Have we been saving anything?

Submitted by rbgoblue on

Does anyone think we have been saving a few plays/packages for MSU? For some reason, I feel like we escaped a near upset this week, while part of our concentration was focused on taking down sparty this weekend. As creative as our offense has been, with the exception of a couple snaps during the WMU game, we have yet to see the package with Tate and Denard on the field at the same time. I am really looking forward to seeing how our offense performs next weekend. A healthy tate would pick MSU's defense apart. How close to healthy he will be is yet to be seen. That said, I think that Denard is completely capable of running wild on Saturday.

Dan Man

September 28th, 2009 at 12:43 AM ^

Interesting thought about RichRod holding a few cards up his sleeve for this game. I guess I wouldn't be surprised to see a trick play or two we haven't seen yet, but I don't know if we'd see much more than that. I think with two freshmen qb's, RichRod would want to be spending as much time as possible on the meat and potatoes of the playbook. That's my two cents.

MaizeNBlueJ

September 28th, 2009 at 2:34 AM ^

I tend to agree, assuming Tate is ready to go for game time, which doesn't seem to be a given at this point.

I envision a new wrinkle off of the option-reverse from the EMU game to Odoms. Put Shoelace in their instead of Odoms, you can use him as a decoy, or give it to him on the reverse, and let him create, or you can bring a receiver/tight end across the field and possibly set up a pass off of it as well. The options are endless. Might be something we see if we get down in the red zone.

AMazinBlue

September 28th, 2009 at 12:47 AM ^

have something special planned for Sparty. I know we're young on both sides of the ball, but RR has to have some revenge on his mind after last year and after all BS that Dantonio spews.

I for one would love so see some trick-r-ationplays and some off the wall defensive alignments that just befuddle MSU.

The only game I want UM to win more this year is OSU, but I still would love to see Michigan just drop 50 on Sparty.

I'm apprehensive about the game, but I still think we will pull out some stops for these no-talent ass-clowns in EL.

jdon

September 28th, 2009 at 12:52 AM ^

I would imagine that if we were going to run many plays with shoelace and Forcier on the field at the same time we would have seen more of them by now.
1.) it would be nice to practice them
2.) it would set up variations for later games
3.) asking two freshmen to learn the offense is complex enough but to ask them to learn multiple adaptations of the offense may be too much.

that said, I expect much 'wildcat' or wild wolverine, or whatever they want to call it in the future.
I also expect more passes to the tight ends at some point as well.
jdon

jcgold

September 28th, 2009 at 12:56 AM ^

Maybe this was the plan 2 weeks ago, but after this week's snap problems, I just don't see it. The focus this week is going to be getting Moosman, Tate, and Shoelace comfortable snapping the ball in a loudhouse. Expect to see lots of zone read and option passes, as is usual.

mjv

September 28th, 2009 at 1:23 AM ^

It is highly unlikely that the coaching staff has been keeping some special things under wraps. The team was very close to losing to Indiana at home. And with a very high likelihood that the starting QB is going to be kept out of a lot of practice this week, the focus will likely be on getting Denard as many snaps with the ones as possible.

And with the defense's difficulty stopping the run, the likelihood that MSU will be throwing rock often, just shoring up the base defense is probably the first priority.

rbgoblue

September 28th, 2009 at 1:25 AM ^

The spread is all about putting your best athletes on the field and letting them make people miss in space. Denard is, without a doubt, our most dangerous player with the ball in his hands (tho Brown has given him a run for his money the last 2 weeks), as he can make anyone miss, and take it to the house at any time. I think we see more from him in the coming weeks.

My personal thoughts on how Denard could be used to better exploit defenses. Line him up in the slot 10 plays a game. Still let him have his snaps. Still let him learn the QB position. When you put him behind center, defenses are crowding the box and basically selling out 8 defenders on 1 di-lithium qb. Put him out wide and run the triple option.

1) If the defense commits multiple defenders to Denard, the RB has a clear cut numbers advantage running away from Denard's side of the field. Easy money.
2) If the defense plays straight, let Tate keep it and swing it out to Denard who is 1 on 1 in space. Engage rockets for liftoff. Touchdown!

At QB, Denard has 8 defenders on him and a lot of traffic to navigate through. Out in space, he has a 1 on 1 matchup with a DB. One cut and he's gone. Defenses will have to adjust, enhancing our success in the running game.

Does anyone know where this breaks down? ND put a DB permanently on the slot. Thats the only trouble I see here. Scrape Counterpunch anyone?

