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.
Mattison is a logical choice, after inheriting the worst defense in school history and turning it into the sixth-best scoring defense in the country last year (second in the Big Ten). It allowed 17.8 fewer points per game than it did in 2010.
Al Borges, left, was named the Big Ten's best offensive coordinator by the Big Ten Network's Tom Dienhart.
AnnArbor.com file photo
Borges, conversely, has been lauded for maintaining the production he inherited. Michigan's offense averaged 33.3 points per game in Borges' first season, up from 32.8 the previous year.
That uptick comes despite the Wolverines transitioning to a new hybrid offense.
"What more can be said about Borges?" Dienhart wrote. "The guy has an unmatched resume that includes stops as coordinator at Indiana, Auburn, UCLA, Oregon, Cal and Boise State, among others. Borges has shown an ability to adapt his West Coast attack at Michigan to conform to the skills of quarterback Denard Robinson. Smart man.
"The result, an 11-2 season in 2011, as the Wolverines also produced two 1,000-yard rushers for the first time since 1975. Why isn’t this guy a head coach?"
Mattison and Borges are the Big Ten's preeminent coordinators after being in the league for only a year, according to Dienhart.
Jackson joins them because of his longevity.
"He is one of the nation’s longest tenured coaches at one school, as he has been at Michigan since 1992 when he joined Gary Moeller’s staff," Dienhart wrote. "Among his star pupils in Ann Arbor have been Tyrone Wheatley, Chris Perry, Anthony Thomas, Mike Hart and Tim Biakabutuka.
"And Jackson’s current star, Fitz Toussaint, is coming off a 1,000-yard season and is primed for more big things in the fall."
Michigan running back coach Fred Jackson is the second-longest tenured assistant in the nation.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
For the record, Jackson is the nation's second-longest tenured assistant, trailing only Virgina Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster.
Besides what he's been able to accomplish on the field, Jackson also has been integral to Michigan's heralded 2012 and 2013 recruiting classes.
Since the hire of Brady Hoke as head coach, Jackson has been the lead in-state recruiter. The Wolverines went on to sign seven of their state's top-10 players for 2012, according to Rivals.
For the rest of Dienhart's dream team staff, click here.
Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.
Comments
ted
Sun, May 6, 2012 : 6:15 p.m.
Greg Mattison ? YES Al Borges ? NO I'm not sure why anyone would even pose the question of Al Borges even as a mediocre OC, let alone one of the best in The Big 10. That's a joke. Especially when there were many times last year we all were scratching our heads at his stubborn and moronic play-calling by forcing his personel to play a system they were in no way qualified for. Even though every time they ran the read option they would find their only success. Borges will be exposed as the fraud he is and after next year he will not be around.
Hailmary
Sun, May 6, 2012 : 10:27 p.m.
Relax ted, just another opinion no need for an anxiety attack.
observer
Sun, May 6, 2012 : 2:05 p.m.
Steve McQueen and umgoblue47 take off the maize and blue sunglasses.......
observer
Sun, May 6, 2012 : 2:02 p.m.
they may be or are they one year wonders.......let's see them do for a few years in a row......they still coudn't beat MSU though.....
azwolverine
Sun, May 6, 2012 : 4:15 p.m.
Couldn't beat Iowa, either. What's your point? In the end, UM had a better overall season then both teams that beat them (see BCS victory), just as Sparty had a better overall season then both teams that beat them. It happens.
Tru2Blu76
Sun, May 6, 2012 : 12:55 p.m.
Lets just pray, seriously pray, that three of these country's top coaches here pay attention to their own health. People here sometimes bring up Urban Meyer's health issues - unwisely, I think, because his or any other coach's death would be a blow to college football. We lost Bo because of his health issue and everyone here felt stricken with grief. Michigan coaches are all great people doing great things for Michigan athletes, for the program, for the university and for us. Let's be grateful they are here and lets do what we can to see that they stay alive and well. You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone. Go Blue!
azwolverine
Sun, May 6, 2012 : 4:10 p.m.
I think, after the previous three seasons, most UM fans do know what we've got. I believe we were spoiled before with all of the winning and thought losing couldn't possibly happen at Michigan. Now that it did happen, most of us are very, VERY grateful to have our program back on track and understand that our program is only as good as the people running it. Thank goodness we currently have good people running it and, as you say, we hope they all stay alive and well and are here for a LONG time.
7718
Sun, May 6, 2012 : 1:49 a.m.
I just hope Borgess can increase the offensive scoring even more. With basically everyone back on offense he only managed a half point more per game, and this coming with an outstanding defense that shut down the opponents. Come on al, time to turn this offense loose now that they are 3rd and 4 th year players.
azwolverine
Sun, May 6, 2012 : 4:05 p.m.
Agree Hebner. I don't care if we score even less points. If we hold the ball for 40 minutes and wear the other team out while keeping our defense fresh, we win. That's basically what the offense did last season, only they didn't go down in scoring, they went up. Pretty impressive, imo.
