Official Snowflake Thread: Offense

Submitted by LSAClassOf2000 on

Per statements last week, this will be the official snowflake thread for thoughts regarding the offensive playcalling / coaching. There will also be a similar thread for defense. Special teams and coaching snowflake threads can be created as needed by volume, but this thread will be primarily for thoughts on the offensive performance. 

gwkrlghl

September 21st, 2013 at 11:34 PM ^

One thing goes wrong and the whole thing goes in a shell. Especially Devin, he gets rattled so easily.

Establishing the run game in the 4th quarter was huge. Finally took some pressure off DG

bronxblue

September 21st, 2013 at 11:37 PM ^

I wouldn't say mentally weak.  Mentally weak is losing that game; you just pointed out how they rebounded to start running the ball in the 4th.  They need to stop turning the ball over and catch some breaks; they do that and they'll be okay.  Also, give up running inside with this configuration unless the line makes an amazing turnaround.

Sopwith

September 21st, 2013 at 11:39 PM ^

Blow it out your ass.  RR had teams with half as much talent that had more heart than this one.  2008 vs. Wisconsin, 2009 vs. Indiana and Notre Dame plus a valiant 4th Q comeback at Sparty to push into OT in a tropical storm, 2010 vs. Notre Dame on the road, those players played with a lot of guts and scrap.  

This team has way more talent and looks like they can barely be bothered to show up for the non-marquee games. 

CompleteLunacy

September 22nd, 2013 at 1:00 AM ^

That 2008 team showed SO MUCH HEART against Toledo, didn't they? And SO MUCH HEARt against Illinois in 2009, when they went into a shell after Roundtree was tackled at the one followed by 4 runs for 0 yards. SO MUCH HEART against Mississippi State too. I could go on.

 

How about you blow it our your ass. I won't say those teams lacked heart or anything...but to say this Hoke team has less heart somehow? They're 4-0 dude. I don't care who they struggled against, they WON against adversity. 

ChopBlock

September 21st, 2013 at 11:37 PM ^

Well my car's timing belt asploded this morning in the middle of B.F. Nowhere, Nevada. Had to spend three hours getting a hitch to a place where I could get cell service. Once I got a 30-mile tow into town, the mechanic didn't have the part to fix my car. Had to take a shitty bus 120 miles to the nearest auto parts store to get it. 

Upon getting home, I turned on the game early in the second half. And then my day started to suck.

 

UMgradMSUdad

September 21st, 2013 at 11:41 PM ^

Wow, that sucks worst than the time my timing belt broke and I coasted into Green River Utah (as close to the middle of nowhere I've ever been).  The engine was toast, but the car wasn't worth a lot anyway.  Traded it for another clunker and limped back to Michigan.

Good luck with the repairs!

Yeoman

September 22nd, 2013 at 1:00 AM ^

...is absolutely gorgeous at sunset. It looks like the gods were playing dice and forgot to put their toys away. Stunning--a much more subtle beauty than Yosemite or Zion or any of the usual showpieces. That first trip through there might have been my favorite drive ever.

Of course I'd probably remember it differently if my timing belt had busted....

bronxblue

September 21st, 2013 at 11:35 PM ^

One thing I would like to see is more out of the gun.  If Miller and the guards can't block inside, at least don't have Devin turning his back to the line in the process.  You can still run from that formation with relative ease.

Jon06

September 21st, 2013 at 11:36 PM ^

And we won despite gifting them 14 points. Devin is who he is--a good quarterback with a huge mobility plus that he offsets with terrible turnovers. But we won again.

When was the last time a team dropped multiple spots in the polls two weeks in a row after wins? 

marlon

September 21st, 2013 at 11:43 PM ^

There are people here who are so stupid that they say, "Well, we're 4-0."  These people--sunshine blowers--need to go away and allow the realists to have a rational discussion about the miserable state of this team.

