Offensive Gameplan vs Washington

I'm personally getting flashbacks to TCU with everyone talking about how we should be able to pave this defense.

We scored 45 on TCU. If we score 45, I do think we win this time.

Nice try Washington! Figure it out yourself!

Writing articles envious of their culture and hiring firms to investigate their success. If that doesn't work hold your breath until the NCAA suspends their coach and QB. Cheaper than bags of cash, steroids or grades falsification.

Just spitballin'.

Watching the Texas game it's hard to not come away thinking they should have run it more. It looked like 8 yards per carry right out the gate. Break their souls if that's the case. Demoralize them. 

Had this same discussion in a text string last night, so I’ll paste my thoughts:

i think we will be less run heavy...remember TCU firing LBs at us all damn day last year?  I think we will short pass them to death for a few drives while they overplay the run and then hammer away for victory once they start playing normal d.

Just don’t pull a Lloyd Carr against WSU and fritter away the advantage in the trenches until the fourth quarter.  Also be prepared for five receiver sets from which they pass or run.  Random thought- part of Penix’ apparent long ball accuracy is Odunze being able to run under the ball and out position his defender.  Having said that, I also see Penix fire Brady style 10-12 yard passes on a rope with perfect accuracy.  Be ready for a really good game plan from UW on both sides of the ball.

I think this will be a floodgates game. Sometimes you are just so fucking ready to go, like some of the old superbowls. I think Michigan blows them out.

If JJ doesn't have two pick sixes.  We should be fine.  

We didn't have Blake Corum last year vs TCU. I have to believe he is enough to win that game. The best way to neutralize Penix is to keep him off the field. The run game is the best way to do that. I don't think we should run into a brick wall, and I don't think that will be the game plan either. If they send the LB's and safeties then short passes to keep them honest. After that, just let that clock run during some long scoring drives.

It will be interesting. This will be first time all year where the Michigan offense faces a mediocre P5 defense in a game they actually give a shit about. Elite defenses has kept them in the 24-30 range, though M played differently on offense against both Iowa and PSU because of the opposing offense's relative struggles. Here there's nothing to save, not worried about reps for second teamers, not worried about putting anything on film, it's all there for Washington. 

I don't see how Michigan doesn't get into the mid-30s which would leave Washington having to do outperform their best output against lesser defenses. Which...good luck. 

I'm personally getting flashbacks to TCU with everyone talking about how we should be able to pave this defense.
 

Well we scored 45 points, not including Wilson’s TD that was ruled short and fumbled on the 1 the next play, and put up 528 yards of offense at 8.65 yards per play… are you living in some alternate reality where we didn’t pave their defense? 
 

We lost that game because we had multiple turnovers that directly resulted in a 21 point swing in TCU’s favor. Two pick 6’s and a fumble at the opponent’s 1 yard line is going to hinder your chances of winning any game. But the offense was mowing TCU down last year, specifically in the second had. 
 

Washington’s defense is similar to TCU’s statistically, and while I agree we need to take what is given and not be stubborn, the gameplan is to not beat ourselves. Michigan will likely move the ball and score with relative ease. The key is going to be not turning it over on offense, and for the defense to get some stops and hold Washington to field goals. 

Washington IMO the most trouble with the run when stretched horizontally.  It keeps the OLBS leaning towards the edge/flat/hook.  Look to see early hitches/outs and swings.  when it works the safeties will lean that way too.  We will run a lot.  I wouldn't be surprised if Edwards has a huge game.  

On D i dont expect to see a lot of high risk blitzes.  We'll let the DLine operate per usual.  Washington will get first downs, i think we limit their big plays tho.  I Washington has success running the ball, i think we're in trouble.  

I say we run the Touchdown Play, over and over again.

I think we *should* go heavy play action because Washington is gonna look at Michigan run O vs. Washington run D and say 'we cannot cannot cannot let them establish the run'. That should lead to tons of real estate at the LB level for Colston and WR digs

We have Blake this year. 

I am hoping to see a well balanced offense. UW should not be able to stop us unless we become predictable.

I think UW knows they will need to take chances to stop us. They give up 400 yards per game.

I want our offense to put the pedal down and keep it there. We don’t want to let Penix hang around. 

Do what we've been doing the whole year. Try to establish the run and if they're stacking the box, then let JJ cook. Sherrone was just able to scheme up some very nice plays against one of the best defenses in the country and I'm sure he has more up his sleeve. This game is really gonna have to be like 2021 and 2022 OSU. Washington is going to get theirs, but we need to prevent big plays, crackdown in the redzone, and limit them to field goals

I sure hope that they don't bang their head against the wall if Washington is firing downhill with 8 in the box.

But I don't think they will; even in Michigan's relatively easy games before the murderer's row in November, Michigan showed a willingness to pass against aggressive fronts almost from kickoff, and they passed effectively. Michigan *will* keep trying the run even if some early efforts are stymied, because they have more than one basic run play and getting that moving will be important for the larger offense.

I do think that Blake is a huge difference-maker here. We missed him badly against TCU, and he looked fantastic against Bama, even beyond the couple big plays. The only thing that really slowed him down was that he only got 19 carries. He had several runs where it looked like he was more explosive than he's been all season, including that TD. 

Brian's preview is excellent, and my eeyore what-could-go-wrong mind notes that it's the middle of the field with good coverage and now I wonder if that's bad since our best receiving advantage is the middle of the field, while our outside guys are good but not world-beaters. But that's eeyore talking; Bama's pass D was great and Michigan got all kinds of stuff against them.

I have to trust that the coaches and the team are going to be ready. 

Go Blue. 

We ran a different offense most of the Rose Bowl.  I do not see how UW can get ready for

everything we can do in only one week.

We will move the ball in multiple ways.

Score early and often, then run that clock to zeros.