Official Snowflake Thread: Offense
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.
September 22nd, 2013 at 1:36 AM ^
The guy had his hands tied. Gardner was just not there for much of the game. I don't blame Borges for not giving him even short hitches or slants because he was double clutching balls and throwing them behind his receivers with regularity. Another pick, and Devin might have been broken mentally for a long time. He didn't have much choice but to keep it vanilla and grind it out, hoping for the defense to keep us in it. In the end, that's exactly what happened. Borges is in a really unenviable position of just not having many tools in his toolbox right now. There's only so much a coordinator can do with a QB that can't throw, receivers that can't beat 1 v 1 coverage, a porous OL and TEs and a RB that has PTSD (or PDTS if you prefer).
September 21st, 2013 at 11:40 PM ^
September 21st, 2013 at 11:40 PM ^
Why do we need a speech in the Liveblog about the costs of running this site like I give a fuck? just put up the add, try to sell the shit, and get on with it.
I am offended by the notion of the community, or whatever, idea that anything on this site isn't here so that Brian et. al. can make more money. I mean thats the purpose right?
I have no beef with the mgocorporation making money, I just found the little quip about not being able to afford a liveblog rather lame...
jdon
September 21st, 2013 at 11:43 PM ^
Don't liveblogs cost a few thousand per event this year? I might be wrong, but they aren't cheap.
September 21st, 2013 at 11:45 PM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 2:06 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.
September 21st, 2013 at 11:46 PM ^
There was a big debate last year about even having a liveblog because it would be so expensive. So no, I don't mind the site pointing out that it costs lots of money to keep the site up and if you want a watch, maybe buy from a sponsor. I pay for my own very simple web server project and it costs me ~$25/month. Bandwidth and all the infrastructure ain't cheap.
September 22nd, 2013 at 1:09 AM ^
don't really think Brian is Brandon, do you? I mean, seriously. I think you're undervaluing all the hard work they do on this site, and the costs associated. And I doubt they make all that much money.
September 21st, 2013 at 11:41 PM ^
September 21st, 2013 at 11:43 PM ^
We need to check our number one winning percentage privilege.
/s
September 21st, 2013 at 11:45 PM ^
Yeah, because this game was totally about Maryland. Go Terp somewhere else.
September 21st, 2013 at 11:47 PM ^
GoBlue Somewhere else.
September 22nd, 2013 at 12:07 AM ^
Maryland gave up nearly double the yards Michigan did. They won by 11 after going -2 on TOs, Michigan won by 3 with a -3 on TOs. Maryland had 1.34 yards to UConn's 1, Michigan had 1.39 yards for each yard to UConn.
Pretty comparable if you ask me. And since Maryland's 4-0 after blanking WVa tonight, maybe things aren't quite as bleak as we think.
September 22nd, 2013 at 12:17 AM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 12:32 AM ^
Rutgers?
September 22nd, 2013 at 12:38 AM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 12:40 AM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 1:09 AM ^
Nobody cares about irrelevant-ass Maryland
September 22nd, 2013 at 12:14 AM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 12:31 AM ^
September 21st, 2013 at 11:42 PM ^
September 21st, 2013 at 11:48 PM ^
They scored 59 and 41 in successive weeks. The ceiling is somewhere between dominating and crap. I honestly think this team can score 30 points/gm against most teams in the conference. Only MSU and maybe Wiscy/OSU could slow them down significantly.
September 21st, 2013 at 11:42 PM ^
Lack of WR recruiting for 2 yrs caught up this year. Add in being very weak inside especially at Center and Devin is trying to do way to much right now.
September 21st, 2013 at 11:43 PM ^
September 21st, 2013 at 11:44 PM ^
I would prefer to never again see that "I'm turning away over my right shoulder and I can't see the field" from #98. Yay.
September 21st, 2013 at 11:44 PM ^
We just had two epic battles with the two worst teams in football....I hope we make a bowl game.
September 22nd, 2013 at 12:17 AM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 8:50 AM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 9:45 PM ^
It's not a crazy worry. Those teams weren't just bad. They may have been the worst in college football.
