Tag: Tony Alford

Why Michigan football running backs love coach Tony Alford

Love this! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — It was something of a coup for new Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore to wrest Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford away from Columbus. Though the results on the field haven’t exactly matched any of the previous three years offensively, the Wolverines tailbacks are glad to have him.

While players could have some trepidation of the vision the coaches have or what they’re being taught as the maize and blue slinks from an undefeated national championship season to 5-5 through 10 games, senior tailback Kalel Mullings can’t help but sing Alford’s praises. Part of it is the coaching, but also how he’s raising the room up as men and as brothers who want the best for each other.

“It’s great, and it’s been great the entire season,” Mullings said. “Coach Alford is a funny, charismatic guy that’s always expecting the best out of all of us and always pushing for the best out of all of us. But at the same time, he also brings the camaraderie and spirit and joy to the room as well. So it’s been a great balance.”

As can be expected in college football, Alford can be fiery at times, but as Mullings tells it, it’s because he cares. There’s no point when Alford is being stern that his players feel anything other than love, and that makes the room push harder as a result.

“I was actually talking to my dad about this yesterday: Coach Alford genuinely cares for each and every one of us,” Mullings said. “And in college football, honestly, you don’t always see that, but you can feel that with Coach Alford. And like you said, even when he’s ripping into you, even when he’s getting on you, you know it’s coming from a place of love. And it’s because he, like all of us, wants to be the best, and he wants to bring the best out of us.

“So it’s that balance that allows us to go out there and play as hard as we do because we know that coach has our back, and at the same time, he also is expecting the best out of us.”

Michigan is on bye this week but resumes play in Week 13 when it hosts Northwestern for senior day.

Is this a hint at an expanded Michigan football offense coming soon?

THIS. PLEASE. #GoBlue

One of the things we’ve been advocating for in terms of the Michigan football offense has been the Wolverines doing something that they’d previously done.

Utilizing Donovan Edwards in the pass game.

In his freshman year, Edwards went off in the penultimate regular season game against Maryland, with 10 catches for 170 yards. The next year, all of the talk of the offseason was how Edwards was perhaps the team’s best receiver. He showed that early, but he struggled with injuries, and thus he was used primarily as a running back.

Now, Michigan is in dire need of receivers to step up outside of tight end Colston Loveland. So our ears perked up on Wednesday when running backs coach Tony Alford said this comparing Edwards and Kalel Mullings’ skill sets:

“I think Donovan is more of a guy that you can put out in space and do some things as far as running routes,” Alford said. “I think some of the more rugged, tougher yard stuff, probably more attributed to things that Kalel might be more suited for in certain situations. But the whole objective, again, is to make sure that we’re trying to develop guys that are three-down players, that they can play every single down. And, again, some guys are a little bit more better at this or that than others. The key, again, is to put the best 11 guys on the field for that particular situation. But they do, they have a little bit different skill sets. Both of them are high-end skill set guys, but they both do have some different skill sets, obviously.”

Michigan absolutely needs to utilize Edwards more in the passing game as it works to improve that sector of the offense. We’ve seen glimpses from some of the receivers, but Edwards has more production than all of the receivers (except C.J. Charleston, who transferred in from Youngstown State) combined. Yes, it still needs him to be productive in the ground game, but if the Wolverines really do intend to put players in the best position to succeed, then Edwards needs much more than the nine catches he’s had through six games thus far.

In preview of Texas, Michigan football coaches note ‘they have to play us, too’

This is such a HUGE game! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — It’s the biggest ranked-on-ranked nonconference matchup that Michigan football has had in 30 years with Texas coming to town for the first regular season meeting between the two storied programs. And naturally, the coaches are on high alert for what the No. 3 Longhorns bring to the table.

Offensively, Steve Sarkisian has turned his squad into a juggernaut. Led by quarterback Quinn Ewers, despite having lost a lot of talent to the NFL this offseason, the Longhorns have reloaded with tremendous skill players, like former Alabama WR Isaiah Bond. Given the Michigan defensive versatility, the coaches at all three levels are working on scheming out Texas and what they can do to stall the vaunted Longhorn offense.

“Big plays, big plays,” linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary said. “Obviously they have a high-level quarterback in Ewers. And with Coach Sarkisian, the thing he’s going to make you do, he’s going to make you play from sideline to sideline. And he’s always going to try to scheme up and try to take the home-run shots.

