Post-Spring Game Thoughts (Offense)

Submitted by Mr. Yost on

QB
I now see why there is talk of a QB competition (notice I said competition, NOT controversy). Basically from what I see, Gardner is the same QB and Morris has improved some. So it's not that Devin has gotten worse or Shane has gotten SO much better. But if you thought Devin was a 7 of 10 last year and Morris was a 5 of 10. Devin is still a 7 and Morris is now a 6 or 6.5.

This is disheartening to me because it's not like Devin has a TON of experience or it's not like he's maxed out his potential. He's basically Taylor Martinez, the same QB for 3 years in a row...only Martinez was NEVER going to get any better with that arm. Gardner has a real shot to be something special.

Morris has improved like you'd expect any freshman to improve...so the fact that Gardner hasn't seemed to improve at least the same "amount" is a bad sign. Speight looks solid for a kid supposed to be in high school.

RB
Both Green and Smith look better...like Morris both seem to have improved as much as you'd expect a freshman to improve. Nothing drastic, but typical from year 1 to year 2. Green got his speed and burst back, it was noticable in the spring practice videos and it was noticable today. I'd be interested to see if either can pass block.

Hayes looks better, but he's got a little too much Mike Shaw "bounce" in him. He's got a gear that neither Green nor Smith have. Could be a nice change of pace back...could be an obvious screen RB candidate. Hopefully Drake Johnson can get back in the mix because 1. he looked really good before his injury and 2. Douglas doesn't look like a B1G player at this point in his career.

WR
Funchess looks the same, just more comfortable at WR. That said, he still drops WAY too many catchable balls. Those are drive killers. Chesson made a really nice catch. I still think Darboh is going to push him. Canteen is as good as advertised, that slot WR spot is his. Norfleet and Bo Dever seem to be your backups there. It looks like we WILL have a slot WR on the field most all the time. It'll be interesting to see if Darboh pushes Chesson to that spot or if one will start (as the #2) and the other will be first off the bench.

My biggest concern at WR is if we have someone who can stretch the field and "take the top off the defense." Hopefully Chesson is that guy (he burnt J. Clark one time on a corner route). We need separation because we don't have a QB accurate enough to use our size and leaping ability at WR to an advantage. For example, our big guys get a step on the DB and the ball needs to be high and we drill the CB in the back or completely overthrow the target. We can't use the height because we can't pinpoint our passes...it makes the extra inches in height and vertical useless. So we need some separation.

FB/TE/H-Back
Without Butt the data is incomplete. Heitzman is a load...seeing him running pass routes was weird...and funny. Williams seems the same. Not enough reps to make a comment on the FB and H-back guys.

OL
I now see why Mason Cole is the starter...he has solid hands and GREAT feet. He's not strong enough to start, he got bull rushed 2-3 times REALLY bad, but each time he kept his body between the defender and the QB. I suppose that's half the battle. Where David Dawson was getting blown by, Cole was always in position...he just wasn't big or strong enough to handle Clark a couple of times and got knocked back. The kid has a future though. I wouldn't want to run behind him because he's not clearing anyone out of the way...but again, he stays between his guy and the ball. At this point, that's more than just about anyone else.

Stock down on Kyle Kalis. He's just a body out there. He's got all the tools, but he never locks on to anyone...too often he's just swating at guys or grazing guys when he pulls. Whatever happened to the big physical guy that puts people on their ass? F-ing hit someone man! He just be like Lewan in that he locks onto someone and drives them down the DL and starts wiping other guys out in his wake. Lewan use to collapse his man all the way into the NG over the C. Kalis should be able to make a hole with his size and strength.

Stock also down on Dawson. Not sure where the hype about him playing LT came from. He was blown by HORRIBLY at least twice. He really had trouble with our interior OL when he played LG. Seemed confused at times. Still young, but defintiely not ready to play right now.

Bosch and Miller looked exactly the same. Braden looked okay in spots and then Clark flat out OWNED him in other spots. I'm going to miss Schofield's consistency.

