Now a moment for a few thoughts...

[Reality Man]

first for michnittlion...a quote from Harbaugh

"I think it will be a great use of our time. Our guys are all excited about it. There hasn’t been one complaint from any of our players. We’re looking forward to a good week."

Second, what is a football analyst? I am starting to like all this stuff and told my wife we need to adopt a pair of twin boys but only if they have high end athletic talent (genes) and then use them as a package deal for future employment opportunities. This PRO stuff is the way to get rich.

Third, love the move of Hill to fb. Great size and great athlete. Could be a star at new position. Love Harbaugh and how he puts the pieces of a puzzle together. If UM has a high end fullback next year and gets the running game going then that will take a little pressure off the qb.

Fourth...heard Gentry is staying at TE. I was never overly impressed with his qb skills/rating. I thought he had a really big arm and had good straight line speed but want to see the quick reads from a qb. Hope he succeeds...seems like a total team player.



RM

 

[michnittlion]

first for michnittlion...a quote from Harbaugh

"I think it will be a great use of our time. Our guys are all excited about it. There hasn’t been one complaint from any of our players. We’re looking forward to a good week."

Second, what is a football analyst? I am starting to like all this stuff and told my wife we need to adopt a pair of twin boys but only if they have high end athletic talent (genes) and then use them as a package deal for future employment opportunities. This PRO stuff is the way to get rich.

Third, love the move of Hill to fb. Great size and great athlete. Could be a star at new position. Love Harbaugh and how he puts the pieces of a puzzle together. If UM has a high end fullback next year and gets the running game going then that will take a little pressure off the qb.

Fourth...heard Gentry is staying at TE. I was never overly impressed with his qb skills/rating. I thought he had a really big arm and had good straight line speed but want to see the quick reads from a qb. Hope he succeeds...seems like a total team player.



RM

(1) Fair enough quote, but I don't think it necessarily means anything. Short of being 100.000% dead certain there was NO threat of retaliation --- there will be a "fear of retaliation." It takes some guts to speak up against your boss, especially if what you want to say is "I'd rather be downing shots and banging girls during my Spring Break instead of practicing football."

(2) Analyst --- they can say the job is about "breaking down game film and helping in camps" and such. But honestly: it's primarily about helping in recruiting. Bush won't be able to visit kids in their homes, but he can do everything else recruiting-wise.

Unpopular opinion here: but the Bush Sr signing as an "analyst" DOES smell a bit. Bush Sr appears to be a qualified coach ---- but if this had happened in Columbus, everyone would be yelling "quid pro quo!!!" People were certainly yelling that when MSU hired Gholston's dad as a "film analyst." But now: relative silence from the Michigan fan base.

But that is what it is.

On a "somewhat" side note: I'll bet $20 now that a current IMG football coach is on the U-M staff 12 months from now. Any takers?

 

[Reality Man]

How many 'analysts' can UM hire?

In regards to your bet....maybe. Let me chew on this...it sure looks like Harbaugh is going to 'game' the system. The SEC complaining about 'gaming' the system is like the Sonny Vacarro condemning the NCAA exploitation of college basketball players.



RM

 

[michnittlion]

How many 'analysts' can UM hire?


RM

I think infinitely many. No limits that I know of.

Penn State had Jim Haslett as some sort of "consultant" last year. First time I can ever remember such a position existing at PSU. I have 100% no idea what he actually did, but obviously it was something. I honestly loved that: "Consultant" is a bit like "Analyst" in terms of a title: it can mean just about anything.

I do think the "Consultant/Analyst" positions are a good way to have a "coach in reserve." PSU's defensive coordinator (Bob Shoop) almost left after 2014, and we hired Haslett in spring 2015. And Shoop did leave for Tennessee in January 2016: Haslett would have been a credible candidate except he had already left for a job with the Cincinnati Bengals a couple days before.

 

[TcFlint1]

Really like the Hill move to fullback. Cannot comment on Gentry's College Quarterbacking skills because we never saw him. However, with great competition at QB , and his size, we are absolutely loaded at Tight End.

 

[Reality Man]

Somebody mentioned that he would rather see Smith at fullback. Fair enough but I don't think Smith wants to play fb whereas Hill wants to see the field. Yes...he is big and can he run the ball...see the hole? Maybe...maybe not but he is big enough and a very good athlete. Worth the move. I like it and the upside seems to be there.


RM