Rutgers Snowflakes: The Offense
September 23rd, 2023 at 2:56 PM ^
One drive with great playcalling lost in a sea of vanilla confusion.
September 23rd, 2023 at 2:57 PM ^
Need to improve if they want to win a national championship
September 23rd, 2023 at 2:57 PM ^
JJ using his legs made a big difference to keep some of the drives alive. Blake was a tank. Just missed another 100 yd game, ending up with 97.
No INT or other turnovers for the Maize and Blue. Don't know what to make about Donovan. If he's really hurt, he wouldn't be playing.
While some might say another meh performance, I'll take it. BTW; they won by 24 pts and met the point spread or it was a push.
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:31 PM ^
This a 100% perfect recap of the game. Logical. All the drunk fans freaking out probably never played sports. This blog is a gold mine for insane takes (not yours sir)
September 23rd, 2023 at 9:29 PM ^
Dude I agree about the insane takes, but the silly arrogance of spouting crap like critical fans probably never having "played sports' is pitiful. Most of us aren't writers who ever wrote a novel either, but we all could identify a well-written book and be able to explain why.
September 24th, 2023 at 1:12 PM ^
Nah, he has a point. I'm not saying it is everyone on this board, but there are a lot of people that don't understand that it is very hard to be perfect against a live team that also practices their asses off day in and day out.
Take for example DE. He has had what, 30-35 carries on the YEAR, and people are saying he doesn't have it? Talk about small sample sizes. He is pressing a bit, looking to make it all up in one play I think. He will settle in and be fine, but if you read some of the comments here, he might be our worst running back and should switch to receiver full-time. It is just fan-brain nonsense.
September 23rd, 2023 at 2:57 PM ^
400 yards, but the offense looked sluggish. Like others commented, I don’t know why they want to play so slowly. They did seem to snap it a little more quickly in the second half
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:02 PM ^
Harbaugh has refused to embrace tempo against crap opponents his entire tenure and for the life of me I cannot understand why. It’s an easy way to pile up stats for your great players and feed more mouths. Also, the more snaps, the more the law of big numbers applies, which would benefit Michigan against all but a couple of opponents.
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:33 PM ^
Wow! You might be the Michigan fan with the least understanding of Jim Harbaugh. Did you actually just say that Jim Harbaugh would make a football decision to “pile up stats”? The coach who said every stat is overrated except points”
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:57 PM ^
How about this way — we need to pile up recruits. Throwing the ball more than 21 times makes it a lot easier to get better QBs and WRs. I mean, do we want Bryce Underwood or not?
Also, piling up experience. We have OL and RBs who need reps/experience—the more plays, the more experience, the better prepared they are for close games.
September 23rd, 2023 at 5:10 PM ^
But Michigan recruits as well as it likely can given the nature of the institution. And Jim Harbaugh’s job is to win games at Michigan. Not to send UM skill players to the NFL. Winning in college isn’t exactly the same as winning in the NFL.
September 23rd, 2023 at 9:44 PM ^
If Bryce Underwood was my son, I wouldn't want him coming here due to the fact that this fan base is a bunch of whining, unappreciated, unhappy don't know what they watching fans. Can't even appreciate a 24 point win without negative shaming the players. You guys complain about everything.
September 24th, 2023 at 1:14 PM ^
A 24 point win over a 3-0 Power 5 team at that. A 24 point win that was never really in doubt half way through the third quarter. People just want us to treat it like a video game.
September 23rd, 2023 at 4:30 PM ^
You’re right. On this particular issue I have never understood Harbaugh, I won’t today and I won’t tomorrow. Look around the NFL; are there any offensive skill position players playing at a pro-bowl level that played at Michigan?
If you want better offensive recruits, you need to show them something of substance. Right now, Michigan has very little to show quarterbacks and wide receivers. Under Harbaugh, they haven’t put up stats and haven’t had (much) success in the NFL. What does that leave you with to recruit on?
