FREEP article on Josh Gattis from Joe Moorehead's point of view
Freep article and IDGAF if you hate them thanks!
Sort of interesting article from Rainer Sabin on Freep's website on Josh Gattis's struggles at Michigan and comments from his old boss Joe Moorehead.
Against the only ranked opponents it has faced this season, U-M has struggled to reach the end zone – producing a total of 24 points in a crushing loss to Wisconsin and a taut victory over Iowa. In the aftermath of those games, questions were raised bout the offense’s identity and the challenges the Wolverines have faced implementing Gattis’ scheme. “
This is an instant gratification society,” Moorhead said. “They don’t want results now. They want them right now. But sometimes, for perspective, you need time and space and I think as Josh continues to work week after week and the kids understand the system, they’ll continue to get better.” But Moorhead noted that the installation process for his offense varies and has a “different timetable at different places.” “A lot of it is how quick can the kids pick it up and about putting them in position to be successful,” he added.
For Michigan, that has been a work in progress. Quarterback Shea Patterson's completion percentage, yards-per-attempt average and total productivity have dipped since last year. The blocking front has also looked out of sorts at times, trying to adjust to the new defensive looks with Michigan using more three-receiver packages. “That has been the biggest difference in how you block,” offensive line coach Ed Warinner explained.
As Warinner has had to adjust, so, too, has Gattis. Since the opening weeks he has been forced to make a series of compromises, scaling back his grand plan while resorting to the re-implementation of concepts the Wolverines successfully executed last season. Warinner alluded to that Wednesday, noting the steady stream of inside zone and pin-and-pull run plays Michigan used to plow through Illinois during a 42-25 win last Saturday.
Credit: Detroit Free Press, Author: Rainer Sabin, 10/18/19
October 18th, 2019 at 1:27 PM ^
Wow, how novel, a perspective that actually matters.
October 18th, 2019 at 2:26 PM ^
The OP left out a key part of the article to me, (not finding fault, can't excerpt the whole thing) which is that Moorehead himself has an offense that's struggling. They scored ten points against TENNESSEE. Since we know Moorehead is a good coach, that gives some perspective on Gattis IMO.
October 18th, 2019 at 3:02 PM ^
I agree. Mullen left Mississippi State's program in excellent shape and Moorehead has crushed it in a short time. They want him OUT in Starkville and he may be headed to Rutgers. Gattis was a CO coordinator at Alabama. It was NOT his alone and Saban runs a machine. If he had wanted him to stay then Saban would have retained him. Harbaugh was NEVER going to hire an OC that was capable of running it on his own. He wanted someone inexperienced that he could work with. The only problem is that having Tua and Alabama's players is much different than Michigan's because they are better players and that includes their OL and receiver corps. Yes, Collins and DPJ are good but they are not Judy, Smith or Ruggs. Most importantly, Patterson is NOT Tua. Gattis has brought in some new concepts but Michigan is not built for that and that's why they are back with the same run schemes as last year. Harbaugh should have hired Gattis as the passing game coordinator and Warriner as the run game coordinator. Hopefully, the run game will be better now with the old concepts.
October 18th, 2019 at 6:26 PM ^
So, one problem with people using a troll cave is that they won't know what I'm talking about when I reply to you.
Moorhead's quotes were very encouraging to me. It fits exactly what we're seeing, and I'm much more optimistic about the long-term, though not sure that translates into anything tangible tomorrow night.
Oh, and you're dead wrong about Collins and DPJ
October 18th, 2019 at 9:05 PM ^
Another clueless doosh bag on this blog who is also an arrogant shit for brains about football. I guess i’m wrong about Tua and Patterson as well. If your troll cave has power, plug your tv in and watch Justin Fields right now but he isn’t that good either.
October 18th, 2019 at 7:14 PM ^
Considering DPJ was the #1 WR in the same class as Jeudy your wrong.. I guess i don't get what your basis is on if you think we "don't have the talent" of bama at the WR position..
All 6 of the WR's bama and michigan included were in the top 24 in the nation for that recruiting class..
Maybe the players around them collectively as a whole are the different not the WR's.
October 18th, 2019 at 9:10 PM ^
Being ranked doesn’t mean shit coming out of high school unless your prove it on the field. Alabama’s receivers are way better. Get off of Madden and actually watch a game
October 19th, 2019 at 3:29 AM ^
Jeudy right now is considered a top 5 pick. Also he is the reigning Biletnikoff Award winner, safe to say he is easily the best QB of that group. Ruggs is also considered a top 15 pick by scouts. We have a talented group of receivers but right now it is not a knock on them to say they are not as talented as Bama’s group.
October 19th, 2019 at 11:15 AM ^
Just a few weeks ago, Urban said DPJ is a top 15 pick. No idea how it will all shake out, but the kid has big-time talent.
October 18th, 2019 at 1:30 PM ^
As Josh continues to work week after week and the kids understand the system, they’ll continue to get better
What is "the system"? I honestly don't know.
October 18th, 2019 at 1:33 PM ^
I believe the current system has two key, critical components that must be followed:
Running plays: A read option where there is no read and the QB never pulls.
Passing plays: Run 3 WR sets almost exclusively and then ignore them.
Other than that I've got nothing.
October 18th, 2019 at 1:36 PM ^
Yeah, what I do know is that Nico Collins, DPJ, and Tarik Black are on pace to get 592, 323, and 464 yards this season, respectively. Not good enough.
Don't overcomplicate things, Josh. Use your weapons and your talent.
October 18th, 2019 at 1:42 PM ^
Honestly I've sort of wondered if Patterson has the arm strength to hit deep receivers if he has some issue with his side. Noticed some of his throws in the last game to be snail mail.
