Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison's NFL experience brings new bite to pressuring quarterbacks
Greg Mattison is back in college football and reunited with close friend Brady Hoke.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Thirty-one years as a college football coach, and Greg Mattison learned how to craft some of the nation’s best defenses.
Three years in the NFL, and he learned how to better pressure the quarterback.
Consider that a warning.
“The NFL experience gave me a whole new perspective on pressuring the quarterback,” Michigan’s first-year defensive coordinator said after a recent practice. “In that league, a quarterback, if you give him time, he will just shred you. He is going to tear you apart, and it doesn’t matter if he is an average quarterback or a great one like Peyton Manning.
GREG MATTISON FILE
Hometown: Madison, Wis.
College: Wisconsin-La Crosse
Family: Wife, Ann; daughter, Lisa; son, Bryan
COACHING STOPS
Illinois (GA) 1976; Cornell (DL) 1977; Northwestern (DL) 1978-80; Western Michigan (DL/DC) 1982-86; Navy (DL) 1987-88; Texas A&M (DL) 1989-91; Michigan (DL/DC)1992-96; Notre Dame (DL/DC)1997-2004; Florida (DC/DL) 2005-07; Baltimore Ravens (DC/LB) 2008-10; Michigan (DC) 2011-present.
BOWL GAMES
Florida (3): Capital One Bowl (2008), BCS National Championship Game (2007), Outback Bowl (2006).
Notre Dame (4): Insight.com Bowl (2004), Fiesta Bowl (2001), Gator Bowl (1999), Independence Bowl (1997).
Michigan (5): Outback Bowl (1997), Alamo Bowl (1995), Holiday Bowl (1994), Hall of Fame Bowl (1994), Rose Bowl (1993).
Texas A&M (3): John Hancock Bowl (1989), Holiday Bowl (1990), Cotton Bowl (1992).
It’s not as though Mattison had trouble getting to the quarterback as a college coach. He coordinated some of Michigan's best defenses in the mid-1990s, including setting the foundation for the cast that carried the Wolverines to the national championship in 1997 (Mattison left prior to that season).
He coordinated Florida’s sixth-ranked defense in 2006, when the Gators won their national championship.
He’s had stops at Notre Dame and Texas A&M, among others.
But at the highest level, Mattison learned the importance of disguising his packages.
“I think the NFL really helped me with the idea of attacking protections,” Mattison said. “Coming up with things that look a lot alike, but might be different, where you are coming from different places, and it kind of opened my eyes a little bit.
“You line up in the same defensive package there, and you’re asking for a long day.”
Mattison left the college ranks before the 2008 season to coach the Baltimore Ravens’ linebackers. After one season, he was promoted to defensive coordinator. His units finished third and 10th in total defense under his guidance.
Is Hoke surprised he was able to lure the leader of one of the NFL’s most fearsome defenses to coach a unit that finished 110th in the country last year and set historical school lows?
“He’s here,” Hoke said with a smile.
Mattison calls Hoke his “best friend in the world,” which certainly weighed in the decision.
“I wouldn’t have come here for just anybody,” Mattison said.
The pair worked together at Western Michigan during the 1985-86 seasons, and later at Michigan in the 1990s — in fact, Mattison, the defensive coordinator, supervised Hoke, the defensive line coach.
“When you coach the defensive line or when you coordinate defenses, you have great respect for great coaches, and Brady has always been one of those guys,” Mattison said. “Brady has always been a guy that rolls his sleeves up and he is going to work harder than anybody else.”
Now, Mattison is looking to infuse some bite into Michigan’s pass rush.
This Ryan Van Bergen sack of Michigan State's Kirk Cousins was one of only 18 recorded by Michigan last season. Greg Mattison hopes to add considerable pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
AnnArbor.com file photo
Michigan has scrapped the 3-3-5 this offseason, though, and is installing Mattison’s 4-3 formation, which is simpler to run and applies more consistent pressure on quarterbacks.
