FIRE GREG HARBAUGH

[Gopher Ally]

Not wishing it to happen, but this is the type of unimaginative play calling that makes players like Lindsey second guess their decision to stay next year, especially when there are so many exciting OCs in Div 1.

I’m not fired up about Lyndsey like many on this board, he was not good today. Maybe he was over processing like his protege Max did with the Vikes yesterday

 

[Cmich Gopher]

The offense has been among the least productive in the country two out of three years with this coordinator. The best year by far (2024) was 12/18 in the big ten for total offense. I really can't think of any good argument for leaving the offensive staff as is.

 

[gopherbadgerman]

I’m usually not one to blame much on the coaches. To me, it’s a lot more about players and execution.

But I would agree that changing the OC might not be a horrible idea.

But if they don’t improve on the offensive line, it’s not gonna matter who’s calling plays

 

[Cmich Gopher]

I’m usually not one to blame much on the coaches. To me, it’s a lot more about players and execution.

But I would agree that changing the OC might not be a horrible idea.

But if they don’t improve on the offensive line, it’s not gonna matter who’s calling plays

For one game? Absolutely. For one year? Maybe.

There's a three year pattern of bad offense. If the OC isn't the problem, then find out what is and fix it. We are all hoping for a sudden jump in production. Where is it going to come from?

Offensive line was a problem for sure this year. A good offensive staff can scheme it's way towards competence even with some roster holes. We aren't asking to be Oregon here.

 

[mngg11]

I counted 6 wide open receivers Lindsey didn’t, and there could have been more because TV doesn’t show the entire field. Doesn’t he have some responsibility for the low score?

He's definitely got the field vision of an underclassman. I'm expecting that will improve as he continues to develop and get real game snaps. I remember not being impressed by a freshman Bo Nix in the Outback Bowl, he turned into a nice qb with some development and maturity

 

[Some guy]

For one game? Absolutely. For one year? Maybe.

There's a three year pattern of bad offense. If the OC isn't the problem, then find out what is and fix it. We are all hoping for a sudden jump in production. Where is it going to come from?

Offensive line was a problem for sure this year. A good offensive staff can scheme it's way towards competence even with some roster holes. We aren't asking to be Oregon here.

I have no idea if it’s scheme, play calling, or teaching….but if we can’t get run game up to middle of the conference next year our ceiling is too low for my taste

Offense simply isn’t good enough to have a 10 win season the last two years and it’s because we can’t consistently run the ball.

The whole offense is predicated on running and play action. And if you can’t run it wrecks both of those things.

 

[Harrymannback77]

For one game? Absolutely. For one year? Maybe.

There's a three year pattern of bad offense. If the OC isn't the problem, then find out what is and fix it. We are all hoping for a sudden jump in production. Where is it going to come from?

Offensive line was a problem for sure this year. A good offensive staff can scheme it's way towards competence even with some roster holes. We aren't asking to be Oregon here.

We're essentially trying to do what Wisconsin has been attempting and failing miserably at. We've been much more successful in comparison and unfortunately it comes with growing pains and roster fit issues. We've gone from a power run team, even 2019 I think it was skewed heavily to the run game, to a pro style offense with a heavy dose of passing. This has required a shift in all offensive philosiphies. From the literal playbook, to the type of backs we're now recruiting. Offensive lineman aren't road graders anymore. Need to be more athletic and agile. Wideouts are going to need to be technically skilled, able to create separation and run more complex route trees. TEs who can challenge defenses vertically up the middle. RB needs to be as good a receiver as runner. It's doing a 180 from just a couple seasons ago. It takes time. It has been frustrating at times but I see what they're attempting, acknowledge it's hard, and I'm also ecstatic that it's happening.

