Kornacki: Fisch's Offensive Style Spawns from Coaching Greats
1/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Jedd Fisch has spent 11 seasons coaching in the NFL, working with some of the most brilliant offensive minds in football. But he relished the opportunity to return to the college game when Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh called to offer him a position as the quarterbacks/wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator.
"Why not Michigan?" Fisch said with a smile. "This is unbelievable. I was fortunate enough to coach with five NFL teams and three colleges. It's a dream to coach at Michigan. I can't believe there would be a better job in either league. So, when Coach Harbaugh called, and I came to Ann Arbor and had a chance to be a part of this and be part of the tradition here, this was an absolute no-brainer. I couldn't have said yes fast enough."
Fisch coached two former Wolverines quarterbacks -- school career passing leader Chad Henne and All-American Denard Robinson -- at Jacksonville the last two seasons as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Jaguars.
"I was with Chad every day for two years," Fisch said, "and we have a great relationship with him and his wife and their son. We spent a lot of time with them on and off the field. I think the world of Chad; he's an unbelievable professional. He knows how to handle himself every day. He was our backup, then our starter, then our backup. He went back and forth and still did an unbelievable job of leading our football team. He was our team captain.
"We took Denard in the fifth round and drafted him as an offensive weapon. But what's the position? Should we put him in the slot, run him in the wildcat (formation) or put him at running back? We just decided to let him find his position as the year went on. And then we knew his spot was running back this year. When we started giving him the rock, he started toting it and running the ball really well. He helped us there (rushing for a team-high 582 yards)."
Fisch has worked for four dynamic head coaches who have won either Super Bowls or college national championships: Brian Billick, Pete Carroll, Mike Shanahan and Steve Spurrier.
Fisch got a bachelor's degree in criminology at the University of Florida and then became a graduate assistant for Spurrier (1999-2000) while earning a master's degree in sports management.
"I learned how to attack defenses from him," said Fisch. "Find a way to attack defenses with the passing game and run the ball to win in the fourth quarter."
He joined Billick with the Baltimore Ravens (2004-07) as an assistant coach for quarterbacks and receivers.
"Teaching is what Brian stressed," said Fisch. "He was one of the first coaches to use computers and PowerPoint in coaching. He'd always say, 'Everyone learns differently, and find ways that you can teach them visually. Some people have to do it on the field and some in the classroom. But find ways to get their attention.'"
Shanahan hired him as the wide receivers coach for the Denver Broncos in 2008, and he tutored Pro Bowler Brandon Marshall and developed Eddie Royal, who put together one of the most productive rookie seasons in NFL history, with 91 catches for 980 yards and five touchdowns.
"I learned the running game from him," said Fisch, "and the importance of the running game. From Mike, it wasn't only how important the run game was but marrying your play-action passing attack to it. And when you throw the ball, get yards. Don't just dink and dunk; take advantage of the defense from your run game."
Carroll brought Fisch to the Seattle Seahawks as his quarterbacks coach in 2010, and he worked with three-time Pro Bowler Matt Hasselbeck.
"His whole philosophy as a leader is to make everyone around you better. That's what I learned from Pete," said Fisch. "Your job is to make every coach the best coach they can be and make every player the best player they can be."
What does Fisch do best, having gleaned wisdom from great coaches to create his own style?
"I've learned to communicate and teach," he said. "I've always prided myself on the relationships I've built with our players. I've loved the constant communication whether it was about football or life. And schematically, I've always tried to put guys in the best possible position."
Fisch left Seattle to become the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Miami (2011-12), and Stephen Morris threw for a career-high 3,345 yards with 21 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. Jacory Harris set a school single-season record with a 65-percent completion rate while having 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
"I'm excited because it's so much fun to be back in college football," said Fisch, who also coached University of Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber in 2009. "At the University of Miami, we had great success coaching the two quarterbacks. And it was fun to bring Stephen Morris with me to Jacksonville."
Morris and starting receiver Allen Hurns (677 yards receiving) were Hurricanes free agents signed by the Jaguars who stuck, and offensive guard Brandon Linder was drafted by Jacksonville out of Miami and started 15 games. Fisch went with Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley to the Jaguars in 2013.
Royal has been Fisch's favorite development story.
"I've loved every guy that I've had a chance to coach," Fisch said. "But the things that mean the most to me are when you get an Eddie Royal as a rookie, and in my first time of coaching wide receivers. And the ability to see him walk away with 91 catches that first season, that's such a credit to him and how he worked. I thought they brought me along -- him, Brandon Stokley and Brandon Marshall. But it was fun to watch Eddie have that success as a rookie."
Harbaugh, defensive line coach Greg Mattison, offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Tim Drevno, defensive backs coach Greg Jackson and Fisch all have plenty of NFL experience.
Fisch said, "It provides an opportunity for recruits to come in and say that these are guys who know what it takes to get to the next level and what the expectations are at the next level. And I hope they want to be part of that."
• Fisch to Coordinate Passing Game, Coach Quarterbacks and Receivers
