Maryland Snowflakes: Special Teams
November 20th, 2021 at 7:07 PM ^
I think Jay Harbaugh might actually be a pretty good coach and not just here because his dad is the head coach.
We consistently ID weaknesses in teams' approachs and punish them for it.
November 20th, 2021 at 7:11 PM ^
Agree.
November 20th, 2021 at 7:37 PM ^
Been saying this for years. He has consistently been solid and has been really good in his ST role
November 20th, 2021 at 7:46 PM ^
We finally found a good role for him, it seems. Our Special Teams have been really good this year.
November 20th, 2021 at 9:07 PM ^
We finally found a good role for him?
He also coaches tight ends. And has in the past. Has also coached ST in past. also excellent recruiter.
Basically a Swiss army knife assistant. Doesn’t get his due.
November 20th, 2021 at 9:12 PM ^
Ok, marinating on this a bit more:
I REALLY like the picture this paints of the coaching staff right now. Regulars know how dour I was about the staff, particularly last year. But this particular play required: 1. The hard work of studying the opposition for tendencies; 2. The disposition and creativity to think of a good way to exploit that tendency; 3. The willingness in the staff (starting with the HC) to actually implement this in a live game situation.
That speaks very well for the staff mentality. We're worried that there is too much of a conservative mindset in the staff based upon certain playcall patterns this year, but this is a strong sign to the contrary.
November 20th, 2021 at 7:07 PM ^
What more can you ask for!?..a blocked punt, a whale of a play after the pouch kickoff for a TD, a play I have never seen!
Great time to play their best. GO BLUE!
November 20th, 2021 at 7:24 PM ^
That kick-off pass play looked so effortless you have to think that was a well-practiced, automatic call in that exact situation.
November 20th, 2021 at 7:43 PM ^
Harbaugh said that Maryland does it once or twice a game, so they planned on doing it if they kicked it like that.
November 21st, 2021 at 2:55 PM ^
They audibled into it based on Maryland kicking tendencies
November 20th, 2021 at 7:09 PM ^
Blocked punt and a return for a TD. Outstanding! Beat ohio.
November 20th, 2021 at 7:12 PM ^
I wouldn’t expect OSU to do that pooch kickoff, so I think it’s great that they had a play drawn up for it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that in a football game before and Michigan just nailed it. What a great play.
November 20th, 2021 at 10:53 PM ^
Music City Miracle
November 21st, 2021 at 12:32 AM ^
That was a last-play-of-the-game play, not a throwback specifically designed to be executed on a mid-game pooch kickoff with no prior warning.
November 21st, 2021 at 11:05 AM ^
It happens a few times a season
November 20th, 2021 at 7:12 PM ^
That kick return TD was a RPS +4 or just a coaching +4. I assume that was scouted on film and they had something lined up in case there was a pooch at some point? I am sure Maryland had absolutely no expectation that would happen
November 21st, 2021 at 2:32 PM ^
I suspect they will not be trying that pooch kick again for a while.
November 20th, 2021 at 7:13 PM ^
That throw across the field, after the pooch kick, was beautiful. Great to see the creativity was rewarded with a TD.
November 20th, 2021 at 7:15 PM ^
A blocked punt by a walk on. The pass on pooch kick by Michael Barrett was brilliant. Very well done on special teams. Big advantage Michigan.
November 20th, 2021 at 7:38 PM ^
Walk-on? You mean "special teams ace Matt Torey"
November 20th, 2021 at 9:44 PM ^
You are correct. Thank you for clarifying.
November 20th, 2021 at 7:15 PM ^
All year. ST are tremendous. Today was a masterpiece - would be perfect if not for another Henning muff (fortunately recovered.
That Barrett back pass was a thing of beauty. The convoy of blockers was set up like a video game. Perfect execution.
Superb punt block too.
Best ST from any team I've seen this year - and I've watched way too much CFB.
Beautifully done - Beat Ohio!
November 20th, 2021 at 7:18 PM ^
Moody and Robbins have been terrific all season too. As have the coverage teams. Just really, really good ST all year.
November 20th, 2021 at 7:23 PM ^
Hoping for a few big plays on special teams next week. Like these:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQy2ohW9OaI
BEAT OHIO!
November 20th, 2021 at 7:34 PM ^
ST is a strength. They were really good today. AJ had a great play. But I feel like they are leaving yards on the field on punt returns. Hope they break one open next week without having to do a trick play.
November 21st, 2021 at 9:41 AM ^
That would be nice, but I'll be happy if we can simply force them to punt occasionally.
November 20th, 2021 at 7:38 PM ^
That throwback play was fucking killer.
November 20th, 2021 at 9:00 PM ^
Me, in my living room as Barrett threw that backwards pass:
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU.........RUN, A.J, RUN.....THERE WE GO."
November 20th, 2021 at 7:43 PM ^
Creative planning and fun to watch! What's not to like?
November 20th, 2021 at 8:15 PM ^
This unit has been a strength all season long. We have had multiple blocked punts this year, solid field goal kicking, and the trick KO return TD today was awesome!!! Jay Harbaugh is killing it with this unit.
November 20th, 2021 at 9:06 PM ^
Lateral was one if the top 10 plays in the Harbaugh era.
Not a big time play in a big game, but absolutely 100% coaching to anticipate the pooch and beat it soundly.
Add in the punt block … A+ for special teams.
November 20th, 2021 at 9:18 PM ^
I believe I saw Welschof on the kick coverage team. I dare say he’s the only DT in America covering kickoffs. There’s no doubt we’re going to miss Hutchinson next season, but Welschof has the crazy athleticism to be the next Ojabo-esque surprise.
November 20th, 2021 at 9:44 PM ^
Special.
November 20th, 2021 at 9:54 PM ^
Our special teams kind of reminds me of the old Frank Beamer special teams during peak VaTech years. Always felt they were able to turn a game on a big ST play.
November 20th, 2021 at 9:55 PM ^
Kickoff throwback play and blocked punt were incredible!
Catching punts is still an adventure...
November 20th, 2021 at 11:08 PM ^
Don't give a fuck how late it is in the season, but Henning as a punt returner has to go. Other than that everything else was as expected.
November 21st, 2021 at 10:21 AM ^
The Maryland defender was inside 2 yards of the returner ... that should have been an interference penalty. Henning has done a good job receiving punts this year.
Go Blue!
November 21st, 2021 at 3:15 PM ^
Like dang - Can't you be a fan?
November 20th, 2021 at 11:09 PM ^
If you survived the Rich Rodriguez years of dysfunctional special teams play, this years team is absolutely Michigan's gold standard for special teams.
November 20th, 2021 at 11:21 PM ^
Michael friggin Barrett FTW! That was one of the prettiest passes from a non-QB that I have seen in a long while.
November 21st, 2021 at 11:34 AM ^
I heard he was a QB in high school.
November 21st, 2021 at 1:21 PM ^
OK well that explains it. But still, it was damn good.
November 21st, 2021 at 3:14 PM ^
Don't you remember he threw a pass to Freshman Dax Hill on the fake punt vs Army two years ago?
November 20th, 2021 at 11:28 PM ^
Win the “Game”