now opposing defenses need to change how they normally do things to prepare for the Wolverines and opposing defenses end up practicing against their own spread offense's that aren't very good at it. That presents an advantage for the Michigan offense. On the flip side, your defense doesn't get the practice against the spread.

Against lesser talented teams it doesn't matter. Against equally talented teams it's a wash. But there's little doubt that Harbaugh as a QB in the 80's and playing and coaching in the NFL when snapping the ball in the shotgun was limited to third and long and 2 minute drills, he know's this type of offense as good if not better than any other coach in college football.

 

[alfadriver]

To me, it's very clear that he puts a lot of emphasis for him and his staff to TEACH.

Dirkin is a good guy and a good coach, but you can see the team taking different techniques this year- from the rush style to coverage. So it's really obvious that Don Brown and is team have spent a lot of time teaching the players the techniques that make the system work.

Same can be said for the offense, but now that it's in the 2nd year, it's not so obvious as last year.

The team is constantly working to get better- and a lot of that is core teaching from the coaches.

 

[anon_sg4bgyiuileo1]

Listen to what the players say in post game interviews. Confident but always saying there is a lot of work to be done. They talk about the team more than themselves.

That's all on Harbaugh and the coaching staff.

 

[Reality Man]

Interesting thing with the so-called conventional pro set offense with the fullback, has become the odd offense in college football. That's not to demean it, as now opposing defenses need to change how they normally do things to prepare for the Wolverines and opposing defenses end up practicing against their own spread offense's that aren't very good at it. That presents an advantage for the Michigan offense. On the flip side, your defense doesn't get the practice against the spread.

Against lesser talented teams it doesn't matter. Against equally talented teams it's a wash. But there's little doubt that Harbaugh as a QB in the 80's and playing and coaching in the NFL when snapping the ball in the shotgun was limited to third and long and 2 minute drills, he know's this type of offense as good if not better than any other coach in college football.

I remember saying something to this effect back in the RR era because ONE of the reasons was the defense was always practicing against a quirky offensive scheme. Don't get me wrong...talent was part of it but a team like Wisconsin had such an easy time against a team that just lined up and smacked them inside the tackles.

Now you will probably appreciate the following and I agree with your comments in it's entirety but the difference with Harbaugh is he will be able to prep his defense with a more spread attack. He has the athletes and can run a different offense. See Peppers. He puts Peppers at qb. When the OSU game comes up...something tells me the week before Peppers is going to be practicing as the run spread qb and then to mimic the passing spread by having 5 wr sets.

Harbaugh is innovative and will have this team prepared for the OSU offense to give them a shot.



RM

 

[GoBlue_since1985]

I like how he's created an atmosphere of competition among the players, but also an atmosphere of teamwork and togetherness. You're always seeing the players giving each other props.

 

[klemman]

I remember saying something to this effect back in the RR era because ONE of the reasons was the defense was always practicing against a quirky offensive scheme. Don't get me wrong...talent was part of it but a team like Wisconsin had such an easy time against a team that just lined up and smacked them inside the tackles.

Now you will probably appreciate the following and I agree with your comments in it's entirety but the difference with Harbaugh is he will be able to prep his defense with a more spread attack. He has the athletes and can run a different offense. See Peppers. He puts Peppers at qb. When the OSU game comes up...something tells me the week before Peppers is going to be practicing as the run spread qb and then to mimic the passing spread by having 5 wr sets.

Harbaugh is innovative and will have this team prepared for the OSU offense to give them a shot.



RM

Reality Man, I see what you're saying about Harbaugh being able to run better scout team because of athletes, forcing the defense to make plays in space, but it's difficult to simulate the scheme at it's best if you don't practice it. Same goes for a team like OSU which since it plays a power spread, they are better able to handle the power running up the middle simulation, but they don't really have a fullback on the team.

Where I think Michigan facing a spread has an advantage as say a Purdue, or even a Wisconsin, is that the Wolverines have perimeter speed on D. As I said, against spread teams with equivalent physical talent like OSU or Clemson, it's a wash for both the spread team and the conventional pro-set team. I think the difference in the OSU/Michigan game this year isn't scheme, talent, or coaching. It's who has a better day.

 

[wolverines74]

"Coach up", develop his players. GBGB"74

 

[detroitjohn]

One clear thing Harbaugh has brought to the table is to put lesser opponents away expediently. Consistently in his two years here, except for Indiana and Minnesota last year (which may have been at that point equivalent teams and I put struggles with them down to injury issues on the DL and QB vs Minny) when UM faced a team it should beat they have put their boot on that team's throat and not released it.

The result is that you don't exhaust your team for 60 minutes playing with a team that you should beat, you rest starters, you give backups invaluable reps, you don't fret about why you struggled, you keep your focus on the real schedule threats, and you exude confidence, an invaluable commodity in college football. That one thing has shifted the football culture at UM from mediocrity to meritocratic excellence.

