Onward on Offense: What are you most excited to see from the offense this spring?
February 4th, 2022 at 11:22 PM ^
Donovan Edwards.
February 4th, 2022 at 11:46 PM ^
Running the ball or throwing it?
February 4th, 2022 at 11:54 PM ^
Catching it...
February 5th, 2022 at 12:11 AM ^
I clicked this thread with that exact thought. You can tell he's gonna be special.
February 5th, 2022 at 1:18 AM ^
Yes. He looks like a different dude out there. You can just see the unlimited potential every time he is on the field.
February 5th, 2022 at 9:17 AM ^
Yes. I love Haskins as much as the next guy but people are underrating Edwards' power. I guess it's easy to overlook because he's fast and great catching the ball, but he's a tough aggressive runner inside as well. He probably won't break quite as many tackles as Hassan but definitely more upside there overall.
February 4th, 2022 at 11:29 PM ^
I'm looking to see the same thing I've been looking for for years now, have we accepted that throwing the ball is a viable, sometimes even necessary, way to win football games.
February 5th, 2022 at 12:02 AM ^
Were you disappointed we ran the ball so much last year?
I also felt like we beat PSU on the road by throwing the ball.
And Cade threw for over 350 and 3 TDs in a loss to MSU.
I realize you're intentionally being dramatic, but I'm trying to understand the expectation or disappointment.
February 5th, 2022 at 12:11 AM ^
If this team doesn't break Michigan passing records this year, then they have some explaining to do
February 5th, 2022 at 9:18 AM ^
Question. Who is your QB that should set these records?
February 5th, 2022 at 7:22 PM ^
MH: This is an excellent response.
February 5th, 2022 at 10:02 AM ^
Must've been annoying for you watching us hang 42 on OSU with the run game.
I get the point that to get to the next level we have to have the pass game. With Ronnie Bell back and improved Cade/JJ, I think we will have it
February 5th, 2022 at 10:21 AM ^
I expected this type of running game in year one from Jim. Dominating the LOS is what makes teams capable of being elite.
February 5th, 2022 at 1:46 PM ^
Not just Ronnie Bell either. Sophomore Anthony is gonna be >> Frosh Anthony.
Plus upper classmen Wilson, Henning, Johnson, Sainristil > younger versions, and upper classmen stud TEs in Schoon and All (plus Honigford and young guys pushing > younger versions.
Add Edwards and Corum who are both dangerous, capable receivers.
We may lose one or two guys to portal, but Michigan has an absolutely LOADED receiving corps.
10+ solid to spectacular experienced receiving talents. Tons of speed, shiftiness, size, deep threats, slot ninjas, end zone targets. Unreal.
Deepest, best squadron of receivers I can ever remember at Michigan.
Gonna be fun! Go Blue!
February 5th, 2022 at 7:21 PM ^
Your hyperbole is a bit over-the-top, but I agree with the subtext and the meaning. Hell, I agree with most of what you post once the exaggeration is stripped out of it.
I'm putting it this way -- it appears quite likely that the 2022 passing offense has the potential to be better than the 2022 rushing offense. I'm hoping that the offensive braintrust will step out of their collective comfort zones and fully utilize this to maximize the team's potential this season.
February 4th, 2022 at 11:33 PM ^
Ronnie Bell back on the field (optimistic)
QB zone read game (also optimistic)
February 4th, 2022 at 11:39 PM ^
It'd be nice to pass the ball in creampuff games rather than proving we can control the line of scrimmage against MAC caliber schools. Perhaps prepare for the games where you can't mash the other teams on the ground.
February 5th, 2022 at 12:04 AM ^
Spring ball.
But we'd just lost our best WR and our RBs were destroying people, I think we sometimes forget that the first objective is to win the game.
Anyway, what about spring ball? But I understand what you're saying about next season.
February 5th, 2022 at 7:39 AM ^
Agreed … It’s all context.
In the early stages we needed to run the football because we had advantages - o-line run blocking & RB - and got dealt the blow of losing our only experienced WR in Bell.
Plus, you know what, it paid off. We still used a run heavy game plan to pave OSU. The difference, by that point, is that we were explosive enough in the passing game to keep them on their heals. Plus we concocted run fits to use against aggression.
February 5th, 2022 at 8:54 AM ^
Thanks for reminding me, I thought that we must have had a terrible year because of everyone's bitching about running it too much.
February 5th, 2022 at 9:19 AM ^
JJ wasn’t brought into games just to run/hand-off to burn clock. One of our most exciting plays this year was his scramble and cross the field throw for a TD.
Establish the run to set up the pass. Tried and true approach.
February 5th, 2022 at 1:57 PM ^
Running the ball is fine, but unless you have an Alabama-caliber pool of talent, you're going to have a glass ceiling. You'll get to that Georgia/Bama team and have no chance of running the ball bc they have planet-sized NFL players who can't be "out-techniqued" or "out-physicaled". Then you're screwed, and your only answer at halftime of the Georgia game is "we have to be more physical". No, Jim, you don't need to be more physical. They have the horses and you don't. So how do you beat a team when you can't run? You need passing performances like we've seen from Watson, Burrow, Jameis, Cam, and so forth. But unfortunately, you're in that game with a QB who has only had enough live game reps and opportunities for a whopping 15 TDs in 14 games. And for the OL, why aren't pass blocking reps as important as run blocking reps? Or blitz pickup reps for the backs?
February 5th, 2022 at 9:20 AM ^
We will pass more with JJ. But maintaining the punishing ground game is essential. We don't want to become soft like OSU.
February 5th, 2022 at 11:40 AM ^
But that's not how our coaches approach those games. They use them to practice the things that they know we'll need later on, or to work on plays that need a little tuning, or to establish our base plays more, put things on film for other teams to practice for, etc...