Also, I don't give a shit about points.

marlon

September 22nd, 2013 at 2:05 AM ^

DAVID FROM WYOMING, you are the most insufferable poster on this board.  You never express an opinion of your own, only mock and make snide remarks about the opinions of others.  Please go away.

stephenrjking

September 21st, 2013 at 11:36 PM ^

Well this was terrible. 

Gardner looks shattered out there. He knows how to run but he no longer has the confidence to throw, even against overmatched opponents. This is a problem.

Part of the reason for this is that our receivers have been exposed. We wondered why Chesson never got targeted, and then we found out when Gardner threw a decent ball his way and Chesson was neither able to gain separation nor beat a shorter guy for the ball.

Gallon is really the only guy Gardner likes to throw to, and that causes a lot of problems.

So does the OL, which is rough. There was one sack where Miller basically stood still and slightly brushed his man as the defender ran by to chase Gardner around. Not good.

bronxblue

September 21st, 2013 at 11:41 PM ^

See, I thought Chesson played decently.  That throw was short, and as a freshman who didn't have a great QB in HS it may take some time to adjust to those types of throws.  He'll be fine.  I think Gardner's locking on too much to Gallon, but at the same time the line isn't keeping him clean, and that is disrupting throwing lanes and his rhythm.  I don't think he is shattered; he's just not comfortable out there.

The line will be shaken up this bye week.  It might not be better, but I expect some changes.

petered0518

September 21st, 2013 at 11:46 PM ^

I agree Chesson showed why he isn't quite ready.  Looks like a good athlete, but he seems  to have the Breaston syndrome of not being good at playing the ball in the air.  Hope I am wrong about that one.

I don't get the lack of Tight end targets, though.  I feel we need to develop more plays with tight ends as the #1 read because Butt and Funchess can physically outmatch a lot more guys than our receivers can.

MJ14

September 21st, 2013 at 11:59 PM ^

If Devin doesn't underthrow the ball, Chesson has a nice catch. Quit acting like Chesson has no idea what he's doing. It was by far Devin's fault. Just because the announcer, who had no clue what was going on, says it was Chesson fault, doesn't make it true. Chesson couldn't outjump a ball that was behind AND below him. It was a bad throw, that simple. 

MGoBlue96

September 22nd, 2013 at 12:25 AM ^

often, but he pretty much came up with the most important catch of the entire game. Also I disagree about him not getting seperation on that play, he had a step or two on the db on the INT. I do agree he should have come back to ball to help Gardner out, but he had his guy beat on that play.

Magnum P.I.

September 22nd, 2013 at 12:30 AM ^

I thought Chesson looked okay. Made a great play on the third and long. Wasn't aggresive enough on the interception, but it was underthrown and not really on him. He pulled up on the potential TD pass at the end of the game, which seemed like a beginner mistake--could've had six there if he'd run through it.

Danwillhor

September 22nd, 2013 at 12:17 AM ^

Been saying the same thing all year, unlike last year. This year, when we need a play of a yard or 8+, we go full blown Denard and Devin is not Denard. In fact, due to his height those hits add up to more. Just sad we can't run all over or get pressure on Akron and uconn. We can't forget how bad they are but, as I said in the day old prediction thread, I didn't see this team paying much better. You can't talk your way into being better unless you truly didn't show up. I think this game proved that it's not s showing up issue. Teams know Gardner is defacto Denard, or middle OL is bad so teams play us as they did Denard. So many plays where we had wide open WRs and Gardner would turn his back and run around like he was on the playground or wait for Gallon to the point of sack our worse. I said before the game that all that Tebow talk shit means nothing. You are who you are and we have issues. Not as dire as some think but this is not an 8 win team right now. Bye week needed.

MGoClimb

September 21st, 2013 at 11:36 PM ^

Bye week is coming at a good time.  Time to practice and get ready for Big Ten season.  This team is young and has a very long way to go.  The two things they need right now are practice and confidence.  

I will not give up on this team.