It's going to be another long year on the OL. From what I saw, certain guys looked better...but all it takes is ONE guy to mess up. That's what kept happening to us. We'd get 4 guys doing what they were supposed to do and ONE guy would mess up and the whole play would go wrong. And it was almost never the same guy. Hopefully this is just a cohesiveness issue with the new guys just now starting to play together - but after what we saw last year...I'm not holding my breath.

OVERALL
Certain players looked better, the WRs looks very solid, but the fact that Devin has not progressed even a little bit and the OL doesn't look any better gives me no comfort in this offense. I really expected Gardner to take a step forward this year and I was just hoping the OL could at least be decent. I'll keep hope alive, but I'm skeptical after watching today and hearing comments over the spring. A shotgun quick and medium passing game with gashing runs may be our best bet.

***PLEASE AND FEEL FREE TO ADD YOUR THOUGHTS ON SPRING PRACTICE AND THE SPRING SCRIMMAGE***

I dumped the Dope

April 6th, 2014 at 4:00 AM ^

Some random thoughts...

I saw a couple busted plays out there, but my conclusion was that the OL is at least going to give you no gain to +2 yards.  There's obviously variance there to another team trying to smash you on every play vs. a practice against your own teammates.  I saw a few actual holes open up, Hayes doesn't need much daylight to get thru, he jumps thru the hole really fast when its there, but obviously he's not going to bull his way thru like Smith and Green could.  Don't think Mason Cole is physically ready yet viewed with the eyeball test.  I think its in his best interest to redshirt this one and we will utilize his skills on gameday with some more strength in '15.

I thought Gardner floated the ball up with a lot of arc there twice.  The Devins made me sigh a little bit, Funchess had some unnecessary dropsies and Gardner threw some wild pitches.  Canteen, although small, I will mark it down right now I believe he will eventually wear the #1.  Looks like he gets open, has good hands to make the catch, very fast, a nightmare for defensive backs.  Looks like jaron Dukes and DaMario are bringing their game along too.  Would love to see Darboh but its a "secret" for fall.  What I like about the QB competition is that if it gets to the point where Gardner is having a bad day and throwing some early INTs, then I would fully expect Shane to come off the bench and relieve him.  Last year there was literally no option.  Gardner of course has the ability to Denard you, get the defense opened up, down the field, and then get the 3 yards needed for a first down with his feet, and also make the bigger guys that he encounters, miss.  Love his ability and willingness to run it, and I think he should start unless Shane makes a big leap over the summer.

I actually liked Houma, he looks intimidating out there from where I sit, he's also sort of the "pulling" blocker that Stanford used to such deadly effectiveness last year.  Just saying he doesn't actually pull like a guard, but hes going to take a running start on someone unblocked.  I generally liked what Kerridge did last year, but I guess I missed him out there today.  Houma is easy to spot of course due to the large hairdo !

Defense, Mone is really big but lacks strength or balance?, he got pancaked to the ground a few times in the one-on-one drills (etc)  It seemed like he was doing he right fundamental thing to stay low but he doesn't yet have the leg strength to fight from that position.  Still like him, he just needs development.  Morgan looks like the same player, which is excellent.  Didn't follow Jake Ryan that much.  Clark looks to be an improvement over last season already.  The safeties look bigger and they are tall guys.  Somehow I didn't find Taco Charlton at all today.  I'm expecting consistency from Countess and Ray Taylor.

Last, but maybe most important.  I absolutely hated the way Borges coached Gardner (QBs for that matter) to hold the ball out like a loaf of bread at full arm's length from the moment they got the snap as if they were going to hand off.  In my mind it gave away run from like 10,000 feet away.  And even if it didn't if the defense bit on run/attacking aggression and it was play-action fake then they were probably going to get in the QBs face anyway due to porous OL.  Anyway, I like much better that the QB hides the ball now with his body, then either puts it down to handoff or drops back.  That in my mind although subtle split second stuff, is huge because the ball is hidden and not in view.  I think that one thing alone is going to make it much harder on opposing defenses as they have to wait for that one second to get a visual on the ball and *then* react.

edit: my apologies I mixed some defense in an offense thread.  Just going to leave it for now.

