I've Done the Unthinkable (Warning Long Post)

Submitted by Big Blaze on

So I went back and re-watched the MSU game and two things struck me: the simplicity of the MSU offensive attack and the vanilla-ish aspect of Michigan's offensive plan. 

For context sake, yes I was there and witnessed it all first hand. There are plenty of things to touch on (officiating, penalties, reviews, etc) but these issues below were the ones that stood out to me.

1) The MSU offensive attack. Even as I sat 76 rows away from section 33 in the North Endzone it sure seemed apparent that the MSU offensive attack was: keep them honest with the run, mix in some razzle-dazzle (it's fun to say razzle-dazzle) and on 3rd and long....throw it up to Burbridge.

Without a doubt Jourdan Lewis held his own and will be the most difficult CB Burbridge faces all season. Yes, Connor Cook (graduate already) made some tremendous throws but outside a few passes to RJ Sheldon and the unfortunate razzle-dazzle reference from above on the play to the FB Pendleton, I was surprised that MSU didn't seem to have much else to offer. Their TE's were a non-factor in the passing game which was one of our big fears considering our LB play. 

I understand there is only so much you can do when Cook is in shotgun and the play designs keep the ball in Cook's hand for less time then any human pass rush could get to him, but I was surprised that Michigan couldn't bracket Burbridge more closely? Double him? With our DL as talented as it was, they could stop the run. I even wondered about giving Peppers a shot on covering AB as we have seen Jourdan slip into the nickel at times. I'm no football savant but was there anything Michigan did to try to counter this attack? Is there anything more in retrospect they could have done? I hope some of you coaches or those with more football knowledge could sound off on that.

2) I apologize for this being waaaaaaay longer than I orginally intended but, we have seen Michigan play it simple on offense virtually the entire year. It was very nice seeing Peppers on O and causing confusion to the MSU coaching staff! However, I was shocked we didn't see any other real wrinkles. I'm guessing it's mainly because the staff doesn't have the confidence in Rudock to execute a few misdirection/trick plays? I was just disappointed at the lack of moving the pocket and ways to negave the MSU pass rush. Credit the MSU defense as they are plenty talented and they finally ran into a "pro-style" offense but do any of you guys feel like you wish you had seen more creativity?

Perhaps it's too late to bring up these topics, but it is a bye week and well...it's not basketball season quite yet and...dammit Kareem Walker just recommited to Ohio and...maybe I'm just a glutton for drumming this up. 

Thanks to all who read, you probably deserve a prize at this point. /insert emoji cookie

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alum96

October 23rd, 2015 at 3:00 PM ^

Dont even need those guys

Go put WMU or CMU's QB on this team and its an excellent team even without playmakers at WR or RB.

A good QB can make average WRs seem better.  See Shelton who is a nobody.

It is what it is.  We are working within the confines of a mid level MAC QB.  Who is better than our possibly non MAC QBs on the bench.

WMU

NAME CMP ATT YDS CMP% YDS/A TD INT RAT
Zach Terrell 129 191 1515 67.5 7.93 17 6 157.3

CMU

NAME CMP ATT YDS CMP% YDS/A TD INT RAT
Cooper Rush 178 260 2084 68.5 8.02 16 6 151.5

UM

NAME CMP ATT YDS CMP% YDS/A TD INT RAT
Jake Rudock 121 196 1303 61.7 6.65 5 6 119.9

 

Joined: 04/28/2012

MGoPoints: 82539

alum96

October 23rd, 2015 at 3:23 PM ^

Would you trade them for Rudock yes or no?  Can they make accurate throws 20 yds down the field yes or no?  Would Harbaugh open up his playbook with those type of QBs yes or no?

Yes diff systems - we are playing this system to a degree to avoid Rudock making errors.  And we have a great defense.  So these QBs would be making the throws vs Utah and MSU (in fact both played MSU...and made the throws).  That we cannot now.  Just like MSU doesnt unleash Cook every game because they don't need to.  But when they need him they go to him 30x+ a game... just like a UM team with these guys could.

By the way WMU has run 217x (36 carries a game), and CMU has run 238x (40 carries a game).  These are not Baylor or Washingon State offenses who laugh at the notion of running.

