The Wolverine

May 2019

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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18 THE WOLVERINE MAY 2019 BY AUSTIN FOX D espite the fact that Michi- gan's offense averaged 35.2 points per game in 2018 to rank 21st nationally, it still left fans wanting more come season's end. Underwhelming performances on that side of the ball in two of the Wol- verines' biggest games (17 points in a loss to Notre Dame and just 15 in the bowl setback to Florida) contributed to head coach Jim Harbaugh hiring Alabama co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Josh Gattis to serve as the Maize and Blue's offensive coordinator just 12 days after U-M's season ended. In his only year at the school, Gat- tis helped lead an explosive Crimson Tide attack that averaged 45.6 points per contest to rank third in the country, including a very un-Nick Saban-like 323.6 passing yards per game to rank sixth in the country. In the three years prior, Bama finished an average of 80th nationally in passing yards per game and since 2009 had a previous high of 27th in the land. Whether or not Harbaugh would give Gattis the full reins to Michigan's offense was the first question that sur- faced upon Gattis' hiring, especially when considering the then-34-year-old (he turned 35 Jan. 15) had never been a full-time, sole offensive coordinator before. Harbaugh, however, answered that inquiry as soon as the Wolverines kicked off spring practice in March. "He'll coordinate the offense and call the plays," the U-M head man revealed March 18 during the Maize and Blue's first spring meeting with the media. "We're all working together and learn- ing — he's so good at explaining his style of offense, and has been showing us how to coach it. I've been enjoying it and have been learning so much from him. "The biggest difference for us will be the tempo — it will be more up-tempo and less huddling. I like it because it has an attacking feel in terms of going downfield in the passing game. We'll have multiple personnel groups like we always do, but we'll attack in dif- ferent formations as well. "… Josh has done a phenomenal job of coming in, looking at our personnel and what we did well with the run and pass game last year, and making it co- hesive with his system. It has blended SPEED IN SPACE Josh Gattis Brings A New Offensive Philosophy To Michigan Since breaking into coaching, Gattis has been highly involved with successful offensive attacks at Western Michigan (2011, wide receivers coach), Vanderbilt (2012-13, wide receiv- ers coach), Penn State (2014-17, wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator) and Alabama (2018, wide receivers coach/co-offensive coordinator). PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN

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