“Obviously, they have great skill there at the wideout position and even does a great job with the running backs, getting them out in space. Obviously, he had the (Bijan) Robinson kid a couple years ago who was dynamic in space. And I see the same thing with the running backs. I know they’ve had some injuries there. But the blue kid who’s starting for them, I mean, is electric in the open field, runs hard. So they’re going to make you play sideline to sideline. And going to really test you as far as the defense and trying to stretch the field vertically also.”

Texas isn’t quite as formidable on the defensive side — at least in theory — but it still shut out Colorado State in Week 1.

The Wolverines would like to run the ball, as that’s long been the team’s M.O., but especially considering it has a former walk-on at quarterback as Davis Warren makes his second career start on Saturday. In analyzing the Longhorns, running backs coach Tony Alford notes the players that stand out the most and why the defense will be a problem for the new-look Michigan offense.

“Very, very, very well coached and top-end players,” Alford said. “Obviously I’m studying the linebackers more and the safeties, but the Benda kid and Anthony Hill — they’re nickel. They got the Taft kid, the safety running downhill hitting people, so they’re a very, very talented team, athletic, play with a lot of energy.

“You can tell that they enjoy playing this game and feel good about the scheme that they’re running. They feel comfortable and confident in that. High, high-end football team. And so it’s going to be a great opportunity and a great test for us to go and perform.”

That said, Alford notes, that just because Michigan, a top 10 team two weeks into the season, is thought to have taken a step back, this is still a talented bunch in Ann Arbor, and Texas likewise has to play the defending national champions.

“We talk about something’s got to tip the scales when the talent is equated, and so we’ll figure out what that is. But they have a very, very talented defense and well-coached, as I said, we got good players, too,” Alford said. “And I’m all respectful for people. When I first got here, I said, ‘Oh my gosh,  you got to play Texas and you got to play this team and you got to play this team.’ And, well, they got to play us, too. It’s not like Michigan hasn’t had a history of success. And it’s not like Michigan doesn’t have a history of having great players and elite players as well. So that’s when I can say I’m optimistic, yeah, because we have a really good football team, too.

“We have really high-end players as well that like to play and like to scheme. And the same things that I just said about their defense, I can say about our team. And so now the talent’s equated, and we got to figure out how to tip the scales in our favor. And I’m a firm believer, and it goes way back, right? For as long as this game’s been played, I would probably like to think this team that plays the hardest and plays the longest and is detail-oriented and fundamentally some of those teams will win. And so that’s our job as coaches to get our players prepared to do that.”

There was a lot of worry from Michigan fans coming out of the 30-10 win over Fresno State. There was a some good offensively, but it was overall disjointed, giving some cause for concern.

Alford says that its to be expected with a new unit, and so many new players working together. The plan is to do as much as he (and the other coaches) can in shortening the learning curve en route to the big Week 2 showdown.

“It was the first game out, a lot of new starters working together. And it takes time for that to jell,” Alford said. “Like I said earlier, in the run game, that’s a softener process. So those guys are all starting to jell more and more. And every single rep, they become more comfortable with the guys sitting next to them on either the right or the left. And so hopefully that will continue. But again, we’re playing a high-end opponent coming in here, too. So we’ve got to jell fast.”

Tony Alford unconcerned over Donovan Edwards Week 1 struggles

‘Big Game Don’ really needs to show up vs. Texas! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — It wasn’t a banner day for Michigan senior running back Donovan Edwards, who, outside of his touchdown catch, struggled to get going on the ground in Week 1 against Fresno State. It was a continuation of last year, it appeared, as Edwards couldn’t manage to break free to make one of his signature big plays in the game.

Now the starting running back for the Wolverines, Edwards managed just 27 yards on 11 carries. But his position coach, Tony Alford, isn’t concerned when it comes to his star tailback, even if the game didn’t go as Edwards had hoped it would.

“He played hard, he ran hard,” Alford said. “Just didn’t have the opportunity to maybe crack some of the runs into the second, third level of defense. But, yeah, the kid ran hard and played hard, so I wasn’t displeased with how hard he played. Some of the opportunities that Kalel had kind of broke some things and it just kind of worked out that way.”

Edwards is something of a rhythmic runner. He might look pedestrian for stretches, but eventually, he’ll start breaking longer and longer runs.

We saw that mostly in 2022, but in 2023, he didn’t get enough of those opportunities to break free, as Michigan relied more heavily on Blake Corum. But considering that Kalel Mullings managed to average six yards per carry as the backup, many are clamoring for him to be RB1.

