Bonified Defensive Coordinators

It's just like sitting on Santa's lap in a crowded mall on Christmas Eve.

Hopefully, we're not the screaming toddler driving everyone crazy. TAKE THE !@#$% PICTURE ALREADY!

Yet again, Michigan has the almost ritualistic opportunity of finding a new defensive coordinator. Say what you will about Scott Shafer, he is a good coach and I'm sure will have success elsewhere. But Michigan was not a fit for him. After the worse season in school history, someone had to be the scapegoat...and blame landed on Shafer. So who gets to fill his spot on Rodriguez's staff? Funny you should ask. We have a wishlist of sorts, of potential suitors. Who, we believe, would fit the role of Michigan DC very nicely.

Jay Hopson
Michigan Linebackers Coach

No doubt, easily one of the more no-brainer calls, at least this early in the search. Unlike most other assistants, he is not a Rodriguez disciple from WVU. He came on board this year from Southern Miss, where he served as defensive coordinator, defensive backs and middle linebackers coach for the Golden Eagles from 2005-2007.

In 2007, he was named the All-American Football Foundation Top Assistant Coach.

From 2001 to 2003, he coached defensive backs exclusively at Southern Miss. In 2004, he returned to his alma matter, the University of Mississippi, where the secondary improved from 109th overall nationally to 49th in one season with Hopson.

He also held staff positions at Marshall (1996-2000) and Delta State (1993). While at Marshall, as DBs coach, they won the DIV 1-AA National Championship and also won 4 straight MAC titles.

I can see this happening because it really just seems to be the easiest and most obvious move. I mean the guy could probably keep his same office in Schembechler Hall. He's more of a up-and-comer than a proven coordinator. But he does have DC experience, which no doubt landed him the LB coach gig at Michigan this year.

Ron English
Louisville Defensive Coordinator

YES! Easily my favorite pick for the job. Not only was I bummed when he was not strongly considered for the head coaching job when Lloyd left last year, but I was even more bummed when I found out he would not be asked to stay on as DC.

Ron English embodies pretty much everything that is good about a talented, young and driven assistant coach. The players love him, but respect him. He has obvious Michigan ties, and could easily slip right back into his role here with very little effort.

English spent 3 seasons as DC for Michigan, 2005-2007. He also coached the secondary from 2003-2005.

National Rankings	Total Defense	Rushing Defense	Passing Defense	Scoring Defense
05 MICH	36	41	42	45
06 MICH	10	1	89	15
07 MICH	24	58	8	63
08 LV	69	40	100	88

The Louisville numbers only illustrate how much he was needed. They had a pretty bad defense on 07...English took them from 84th overall defense in 07 to 69th in 08. Not bad for a guy who felt pretty comfortable in Ann Arbor just one season ago. Realistically, he's a very outside shot at best. But this blog is throwing it's full weight and influence squarely in the corner of Ron English.

Jeff Casteel
West Virginia Defensive Coordinator

It would seem that now that there's a open spot with Rodriguez, again, that Casteel would be a good fit. He was all set to come here last year, but once Stewart was hired at WVU, Casteel decided to stay. Maybe he had serious ties to West Virginia and feels comfortable there. And there's no problem with that. Loyalty should be admired these days. He's been the DC there since 2003. If he took the Michigan job now, there would be a backlash from the slack-jawed locals who put bullets in Rodriguez's mailbox when he decided to leave and made other death threats on him and his family. Nice work Mountaineer fans!

So, odds are if he didn't make the trip up here last year, it's likely he's happy where he is. Or, maybe a year departed from Rodriguez and his fellow staff mas made him want a chnage? Who knows. But if Michigan were to land him, they'd be getting one of the most proven and talented DCs in the country. He's been consistantly good at WVU. Sure, they're Rodriguez's (and Barwis's) players, but they're his schemes. He runs the 3-3-5 that Rodriguez is so used to, and wants to ultimately install at Michigan.

National Rankings	Total Defense	Rushing Defense	Passing Defense	Scoring Defense
03 WVU	74	34	45	40
04 WVU	37	50	20	29
05 WVU	15	19	30	13
06 WVU	62	13	63	62
07 WVU	7	18	28	8
08 WVU	35	47	14	9

Not a bad curve in terms of overall improvement, especially from 06 to 07. He's a contender for sure. And I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the mix as this search draws out.

Those are my top 3. Which also means that none of them will get the gig. I like English the best, though. I really think he has the most potential to succeed. We'll keep a close watch on this as news develops.