How Clemson Did It
Again, Swinney has proven that
he knows what he wasn’t going to get from Bama’s Defense: Any run game what-so-ever. Knowing that and simply giving it up became
a very “freeing” decision once it was made and Clemson stuck to their Spread
Offense guns. Lawrence would be
free to make mistakes (he didn’t) and Clemson would continue to throw and pick
their way down the field with 4 receiver sets and no tight ends. Not to mention they threw to Entienne several times as well…Up to the 4th
quarter, Clemson only rushed the ball 15 times.
15 rushing attempts. In a National Title Game…
The question is: How many other coaches would have the guts
to do that at the collegiate level?
Harbaugh is about a million light years away from that kind of
strategy. And until we can accept that and deal with
it, it’s going to be hard to be a Michigan fan.
Or any other fan for that
matter.
I guess what was most
surprising to me was the level at which Clemson, who had been rushing the ball in
a balanced attack with Tight Ends all season, was able to execute this offense. But there’s one thing I’ve learned and seen
with Frosh
QB’s all over the NCAA that have come right out of the 7 on 7 AAU leagues: They can all chuck the pigskin around and
they certainly aren’t afraid to throw it.
At times, it seems like as
these players mature (and take a beating with a bad game or some INT’s) they
get a little more gun-shy and aren’t quite as ready to heave it up for a 50-50%
to their ace receiver. But the guys who
can, well, that’s who’s going to dominate CFB moving forward.
I’ve seen the future. The future is now.
And if you’re still running 2 or
3 tight ends and an unbalanced line, my offense will just come back and find
whatever weakness your defense is giving me.
Even if you try and drop 8 men back in a zone. I’ll find a way with the speed and talent I
have at the receiver position.
Kingsbury And USC’s Difficult
Lesson
I know Michigan has lost
assistant coaches. But what happened at USC is
something everyone can learn from. Lynn
Swann, a genius a politicking, got totally screwed by the business world that
is the NFL. Swann and Helton
hired Kingsbury who had been fired by his alma mater at the end of the
season. Swann and Helton looked
brilliant grabbing up Kliff and making him the OC (I was secretly wishing AGAIN
that Harbaugh was paying attention and that Kingsbury was out there and
available!). However, where Swanny
really F’d up was not putting Kingsbury on a solid contract with a meatier
buy-out. Sure, he was a head coach with a
losing record, but he had groomed Mahomes and Mayfield and turned them into NFL
Prodigies. Don’t think the NFL isn’t
paying attention to stuff like that.
So, when the NFL came calling Swann tried denying them the right to
interview Kliff. KK simply said, “See
ya!” and took the HC job at Arizona.
And all it’ll cost him is
$150K.
Swanny should have made the bold
move and canned Helton and hired KK to the HC position at USC. Then, he could have used his influence to go
out and hire the best DC they could find. Which is exactly what Arizona will do.
I doubt Kliff will even know
who the DC is once he’s hired at Arizona…
I sent out my post notice on
Monday and soon after the following Tweet emerged that Washington was also going
to THE STU. This one shouldn’t be that big
of a surprise to anyone as Washington was a huge get last year but he’s an ohio
guy and his dad played for THE STU.
Still, two guys leaving the Michigan Locker Room for THE STU has
to be disturbing for the remaining players and to a potentially greater extent,
the coaches.
I’ve been scratching my head
trying to piece together the tea leaves and something isn’t making a ton of
sense. Either there’s a Don Brown Issue
on Defense or there’s a Harbaugh issue.
McElwain leaving wasn’t a concern or a surprise, but still, he was only
there a very short time and jumped at a lesser HC job then what he had
been doing. Yes, the Florida situation was
still lingering, but in another year or two I think McElwain would have had
better opportunities at a major D1 Job or potentially an NFL gig.
To date: Michigan is technically “down” three Coaches
with the following people still on staff:
I guess poaching Warriner last season
really pissed off Urban Liar. Whatever.
Michigan needs a D-Line Coach,
An OC and a LB Coach.
I’m wondering if not having an
OC is part of the problem. There might
be guys (McElwain) that were not happy with that arrangement and the defensive
guys see it too. It’s time for JH to
take a long hard look at what the successful guys are doing and
how to mimic them a little more closely.
Jeff Scott and Tony Elliot (Clemson Co OC’s and both Clemson Grads)
immediately come to mind as potentials. I know, going after the NC OC’s isn’t a
new or novel idea and they would come with a hefty price tag, but still.
Something’s gotta’ give…
Hoops Preview Tomorrow!
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