The Daily's preview of The Game
I realize that we'll be reading Brian's analysis soon, but thought that this was interesting preview from the Daily:
http://www.michigandaily.com/sports/breakdown-wolverines-face-miller-co…
These won't come as brilliant insights to anyone whose spent much time on this board, but reading this clarified for me what Michigan has to do to stay competitive.
One aspect of the preview that I disagree with is that our pass offense is necessarily inferior to their pass defense if (a big "if" I know) we give Devin an extra second or two to throw. The Buckeye's secondary isn't their strength, and if we can somehow get something close to Notre Dame Devin back there's a chance to move the ball through the air.
Two, I thought that it was interesting that the Daily ranks our pass defense above their pass offense despite Miller's improvement. We're not going to stop the Buckeyes' ground game but need to limit their passing, which I think is possible if Countess, Taylor and Gordon play well and Mattison can dial up pressure. If that happens, and we hold them to field goal attempts a few times in the red zone, that may be our best hope to keep things close, manageable and winnable.
November 29th, 2013 at 11:02 AM ^
...but lately he looks like a broken man. Sure the o-line is bad and the playcalling is crappy but he's also a big part of the problem too. He stares down his receivers when he does throw and other times holds the ball way too long in the pocket (the Sam Bradford syndrome!)... based on what i've seen lately, i don't even need to consider what Ohio State's pass D is like to know that this is a massive disadvantage for Michigan. It's Gardner's 4th year in the program and he's gone noticeably backwards.
November 29th, 2013 at 11:39 AM ^
November 29th, 2013 at 1:04 PM ^
November 29th, 2013 at 11:18 AM ^
Obviously the blocking is terrible, but Gallon and Funchess have been terrifying people off and on and it seemed like Jehu was having a coming out party a few weeks back only to see him completely disappear.
Watching the Lions yesterday, it seems like we should be able to run an offense like there's with a lot of passing and a lot of downfield weapons. Maybe it's just that the line is awful and Devin's confidence has just been obliterated
November 29th, 2013 at 11:34 AM ^
November 29th, 2013 at 11:54 AM ^
Rodgers' quick release to a lot of weapons masks their O-line problems. They've had an average line at best for a long time so yes playcalling can mask offensive line problems. The problem is Matt Flynn is not Aaron Rodgers.
When our line can't block worth a lick then that falls on the coaching. That falls on the OC and the OL coach.
November 29th, 2013 at 12:52 PM ^
I am not saying our o line isn't terrible, b/c clearly it is ... but Devin also lacks experience to enable him to make quick decisions to get rid of the ball or just take some easy yards, which compounds the issues with the o line.
November 29th, 2013 at 1:00 PM ^
And the fact that Aaron Rodgers is a proven winner. Brady hasn't proven much since 11-2. Not that Hoke WON'T ever get this thing moving forward again, but he doesn't have something tangible to point to like McCarthy.
True, the Pack looked like Michigan yesterday, which only gets me prepared for Saturday.
November 29th, 2013 at 1:34 PM ^
Calling for play action passes on 3rd and long with a line that can't block long enough to let the route develop, a putrid rusing attack, and a terrible blocking RB....yep can't think of anything wrong there.
Also, why does Devin lack experience? Because we moved him to WR.
Maybe he's not getting rid of the ball quickly because we're not calling passes that allow him to get rid of the quickly. You're going to be tenative and scared when guys are in the backfield almost immediately.
November 29th, 2013 at 10:46 PM ^
November 29th, 2013 at 11:38 AM ^
We could run what ever offense we wanted with a RB who made guys look stupid in college, a WR who makes vets, in the NFL, look stupid and a 4th year NFL QB who is considered one of the 10 best QB's on the planet.
November 29th, 2013 at 11:21 AM ^
There is nothing that I have seen this whole season that would lead me to believe that there is any hope of beating Ohio State this weekend. Put a fork in this team because they are done. Tomorrow will be a mercy killing of epic porportions and this dreadful season will almost be done. We'll just have to wait a couple of weeks for some shitty team to finish the job off once and for all. Hello 7-6 season. WOOO!!!!!!!!!
November 29th, 2013 at 11:29 AM ^
November 29th, 2013 at 11:34 AM ^
They've had since spring ball to gel and it hasnt happened. Further, Borges had 2 weeks to gameplan for MSU and you saw the type of "strategy" he employed there right? The players are not the problem, the coaching is.
