The Snowflake Thread: Coaching
November 2nd, 2013 at 9:18 PM ^
Well there's your problem: MGoBlog whined so much about bubble screens and headsets that Hoke / Borges finally gave in. Look where that got us.
November 2nd, 2013 at 9:30 PM ^
I saw one screen. They attempted another screen and Gardner had no one to throw it to if I remember right. The one that did work, however, got like 8 or 9 yards.
And they really didn't spread it out either. I don't see the hestitation to go 3 or 4 wide most downs. Plenty of pro style NFL offenses do it.
November 2nd, 2013 at 11:12 PM ^
The other was tunnel screen they have used with Gallon frequently. I don't necassarily think bubble screens would have helped though, since MSU plays press coverage so much. Not like the opponents UM saw earlier in the year who were laying back and daring them to do it.
November 2nd, 2013 at 8:22 PM ^
November 2nd, 2013 at 8:57 PM ^
I don't get a lot of the inside terms here. I also don't understand the kittens thing either. I've asked this before but never get a straight answer.
November 2nd, 2013 at 9:30 PM ^
One of the Mods over a year ago got tired of all the threads created after a game, where people, instead of joining a discussion in an on-going thread where the points they wanted to make had already been raised, decided that their point of view was unique and so insightful that it deserved its own thread. The Mod essentially said, despite what your mother or kindergarten teacher told you, you are not a special snowflake, so stop cluttering up the board with your inane threads.
November 2nd, 2013 at 8:27 PM ^
Some of the coaching calls in this game were atrocious. Why Borges kept calling the zone read when it would lose like 5 yards every time is beyond me.
However, Gardner simply had no time to throw the ball. Narduzzi found the holes to blitz through constantly, and whenever the line held up their end of the bargain for a moment, Fitz would get blown up trying to block.
If I had to blame a coach for this game, it's Funk. He hasn't gotten these guys ready to play it seems for two years now.
However, I mostly blame the tire fires that are the 2010 and 2011 recruiting classes.
November 2nd, 2013 at 8:40 PM ^
November 2nd, 2013 at 8:46 PM ^
The second half was a lost cause because Borges didn't call a spade a spade. Spread the D out and go 4-5 wide. It was the only way to keep the aggressive D honest.
November 2nd, 2013 at 9:29 PM ^
beginning of the game. But I count Gallon, Funchess, then Jackson, Chesson. Then who? Dileo hurt. There is no one else, is there?
November 2nd, 2013 at 11:50 PM ^
I remember seeing that play and thinking what the heck were they doing there. Why would the defense bite on a play action call on 2nd and long. All it did was delay the speed at which Gardiner could get rid of the ball. If I recall he got sacked before he could even turn around and locate a receiver. A real head scratcher there! Borges must really think he is the smartest guy in the room.
November 2nd, 2013 at 9:35 PM ^
Sure, I understand. However, what would be your first choice for play after the interception? Borges chose the zone read. Once that failed for the tenth time of the game that drive was already done.
We also have moved the ball through the air on them.
November 2nd, 2013 at 11:52 PM ^
The offense was continously in 2nd/3rd and long situations.
November 2nd, 2013 at 9:09 PM ^
November 2nd, 2013 at 9:33 PM ^
This absolutely is not the same team. In 2011 we had guys like Mike Martin, RVB on the DL, and guys like Molk on the OL. Odds are we wont have a capable center like Molk again until Kugler is ready.
November 2nd, 2013 at 9:52 PM ^
Glasgow's a "capable" linemen. Not "capable like Molk", but he's capable, in fact he's surprisingly good for a walkon. If he were the only problem, we'd be ok. The same goes for everyone else on the line.
it's having three guys side by side with no experience that's the problem.
November 2nd, 2013 at 11:08 PM ^
You're last sentence is the most accurate statement on the board today.
November 2nd, 2013 at 8:44 PM ^
November 2nd, 2013 at 8:48 PM ^
November 2nd, 2013 at 9:20 PM ^
to get a decent road win?
November 2nd, 2013 at 9:23 PM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 2:24 PM ^
November 2nd, 2013 at 8:46 PM ^
MSU defense is really good and owned us. Can't blame Borges today, they just stopped us on every play that mattered, no matter the play call. Gardner did not have a chance, he hung in well in my opinion. Their front seven just manhandled us- even Lewan and Schofield. That's not coaching, nothing was working when they decided to bring pressure. MSU defense was just too good and disciplined for any of our lineman to block on key plays. MSU was just pinning their ears back and was too strong, quick and mixed rushes up that our O line was dazed and confused. I don't think many college o line fronts could have handled them today. Not gonna get down on our young guys, it was just varsity against JV, they will grow up. Their were some chances earlier on to change the tone of the game. The implosion after the interception really put the nail in the coffin. I thought the failed drive due to the botched snap was the turning point. Couldn't understand why Fitz was left in as opposed to a fullback to help pass block since running was out of the question. Evidently , none of our tailbacks can block better than Fitz, which is not good. Our Defense played well enough considering they were put in bad position all day and were on the field constantly after the first quarter. Need to get ready for Nebraska. MSU has the best chance of beating OSU in the Champ game. Hope they do. This was clearly the best team we have played so far, and, I still believe we are still a good team despite today's whooping. I will be optimistic, win the next three and surprise OSU.
November 2nd, 2013 at 10:37 PM ^
November 2nd, 2013 at 9:11 PM ^
And saying "good job" or "come on guys"...
What else does he do during an actual game?
