5 intangibles that show Michigan is a better-coached football team under Brady Hoke
An emphasis on defense, fewer mistakes and some intangibles are why Brady Hoke and the Michigan football team are unbeaten.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
What exactly constitutes good coaching in football?
It starts with scheming and playcalling, the basic X's and O's upon which the game is played. But there's more to it than that — otherwise, every coach this side of Charlie Weis would be successful.
There are intangibles.
Michigan football coach Brady Hoke will reach the halfway point of his first regular season Saturday against Northwestern (7 p.m., BTN). The Wolverines are 5-0 and ranked No. 12 in the country, which surpasses even the most optimistic forecasts for the start of his tenure.
Hoke's fingerprints are all over this torrid start, and it's rooted in the defensive adjustments. But what could give this team consistency is its improvements in the intangibles that so often make the difference in close games — especially in league play, a stretch that has haunted the Wolverines the past three years.
There has been a significant uptick in several intangible-type categories.
Red-zone conversions
When backup quarterback Devin Gardner took a knee to end last week's 58-0 blowout of Minnesota, he snapped one of Michigan's most remarkable feats of the year: A streak of 21 consecutive scores inside the red zone. Only Stanford has a longer streak this year.
Michigan is ranked ninth in red-zone efficiency. That's a dramatic improvement from last year, when it was 92nd despite a high-octane spread-option attack.
Most impressively, the Wolverines aren't just settling for field goals. They've scored 17 touchdowns in their 22 red-zone trips, a remarkable 77.3 percent TD rate.
Red zone production comes down to execution. What's been the key?
"We know we’re certainly not efficient yet overall, but that part of our game’s been pretty good so far, and hopefully we can keep it going," offensive coordinator Al Borges said recently. "We spend a lot of time working on it, too. It is a point of emphasis.
"One thing I’ll say for this football team — we are not perfect by any means, we are not there — but we’ve got pretty good will."
Third-down conversions
Among all of Michigan's defensive improvements, one of the most stark has been limiting opponents' third-down conversions.
In their first two games, the Wolverines stopped Western Michigan and Notre Dame just 44 percent of the time on third down. In their three games since, that's up to 70.7 percent.
Last week, Minnesota did not pick up a first down on 11 third-down attempts.
Hoke was pleased with that effort, but still sees room to improve.
"I don’t think we’re where we need to be," he said. "I think last week helped, but that’s an anomaly a little bit.”
Turnovers
One of the biggest turnarounds for Michigan this season — other than its total and scoring defense — has come in turnover margin.
The Wolverines were an NCAA-worst minus-32 in turnover margin the past three years. This season, they're at plus-seven, which is fifth in the country.
The about-face is the result of one major factor: A defensive mindset that emphasizes swarming to and stripping the ball. It's helped Michigan force 15 takeaways, the most in the Big Ten.
It forced 19 all of last year.
Why the dramatic improvement? Here's what Ryan Van Bergen thinks:
"I think it’s just the emphasis. We have such a strong emphasis from (defensive coordinator Greg) Mattison and Coach Hoke, almost to the point where you don’t want to hear them anymore. Just turn them off in practice because they’re always talking about running to the ball, that the ball’s going to come out.
"If you count it percentage-wise, you’re probably not going to get a ball out too often — but when it does, man, it feels great. When you buy in like our defense has bought in, all of a sudden the turnovers start piling up for us."
Penalties
The Wolverines weren't bad last year in penalties, finishing 38th nationally at 45.9 yards per game. Now, though, they are being penalized just 30.6 yards per game, which is eighth nationally and the best in the Big Ten.
They've shown tremendous discipline throughout the season.
The shift perhaps is most evident in sophomore left tackle Taylor Lewan, who started seven regular-season games last year and had seven penalties.
This year, he has no penalties of any kind.
Why? Coaching.
"First thing they talked to me about," Lewan said of a one-on-meeting he had with the new staff in January. "That was what our meeting was about — it was a little bit longer than everybody else's."
In-game adjustments
Perhaps the statistic that has the most singular correlation to good coaching is in-game improvements — and Michigan has been one of the country's best second-half and fourth-quarter teams.
