Our Offense: Pure Gattis, Pure Harbaugh, or a Frankenstein?
I'm not an offense expert, so I'm not qualified to make a full judgment on this, so for those of you who are better experts on offense, but would you say that what you saw against MSU last week was Gattis's offense finally waking up, Harbaugh taking the reins back, or a "Frankenstein" hybrid of the two?
I ask because the people I've talked to can't seem to agree as to whether or not what we're seeing is actually different from years past.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:00 AM ^
I think it's pretty obvious they've taken some elements of what they did well last year and have mixed it with the speed in space elements from Gattis.
They've added more options out of the arc read package and are now throwing bubble screens and RPO's to get the ball out quickly and let the WRs make plays.
I don't see why this is hard to get.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:51 AM ^
Wrong. What is obvious here is that it's actually Al Borges running the offense through secret messages to Josh Gattis, all under the facade of a radio station called "WTKA", and it's sleeper agent "Sam Webb". Now that my friends.....is obvious
November 22nd, 2019 at 12:22 PM ^
Right? I mean, if you can't see the Gorgeous Borges influence on the offense, I can't help you. It's no more clear than Shea going under-center. Clearly, that is the Borges Difference...
November 22nd, 2019 at 4:10 PM ^
That's quite the Hawt Take...
November 22nd, 2019 at 4:53 PM ^
Yes. And I’m glad for it.
it seems to me sometimes Offensive minded coaches can be too set in a scheme. Borgess with Denard under center.
Rich Rod rubbing read option with a power team.
Mooch with the Lions back in the day.
like it’s good to have a d coordinator that can adjust his scheme to changing circumstances, it’s good to have an offensive team that can do the same.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:01 AM ^
It's Pure Michigan
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:02 AM ^
They go over this in depth on the latest WTKA podcast, better than anything I could try to summarize
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:08 AM ^
Thank you, and frankly I'm kinda sick of people asking. As long as it works, who gives a fuck at this point?
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:28 AM ^
Exactly. Some people just feel like they have to label this offense as something or another. Who cares? If I were an offensive coach, I'd use whatever play I could find if I thought it may give the team an advantage in a situation. I would have zero problem if Michigan wanted to roll out a wishbone play or Bo-esqe QB option - if it made sense to run. I personally like the traditional I formation in goal-line situations, especially with a Ben Mason out there. The direct snap to Haskins didn't work both times we ran it (for example) in the last game.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:32 AM ^
Actually Haskins did score on the direct snap in the last game. If he would have followed Mason, it would have been an easy score.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:51 AM ^
I think that's one of three gaps he could have used but otherwise, yeah.
November 22nd, 2019 at 1:55 PM ^
I blame Mason for not picking him up and carrying him across the line.
November 22nd, 2019 at 12:31 PM ^
That would help in apportioning blame when the offense is stymied by a great defense. We must have someone/something to blame.
November 22nd, 2019 at 4:58 PM ^
People that have curious minds
November 22nd, 2019 at 12:01 PM ^
...and I thought Brian and Sam were going to have a go at it...never heard a radio fight before
November 22nd, 2019 at 2:31 PM ^
ace and basketball matt had one on twitter yesterday too. was a thursday of mgoblog personalities arguing.
November 22nd, 2019 at 10:24 PM ^
Mercury must still be in retrograde.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:03 AM ^
Harbattistein O: Its character depends on whatever an opposing D has to give.
November 22nd, 2019 at 12:26 PM ^
Harbattistein? Who is the 'tein' part? Personally, I'd have included Ed Warriner and called it 'Harbattiser'...
November 22nd, 2019 at 1:17 PM ^
Franken “stein” is what I assume he was referencing
November 22nd, 2019 at 1:27 PM ^
Yeah, duh
November 22nd, 2019 at 1:27 PM ^
Yeah, duh
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:05 AM ^
You don't read Brian's posts on this here blog, do you?
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:09 AM ^
Frankenstein. I know Sam Webb says that the run plays were plays that Bama ran in the past. But that doesn't also mean they're not plays that Michigan has ran in the past. Most of that stuff wasn't there early in the year as the run game was not imaginative at all. I think Harbaugh and Warinner and Gattis talked about the run game and what they think works and doesn't work.
Pass game seems all Gattis. Not as many slow developing two and three man routes as last year.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:11 AM ^
I don’t quite get why he is emphasizing that it’s Alabama so much. We ran those to success last year because it’s what Harbaugh and Warriner know. Gattis is adding his flavor now. It’s more a coincidence that Alabama ran something similar. We seem to be putting our best players in position to succeed.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:19 AM ^
Sam is Michigan's PR machine, there is a narrative he needs to portray to keep his access.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:40 AM ^
Their argument just seemed like semantics. Bama has run a pro-spread for several years. That's what Michigan tried to do a bit last year. Run game worked, pass game didn't. Gattis comes in and runs his offense, which is a variant of Bama's. Run game was pretty bland and got better as the year went on. Just like last year. Gattis still running the offense. Don't think getting help in the run game makes it not his offense. Argument just seemed weird.
November 22nd, 2019 at 8:18 PM ^
Gattis is coming off a lil' obsessed with getting credit. That offseason thing with Locksley and now this. Everyone wants you to know how smart Gattis is.
