Posted on Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 9:09 a.m.
New offensive coordinator Al Borges eager to start working with Michigan football players
By AnnArbor.com Staff
Al Borges is the new offensive coordinator, and he sat down for a two-part video interview with MGoBlue's Doug Karsch.
Borges, who has spent 24 years as an offensive coordinator, likes the challenge of coming to Michigan as part of new coach Brady Hoke's staff.
"This is the best," he said. The tradition here, everything. As soon as you step on campus, you start feeling it."
Check out the two-part video after the jump:
Part 1
Part 2
Comments
Dusty
Fri, Jan 21, 2011 : 11:06 p.m.
I don't quite understand those of you who think Denard is going to be a better passer because Borges is going to make him so. Do you not remember how bad Denard was at passing in 2009? Did he not take a HUGE step forward in that area this season? Did it appear that the Rod Smith didn't do a good job developing is passing in between '09 and '10? I don't see Borges doing any better in that area than I expected Rod Smith to do, based on what Rod had already done with Denard.
Larry Weisenthal
Fri, Jan 21, 2011 : 6:57 p.m.
To Theo: What would cause DR to leave would be turning him into a defensive back or wide receiver. Teaching him how to work in a "flexible" pro-style system is something he should welcome. Look at Pat White's NFL "career." DR was great early in the season, when he was (1) a surprise and (2) healthy. The good teams figured out how to defend, DR kept getting injured, and the vaunted RR offense was well contained. DR was going nowhere, Sunday-wise, under RR. Now, if he can improve his overall QB game over the next two years, he'll have a shot to take snaps on Sunday, down the road, and I'm sure he realizes this.
NoBowl4Blue
Fri, Jan 21, 2011 : 12:20 p.m.
OC at Michigan is a great job as it was the only part of crybabys team that showed progress. Now it will just get better and be more effective against better teams rather than the so so teams. Theo get over it your king's failings will be glaring after the staff takes over and becomes more effecient.
Tru2Blu76
Fri, Jan 21, 2011 : 4:52 a.m.
First of all, I'm sure everyone's noticed the enthusiasm displayed by Coach Hoke and his new hires. These guys are all experienced and successful - but they seem to have higher energy and seem really excited to be here at Michigan. I don't believe the previous crew had the same energy & excitement, it was like "We're here, Michigan is nice and we're gonna show you how football is played" with them. B4, we complained about the rigidity of "philosophy." Now we're hearing, "We're using a flexible, adaptive type of (tough) football." So there's no question the Hoke Era means doing things smarter than one-way Charlie coaches.
azwolverine
Fri, Jan 21, 2011 : 12:33 a.m.
I like that Borges will run a more balanced attack that will actually help Robinson in the passing game and keep him healthy. He will still be utilized in the run game, but defenses can't just key on him like Miss. St did in the bowl game. Borges will use running backs, WR's, AND Robinson, making this offense far more capable of putting up points against the top teams in the B10 than it was the last three years. Throw in a defense and special teams, and UM may actually get back to being a TEAM, as opposed to a spectacular player. Welcome coach Borges, we are glad to have you!
Dusty
Fri, Jan 21, 2011 : 10:47 p.m.
You say that like using RB's, WR's, AND Robinson is something Rich Rod didn't do. WR's dropped how many passes last year? How many RB's were injured much of the season? How low was the RB corps' average/carry DESPITE defenses keying on Denard and not them?
Keith
Fri, Jan 21, 2011 : 12:16 a.m.
Al, Teach the kid the following. 1) How to Slide. 2) Run out of bounds. I hated to see him take huge hits. Can you get him to put glue in his socks, I am tiered of the opposing team trying to steal his shoes.... Good Luck, and GO BLUE!
1st Down
Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 11:03 p.m.
One thing Borges will do is get the RBs more involved in the offense...which they need to be for us to actually compete in the Big Ten. This will save some wear and tear on Denard as well. Go Blue.
Dusty
Fri, Jan 21, 2011 : 10:45 p.m.
Not until one of them steps up and stays healthy, he won't. You think running Denard 20+ times a game was ideal? His rushing load was a product of "what works best", not "what we want to do".
D21
Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 10:17 p.m.
Borges is actually King Kong (5 count, ref) Bundy.
tulsatom
Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 6:45 p.m.
Denard will become a much more all-around QB under Borges because he will develop his passing game while leaving intact his running threat capability. Hopefully, this will result in teams not being able to key on the run so much and should result in Denard not getting dinged up quite so much. The key will be how long will it take the players to learn and adjust to the new system.
Theo212
Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 5:48 p.m.
Al: "Hey, Denard. Hand off up the middle." DR: "What's that, Coach?" Al: "You know. Give ball to fullback." DR: "Fullback?" Al: "DR, HOW ARE WE GONNA WIN BIG 10 IF YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR ANTIQUATED PLAYS???!!!" DR: "Big 10? RichRod only talked about Crystal..." Al: "Forget about Crystal. Hand off up the middle." DR (on cell phone): "Hey Tate, got room for one more?"
1st Down
Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 11 p.m.
boo hoo Theo.... hey..whats that about faux crystal? well geeze son...your King got us to 7th place in the Big Ten after 3 years....WOW that is on the road to faux crystal!!! some people are just clueless son
D21
Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 10:23 p.m.
Theo, After winning the 2012 BCS title game at the presser: Reporter: Who do you credit your improved success to RR or Al Borges? DR: (laughing out loud) RR hahaha, no fricking way...haha...It is King Kong Bundy (Borges) whom I credit all my success to. Reporter (looking puzzled): How come? DR: Ha, at practice all I have to do is to run around Borges cuz he so wide than the entire defensive line and that helped me immensely. DR: Also, Borges is shaping me up to be a future NFL star and I owe it to AD Brandon who had the foresight to correct a mistake and at the same time, saved my future NFL career by hiring those grrrrreat coaches.
BigH_16
Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 5:40 p.m.
Sounds like a solid staff so far...hopefully we can can get a good secondary and quarterbacks coach..does anyone have any insight on who they might be?? Al Borges talked before about tailoring his offense around the talent already there(denard robinson) which i thought meant maybe he would bring more of an west coast style in which i think would greatly benefit the players we have...but in the above interview it seems he wont be doing that and he will try to install much of his offensive scheme as possible and only using plays and a few formations that will help somewhat...i hope he realizes denard needs a lot of shotgun to be successful because he is so short and needs to see over the line..borgess is very smart so i hope he will be creative enough so we can benefit from ALL the players talents..GO BLUE!!
DonAZ
Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 5:15 p.m.
I like the no-nonsense attitude portrayed by Borges. And I love the idea of enhancing DRob's passing. That'll drive defenses *nuts* -- a DRob who has the natural ability to rip a 80-yarder in the blink of an eye coupled with a better decision making passer.
Dusty
Tue, Jan 25, 2011 : 4:33 a.m.
Yeah, because Rod Smith didn't work with Denard to make him a better passer last offseason, right? And I guess it's safe to assume he wouldn't have worked on Denard's passing THIS offseason, right? Good thing we got Borges, because he WILL work on Denard's passing! Come on, man.
Irwin M Fletcher
Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 4:52 p.m.
Great to see the new staff coming together. There is some great experience at OC/DC that should help with recruiting.