Inside Running Game

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November 25th, 2012 at 9:30 PM
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Bluestreak
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Inside Running Game

What's shocking to me is our inside running game is non-existent. I'm not sure what it is but for a coaching staff which preaches MANBALL, we are far away from it. I didn't see any production from Fitz or any of the other RBs against stout defenses.

Our playcalling has been dismal. This makes me wish for 3 yards and a cloud of dust all over again. It wasn't pretty but it worked.

Also, what will it take to not throw interceptions and lose fumbles. This game reminded me of the dark days.

With a fresh corp of OL next season, I'm very skeptical of where we will be at. No more Lewan who'll be drafted 1st round.

GMAT score =800 = Defensive POTY

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November 25th, 2012 at 9:34 PM | Patience, patience little (Score:-1 Normal)
November 25th, 2012 at 9:35 PM | Better late than never? (Score:3 Funny)
RakeFight
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Joined: 02/21/2012
MGoPoints: 1369

Better late than never?

November 25th, 2012 at 9:35 PM | We don't have the horses to (Score:5 Normal)
Magnus
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Joined: 07/17/2008
MGoPoints: 27462

We don't have the horses to run inside - at running back or on the offensive line.  WOTS is that Chris Bryant was our best drive blocker, so if he's healthy next year, that might alleviate some of those issues.  Because there weren't many holes, Toussaint started bouncing everything outside, and he's not fast enough to get to the outside every play; the same goes for Thomas Rawls.

Gardner is young and fairly inexperienced.  I actually think he did pretty well to limit himself to 1 interception per game.  After all, Denard threw 9 picks and didn't throw a pass after the second quarter of the Nebraska game; he also threw 15 last year.  I think things are headed in the right direction on that front.  And an improved running game would help on those play action passes.

Twitter - Recruiting Update: May 20

November 25th, 2012 at 9:38 PM | What concerns me (Score:2 Normal)
Bluestreak
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Joined: 09/26/2010
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is that we'll have so many freshmen on offense next year. Sure they are all highly touted but the concerns remain.

Also, we really need Derrick Green or some bluechip RB to come in in this recruiting class. We've missed out on many in the past couple of recruiting classes.

GMAT score =800 = Defensive POTY

November 25th, 2012 at 9:40 PM | Unless there are surprise (Score:5 Normal)
Magnus
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Unless there are surprise departures, we could literally have one freshmen playing next year (at one of the guard spots).  Lewan's departure could open the door for two.

Also, your concern about young guys playing next year has been addressed in post after post after post after post after post.

Twitter - Recruiting Update: May 20

November 25th, 2012 at 9:56 PM | Kalis could probably play (Score:2 Normal)
Swazi
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Kalis could probably play right now.  He's a big ol' boy.  However, Lewan potentially leaving and having Magnuson starting worries me a little.  He's still a bit undersized, unless you think he'll bulk up enough in the offseason.

If you need drugs to be a good writer, you're not a good writer.

-Rod Serling

November 25th, 2012 at 9:57 PM | Baseline is low too (Score:3 Normal)
PurpleStuff
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Complaining about how crappy a group performed and then worrying about whether or not new guys can replace them is kind of a waste of time.

The worst case scenario is the ghost of Vincent Smith repeatedly lines up on 3rd and 1 and loses yardage.  We've been there.

The young guys seem to have a skillset better suited to the things we're going to be doing from here on out and they are actually going to get to practice doing those things all the time after Denard graduates.  And it isn't like the offense needs to be awesome (one TD drive in the 2nd half against ND, Nebraska, and OSU make for a very different season). 

I'm more worried about Fitz getting healthy and finding a suitable #2 than I am about the offensive line.

It is spelled HOKEAMANIA.  Our coach is an ass-kicking American citizen, not one of the Beatles, for Christ's sake!

November 25th, 2012 at 11:30 PM | They won't be (Score:2 Normal)
Leonhall
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True freshman starting, hopefully...they will be redshirt freshman, completed a years worth of strength and conditioning, as well as practiced at the college level for over a year. Our 97 team started like 1 or 2 freshman on the line.

Denard Robinson......They're not going to catch him!

November 25th, 2012 at 9:35 PM | Huh. A new perspective on (Score:5 Normal)
ReadYourGuard
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Huh. A new perspective on things. How refreshing.



Correct me if I'm wrong, but have the coaches ever uttered the phrase "Manball"? Yea. No. That's a ln MGoBlog thang. N

"the Spirit of Michigan...is based on a deathless loyalty to Michigan and all her ways....and a conviction that nowhere is there a better university, in any way, than this Michigan of ours" - Fielding Yost
November 25th, 2012 at 9:42 PM | Yes (Score:0 Normal)
November 25th, 2012 at 9:53 PM | Being stout on the line of (Score:2 Normal)
snarling wolverine
Joined: 12/14/2011
MGoPoints: 4699

Being stout on the line of scrimmage is Football 101.  You won't find a coach in the country who doesn't think that's important.

