Offensive Playcalling & Personnel

Submitted by MGoStrength on

I know Harbaugh is our beloved coach and this doesn't mean that I'm not overjoyed to have him.  Complaining about offensive playcalling after a 10-2 regular season and a double overtime loss is a heck of a lot better than complaining about playcalling after a 5-7 season and a drubbing by OSU.  He changed our culture and the trajectory of our program. I don't even know if he's the one making these decisions or if it's Drevno or Fisch.  It's just that we were sooo close to having an undefeated regular season and a playoff berth and it's a hard pill to swallow believing we could have done more.  All that aside, is it possible to have some criticism about our offensive playcalling, while still having confidence in our coaches?

 

Can anyone explain why we don't use Peppers in more creative ways at RB or WR and at the very least as a decoy to open up space for other players?  Can anyone understand why we don't get more speed on the field at the same time?  Why not put in Evans, Chesson, McDoom, and Peppers on the field at the same time and run some sweeps, passes to the RB, fake throws one way and then back the other way, etc?  Why didn't McDoom see the field yesterday?  Why does Smith get so many carries and Evans so few?  I can't imagine they are just giving him the ball because they like him.  They must believe he's the better player.  I know Smith is a workhorse, is good in pass pro, and rarely fumbles, but he also rarely hits big runs.  It just seemed like it was so hard for us to break big plays because we had no guys that had a ton of speed that could do so.  I don't get that.  Granted, much of this will solve itself as Evans and McDoom will likely be starters next year as Darboh and Smith graduate, but I don't see the logic.  We need more playmakers on the field, not just reliable guys.  

 

Edit: I'm also a little surprised they didn't give Mone and Gary a few more snaps.  I though Mone was a beast in his few snaps and I'm surprised by the fairly few number of snaps Gary got over the course of the season for a consus #1.  The defense seemed to tire towards the end of the game, so it seemed to make sense to play those two a litlte more, particularly in the second half of the 3rd quarter and the first half of the 4th quarter.

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MGB

November 27th, 2016 at 5:00 PM ^

Overall I think the play calling was good enough to win the game. However I do agree with you on peppers. Seems like we were more creative with how we used him last year.

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cazzie

November 27th, 2016 at 5:49 PM ^

Agree completely. If our offense, (line, rb, qb), was just a little bit better. Just a little bit deeper, to better absorb an injury or two (Newsome, Speight, and Clark on D), and we would have put this game away when we had the opportunity(s). In a couple more seasons Harbough will have the depth of 4-5 consecutive top 5 recruiting classes and wins this game. And Iowa. And hammers MSU.
To have nice things, it takes time.



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MonkeyMan

November 27th, 2016 at 9:00 PM ^

Wisky and Spartina do just well with their lower ranked recruits and run like crazy

If you think this issue is just due to recruiting then you will be dissapointed again next year

There are O-line coaching issues

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cazzie

November 28th, 2016 at 3:27 AM ^

Perhaps. I don't know enough to know a great line coach But Sparta and Wisky don't beat OSU either and they sure as hell don't roll the Tide. I'm just saying that having quality depth on the OL, assuming good coaching, would make all the difference. And we will have that soon. And having a competent backup qb will make a big difference. And we will likely have a very quality 2 deep at all positions, like we do now at DL.



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Brandon_L

November 27th, 2016 at 5:03 PM ^

Quit beating the corpse of the dead horse. There are so many reasons why Michigan uses certain personnel throughout a game. All teams do this. One reason the backs are alternated in and out is due to pass protection, which is why Smith takes the most snaps. You cannot play backs on certain downs showing your hand, so mixing up who is in on certain run vs pass downs is necessary. Wheatley mentioned last week that each back has their own special quality and that the idea is to develop or find the guy who possesses all of the qualities and that could shoulder the entire load.

Play calling was excellent yesterday. The goal was to get the ball out quick and prevent Speight from getting hit. The play worked and the one call that would have changed the game was the screen to Smith that was called back after the face mask penalty.

Speight pick six was a pass he should not have thrown. But when you have an injury and are likely only playing because of cortisone shot injection, you want to get rid of the ball and cannot take sacks.

The truth of this entire game is that the defense played great as did the special teams and when it came down to it the offense did just enough but the refs were just a little better Saturday. Harbaugh is 0-1 against urban and now 0-1 against Ohio based refs.



