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. 

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sportzfan81

September 21st, 2013 at 11:37 PM ^

Chris Spielman is rendered speechless. He was all happy.....until he wasn't. LOL.

Michigan may not be a top 15 team, but honestly what does rankings matter if your not going to go undefeated. I don't think they will win all of their games, but I still think they will win enough to go to Indy and play for a chance to go to Rose Bowl.

Joined: 05/20/2011

MGoPoints: 1072

Crime Reporter

September 21st, 2013 at 11:39 PM ^

I know Fitz got the yards tonight but the amount of negative plays to date is staggering. They need to try someone or something else along the interior. Glad the guys fought through the adversity to win.

Joined: 12/19/2008

MGoPoints: 21702

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.

Joined: 01/21/2009

MGoPoints: 590

HarBooYa

September 21st, 2013 at 11:39 PM ^

Joey kerridge caused a fumble
Lewis blocked a guy in the back behind the dileo punt returner
Devin inexplicably turns his back to throwing pockets and hold the ball like a loaf of bread
We have a punt cover guy have a ball hit off his leg.
Taylor Lewan (who I love) gets a holding call to negate a long Gardner run and literally tackles Gardner on another play
Gardner looks horrified and inaccurate
Gallon is dropping balls
Chess on cant get a ball from a guy who picks it off and is about a foot shorter.
Green did not get a carry a dileo remains underused.
Fun chess and butt are underused

All in all, it was a good colonoscopy.

Joined: 06/22/2011

MGoPoints: 2871

JD_UofM_90

September 22nd, 2013 at 10:52 AM ^

"Bitch" I have re: Borges is that he is supposed to be a "west coast offense" guru, and from my understanding of this style of offense, quick hit passes, 3or 5 step drop passes, lots of TE and RB check downs, etc. our offense has very little resemblance to this philosophy. How is our passing game opening up the defense to set up the run? My feeling of our offense is that we try to establish the run and then pass out of desperation / necessity.

Joined: 11/09/2009

MGoPoints: 5145

Rabbit21

September 22nd, 2013 at 12:07 AM ^

I'm hoping all the crap that happened on the field was art if a big mental enema. Get all the bad play out and then go into the bye week with an emphasis on back to the basics and teaching. I'd also like to see a max protect package installed just so Devin isn't getting destroyed on every passing down. Need to see new OL. This crew is not getting it done and there needs to be some sort of change.

Joined: 11/12/2009

MGoPoints: 30304

david from wyoming

September 21st, 2013 at 11:53 PM ^

Oh, I agree. We have the (young) talent to do better than that. But, "bitch-please" if going 8-4 is worse than death. Look back to the RR years and 8-4 seems just fine.

Joined: 03/15/2009

MGoPoints: 2981

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.

Joined: 01/21/2009

MGoPoints: 590

reshp1

September 21st, 2013 at 11:40 PM ^

Oline was blerg again. This one's on Devin though, he's got to get his head straight again. The guy's nerves are just shot. Turn overs are one thing, but when your QB doesn't trust anything or anyone, especially himself, you aren't going to win many games. I wouldn't be surprised to hear he's been dinged up or something beyond just mental. The two 3rd down conversion throws to Jehu and then Gallon were huge to build his confidence back up. Hopefully a week off will be beneficial for everyone.

Joined: 10/31/2011

MGoPoints: 34177

reshp1

September 22nd, 2013 at 1:40 AM ^

I didn't notice anything physical until the 4th quarter when, oddly enough, he started playing better. His turnovers were really unfortunate for him. I thought both the INTs were decent reads, just not great throws. Gallon got his hands on the first one and just couldn't bring it in, and Chesson was 1 on 1 and had a step. Both were a few inches from turning out well. The fumble is on him though, gotta protect the football, even from your own guys in a QB sneak scenario with so many bodies flying all over.

Joined: 10/31/2011

MGoPoints: 34177

Magnum P.I.

September 21st, 2013 at 11:50 PM ^

Devin was a mess tonight, but this is definitely on the OL. You have to give your QB time to get in a rhythym against a team whose DL got shut down by Towson. Devin had a man in his face almost every time he dropped back until late in the 3rd quarter. Our OL is unbelievably bad for a program with our resources and talent. It's really unbelievable. Our walkons and true freshmen should be far better than whatever Towson rolls out there on the OL, and yet we gave up at least three sacks tonight and god knows how many QB hurries. Towson gave up no sacks.

Devin needs to remember that he can still throw it out of bounds when he's going to get sacked. Just because of that one asinine play against ND, it doesn't mean you still can't ever throw the ball away.

Joined: 07/16/2009

MGoPoints: 30622

Mr. Yost

September 21st, 2013 at 11:40 PM ^

Mattison coached his worst game of the year last year...this time it was Borges, turn. Borges was predictable and out of sync all game. Everyone in the world knew it was a Devin Gardner draw on 4th and 1. Everyone knew it was a sneak and everyone knew he was going to that play action boot late in the game. On top of him being predictable it took him 3 quarters to line up and run the football. To cut the misdirection. On top of all of that. He called NOTHING to get his rattled QB in rhythm (except draws)...do we have any 3 step drops? Can we throw a slant? A quick out? A hitch? Horrible game by Gardner...horrible game by Borges.

Joined: 07/25/2011

MGoPoints: -9898220

stephenrjking

September 21st, 2013 at 11:55 PM ^

I actually don't have a huge problem with the late playcalling. Here's why:

Gardner was not handling regular passing routes well. He was holding the ball extra long, scrambling, and getting sacked. He was making turnovers.

Borges decided to adjust to what is quarterback could offer rather than hard-headedly keep doing the same thing. Gardner was able to run the football, and so Borges called runs. 

Mr. Yost, you probably forgot (as is easy to do) the first plays called, which were all short drops and quick passes. Devin started out throwing well running the Borges script. Then things broke down, and he couldn't make a throw.

Now, I think there are some structural problems with Borges; his scheme has a low margin for error, and some of his "counter" plays are easier to mess up than, say, a quick bubble-screen. I also question his ability to develop players.

But this gameplan wasn't the worst thing in the world, and the playcalling in the second half was specifically designed to win the game exactly the way it did.

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20143524