That also should help take some of the onus off the Wolverines’ secondary, which was chewed up by pass offenses last year — to the tune of 261.8 yards per game. Injuries at cornerback hurt Michigan, but quarterbacks also were comfortable playing against the Wolverines.
Mattison’s job is to make them less comfortable.
How’s he doing?
Just ask former Florida coach Urban Meyer, for whom Mattison worked during the Gators’ national title season in 2006.
"I went there for spring practice and watched a practice, watched real close, spent time with Greg and Brady," Meyer said this week during a teleconference with reporters. "I was expecting something much worse than what I saw. I saw a bunch of good players out there running around and being well-coached.
"I don't think they're near as far off as what you saw at the end of the season last year. I think they'll be much improved if they can stay healthy.”
Michigan returns nine starters on defense, although not all those players are guaranteed their spots back. Already, sophomore safety Thomas Gordon has won a starting spot, and sophomore Courtney Avery could wrestle the second cornerback spot from junior J.T. Floyd.
Up front, Michigan has strong leadership in senior nose tackle Mike Martin and senior defensive tackle Ryan Van Bergen (who played end last year). Junior Craig Roh also is back, and is practicing at rush outside linebacker.
That group should be the strength of the unit. After finishing 110th last year in total defense, Michigan could make significant improvement and still be below average. What is the unit’s goal for the year?
“At the end of the day, we don’t want to say Michigan beat Michigan,” Martin said last month.
Is that something this team hasn’t been able to say the past three years?
“The past is the past, we’re excited about the future,” he said.
Mattison knows exactly what to expect from his defense.
"I know in my heart what's about to happen here," he said. "We're going to have a Michigan football program that Bo (Schembechler), coach (Gary) Moeller and coach (Lloyd) Carr are going to be proud of again. A program that has been built for many, many years the way we are trying to do it.
“I believe in my heart that's going to happen."
He wouldn’t have come back here otherwise.
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
81wolverine
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 2:45 p.m.
Despite some of the negative comments on this article, I strongly believe Mattison will do wonders for our defense. Why? he will install more pressuring, blitzing packages that the previous two coaching staffs were either unwilling or unable to implement. Of course, it may have to be done incrementally because we don't have the right personnel yet. Also, Mattison loves college coaching I believe and can do more at this level. He's already shown he can recruit with the best of them. And all this talk about his age is a bunch of worthless negativity. I'd guess he has more energy and and is in better shape than a lot of people 20 years younger. Finally, from all I've read about what's been going on in practice, he and Hoke are bringing our D back to the standards of toughness and aggressiveness that Michigan is used to. So, I'm looking forward to where this team will be in the next few years.
Ed daggett
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 2:31 a.m.
In two of the last three yrs LC was coach Michigan gave up the most points and rushing yards in the schools 139 yrs of playing football. Throw in 91 yds in total offense against Ohio State his last yr. losing 5 straight OSU games and 4 of 5 bowl games and Appalachian State it is safe to say LC left the program as a mess. Nice guy but did a terrible job at end of career. LC inherited national championship talent when he took over in 95 and he left RR a bunch of backups from a team that could not beat Appalachian State!!! Now LC wants to jump in front of every camera and microphone available after sabotaging program for three yrs to talk about Hoke----the coach that Gary Moeller hired!! LC--real Michigan Men and fans don't take three yrs off
Chad Williams
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 8:54 p.m.
They will be better as a d because of experience as well. Mattison said himself on the btn preview show that schemes dont matter, but if the players do what the coaches tell them they will succeed. That being said this team isnt deep enough to resemble the ravens. They have talent but not 2 deep talent. They will be walking on egg shells all year long because injuries happen. No team goes without injuries. There is no quick fix for lack of depth, you can believe the hype of mattison and hoke as defensive guys but thats only part of the problem solved. The strength of every good defense is the front 7 and that just happens to be the weakness for michigan. Not enough guys and not enough talent to beat elite level teams.
golions34
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 6:05 p.m.
