I wanted to actually see how successful our two-QB formations had been relative to the average yards per play in each game they've been used. A cursory look and this is what I found:
Minnesota
Fritz: 7.0 ypp vs. 7.9 ypp for the game
Northwestern
Denard Jet: 5 ypp vs. 6.9 ypp for the game
MSU
Denard Jet: 9.3 ypp vs. 3.7 ypp for the game
So in general, it actually hasn't actually been as successful as I thought. Although, today the packages were very successful aside from the INT.
DRob: Healthy after only 13 carries
I liked the fact that they
I liked the fact that they got Smith more involved with it. It was getting a bit obvious giving the ball to Denard every time. It works but Devin needs to be able to throw out of that set to make it more effective. Either way it was nice to see Fitz tear it up.
“What the mind can conceive, the mind can achieve and those who stay will be champions.” - Bo
][V][
Agreed. They've pretty much
Agreed. They've pretty much done all of the running dynamics they can (I think Fitz.Smith, DRob AND Gardner have all run it out of this formation). And it seems the only guy that's thrown it is Smith today and against Minnesota. Need to do some uber PA and let Devin chuck it...hopefully to a man he sees downfield that's open.
If you need drugs to be a good writer, you're not a good writer.
-Rod Serling
It isn't always the success
It isn't always the success of those specific plays that matters...sometimes the intent is to get the defense thinking and open up other things
The throwback screen was one
The throwback screen was one miffed block away from being an easy touchdown. I'd say the formation is effective.
I definitely agree
I made the post thinking I would show that it easily averaged more than the average play in each game, and we could put to bed any discussion on how effective it was. As it turned out, I was slightly surprised to see that the averages were a bit lower for the first two games. Regardless, I think the packages are very effective.
posted from iPhone
Where was that screen against msu? That still pisses me off Borges did not call that against Sparty.
THOSE WHO STAY WILL BE CHAMPIONS
Denard was sharp
Excellent game by Denard. Threw some nice passes and Toussaint was quick and elusive. A great game coming off a loss. We're back on track.
I love the bubble screen against the grain. It always seems to get big yards.
Go Blue!
Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you. -Satchel Paige
Throwback screen
Not bubble.
not just "douchey" MGoBlog user, but now TRUSTED MGoBlog user
Fritzgerald?
Fritzgerald?
Alright
Yeah, well really all of the backs had a good outing.
Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you. -Satchel Paige
Fitzgerald, not Fritzgerald
Well...
I don't think the 2 QB sets are fooling anyone. I will raise one possibility...Borges could have special packages with that set that he is not showing yet, and keeping for bigger games down the road. But if this is all we have, probably better not to use it too much.
neoavatara.com/blog
My biggest problem with it
My biggest problem with it right now is the lack of passing out of it. Whether Borges has shown it all or not Devin needs to throw to open it all up even more. If Borges is waiting, fine, but Devin needs to throw to keep the defense on its heels.
“What the mind can conceive, the mind can achieve and those who stay will be champions.” - Bo
][V][
Just wait for the ohio game.
Just wait for the ohio game. Bo ran stuff every single day of his first year to practice for ohio. They won. Hoke will win against ohio b/c they are practicing for and setting the table for a beat down.
"Wasn't that Michigan drive just great. That's like Patton riding into Berlin." ~Bob Ufer
While I am a little reluctant
While I am a little reluctant to say so, I agree with you for sure.
“What the mind can conceive, the mind can achieve and those who stay will be champions.” - Bo
][V][
Any evidence?
Are you in the know? Ohio is an important game and we might have a few variations on stuff to run, but I don't know why we'd sacrifice the games prior and of higher importance.
On that double reverse, if
On that double reverse, if Denard had kept it, Smith was running with him for the option. That will lead to a TD in one of our games, whenever they pull it out.
I saw that. That play can be
.
Quick! To the Hindenpeter!
I think another reason the
I think another reason the system might be being used is that they think Devin at some point will surpass Denard as the starting QB so they want to see where they could move Denard to and have him be effective in that situation.
Quick! To the Hindenpeter!
I have to think you are on to
I have to think you are on to something. I know the coaches keep saying Denard is the man, but Devin is a much better fit to run the Pro-style set. I would like to see Denard and Devin lineed up next to one another in the backfield, have a predetermined snap and let either one makes some plays. I couldn't imagine what a DC would be thinking not knowing which QB is going to get the ball and the potential options out of the set.