Hebner
Sun, May 6, 2012 : 3:24 p.m.
Scoring more is not the only offensive purpose, as ball control is a major factor in keeping the other teams offense off the field and wearing down the defense. The quick strike touchdowns are nice to watch, but it puts the defense right back on the field. This is why the running game is so important at Michigan...so we can impose physicality. Al Borges is one of the reasons for our success this past season, as he didn't try to force his system on the offense but tailored the play calling around the talent. Let us not be mistaken, Al Borges is one of the best coordinators in the country.
UlyssesWrong1
Sat, May 5, 2012 : 9:48 p.m.
So two first year at their program coordinators are considered the best in the entire conference? That's sad for the B1G, but then again, Michigan along with a few others have been the only relevant teams for decades now.
heartbreakM
Sat, May 5, 2012 : 8:55 p.m.
It's not just the talent and on-field results, but how they embrace the Michigan mystique, and how they have handled themselves on and off the field. I am very happy they are both here, especially Mattison. I always felt like it was a mistake that he left in the late 1990s, and am glad that he returned.
RJ12688
Sat, May 5, 2012 : 6:12 p.m.
After seeing what Mattison did to the defense last year he is a no brainer. Borges did well consodering he is not coaching his type of offensive players. Any UM fan should appreciate the RBs Mr jackson has been molding over the years. UM has great coordinators, and a great HC. I cannot wait for this season to start. GO BLUE
lindor
Sat, May 5, 2012 : 3:56 p.m.
Mattison, yes! Should be no doubt about this one. Borges, ahem, seriously? No! Cannot forgive some of those calls last year - 4th and inch MSU? Everyone forget that one? How about the Iowa loss, 1st and goal inside the 5 with four pass plays? Seems DR could roll out and make his way in on one of them, or at least give him a shot. Water under the bridge now but come on.
Hebner
Sun, May 6, 2012 : 3:14 p.m.
Borges did a fantastic job...sure the MSU and Iowa losses can be traced to bad calls, but not every play works for different reasons. Did we really execute well overall in either of those games? Both games were our only losses, and we play in the big 10 where teams rarely go undefeated during conference play. Those losses did a good thing, it woke up the team to execute Al's plays and beat two national powerhouse teams in Nebraska and Ohio.
MRunner73
Sat, May 5, 2012 : 9:49 p.m.
No, many of us haven't forget the 4th down call @ MSU last seasson. 'Tis a new year, let's see how we do against Sparty this year. A big win over them should surely make the rest of the non believers come out of the dark side.
azwolverine
Sat, May 5, 2012 : 7:27 p.m.
How about 85 combined points against OSU and Nebraska? Or TWO 1,000+ yard rushers and the ability to get the short, tough yards the team was unable to get the previous three seasons? Yes, Borges made a few calls that backfired...but his overall remodeling of the offense with players that do not fit his mold was as important to Michigan going 11-2 as was Mattison's masterful job on defense. It's easy to focus on a couple of situations that didn't work out well...but what about the ones that did in the 11 wins? That was year 1 lindor...Borges and his offense are only going to get better.
umgoblue47
Sat, May 5, 2012 : 3:29 p.m.
breaking new's over on bleacherreport and foxsports news! seems oscar meyer has lost a 4* lb verbal commit. this is the seconed verbal commit that decommited this week and o$u's 2013 class has dwindled down from 13 to 11 and this could get ugly. . . in HOKE we trust!! GO BLUE!!!!!!
azwolverine
Sat, May 5, 2012 : 2:05 p.m.
Hoke is the type of coach that players would run through a brick wall for. Combine that with some of the best coordinators and assistants in the nation, and it all adds up to Michigan being back among the nation's elite in only one short year.
MRunner73
Sat, May 5, 2012 : 1:56 p.m.
Great coaching talent at Michigan. We are so fortunate to have these men on the staff.
Steve McQueen
Fri, May 4, 2012 : 11:34 p.m.
It is great to not see self-confirmed h---phobe and messenger from God...Nebraska RB coach Ron Brown on that list anywhere. see below for more info on that guy: http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/7889925/huskers-assistant-football-coach-ron-brown-publicly-condemns-gays
Steve McQueen
Fri, May 4, 2012 : 9:11 p.m.
Best coaches in the league...check. Best HC in the league...check. Dominating on the Recruiting trail...check. This is Michigan.
David Cleveland
Mon, May 7, 2012 : 2:49 p.m.
The Threat...Tom, is that you were beating Michigan with recruits RR did not go after and Dantonio took advantage of. That is now over. Hoke is tearing Dantonio a new hole on the recruiting trail. Were will he get the players to compete against Michigan in the next few years? huh? I'm waiting. All those players are now headed to Michigan...not State. THERE is the threat to Sparty fans. And deep down they know their little four game winning streak is coming to an end. And you know it too.