Pit2047

April 6th, 2014 at 6:20 AM ^

got to the handoff thing.  That really doesn't matter much at all, it's just QB coach preference.  If you stick the ball out you give the RB a target to run to and as long as the QB can hold on to the ball its fine.  If you hide it with your body then its up to the QB to quickly fit the ball in.  Bottom line, its not as if the defense is looking for the ball in the backfield to let the know run or pass, in both situations the QB has turned its back to the defense letting them know it's either a run or PA, whether he sticks the ball out or not.  The whole thing is moot anyway because a good defense should be looking at their keys, which are on the OL, not in the backfield so it really doesn't matter what the QB does.

Wolfman

April 6th, 2014 at 4:03 AM ^

"He really has a shot at being something special, or I'm really disappointed at his lack of progression."  Now no matter what your first language is, that is a contradiction, at least to a degree. You do realize he's a senior, right? He has no years left. Now you understand if he has a shot at being something special, it has to be 2014, correct?  But if such is the case, his lack of progression would all but negate your statement as to becoming "something special." Without attempting to rewrite your thoughts, am I correct in assuming that you are saying, "With Devin's potential, he could have been great but his lack of improvement from the periods 2012 through spring 2014 clearly indicate a qb who will never be good enough to realize the hope of all wolverine fans?  This basically is my only question because I know Nuss is smart enough to limit the offense to only those plays we are capable of running better than the defense will defend, and therefore all though we may seem one dimensional, we will be good at what we do, which often times, Hell, almost always, will put points on the board of sufficient number to leave it to the defense to hold up their half of the game plan.

Pit2047

April 6th, 2014 at 6:24 AM ^

was that I hate every single center on roster.  

Kugler -  showed potential but needs to put on some muscle.

Miller - looks awful, I don't not want to see him on the field this fall.  If you have a 1 technique to your left and a 3 technique to your right, when you go into your pass set you CANNOT stick your left arm out and proceed to stare to your right and I'm assuming try to help Kalis pick up a guy who is rushing the B gap.  Meanwhile Bosch is getting his ass kicked to the inside and there is a DT in Devin's face and around his feet preventing him from stepping into throws or getting sacked.  Meanwhile Miller ends up blocking no one.  I saw this multiple times and even saw Miller miss a freaking A GAP BLITZ right in his face because he refuses to acknowledge that there is a whole other side of the field rushers can come from.  (WE NEED CHAD LINDSAY)

Graham Glasgow - a guard and a pretty darn good one.  He's a decent center and he is definitely not a tackle.  

We need a true center on the field for the first time since David Molk.  Kalis looked better, he needs to learn how to identify his target when pulling but if he can do that he should be solid.  

Bosch - looked like a second year guard, hopefully we can kick Graham back to that spot.  

Braden - impressed me a little bit and I like his punch, he need to latch on and drive his targets but I recognize that might be difficult when your right hand is a club.  

Cole - showed potential but he needs to get in the weight room before he sees the field.  

LTT  - needs to learn what a blitzing DB looks like

David Dawson -  not ready yet, still looks raw and still doesn't have a position.  

Today I saw THREE OL I would trust to start.  If Magnuson comes back from injury and we somehow sign Lindsay, there's your starting five (Mags Graham Lindsay Kalis Braden).  We can't afford any injuries on the line this year cause I don't see anyone else ready to hit the field, especially at tackle and center.  We could maybe replace a guard but I wouldn't bet on it.

Franz Schubert

April 6th, 2014 at 7:28 AM ^

Should not be on the field. This staff needs to evaluate their players and determine whether they are guards or tackles and leave them alone. Too much switching around! Dawson is a guard, is that not obvious to even a couch potato like me?

In reply to by Franz Schubert

MGoBlueChip

April 6th, 2014 at 8:25 AM ^

If miller sees the field I will have lost any faith I had left in this staff's ability to evaluate talent...this must be why they wanted to get Lindsey up there....

