Michigan will be a better bad weather/bad turf team

Submitted by gsimmons85 on

IMO, starting this year, and continuing with the new coaching staff, we will beging to see Michigan winning more of their bad weather/bad field type games.  couple reasons why i think this is going to happen.

 

#1  Michigans offense will be able to play the same way regardless of playing conditions.  A zone read is a zone read, short quick passes are weather resistent for the most part.  Weather never effects runners like it does defenders trying to stop the runner.  A runner is able to anticipate cuts, and make moves on a slick track, while defenders have to adjust and react effecting their ability to stay with an offense.

#2 Lighter better conditioned athletes are able to have lighter feet for longer periods of time.  getting your cleats up and down with quick motions is the best way to play in bad weather.  Lighter better conditoned athletes are in better balance, and have the abilbity to sustain that ballance for an entire game.  Michigans recomitment to s and c  will pay huge dividends in nasty weahter.

#3  Better fundamentals on defense, coupled with faster players means that the Michigan defense will be in positions to make plays quicker, and without waisted steps.  The least amount of false steps in bad weather the better your chances of not slipping and sliding.  I anticipate seeing michigan players look faster on defense becasue of the commitment of coach shafer and his staff to the starts/stants/foot progressions/read step/ fundamentals of defensive football.

Maybe its just wishfull thinking, but its been my experience in bad weather that defense is hurt the most, allong with deep throws, and that there is more premium on fundamentals. 

 

 

Comments

StevieY19

July 9th, 2008 at 4:46 PM ^

I agree, good points. One other thought: it seems like WVU and other spread attacks have been plagued by turnovers at times. Pitches, short quick passes, even the play action will be more dangerous for us in the rain, it would seem. What is your take on the turnover issue with the spread (zone read especially) and how the weather may impact the offense in that regard?

gsimmons85

July 9th, 2008 at 4:50 PM ^

burst my optimistic bubble. seriously though, the zone read handoff is really less dangerous then a classic handoff, or a playaction. rb pocket is a little better, and you are facing the defense. The only problem i see with that, is when a qb is pulling the ball out. But im not anticpating pull outs except to pass, so less often than at WVU. turnovers will be a problem, but i dont see it as overmatching the positives.

StevieY19

July 9th, 2008 at 4:56 PM ^

Yeah, that is pretty much my thought: trouble, but not too much trouble.  We'll see what kind of decision-maker Threet turns out to be.  If they can keep in mind that not every play needs to go for 30 yards, then this offense could be the type that just marches down the field with 5-7 yard gains in any weather.  Plus, turnovers will be up for both sides in the rain, obviously, so hopefully our Barwis'd defense can fly around and give us the edge in the turnover dept.

ts

July 10th, 2008 at 1:47 PM ^

So maybe we should go back to the cow pasture we had before field turf. And after we lose at OSU, we should complain that their field was too perfect and demand that they reinstall their crappy 2006 grass.