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1VaBlue1

November 27th, 2016 at 7:10 PM ^

I thought Kalis missed the pickup.  But either way, that a was a great defensive play and a very well disguised blitz.  It wasn't tipped at all, in any way.  Chalk one up to the defense, there.  Maybe it would have been better to eat the ball and take the safety, but that's not what anyone does in a snap situation like that.  I can't lay blame on Speight for that one.  Besides, he got it back on the next series.

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massblue

November 27th, 2016 at 5:07 PM ^

RB's on the field.  Those younger and smaller RBs are not good at protection yet. Even Smith blew the coverage on the Int that led to six. For JP to play as WR or RB, he has to pratice with the units. There is so much you pile on him.

I think the play calling became a bit too conservative in the second half but Speight had less time to make throws.

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switch26

November 27th, 2016 at 5:07 PM ^

I was wondering why mcdoom has hardly played the last few wks. I did notice why Smith is probably in on last every play because of his blocking. When deveon helmet came off, he left and Isaac was in when osu blitzed up the middle and Isaac blew the block and speight got hit

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BLHoke

November 27th, 2016 at 5:35 PM ^

If anyone is wondering why McDoom didn't play as much... Look no further than the timely, high degree of difficulty passes Perry plucked out of the air, or the PI call he should have drawn on that final possession.... I'm not saying McDoom still shouldn't have been used more, but I think coaches tend to lean on upperclassman in the biggest games as they are less likely to make mistakes. Grant is also a very good blocker.



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jmblue

November 27th, 2016 at 6:49 PM ^

Aside from going for it on a couple of 4th and shorts, I didn't think Meyer was really that aggressive. He seemed content to play for field goals in the fourth quarter, trying to center the ball for the attempt rather than attack the endzone. (I'm assuming the fake punt was not his call but a dead by the punter.)

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turtleboy

November 27th, 2016 at 5:11 PM ^

What I wondered most was: in order to have Peppers on offense, why must we pull the Speight? It felt like Devin+Denard vs osu, where obvious running downs were obvious, and obvious passing downs were obvious. Why couldn't peppers be the running back or slot receiver or jet sweep action guy out there with the qb?

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turtleboy

November 27th, 2016 at 5:11 PM ^

What I wondered most was: in order to have Peppers on offense, why must we pull the Speight? It felt like Devin+Denard vs osu, where obvious running downs were obvious, and obvious passing downs were obvious. Why couldn't peppers be the running back or slot receiver or jet sweep action guy out there with the qb?

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SeattleWolverine

November 27th, 2016 at 6:18 PM ^

Right. This is why I don't love the pepcat, aside from the deteriorating productivity during the season. You're using him in a way where there is no substantial passing threat and the safety play is dictated by that. So yeah, he gets touches but the spacing is still tight, especially against the athletes of an OSU where he can't just completely run around the corner on them the way he would against Illinois or something. I'd have much rather seen a spread set with 4 wideouts using him, as a slot or a RB. Even use him at running back decoy and do play action or a flea flicker.

 

Well, at least I probably don't ever have to see that Morris running play ever again. 

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jsquigg

November 27th, 2016 at 5:12 PM ^

We won the game and it was fucking ripped from us.  Yes, there are probably things that could have been called/done differently, but it should have been good enough.

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MGoStrength

November 27th, 2016 at 5:42 PM ^

Why settle for that?  Why not try and make plays?  I don't understand that logic.  It's one thing if a guy blows a coverage, misses a block, fumbles, drops a ball, etc.  But, to not give a guy a chance that has made plays over the course of the season doesn't make sense when you need a big play.

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ijohnb

November 27th, 2016 at 5:59 PM ^

didn't take our foot off the gas, Cole got carried away and negated a 30 yard gain, and then Speight made a really bad decision and all of the sudden we were in a 3 point game. I like Mason Cole a lot and he is a good player, but Drevno had been setting that play up all day. If Cole does not grab that face mask, that ball game is over.

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The Reeve

November 27th, 2016 at 5:21 PM ^

I certainly agree we can criticize the play calling and be all in for the regime. What I shake my head at is the meme that existed about all the creative plays that were being saved up for "the Game." Brian would wryly complain about showing this or that clever play design against weaker opponents, thinking such a play deployed in the Game would be deadly. I disagreed with that, assuming that Harbaugh was creating more film to watch and playing off of those tendencies.

