Al Borges : All posts

Russell Bellomy's no 'Shoelace,' but his QB aptitude and confidence has Michigan excited

Michigan football quarterback Russell Bellomy has impressed coaches with his ability to learn quickly and play confident.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

When reporters and photographers were ushered into Al Glick Field House on Sunday for the Michigan football team's annual media day, a small open door framed a portrait of who, exactly, people were there to see.

Standing outside in the bright sunshine for a photo shoot was senior quarterback Denard Robinson, sporting his trademark smile and long flowing dreadlocks, and junior signal-caller Devin Gardner, who accompanied his freshly cut mohawk with a slick pair of sunglasses.

Robinson and Gardner have done this before, they know the drill.

Some 50 feet inside the building, cautiously taking questions from a handful of reporters for the first time ever at Michigan was Bellomy.

There were no sunglasses. No mohawk. No ear-to-ear grin.

Al Borges says Devin Gardner's situation is different than Charles Woodson's two-position run in '97

Michigan offensive coordinator Al Borges says Devin Gardner's role as a wide receiver is still very much a work in progress.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

In fact, he got an up-close and personal look at the Michigan football program's most famous modern two-spot star in 1997.

"When I was (an assistant) at UCLA, we came here when they had Charles Woodson," the second-year Michigan offensive coordinator recalled. "We came in the spring, and we were curious because we had a kid we were curious about doing similar stuff with."

DC Greg Mattison to finish his career at Michigan, OC Al Borges could do same

Coordinator Greg Mattison, the architect of Michigan's revamped defense, says he will finish his long career in football with the Wolverines.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

College football coaches put in hours that would make heads of state blush. And yet, given a few days off last month to vacation at his lakehouse on the state's west side, Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison couldn't help himself.

He cut his holiday a few days short to return to his Schembechler Hall office early -- even though he knew he would be relegated to watching film, since he can't yet work with players.

And that's how he knows he's still got it.

Michigan offensive coordinator Al Borges says handling expectations in 2012 will be tough

Michigan offensive coordinator Al Borges says handling high expectations next season may be impossible.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

During his first year as an offensive coordinator at Auburn in 2004, Borges helped the Tigers go 13-0.

The minute that season ended, the talk wasn't so much about how amazing the previous campaign was, but more about what the encore would be.

"When I was at Auburn, we started 13-0, which was absolutely awesome, 99.9 percent of it was great," Borges told Birmingham, Ala.'s Jox 94.5 FM on Thursday. "But there was the one percent that was like 'Oh my God, where do we go from here?' "

Michigan's Al Borges, 2-0 against Alabama's Nick Saban, draws from past as he schemes for nation's top defense

Al Borges won four games against Alabama when he was the offensive coordinator at Auburn. He is already planning for Michigan's season-opening game against the Crimson Tide on Sept 1.

Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com

They're big. They're fast. And they reload.

The Alabama defense is fearsome on a yearly basis, and no Michigan football player or coach knows that better than Al Borges.

The Wolverines' second-year offensive coordinator got an intimate look at the Crimson Tide during his tenure with Auburn from 2004-07, when his Tigers engaged them annually in the Iron Bowl.

His takeaway: “They’re fast guys. Coaching down there, I’m very aware. Plus, they’re very well trained. Their staff, (defensive coordinator) Kirby Smart does a great job and (head coach Nick) Saban is a defensive guy by nature.”

Michigan football team still in search of a No. 2 running back, and it may not be Vincent Smith

Starting tailback Fitz Toussaint, above, will ideally get at least 20 carries per game for the Michigan football team next season. The question is who'll get the eight to 10 carries as the No. 2 back,

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

At this point, two things are crystal clear in Al Borges' offensive backfield.

Denard Robinson will start at quarterback and Fitz Toussaint will get first dibs as the team's featured running back.

But who else is in line to carry the football for the Wolverines in 2012?

If the Michigan football team's offensive coordinator has his way, Toussaint will be on the field for most of the game.

But he's not foolish. Sometimes guys need a rest. And the task now is to find out who will give it to him.

"If you're trying to get (Toussaint) the ball 20-something times, it may mean another back gets the ball eight to 10 times -- I don't know," Borges said. "But what we don't want is to divide those carries up evenly, I don't like that, never have.

"I would think, yeah, there's a defined No. 2 and No. 3 at every position. But we want a featured running back."