Right now we look slow, like we're playing in the mud. That's because the metaporphosis is still in progress. I saw us recruit A LOT of verifiable speed also with this class. We need separators. Voss is the new archetype at TE. Estrada is Taylor 2.0. Another quick burst back who has shown he has some chops catching the ball also. Mohammed Ibrahim he is not. The key to me is the continued development of the QB position, and we DESPERATELY need some WRs or two on the current roster to really step up, asap. I'm not as worried about the offensive line as others. I think play has been sub par no doubt, but part of that is everything above. Brian Callahan didn't suddenly just forget how to coach. Dude has been putting guys in the league and getting poached by big time programs for his players. If next year the line hasn't improved from this season, I'll join the chorus. Right now, I'm gonna give it this off season and expect improvements starting game 1.

 

[Some guy]

We're essentially trying to do what Wisconsin has been attempting and failing miserably at. We've been much more successful in comparison and unfortunately it comes with growing pains and roster fit issues. We've gone from a power run team, even 2019 I think it was skewed heavily to the run game, to a pro style offense with a heavy dose of passing. This has required a shift in all offensive philosiphies. From the literal playbook, to the type of backs we're now recruiting. Offensive lineman aren't road graders anymore. Need to be more athletic and agile. Wideouts are going to need to be technically skilled, able to create separation and run more complex route trees. TEs who can challenge defenses vertically up the middle. RB needs to be as good a receiver as runner. It's doing a 180 from just a couple seasons ago. It takes time. It has been frustrating at times but I see what they're attempting, acknowledge it's hard, and I'm also ecstatic that it's happening.

Right now we look slow, like we're playing in the mud. That's because the metaporphosis is still in progress. I saw us recruit A LOT of verifiable speed also with this class. We need separators. Voss is the new archetype at TE. Estrada is Taylor 2.0. Another quick burst back who has shown he has some chops catching the ball also. Mohammed Ibrahim he is not. The key to me is the continued development of the QB position, and we DESPERATELY need some WRs or two on the current roster to really step up, asap. I'm not as worried about the offensive line as others. I think play has been sub par no doubt, but part of that is everything above. Brian Callahan didn't suddenly just forget how to coach. Dude has been putting guys in the league and getting poached by big time programs for his players. If next year the line hasn't improved from this season, I'll join the chorus. Right now, I'm gonna give it this off season and expect improvements starting game 1.

My hope is that you are correct
My fear is that the transition is already complete and we just aren’t good at this new version of ourselves

 

[Harrymannback77]

My hope is that you are correct
My fear is that the transition is already complete and we just aren’t good at this new version of ourselves

Yes, that had crossed my mind also, but I keep coming back to how difficult the change is, and I'm seeing the improvements incremently. You need multiple recruiting cycles for fit. For instance, QB. I don't know about you, but I haven't EVER felt better about two guys back to back than Brosmer and Lindsey. And we cannot get guys like that running 2020s offense. Or 2021. Or 2022. Now, you see us elevating imo the recruiting at WR. Those guys we grabbed this cycle are FAST. And multi sport guys, all of them. Athletes!! Now, they need to be able to run all the routes, but at least we finally have some speed. I watched ALL F'ING SEASON teams press up and just clog everything around the line with absolutely no fear of us hitting anything over the top.

Try that next year, and I'll bet house money you'll pay. Estrada is going to play right away. I have loads of family and former employees who live down there from Albuquerque to El Paso. I've seen first hand the kid play and I don't normally like to get over excited but he is a fucking baller. For real. Steal. Day one he will play. Mark my words. Voss. Baller. Lindsey to Smith will keep improving. Hopefully Tracy gets rolling with another year in the program. It will get better, I truly believe it.

 

[The Deliberate Stranger]

Not wishing it to happen, but this is the type of unimaginative play calling that makes players like Lindsey second guess their decision to stay next year, especially when there are so many exciting OCs in Div 1.

He got 2.5 million and already turned 3.5 million down from Tennessee. He's here for PJ

 

[USAF]

He got 2.5 million and already turned 3.5 million down from Tennessee. He's here for PJ

LOL

 

[60's Guy]

I agree with Harry (above) I don't think Callahan can't coach.
I do think the OC is the problem...there has to be a scheme issue...there should be no reason we can't run the ball more effectively more often. Gotta be able to run better than we do.

