Michigan football assistant Al Borges is one to watch, according to this list
It must be the off-season. Al Borges hasn't worked one game as the Michigan football team's offensive coordinator, and he's already considered a hot head coaching prospect. At least by one person.
Tom Dienhart, a senior college football writer for Rivals.com, put together a 20-person list of assistant coaches who could be head coaches in the near future. Gus Malzahn, the offensive coordinator at Auburn, tops the list. Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst is No. 3.
Borges, who followed Brady Hoke from San Diego State to join the Michigan staff, checks in at No. 20.
Borges takes over a Michigan offense that last season was centered around quarterback and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Denard Robinson. Borges said in March he'll modify his offensive style to take advantage of Robinson's skills.
"If we've done anything well, we've just identified the skill level of the person taking the snaps and then adjusted our offense - without bastardizing our offense - based on that kid's skill level," Borges said in March.
Comments
Theo212
Thu, Jun 2, 2011 : 6:16 p.m.
It'd be a big feather in our hat if Borges were to accept a head coaching position TODAY. Go Blue. (Audible away, DRob! Audible away...)
DonAZ
Thu, Jun 2, 2011 : 8:11 p.m.
I seem to recall a fair amount of chatter about people not supporting the coaching staff in the past. Well, supporting the assistant coaches is just as important as supporting the head coach. So why would anyone wish for Michigan to lose the OC at this juncture? As for Robinson and "audible away" ... I presume you suggest he should do what he wants and override the direction of Coach Borges at every turn. Now why would you say that? Are you suggesting Robinson knows more about game situations at every point than does Borges? I honestly don't understand this mindset that believes Borges is going to some 1960's era offensive attack. Did you not read the snippet on Borges in that writeup? He's credited with some of the best offenses under his tenure. Just because it's not the shining and vaunted "spread" you dismiss it out of hand? Even us on this board who prefer a more controlled offense don't dismiss the "spread" out of hand.
RWBill
Thu, Jun 2, 2011 : 7:15 p.m.
Feather in our cap and a big loss between the chalk. I'd just as soon he'd stay under the radar, but at Michigan following RR in these circumstances everyone will be watching.
Terry Star21
Thu, Jun 2, 2011 : 5:06 p.m.
Agree with tater, but don''t agree on setting a number of wins - everyone tried that during the past three years. And tater, Borges is gonna push the pedal right through the floorboard - for sure. I know we haven't seen a game yet, but as a Michigan Faithful - we feel like we have just come out of a three year blizzard, and it's a beautiful spring. No matter what the season tells in w's and l's, we are commanding respect and integrity and it is a 'oh-so-great-time' to be a Wolverine Football Faithful ! MgoBlueForTiM !!!
azwolverine
Thu, Jun 2, 2011 : 5:03 p.m.
The offense should be good, but there will be an adjustment period, especially for Robinson under center. The fact that we will be utilizing the backs more and will have a larger O-line (I'm guessing, based on the fact that SDSU's O-line put on an average of 20 lbs per man in Hoke's first off-season) will certainly help against the Big Dogs (MSU, Iowa, Nebraska, and yes-OSU) of the B10. 8 wins still seems a bit much to me just based on the schedule (ND with Kelley in yr 2, MSU, Iowa, NW, and Illinois on the road; then Nebraska and OSU to close out) and the total rebuild needed on Defense. 8 would be a very good season, imo, especially if we show progress in competing with the 'Big Dogs.' 11 wins? Hopeful...but way doubtful. In any case, I'm looking forward to a fun year of Michigan Football as we make a move back towards the top of the pack.
tater
Thu, Jun 2, 2011 : 3:28 p.m.
If Borges does what he says he is going to, his WCO is going to look a lot like that of LaVell Edwards, who was way ahead of his time at BYU. There is enough talent there to win 11 games, but 8 is probably a more reasonable expectation. It would be really great to be surprised, though. The worst-case scenario would be for Borges to take the Shelby GT he has inherited and drive it like a Fiesta. The best-case scenario is that he'll put the pedal to the metal and let all 750 of those "horses" do their job.
DonAZ
Thu, Jun 2, 2011 : 8:01 p.m.
Key tasks: (1) avoid costly mistakes ... particularly drive-killing mistakes. (2) getting first downs is a priority ... not highlight reel runs. Take 'em if they're there; don't make offense rely on the big run to survive. (3) diversity of plays ... if it's "all Robinson" it's not good, regardless of his speed or prowess. (4) find a way to control the clock more ... see item (2) There's not one element of that list that suggests "boring, pro-set, three-yards" play. Every "crystal" team does precisely those things. The team that can't make the critical 3rd down and 4 is a team that won't win a lot of ballgames.