In reply to by Franz Schubert

Pit2047

April 9th, 2014 at 2:09 AM ^

Not cross position repping is how we got to the 2012 season and didn't have a true center on the roster except Jack Miller after Pace medicaled and Rocko Khoury didn't come back for a 5th year.  Now we have options of where to play guys and they have actually practiced those positions, we just don't have a lot good options.  Also this is spring practice, this is where you test out postion changes and see if they work, especially at the beginning of careers, they did the same thing with Braden and Mags last year, this year they are staying at tackle it looks like.  That cross position repping helped because we could put Mags at LG last year where he was the only guy not named Glasgow that wasn't awful last year so they are probably going to keep doing it and should.

ppToilet

April 6th, 2014 at 6:35 AM ^

This was hardly a "game" and it is perilous to try and draw much if any conclusions from it. We know that we have players who wear Michigan uniforms and not much else. I wish they would really scrimmage like in the old days, so we could see what's up. Yes, Canteen looked good and even got popped once really hard and got up. But, will he be strong enough to play down after down? Who knows? So, it was fun seeing them out there but the team will most likely be much different in the fall.

Bocheezu

April 6th, 2014 at 6:43 AM ^

Cole-Bosch-Miller-Kalis-Braden

LTT-Dawson-Kugler-Kalis-Glasgow

LTT-Dawson-Kugler-Bosch-Glasgow

Glasgow was at RT the whole time.  He sealed the edge pretty well out there, leading to two of the big runs.  Miller had a few OK blocks and I don't know if that guy's completely out of the equation at center.  There was a play where Ryan came completely untouched, and I don't really know who to blame because literally no one made an effort to block the guy; neither of the two sets of combo blockers had anyone go to the 2nd level (they both stayed locked on their double teams). so there was just nobody there to do anything.  Either way, it's hard to evaluate the OL when there were a lot of weird line combos out there.

The TE blocking is still sketchy.  Williams got burned on one of the early runs.  Khalid HIll looks really slow off the line and blocked air on one of the TFLs.  It seems that whenever the defense slants inside, and the TE has to basically reach block, they get completely burned.

MWolverine7

April 6th, 2014 at 8:15 AM ^

I'm holding judgement until after the first snap...is the team improving game over game? Is it obvious that players are improving game over game? If the offense can do this we should see improvement in the win total. If not, we find a new coach - it's as simple as that.

FreddieMercuryHayes

April 6th, 2014 at 8:19 AM ^

I was trying to watch the gaurds, and they still seemed to let guys across them and not move their feet/body to stay with a guy.  Kalis especially seems to still be doing the young player thing of leaning into a guy. I'm not sure how much may be the new inside zone blocking, aka the DL was slanting, so ride them where they want to go and open up a backside crease, but the gaurds were still letting the DL by them.  And even in a zone scheme, DL in your backfield is disruptive. 

Also was disappointed in Green.  I know there weren't a ton of holes, but I especially remember a play early when a huge backside crease opened as will happen in this blocking scheme, and Green got isolated one-on-one with the filling LB.  Now great job on the LB at stopping that play, but honestly I was disappointed that Green just put his shoulder down and got one yard.  If you want an elite 'pro-style' run game, your RB has to win his share of those one-on-ones.  Without optioning someone, the RB has to account for a defender.  That's partially what makes Bama's run game so devistating.  Richardson, Yeldon, Lacy, all get by that guy themselves reguarly.  I was hoping Green would whip our a spin becasue he had nothing but space after that LB.

Avon Barksdale

April 6th, 2014 at 9:06 AM ^

1.) The offense looked terrible.

2.) Not a single RB, outside of Hayes, can make the first guy miss.

3.) The OL is still going to get the QB and RB's killed.

4.) Probably going to be another painful year of 3 YPC and plenty of dropped passes/coverage sacks allowed.

AMazinBlue

April 6th, 2014 at 10:13 AM ^

four months.

His timing was off, his accuracy was well...atrocious and he didn't seem to have much feel for what was happening with the defense.  Much of that is attibutable to being disconnected since the OSU game.

That aside, with it being the SPRING "game" err...practice, no one looked game ready except maybe Frank Clark.

If the Oline doesn't make significant strides between now and Aug 30 and DG doesn't find some consistency near the level of the OSU and ND games, the defense may be the only thing to get Hoke to 2015.

It wasn't pretty, it wasn't even encouraging, but it is only April.  I remember Urbz saying his team was terrible last spring and they looked it, but they won 12 before losing to MSU and then Clemson.  It is possible to get better.

