OT: Urban Wants to Limit Miller's Carries
Looks like Urbs is in a similar position to the one we were in last weekend*, and were in for nearly the whole season two years ago. You've got an electric, multidimensional quarterback who can make plays with his arm or his feet, but really hurts you worse with his feet. You don't really have much of a second option. So you run him over and over again. This hurts said electric, multidimensional quarterback, and makes it less likely he'll play through the entire season. You wring your hands, but you still don't really have a second option to run the ball effectively. Article here.
Disclaimer: I don't want anyone, even someone who plays for Ohio, to get hurt. Rather, I bring this up because of the familiarity of the situation to things we've dealt with, and continue to deal with. I'm also curious what Ohio could potentially do to keep Miller healthy and still win football games. Looking forward to our matchup, what can and should we do to capitalize on this situation--as many quality defenses capitalized on our one-dimensionality in 2010?
*I'm going to stay positive, and hope this is more Fitz being rusty than our O-line being mediocre.
September 11th, 2012 at 8:20 AM ^
not OT and no shit. It's easier said than done though when your QB is your only productive rusher
September 11th, 2012 at 8:24 AM ^
September 11th, 2012 at 9:21 AM ^
September 11th, 2012 at 9:43 AM ^
September 11th, 2012 at 9:46 AM ^
Did you just respond to yourself in order to agree with yourself?
September 11th, 2012 at 9:50 AM ^
Did he really do that?
September 11th, 2012 at 9:50 AM ^
yes he did. Strange.
September 11th, 2012 at 10:01 AM ^
but it's not grounds for commitment to a mental hospital unless he starts disagreeing with himself.
September 11th, 2012 at 10:05 AM ^
I have seen so many times where people have multiple screen names on message boards or blogs and they always seem to do this and get caught.
September 11th, 2012 at 10:34 AM ^
September 11th, 2012 at 10:09 AM ^
I enjoy conversations with a guy who knows how to listen, and hearing from a guy who knows what he's talking about.
September 11th, 2012 at 10:12 AM ^
I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt and say someone's comment got removed by the Mods, but really, what could have been said in that context that would be so odious?
September 11th, 2012 at 10:12 AM ^
Right on, ChopBlock; I think he really did just reply to himself
September 11th, 2012 at 10:27 AM ^
Maybe he didnt do it to respond to himself. Maybe he did it so he could upvote himself.
September 11th, 2012 at 11:00 AM ^
...he did it so that he couldn't edit his original post.
September 11th, 2012 at 10:27 AM ^
September 11th, 2012 at 1:57 PM ^
Your preaching to the choir at MICHIGAN. Even after the coaching change we still are DENARD. It's easy to get a 20 year old kid to run, but its hard to Make him a Quarterback. Denard has carried the load for two years, blame it on whatever you want, but it is time for the coaching to take over. I watched Purdue's D'line make ND's offensive line look about the same as Navy trying to stop ND. I'm already tired of hearing about manball, put your money where your mouth is.
September 11th, 2012 at 8:36 AM ^
They should be running him every play with that noodle arm he has. Seriously, he is a shitty passer just as has spoon-eared predecessor was.
Come on people. ohio has probably the biggest joke of a non-conference schedule in the B1G. Let's wait until they play a real team and judge how good they are. We aren't going to learn anything by them blowing out some high school teams. Only the sensationalists in the media will get their jollys off watching them blow these bad teams out.
September 11th, 2012 at 8:49 AM ^
All I can say is I'm very happy we are playing a baby seal this weekend. If we had played two baby seals before this one we would have no idea of the limitations of this team. I think for fans ignorance and wins are bliss. Ohio (YTO) is just enjoying their bliss, but with the B1G getting beaten by UCLA, ASU, Oregon State, Iowa State and Ohio (NTO) early, they may be right in thinking they run the table until Michigan.
September 11th, 2012 at 8:54 AM ^
This conference really is behind everyone. Behind the PAC-12, Big 12 and lightyears behind the SEC. Maybe even the ACC as well. It really showed these past two weeks. And it breaks my heart.
Are we really considered "old man football" by kids today? (RE: Missouri player saying B1G football is).
September 11th, 2012 at 9:13 AM ^
September 11th, 2012 at 11:17 AM ^
There's a difference between "97% of our two deep will spend time on an NFL roster!" old man football and B1G old man football.
September 11th, 2012 at 9:17 AM ^
1: Things are pretty bad if Missouri players are making fun of us
2: What is "Old Man Football"? MANBALL?
3: Alabama is going to "old man football" them to death the 13th
September 11th, 2012 at 9:55 AM ^
Missouri can make fun of us all they want, but does anyone think they would be a Big Ten contender in our division? They've beaten Southeastern Louisiana and got beat up by Georgia, they're not in a position to be making fun of anyone at this point.
Edit: I guess they can rip on Southeastern Louisiana all they want; they've earned it.
September 11th, 2012 at 9:29 AM ^
Please note that the same 'old man football' that the Missouri player made fun of, whipped them on last saturday. His talk was cheap, Georgia came to play and outlasted Missouri in the 4th. These thoughts may still go on, but after 3yrs (3 of the worst ever in Michigan History) of young guy football, I am glad we are back playing old man football.
Now get off my lawn you kids.
September 11th, 2012 at 2:03 PM ^
Yet to see IT.
September 11th, 2012 at 9:39 AM ^
As the resident Mizzou grad and fan around here, I would advise you to ignore everything Sheldon Richardson says. He's not exactly the most upstanding citizen.