But we saw a regression in key November games (I acknowledge QB issues), and the decoy aspect of that regression—especially in light of how effective OSU was in using our fear of Samuel in that capacity—is most troubling to me. Harbaugh has shown a surprising tendency that I hope the pain of this season's finish will make him rethink: he played not to lose with leads in big games on the road.

I think a fully weaponized Harbaugh offense with healthy and skilled QB play will make this observation moot, but I was stunned at how he managed MSU, Iowa and OSU when holding leads in the 4th quarter.

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bdneely4

November 27th, 2016 at 5:21 PM ^

It is often interesting to read what other common fans think of a game and all the decisions that are made in the game. I personally wished he would have ran the ball more. He was passing on several first and second downs when we were up by 10. What other aggressive play calls did you want to see? If there was any question I had about play calling, it would be that I didn't see a "wrinkle trick play" that I thought we would see. Otherwise, we did the things we needed to do to win the game.



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bdneely4

November 27th, 2016 at 10:44 PM ^

But for most of the game our defense dominated their running game. Keep the clock running and minimize their possessions. That was my very inexperienced couch coach perspective. In the end, I felt this game was called about as good as it gets. If the refs don't call a facemask on Cole, we very likely could have put 3-7 more points on the board and taken off another 2-4 minutes of the game.

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CoverZero

November 27th, 2016 at 5:30 PM ^

* Too many bunch sets when running the ball.  Watching the Pats right now, they have a passing spread which they run out of and it has worked for years.  Harbaugh's approach is bunch set, with multiple shifts and misdirection, trying to rely on a good OL and some trickeration at the LOS.  Problem is that the OL is average at best, not particularly mobile or strong, and poor at run blocking.

Hopefully the next OL recruits will be better run blockers and Harbaugh/Drevno will modify their approach to be more of a passing spread with run looks.  The current system is not good in modern college football.

* Too many Peppers running wild cat out of bunch sets.  Never works.

The one time that they used Peppers as a RB and went away from him actually worked.

Peppers will soon be gone so this is a moot point.

* Not enough mid field passes to the center of the field.  With the TEs that Michigan has and the slot WR talent they should have exploited the middle of the field all season.  They did not.

Playcalling was poor all day.  Protection broke down in key situations.  WRs and Butt dropped passes all day. 

That offense will  have a lot of pieces coming back  next season.

Hopefully Harbaugh, Drevno and Jeb make the adjustments because they are gonna need it.

PS:  Harbaugh is too stubborn to go away from Smith and give more carries to Higdon, Evans and Ty all of whom are faster and more elusive.  This cost the team big time.

Harbaugh is stubborn like early Bo, and Carr... and at times keeps trying shit that does not work over and over again vs. tough opponents.   He clams up in close games vs. letting the talent that he has take over.  The lack of creative utilization of the playmakers vs. Iowa and OSU cost them both games.

 

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The Reeve

November 27th, 2016 at 5:34 PM ^

I think that we are all reacting to struggle the OCs have in creating effective plays. You point to a key: the power source of a operational Death Star Harbaugh offense is the OL that can run the ball against a standard front all day long. Then, when they load up the box, you have a Harbaugh QB (i.e., Luck) there with play action to punish that decision.

Not that JH will lose his creativity when a monster OL is in place, just that an actual, effective run game is the missing piece that necessitates things like Peppers and the Train.

I actually think next year's OL may be a superior run-blocking line (assuming Newsome returns to form): Newsome-Bredeson-Cole-Owenu-JBB (or frosh?).

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JTrain

November 27th, 2016 at 6:35 PM ^

Let's hope so. I think people need to let go of the idea that newsome comes back and STARTS next year.
Big guys with devastating knee injuries (i.e- knee injuries that require major surgery and keep you HOSPITALIZED for 38 days) don't bounce back as quick as smaller athletic guys.



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Erik_in_Dayton

November 27th, 2016 at 5:57 PM ^

Sticking with him made sense. Isaac has a history of putting the ball in the deck. Evans and Higdon are young. Smith is a reliable ball handler and pass blocker. He also seems to be an emotional leader. Michigan was in safe hands with him, a quality whose importance shouldn't be underestimated in light of what turnovers meant for the team yesterday.