The Wolverines have won the first quarter 28-21, then are outscoring teams 72-9 in the second quarter, 38-14 in the third and 48-7 in the fourth. They have an 86-21 edge in the second half.
The case can be made that coaching means more in football than in any other sport, from the scheming and preparation to the mindset and attitude of a team. In a lot of ways, players often take on the personality of their coaches.
In the Wolverines' case, it is clear there has been an emphasis on discipline, fundamentals, energy and will. They aren't a very deep team and, in some cases, lack in personnel at key spots.
But, so far, Michigan has overcome those challenges by mastering the small things that make a big difference.
It's too soon to draw any conclusions about Michigan's chances of winning a seemingly wide-open Big Ten race this year, but the early returns couldn't be better.
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
Terrin Bell
Sun, Oct 9, 2011 : 1:15 a.m.
As of now, Michigan has the same record playing as it did last year. Michigan's schedule is also weaker this year. It's win against Notre Dame was nice, but largely because Notre Dame shot itself multiple times. The real test will be the second half of the season against, Northwestern, Michigan State, and Nebraska. With all that said, Michigan definitely has had improvements on turnovers, penalties, and the defense. Robinson is still an outstanding runner, but merely an OK passer. Just my thoughts.
mgoblue48348
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 7:19 p.m.
<------X Giant Rich Rodreguiz slappy, but I have to admit way less fumbles, I cant remember an illegal procedure with the O-line. Much better defensive play which in a small way is the head coaches responsibility not the D.C. I also sense like a renewed Michigan feeling with the team like they are really proud to just be in the uniform. I am seeing bigger hits being put on the other teams players and not ours. So I am really impressed with coach Hoke and wish he had been hired in the first place and not just because of the teams successes but the black eye in my opinion the school had to endure in the hiring and firing fiasco, but anyway.......Way to go coach Hoke and staff.... Go Blue and BEAT OHIO STATE
1st Down
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 10:47 p.m.
Well said... the proof is on the field...anyone can see that this team is far better-coached than the RR error teams were. Now, some still cant admit it...but they do see it...
Mick
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 4:28 p.m.
Hey Kyle, I respect that you at least respond to critique, good on ya mate! Better job on the predictions sir, although I think some people are still hesitant to believe how good the Defense really is, I watched film this week and it's no fluke folks. I have a really good feeling about this game and the season for that matter, Go Blue for TiM!!!
15crown00
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 3:47 p.m.
well SAH a good high school coach could improve on the job RR did.
missionbrazil
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 2:35 p.m.
Intangibles, tangibles, whatever. Clearly this coaching staff is doing a far better job at coaching up our players, and teaching sound fundamentals & techniques. The players are clearly responding, and they are playing with a lot of heart and toughness. We are in far better hands than we have been for several years ... even if 1984 doesn't seem to like it. Prediction: UM 31, Northwestern 17 (I see Mr. Meinke quit doing predictions ... good idea !)
missionbrazil
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 4:04 p.m.
Just keeping you honest Kyle. Your predictions do seem to be improving.
Kyle Meinke
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 3:28 p.m.
Mission, that was an accident! I know you can't live without my extremely accurate predictions! They'll be back! OK, here's the deal: I've actually missed only once all season on Michigan. I'm 4-1, and nearly nailed the score twice. I've been right on the mark each week — except once, and that's all you people remember! (I'd give me a hard time, too, if I were you. And for the record: Michigan 31, Northwestern 21)
Aditya Ezhuthachan
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 7:53 a.m.
Um... these are tangibles, not intangibles. Despite that... good article! Go Blue!
DonAZ
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 2:14 p.m.
I don't know ... the results are tangible, the cause may well be intangible.
1bit
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 3:08 a.m.
Thankfully, the coaches only seem to care about the most important "tangible": the win column. Let's beat a NWern tomorrow and little brother after that and then we can talk about a change from previous years...
southAA
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 2:23 a.m.
I clicked on this headline thinking it was going to be a feel-good article about playing with a lot of heart, but lo and behold you presented five quantitative measures indicating a better-coached team. Do you know what intangible means?