Tom
Sun, May 6, 2012 : 2:12 p.m.
One of the worst teams in Michigan history...that's quite an excuse. MSU has gone 24-8 in the Big 10 (best record) over the past 4 years. 6 Spartans just got drafted by the NFL. You think that Dantonio doesn't know how to recruit? This "take back Michigan" recruiting strategy is interesting...but Michigan is hardly a "hotbed" of high school talent. Michigan built its former success with nationwide recruiting...not by getting the top in state talent. There hasn't been a sniff of a B10 football championship in AA for nearly a decade. Get over yourselves. Your fans are the MOST ARROGANT, KNOW NOTHING group in college football. The Spartans are going to CRUSH your team on October 20th! REPEAT...CRUSH YOUR TEAM! Those 173 yards of total offense vs. VTech were 13th best of the 14 teams that the Hokies faced in 2011. Duke, App State, Arkansas State and numerous hapless ACC teams did a better job of solving that defense than Borges did. HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! Where's the threat?
umgoblue47
Sat, May 5, 2012 : 1:53 p.m.
hey tom. . . don't be cashing any check. . .s you can't cover. . . this october you will find out that pride comes before the fall! but that's why you are in here on a MICHIGAN site, you are worried and deep down inside you know little brother's going to get SPANKED. . . CHECK!! GO BLUE!!!!!!
azwolverine
Sat, May 5, 2012 : 1:28 p.m.
Tom...3 of those 4 came against the worst teams/coach in UM history. The fourth came in the 7th game of Hoke's first season. In other words, this isn't D'antonio's whipping boy anymore. As McQueen said, this is Michigan. See you October 20th.
Tom
Sat, May 5, 2012 : 4:28 a.m.
4 straight losses to Michigan State...check! Make it FIVE on October 20th...check!
mun
Fri, May 4, 2012 : 8:19 p.m.
The top picture says "The Big Ten Network's Tom Dienhart tabs Michigan's Greg Mattison, left, as the Big Ten Conference's best offensive coordinator." Greg Mattison is the DEFENSIVE coordinator.
JDed
Fri, May 4, 2012 : 8:13 p.m.
Fred Jackson deserves to be lauded for all that he has done for Michigan football. He has brought kids to Michigan, from everywhere, for a long time. I'm not sure about the Borges pick.(his failure to change strategy in the MSU game last year makes me question his ability to adapt in-game) Mattison has an unparalleled resume, and is a great coach, but the big-ten has some other very good D-coordinators. There are probably a couple people that could have been chosen here and that I wouldn't consider to be a bad choice.
azwolverine
Sat, May 5, 2012 : 7:13 p.m.
Borges has proven over the years he is an outstanding coordinator...one of the very best. One call that backfired on him does not change that. In one short season, he turned a one dimensional (all Denard) offense that couldn't do anything against top competition (24 points in 3 years vs OSU says it all...although I could add more) into a multi-faceted offense that featured TWO 1,000+ yard runners and could both spread the field and POUND THE BALL!!! 85 combined points against OSU and Nebraska sums up what Borges was able to accomplish very nicely. Get over 4th down call against Sparty folks. Part of the reason our defense was so much improved last season is because we had an offense that could control the ball and keep them off of the field. Michigan went 11-2 not only because the defense was so much better, but because the offense was, too. Borges deserves a lot of the credit for that.
MRunner73
Sat, May 5, 2012 : 1:55 p.m.
To the guys above; this was Borges' first year. I agree that he made a few blaring mistakes but there were a few other times late in the season he made some good calls. Let's at least wait and see how Borges will do in year two. Remember, he's got manage the skills of Denard, Devin, and Belomy at QB. This will be a long season.
rensational
Fri, May 4, 2012 : 10:02 p.m.
I don't know specifically what JDed is talking about, but I know I had a problem with their trying to experiment with Gardner in this game. Er...NO! Not the time for experimenting. They're going to have to find a way to figure out how to move the ball on MSU, because MSU believes all we have is Denard and they key in on stopping him. The experiment needs to be figuring out how to make the RBs, the O-line and WRs help out more on O against MSU's D. We need something like some of the Hemingway magic we saw in the Sugar Bowl when the O wasn't that good against MSU this fall.
Steve McQueen
Fri, May 4, 2012 : 9:12 p.m.
what strategy did you want to see? Michigan couldnt run on them and Denard was having a tough day throwing the ball in the wind-trash storm that was sparty stadium... that said, we were only a score down and going in late in the game...and that one 4th and one call is the only one that Id question really.
Terry Star21
Fri, May 4, 2012 : 8:43 p.m.
JD....you are absolutely correct, how frustrating was that to watch a game we should have been able to tie up late ? He did however, make great adjustments afterward and later in the season - let's hope Big Al had a serious learning lesson, and Michigan benefits.......