November 22nd, 2019 at 5:11 PM ^
I can say from experience that Bama doesn't have a fullback, and the fans openly grumble about it every goal line stand.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:09 AM ^
It's a combination of both, along with a QB and WRs being more consistent. The running game is more modern Harbaugh while the passing attack is very Gattis. But none of it would matter if Patterson wasn't playing better and the offensive players around him were more comfortable executing the playcalls. Of, and not fumbling every 3rd possession.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:09 AM ^
It’s a Frankenstein. Its Josh Gattis’ offense, but you know that Harbaugh is watching film and is suggesting things he thinks will work. Sometimes you just lean more on strengths - ND being more Harbaugh, Penn State being 50/50 and MSU being more Gattis.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:11 AM ^
Definitely Frankenstein. Even with all the speed in space in the last game Mason played FB/TE about 30% of all offensive snaps (per Brian's UFR) and they had 2 or fewer WRs on about 30% of all offensive snaps.
What is most promising from the past few games is that their "Frankenstein" approach isn't just a combination of the two within a single game-- they seem willing to adjust and emphasize whichever approach is most appropriate each game. After Notre Dame everyone was talking about how much the offense resembled last year's offense, and then after the MSU game everyone is now talking about speed in space.
November 22nd, 2019 at 1:59 PM ^
I think mason is a pretty unique player, and some of the formations used against MSU maximize his ability to impact the game. I liked the concept of leaking him out of the backfield (he eligible so can leak) to block downfield on short passing plays. I think we’ll see some of this against OSU and will use the same formation for him to take some hard chips at Young.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:12 AM ^
According to Sam it’s pure Gattis. Sam talked to members of the coaching staff about it. Pure Gattis.
Brian says Frankenstein (used the run game from last year).
I am inclined to think Gattis was smart enough to take suggestions from Harbaugh and Ed. But I don’t think he just asked for last year’s play sheet or anything. Alabama runs pin and pulls, split zone, inside zone, etc too, it’s not like it’s some alien concept for Gattis and needed those two to introduce them to him.
i don’t really care as long as the offense keeps humming along. I don’t know why it’s such a big deal to Brian or Sam.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:15 AM ^
Because it generates discussion and clicks.
November 22nd, 2019 at 12:12 PM ^
I don’t think it matters either. However, I’m willing to bet that the players would refer to pin-pull as that play we ran last year rather than the play Bama ran last year. It’s the kind of argument that isn’t worth having... the offense is versatile and functional. That’s all anyone who roots for Michigan should care about.
November 22nd, 2019 at 12:38 PM ^
The big deal is that Sam won't hold Gattis accountable for the poor start to the season and puts the blame on turnovers and execution by the players (transition costs). Brian points out that what Alabama ran last year, what Michigan ran last year, and what we're running now are all in the same neighborhood, so there's no logical explanation for the half-installed run game from the first few weeks (especially using the Spring Game playbook as a barometer). Sam rebuffs that what Michigan was running last year (in the run game) is related to this year's offense because Al Borges said so.
November 22nd, 2019 at 12:40 PM ^
Those concepts were sure as hell alien to Gattis through the first half of the season. Given what Gattis is being paid and the high profile of his position, it's quite startling that it took him so long to actually incorporate them. But they're in now, so I guess it's water under the bridge, but no one (I'm looking at Sam) should use that to excuse an incompetent decision not to use them all season long.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:24 AM ^
For me, what matters is that we finally have an offense that can win games for us against good defenses. We can win in a shootout or we can grind them to death. A few more years (hope Gattis stays) in this system, we are going to be a death star. Get some more star players on DL and retain the offensive coaches, we will be finally on par with OSU talent and scheme wise. Very exciting and the future is bright.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:25 AM ^
Gattis is running the offense.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:27 AM ^
Ask Brian
November 22nd, 2019 at 12:53 PM ^
Ask Sam.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:27 AM ^
My take is: who cares?
I would hope an offensive minded head coach and his OC can put their egos aside and work together to create an offense that is the most effective possible. Who gets the credit or blame is pretty irrelevant.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:38 AM ^
It's Gattis' passing game with Harbaugh/Warriner's run game.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:39 AM ^
Harbaugh gave Gattis the keys to the car. Gattis was an inexperienced driver who didn't fully know how to drive this type of car. Jim stood quietely as Gattis tried figuring it out. And when Josh was stuck in second gear, Jim showed him how to shift.
Gattis brought elements of Alabama's offense that were a jumbled mess at the start because he tried feeding the players through a fire hose. WITH JIM'S GUIDANCE, Gattis was able to combine elements of the Alabama offense with staples of Jim's offense. He started taking what the defense gave him and coupled it with power run plays the players were comfortable running.
Credit goes to Gattis not being a stubborn mule (a la RichRod or Borges) for mashing together his vision with elements of the last year's offense, and creating what we've seen the last month.
This idea that Gattis is "RUNNING ALABAMA'S OFFENSE" is short-sighted, and somewhat confusing as to why Sam insists on making that such an important talking point.
November 22nd, 2019 at 12:34 PM ^
A clear headed response from a former player. Thank you!
Besides, it agrees completely with my thoughts on the subject! I say kudos to both Gattis and Harbaugh for the effort to work together and improve things, rather than assign blame and bicker amongst themselves.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:47 AM ^
Who cares? It’s working. The team, the team, the team.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:56 AM ^
It’s ten percent luck
Twenty percent skill
Fifteen percent concentrated power of will
Five percent pleasure
Fifty percent pain
100% kicking MSUs ass again
/fort minor’d
November 22nd, 2019 at 12:03 PM ^
Found Sam's burner account lmaoooooo