November 29th, 2013 at 12:28 PM ^
November 29th, 2013 at 1:27 PM ^
November 29th, 2013 at 5:14 PM ^
Actually Borges' playcalling wasn't bad against MSU, lots of passing on first down.
November 29th, 2013 at 5:47 PM ^
I mostly agree. I thought his play calling was worse the next week against Nebraska.
November 29th, 2013 at 11:01 PM ^
November 29th, 2013 at 11:25 AM ^
To be somewhat fair, our pass offense is 4th in the conference (64th in FBS, so there's perspective on the conference) with an average of 234 yards per game. Ohio State's pass defense is 10th in the conference (99th in FBS), giving up 238 yards per game on average. I suppose if they are exploitable, this is an area where we could make something happen.
November 29th, 2013 at 12:17 PM ^
The thing that makes me concerned about their pass offense is our lack of a consistent pass rush and their ability to keep guys off of Braxton Miller. It's not so much that Miller is a great passer or that they have great receivers...but if we can't get to Miller, he's got good enough receivers who can work to get open.
November 29th, 2013 at 11:28 AM ^
November 29th, 2013 at 12:18 PM ^
Everyone need not worry - good ol' Magnus hasn't mailed it in!
November 29th, 2013 at 1:21 PM ^
November 29th, 2013 at 11:39 AM ^
is because they are so far ahead, their opponents must pass and forgo the run. Often OSU has its second defensive team.
Brady Hoax is not up to the job scheming a way to victory in this game. That said, I do believe it will be closer than what many people think. Meyer cannot run up the score because if his lead is wide enough he will pull his regulars. He needs to save them for MSU.
November 29th, 2013 at 12:04 PM ^
Thank goodness we don't actually have this "Brady Hoax" fellow on our staff. From what you suggest, it sounds like he'd be incapable of putting us in a position to win.
November 29th, 2013 at 12:23 PM ^
Stupid nicknames are stupid.
November 29th, 2013 at 12:25 PM ^
November 29th, 2013 at 12:43 PM ^
How can "the greatest rivalry in all of sports" be a trap game. Unless we have fallen so far that this isnt a rivalry any longer. Just a really sad time. Hopefully the team rights the ship soon.
November 29th, 2013 at 12:49 PM ^
November 29th, 2013 at 12:51 PM ^
Not just win, but win convincingly, despite repeatedly stepping all over their own collective dick. If it wasn't for all the turnovers and penalties, I would have sworn that was some other football team dressed in Lions' uniforms.
November 29th, 2013 at 1:07 PM ^
Not confident we'll ever get into drops and stop the deep routes across the middle that have killed us all year. Given Miller's ability to pretend option and then pull up and throw against a drawn in front 7, it would hurt a very good defense that wasn't on the field after every 3-and-out. It will kill us Saturday unless Miller gets a hand cramp from getting hit by a helmet.
Any sense from anyone that Pipkins would have made a difference on pushing the pocket back?
November 29th, 2013 at 1:15 PM ^
Well, he wasn't doing it early in the year, so I don't know why he would be now.
November 29th, 2013 at 1:45 PM ^
November 29th, 2013 at 1:49 PM ^
I have a question: Why doesn't Gardner take off the second he feels pressure? He is actually a very good runner and it seems to me that there is absolutely no down side to him pulling it down and taking off as it will prevent negative plays, keep the chains moving and -- eventually -- will prevent the defense from pinning their ears back on every play. It seems like he is will to stand there or -- worse -- back up and take 10 to 15 yard sacks whenever the pressure comes. As a Bears fan, he reminds of Rex Grossman from 2006 in this regard. Lots of talent and capable of very good games, however, by not stepping up in the pocket he is making a bad situation worse.
November 29th, 2013 at 2:12 PM ^
Typically, to tuck and run, you need some solid blocking up the middle. The problem is that the defensive ends are doing a good job of keeping contain, possibly because they know the defensive tackles/stunting linebackers are going to get a good push up the middle.
When the entire offensive line is getting blown back, there's not much that even a good running QB can do. You need strength SOMEWHERE on the offensive line to pull it off, and unfortunately, the guards and the centers have been pretty bad.
November 29th, 2013 at 3:27 PM ^
Interesting word, "strength."
It can mean a high degree of effectiveness and competence, and it can mean literal physical strength. I wonder if the lack of the former is due in part to deficiency in the latter.
November 29th, 2013 at 7:13 PM ^
Thanks. What, if anything, can be done when they bring the pressure on every play? Why don't we throw short where the blitzing defender is coming from? I know we all like to say that Borges is just an idiot, however, it can't be that simple. Any idea?