Why do people want to see us just open it up in those games? They're being used perfectly, IMO, as was clearly demonstrated in 2021.
February 5th, 2022 at 1:45 PM ^
You realize that all those live reps early on in the season was invaluable for the OL to be able to be dominate as the seasons went on. Nothing can replicate live reps.
From a very high level view point, Michigan established the dominate run game early and incorporated new passing concepts as the season progressed.
Now, this is year 2 (particularly with 2 returning QBs and a room full of pass catchers) I would expect the passing game does not need to be so basic to start out with and will have a steeper learning curve
February 4th, 2022 at 11:41 PM ^
Biggest question? Everyone knows that.
Biggest concern? No Haskins.
Most excited? Everything else.
Deep down, I’m hoping JJ can grab the bull by the horns and the offense can reach its ceiling. The defense is probably going to give up more points next season, so how about we negate that by scoring more ourselves.
February 5th, 2022 at 9:23 AM ^
Agree the defense will have some growing pains. Lot of talent upfront was lost. Pass rush hides alot of coverage issues.
February 5th, 2022 at 1:35 PM ^
I don't think the defense is going to drop off. I think it's going to be better.
February 4th, 2022 at 11:43 PM ^
Roman Wilson running right by any fools trying to cover him. Erik All catching passes in the Butt zone. Blake Corum with 1000+ yds rushing. And most of all Ronnie Bell being...Ronnie Bell.
February 5th, 2022 at 12:05 AM ^
In spring ball?
February 5th, 2022 at 8:44 AM ^
Yeah, I guess I should've finished reading the title. I got a little too excited.
February 5th, 2022 at 8:56 AM ^
Yes, we scrimmage EMU and all those things happen in one game.
February 4th, 2022 at 11:46 PM ^
JJ McCarthy.
February 5th, 2022 at 9:24 AM ^
JJ is the MAN!!
February 5th, 2022 at 11:11 AM ^
Oh good. We have The Cube and bfeeaveef in the same thread. Which one of you gets to hold JJs hand and sing the Victors? If only The (not) Oracle was here!!!
Note: I was going to make reference to an activity done by men in a circle but out if respect to Wendy5k decided ti go with singing the Victors!
February 4th, 2022 at 11:51 PM ^
Most excited to see: the further development of the WR Corp with Ronnie and passing game with JJ, and how the stud RB’s will compliment them
Biggest concern: tie between losing a great receiver to portal and/or Cade starting over JJ
Question: who will run away as the starting QB?
February 5th, 2022 at 10:52 AM ^
There is only one that could " run away " as the starting QB.
February 5th, 2022 at 12:01 AM ^
Scoring touchdowns
February 5th, 2022 at 12:18 AM ^
We may have an unstoppable offense next season. If JJ wins the QB competition, I think the RPO will be taking a big step up. We will be outscoring teams we play. This will allow our young D to improve through the season until we play OSU.
February 5th, 2022 at 12:37 AM ^
I'm excited to see Bell's return. I think his leadership and hard work pushes this offense to the next level. He goes north of 1000 yards Rec.
My one question, who's gonna get us a yard or two on short yardage downs?
overall, I think our offense ranks near the top in college football!
Go blue
February 5th, 2022 at 1:48 AM ^
Bell is a fine player, but bear in mind that no WR has sniffed 1,000 yards since Harbaugh took over. There just isn’t enough volume.
There’s also a ton of competition for targets (including the RBs). It would be impressive enough if Bell is the leading receiver.
February 5th, 2022 at 8:24 AM ^
i realize it's a bold prediction but Bell was less than 250 yards in 2019 from 1000. That's with Shea At QB and People-jones , Eubanks , Collins etc in the mix for catches.
I also believe passing will be more featured in our offense this upcoming season.
February 5th, 2022 at 9:43 AM ^
Dunlap was bigger/heavier than Haskins coming in as a freshman last year. He runs hard through initial contact and with a similar style/body lean...is a step faster.
Otherwise, I love Cade but, here, JJ had damn well better be the QB. And if the defense believes they can completely sell-out to stop an interior run on third and short...they will be giving up plenty of TDs in those situations. If the read says pull and he rolls to the edge against a single defender with a WR who is also isolated against a single defender and has the entire field at his disposal-oh my, we are off to the races. This is what the big-time college, and even pro, offenses have been doing for some time. It would be really nice to see this come to Michigan.
February 5th, 2022 at 1:46 AM ^
JJ, Andrel and Donovan's next steps. And the dominance of the WR and TE groups. This has the makings of Michigan's best season on offense since I started watching the football team in 1985. The big question mark is the loss of Hassan Haskins. Do we have a guy that will pick up 1, 2 or 3 gritty yards to move the chains?
February 5th, 2022 at 2:36 AM ^
Lighting up the scoreboard. I see no reason we don't average > 40 ppg this season!
February 5th, 2022 at 5:26 AM ^
Obviously the backfield. JJ and Edwards have championship level potential. Also, fully weaponized Gattis should be fun. I liked the spice of having flea-flickers and reverses/creative screens but we definitely did it way too much and telegraphed it.
February 5th, 2022 at 6:04 AM ^
Blazing speed.
good yard
February 5th, 2022 at 6:26 AM ^
I wanna see how the OLine develops. Can we have “Michigan Level” OLines in back to back seasons?
February 5th, 2022 at 6:51 AM ^
We have good to great Oline play under Harbaugh eveey year.
February 5th, 2022 at 8:01 AM ^
If you can salt games away with the run game, then you have a very good OLine. We were able to do that last year, but other years not so much.