October 18th, 2019 at 1:49 PM ^
You have wondered wrong. There was a 30mph wind last game.
October 18th, 2019 at 2:15 PM ^
Illinois' QB was throwing in that same wind
October 18th, 2019 at 2:32 PM ^
With about the same completion % and 2.2 fewer yards per pass. What's your point?
October 18th, 2019 at 2:55 PM ^
One's a 3rd string freshman at a shitty Illinois. The other is a former 5 star starter at Michigan. What's your point?
October 18th, 2019 at 3:15 PM ^
Bad weather conditions are an equalizer.
What's YOUR point?
October 18th, 2019 at 3:39 PM ^
That two vastly different athletes playing for vastly different teams probably shouldn't be so similar, despite wind.
October 18th, 2019 at 9:35 PM ^
Uh, What didn't you understand about weather (i.e. WIND) being the great equalizer? Asking for a friend......
October 18th, 2019 at 6:16 PM ^
Duck juices are getting evicted. What's YOUR point?
October 18th, 2019 at 6:16 PM ^
Duck juices are getting evicted. What's YOUR point?
October 18th, 2019 at 6:16 PM ^
Duck juices are getting evicted. What's YOUR point?
October 18th, 2019 at 6:16 PM ^
Duck juices are getting evicted. What's YOUR point?
October 18th, 2019 at 6:16 PM ^
Duck juices are getting evicted. What's YOUR point?
October 18th, 2019 at 6:16 PM ^
Duck juices are getting evicted. What's YOUR point?
October 18th, 2019 at 6:16 PM ^
Duck juices are getting evicted. What's YOUR point?
October 18th, 2019 at 6:16 PM ^
Duck juices are getting evicted. What's YOUR point?
October 18th, 2019 at 6:16 PM ^
Duck juices are getting evicted. What's YOUR point?
October 18th, 2019 at 6:16 PM ^
Duck juices are getting evicted. What's YOUR point?
October 18th, 2019 at 6:16 PM ^
Duck juices are getting evicted. What's YOUR point?
October 18th, 2019 at 6:16 PM ^
Duck juices are getting evicted. What's YOUR point?
October 18th, 2019 at 10:10 PM ^
What's YOUR deal?!
October 18th, 2019 at 5:37 PM ^
Class has nothing to do with arm strength. Third string (redshirt) freshman Milton has greater arm strength than the upper class QBs ahead of him.
October 18th, 2019 at 8:27 PM ^
What does star rating have to do with actual stats? If the Illinois freshman was a 5 star it wouldn’t fucking matter—his stats would still be what they were. Stars mean shit once the games are played.
October 18th, 2019 at 5:13 PM ^
October 18th, 2019 at 5:38 PM ^
Yes, but it’s not a coincidence that both QBs enjoyed the bulk of their success with the wind at their back. Patterson doesn’t usually throw a tight spiral (unfortunately), so his throws into the wind die quickly.
October 18th, 2019 at 3:04 PM ^
Even with a healthy side, he still can't get it to them.
October 18th, 2019 at 1:43 PM ^
OTOH how much of that is Gattis' system vs Shea being a 1 read and bail kind of QB? It's great having 3 NFL WRs on the field at the same time but if Shea only looks at one of them per play then what good is it really
October 18th, 2019 at 2:08 PM ^
While I generally agree with don't complicate things, if the QB can't make a simple pull/give read on the option, I don't know how much more simple you can get for today's game.
October 18th, 2019 at 2:50 PM ^
"Use your weapons and your talent."
This more than anything has been Michigan's problem for many years
October 18th, 2019 at 1:55 PM ^
IMO: mGrowOld > Joe Morehead
Spot on post.
October 18th, 2019 at 2:06 PM ^
How do you blame Gattis when our starting QB is so afraid of being hit that he’s functionally blind?
The rate at which Shea misses reads is comical. Nothing highlighted this more than the 4th and 2 play from Illinois where even Eubanks was like “WTF!!?!”
October 18th, 2019 at 2:09 PM ^
More than one thing can be true.
October 18th, 2019 at 2:15 PM ^
Also, why did we have to throw the baby out with the bathwater? If Gattis' system can't have a functional run game without a QB run threat, then maybe the system isn't all that great.
Yes, we need to score more points and be able to go uptempo, but why not build on what was successful in the past instead of just blowing the whole damn thing up?
October 18th, 2019 at 2:35 PM ^
Never in a million years did I think I'd say this...
but the Lions offense in the last game looked pretty good with some powerful deep strikes in their last game.
Last years offense may have had a lower ceiling, but one more year in system and fixes to tempo and more deep passes and it doesn't look bad.
October 18th, 2019 at 4:45 PM ^
This is where I'm at. Our offense finished 25th in SP+ last year, that's pretty good. The only major complaint I had was the complete lack of any tempo/2 minute drill, but putting that together shouldn't have required a complete reset on offense. I suppose the option offense we're moving to will probably (hopefully?) be better in the long run, but god damn does it suck right now.
October 18th, 2019 at 2:35 PM ^
What upsets me the most is that Gattis waited until the morning of the Middle Tennessee game to start installing his offense/system.
What was that? He started installing everything the minute he got here? In January?
What in the actual fuck does it take to coach this shit?!!
October 18th, 2019 at 4:40 PM ^
You forgot the key element added to this year’s offense: no more holding on to the football.
October 18th, 2019 at 4:46 PM ^
“Passing plays: Run 3 WR sets almost exclusively and then ignore them.”
This isn’t entirely true. Shea often stares down one of his receivers; generally the one in double or triple coverage.