The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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38 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW Michigan features seasoned juniors in Donovan Peoples-Jones and Nico Collins, talented though oft-injured redshirt sopho- more Tarik Black, sophomore Ronnie Bell and early enrollee freshman sensation Mike Sainristil, for openers. "There are talented guys there that are re- ally going to take another jump with Coach Gattis coaching them," Harbaugh said. "I can already see that." Gattis began his college coaching career at Western Michigan in 2011, and Harbaugh was aware of him then. He told the story of then-head coach Bill Cubit introducing Gat- tis to a bystander in Kalamazoo. Harbaugh noted: "He said, 'Son, this is Coach Josh Gattis. Talk to him. Get to know him. He's not going to be around here very long." Everyone soon discovered why. Gattis immediately helped Jordan White become a consensus All-American that sea- son. White led the NCAA in receptions and receiving yards, gathering in 140 for 1,911 yards and 17 touchdowns, shattering several Mid-American Conference receiving records. Moving on to Vanderbilt, where he spent two seasons, Gattis guided Jordan Matthews to becoming the Southeastern Conference's all-time leading receiver in both catches and yards. Matthews set a single-season confer- ence record for catches, hauling in 112 in 2013 (though that mark was broken the fol- lowing season). At Penn State from 2014-17, he coached Hamilton to All-Big Ten status twice, includ- ing the 2017 season in which he made 53 catches for 857 yards and nine touchdowns. The year before, PSU wideout Chris Godwin secured 59 catches for 982 yards and 11 scores, following a 2015 season in which he brought in 69 passes for 1,101 yards. Last year at Alabama, everybody got in on the act. Obviously, All-American Jerry Jeudy stole the show, the Biletnikoff Award winner pulling in 68 passes for 1,315 yards and 14 touchdowns as a sophomore. But freshman Jaylen Waddle snagged 45 passes for 848 yards and seven scores, while sophomore Henry Ruggs III pulled down 46 throws for 741 yards and 11 touchdowns, and sophomore DeVonta Smith added 42 receptions for 693 yards and six scores. The year before that quartet accounted for 201 catches, which gained 3,597 yards and 38 touchdowns, they combined for just 34 grabs. Additionally, tight end Irv Smith caught 44 balls for 710 yards and seven touchdowns in 2018, and the Crimson Tide never shied from throwing to its running backs, either. In other words, guard all the exits. "The players he's developed at each stop, from Western Michigan to Vanderbilt to Penn State to Alabama — it's eye-catching," Harbaugh said. Gattis isn't ready to anoint anyone among Michigan's wide receiving corps, especially since a good portion of it stood on the side- lines, injured, this spring. He knows Michi- gan's players have a lot of catching up to do. That said, he liked how the Wolverines reacted to the injury-generated alternative lineups. "One of the things that was really exciting was to see some things some people may perceive as challenges for us, like the lack of depth we have at a number of positions," Gattis said. "But we were seeing other guys step up and have success." Nobody was off the hook regarding learn- ing what to do, even if it only involved tak- ing mental repetitions. Not that they wanted out, anyway. They want in, as soon as pos- sible, and players like Peoples-Jones and Collins will spend the summer working with teammates to hone what Gattis installed. "Overall, from a schematic standpoint, everyone had to learn the offense," Gattis said. "There were no excuses. There were no setbacks. We rolled out there, and we contin- ued to get better each and every day. It really showed throughout the spring. "I'm really excited. Now our challenge is going to be to continue this momentum throughout the summer. That way we don't take a step back when we come back in the fall. We continue taking steps forward, tak- ing this offense where we want to take it." On The Attack Where he wants to take it involves stress- ing defenses in every way possible. It's studying weak points of any given group of defenders and pinpointing a relentless effort toward those spots. Some of it involves the up-tempo pace that gives a defense less time to react and change personnel in the face of varying formations. Michigan has been bedeviled at times by not only that need for quick reaction, but also the fatigue toll it can take if offenses can continue moving the chains. Huddles will be rare, and that's okay with Harbaugh. "I've been enjoying it and have been learn- ing so much from him," Harbaugh said. "The biggest difference for us will be the tempo — • "He's a very bright guy. He has been in some good systems. He has a good understanding of the big picture offensively. He's very technical in terms of how he coaches and teaches his players, and he's got a really good personality." — Alabama head coach Nick Saban (Touchdown Alabama Magazine) • "Josh is a rising star in this profession. I think he will be a head coach in a short amount of time. He connects with his players, gets them to play hard. His work on the recruiting trail speaks for itself." — Former Penn State offensive coordinator and current Mississippi State head coach Joe Moorhead (Saturday Down South) • "Sometimes guys call themselves grinders. I was more into pro - ductivity. Guys can work a lot of hours, but you have to get the guys to be able to play or it doesn't matter. Guys always played for him, and he never let up on them. He was exactly what we were looking for." — Former Western Michigan head coach Bill Cubit, who gave Gattis his first full-time coaching job (The Detroit Free Press) • "Michigan won't underachieve with Josh Gattis. Just as I'm willing to bet this offense won't underachieve." — Former UNC of - fensive coordinator John Shoop, who gave Gattis his first job as an offensive graduate assistant (The Athletic) What They're Saying About Josh Gattis "Coach Harbaugh has had an incredible amount of success as an offensive coach and as a play caller. … For him to pass the baton to Josh — and a style of offense that maybe is a little bit different than what Coach is accustomed to — I think it speaks volumes." MISSISSIPPI STATE HEAD COACH JOE MOORHEAD, WHO WORKED WITH GATTIS AT PENN STATE