He's a good college coach. Just gotta hope that ND doesn't offer him a job again or he's out the door
MRunner73
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 5:59 p.m.
I will take all the help and expert coaching that is out there as this defense will be better for two reasons: 1) most of them played last year as Freshman and they will improves from all of that experience; 2) Grge Mattison and the expert coaching as well as the simpler scheme of a 4-3 defense. Look for the Wolverines Defensive unit to give up as much as half as many points per game as last year so that would be 17 to 18. Anything in the 20 range, plus or minus 2 would be great. How much will the offense score is another topic. ONE WEEK to WMU--Go Blue!!
Ed daggett
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 3:59 p.m.
Ravens wanted to keep the D Back coach over Mattison so let's not make him out to be next Buddy Ryan. If an NFL team wanted him he would still be in league. LC left defense in mess. Before his retirement M had two of three worst D's in school history. RR inherited a mess & forced to play frosh/sophs last two yrs. You cannot win with 29 defensive players on scholership---thanks LC for not making home visits your last two yrs. Regarding NFL blitzes etc coming to M----college coaches around country are working 15+ hours a day seven days a week. There will be nothing new shown that opponents have not seen. Comes down to having talented players & M has not had many last three yrs that were not a frosh or soph----and they are not going to beat talented, experienced juniors/seniors
Chad Williams
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 9:08 p.m.
ppg is a stat that can vary, as for example 2006 team 14.6 a game. Before OSU this defense was awesome, OSU, USC, App st, Oregon just gave them business. 41. 32, 34, 39. In consecutive games what kind of defense is that. They simply havent been able to figure out mobile qb's and speed on the outside. Being physical is great it really is but when a guy can run around your power its useless.
Lorain Steelmen
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 5:50 p.m.
It was not just the defesne that LC let deteriorate. The O was just as bad. There has been a steady decline since, 2001 or 02, here. Give RR credit, at least he tried to turn things around, now its' up to Hoke to finsih the job. I'm not sure Mattison is the answer, but we'll soon see. If RR had stayed we could eXpect around 9-3. UM shouLd do at lEast that well this year, perhaps a 10-2. 11-1 would be nice.
missionbrazil
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 4:51 p.m.
"LC left defense in mess. Before his retirement M had two of three worst D's in school history. " You must be joking. LC's D was # 23 in the nation in 2007 (20.3 PPG), # 8 in 2006 (14.6 PPG), # 22 in 2005 (19.3 PPG),... Get your facts straight.
cutty240
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 3:31 p.m.
I guess no one watched the Raven game the other night.They talked about how Bad there pressure was last year under your NEW DC.He was about ready to get fired,so left the pro's.All of a Sudden he's going to put all this pressure on.This is Coach Speak,he knows what you Michigan Fans want to hear.Ben Franklin said,Well Done,is Better than Well Said.
umgoblue47
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 3:16 p.m.
yes injuries will be a key factor in this teams success but also taking care of the ball and penalties could also define the direction of this team. learning a new offense can cause both. GO BLUE!!!
missionbrazil
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 1:58 p.m.
I like Urban Meyer's assessment and I think he is right ... if we can avoid alot of injuries we are going to surprise alot of people. rightmind ... Mattison's D was the 3rd best scoring D in the NFL last year ... yeah, makes alot of sense that he got run out of Baltimore because he is too old. By the way, the # 1 D in the NFL has an even much older DC.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 7:28 p.m.
Great minds think alike. I said the same thing in a reply to that silly post. Good Night and Good Luck
discgolfgeek
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 1:48 p.m.
Ps the Ravens defense is old and it's unlikely they will be an improved unit this year, I predict they surprise to the downside as injuries and age takes it's toll. I predict Michigan surprises to the upside -- youth, enthusiasm, reasonable talent in key positions, and good fundamentals will carry the day.
Jarhead
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 11:33 a.m.