If DG plays inconsistently for the first four weeks and Michigan loses a couple of games early, I hope and expect that Morris will get a shot and DG can go back to WR.  With the very little evidence we have, it looks like this season will be a struggle give the stateof the OLine and the QB position, but the sample size is incredibly small.

I'm glad I didn't go the Spring 'Game'.  It's not a game, it's a practice and the B1G network probably isn't very happy about it.  The 1-11/2 hours of whatever that was wasn't really broadcast worthy.

BTW, any word on who will be the radio voice for Michigan Football in 2014?

JT4104

April 6th, 2014 at 10:27 AM ^

Not worried about Gardner at all.....while it has no bearing on the fall I have watched Devin be awful in the money grab spring pracitce every year he has been at Michigan.

I dont think Morris was any better either and Speight probably needs to build his arm strength a little more before he is ready for this type of competiion.

RB's were fine and I'm going t take a radical guess and assume they wanted to see a lot of Smith/Hayes today as Green didn't get much work at all. Couldn't really tell much else.

OL....that has been covered pretty well. Please lets get Lindsey in the fold a senior leader to call out blocking assignments is badly needed.

I dont take a lot from the D except that they are a veteran group with a good amount of experience and I think they improve from last year.

So, in conclusion like always the Spring didn't show much and the QB's looked awful like they always do in the Michigan Spring money grab.

Mr. Yost

April 6th, 2014 at 10:57 AM ^

I know it's Marcus Ray...

But the announcers were AWFUL! I think for these types of things where you're getting so deep into the depth chart that they should recruit guys like Brian, Ace, TomVH and Sam. At least they know what they're talking about and they can speak to the younger guys and the guys who are currently running with the 3's.

It was brutal listening to the guys, but I couldn't turn them off because the camera angles were so tough at times I needed them to call out the names or numbers on a few plays.

Mr. Yost

April 6th, 2014 at 4:07 PM ^

...because Ray played at Michigan.

If he had no ties to Michigan and was just another BTN analyst, people wouldn't be so bent out of shape. But because he is Marcus Ray, he was great.

It was almost unbearable, they had no idea what they were talking about at times. One sequence made me laugh...Ray was trying to list off all of the WRs and he forgot Darboh, the other guy chimed in and reminded him and he goes "oh yea" and lists off the WRs again and forgets Darboh again and names either Chesson or Canteen twice.

But I'm not even referring to that, just moreso that knowledge of the guys on the field. I don't think you can expect the average announcer to know. That is why I think bringing in a Brian, TomVH or Sam really helps because they do it for a living and know every player on the roster and can give you more than just the fluff. 

Plus I think it would be cool to have a BTN announcer and a "local" guy for all of these spring game deals. Not permanently, just one time a year when it's ONLY that team. At least they know how to pronounce the names correctly and they can give some insight on the younger guys. Guys like Hurst and Poggi or Dukes and York. I'm not even sure those kinds of guys were ever even mentioned.

bronxblue

April 6th, 2014 at 11:01 AM ^

Having missed the open practice I'm basing most of this on reports I've read, but I'm not too worried about the QB position.  Gardner looked like hot garbage for years during these camps and yet when forced in the starting lineup has done well.  Also, he's still recovering from an injury only 4-ish months old, and the first game isn't for another 4-5 months.  Let's see how he looks then.

As for the OL, it is going to be a mess for now.  It certainly wasn't going to get any better with Lewan and Schofield gone.  I'm looking forward to seeing how it shapes up after some summer sessions, but it is going to be rough.  That said, I am also looking forward to the "lack of leadership" drum beaters to say NOW the team is very young and inexperienced and that's why they can't block anyone, as opposed to this year when everoyne just thought Taylor Lewan was kicking puppies all practice and telling his teammates to skip practice to go to the strip joint with him.  I will note, though, that it looked like they were trying to get lots of kids reps, which is what you should do in practice.  That definitely wasn't going to be the starting lineup every play, so I'm not proclaiming it a loss right now without more information.

mGrowOld

April 6th, 2014 at 11:34 AM ^

I didnt watch a minute of it and from the sounds of the comments in the threads posted it doesnt look like I missed much.