How many times does anybody think that was a good playcall? Way too many times it is what are we thinking? Why do we keep doing the same thing when it's not working?
There is zero innovation.

There is almost never..."That was cool!" "I like that!" "Perfect time to call that play". Our trick plays are poorly designed and often screwed up execution wise. Nuthin' but poor coaching.

Our QB is good but he regressed in his ability to make the right throw...early in the season I liked his decisions...as the season went on I was shaking my head more often and wondering what was going on. That's poor coaching....a confused or less confident player when making decisions.

I'm not an offensive expert by any means, obviously. I did play QB. I watch a lot of games. I see other teams run plays that are explosive and wonder why we don't do that. For instance in 2019 we threw 10-15 yard slant passes for touchdowns. I saw two similar slant passes resulting in long touchdowns just flippin' through channels yesterday. DK Metcalf Steelers vs Vikings...One example of a design that works when you set up it up and choose the right time to call it..

But, I also see a lot of teams throw three yard passes on third and 5 and come up short and punt. I dunno maybe there's a shortage of good offensive coordinators? I think we absolutely have the player talent to be better than we were.

 

[Cmich Gopher]

We're essentially trying to do what Wisconsin has been attempting and failing miserably at. We've been much more successful in comparison and unfortunately it comes with growing pains and roster fit issues. We've gone from a power run team, even 2019 I think it was skewed heavily to the run game, to a pro style offense with a heavy dose of passing. This has required a shift in all offensive philosiphies. From the literal playbook, to the type of backs we're now recruiting. Offensive lineman aren't road graders anymore. Need to be more athletic and agile. Wideouts are going to need to be technically skilled, able to create separation and run more complex route trees. TEs who can challenge defenses vertically up the middle. RB needs to be as good a receiver as runner. It's doing a 180 from just a couple seasons ago. It takes time. It has been frustrating at times but I see what they're attempting, acknowledge it's hard, and I'm also ecstatic that it's happening.

Right now we look slow, like we're playing in the mud. That's because the metaporphosis is still in progress. I saw us recruit A LOT of verifiable speed also with this class. We need separators. Voss is the new archetype at TE. Estrada is Taylor 2.0. Another quick burst back who has shown he has some chops catching the ball also. Mohammed Ibrahim he is not. The key to me is the continued development of the QB position, and we DESPERATELY need some WRs or two on the current roster to really step up, asap. I'm not as worried about the offensive line as others. I think play has been sub par no doubt, but part of that is everything above. Brian Callahan didn't suddenly just forget how to coach. Dude has been putting guys in the league and getting poached by big time programs for his players. If next year the line hasn't improved from this season, I'll join the chorus. Right now, I'm gonna give it this off season and expect improvements starting game 1.

I really appreciate the detailed response. I think this is the most optimistic reasonable take that can be made right now. I hope you're right.

For me, the argument that we can kind of see what they are trying to do if we squint really hard just doesn't resonate. If you are producing a bottom of the barrel offense in year 3 of the transfer portal era, it's probably because you don't know how to do what you want to do effectively.

 

[Some guy]

Yes, that had crossed my mind also, but I keep coming back to how difficult the change is, and I'm seeing the improvements incremently. You need multiple recruiting cycles for fit. For instance, QB. I don't know about you, but I haven't EVER felt better about two guys back to back than Brosmer and Lindsey. And we cannot get guys like that running 2020s offense. Or 2021. Or 2022. Now, you see us elevating imo the recruiting at WR. Those guys we grabbed this cycle are FAST. And multi sport guys, all of them. Athletes!! Now, they need to be able to run all the routes, but at least we finally have some speed. I watched ALL F'ING SEASON teams press up and just clog everything around the line with absolutely no fear of us hitting anything over the top.