Kyle Meinke
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 3:24 p.m.
southAA, here's how I responded to a similar comment: "What I meant by "intangible" was simply the stuff not included in the categories of offense, defense and special teams. In football, or any sport, even intangibles can be measured, and that doesn't make them less of an intangible. I assume you probably are thinking of attitude and physicality and stuff like that as intangibles, and that's not wrong. But the things I wrote about, I'd still consider intangibles of the game as well. It's just semantics, really. My point is Michigan is doing the small things well." Cool?
NC Wolverine 20
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 3:05 a.m.
I love that kid, Kyle, but he ain't no English major!
heartbreakM
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 2:15 a.m.
While I do agree that our team is better coached (and has been since early January), I think we ought to wait to proclaim these things until the team has faced actual tough competition and faced adversity. Part of it will come from road games (pathetic that we have been home for 5 games), and part of it will come second half of schedule starting this or next week. But your points are well made Kyle and this was a nice article with good reasoning.
Macabre Sunset
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 2:14 a.m.
Intangible: You keep saying that word. I don't think you know what that word means. I'm happy with the start, but the six hardest games this season remain. Let's not fall into the realm of irrational exuberance just yet. We'll learn a lot about the defense tomorrow, and how it handles the Persa challenge.
Macabre Sunset
Sun, Oct 9, 2011 : 6:19 a.m.
Kyle, that's just a misuse of the word. You bring up points that can easily be measured using standard evaluation tools. Intangible is generally, in sportswriter speak, something positive you assign to a team that wins when you expect them to lose. It cannot be measured, by definition. Jokingly, we call often Derek Jeter "Captain Intangibles" because sportswriters fawn all over him even though his defense is measurably horrible and his offense only slightly better than average for a shortstop.
Kyle Meinke
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 3:22 p.m.
Macabre, what I meant by "intangible" was simply the stuff not included in the categories of offense, defense and special teams. In football, or any sport, even intangibles can be measured, and that doesn't make them less of an intangible. I assume you probably are thinking of attitude and physicality and stuff like that as intangibles, and that's not wrong. But the things I wrote about, I'd still consider intangibles of the game as well. It's just semantics, really. My point is Michigan is doing the small things well.
edjasbord
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 3:16 p.m.
Have to agree - I expected talk of culture, discipline, respect for tradition, each other, leadership, and so on. The author is not talking about intangibles - he is talking about coaching habits both in practices and games. Those things are tangibles. The author's distinction between tangible and intangible leaves everything that is not material as 'intangible.' That includes words, gestures, movement, and so on. Coaching, of the type the author talks about, is not intangible. It can be seen, heard, hell even measured. This author repeatedly makes illogical arguments in his editorials - he really needs someone to give him feedback on his logic before any more.
Mick
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 1:47 a.m.
Hey BG1984, big brother is watching you.....boo. Bro, you need to let it go and if you're truly an M fan then you should be rejoicing the fact that we got rid of the WORSE COACH IN MICHIGAN FOOTBALL HISTORY! I mean what's the problem, why are you sounding bitter? @Blu n tpa, I believe you are wrong sir, we will face Wiscy this year, it'll just be in Indy is all. I just can't wait to see the continued improvement of this team and program, man we are in great hands. For Detroit and M Fans, 2011 has been like heaven!!!
Mick
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 4:20 p.m.
Hey Blu, I figured you meant schedule, I was just having a little fun, but I am serious about the Indy Game, Go Blue to you to brother!!!
Blu n Tpa
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 11:34 a.m.
Mick, I defer to your judgement on Wisconsin playing Michigan. I certainly hope you are correct. I was reacting to the word "schedule" in the gentleman's comments. I will add the BT Championship Game to the Michigan schedule on the refridgerator. Thanks Bro for the input. TiM Go Blue!
Rufus
Fri, Oct 7, 2011 : 11:56 p.m.
No one expected this much improvement in such a short time. Remarkable coaching job so far. Best yet, everybody on the schedule looks deeply flawed except Wisconsin.
Blu n Tpa
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 12:08 a.m.