Michigan football team could alter philosophy of passing game after Junior Hemingway's departure

Junior Hemingway made one of his signature "jump ball" receptions for a touchdown against Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl. Hemingway is now a Kansas City Chief, forcing offensive coordinator Al Borges to reconsider the approach.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

The Michigan football team loses only six starters from last season, making it one of the more veteran teams in the Big Ten.

But it might take just one loss to reshape the Wolverines' passing game philosophy.

Junior Hemingway was Michigan's most reliable receiver last season, especially downfield. He often played bigger than his 6-foot-1 frame, as he developed a knack for snaring the ball at its highest point.

His proclivity for jump balls helped bail out quarterback Denard Robinson when he was under duress or not accurate, and finished third in the country in yards per catch (20.6).

And now, Hemingway is a Kansas City Chief. What does that mean?

"Maybe next year, we don't throw a bunch of jump balls," offensive coordinator Al Borges said Friday. "You kind of have to play to what you got."

Year of unemployment helped Al Borges create his Denard Robinson-led Michigan hybrid offense

Al Borges, left, was out of work in 2008. He spent that year studying the spread offense. In 2009, he joined forces with Brady Hoke and two years later inherited Denard Robinson, right, one of the most prolific spread quarterbacks in college football history.

AnnArbor.com file photo

Al Borges took over as Auburn's offensive coordinator in 2004, and promptly guided the Tigers to a 13-0 season. They led the SEC in scoring.

Just three years later, as Borges' offenses floundered, he was out of a job -- and nobody wanted him. So for the first time since 1981, he was out of college football.

He didn't sail off into the sunset, though. Instead, he cracked open the books, queued up some film and called a few colleagues.

He was studying the spread offense.

Michigan offensive coordinator Al Borges still advocating for expanding Devin Gardner's role next year

Backup quarterback Devin Gardner could see an expanded role next season for the Michigan football team, offensive coordinator Al Borges says.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Offensive coordinator Al Borges continues to maintain backup quarterback Devin Gardner will play an even greater role in the Michigan football team's offense next season.

Gardner, a junior from Inkster High School, is a physical specimen at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds. He was the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the nation coming out of high school, according to Scout.

But he also happens to play the same position as record-setting senior Denard Robinson, who returns for his third tour of starting duty.

Borges wants Gardner on the field anyway, and doesn't mind getting creative to do it.

Are Michigan's Greg Mattison, Al Borges the Big Ten's best coordinators? BTN writer thinks so

The Big Ten Network's Tom Dienhart tabs Michigan's Greg Mattison, left, as the Big Ten Conference's best offensive coordinator.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Does the Michigan football team have the best offense coordinator and defensive coordinator in the Big Ten?

At least one league writer thinks so.

The Big Ten Network's Tom Dienhart named his "dream team" staff of league coaches, and Michigan was represented in three slots: Al Borges at offensive coordinator, Greg Mattison at defensive coordinator and Fred Jackson at running backs coach.

Michigan offensive coordinator Al Borges receives 86 percent raise in new three-year contract

Offensive coordinator Al Borges has received a big pay bump after one season with the Michigan football team.

The Detroit Free Press reports Borges signed a three-year contract Jan. 24 that pays him $650,000 annually. That's almost twice as much as the $350,000 he made last year, when he helped guide the Wolverines to an 11-2 season.

Borges was not under a formal contract for 2011.

video: Michigan football coaches Brady Hoke, Greg Mattison and Al Borges discuss the spring game

Senior quarterback Denard Robinson took six snaps during the Michigan football team's annual spring game on Saturday, but head coach Brady Hoke insists Robinson broke a sweat.

During warmups, that is.

Michigan football offensive coordinator Al Borges discusses his philosophy on player development

Al Borges answers questions during a February press conference. The Michigan offensive coordinator has two key concepts to player development that he refers to as "body learning" and "functional intelligence."

Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com

Then-sophomore Fitz Toussaint had a strong spring camp last year, standing out among a deep stable of Michigan football tailbacks. He eventually won the job in the fall and rushed for more than 1,000 yards.

Then-redshirt freshman Jake Ryan did the same at linebacker. He was an unknown entering spring camp, but emerged as a leader to start on the strong side. He won that job in the fall and started every game.

See a pattern?

Jobs aren't won in the spring — at least, not at Michigan, and not with this staff. Coach Brady Hoke craves competition and seeks it wherever possible. It keeps his team sharp and combats complacency.