So what is Alford doing to try to get Edwards more into rhythm?

“I just think we’re just going to play the game and those opportunities will come,” Alford said. “I think one of the things that can happen with running backs as you move forward is they’re always looking for a big play. Let’s say you’re known for making big plays. So now all of a sudden it’s not happening right away. You start trying to overcompensate to make a big play, just stay within the structure of what we’re doing, and the big plays will come. But just keep playing the game.

“And I do think the run game is also a softening up process, right? As the game wears on, hopefully you’ve been been punching and punching and punching. Some things start to break open later in the game for guys. And so we’re just going to keep playing and kind of go from there.”

Most importantly, beyond simple in-game production, Edwards is a leader on his team, Alford notes. And despite any disappointment he might have, he needs to put it on the backburner and focus on being a good example for his teammates.

“Yeah, that was the biggest thing, I think, with he and I, just full transparency of he’s voted a team captain by his teammates, not the coaches by his teammates,” Alford said. “He’s voted somebody that the guys want to follow and they want him to lead. And so with that, if things aren’t going as well as you may like them to go, there’s a certain demeanor and there’s a certain way that you still have to present yourself. And frustration, sure, we all get frustrated at times. But you still have a responsibility to lead in a positive manner and just to keep going because people are going to be looking at you. How do you respond when things aren’t maybe going as well as you would like them to go personally?

“And so we did talk about that. And I’m very happy and pleased with the way he’s responded to that. He’s like, ‘No, coach, you got it, you’re right.’ He’s a consummate team guy. And, again, nobody in this building is worried about Donovan Edwards and what lies ahead for him. He’s going to be perfectly fine.”

Edwards has a prime opportunity this week when Michigan hosts Texas for the second-ever meeting between the storied programs. Known as ‘Big Game Don,’ Edwards seems to come alive when the lights are the brightest — look at 2022 Penn State and Ohio State as well as the national championship game last year for proof. If Michigan is to take down the Longhorns, Edwards will need to be productive as he has been in those big games.

Coming to Michigan football from Ohio State, Tony Alford shares his view of the rivalry

Some interesting stuff in here. #GoBlue

The last time there was a new head coach of one of the participating teams in The Game who took some coaches from its rival, it worked out well, at least in year one.

But after that, it hasn’t exactly gone to plan.

Of course, we’re speaking of Ryan Day and Ohio State. In 2019, Day poached Greg Mattison and Al Washington from the Michigan football coaching staff and proceeded to beat the Wolverines in his first year, 56-27. However, that’s Day’s only win in the series, and Sherrone Moore hopes, certainly to win this year, but to continue beyond that.

Moore poached a behind-the-scenes staffer in Erin Dunston, but as importantly, he managed to steal away running backs coach Tony Alford from the Buckeyes after he spent nine years with the program. Alford shared with Jon Jansen on the In the Trenches Podcast just how important the rivalry is as well as his view of it.

“A lot — yeah, a lot,” Alford said. “But I will say this, too, it’s about the players. And there’s always going to be side stories and different side things that are going to be said and reasons of this, and different motivations and that and the other. And those are all real, and to sit up here and say it’s not would be a bald-faced lie.

“However, it always goes back to the players. And this is a heated rivalry, goes back many, many years, as you know. But again, this is about the players and putting our players in the best position to have success and like I said, they’re gonna have theirs over there and we’ll have ours and they’ll have their coaches, we’ll have ours and we’ll kind of see what goes. We’ll line them up.”

It’s unclear what Alford is referring to with the ‘side stories’ and ‘different side things’ or ‘reasons of this.’ Given that he was in Columbus the past three years when OSU had plenty of excuses as to why the Buckeyes have come up short, it could have had something to do with that. Of course, Alford could also be referencing why he left Ohio State as a side story, and he admitted to Jansen that he just felt like it was time to leave.

“I think it was time. I mean, for everyone,” Alford said. “There was just a time for a change for both parties. And I believe — I don’t want to speak for Ohio State and their staff, but I felt like that’s what they wanted, too. And I was kind of moving in that direction. And it was certainly time for me as well.”

Why Sherrone Moore hired Tony Alford, Erin Dunston away from Ohio State

Still loving these hires! #GoBlue

INDIANAPOLIS — Much like how Ryan Day hired away two Michigan football coaches in his first year with Ohio State, new Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore returned the favor as he takes the helm of the maize and blue.

