Don Brown gone from Michigan?

[formerlurker]

Seems like it's inevitable..

U-M fires DC Brown after 5 seasons, source says

Michigan has fired defensive coordinator Don Brown, a source confirmed to ESPN.

www.espn.com

Took Harbaugh longer than I thought to pass the buck:

Week 11 game thread

Is it really that crazy? I thought most thought this type of a scheduling outcome was highly likely. It’s crazy in that they’re still trying to go for it and salvage what they can, it’s giving off powerful “this is fine” energy.

www.the-boneyard.com

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

Brown was a good DC for a school like UConn. He had a one trick defense that was good against bad to average teams. In general his defenses were fun to watch. But.. that defense loved to give up third and long with those blitzes.

If they are making this decision, I would have to think that means Harbaugh is getting an extension.

 

[formerlurker]

Brown was a good DC for a school like UConn. He had a one trick defense that was good against bad to average teams. In general his defenses were fun to watch. But.. that defense loved to give up third and long with those blitzes.

If they are making this decision, I would have to think that means Harbaugh is getting an extension.

I agree with everything you wrote, well said. DB did have a few good years at UM though.

 

[huskymedic]

Wonder if Don Brown likes Boudin and Gumbo?

 

[Hoophound]

I’d hire Brown as UConn DC in a millisecond.

 

[The Viking]

My memory and timing may be all over the place but I recall Brown as our DC when we upset Louisville and bludgeoned Bridgewater in doing so. Seem to recall that was around the time the ACC was deciding between us and Louisville. But maybe my memory is off a bit.
Gained a lot of respect for bridgewater getting hurt and playing through that beating our defense gave him

 

[Hoophound]

When DB was our DC, defense was far more exciting than offense. It was awesome.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Wonder if Don Brown likes Boudin and Gumbo?

No way he ends up at LSU.

 

[Bongo Fury]

He’s been a successful coach. UConn was a disappointment when he was here but the defense wasn’t.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

He had a lot of future NFL level talent when he was here.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Brown was a good DC for a school like UConn. He had a one trick defense that was good against bad to average teams. In general his defenses were fun to watch. But.. that defense loved to give up third and long with those blitzes.

If they are making this decision, I would have to think that means Harbaugh is getting an extension.

I think this is the best observation. His break the bank aggressiveness works good when an offense only has 1-2 players who are top level performers. Start playing high level P5 where every player on offense is a threat and it becomes easier to pick apart the aggressiveness and find the holes in the D.

 

[DoctorWho85]

Brown did well here, but his defense was always giving up big plays. I'll take Orlando's defense over Brown's every day of the week and twice on Saturdays.

 

[UConnJim]

Brown did a great job at Michigan and his defenses have really kept Michigan competitive, but something happened this year. Here is how his defenses ranked:

2016: Total defense 1, Scoring defense 2
2017: Total defense 3, Scoring defense 13
2018: Total defense 2, Scoring defense 16
2019: Total defense 11, Scoring defense 25
2020: Total defense 84, Scoring defense 96

Harbaugh's offenses have not been that successful at Michigan which is the main problem. Look at the rankings:

2016: Total offense 58, Scoring offense 11
2016: Total offense 105, Scoring offense 91
2016: Total offense 50, Scoring offense 21
2016: Total offense 68, Scoring offense 44
2016: Total offense 78, Scoring offense 68

Add in that Ohio State's recruiting has been much better than Michigan's since Harbaugh became head coach. In that time frame, Ohio State's recruiting classes have ranked higher every year but 1 and OSU has recruited 20 5-stars to Michigan's 6.

 

[Waquoit]

Brown did a great job at Michigan and his defenses have really kept Michigan competitive, but something happened this year. Here is how his defenses ranked:

2016: Total defense 1, Scoring defense 2
2017: Total defense 3, Scoring defense 13
2018: Total defense 2, Scoring defense 16
2019: Total defense 11, Scoring defense 25
2020: Total defense 84, Scoring defense 96

Hard to believe that's coaching. Like you alluded to, that's looks like recruiting.