UMAmaizinBlue

September 28th, 2009 at 1:40 AM ^

But I'm still concerned with using DR as a wide receiver for 2 reasons:

1) He's a QB and (historically) has little to no hands. Taking a chance and throwing to Robinson in the hopes that he'll catch it AND have the awareness to know where he is in space in comparison to his defender is not one that would warrant a high % of success (or a TD at least).

2) There is always the chance that Tate (who is still a freshman and vulnerable to "Oh No! Freshman!" moments) leaves Denard hanging out there Kurt Warner style with a lofty pass and he gets tagged hardcore by one of the Big Ten's hulking LBs or a DB. Now you've got Sheridan as 2nd on your depth chart and one less playmaker to use on the field.

I'm not trying to destroy the idea. As I said, I would love to see Robinson make fools out of chumps in the opposing secondary, but the risks outweigh the benefits IME.

mjv

September 28th, 2009 at 2:21 AM ^

Denard needs as many practice snaps as possible at QB. He is a true freshman an still learning what he is supposed to do. Let's not pretend the he has climbed his learning curve at QB and is ready to do more. he is out backup QB, our starting QB has a damaged shoulder. He needs snaps at QB. PERIOD. having him waste snaps at slot is foolish.

No.9 Hamburgers

September 28th, 2009 at 7:03 AM ^

Is that they have been saving something for big games like State... It would also be nice if they run extra plays/formation on both O-line and D-line each practice for “the game”. ..that way...all of the plays/formations that we run in that game would be new and no way to prepare for it. I dont know much about football but IMO that would be a good idea.

GoBlueMAGNUS

September 28th, 2009 at 7:46 AM ^

What if Tate is just fine and this is just a little gamesmanship coming from RichRod? He knows Dantonio lives vicariously through the
media so this is just giving him something totally different to expect. I can just see little brothers secondary crapping their pants when Tate
comes running out next to shoelace to take the first snap. Hey maybe it's wishful thinking but I'm just saying anythings possible.

Blue in Yarmouth

September 28th, 2009 at 9:14 AM ^

I think you are right, that it is a little gamesmanship, but not the way you are thinking. I think there is a much greater probability that he is hurt worse than advertised than less. I think RR doesn't want MSU to know that Tate won't play at all which is what I am thinking after seeing his reaction to a tap on the sideline. I am an MD so it is an educated guess, but only a guess. Without examining him myself I wouldn't be able to say for sure, but judging from his reaction it looks worse than they are letting on.....just sayin'.

MGoAero

September 28th, 2009 at 8:33 AM ^

Likewise, though, Dantonio could have something cooked up special for Michigan. We know he takes this game more seriously than any other, and he comes from OSU where Tressel always had trick plays and new looks for the Michigan game that no one had seen them run during the rest of the season. With the defense we're fielding this year, I hope we're not lulled into comfort by Sparty's so-far predictable, uncreative offense.

TThomas

September 28th, 2009 at 9:32 AM ^

Michigan has not yet given Mesko the punt-run option that we saw a lot of last year. I think we may see this on Saturday and going forward for the rest of the season.

tpilews

September 28th, 2009 at 9:50 AM ^

Also, the Tate Punt-Run-Pass option out of a hurry up 4th and short. There has to be a couple wrinkles out of that that we haven't seen. I swear I thought Tate was going to throw a pass against IU, but the play was stopped on a false start.

gater

September 28th, 2009 at 9:50 AM ^

I want to say that we're holding some formations and plays back, but with how close the ND and IU games were, I would have thought RR would have broke them out to seal the wins.

jabberwock

September 28th, 2009 at 10:23 AM ^

I'd imagine that any special plays would probably involve Tate,
since unfortunately I don't think we'll see him on Saturday, all our efforts will be on prepping Denard, Moosman, and the D.
We'll probably also see Nick, so lets hope he has a big S on his chest and is wearing a cape.

The only thing we're holding back on Saturday is the notorious C.O.N.E.

Double Nickel BG

September 28th, 2009 at 11:00 AM ^

do I think we'll see OMGZ 10 people in the backfield running the exploding star all game? Probably not. It will probably be more along the lines of breaking tendency such as zigging instead of zagging on a pass route that MSU has seen on film. Maybe more double moves. Every team has a few trick plays like fake punts and reverse/reverse throws so I imagine we might see those.

MichIOE01

September 28th, 2009 at 12:34 PM ^

I'm hoping that it's not necessarily that we've been holding something back, but that we've been installing something new every week. That way there is something in every game that the opponent hasn't seen before.

ChalmersE

September 28th, 2009 at 2:08 PM ^

I suspect that if anything unusual is in the works, that's when they'll practice it. I, however, would prefer it if we a) could just stuff the ball down their throats -- the strength of the team is at running back and o-line; b) we can somewhat contain an offense for more than a drive or two.