Razzle Dazzle in the last 2 games
Bowl eligibility. Check.
Winning record. Check.
Now that Coach Rod is looking like he has shown tangible progress, I expect (more like hope) to see more razzle dazzle from the offense. He has said in previous interviews that he wants his offense to execute the basic plays well before adding new wrinkles. There is no better time than now since (1) opponents have 10 games of film which they will think they know the tendencies, (2) Michigan will be underdogs in both remaining games, and (3) not much to lose since Coach Rod has met most people expectations this season.
This offense is good enough not to depend on trick plays to score. The variety of "razzle dazzle" I'm referring to are other options and misdirection, like the reverse to Grady seen against Purdue. Here is a wrinkle from Coach Rod's offense we have yet to see this season:
What do other mgobloggers like to see?
November 14th, 2010 at 11:29 PM ^
that works!
November 14th, 2010 at 11:34 PM ^
That is basically the same play we run with Grady all the time. We ran it on saturday and I think we ran it against Western last year, and Eastern with Odoms if I'm not mistaken for a touchdown.
November 15th, 2010 at 9:55 AM ^
It doesn't seem all that different from the Grady reverse.
November 14th, 2010 at 11:35 PM ^
"Razzle Dazzle" as well, but seeing as how our team has had trouble securing the ball and not throwing picks on a regular basis the last two games, I don't know if I'd want to risk the trickeration. Remember, high risk, high reward, but usually, with a young team who is still learning the playbook (likely), the risk is too great, IMO.
RichRod has certainly been holding things back on the offensive side of the ball, especially in the Purdue game. I'm sure he already has some plays drawn up for Wiscy and OSU that you'll soon see implemented. Maybe they'll involve trckery, and maybe not, but I can guarantee you that the offense will go from vanilla to chocolate in the next two weeks.
November 15th, 2010 at 11:32 AM ^
I can guarantee you that the offense will go from vanilla to chocolate in the next two weeks.
More like sexual chocolate.
November 15th, 2010 at 11:50 AM ^
Chocolate isn't more complex than vanilla though. How about some Rocky Road or Superman?
November 15th, 2010 at 12:21 PM ^
I could definitely go for Superman. As in mistake-free 500 yards of offense Denard.
Let's stay away from the Rocky Road though, okay?
November 14th, 2010 at 11:36 PM ^
Chocolate
November 14th, 2010 at 11:37 PM ^
I would like to see Michigan play with absolute reckless abandonment, as they will be underdogs in both of the next two games.
Stretching the field early in the game is a great idea, but does not play to Robinson's strengths.
November 15th, 2010 at 12:56 AM ^
Balls out for the next two games. Time to show off that offense, nothing to lose!!
November 15th, 2010 at 10:35 AM ^
Balls out!
Hard edge!
Hard balls!
Wait...
November 15th, 2010 at 12:15 PM ^
You mean Balls to the wall right
November 15th, 2010 at 1:10 AM ^
We played with a lot of reckless abandonment (of the ball) the last two weeks. I'd like to see that change.
November 14th, 2010 at 11:39 PM ^
Some mis-direction off of our prime running play - Denard left / Denard right would be awesome. I think (and i'll be the first to admit that I'm not of coaching caliber) that Michigan has to open the play book on O and D against wiscy and OSU to have a chance. I just don't think we measure up to either team yet...
November 14th, 2010 at 11:40 PM ^
I would like to see us score more points than Wisconsin next week. Then in two weeks for Denard to have such an epic day in the toilet seat that the osu fans give him a standing O...ala Harmon. Is that asking too much? You asked waht I wanted, so I guess that's it.
November 14th, 2010 at 11:45 PM ^
I agree with you whole heartedly. I'd like to see us score more points than Wisconsin this week, and then 2 weeks from now, score more point than osu.
Simple request right?!?
November 15th, 2010 at 12:10 AM ^
Standing ovation from osu fans? When's the last time they've shown that much class?
November 15th, 2010 at 12:29 AM ^
Before Woody Hayes and his pathological hatred of all things from "that state up north," OSU fans seem to have been . . . . normal.
November 15th, 2010 at 12:28 AM ^
I'd like to see Wiscy score 82 points two weeks in a row BUT lose! M84 W82 5OTs.
November 15th, 2010 at 7:34 AM ^
I don't think this fan base, or any fan base for that matter, could stand a 5OT game. That would just be pure insanity haha
November 15th, 2010 at 10:52 AM ^
You must be a strapping young buck to wish for something like that to happen. For us older fans (35 feels very old), I don't think we could take an epic game like that. I think I aged about 5 years during the Illinois triple-overtime game.
November 15th, 2010 at 7:17 AM ^
that the osu fans give him a standing O...ala Harmon.
I'm sorry but it's not 1940, and that will never happen. Blame the waning power of the Teamsters® that has produced a less classy generation of truck driver.
November 14th, 2010 at 11:45 PM ^
Transcontinental.
November 14th, 2010 at 11:51 PM ^
from The Usual Suspects at first. According to Forde the Hat has a monopoly on deals with the devil so I guess that is out.
November 14th, 2010 at 11:46 PM ^
what I really want is for Wisconsin to tackle like East Carolina.
November 14th, 2010 at 11:48 PM ^
I was watching the Auburn-Georgia game last night, and I would love to see Coach Rod put in some of those formation packages that Auburn uses for the professional Cam Newton. We have loads of talent on the offensive side of the ball, but I feel like we run an incredibly basic offensive with one of the elite playmakers in college football (Denard Robinson).