So that's why i have trouble baking a cake! it's the basic ingredients, isn't it?
DonAZ
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 1:59 p.m.
"... and good fundamentals will carry the day." Playing football without good fundamentals is like baking a cake without eggs. You can try to do it, but the results aren't great.
psaume23
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 1:40 p.m.
Re: Coach Mattison's age: Experience trumps youth. BTW, excellent interview series by the reporter.
discgolfgeek
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 1:39 p.m.
really? (rightmind) I guess pittsburgh had better get rid of dick lebeau, he's 73
DonAZ
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 2:07 p.m.
Good is good ... nobody really cares about the age as long as the results are present.
Blu n Tpa
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 1:50 p.m.
Way to correct the record. I wonder how any DCs/OCs and HCs are over 60? That's OK some people think Skip Holtz coaches UCF in Tampa. Isn't that right(mind250)?
rightmind250
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 1:08 p.m.
I live in DC and follow the ravens. G Matt was run out of Baltimore. Nobody wants a 60 something DC in the pro's.
Rob Pollard
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 9:10 p.m.
"Run of town" is overstating it, but the scuttlebutt is that Harbaugh was not happy at what he saw as the defense's lack of aggressiveness last year. Just like every other word out of Hoke this year has been "tough", you're seeing a lot of "aggressive" out of Baltimore this year (from players, coaches and media). To wit: "That aggressive style will be reflected in a Ravens defense that is trying to recover from the fewest sacks in team history." <a href="http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-01-19/sports/bs-sp-ravens-pagano-0120-20110119_1_chuck-pagano-defensive-styles-greg-mattison" rel='nofollow'>http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-01-19/sports/bs-sp-ravens-pagano-0120-20110119_1_chuck-pagano-defensive-styles-greg-mattison</a> I know it seems shocking to us that someone who led the 10th rated D last year (and 3rd rated the year before that) would not be seen as a wild success, but apparently giving up 31 pts in the playoffs to the hated Steelers, and specifically only rushing three players on obvious passing downs caused a big portion of the fanbase to dislike Mattison. For example (just look at those comments; they're pretty typical): <a href="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/blog/2011/01/mattison_has_talked_to_michigan_about_defensive_coordinator.html" rel='nofollow'>http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/blog/2011/01/mattison_has_talked_to_michigan_about_defensive_coordinator.html</a> I think Michigan was lucky to get Mattison and he'll do well (if not great), but at the same time, I don't want to overstate his success at Baltimore. He certainly wasn't fired, but at the same time, it sounds like they were happy to make a change.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 7:20 p.m.
Yeah, the DC for one of the NFL's best defensive teams was run out of town because he's too old. BTW, have you checked lately to see how old Dick LeBeau (DC in Pittsburgh) is? Hint: his 74th birthday is the first day of the NFL season. Good Night and Good Luck
DonAZ
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 2:06 p.m.
Have any links you can share to support the "run out of Baltimore" assertion? Real sports website links ... not fan blogs.
DennisP
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 12:52 p.m.
Quoting Urban Meyer: "I went there for spring practice and watched a practice, watched real close, spent time with Greg and Brady," Meyer said this week during a teleconference with reporters. "I was expecting something much worse than what I saw. I saw a bunch of good players out there running around and being well-coached. "I don't think they're near as far off as what you saw at the end of the season last year. I think they'll be much improved if they can stay healthy." That's from one of the best coaches in college ball. So much for RR hinting at how he left the UM better than when he came to it... Last year--a defensive travesty. This year, the beginnings of a turnaround at the hands of specialists interested in the entire game of football. Coach Meyer knows that work still needs to be done but, unlike last year, the head coach is dedicated to building a sound defense and has all the best personnel in place to direct that transition. They'll have ups and downs this year, but it's all moving in the right direction. No more coaching chickens running around with their heads cut off.
DonAZ
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 1:56 p.m.