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1974

November 27th, 2016 at 6:20 PM ^

Let's take an honest look at the talent available on offense (and, indirectly, Hoke's recruiting in that area).

Other than a Grade A jumbo wide receiver (Jake Butt), how many older (classes of '12/'13/'14) and often-used players look like next-level types?

Chesson and/or Darboh? Sure, but neither is elite at this point.

(Still too early to make a call on Bunting ... he hasn't played much this year anyway.)

DeVeon? I see an UDFA opportunity for him. Same for Isaac.

Speight? Seems like a great guy but no more than a game manager. (I know how much this idea warms the heart of fans of the old regime, but I'd prefer someone capable of being a playmaker.)

Cole? He was on a nice trajectory prior to this year and still appears that he could make it, but he's not elite.

(Too early for JBB, though it doesn't look great for now.)

Kalis/Magnuson/Braden/Kugler/Dawson? Ouch. Like Speight, they seem like nice people, but they're average players or worse.

* * *

If you'd told me in early March (after signing day) of 2013 that Michigan would have an elite defense in 2016 I'd have been *very* optimistic without knowing how the offense would turn out. After getting a 5-star, two 4-stars, and a "sleeper" 3-star in 2012, then following it with -- on paper -- an epic O-line haul in 2013, I'd expect a crushing offensive line to protect *Shane Morris* in a championship season with 5-star Derrick Green (assuming he hadn't gone pro early) bulldozing back-seven guys on opposing defenses.

Amazing, isn't it?

Most of our elite players were on defense this year. The offense wasn't good enough to beat top-level teams. Never mind the play calls ... we won't know anything for sure about Harbaugh, Drevno, et al. in that area for a couple of years.

 

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MonkeyMan

November 27th, 2016 at 9:10 PM ^

Wisky, PSU, and Spartina run wild with much lower starred players.  There is a coaching problem with O-line and backs. Recruiting won't necessarily save us.

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CoverZero

November 27th, 2016 at 11:30 PM ^

Too early to call on Speight.  He is only going to get better and better and he is fairly good now.

Peters has NFL talent and hopefully he gets a shot next year.

RBs...Higdon, Evans both have playmaking ability.  Ty is an enigma.  All three of those guys could sniff the NFL.

Darboh and Chesson will probably both be NFL players for 5-7 seasons.

Grant Perry looked great yesterday.  Has a nack for getting open and good hands.

Where was McDoom yesterday?  Its a mystery as to why he has not been utilized in the passing game to stretch the field with his speed.

Assasi and Wheatley Jr. could both be Beasts at TE. 

There is plenty of talent there.

 

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JTrain

November 27th, 2016 at 6:32 PM ^

I don't disagree with your observations. I hope our talent level with recruiting compensates for his stubbornness.
I honestly think this is one of the reasons a guy like nick saban hires a guy like lane kiffin. Sometimes you need to stick to what you are good at and acknowledge that other people are better at other stuff.
Harbaugh is a leader. An authority figure. A motivator. A QB whisperer. But wrapped up in all that is a lineage that is lined with conservative tendencies. Three yards and a cloud of dust...maybe not literally but compared to a more modern offenses.
Don't get me wrong. I think a guy like Harbaugh can win it all his way. But in never hurts to teach an old dog new tricks either...and it could get us there sooner.



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dieseljr32

November 27th, 2016 at 5:40 PM ^

I'll preface my comment by stating it's easier to criticize from afar after the fact when you don't know what does and does not work. But, I was surprised they only used Peppers as a Wildcat QB who never threw the ball.

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father fisch

November 27th, 2016 at 6:06 PM ^

I was very surprised that the Pepcat run was the only way to utilize Peppers. In 1997, Woodson played offense but he played as an actual receiver. Get the ball in space to a guy who can do something with it. Peppers can catch for sure...see some of his incredible Lunt catches. But all we could do was have him run into the teeth of a good defense.

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allintime23

November 27th, 2016 at 5:41 PM ^

He hasn't had a good quarterback yet. He's made decent quarterbacks have moments where they looked almost good but we all knew what we really had injury or not going into yesterday. Next year Peters will be his guy and excel. It will change a lot.



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