Ask Nick: A few recruiting questions, and even some hot seat talk as Signing Day nears

Nick Baumgardner | By Nick Baumgardner |
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on January 24, 2014 at 7:01 AM, updated January 24, 2014 at 7:19 AM
brady-hoke-iowa.jpgWelcome back to another edition of "Ask Nick," our weekly Michigan football mailbag.  

ANN ARBOR -- Anyone out there remember what summer feels like?

You know, the time of year when you don't have to put on a space suit just to go outside?


Me either.

In the meantime, while we day dream about the end of this already absurd winter, welcome back to another edition of "Ask Nick," our weekly Michigan football mailbag.

Thanks again to everyone who participated this week.

Question: Hi Nick, you've evaded-- or should I say avoided -- this question a number of times but I see other posters have asked it again. Question: do you think Brady Hoke will be on the hot seat if there aren't marked improvements from this team (next) year? -- Blueroses

A: I haven't evaded or avoided it on purpose, Blueroses. Trust me. Sometimes these get lost in the shuffle.

But, in any event, this is one of those elephant in the room questions that seems silly to avoid just for the sake of avoiding it.

Will he be on the hot seat if Michigan continues to suffer from the same ailments it did this past season and the year before, and the result is basically the same? I can't imagine why he wouldn't be.

Dave Brandon has hitched his wagon to Hoke, and he seems incredibly confident that Hoke will get this thing turned around. But if you're sitting there after year four with a 7-6 record again with nothing but downward momentum surrounding your program, then I'm not sure how you defend it.

Also, of note, Brandon has bosses, too. And he'll have a new boss next year, as Mary Sue Coleman will retire in July.

It's so hard to reclaim lost momentum as a football coach. And I don't think Hoke's to a point where he's completely lost that momentum just yet, as the bulk of his roster is still young and it is still learning. But if you turn in three straight clunkers at a place like this? It just doesn't fly.

Can he turn it around, though? Sure, I don't see why not. Michigan has plenty of ability in that locker room. It just needs to put it all together.

Easier said than done, of course.

Question: Nick, I doubt you answer, but other than passion for his school can you name me one coaching category where Hoke would be considered a top 3 coach in the conference. -- Thisguy73

A: Well at the moment I'm not sure how you can make an argument that he belongs in the top three. And I think Hoke would be the first one to tell you that.

Matter of fact, I know he would. He knows the past two seasons weren't acceptable, especially last year.

I know you mentioned recruiting in the second part of your question (I had to edit for length, my apologies) and I do still think Hoke's a very quality recruiter. For the same reason why you hear a lot of the old Michigan players from the late 90s, early 2000s sing his praises.

He develops personal connections with young people and their families very, very well. As well as anyone in this league, without question. I've said this before: But Hoke is that guy you see once every five years, and he never forgets your first name.

A very personable guy, and someone players really do want to play well for. Trust me, they do. There were a lot of rumblings and rumors and grumblings that Hoke lost the locker room last season -- I don't buy that.

Were things fragmented a bit, at times? Maybe. But I don't think the team just threw its arms up and said "we're not playing for this guy."

However, being a quality person and a great recruiter isn't everything.

In-game decisions. Week-to-week adjustments. Player development.

He's got to get better in all of those areas.

Question: Nick, give us your take on UM's secondary next year....Will they get better?...Who do you think will start? -- blaylock77

A: A very crucial position group, no doubt.

I think by the time it's all over with, we'll see a much bigger, more athletic defensive backfield than Michigan ran out there this season.

Channing Stribling has length and size. So does Dymonte Thomas. So does Jarrod Wilson. So does Jabrill Peppers. We'll see if a guy like Reon Dawson (6-foot-2) gets more of a look next season. Or Delano Hill.

I think this thing will be wide open. I don't really want to guess who starts next year, because I really think it'll be a hot battle -- across the board.

It's a pretty safe bet we'll see Wilson starting. And there's no way Blake Countess or Ray Taylor won't see playing time. But will they start? I'm not sure.

I think the younger corners are going to push them, and if they can develop in the winter/spring/summer, then Michigan should get a big boost simply because of a physical upgrade back here.

Question: What is an "offensive quality control assistant?" -- Joe

A: Timely question this week, Joe, as Michigan is bringing in former Alabama staffer and ex-Michigan State quarterback Jon Van Dam as a quality control coach for Doug Nussmeier and the offense.

Basically, a quality control coach is an assistant without full-time assistant privileges or responsibilities.

You can only have nine full-time assistants. Those coaches can recruit, they can watch film with players, instruct players on the field, etc. These guys are basically young staffers who are there to assist the full-time staffers. They're not permitted to do all the things a full-time assistant can do by NCAA rule.

They generally want to become full-time assistants someday. They're not really interns. But they're almost like apprentices, if that makes sense.

Question: Nick, if you were in charge of NCAA for a day, what is the first rule you would change in the recruiting process? -- Hoke's Head Set

A: Selfishly, for us reporters, I'd allow coaches to talk publicly about uncommitted prospects. I'd take away the absurd level of secrecy that goes on with this stuff -- because it's not a secret anymore. Social media has solved that.

For the sake of the actual game, though? They need to tweak the recruiting calendar. Coaches are basically put under pressure to offer kids earlier and earlier and earlier. Talk to an assistant some time about this, they hate it.

This is football, it's not basketball. It's tougher to evaluate a kid's long-term projection in football when he's 14.

Some say an early signing day would fix a lot of this, but I'm not so sure. It's tough.

I'm glad I'm not in charge, let's put it that way.