Damn it, we're 18 months into his time and our team's culture has changed from pathetic underachievers to a top 5 program that is aiming at a Big 10 championship and playoff run. Couldn't be prouder of what his leadership and I think the sky is the limit.

 

[GoBlue_since1985]

I love how he's using his RB's. The way he rotates them out, keeping them fresh.

 

[ecrosswhite]

I think he is way more aggressive with his play calling and the flexible balance he uses between Pass/Run is amazing. He truly takes what's there and forces the other team to swollow it dry.

 

[Reality Man]

Reality Man, I see what you're saying about Harbaugh being able to run better scout team because of athletes, forcing the defense to make plays in space, but it's difficult to simulate the scheme at it's best if you don't practice it. Same goes for a team like OSU which since it plays a power spread, they are better able to handle the power running up the middle simulation, but they don't really have a fullback on the team.

Where I think Michigan facing a spread has an advantage as say a Purdue, or even a Wisconsin, is that the Wolverines have perimeter speed on D. As I said, against spread teams with equivalent physical talent like OSU or Clemson, it's a wash for both the spread team and the conventional pro-set team. I think the difference in the OSU/Michigan game this year isn't scheme, talent, or coaching. It's who has a better day.

Agree.

 

[Reality Man]

I love how he's using his RB's. The way he rotates them out, keeping them fresh.

True but I think he does this to truly motivate the kids to push themselves. Look at Isaac...he got the message he was going to do it the Harbaugh way or he was never going to see the field.


RM

 

[Reality Man]

One clear thing Harbaugh has brought to the table is to put lesser opponents away expediently. Consistently in his two years here, except for Indiana and Minnesota last year (which may have been at that point equivalent teams and I put struggles with them down to injury issues on the DL and QB vs Minny) when UM faced a team it should beat they have put their boot on that team's throat and not released it.

The result is that you don't exhaust your team for 60 minutes playing with a team that you should beat, you rest starters, you give backups invaluable reps, you don't fret about why you struggled, you keep your focus on the real schedule threats, and you exude confidence, an invaluable commodity in college football. That one thing has shifted the football culture at UM from mediocrity to meritocratic excellence.

Damn it, we're 18 months into his time and our team's culture has changed from pathetic underachievers to a top 5 program that is aiming at a Big 10 championship and playoff run. Couldn't be prouder of what his leadership and I think the sky is the limit.

Good point. He does the opposite of Carr. He wants to knock you down and plays 4 qtrs. since he believes the better players will win most of the time if given more time to perform whereas Carr was afraid to make the mistake and didn't maximize his talent advantage because the time frame to perform would be shortened.

The fact that the main guys got a 1/2 off of football plus the bye week should hopefully refresh these guys...especially in the middle of the season. That is a way to shorten the season although these guys go hard in practice so maybe Harbaugh knows he needs more guys to run his 'grinder' season.


RM

 

[GoBlue_since1985]

True but I think he does this to truly motivate the kids to push themselves. Look at Isaac...he got the message he was going to do it the Harbaugh way or he was never going to see the field.


RM

Well thats how it should be. The players realize that thats the only way they'll succeed.

 

[JP2Blue]

I think he is way more aggressive with his play calling and the flexible balance he uses between Pass/Run is amazing. He truly takes what's there and forces the other team to swollow it dry.

I would agree with this. If you are stacking the box against the run, then Harbaugh will go to the air. He's not too stubborn to say we have to do this or that, he will exploit the defense both by air and ground - whatever is working.

 

[League]

Win

 

[ecrosswhite]

Win

I like that a lot

 

[llhcatsports]

I like the way he handles the media and doesn't give a rip what anyone else thinks of his ways of doing things, like climbing trees and having sleepovers with recruits that he wants. He is crazy....like a fox....and who cares what he does that seems unusual, the guy knows how to win. I really missed winning seasons during the past 8 years or so. Got really tired of $harty fans dissing Michigan football. And since I live in Michigan, I sure heard of lot of crap from those guys and gals who thought college football began in 2008. But for some strange reason, I haven't heard a thing from them this year. Funny how that works.

 

[GoBlue_since1985]

I like the way he handles the media and doesn't give a rip what anyone else thinks of his ways of doing things, like climbing trees and having sleepovers with recruits that he wants. He is crazy....like a fox....and who cares what he does that seems unusual, the guy knows how to win. I really missed winning seasons during the past 8 years or so. Got really tired of $harty fans dissing Michigan football. And since I live in Michigan, I sure heard of lot of crap from those guys and gals who thought college football began in 2008. But for some strange reason, I haven't heard a thing from them this year. Funny how that works.

He's a damn innovator!
There really is no other coach like him.
He knows WHEN AND WHEN NOT to give a rip lol.
He's a straight up gangsta.

 

[BigHouseBallin]

player development (especially QB), play calling, in game adjustments....