November 14th, 2010 at 11:50 PM ^
I would like to see some new razzle dazzle plays. The only thing that scares me is our ball security on any kind of handoffs or pitches in the backfield.
November 14th, 2010 at 11:53 PM ^
It was a good play call, but it should have yielded about 10 yards. Two ECU players sandwiched Reynaud, but bounced off of him.
November 14th, 2010 at 11:57 PM ^
with better downfield blocking, raynaud doesn't get pinballed. our WRs are better blockers and our FB hasn't seen the playing field in many games, let alone be asked to run downfield and block like owen schmitt was trying on that play.
November 14th, 2010 at 11:55 PM ^
wait till osu suhhhhh.
November 14th, 2010 at 11:58 PM ^
I agree with the ball secruity, but my dream if we get inside the 20, Tate lineup at qb, Denard at slot. Put Denard in motion and act like a jet sweep. Tate can hand it off to Denard to throw or run, it would be real interesting to watch. We can call it the Wild-Dreads!!
November 14th, 2010 at 11:59 PM ^
Razzle Dazzle is cute, but it doesn't win you football games. Execution wins you football games.
If it ain't broke then why try to fix it? I would rather see this team gain confidence and continue to do what they are doing now than to see it all lost trying to work in some gadget plays.
We have a whole offseason to add more tricks and work on new things. Right now let's just work on execution.
November 15th, 2010 at 12:03 AM ^
Boise State disagees.
November 15th, 2010 at 12:08 AM ^
The Mad Hatter showed you in ther LSU-Alabama game what you can do to even a recognized great defensive coach like Saban when the opposing defense has to worry about what you might do....
November 15th, 2010 at 1:05 AM ^
That's the thing. It's not what the play does in that one instance, it's what the opposition has to think about in the future.
November 15th, 2010 at 3:08 AM ^
No, Boise State executes first and foremost. They are unusual in that they execute a large variety of plays successfully.
November 15th, 2010 at 11:20 AM ^
Exactly.
Execution is key, even for trick plays. If the team isn't executing the regular offense, what makes you think they'd be able to execute the trick plays?
Granted they are doing a great job executing the base offense, but they are still young and require more practice before they go nuts on the playbook.
You look at Boise State and yes, they had one game where they went hog wild on the trick plays, but do you honestly think that they do that every game? They're much more efficient and can run an effective offense out of their base set. Every once in awhile they'll throw a gadget play out there to throw the defense off, but to expect a lot of "razzle-dazzle" would be counterproductive.
November 15th, 2010 at 12:10 AM ^
this offense puts up a lot of yards, but has to improve turning those yards into points. this offense may need misdirection or something unexpected against wiscy and osu. because as it stands, wiscy and osu have a higher point per game average.
Michigan - 37.7 ppg
Wisconsin - 40.2 ppg
Ohio State - 41.6 ppg
if the offense doesn't turn the ball over, then the offense can score an Oregon-like 50 points per game, but because of the turnovers, some razzle dazzle may be needed in certain situations.
November 15th, 2010 at 10:13 AM ^
Ahh yes, but is that 40.2 ppg before or after Wisconsin fathered IU last week?
We're gonna win!!! Wahooo!!! Optimism is key in my life...
November 15th, 2010 at 12:34 PM ^
does it matter? IU is a common opponent so why would anyone remove that game from consideration when comparing overall season statistics?
i like your enthusiasm though.
November 15th, 2010 at 12:15 AM ^
Didn't Rodriguez say somewhere that they're only able to work on about one new play a week? Maybe they're still working on basic fundamental plays with a few trick plays here and there.
On the topic of running trick plays with a young team, remember when Notre [L]ame ran the flea flicker against us? I think we should save plays like that for when we need them. If we can move the ball well, then we don't need them. Afterall, freshman Forcier put up more passing yards against osu than Henne did in 2006. Yeah, he did throw what seemed like half of his passes to the other team, but Rodriguez's offense can move the ball against anyone (weather permitting).
November 15th, 2010 at 12:33 AM ^
I heard rumors we were saving some plays just for osu, I would love that.
November 15th, 2010 at 12:59 AM ^
They are saving a lot of "trick" plays for OSU.
November 15th, 2010 at 12:36 AM ^
Bring in the TateLace formation!
November 15th, 2010 at 6:55 AM ^
If Purdue can play 2 qbs at the same time, why not us? ;)
November 15th, 2010 at 12:38 AM ^
I'd like to see Denard line up at left HB with Tate at QB and Hopkins at right HB (I'd call that the thunder and lightening backfield). Then run the base read option with Tate keeping or giving to Denard or throwing bubble left or if Denard gets the ball running behind Hopkins or throwing his patented ultimate PA TD pass.
An even more outragous play would be to have Denard (if he's given the ball by Tate) run the read option with Hopkins. This would oddly allow you to leave two (2!) defensive lineman unblocked but would probably take way to long to develop and be blown up by one or both of the unblocked DLs. Fun to think about though.
November 15th, 2010 at 4:39 AM ^
With Dee in Denard's current position and Denard at QB.
Lethal
November 15th, 2010 at 2:46 AM ^
Razzle dazzle?
Is this NBA Jam?
I say okay only if we can get a BOOMSHAKALAKA at the end.
November 15th, 2010 at 1:49 PM ^
although I do prefer boom sha lak lak boom