Try that next year, and I'll bet house money you'll pay. Estrada is going to play right away. I have loads of family and former employees who live down there from Albuquerque to El Paso. I've seen first hand the kid play and I don't normally like to get over excited but he is a fucking baller. For real. Steal. Day one he will play. Mark my words. Voss. Baller. Lindsey to Smith will keep improving. Hopefully Tracy gets rolling with another year in the program. It will get better, I truly believe it.

Agree.
The fact that fleck hasn’t made a move means that at least fleck thinks there is a lot of room to grow. Time will tell if it’s a good bet

 

[Gopherchase]

We're essentially trying to do what Wisconsin has been attempting and failing miserably at. We've been much more successful in comparison and unfortunately it comes with growing pains and roster fit issues. We've gone from a power run team, even 2019 I think it was skewed heavily to the run game, to a pro style offense with a heavy dose of passing. This has required a shift in all offensive philosiphies. From the literal playbook, to the type of backs we're now recruiting. Offensive lineman aren't road graders anymore. Need to be more athletic and agile. Wideouts are going to need to be technically skilled, able to create separation and run more complex route trees. TEs who can challenge defenses vertically up the middle. RB needs to be as good a receiver as runner. It's doing a 180 from just a couple seasons ago. It takes time. It has been frustrating at times but I see what they're attempting, acknowledge it's hard, and I'm also ecstatic that it's happening.

Right now we look slow, like we're playing in the mud. That's because the metaporphosis is still in progress. I saw us recruit A LOT of verifiable speed also with this class. We need separators. Voss is the new archetype at TE. Estrada is Taylor 2.0. Another quick burst back who has shown he has some chops catching the ball also. Mohammed Ibrahim he is not. The key to me is the continued development of the QB position, and we DESPERATELY need some WRs or two on the current roster to really step up, asap. I'm not as worried about the offensive line as others. I think play has been sub par no doubt, but part of that is everything above. Brian Callahan didn't suddenly just forget how to coach. Dude has been putting guys in the league and getting poached by big time programs for his players. If next year the line hasn't improved from this season, I'll join the chorus. Right now, I'm gonna give it this off season and expect improvements starting game 1.

There is some truth and a lot of nonsense above.

 

[The Deliberate Stranger]

LOL

GAYAF

 

[BigGopher69]

There is some truth and a lot of nonsense above.

How can we be a power run team when we didn't run power

 

[Some guy]

How can we be a power run team when we didn't run power

You can be a power run team running pin and pull
IMO

But you can’t be a “power” run team without running power

 

[BigGopher69]

You can be a power run team running pin and pull
IMO

But you can’t be a “power” run team without running power

I don't remember us running any gap scheme concepts with fleck as HC before harbaugh became OC but I could be wrong

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

I’m not fired up about Lyndsey like many on this board, he was not good today. Maybe he was over processing like his protege Max did with the Vikes yesterday

Nice to see non fawning over Drake

I like Drake, he's a good prospect, but just that still a prospect. He has feasted on lesser competition but then when facing others I've watched him miss wide open guys looking right down that lane ...

To his credit he often doesn't blow it (INTs) and that has given him extra chances / wins too.

Hopefully we see him take the next step next year, but college football is full of prospects who do not take that step. Being good for being a freshman / first year is a dime a dozen stat historically, and also a recipe for the bench in other years.

That combined with a staff who has produced pretty stinky offensive results the last few years.... dunno man. I find it hard to be optimistic about the offense.

 

[Some guy]

I don't remember us running any gap scheme concepts with fleck as HC before harbaugh became OC but I could be wrong

We may have as a one off type play but for sure it is wholesale change

Which is why I find it funny when people have the same exact complaints about the offense they did 4 years ago when the offenses are nothing alike

 

[Some Day...Maybe]

My hope is that you are correct
My fear is that the transition is already complete and we just aren’t good at this new version of ourselves

This. A transition doesn’t take 4 years.