It's just a practice though.

goblu

April 6th, 2014 at 12:08 PM ^

Gardner is who he is, a QB that is capable of some big plays, both positive and negative. The offensive line is not good and it doesn't appear from the practice that they're capable of getting a push much less control the line of scrimmage. The RB's are probably better but it will not matter because of the line. Same for the receivers, improved as a unit from last year but Gardner is the weak link. The Defense will be better than average and will probably make some plays to keep us in games as they did last year which. I just don't see us winning at EL or Cbus. 10-2 is the ceiling, I hope I'm wrong.

wbpbrian

April 6th, 2014 at 12:31 PM ^

I would have liked to seen more improvement in the O-line but they still have some time to improve. I wouldn't worry too much about the O-line until our first game.

TheJuiceman

April 6th, 2014 at 12:47 PM ^

Devin looked turrible and our OLine still looks like shit. The defense looked decent, especially the DLine( see Frank and Willie AKA Earl), and Jeremy and Jordan looked explosive in the defensive backfield. The running game looks a bit better, but Derrick Green is still Mr.Twinkle Toes. He goes down way too easy to be as big as he is. 8 or 9 winds seems optimistic at this point.

GoBLUinTX

April 6th, 2014 at 12:50 PM ^

about the OL from the 2006 spring practice (changed blocking scheme from man to zone), and I find twisted comfort seeing and hearing the same thing from yesterday.  I also remind myself that the 1997 OL debuted with a RS FR LT and a RS FR LG, the guard being a former DT and only learned how to play offensive line during spring practice.

I'm not trying to compare 2014 with either 1997 or 2006.  I am taking the view that not much stock should be taken from what happens during spring practice, especially with the OL.

Hotroute06

April 6th, 2014 at 1:40 PM ^

The oline was definitley questionable from what i saw but i also think the coaches were mixing different groups together.  I never saw Glasgow playing with Bosch or Kalis and i think when the season starts they will all start.  Really hoping Magnuson can come back 100% or were in some big trouble.  Braden looks like a bust to me.  He seems to lean forward far too much and i dont trust him on passing downs and he doesnt seem to be this huge mauler in the run game even though hes a giant.  I really liked what i saw from Cole out there and he will have a bright future.  Dawson made a few mistakes but i saw a lot of good things from him especially on a few pulling plays. 

Deveon smith should i believe will be the starting running back.  Hes just flat out better than Green.  

Freddy Canteen has been a very pleasant surprise.  This kid could be something special.  Has Denard game speed.

Devin Gardner... the support he gets around here still shocks me.  The bottom line is hes a terrible decision maker and he always has been since stepping on campus.  He has all the talent in the world but between the ears he doesnt have it.  People will be in denile about this but a lot of sacks last year were a direct result of Gardner holding onto the ball to long and thinking he was Johnny Manziel.  I really really do hope though that im wrong and he lights things up this year but i would bet a lot of money thats not going to happen.  Nussmeier will put in Shane in the second half of the Notre Dame game and that will be the end of Gardners career,  book it. 

Liked what i saw from Speight out there.

 

 

Michigania

April 6th, 2014 at 3:15 PM ^

Finally some truth here. i second the Gardner mental capacity... He folds at critical times. Thats the truth on his sacks too. Seeing Morris play really convinced me. I think it help cost Borges his job, too.

Sten Carlson

April 6th, 2014 at 2:07 PM ^

I'm starting to dislike our fanbase even more than I dislike the relative lack of success the program has had of late. You guys aren't happy unless you're miserable. Might as well pack it in gents.

Mr. Yost

April 6th, 2014 at 4:43 PM ^

The guys who get all sensitive because people may complain about something.

Why can't there ever be a middle ground? Is the world coming to an end? No. We won 7 games last year with a young team and we're probably better.

Is this a great team? No. We were awful last year by our own standards and we haven't done or shown anything other than hire a new OC to give us hope on the future.

We don't have to sit around like "we suck." But we also don't have to act like everyone is just fine either.

Neither is true. But we can point our our flaws and discuss how to get better. And if that's what people chose to focus on rather than pointing out our bright spots and stroking each other...so be it.