But it's no coincidence that those who go on to win jobs often do so after strong springs. That's especially true of the younger guys, who benefit from the emphasis on player development that marks this time of year.

Offensive coordinator Al Borges peeled back the curtains a bit on his philosophy of player development last week. It includes two key concepts that he refers to as "body learning" and "functional intelligence."

video: Michigan offensive coordinator Al Borges breaks down film with BTN

Footwork and decision making.

Those are the two areas that offensive coordinator Al Borges says he and quarterback Denard Robinson are focused on for the Michigan football team to "take the next step is in our passing game."

Big Ten Network analyst Howard Griffith sat with Borges as he dissected several of Robinson's plays from the 2011 season. The segment aired on "The Big Ten Football Report" on Tuesday night.

Video: Video: Michigan football coaches Al Borges, Greg Mattison talk spring football

Spring has sprung.

On Monday, Michigan football offensive coordinator Al Borges and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison spoke with reporters about the opening of spring practice.

Topics ranged from the role Devin Gardner will play to the need for Will Campbell to step up.

Michigan offensive coordinator Al Borges knows Virginia Tech's defense well, and identifies a weakness

The Michigan football team might not be that familiar with Virginia Tech, but offensive coordinator Al Borges knows exactly what he'll get from the Hokies' defense.

All he can handle.

After all, he already matched wits with Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster while at Auburn, and not a whole lot has changed since that 2005 tilt — which came in the Sugar Bowl, of all places.

Foster got the better of Borges, whose high-powered Auburn offense was held to 16 points, well off its season average of 33.4. The Tigers won, 16-13, but a message was sent by Foster.

Offensive coordinator Al Borges, on whether he'll leave: 'No. This is Michigan, for God sakes'

Michigan offensive coordinator Al Borges, shown with Denard Robinson, says, "

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Al Borges is a well-traveled, well-respected offensive coordinator who had great success this season with players that weren't his own.

So, naturally, his name has popped up for several coaching vacancies, including for the New Mexico head coaching job and the Florida offensive coordinator post vacated by Charlie Weis.

Borges, though, dispelled any notion he'll be leaving Ann Arbor during his news conference Tuesday.

"No. 'This is Michigan, for God sakes,' in the noble words of someone we all know and love," Borges said, conjuring coach Brady Hoke's memorable words from January.

"Next question."

Michigan football coach Brady Hoke expects Al Borges, staff to return next season

The Michigan football team's offensive coordinator, Al Borges, has been lauded this season for adopting his pro-style offense to the talent he inherited -- most notably, quarterback Denard Robinson.

He was wildly successful forging a hybrid offense he likes to call the "spread-West Coast," which borrows from the two systems, and it powered the Wolverines to 235.7 yards per game and 34.2 points per game, second in the Big Ten.

So successful, in fact, Borges' name has surfaced as a possible candidate for several openings. Most recently, The Gainesville Sun named him as one of five leading candidates for Florida's offensive coordinator job, which opened up Thursday night after Charlie Weis accepted the Kansas head coaching job.

Michigan coach Brady Hoke, though, said on Friday he expects his staff to return intact next year.

"Yeah, I do," Hoke said. "I’m sure if there was anything, they would approach me about it.”

Michigan football coaches say they won't talk about numbers ... then they talk about numbers

Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, left, and head coach Brady Hoke say they don't like statistics. Except maybe third-down conversion percentages, 1,000-yard rushers ...

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

For a group that claims to hate numbers, they sure do talk about them a lot.

The Michigan football team's marked improvement this year, encapsulated in its 9-2 record and favorable BCS position heading into Saturday's game against Ohio State (noon, ABC), can be quantified several ways. The coaching staff prefers to talk about heart, hustle and fundamentals.

But the numbers aren't so bad either.

notebook: Michigan offensive coordinator Al Borges says 'to hell' with those focused on stats, wins are what matter

Michigan offensive coordinator Al Borges, left, says ball security is a concern with quarterback Denard Robinson, right, but the rest of his issues are normal growing pains for a quarterback learning a new offensive system.

AnnArbor.com file photo

Michigan offensive coordinator Al Borges knows people are unhappy with Denard Robinson's numbers. He knows Michigan football fans are perplexed by Roy Roundtree's declining production.

He knows the Wolverines didn't score as many points as they could have last week against Illinois.

He also knows they won.

And winning, Borges said, sometimes requires "sticking your ego on the shelf" as a playcaller -- which, in turn, means the same for skill players who are affected by such decisions.