 

 

November 25th, 2012 at 11:01 PM | This (Score:1)
Louie C
Joined: 11/16/2009
MGoPoints: 2012

A few years back,  I even heard Mike Leach say that games are won and lost in the trenches.

"It's the only place to get the inside story on Wolverine football, so blee bluhh tahh!" - Bo

November 25th, 2012 at 9:57 PM | How are we going to shore up (Score:2)
dayooper63
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 528

How are we going to shore up the trenches?  Are we taking transfers now?  Will the Magic Drive Blocking OL Fairy wave her magic wand and *POOF* new manball OL.

We recruited 4 OL this year and have 4 in line for next year.  We recruited how many DL last year?  Trenches will be taken care of, but it can't happen over night.  The players are who they are, not what we want them to be.

Tradition is something you can't bottle.  But it is there to sustain you when you need it most.  I've called upon it time and time again.

November 25th, 2012 at 10:59 PM | So should we crown them? (Score:2)
Muttley
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;)

November 25th, 2012 at 11:31 PM | They are (Score:3 Insightful)
Leonhall
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Who we thought they were...

Denard Robinson......They're not going to catch him!

November 25th, 2012 at 9:36 PM | So if I understand your post (Score:4 Funny)
mGrowOld
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So if I understand your post you're upset because we can't run between the tackles with any effectiveness so your solution to our lack of an inside running game is we should revert to the old-school power running?

I think your premise has a few flaws in it.

 

 

 

November 25th, 2012 at 9:38 PM | Haha my exact thoughts. The (Score:2 Normal)
Bb011
Joined: 09/02/2010
MGoPoints: 1745

Haha my exact thoughts. The problem isn't that we are not runnin between the tackles, the problem is that we CAN'T run between the tackles....It would not help to try to run between the tackles more than we already do, because it would just result in more 0 yard gains.

November 25th, 2012 at 9:39 PM | Not really (Score:1)
Bluestreak
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I'm saying in the old days we used to run really well inside the tackles and even though we weren't as flashy it was effective.

There were people who said we played dull football back then, but I kinda wished it was back (even though we're not showing any success in it today)

GMAT score =800 = Defensive POTY

November 25th, 2012 at 9:54 PM | Primary difference from last year to now (Score:2)
Swazi
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Molk was our All-American center last year, this year was 5th year senior never started a game at Michigan and was always a backup guard Elliot Mealer.  As Magnus said in another thread, he was good at snapping.  However from what I've seen, he was a pretty poor blocker, especially if you want to compare him with Molk.  He always seemed to get beat on the running plays, so we never really got anything going.  Which begs the question more of why we kept trying to pound the rock up the middle?

If you need drugs to be a good writer, you're not a good writer.

-Rod Serling

November 26th, 2012 at 12:33 AM | Agreed (Score:2 Insightful)
mgoDave
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The biggest difference from last year is definitely Molk.  However, I really think that it is not his blocking that we are missing most but rather his recognition and communication skills.  Communication and intelligence are two of the most important aspects of OL play.  With Molk gone there really isn't anyone on the interior who provides that kind of leadership.

November 25th, 2012 at 9:51 PM | His premise lacks promise. (Score:1)
Red is Blue
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His premise lacks promise.

"Is There Anybody Out There?" Pink Floyd, The Wall.

November 25th, 2012 at 10:22 PM | Well, don't forget that we don't want (Score:2)
LB
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the play call to be dismal when we run up the middle. That changes things, right?

May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift

November 25th, 2012 at 9:39 PM | TomVH said there is some (Score:3 Normal)
no joke its hoke
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TomVH said there is some potential big news on the 2013 oline front right now. I have no clue what that means

Vice.com

November 25th, 2012 at 9:40 PM | .... (Score:1 Overrated)
THISISMICHIGAN33
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Joined: 06/02/2012
MGoPoints: 683

Dawson???? Maybe. Probably not.

THIS IS MICHIGAN

November 25th, 2012 at 9:42 PM | It means Cameron Hunt wants (Score:1 Offtopic)
Magnus
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It means Cameron Hunt wants an offer from Michigan.

Twitter - Recruiting Update: May 20

November 25th, 2012 at 9:44 PM | ... (Score:3 Normal)
THISISMICHIGAN33
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Source????

THIS IS MICHIGAN

November 25th, 2012 at 9:45 PM | If you look carefully in this (Score:3 Normal)
Magnus
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If you look carefully in this thread, I have confidence you can figure it out.

Twitter - Recruiting Update: May 20

November 25th, 2012 at 9:47 PM | I'm (Score:5 Normal)
THISISMICHIGAN33
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I'm an idiot.

THIS IS MICHIGAN

November 25th, 2012 at 9:58 PM | do u know much about this guy (Score:2 Normal)
no joke its hoke
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do u know much about this guy Magnus?

