Northern Illinois Snowflakes: The Offense
September 18th, 2021 at 3:32 PM ^
James Yoder: “Sources within the Michigan football program indicate that star running back Hassan Haskins is a threat to transfer, citing his unhappiness over losing out on carries to Blake Corum against even a lower tier MAC team”
September 18th, 2021 at 3:17 PM ^
I guess the dooming about the passing offense was slightly premature. Now I'm just back to not getting my hopes up
September 18th, 2021 at 3:47 PM ^
But...but OMG what will the recruits think!?!
September 18th, 2021 at 3:17 PM ^
MOAR VILLARICAT preferably scripted into the first drive so we can preserve corum and Haskins.
/S I'm drinking a little bit
September 18th, 2021 at 3:18 PM ^
Perfect!
September 18th, 2021 at 3:18 PM ^
70 would have been cooler.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:19 PM ^
Unfortunately our Punter, Brad Robbins enters the Transfer Portal due to lack of playing time. ? ?
September 18th, 2021 at 3:22 PM ^
September 19th, 2021 at 10:13 AM ^
Can you imagine how that game impacted our punter recruiting? Which punters are going to want to come to a school that never punts?
September 19th, 2021 at 10:20 AM ^
Especially since last year he was our MVP
September 19th, 2021 at 10:20 AM ^
Especially since last year he was our MVP
September 18th, 2021 at 3:20 PM ^
AARgh trente you block the guy inside his shoulders when Leon Franklin is putting the team on his back in garbage time
September 18th, 2021 at 3:22 PM ^
Don’t remember ever having an offense this explosive. It’s a really nice change. I think Urbans punk ass was talking about how we weren’t explosive in 2019. This team is very explosive.
Really interested to see how they do against a hostile environment in Madison. Harbaugh teams usually start out very sluggish on the road but this team seems different. The coaching additions seem very positive so far.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:52 PM ^
Good point about road games. Hope this team can bring this same intensity and focus on the road. That has been somewhat of an issue for past Harbaugh squads. Can't say anything but positives about this performance though. We've dominated every team on the schedule so far.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:23 PM ^
Well we won by 53, but I'm sure someone will be along shortly to explain why this is actually a bad thing.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:41 PM ^
If you’re that lonely we could crowdfund for Maizen’s next login.
September 18th, 2021 at 4:59 PM ^
Speaking of Maizen, I must have missed some board drama during my extended absence. There are a few people I haven't seen here at all lately.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:49 PM ^
As long as there's something to complain about.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:59 PM ^
I had Michigan -59.5 but I'm not salty about it or anything.
September 18th, 2021 at 6:10 PM ^
Paging Uncle Leo and UMxWolverine!
September 18th, 2021 at 3:23 PM ^
Cade's got a pretty good arm too, should've had three more big completions with missed PI, a receiver misjudging the ball, and a drop.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:43 PM ^
McCarthy is talented, but he hasn’t really had the chance to make any difficult reads in the passing offense yet. Cade seems fine. He throws well, doesn’t seem to hit tacopants, keeps the offense moving.
Michigan QBs have long had a problem executing the passing offense. That’s less of a need this year, but it’s still a need. I don’t believe Mccarthy starts over Cade until he demonstrates clear superiority in making the right reads in the passing game.
Maybe he can. But we haven’t seen it yet.
September 18th, 2021 at 5:24 PM ^
Well, that’s basically saying McCarthy won’t start unless Cade gets hurt.
That’s likely the case so long as U-M is undefeated. But if M loses a game and they feel like Cade is limiting the passing game, I don’t see why you wouldn’t consider making a change, given that McCarthy also gives you something as a runner.
September 19th, 2021 at 12:21 AM ^
The other scenario is if the offense bottoms out and they go to McCarthy because things are bad and you might as well.
The way the offense is constructed this year does not require a rocket arm. As long as the team is capable of forcing defenses to respect the danger of the run, the QB's job is to hand off and, on occasion, make the read to find the guy that is wide open because the defense has overcommitted to the run. McCarthy can fit the ball in between two defenders on the opposite sideline 15 yards downfield, but what the offense needs is for the QB to find the guy on the near side that was left uncovered because the safety is crashing the line because Hassan Haskins might be getting a handoff. That throw is less difficult, but requires a sharp eye.
I maintain my uneasiness with how QBs in the Harbaugh regime have been trained to make reads. They appear to get more tentative over time. Not thrilling to hear that Cade was struggling in practice before Washington; yeah, we won the game, but we're going to need him to make those plays in Madison or State College.
I did a closer look through the Washington video last week, and I saw Washington constantly respect receivers running RPO routes and jet action. We've seen this year that Michigan is pretty consistent at running that jet action to force defenses to cover it; we have had less chance to see what happens when defenses send extra defenders to defend the run and rotate a guy to mess with the initial read, if that read even exists. The guys that plays is the guy who can best punish the defense when they try to do that.