Michigan has run 286x (47 carries a game) as we have had big leads and taken off entire halves and basically practices running.  Not a significant difference.

Joined: 04/28/2012

MGoPoints: 82539

Michology 101

October 23rd, 2015 at 4:01 PM ^

It can't be overstated enough how good this team would be with a slightly better QB. I now believe Rudock won the starting QB spot because he's just more intelligent than Morris. Rudock is studying to be doctor. He probably has the wits and maturity to understand the playbook and handle the offense better than Morris. Though one has to wonder whether he's an actual better passer than Morris. I mean if all we're going to do is ask our QB to complete simple passes under 15 yards, then Morris probably could've accomplished that and possibly connected on a deep throw every now and then. Most of us were fine with having a good game manager like Rudock. Though at the time none of us knew that he literally couldn't accurately throw a deep ball at all. We don't want a QB change at this point in the year, but it's frustrating at times.

Joined: 06/02/2014

MGoPoints: 3799

setauket

October 23rd, 2015 at 6:26 PM ^

I cannot get over the fact that he is the best by far. That is some sad, sad stuff right there. 

It is even more depressing when you consider the job this staff has done to elevate every other position on the field except for that one---with a QB guru coaching it. That pretty much says it all. The whole QB situation is so bad that THIS is all he can do with the talent on the roster. 

 

Joined: 02/26/2015

MGoPoints: 284

jsquigg

October 23rd, 2015 at 4:10 PM ^

So, Deveon Smith isn't a playmaker?  Jehu Chesson isn't a playmaker?  Michigan may not have an elite playmaker, but it's hard to tell with our QB situation.  All you have to do is look at the plays they've made this year in spite of the QB situation.  This team may end up "excellent" anyway.  Two close games and one fluke finish against top ten teams shouldn't move the needle as much as it does, but such is the nature of college football.

Joined: 09/06/2009

MGoPoints: 9621

alum96

October 23rd, 2015 at 5:09 PM ^

I consider playmakers guys who shine when the competition is equal - not when you overwhelm a competitor ala UNLV Oregon State

  • Smith vs Utah: 17 carries 47 yds, 2.8 ave
  • Smith vs MSU: 19 carries 46 yds, 2.4 ave

Smith is a solid back that does about the same a lot of Big 10 backs could do vs a lot of marginal defenses we have faced.  He is not in contention for All Big 10.  He is not a top 20 back in the  nation.

Jehu makes some nice plays but you don't game plan around him. 

There is not a true playmaker on this offense ala Braylon, Hart, Anthony Thomas, Avant, anything of that order.  Or close.  Butt can do good things but is not going to cause a 40 yard gash more than maybe once a year.  Funchess, Denard, Gallon - those were playmakers.

Not having a QB the other team must respect hurts these guys as well.  Stacked boxes and all.  Not having an OL that is UM caliber also hurts- they have been stymied by the only 2 quality DLs they have faced and will again vs PSU and OSU.

Its not bein an anti homer to say this team lacks playmakers on offense - we will look back in 5 years and be in wonder this team won 8-10 games without anyone aside from Butt to worry about.

Joined: 04/28/2012

MGoPoints: 82539

Big Blaze

October 23rd, 2015 at 4:25 PM ^

Those numbers sure are telling...

Thanks for posting some good numerical data to support your argument. 

I for one have been giving Rudock TOO much credit; believing he's better than he's been playing. Now that we are seven games in...there's too much evidence to suggest he's exactly what you said he is...a mid-level MAC QB.

Don't for a second think that's an attack on Jake either! I've been having a ball this year (with the exception of the last 10 seconds Saturday) but it is what it is. So long as he doesn't turn the ball over, we have to accept that his ceiling is his ceiling and it's not a very high one.

We "should" be able to compete with anyone left on our schedule and win most of if not all of the games remaining with the exception of course being../sigh Ohio State.

 

 

Joined: 09/22/2010

MGoPoints: 382

kevin holt

October 23rd, 2015 at 2:24 PM ^

I did wonder why they didn't double Burbridge. But that was in the moment. Looking back at it, Lewis was enough for him and we didn't lose because of Burbridge.