It surprised many when Moore first took running backs coach Tony Alford away from the Buckeyes, and months later, he stole away rising star Erin Dunston, who was crucial to Ohio State’s operation behind the scenes.

On the third day of Big Ten media days, Moore finally took the dais to represent Michigan, and he shared why he hired both away from Columbus.

“Talk about two outstanding individuals, people,” Moore said. “Well-rounded, well-educated, both trusted people. I have known Tony for a very long time and had a tremendous amount of respect for him and what he’s done in the business.

“And Erin not as much. But heard tremendous things about her. Just want great people in our program. Great mentors of young men that are going to lead our players to a great place. So that was really the backbone behind that. And excited to (watch them work in) the future.”

While fans will get a good idea of Alford’s contribution right away, depending on the production of the running backs, it may be less clear with Dunston since she works behind the scenes.

Tony Alford explains why he left Ohio State for Michigan football

Can’t wait to see what he does with the backs! #GoBlue

It was a huge hit in Ann Arbor but drew substantial disdain in Columbus when longtime running backs coach Tony Alford departed Ohio State for the same position with Michigan football.

Getting Alford from Michigan’s archrival was a huge coup for new head coach Sherrone Moore, similar to when Day took two coaches from the Wolverines when he took over the Buckeyes.

Ohio State fans will tell you they were tired of Alford — both in recruiting and on-field production — while Michigan fans will equally say they’re excited about his ability to both recruit and develop. And as Alford says it, neither is particularly wrong.

Alford appeared on the John McCallister podcast and discussed the transition and why it was a good move for both him and OSU.

“Nine years is like an eternity in the coaching profession. And so I was very fortunate for those nine years as I said earlier, but I just think it was time and I think it was time for them and Ryan Day and Ohio State, and it was time for Tony Alford,” Alford said. “And so it wasn’t I don’t think it was any one party saying screw you, it was never any of that. I think for both parties, I think we both knew it was just time and I can tell you I’m as happy as I’ve been in a long time.”

Of course, Alford suffered three losses to the Wolverines during his time with the Buckeyes, but he won five in his tenure, as well. Now that he’s in Ann Arbor, he’s beyond thrilled that he switched sides from the dark side to the rebels.

“As far as in my coaching profession, I really, really am in a good place,” Alford said. “I’m in a good place. Sherrone Moore and that staff have been nothing but open arms and kind and great to me and really good people — I mean unbelievable people. And then so for that I’m grateful for them for embracing me and bringing me in from the rival, if you will, and in the way that they have. And like I said, I just think was time for everyone involved. No, I know it was time for everyone involved. Not think, I know — here we are.”

For a running backs coach, it’s somewhat of a no-brainer to prefer Ann Arbor over Columbus at the current moment as Michigan’s identity is centered on the run game while OSU prefers the pass game. We’ll see what early dividends Alford is able to bring in now that he coaches a position that is much more prioritized.

Donovan Edwards shares initial impressions of new position coach Tony Alford

Excited to see how the running backs perform with the new coach! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Among the biggest news this college football offseason has been that new Michigan football head coach Sherrone Moore managed to steal away Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford.

Just when it had appeared that the Wolverines’ staff was set, it was revealed that Mike Hart would not be returning to the program after three years coaching in Ann Arbor, and the supposed candidates for the position weren’t exactly of a high-profile nature. Meanwhile, Moore was working behind the scenes to lure away a coach from the rival school who had already cemented himself during spring practice in Columbus.

But how is Alford working out in his new digs? Besides Alford himself, there’s no one better to ask than one of his star players.

On Monday, Donovan Edwards shared his thoughts and noted that he already had a solid relationship with Alford dating back to his recruitment. While he’s sad to not have Hart, he says Alford has been able to come in and not skip a beat.

“He recruited me to Ohio State my sophomore year in high school, and our relationship just continued to grow,” Edwards said. “It was not about a rivalry to a certain aspect. You know, like, of course it is, but as people, you respect your opponents, and that’s what Ohio State and Michigan is all about. We respect each other.

“My impression of Coach Alford thus far is the guys love him, I love him. He tells us the same thing. It’s great to have Coach Alford up here because he’s really detailed into the game. And it’s great to have him here. We love Coach Hart. It’s unfortunate that he’s not part of this team anymore. But he will always be because he’s a Michigan legend. My relationship with both of them are going to continue to grow. I think that Coach Moore did a great job in hiring Coach Alford. So the same this is going to continue to grind.”