This is not some “Fire Harbaugh” rant in case you were wondering, but barring the transfer portal, what will be our offensive skill positions next year gives me hives (I assume JJ and Edwards are out the door).
Ultimately, putting up stats should always come second to winning - I would never dispute that. But in these virtually ‘guaranteed win’ games, what’s the harm in going full tempo all game long?
September 23rd, 2023 at 4:56 PM ^
I could see Edwards possibly staying as the opportunity to be RB1
September 25th, 2023 at 12:40 AM ^
More plays mean more opportunities for injuries. All game? Harbaugh is not going to do that against Rutgers.
September 23rd, 2023 at 4:50 PM ^
Well giving Michigan more snaps vs a worse opponent would help them win.
September 24th, 2023 at 9:34 AM ^
They've won all thier games. Increasing snap count also increases chance for fatigue and injury on both sides of the ball.
September 23rd, 2023 at 2:58 PM ^
Mullings is RB2.
Edwards is basically just a receiver, his vision has regressed significantly.
Henderson should be LT.
IDK why we always cover up Loveland in those unbalanced sets.
We're doing the thing where we only motion receivers on passing plays again.
September 24th, 2023 at 1:16 PM ^
Edwards has 33 total carries on the season.
Mullings was running against the 2nd team defense.
Edwards also chipped in over 50 yards receiving.
September 23rd, 2023 at 2:58 PM ^
Loveland looks pretty solid and Corum getting back into a groove.
September 23rd, 2023 at 2:58 PM ^
Pick up the pace and go back to gap schemes and all is well. Michigan had seven possessions in this game, only six full possessions. They were efficient.
They need to account for these clock changes better to help win games and keep play makers happy.
September 23rd, 2023 at 2:58 PM ^
It was good to see JJ get the TO bug out of his system. The start of the game was rough, but Moore's play calling allowed him to complete a few easy passes and get into a rhythm.
September 23rd, 2023 at 2:58 PM ^
1) Team misses OLU. O-line went from elite to pretty good.
2) Hinton is a liability on the O-line as well, compounding the problem.
3) Edwards is a home run threat....without the O-line giving him a crack to get to the secondary, he will just be a frustrating back to watch.
September 23rd, 2023 at 2:59 PM ^
O-line has defiant regressed from last year but I’m liking the receivers so far.
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:00 PM ^
Despite how it sometimes felt watching, I'm actually happy with most of the box score. Over 400 yards of total offense, and over 200 each rushing and passing. Nice even split there. JJ didn't throw any picks and completed just over 70% of his throws. Overall, a strong effort against what may be among the top 3 or 4 defenses we see this year.
The frustrating part is the thought that without ass spots from the refs, the phantom delay of game, and the inexplicably bad play from Hinton, it could have been EVEN BETTER.
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:00 PM ^
Stop playing so damn slow.
Stop burning downs on these inside zone runs up the gut.
Stop playing Hinton. Enough is enough, he's clearly a weak link and does not look good. Jones and Henderson always look better when they do get the chance.
Something is wrong with Edwards. Our big play, home run hitting back just isn't making a lot of big plays. He's going down easily, he's missing reads, poor blocking. I don't know what's up with him, but he's been a huge disappointment.
JJ looks good.
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:07 PM ^
All fair. Positive side is they are 4-0
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:04 PM ^
There were a couple first down pass attempts, though I don't remember if any were off play action.
Not sure if anything we saw today counts as progress, but the double reverse flea flicker to Loveland was cool.
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:04 PM ^
The offense plays a style that seems developed with the idea of an unstoppable running game in mind. After four games after mediocre competition it seems fair to say that the running game is certainly not unstoppable.
Based on available evidence, the Michigan offense will run into some real problems against the better teams on the schedule.
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:07 PM ^
Yup, TCU game ring a bell
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:08 PM ^
Other than PSU and OSU, who on the remaining schedule has a better defense than Rutgers? And since Knowles and Ransom are still around, OSU might even be a stretch.