September 21st, 2013 at 11:53 PM ^
After four games, I would honestly not be surprised if we have the worst offensive line in the FBS. We have been a complete sieve in both run and pass blocking against three really bad defenses and one mediocre-to-good defense. I watched Akron play today (I know, I know--needed closure or something) and their DL and LBs were not knifing through the line to get pressure on nearly every pass play and get penetration on every run play. This was against Louisiana-Lafayette. It looked like a normal football game where run plays usually go for two to five yards and QBs have a few seconds to throw on pass plays.
Against us, Akron was pushing us back on almost every run and getting pressure on almost every pass. UConn was blowing up our inside running game today and putting huge pressure on Devin in the passing game until late in the 3rd. We lead the nation in negative yardage plays. It is embarassing what's happening on our OL. This is not what football is supposed to look like. We need new bodies in there by next game. There are over ten guys who can play interior line on our team. Some combination of three of them can do better than Louisiana-Lafayette, Towson, or Toledo (whose line did just fine today against the pass rush terrors of CMU).
September 21st, 2013 at 11:55 PM ^
Over-react much? The transitive property of math does NOT apply to football.
September 22nd, 2013 at 12:03 AM ^
Sometimes it's that simple. Towson, Louisiana-Lafayette, and Toledo all showed far better on the OL than we did. And it wasn't really even close in my opinion.
September 22nd, 2013 at 12:08 AM ^
I guess you think Lewan sucks now? I'm clearly missing something if you really honestly think that.
September 22nd, 2013 at 12:36 AM ^
Just going on performance. It's cute how you come on the board after an agonizing game and try to play the voice of reason, though. Glad that does something for you.
September 22nd, 2013 at 2:06 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.
September 22nd, 2013 at 7:10 AM ^
September 21st, 2013 at 11:46 PM ^
Time for Bryant to get some PT? The coaches said his strength was run blocking; I'll trade a few mistakes for consistent push.
September 21st, 2013 at 11:49 PM ^
September 21st, 2013 at 11:47 PM ^
Everyone seems to be struggling right now, from the coaches to the players. I'll bet the equipment team brought the wrong flavor of Gatorade, too.
September 21st, 2013 at 11:47 PM ^
This sums up the offense for me: I was certain our best chance to score was dashed when Morgan didn't make it in for a TD.
I also thought Hoke's call to go for it on 4th and 2 instead of kicking the FG was dumb.
September 21st, 2013 at 11:54 PM ^
September 21st, 2013 at 11:56 PM ^
But it would have worked had Devin simply fallen forward. UM should be able to get those yards, and while the play call was predictable it definitely should have worked.
September 21st, 2013 at 11:47 PM ^
September 21st, 2013 at 11:56 PM ^
"Below average" is a very generous assessment of our OL right now. I would like to hear an argument for why we're not the worst OL in the FBS right now. I mean that. I could make a counterargument.
September 21st, 2013 at 11:59 PM ^
Because when you have an All-American at one tackle position, you are not the worst in FBS.
Also, MSU's offensive line is pretty horrible, as is Purdue's.
September 22nd, 2013 at 12:21 AM ^
Lewan is one of five. And he gave up a sack today, too. It kills me to think that he might really hurt his draft stock by sticking around this year.
Anyway, there's no definitive way to measure OL effectiveness. But against ND, here's how M, state, and Purdue did in RB yard/carry, TFL allowed, QB hurries allowed, and sacks allowed:
- Michigan: 3.2 yd/c, 8 tfl, 3 qbh, 1 sack
- Purdue: 2.1 yd/c, 4 tfl, 0 qbh, 1 sack
- state: 3.7 yd/c, 6 tfl, 1 qbh, 0 sacks
September 22nd, 2013 at 12:15 AM ^
...you haven't watched a Miami (O) game yet this year. Or Florida International.
There's a whole other world down there at the bottom. They don't have anyone that would make the two-deep at Michigan.
September 21st, 2013 at 11:47 PM ^
Thank God for bye weeks. Hopefully the coaches take advantage and make some much needed adjustments. I just have a tough time believing we are that bad!