 

[hardcorehusky]

For Brown's defense to work properly, you need speed and good linebackers. Yawin Smallwood looked like a surefire pro in that D. But, that is something that our D has not had for years. At this point, he would be a bad fit scheme wise.

 

[Hoophound]

For Brown's defense to work properly, you need speed and good linebackers. Yawin Smallwood looked like a surefire pro in that D. But, that is something that our D has not had for years. At this point, he would be a bad fit scheme wise.

Randy recruited almost all of that talent, so he should be able to figure it out. Recruiting has picked up as an independent and one thing Randy generally knows is how to find athletes. I just love the aggression. I’ve never been a fan of any other team in any sport that played such great D that I preferred watching it to scoring points. (Although, that D scored points)

 

[LoyalFanCT]

Randy recruited almost all of that talent, so he should be able to figure it out. Recruiting has picked up as an independent and one thing Randy generally knows is how to find athletes. I just love the aggression. I’ve never been a fan of any other team in any sport that played such great D that I preferred watching it to scoring points. (Although, that D scored points)

Was Randy a great recruiter during his first term here, or was he superb at taking second-tier athletes and making them into first-tier football players? So far, he has not done that in his second-term, and I am, along with some others on The Boneyard, growing impatient for change. If we did not care about accountability, Randy has a lot to offer as a coach. But a better than winning record is what UConn needs in the 2020s.

 

[Hoophound]

Was Randy a great recruiter during his first term here, or was he superb at taking second-tier athletes and making them into first-tier football players? So far, he has not done that in his second-term, and I am, along with some others on The Boneyard, growing impatient for change. If we did not care about accountability, Randy has a lot to offer as a coach. But a better than winning record is what UConn needs in the 2020s.

I think Randy can find football players. Whether or not he can win games with them is my greater concern. The game is a lot different than it was 10 or 15 years ago. We can’t pound the ball up the middle behind a huge offensive line like we used to and win a lot of games. He’s got to embrace the modern game and open up the offense.

I still think he can put together a very physical and capable defense in terms of athletes though. Don Brown would just make them better.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

I think Brown's defenses are predicated on very good CB play. Leaves them in man coverage. Sink or swim
Allows the FS making plays against the run. Allows him to be creative with the front 7. He had everything here. 2 NFL DTs, NFL speed rush end, 2 NFL LBs, 2 NFL CBs, NFL FS and Tymeer Brown who was pretty good and when he got hurt I think he brought in Andrew Adam's, another NFL guy. Then left after Rutgers and Louisville announced they were leaving. He's no dummy. He wasn't getting the level of play from his DBs, that's why his D took a dive at UM.

 

[Uconnalliance]

The list of Solid coaches this school has had is amazing, he was one I enjoyed

 

[Watchdog]

The list of Solid coaches this school has had is amazing, he was one I enjoyed

All the way back to the 60's when we had three NFL coaches at one time: Forzano, Rutigliano and one other who's name escapes me.

 

[huskymedic]

All the way back to the 60's when we had three NFL coaches at one time: Forzano, Rutigliano and one other who's name escapes me.

Lou Holtz

 

[jdb50]

The list of Solid coaches this school has had is amazing, he was one I enjoyed

The Giants current O-line coach Dave DeGuglielmo (97-98) was here as well as Steve Spagnuolo (87-91).

 

[SU1968]

It's fun to see what former assistant coaches have done at other schools, for better or worse.

The Syracuse list includes:
Major Applewhite
Tom Coughlin
Duffy Daugherty
Lester Dye
Doug Marrone
George O'Leary
Ed Ogeron
Nick Saban
Bud Wilkinson and, since it's the season for giving, Syracuse's gifts to UConn:
George DeLeone
Randy Edsall
Paul Pasqualoni

 

[uconndogs]

Was DeLeone a gift or subterfuge?