September 11th, 2012 at 8:49 AM ^
September 11th, 2012 at 8:58 AM ^
In addition, I'd ask this -- how is Urban Meyer's offense at OSU shaping up relative to what he had down at Florida? Miller and Tebow are two different QBs ... and the talent surrounding Miller is different than Tebow had. But do early indicators suggest Meyer is aiming OSU at the same spot? Or do early indicators suggest Meyer's concept of offense is changing?
September 11th, 2012 at 9:05 AM ^
I would imagine that the general concepts will remain the same; it's what he has done for a while with a lot of success. But of course he will have to change some things based on his different talent. He doesn't quite have that 'space player' yet like he had with Harvin. Hell, he might never again; Harvin was the number 1 recruit in his class afterall. Tebow was also the power run game at FL. While Miller isn't slight by any means, he's also not a linebacker like Tebow was. I imagine he'll have to tweak the running game to get bigger RBs (ie Dunn) involved when he needs to go power.
September 11th, 2012 at 5:32 PM ^
The plan was to have Jordan Hall fulfill that role, but he stepped on some glass during the offseason and cut a tendon in his foot. Urban said Hall will most likely he back this week on a limited basis. In Hall's place, Corey "Philly" Brown has been trying to the multi-faceted threat and so far Urban doesn't hate it, he probably doesn't prefer it, but it's serviceable for right now. The hope for the future lies in Jalin Marshall, who plays a very Harvin-sque style over in Middletown.
September 11th, 2012 at 9:10 AM ^
September 11th, 2012 at 9:19 AM ^
wasn't Denard 101% of our offense against AFA?
September 11th, 2012 at 10:09 AM ^
In total yardage, yes. Percentage of carries is important to balance to keep your players healthy.
Rushing
Carries
Denard - 20
Fitz - 8
Team - 3
TOTAL - 31
So Denard carried the ball 20 times which is higher than the 15 Borges would like, which was 64% of our carries (75% if you don't count the knees at the end). I am sure that this is not our game plan for every game. If it is, you better hope Bellomy is ready to take some snaps.
Passing
Attempts
Denard 14/25
So we threw the ball 25 times. Versus our 31 running plays (28 without the kneeling plays) for a fairly balanced rushing/passing attack. 53% rushing and 47% passing (not including kneeling). So you are correct that Denard was 101% of our offensive production, but the key to keeping him healthy is balancing his touches. If Fitz was a little more productive (than 7 yards on 8 carries) he would have touched the ball more. Almost every carry means the runner is going to get hit. Balancing the carries reduces the chance Denard gets hit. I think we can agree that reducing the number of hits on your QB is a good thing.
September 11th, 2012 at 1:05 PM ^
Almost every carry means the runner is going to get hit.
Fortunately, for UM and Denard, he didn't get hit at all on two of his carries. WOOT!
I propose more carries like the 79 and 58 yard TD runs. Why doesn't Borges call more of those?!?
September 11th, 2012 at 2:11 PM ^
We keep throwing stones, It was Carr's fault, RR's fault, blah blah blah. I Hate when coaches say we have to coach better, we have to execute better, how bout the other team just kicked our ass. I, for one sure hope that is what he is thinking.
September 11th, 2012 at 9:20 AM ^
All coaches say they want a "balanced" attack - this is coach press conference 101.
You have to make due with what you have...
September 11th, 2012 at 9:48 AM ^
Top two running backs are injured. Jordan Hall has missed the last two games with a foot injury and might be back this week while Carlos Hyde sprained his MCL early against UCF.
September 11th, 2012 at 10:03 AM ^
First of all, it's "Urbz" according to most buckeye honks. Second of all, please don't call him "Urbs" or Urbz." I can't explain how freaking lame that is. I know it came from buckeye fans, but don't bring that to the M community.
September 11th, 2012 at 10:36 AM ^
September 11th, 2012 at 3:26 PM ^
What does that make Brady Hoke? Wasn't that exactly what he said last year?
September 11th, 2012 at 11:04 AM ^
won't work in the Big Ten
September 11th, 2012 at 12:06 PM ^
I think it does when it's coupled with a strong defense. I am fairly confident M would have won more games with RR if he had a better defense.
Anyway, I prefer the pro-style offense anyway.
September 11th, 2012 at 1:04 PM ^
September 11th, 2012 at 11:07 AM ^
That will change as soon as Jordan Hall comes back, hopefully this week. Right now, OSU's only running backs are Hyde, who is not a spread RB and just sprained his MCL; Dunn, a true freshman who shows promise but is inconsistent; and Rod "Fumble" Smith.
As for Miller's passing, I think it's lightyears ahead of where it was last year. He still needs to improve, but so far this year, he's 32/48 for 362 yards, 3TD, 1INT for a QB rating of 146.5.
September 11th, 2012 at 11:48 AM ^
September 11th, 2012 at 12:40 PM ^
that Meyer/Herman's offense doesn't work when down?
Or Braxton can't throw the ball downfield? Or he's not clutch? Or what?
It hasn't happened yet this year so I guess there is a bit of TBD on this but last year Miller was down two scores in the 4th twice that I can think of, at UM and UF in the Gator bowl.
10/14, 147yards 1td/0int.
Sure, plenty of room to grow in Miller's game but I think if anything, Herman's variation of Meyer's offense will be more succesful in those situation because the added emphasis on the short and intermediate passing game. The numbers might be bloated over the course of a season because Miller will throw a lot more than he did last year but you can't say it's ineffective (hasn't happened yet) or he's not capable (in an pretty limited sample, he's performed quite well).
September 11th, 2012 at 3:34 PM ^
I wouldn't throw out an entire segment of statistics to assist you in making your point. Short passing = accuracy. Accuracy = improvement. Was Joe Montana not a good passer because the majority of his throws were 7-15 yards? Obviously not.