KnightHawk9
Well-Known Member
Agreed. A lot of Michigan fans use the phrase "Bend but don't break" when discussing him. Of course, it's probably fair to say he's grown quite a bit in the last 7 years.
Herman for DC?
- Thread starter Hawkeye1313
- Start date
jameskalina
Well-Known Member
I like Herman's resume. A mix of major college and pro experience.
Billso
Well-Known Member
Michigan's 2005 D was horrid especially in the 4th quarter. But you need to look at a guy's full body of work. And if you want to credit Mattison for Herrman's 1997 success, don't you credit Herrman for English's 2006 success?
MoseSchrute
Well-Known Member
This makes me very nervous.
Montanahawk
Well-Known Member
As a Iowa and UM fan I would be really unhappy if we hired Jim Herrmann as DC.
Herrmann inherited 8 starters off of a top 12 defense in 1996. A defense that included then sophomore Charles Woodson. It was a defense that was loaded with elite talent. The remainder of his career at UM his defenses were very mediocre and he had a whole lot of talent to work with.
The problem with Herrmann was that he taught football like it was a graduate level course to freshmen. His schemes and position assignments were complex. His defense was almost the antithesis of Norm Parker's where simplicity of scheme was expertly matched with knowing your assignments.
Eventually Carr asked Herrmann to share his DC assignments with budding DC, Ron English. Herrmann refused and took the Jets LB job. It was not a lateral move. English, not a great DC either but an improvement, simplified the defense, and that freed up kids to play instinctively and aggressively and not *think*. Herrmann, may have learned that you need to keep things simple for college players. That the emphasis of coaching should be teaching position assignments and then letting kids play without throwing advanced level schemes at them. Herrmann is a bright guy, but he was not a good DC, and I can see where his coaching might be better suited to more experienced NFL players than college kids.
Herrmann inherited 8 starters off of a top 12 defense in 1996. A defense that included then sophomore Charles Woodson. It was a defense that was loaded with elite talent. The remainder of his career at UM his defenses were very mediocre and he had a whole lot of talent to work with.
The problem with Herrmann was that he taught football like it was a graduate level course to freshmen. His schemes and position assignments were complex. His defense was almost the antithesis of Norm Parker's where simplicity of scheme was expertly matched with knowing your assignments.
Eventually Carr asked Herrmann to share his DC assignments with budding DC, Ron English. Herrmann refused and took the Jets LB job. It was not a lateral move. English, not a great DC either but an improvement, simplified the defense, and that freed up kids to play instinctively and aggressively and not *think*. Herrmann, may have learned that you need to keep things simple for college players. That the emphasis of coaching should be teaching position assignments and then letting kids play without throwing advanced level schemes at them. Herrmann is a bright guy, but he was not a good DC, and I can see where his coaching might be better suited to more experienced NFL players than college kids.
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HawkeyeMcNutt
Well-Known Member
The thing is though, do you think Kirk is gonna let him come right in make a simple defense into a highly complex one? I don't think so.
I feel like he could do a good job working with the current staff to find a balance between a Parker defense and a complex herrmman defense. Not to mention being in the nfl on the staffs of two very good defenses has likely helped him learn and grow a lot.
I feel like he could do a good job working with the current staff to find a balance between a Parker defense and a complex herrmman defense. Not to mention being in the nfl on the staffs of two very good defenses has likely helped him learn and grow a lot.
MoseSchrute
Well-Known Member
....yep, still nervous.
Montanahawk
Well-Known Member
That's akin to saying two B10 titles in 13 seasons with KOK as OC. Except Herrmann was working with a lot more talent at UM on the defensive side.
Montanahawk
Well-Known Member
No, I don't know, though. I only know what I've seen from Herrmann and I was decidedly unimpressed. I'd much, much rather see another Norm Parker at DC than Herrmann. Maybe, Herrmann has looked deeply into his soul(tic) and realizes that his failures as a DC at UM(and believe me he was a failure) was his complex schemes and coupled with Norm's and KF's defensive style will keep it simple. If he is named DC, though, I'll be very concerned until I see it on the field. Exactly zero UM fans would take Herrmann over then and again now, UM DC Greg Mattison, and for a program like Iowa where over performing is a hallmark of the program and a necessity to winning with perennially less talent than the traditionally elite schools that's not an insignificant point.
You are the only person on the planet that is claiming his system was complex.
The only one.
HawkeyeJim75
Well-Known Member
The major difference between our D and Michigan's D is Iowa's D plays a lot more smarter. I have heard while watching games that they say that Iowa's d plays the smartest out of any other Big Ten Team.
They may have more talented players but that dosn't mean they play smart.
They may have more talented players but that dosn't mean they play smart.