Not saying I don't think
Not saying I don't think Denard is our best option right now. I do. I just think the coaches are trying to get Devin some experience with Denard on the field at the same time. It opens up a lot of stuff honestly.
Quick! To the Hindenpeter!
Trolling really, because I
Trolling really, because I have an opinion?
Welcome....
You must be new here.
He who is without sin, cast the first rock. And I shall smoketh it. - Tyrone Biggums
I don't see him passing up DROB
I think it is important to have Gardner ready in case DROB has to go out a few or more plays. We are headed into some pretty tough defenses and Gardner may have to be ready to be the QB!
expect the best
When teams run the ball alot
When teams run the ball alot (like us), its very common to run to the field side (obviously, more room and space to make people mis) a very common counter to this is to slant your d line to the boundary, eat up the lineman and have linebackers fast flow to the field.
If the defense even thinks that a play may be a jet sweep to Denard, they cant slant there line because denard would burn them. This formation stuff is because Denard is such a good runner it forces the defense to play squared up and honest because we've shown we can go to any direction out of that formation (i.e. the succesfull counter pitch plays off that).
Its important to see the effectiveness in that formation is scaring the hell out of the opposing DC and forcing him to play a vanilla game.
Baseball players are smarter than football players. How often do you see a baseball team penalized for too many men on the field?
...
Maybe it's just me but it seems like whenever Denard isn't getting the ball in these packages they work better. Kind of like the Devin Hester wildcat, teams keyed in on him because they knew he was getting the ball. When the defense keys in on Denard and he's the decoy it opens huge holes for everyone else.
My take after todays game is
My take after todays game is that the main point of Gardner at QB is to do what the team has struggled with since last year; get succesful carries out of the other RBs. It gets rid of 8 men in the box.
Diamond Formation
Again this week I will ask the question, where did the diamond formation go? I think when it comes to the 2 QB sets was the most dynamic.
Some issues with the Jet screen is it let's the DE know when you are snapping the ball (when Denard reaches the OT) and let's them jump the snap and get up field. This happened on the one big loss we had on the Jet Screen to Denard. Also, it all but eliminates a pass, unless you run a boot out the back (yet to be seen) or have Denard throw on the run (been very inaccurate).
I love it. It mixes it up
I love it. It mixes it up after our offense has gone stagnant (which is happening much more than I would like)
Our offense sucks, its looking worse every week. The trickery stuff works on shitty teams. We got some tough teams coming up.
Did Michigan Win?
I'm pretty sure Borges is setting up some plays for Nebraska and Ohio! Let's be honest they can not line up and play smash mouth football with half the teams in the BG10 this year. I believe that will change within the next 2 years though. We are going to need some trick plays to have a chance to win the last 2 games and the 2 QB sets are setting those up. My prediction is a double pass or a fade route to Denard if they need it later. The coaches are not just trying to upset the fans. Denard in the spread option has not fared so well against a good defense for 4 quarters this year or last. It has had moments and halfs but not enough to beat a good defense yet?
Gardner for 2 more years
I actually really didn't like
I actually really didn't like the formation in previous games, but today it seemed like they had it a lot more polished and it was clearly effective. I think the receivers need to have better routes to get more open and open up a pass option out of it. They seemed to just run downfield without any urgency and it was an easy cover for the DBs. They're clearly going to be in one on one because of all the confusion and should be able to get wide open. I think by the end of the season the play will be automatic yards. The part of Borges's playcalling I do have a problem with is his 3rd/4th and inches plays. With this team the shortest distance between two points is not straight up the middle but straight to the sideline with Denard. Getting the edge enough to gain a yard is like shooting fish in a barrel for him. It's unorthodox but fool proof in my opinion. That would be my 4th and short play every time.
"Michigan Defense" is dominating everything, in every aspect of life. That's a rough definition.
-Craig Roh 10/29/2011
Hate/Love
I hate the Denard Jet...love the Frtiz package.
I mean if you want to use the Jet once or twice, that's fine. But I feel like that's our exclusive package now with Devin in the game.
“True loyalty is that quality of service that grows under adversity and expands in defeat. Any street urchin can shout applause in victory, but it takes character to stand fast in defeat. One is noise — the other, loyalty.”
4th and goal on the 1 and Denard is in the shotgun? What a joke.
Well, its not like the I-Form
Well, its not like the I-Form was working a whole lot in short yardage either... Running Denard is smart because you get an extra lead blocker, and Denard is our best runner.
COYS and lets go Detroit FC!
M wins 36-14
I'd say it served it's purpose very well