"They'll have ups and downs this year, but it's all moving in the right direction." Exactly. My drumbeat for some time now ... within reason the win/loss record this year is secondary to the quality of the play and the direction of the trend line. Further down "discgolfgeek" wrote: "I predict Michigan surprises to the upside -- youth, enthusiasm, reasonable talent in key positions, and good fundamentals will carry the day." I agree 100%. There'll be moments where I hold my head. But those will diminish over the season. Barring serious injuries, by season's end we'll see a competitive Michigan football team with all the pointers being up.
1st Down
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 12:22 p.m.
Excellent point Blu...about the talk. Look, Im not crazy.... i know G Matt is an excellent, D C....his track record speaks for itself....however that is the RAVENS that we are talking about...and they are loaded with "Jimmies and Joes"..... so they will be good as long as they are.... not taking anything away from G Matt, but its the RAVENS and Michigan *due to RR and Co incompetetance is rebuilding and reloading... We have some talent... actually a fair amount...but we are lacking in many areas on the D, in particular in the most important postions... will we get after the QB...yeah, much better than under the incompetent RR and Co.... will we improve to maybe 50th or 60th in the country (as opposed to 110th)....heck, Id bet on it... but G Matt is not a miracle worker...this D will be tough, wont quit, and will be fundamentally sound...but we were still 2 years and 2 recruiting classes from getting enough Jimmys and Joes in place there to make a serious NC run... which we will... mark it down for 013. Go Blue.
Jarhead
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 11:44 a.m.
ERMG I actually agree with you. Last year we saw linebackers drop into the middle of the field where no-one was, covering no-one, tackling no-one. I couldn't understand the theory. Even Chriss Spielman mentioned it during a game he was calling. I think there was way more talent there than what was being utilized.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 7:17 p.m.
The question few of us in the cheap seats can answer is this: how much of last year's disaster was lack of talent, and how much was poor coaching? My guess (no surprise, I know) is that it was more of the latter than the former. But whatever the case, it is my experience that good coaching and good game planning can, to some degree, make up for shortcomings in talent. In this case, offensive time of possession and, hence, the offensive game plan might be as critical to our defense's success as anything the defense does. So we shall see. I fully expect a jump in the NCAA defensive rankings into the 50s or 60s, but will not be surprised if it is better than that
DonAZ
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 2:04 p.m.
"but G Matt is not a miracle worker...this D will be tough, wont quit, and will be fundamentally sound...but we were still 2 years and 2 recruiting classes from getting enough Jimmys and Joes in place there to make a serious NC run" Yeah, probably ... no argument. I've said it before -- I expect Michigan will lose some games this year. I just hope they don't lose games they shouldn't, and the ones they do lose they lose playing tough and competitive. Sometimes the better team wins. And there'll be times when Michigan isn't the better team on the field. That's okay ... it's a process ... but the key is to play up to and beyond the talent on the field. Not the other way around.
Blu n Tpa
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 12:14 p.m.
OK, we have reached the part of pre season where all the talk starts to sound the same. That's not a dig, it's just the way it it after reading anything available about this team. We know the coaches and the players and the players that want to be the players. One week and then the clock will run at superspeed until the last week of November. And I can hardly wait. Coach Hoke, tie up the loose ends, set the lineup the best you can, and lead the team out to touch the banner. Let's play some hard charging, head knocking, pancake blocking Michigan football. TiM Go Blue!
Blu n Tpa
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 1:02 a.m.
OK DAZ I'm out. Unlike some I CAN take a hint. TiM Go Blue!
Mick
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 7:38 p.m.
I 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. that sentiment. I'm ready to root for my beloved Wolverines. Go Blue!
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 7:12 p.m.
Agree Blu. Am all talked out. Can't wait to be in my seats one week from today! Go Blue!! Good Night and Good Luck
DonAZ
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 2:01 p.m.
Ah ... but you're still reading and commenting, aren't you? :-) I'm bursting at the seams for the season to start. My wife is going out of town next weekend leaving me home alone to just geek out on college football.