The OL is in a bad Funk
While everyone is debating the job Borges is doing, why isn't anyone talking about the absolute tire fire that is our offensive line performance? The OSU game was as bad as anything I've seen all year.
Our guys aren't undersized anymore, and are "Wellman-ized," so they aren't weak. So those memes no longer hold true.
I rewatched all of the run plays again in slo-mo to see exactly why we couldn't get even a few meager critical yards when necessary. It jumped out at me time and time again.
Missed blocks, confused linemen linemen not even engaging anyone, while the ballcarrier behind them was getting tackled. The fullbacks were bad, too.
With all the mental errors, it looked like a really poorly coached unit.
So incredibly, my biggest fear going forward isn't Borges. It's the offensive line play. Charlie Weiss proved that even with superior talent, if the guys aren't properly coached up it won't matter how many blue chippers you've got.
I hope to God what we're seeing is a product of the coaching change. But as far as I'm concerned, Darrell Funk just joined Spain as officially On Notice with me!
November 25th, 2012 at 8:50 PM ^
November 25th, 2012 at 8:33 PM ^
It is pointed out by some that perhaps our Oline are overrated or not suited to the offense. I just looked at Northwestern's offense and they somehow generated a running attack. Now who is going to have more highly regarded recruits? Certainly not Northwestern. Venric Mark averaged 6.2 ypc. Take out the preconference schedule and he probably hits 6.5 ypc. Kain Colter is a very good spread QB. But he is no DR when it comes to pure athletic talent. I also would say he is just as inconsistant a passer. Yet Northwestern with Oline recruits that we would laugh at and skill players that are barely servicable for the MAC generated a credible running attack. So these excuses that our coaching staff can't come up with something in two years is laughable. Were paying a Ocoordinator 650K and he can't adjust to what he has? I do not accept that there was nothing to work with or the talent was too missmatched. No one was expecting Mattison magic. But certainly not the worse RB production ever?
November 25th, 2012 at 8:37 PM ^
You'll also note that Northwestern has been running the same offensive system for years and years. Their linemen were recruited for the plays they're running, and they've been running those plays since their first day on campus. Michigan...not so much.
November 25th, 2012 at 9:35 PM ^
What about Indiana? They have a brand new coach and still managed over 5 ypc vs that same OSU defense....
November 25th, 2012 at 10:54 PM ^
Sometimes strange things happen.
November 26th, 2012 at 2:39 PM ^
Sometimes Greg Frey.
November 26th, 2012 at 12:11 PM ^
Indiana also has a credible passing threat, something Michigan hasn't really developed this year.
November 25th, 2012 at 9:18 PM ^
November 26th, 2012 at 12:22 AM ^
"Our guys aren't undersized anymore, and are "Wellman-ized," so they aren't weak. So those memes no longer hold true."
That meme was never true, just something old farts would call into local radio and bitch about.
I remember noting that our OL was actually heavier (with Perry Dorrestein at RT ) than Iowa's by an average 1-2 pounds back in '09 or '10, whichever it was.
Size isn't everything at OL, David Molk should have made people realize that.