September 18th, 2021 at 4:33 PM ^
The overthrow on the long bomb to Cornelius Johnson was not on Cade, IMO. Johnson hesitated just a little as he had a couple steps on his guy. If he keeps running he catches that ball in stride.
September 18th, 2021 at 10:32 PM ^
Cade threw to the off ten degree path Johnson was running, and perfectly. When in air Johnson straightened the route upfield and is why he didn't get it. Perfect throw. And Brandstatter said it was the wind. It wasn't.
September 19th, 2021 at 12:36 PM ^
And that would've been two for two on the day on long vertical routes. Watch out if we can get something like that every game along with at least a decent run game production.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:23 PM ^
JJ McCarthy looks like Michael Shannon to me when his helmet’s on. This is my only offensive take.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:23 PM ^
Fun game - my jump off point is still Wisconsin, but it is nice to see us win a game convincingly that we should win.We have a fantastic running back room, and with the success we are having on the ground, the play action is there when we choose to do it.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:23 PM ^
Double post -- I like the touchdowns. they are fun.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:24 PM ^
No turnovers and very few penalties through 3 games is pretty impressive.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:26 PM ^
Are we having fun yet?
September 18th, 2021 at 3:26 PM ^
Would like to see more screens but Gattis called a beautiful game.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:27 PM ^
Wyoming scored 50 on NIU last week, so not much to learn from the scoreboard today. I am glad they responded to switched it up from last week's plan and threw it around in a controlled fashion. McCarthy looks a lot better than McNamara to me and I would imagine he will be starting before the year is out. I hope I am wrong about that because being right probably means McNamara blows it against Wisconsin.
One more tune up before things get interesting. I will be a believer if they lay the wood on Rutgers next week.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:32 PM ^
McCarthy can play loose - he is the second stringer. There is a bit more pressure on McNamara to keep the job. That being said, JJ looks super comfortable going through progressions.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:36 PM ^
Did Montana also play 3rd and 4th string players nearly the entire 4th quarter?
I get it. Northern Illinois is not an elite defense. But how many Michigan teams have we seen look bad in games like this. Michigan could have scored 100 today of they wanted to.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:38 PM ^
McCarthy is obviously the better talent and the future. That said, he really needs to add about 10-15 pounds to that frame.
September 18th, 2021 at 8:11 PM ^
Were you around for Drew Henson and Tom Brady? Everybody thought Henson was obviously the better talent and the future.
September 18th, 2021 at 8:12 PM ^
On the other hand, NIU beat Georgia Tech and they are giving Clemson a good battle today.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:28 PM ^
Looked good.
There has to be something that wasn’t perfect. The concern today is that, with Bell out and some years of questionable recruiting and development, our receivers are occasionally shaky. Two different 50/50 balls where there was a hint of PI (one called, one not) where I think they should have adjusted and made the catch.
But our best receiver is hurt. This is not something to burn couches about, just a reality. Our strength is not the receiving corps and we know it… and even then, they made some good plays, and I love Johnson’s route on the TD.
These are small, small critiques. I liked what I saw. Cade made some good reads, hit All down the seam when he needed to, forced tough coverages downfield. The running game was brilliant.
Couldn’t ask for more through three games.
September 18th, 2021 at 8:17 PM ^
Daylen Baldwin looks good. With Cornelius Johnson and Baldwin we've got a couple of good looking wideouts. Henson and Wilson are speedy. If these 4 stay healthy, we'll be okay.
September 18th, 2021 at 8:21 PM ^
Can’t overstate how important the Baldwin pickup was this offseason. Not often will you find a BIG starting wr in the portal. I also think he looks good and he will be important for us down the stretch with Bell out
September 18th, 2021 at 3:49 PM ^
Score TD's on first 9 possessions. Played 5 Quarterbacks and 100 + players. Blake Corum amazing. We have at least 3 super running backs in Corum, Haskins, and Warren. Great offensive line work. Vastardis motors downfield to make great blocks. We had 10 plays over 20 yard gains today. JJ 8 of 11 for 191. Future is really bright.
Can't wait for Rutger. Go Blue !
September 18th, 2021 at 4:12 PM ^
Who is Warren lol.
September 18th, 2021 at 4:20 PM ^
Donovan Warren Edwards
September 18th, 2021 at 4:32 PM ^
Don't know who Warren is, but Edwards showed off in his time today.
JJ wasn't 8-11 for 191, but Cade certainly was!
September 18th, 2021 at 9:51 PM ^
Warren? Have you seen his baseball?
September 18th, 2021 at 3:55 PM ^
Wanted 70. Am disappoint.
September 18th, 2021 at 3:57 PM ^
Corum and Haskins are a joy to watch. Whatever our record at the end of the season, I hope some of the perpetual grumblers can appreciate it.
The passing game will probably improve a bit as they get used to not having Bell out there. I think McNamara can give them what they need from the QB position this year. We're unlikely to win the B1G or beat OSU no matter who's under center, and I'd like to give the true frosh a year of practice and study.
September 18th, 2021 at 7:47 PM ^
We are 3 and 0 you think we should abandon the season and play the future. I disagree.