Vice.com

November 25th, 2012 at 9:43 PM | Did he say good or bad news? (Score:2)
NFG
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Did he say good or bad news? I can't take much more.

November 25th, 2012 at 9:44 PM | Potentially good news. (Score:2 Normal)
Magnus
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Potentially good news.

Twitter - Recruiting Update: May 20

November 25th, 2012 at 9:51 PM | They're going to visit him in (Score:1)
Swazi
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They're going to visit him in home fairly soon I think.  I would imagine an offer will come from that.  Also visiting Green and Treadwell (yeah I'm gonna kick the tires on Treadwell again).

If you need drugs to be a good writer, you're not a good writer.

-Rod Serling

November 25th, 2012 at 10:14 PM | Potential good news? (Score:0 Trolling)
November 25th, 2012 at 10:25 PM | One year ago, we had Funk (Score:4 Normal)
snarling wolverine
Joined: 12/14/2011
MGoPoints: 4699

One year ago, we had Funk coaching our OL and we were good at running the ball.  This year, without Molk and Huyge, we're considerably worse.  So yeah, maybe it is personnel.

November 25th, 2012 at 9:40 PM | The (Score:2)
THISISMICHIGAN33
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MGoPoints: 683

The loss of Molk hurt us and teams were stacking the box against Denard, because there was no threat of a pass.

THIS IS MICHIGAN

November 25th, 2012 at 9:43 PM | Again, the issue is not very (Score:0 Trolling)
November 25th, 2012 at 9:45 PM | And you call me out for being (Score:3 Normal)
david from wyoming
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And you call me out for being snarky?

Are you a park ranger at Yellowstone? Say hi to Yogi Bear for me. - the_big_house 500th

I may not be a 70 year old man. - Herm

November 25th, 2012 at 9:49 PM | I'm not being snarky.  I'm (Score:1 Normal)
TheGhostofYost
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I'm not being snarky.  I'm being serious.  I think It's a very simple issue - we need better players, and they're on the way.  

November 26th, 2012 at 12:26 PM | Developing linemen takes (Score:1)
crazyjoedavola
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Developing linemen takes time, they are not like an elite skill position player who can contribute right away, linemen need a couple of years no matter how highly rated they are.  Florida State had a whole bunch of highly rated freshmen on the line last year and it was a mess.

November 25th, 2012 at 9:45 PM | In a perfect world next (Score:1)
JT4104
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Joined: 10/25/2008
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In a perfect world next year.....I would hope Lewan stays and hope Schofield continues to improve and your looking at Kalis/Bryant/Miller I would guess in the middle.

Cant think of any freshman that would start on the line next year.

November 25th, 2012 at 9:49 PM | Good for you (Score:2 Normal)
Swazi
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I didn't quite get that notion from the 50 other threads bitching about the line.

If you need drugs to be a good writer, you're not a good writer.

-Rod Serling

November 25th, 2012 at 9:54 PM | Deja Vu (Score:3 Normal)
FreeTheFabFivePlz
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Joined: 03/08/2011
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I feel like I've seen this thread somewhere



Oh yeah. Every day this past season

So hot.  Milk was a bad choice.

November 25th, 2012 at 9:55 PM | Can we still hope Lewan comes (Score:1)
UMxWolverines
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Can we still hope Lewan comes back to win a big ten championship?

"Ohio is like a giant turd that Michigan just can't pinch off"

November 25th, 2012 at 9:59 PM | Maybe I'm missing something, (Score:5 Normal)
snarling wolverine
Joined: 12/14/2011
MGoPoints: 4699

Maybe I'm missing something, but he just doesn't seem as dominant as an NFL 1st-rounder should be.  If he's really a top 15 overall prospect, that's basically saying he is at or near the Long/Hutch level, and he really hasn't had a season like that.

November 25th, 2012 at 10:06 PM | I too have pondered this as well... (Score:0 Trolling)
November 25th, 2012 at 10:19 PM | My thought all season. He's (Score:1)
UMxWolverines
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My thought all season. He's been good, but not dominant. I think another year would really help him (and the whole team)

"Ohio is like a giant turd that Michigan just can't pinch off"

November 25th, 2012 at 9:57 PM | Really? (Score:2)
TIMMMAAY
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*squints*

Really?

not just "douchey" MGoBlog user, but now TRUSTED MGoBlog user

November 25th, 2012 at 9:59 PM | Potentially good news for the (Score:1)
ThadMattasagoblin
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MGoPoints: 2689

Potentially good news for the 2013 OL?  It has to mean Lewan is coming back because no other news has much baring on the OL.  A freshman comitting wouldn't do much in 2013.

903 wins most in college football

November 25th, 2012 at 10:27 PM | I suspect that if there were any baring on the OL, there (Score:3 Funny)
LB
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MGoPoints: 5064

would be news like we haven't seen since we stretched too much.

May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift

November 25th, 2012 at 10:00 PM | to quote the great philosopher DMX (Score:-1 Overrated)
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