So are there any big differences, whether it’s between Hart and Alford or even with the coaching staff in general? Edwards doesn’t appear to think so, noting that while some terminology may be different, the vision and standard in Ann Arbor is still the same.

“Not really different,” Edwards said. “They have the same things — when I say things, I mean like the same like details, just different terminology. But it’s really, really nothing different.”

Why Sherrone Moore flipped Tony Alford from Ohio State to Michigan football

Still can’t get over how savage of a move this was! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — It was a proverbial shot over the bow, not unlike what Ryan Day did to Michigan football when he took over Ohio State.

As an interim head coach turned head coach, Ryan Day took over the Buckeyes and stole away two coaches from the Wolverines for his first year in Columbus. Now, new Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore, who also was an interim head coach promoted to the head role, is returning the favor by stealing away running backs coach Tony Alford from OSU.

Alford replaces former running backs coach Mike Hart who departed the program this offseason. It was a big surprise, but Moore explained why Alford was the right choice to come in for the maize and blue.

“I mean, just his resume speaks for itself,” Moore said. “Who he is as a coach, as a mentor, as a recruiter. But more importantly, as a person.

“Known him for a long time. Obviously, he was on the other side — I don’t fault him too much for that! But I mean, as a person, you just get to know him as a person outside of that. He’s an incredible human being, an incredible mentor, an incredible coach. So we’re just super excited to have him on staff.”

But what made Alford an attractive candidate for Moore beyond the obvious tangibles?

As far as he sees it, having spent nine years at Ohio State and with a long track record of coaching running backs in his career, Alford brings not only experience but a different added perspective that may differ from the status quo in Ann Arbor. Moore feels that that should pay dividends as the regime change for the maize and blue takes shape, keeping the team and staff from getting too comfortable or set in their ways following a national championship season.

“Really, just the experience he has, what he’s done, and where he’s been — it’s just a different perspective,” Moore said. “It’s always good to get a different perspective — and you always do things the way you did it, sometimes you have to change a couple of things here and there but it’s always good to have another perspective and another viewpoint. Just because you did it one way before doesn’t mean it’s gonna work. Because you’ve always done this with us and you can’t do it another way. So just having that perspective from another way is really helpful for us.”

It is somewhat rare to see coaches move from one rival to another, but not unheard of. We mentioned Day usurping Greg Mattison, who has coached at Michigan football, Notre Dame and Ohio State. Al Washington joined Mattison in Columbus, but it was a surprise he coached in Ann Arbor at all, given he was the son of a Buckeye legend.

And most notably, Bo Schembechler was on Woody Hayes’ OSU staff once upon a time while his successor, Gary Moeller, wasn’t just a former Buckeye coach, he was a team captain for Ohio State.

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day responds to Tony Alford leaving to Michigan

Interesting answer from Day. #GoBucks

It is still shocking that [autotag]Tony Alford[/autotag] left the Ohio State football program and joined its main rival Michigan last week.

The Buckeye coaching staff may have had an idea that Alford was looking to move on, but not to Ann Arbor. With the fact that Ohio State had gone through two spring practices prior to his departure, it was interesting to see how head coach [autotag]Ryan Day[/autotag] would respond to the move.

Well, the Buckeye boss met with the media on Tuesday, and didn’t seem too concerned about information that Alford could bring with him to That Team Up North.

Day explained that the run game should look differently when they face each other in November, as they only “sprinkled a couple things that Chip (Kelly) has done.”

There are more than a few keys points to take away from Day’s statement. Staying on Alford’s move, who he didn’t specifically name, he didn’t seem too concerned about what the former Buckeye coach could divulge to the enemy.

More importantly, it seems like Day tipped his hand as to who could be the starting quarterback, or at least what style that we could see in the spring and fall. The fact that he expects his starter to run the ball is different than we have seen in years past.

Social media reacts to Tony Alford leaving Ohio State for Michigan
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Another big mention by Day was the use of “quarterback communication,” as now they can talk with the sidelines just like the NFL does, sort of. The rule hasn’t been passed for every conference, but there has been talk of it after multiple teams got a chance to use them during this past bowl season

The ACC approved the rule last month, with others most likely to follow. Great to see the Buckeyes preparing as if it will be approved in the Big Ten soon. 

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