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Michigan football: Grading Wolverines’ offensive coaching staff through 4 games
By Adam Biggers
Published:
Undefeated looks good on Michigan, even if it needed a wake-up call before pulling off a 20-13 win Saturday over Rutgers in Ann Arbor.
The Scarlet Knights, who were 3-0 before the loss, gave the then-No. 19 Wolverines quite the scare at The Big House. For a moment in the third quarter, it looked as if they just might find a way to shock them.
A fumble recovery by LB Junior Colson in the fourth sealed the deal for Michigan, which faces Wisconsin this Saturday in Madison. It was an ugly victory, but it still tallies in the “W” column for coach Jim Harbaugh, who is 4-0 for the first time since the 2017 season.
Since we’re roughly one-third through the season, it’s time to look at how the coaches — instead of the players — have performed. Their grades are indicative of their group’s performance, such as stats and overall impact, but they’ll also be measured by progress.
Today, we start with the offensive coaches. Defense and special teams will also be graded this week, so be sure to return for those assessments.
Mike Hart with the running backs, Josh Gattis and Sherrone Moore as offensive coordinators, Matt Weiss with the QBs and Jay Harbaugh with the TEs — Michigan has an impressive list of young coaches who are helping to reshape the program.
But how have they done so far? Let’s dig in.
Mike Hart, RB: A+
Entering Saturday, the Wolverines had the No. 1-ranked rushing offense in the NCAA, highlighted by RBs Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins. Though they weren’t dominant vs. Rutgers, they did contribute to the victory — especially Haskins, who had 1- and 4-yard TD runs to help vault the Wolverines to a 20-13 edge.
Without Corum and Haskins, the Wolverines would be without 13 of their 17 touchdowns. Freshman RB Donovan Edwards, who didn’t have a carry against Rutgers, has scored twice. So, 15 of 17 TDs have been because of running backs, warranting an A+ for Hart, a former UM star ball-carrier.
Josh Gattis/Sherrone Moore, OC: B-
Better QB play will up this grade, eventually, but there still remains a lot to be seen from the Wolverines’ offense, which has been run-heavy and somewhat predictable this season. But hey, if it works, it works — right?
Cade McNamara is still the right choice for UM, despite having his worst game in a Wolverines uniform this past Saturday against the Scarlet Knights.
Yeah, the stat line shows that he threw for a season-high 163 yards, completing 9 of 16 pass attempts. He didn’t throw a pick, which was a plus, but he had trouble finding receivers. A few over/underthrown balls contributed to just above 50 percent completion. Had he been more accurate, he likely would have been 11 or 12 for 16 on the day.
Play-calling hasn’t been too exciting — rather bland and vanilla, actually. But UM is still 4-0 and in possession of one of the Big Ten’s top offenses, statistically speaking. Entering Saturday, UM had the No. 11-ranked total offense in college football, averaging 514.7 yards per game. Only Michigan State and Ohio State were ranked higher, in terms of B1G teams in the national rankings for total offense.
They’re both Co-OC, but Moore also focuses his attention on the O-line, which has allowed just 1 sack and cleared the way for one of the best rushing attacks in the nation.
Matt Weiss, QBs: B-
New QB coach Matt Weiss is the guy responsible for the majority of duties with the quarterbacks. As a position coach, he gets more 1-on-1 time with them than anyone.
He’s new. Cade is new-ish.
Things will take time to properly formulate and progress.
Ordinarily, based on numbers and the lack of “wow” factor, Weiss would be in line to receive an average grade, a C. However, true freshman QB JJ McCarthy has made the most of his time — notably a 69-yard TD toss to WR Daylen Baldwin in Week 1 — when subbing in for McNamara. In Week 1, McCarthy started the second half vs. Western Michigan and completed 4 of 6 passes for 80 yards.
The UM faithful want to see more of the new kid on the block, but McNamara remains in control until further notice.
Jay Harbaugh, TEs: C+
Jay Harbaugh has coached just about everything on offense since joining his father 7 years ago in Ann Arbor. He’s mentored RBs, TEs and special teams. Today, he’s in control of TE/ST, but we’re only going to grade his tight ends for this piece. Special teams will be included in grades later this week.
In the past, Michigan has heavily relied on TEs for success. Remember Jake Butt? Zack Gentry? Sean McKeon? Those guys were major components to the offense, both by catching the ball and providing blocking for RBs and WRs. Honestly, it was expected for a TE to quickly establish himself as a weapon for UM this year. So far, very little has been shown.
Is that by design? Will the TEs be more active in pass-catching down the road?
This past Saturday, Erick All — who had a case of the drops last season — caught a 24-yard pass from McNamara, the longest reception by a TE this season for Michigan. Luke Schoonmaker also figures to be a threat at the position, and so does Joel Honigford, a converted offensive tackle.
All has 6 catches for 69 yards this season — a quiet 6 catches, actually.
Schoonmaker and Honigford have yet to catch a ball. Honigford was targeted vs. Rutgers but couldn’t reel in the catch.
Of course, Michigan has TEs who do different jobs. There is the blocker and there is the catcher. All is the catcher through 4 games. Honigford and Schoonmaker deserve some attention for their run-block and pass-protection, but they’ll need to make impacts with catches to boost stats and help the Wolverines offense diversify and grow past just a run, run, run, short-pass, occasional bomb, then repeat type of offense.
Adam Biggers brings his expertise on the Michigan beat to Saturday Tradition. Follow him on Twitter @AdamBiggers81.