Our Head Coach is the one who said "THIS IS MICHIGAN." And until we're back at that national "BCS" level year in and year out...I don't see anything wrong with fans discussing the things that need to be fixed. 

Look at basketball. They've had success and people don't do that nearly as much...and when people do, it's either blantantly obvious (like we don't play defense or rebound) or 10 people jump all over that 1 person and tells him/her to STFU (like when someone complains about turnovers for a team that typically never turns the ball over).

After basketball games I don't even think they had "snowflake" threads anymore...it was just posbang and 3-4 silly appreciation threads. And it's not like we played perfect, but people enjoyed watching Michigan Basketball and appreciated guys giving their all. Even after losses people were more "tame" than they are here.

Difference is here, we have a coach that set a standard...one we agree with because, well, This Is Michigan. We have some great recruits, solid talent and potential. And all across the country we see exceptions to our issues and wonder why we can't "have what they have" (for lack of a better term).

So I completely understand why people are unhappy. Michigan football hasn't been anything special since 2006 except for Hoke's first year and Carr's last game. Meanwhile MSU or OSU have had things to cheer for, particularly wins over Michigan.

So if people want to sit around and discuss what is wrong, go for it, that's the point of a message board. And right now there is more wrong with football than right with football. So it's going to be more negative. That's to be expected.

But I suppose we could all put on our maize and blue glasses, hold hands, and talk about all the wins, championships, and history and just forget about the present team until it's elite again.

goblu

April 6th, 2014 at 4:50 PM ^

a pretty lame Spring Game which mirrored the disappointing season. Like it or not, after Saturday's performance the fan base is going to be disappointed. It doesn't necessarily mean people are packing it in, they're just being realistic. I'm sure if Gardner was throwing darts and the O-line was mauling the D-Line yesterday the comments would be different. 

Jimmyisgod

April 7th, 2014 at 10:07 AM ^

It was one scrimmage, we can't blow it out of proportion.

That being said, it was obvious we are installing a new offense and I don't care if they say they've installed 85% of it, we saw hopefully only 30% of it Saturday.  The skilled players 100% looked like they were in the early stages of learning a new offense.  From what we saw, it seems like we're going to be a little more vanilla on offense, less spreading the defense out and less misdirection plays.  Going to be more smash mouth football.  That might take a while to take hold, but I think it's high time we found an identity and stuck with it 100%.  If I see read option more than once or twice, it would tell me we're still searching for an identity on offense. 

Canteen looked very good for a kid who's still supposed to be in high school.  The O line looked bad, worse than last year so far.  It seems to me a zone blocking scheme is going to require the RB to make the 1st guy miss, if he can do that, then he can gain big yards.  Hayes obviously looked the best of the RBs.  Smith looked OK.  Green?  Wow, he looks lost out there, I thought we'd see a better Derrick Green, he's got a long way to go to get to 2nd string IMO.  Extremely disappointing.  We get excited about 5-7 yard runs now, that used to be the norm and then we'd get excited about someone busting off a 20+ run.

We desparately need Butt to come back, we have no TE threat without him, none.  The lack of offensive weapons is disconcerting.  You cannot compete for a B1G title with 1 or 2 threats on offense, we need 5 or 6 playmakers.  Fuchess and Gardner didn't have their timing down, but that will improve as they learn the offense, lots of work to do.

Defensively, we looked good.  The D line is doing a good job of eating blocks and the LBs are running down hill.  Love that our DBs seem more aggressive.  Only concern I have is a lack of team speed on defense, but it's spring, so guys aren't playing a fast as they will.

I am thankful for the easy schedule, because we could have a tough adjustment to the losses we've had on offense and to the new system.  My heart says 10-2 is possible, my head says 8-4 is much more likely.  This team is still 1 year away, 2014 needs to be the season we define what we want to be, I want to see the staff stick with an offense even if it costs us a game or two, I'd rather finish 7-6 again and know for sure what we are trying to become than finish 10-3 and still not be sure if we're a spread team or a power team.

Oh, and Hoke gets a pass this year IMO.  Just too many losses on offense, not enough upperclassmen, and a brand new offense, this is a rebuilding year and he needs to get it right for the future.