New Michigan DC Don Brown Is a Perfect Hire for Jim Harbaugh
National signing day isn't for another six weeks or so, but you could say Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh just landed a big recruit of the assistant coach variety.
On Monday, following a report from Thayer Evans of Sports Illustrated, Harbaugh confirmed Boston College defensive coordinator Don Brown had joined the Wolverines program in the same capacity.
It's hard to believe that Michigan could somehow "upgrade" from former defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin, who was named Maryland's head coach earlier this month. Durkin, after all, led Michigan to finish 10th nationally in points allowed per game, 25th in yards per rush allowed and first in passing yards per attempt allowed. Those numbers are even more impressive when you consider the Wolverines weren't particularly great in recording sacks or forcing turnovers.
Yet Harbaugh landed a huge hire who is every bit as good as Durkin—if not more impressive. And that's not a slight toward anyone; Harbaugh really did nail it by hiring Brown.
How good is Michigan's new defensive coordinator? Boston College went 3-9 and lost every single conference game. Yet the Eagles were ranked in the top five in scoring defense and rushing defense. No one, not even Alabama, allowed fewer touchdowns this year than Boston College.
You certainly can't say Boston College lost because it gave up too many yards or points.
Maybe the single-best example of Brown's brilliant, yet often futile defensive effort was when Boston College gave up three points to Wake Forest in mid-October. And lost 3-0.
"BC has a great defense," Wake coach Dave Clawson said, via Mark Snyder, the Detroit Free Press. "I said it many times: I think Don Brown is, if not the best, then one of the very best defensive coordinators in all of college football."
Inexplicably, Brown was not a finalist for the Broyles Award, given annually to college football's top assistant coach. Still, that shouldn't (and won't) overshadow what he was able to accomplish. One of the challenges of fielding a stiff defense is getting results despite offensive struggles, and Boston College had one of the worst third-down percentages in all of college football.
More comically, the Eagles had 92 punts compared to 110 pass completions. On the year.
That's leaving your defense hanging out to dry. Yet Brown got it done and put Boston College in position to win way more than three games.
So what does this mean for Michigan? As Harbaugh continues to build the offense, he can hand the keys of the defense to someone who knows exactly what to do with the pieces already in place.
There's attrition, of course. The two-deep in the defensive front seven takes a hit. The linebacker unit will be especially hurt with the departures of seniors Joe Bolden and Desmond Morgan, who were No. 1 and No. 2 in tackles, respectively. However, Brown still has arguably the best player on the entire team, safety Jabrill Peppers, for at least one more year.
There's talent on Michigan's defense. That hasn't been the problem dating back to the Brady Hoke days. It's just a matter of getting guys more starting experience. Keep in mind, too, Boston College posted the numbers it did with a number of juniors and sophomores in the starting lineup and freshmen in reserves, per OurLads.com.
As Chris Vannini of Coachingsearch.com points out in an extended article, Brown's defenses have improved over time.
The extra boost Brown could provide Michigan is an increase in the area the Wolverines lacked in 2015: turnovers and sacks. Boston College was better in both categories—significantly so in takeaways.
In all, this has the looks of a perfect hire for Harbaugh. With Brown in control of the defense and continued development of the offense, it won't be long before Michigan is ready to take the next step back into the legitimate playoff conversation.
Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football. All quotes cited unless obtained firsthand. All stats courtesy of cfbstats.com.