And Michigan doesn't play Wisconsin this year.
ohiowolverine
Fri, Oct 7, 2011 : 11:46 p.m.
DonAZ, If I could have voted more than once on your last commet I would have. It made me *GRIN*.
DonAZ
Fri, Oct 7, 2011 : 11:25 p.m.
*grin* ... I love our new coaching staff.
Bill Wilson
Fri, Oct 7, 2011 : 10:37 p.m.
Isn't it just a bit too early for columns like this?
RWBill
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 6:12 p.m.
No.
Kyle Meinke
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 3:16 p.m.
Bill, I would agree with you if I tried to extrapolate much from these early results. As in, if I said Michigan is winning a national title or something, because of these five games, then that would be jumping the gun. But, in writing this, I was trying to shed light on all the little things Michigan is doing better. The offense and defense get so much publicity, but to me, outside of the defense, it's all these small things that will be what keeps Michigan from a Big Ten swoon. It's what they lacked (besides a defense) the past two years. There really is a marked defense. Even if the statistical improvements come down a bit against tougher competition, it isn't hard to see this team is better coached and more disciplined. In my opinion.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 12:21 a.m.
Nope. Compare the team's stats, especially on the defensive side of the ball and on special teams, to last year's at the same point. There is no comparison. GN&GL
DonAZ
Fri, Oct 7, 2011 : 11:24 p.m.
A touch ... but not excessively so. There's good reason to believe there's a tangible difference between this year and last, despite the same 5-0 record.
Blu n Tpa
Fri, Oct 7, 2011 : 10:26 p.m.
First, solid tangible facts to back up your premise(s) and certainly show a marked improvement over the WCSiMFH. Anybody, and I mean anybody, who can't see the in-game adjustments and the improved performance regarding fewer penatlies, less turnovers, and better discipline has another team as the favorite and is "just visiting" this Michigan football site. That's right, Coach Hoke and Coach Mattison were here when Coach Carr and Bo still had offices located on campus. That's why they understand what needs to be done and are doing it. And before we go through another 130 plus comments which justs wastes time and serves no purpose, except let some people try to rewrite the last 3 years, this team will not suffer a nose dive like what had been seen during the last two years. These coaches didn't need 3-5 years to start turning things around. They are well ahead of the recruiting curve, they have won almost twice a many games as the WCiMFH did in his full first year, and I am damn happy they are coaching the Michigan Wolverines. So Mr. Meinke, please excuse George Orwell's favorite number, he has had a hard time adjusting to the change. He continues to hope for failure so he can say "I told you so". My guess is he will have to wait a long time. TiM Go Blue!
GoBlue1984
Fri, Oct 7, 2011 : 9:12 p.m.
Nice article Rosenberg -- err -- Meinke. Go Blue... as long as one of Bo's guys is leading the program I guess...
Kyle Meinke
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 3:12 p.m.
Rosenberg's a very handsome fellow. Thanks for the compliment! (Tongue firmly in cheek.)
azwolverine
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 1:38 p.m.
Bo's guys seem to get the job done...
XTR
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 2:13 a.m.
What is the reason for this RR admiration? UM suffered for 3 years already, the darkest era in history then the team changed with the same players different staff.
1st Down
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 2:04 a.m.
Its funny how Theo disappears and GOBlue 1984 pops up here with the same man love for the losing coach... but a more bitter disposition. Same disillusioned guy?
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 12:19 a.m.
Someone just can't get over their man crush. Time them to quit watching UM football and to watch the object of their desires on CBS instead. GN&GL
Blu n Tpa
Fri, Oct 7, 2011 : 10:31 p.m.
1st, who was the last successful head coach at Michigan? It was more than 3 years ago, he had an incredible winning percentage vs top 10 and 20 teams, and he is a "Hall of Fame" college football coach. I think his only "Failure" was that he didn't get the WCiMFH fired after the first dreadful season. Well, nobody's perfect. Lloyd Carr! That's it. Nevermind 1st. TiM Go Blue!
1st Down
Fri, Oct 7, 2011 : 9:59 p.m.
bitter much? The team is FAR better coached than the prior 3 years, which was not done by "one of Bo's guys" ... as you know.