 

[Some guy]

This. A transition doesn’t take 4 years.

It’s only been 3


But I agree. I’m concerned

 

[Gopherchase]

I don't remember us running any gap scheme concepts with fleck as HC before harbaugh became OC but I could be wrong

Whether we run zone or gap or paint by the numbers as a blocking scheme, we should be doing way better than we are now. Any changes we put in you should be able to nail down in one spring ball. OL schemes are not rocket science you basically need to count to three, or maybe five if you’re the center, and then put a hat on somebody and sustain your blocks. We have way too many defenders running free in our backfield and way too many OL blocking air instead of a man. We are at historic lows for running game it’s as ineffective as I’ve seen in 40+ years. I think we have 17 or 18 OL on the roster the fact that we couldn’t put five out there who can figure out how to put a hat on somebody in the run game I don’t get. We are also very predictable I think our opponents know generally what type play we’re gonna run about 75% of the time why that is needs to change.

 

[Elevenseven]

I challenge anyone here to tell me Harbaugh is a good OC and cite your evidence hahahahaha

The guy who runs the 247 goes to all measures for defend Harbaugh and blames all the problems on the players and the other coaches. He struggles with the reasons why. He likes it when people rip the other coaches and is saying more will be fired.

 

[Allshade]

I agree with Harry (above) I don't think Callahan can't coach.
I do think the OC is the problem...there has to be a scheme issue...there should be no reason we can't run the ball more effectively more often. Gotta be able to run better than we do.

How many times does anybody think that was a good playcall? Way too many times it is what are we thinking? Why do we keep doing the same thing when it's not working?
There is zero innovation.

There is almost never..."That was cool!" "I like that!" "Perfect time to call that play". Our trick plays are poorly designed and often screwed up execution wise. Nuthin' but poor coaching.

Our QB is good but he regressed in his ability to make the right throw...early in the season I liked his decisions...as the season went on I was shaking my head more often and wondering what was going on. That's poor coaching....a confused or less confident player when making decisions.

I'm not an offensive expert by any means, obviously. I did play QB. I watch a lot of games. I see other teams run plays that are explosive and wonder why we don't do that. For instance in 2019 we threw 10-15 yard slant passes for touchdowns. I saw two similar slant passes resulting in long touchdowns just flippin' through channels yesterday. DK Metcalf Steelers vs Vikings...One example of a design that works when you set up it up and choose the right time to call it..

But, I also see a lot of teams throw three yard passes on third and 5 and come up short and punt. I dunno maybe there's a shortage of good offensive coordinators? I think we absolutely have the player talent to be better than we were.

I agree wholeheartedly that our QB has regressed significantly much like Athan did at Minnesota. This is a major problem. I think our coaches have made things way more complicated than need be. The analyst in the bowl game gave an example of a Gopher play that Lindsey has to call which contains something like 30 plus words.

I think our coaches are idiots. Im confident a proven successful OC could take our existing players and double our production. Our current offense is incompetent and pathetic. And, the coaches don't really trust Lindsey. Hence the crazy number of throws no farther than the line of scrimmage. If you watch a lot of football, which most of you do, how can you not see the GLARING difference between our offense and dozens of other team's offense. Look no further than Northwestern. I'd take their offense in a heartbeat. OK, I'm done. Had to get this off my chest. It's so unbelievably obvious. But Fleck is unmoved by the ineptitude. It's mind boggling.

 

[WAGopher]

The guy who runs the 247 goes to all measures for defend Harbaugh and blames all the problems on the players and the other coaches. He struggles with the reasons why. He likes it when people rip the other coaches and is saying more will be fired.

If Harbaugh thinks everyone else is the problem, then he’s the problem. The OC is responsible to teach his staff how to teach the players how to run the plays and adapt to different defenses.

If there’s an overall problem, it means he doesn’t know how to be a good coordinator, and he should go.

If there is just one or two coaches that can’t get the job done, then replace them.