September 23rd, 2023 at 4:09 PM ^
1) Those are pretty important games, especially Penn State, which is away.
2) People are understandably envisioning how this offense will look against Georgia, or a team with an actual high-powered offense (eg USC) and we have to put up 50 points. It’s not a 12 game season. The hope was the battle station would now be fully operational with an experienced JJ, and experienced offensive line, two great running backs, etc. So far, we seem to have taken a step back (eg, Edwards, the OL), if anything, let alone a step forward.
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:06 PM ^
Good win.
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:08 PM ^
Blake Corum is back. JJ had a nice game with no TO's.
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:09 PM ^
Good balance. We were and r a 4Q team. Liked Mullings mauling at the end.
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:10 PM ^
There's some serious problems with this offense. Wrs can't get open, oline is inconsistent. Lots to get fixed, but I think it is fixable. I hate that this team refuses to play a faster pace. Hate it
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:17 PM ^
Over 400 yards on 7 possessions is pretty good.
JJ looked mostly very good in the pocket, a few misses, but overall great
JJ run calls were great and incredibly effective against loaded boxes crashing down
Blake looked good, but Rutgers was clearly keyed on him
Donovan good receiving, still a great weapon, clock rule isn’t being good to him though
Oline got better and better as game went on
Tight ends looked good to great
First scoring drive was so pretty
Loved the opening drive of the 2nd half until Hinton got beat
Expecting to see Henderson as starter fro here on out
Good day
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:18 PM ^
Please preserve a redshirt for Hinton. Asking for a friend (or several).
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:18 PM ^
We are not taking advantage of Lovelands and Barners catch radii. Big mismatch that it feels like we only target 3-5x per game
September 24th, 2023 at 1:18 PM ^
5 times a game is like 20-25% or the passes tho...
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:21 PM ^
I don't think serious issues is a fair way to describe the game. They scored 24 points on 6 possessions. The seventh ended the game. And they missed a field goal on one of those.
The issues are clear. Play with more tempo to decrease variance.
Flip Hinton out and Henderson in.
Go away from the IZ and OZ ground game and back to gap schemes.
More PA.
Get DE in space and replace him as third down back/short yardage.
All fixable. The offense has the capability to be elite. I don't know if they will be, but I still think they can be.
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:22 PM ^
2 to 1 run to pass.....sigh. I personally don't think you can win a championship without being balanced on a weekly basis
September 23rd, 2023 at 5:58 PM ^
This is so important. aye i'll take the third win in a row over OSU and another B1G. but getting laughed out the playoffs again is gonna be rough.
September 23rd, 2023 at 6:41 PM ^
This is a hill I will continue to die on.
This week (after BGSU) I get it. But you have to play balanced so you're ready to play balanced when you need to. And we will need to.
September 24th, 2023 at 7:29 AM ^
Not just that, but more balance is a way to protect RBs and OL.
I’d like a healthy Corum for the OSU game this year! And pass blocking is easier on the OL than power run blocking, though it does put the QB at increased risk.
September 24th, 2023 at 8:53 AM ^
But how much of that was after the pick-6? The game was effectively over by then. This seemed like another game where both teams just wanted to get back to the locker rooms in the 4th quarter.
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:26 PM ^
Still got a lot to work out on the line. JJ not quite bounce back as if didn’t happen, but I’m good if he keeps growing from here. What a throw to Loveland. Corum seems 100% back, which is by far best news of the day
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:27 PM ^
Also, Semaj Morgan is a serious throwback receiver in my book.
wears the cutoff jersey
wears the towel
has his number in the 80s
plays with edge and attitude
he feels straight out of the 90s to me and I love it!
September 23rd, 2023 at 3:29 PM ^
Except the 3 games he started last year (and PSU) where he rushed for like 600 yds against the better defenses we faced.