Joined: 03/16/2010

MGoPoints: 17447

Bombadil

October 23rd, 2015 at 2:29 PM ^

From Amazon No-Crow Rooster Collar Review

I got the No-Crow Rooster Collar just fine. My rooster got it off a couple times until I was able to get more of his feathers out of the way. This collar did quiet my rooster's crowing quite a bit. His crowing became louder after several weeks of wearing it, so I assumed it needed adjustment. I tightened it a small bit, and watched him for a few minutes. He was making some sounds that were like a barking noise. I thought he was breathing okay and was pecking at some corn I gave him, so I put him away for the night. Tragically, I found him dead the next day. Be very careful when using this. I lost a rooster that was beautiful that we all enjoyed very much. The product did quiet his crowing, but if I was ever to use this again, I would observe my rooster for a much longer time after tightening the collar and make sure that he is breathing okay. I am very, very sad to have caused my rooster's death. R.I.P. Huey. I am so very, very sorry.

 

Joined: 01/22/2011

MGoPoints: 8362

Space Coyote

October 23rd, 2015 at 2:30 PM ^

MSU ran a ton of switch verticals, which was what I had predicted because it's their go-to play. That play forces the QB to make harder throws, but to compensate, it adjusts to essentially any coverage and is extremely difficult to cover and get pass rush home.

Michigan did try some different things to mitigate it's success. While they mostly stuck with Lewis Locking onto Burbridge, they did switch once I think, they also adjusted the CB depth a few times to put a defender over the top and force an additional read onto Cook, which if I remember correctly, worked a few times and forced Cook to essenially throw it away.

Yes, most of the time Michigan stuck with their base coverage, but they did throw a few change ups in there to test the MSU offense, and several times it did work.

Joined: 06/18/2009

MGoPoints: 38962

Big Blaze

October 23rd, 2015 at 2:38 PM ^

Thank you for pointing out some specific adjustments. Those are things that cannot identify having not played football or studied x's and o's outside of what is gloriously provided here.

I'm fully confident in this coaching staff, I hope my post didn't come off "blame the coaches" because that certainly was not my intent.

Thanks again,

 

Joined: 09/22/2010

MGoPoints: 382

charblue.

October 23rd, 2015 at 2:51 PM ^

Michigan couldn't take advantage of Sparty's secondary, and therein lies the reason for not scoring more points, and MSU tried to take advantage of Michigan's safeties with limited success. The biggest play of the game, the biggest play Michigan has given up all season, was the result of that scheming, watching how Michigan had improperly lined up on a first half possesion near the endzone, and then saving a similar play and formation for the second half when most needed.

That came 29 seconds after Michigan took a nine point lead, and Cook hit a bewilderingly free fullback on a 74-yard near TD jaunt. The formation confused the coverage for Michigan and two guys covered the same receiver while leaving the backfield receiver wide open on a wheel route, much like the play that Ohio State hit Michigan with in 2003 on a key play in Columbus.

Two of the MSU coaches who were on Tressel's staff then, were coaching against the Wolverines on Saturday. But in any case, whether history or poor alignment itself was the catalyst for the call, it was the biggest blunder of the game, far surpassing in my mind the final play, because it changed how Michigan had to approach the remainder of the contest, offensively and defensively.

Joined: 05/25/2010

MGoPoints: 11420

GBBlue

October 23rd, 2015 at 2:31 PM ^

When Lewis was on Burbridge, MSU got some first downs, but not scores. The scores all came on busts (76 yard pass to fullback) or flukes (run for TD after targeting call; also, the play that shall not be named). Otherwise, Lewis, and the defense as a whole, played well.

 

Joined: 06/13/2013

MGoPoints: 1786

Rabbit21

October 23rd, 2015 at 2:41 PM ^

It's more the reaction to yet another snowflake on the game.  

I'd prefer to see this in the comments on the UFR and think it would be quite appropriate there.

As yet another snowflake thread in a wekk where people are getting very tired of them.......not the best choice.

Personally, I found the comments interesting(once I realized to my great disappointment that this was not a confessional about blowing up a TV replaying, y'know, that thing from last weekend), but perhaps not in the best context.

Joined: 11/12/2009

MGoPoints: 30303