November 2nd, 2013 at 9:32 PM ^
November 2nd, 2013 at 9:56 PM ^
November 2nd, 2013 at 9:59 PM ^
First, it is sort of interesting that Dantonio said this week in his radio interview spots called "inside the huddle" that offensive linemen ideally should not be playing at all until they are at least redshirt sophomores. Reason: the playbook is larger for them than other players on offense, including quarterback. They have to know protections based on defensive alignments pre-snap and be able to adjust mentally in a precise way as the defense moves around. One false move and everything is blown up. Especially against pressure fronts.
Second, I knew many State fans who wanted Narduzzi out the door back in 2009. State's defense couldn't get out of it's own way that season. His rise to genius status was far from smooth within that fan base.
We are ticked off and don't want to deal with another year of State fan belittling Michigan football, but it's the price of admission to having a consistent program with a pipeline of steady talent again.
Continuity. Patience in letting the recruits grow and develop into experienced upper classmen. We saw it on display today from the opponent.
If Hoke and the staff ultimately prove to deficient, the pipeline will be up and running. Bring in a better staff for the coronation.
November 2nd, 2013 at 10:02 PM ^
I think we must have had some kind of Vulcan Mind Meld thing going on.
November 2nd, 2013 at 10:17 PM ^
I read your earlier posts and have been building off your themes. It's more big picture viewpoint, but the Michigan we all want was forged through a big picture approach.
Point of fact, State sucked in 2009 (year 3 of that coaching staff).
Most of the folks on the board are not old enough to remember the last time Michigan had to rebuild through establishing a consistent talent pipeline and program at the same time. That is because it has never really happened. Bo even acknowledged Elliot left him good veteran football players with more on the way. Rich was in the process of attempting it (probably for the first time in program history) but had the rug pulled prematurely. Maybe for the best, maybe not.
The goal is long-term sustainability. If we can avoid a meltdown as a fan base and brush off the verbal crud we'll get at work with State fan lurking around every cubicle, we're going to end up pleased most likely.
November 2nd, 2013 at 10:15 PM ^
November 2nd, 2013 at 11:04 PM ^
If you want to blast Funk fine. That Dude should be gone. You want to hold Al accountable for Funk not doing his job, OK. But play calling had nothing to do with today. It was all about three positions getting beat on every damn play.
November 2nd, 2013 at 11:08 PM ^
The other wr screen was not a bubble screen. Also I didn't see hury up except for on the last drive, when it became a nessacity. I don't think Al called a terrible game, but I think it is a bit disgenous to suggest they ran some of those things more than once or twice or that he couldn't have done any better.
November 2nd, 2013 at 11:47 PM ^
First, my post was to the user who claimed this was all on Borgess. So you are kind of using my post to create a strawman, but, who cares, I'll bite.
I am not going to re-live the play by play with you. I just don't have the heart. However, my recollection is that Al ran more of those plays than you give them credit for. Most of the time the play was blown up before it developped.
I do think that calling one or two or ten more screens of any variety would not have helped. Those plays are really constraints to punish a defense for playing their corners off and guarding against the deeper routes. For the most part, State didn't really play off. They were in press a lot so a bubble wasn't open. So, if the corners are up, why not run past them and hurt them down the field? Because we couldn't. With one or two exceptions, Devin never had the time to wait for Gallon or Funchess or Chesson to get down field. He was already burried with Kalis standing there in a clean uniform after blocking air.
Devin is not accurate enough or quick enough at reading defenses to dink and dunk. When we tired, he was under pressure before Funchess could get five yards down field.
It is really popular on this board to just chalk it up to Al or Fitz. But we have much deeper problems. Borgess can't play guard or center, and Green isn't going to run through three or four unblocked dudes. The cold, hard fact is that this team is fatally flawed by a very inexperienced interior line whose poor play has forced changes which have deprived it of any chance to "gell." This isn't getting fixed by a different RB or better play calling or Hoke wearing a headset. It will take a year or two. The problem is that November 2013 is right now and Uncle Urban is licking his chops. In my opinion, it is disingenuous to suggest otherwise.
November 2nd, 2013 at 11:52 PM ^
with your statement of multiple bubble screens since that wasn't the case. I actually agree they would not have worked given MSU's press coverage. The only real problem I had with Borges in this game was all the pointless PA faking they did, since MSU never had to respect the run.
November 2nd, 2013 at 11:57 PM ^
Sorry, my bad.
I agree about the PA FWIW. I commented on one of the threads this week that they should forget about that stuff. Fitz tends to sell the fake too long when he needs to pick up a blitz. We miss Vinny Smith on 3rd down.
November 2nd, 2013 at 11:22 PM ^
November 2nd, 2013 at 11:53 PM ^
There is no way you can game plan around having 60 percent of your line who can't block. We were in the gun, trying to throw short passes from max protect and our QB still had under two seconds to throw.
Look, if you want to pretend that this team is awsome and that we win that game if Al calls more bubble screens or whatever, cool with me. But you are lying to yourself. This team has problems that a game plan can't fix.
As far as the snark in your post, whatever dude. You're like, so internet cool.
November 3rd, 2013 at 6:04 AM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 2:34 PM ^
November 2nd, 2013 at 10:26 PM ^
November 2nd, 2013 at 10:35 PM ^
Let's put it this way: if I was an offensive recruit, I don't know why in the hell I'd sign with Michigan right now, judging by what I've seen. I hate to sound so pessimistic, but this program is in its third year and we have zero offensive identity.
November 2nd, 2013 at 10:56 PM ^
November 2nd, 2013 at 10:37 PM ^
If Hoke were to fire Borges at the end of the season, what names could be possibilities outside in house names?
November 2nd, 2013 at 10:38 PM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 11:16 AM ^
November 2nd, 2013 at 11:08 PM ^
November 2nd, 2013 at 11:08 PM ^
Just listen to Hoke's introductory press conferences...by his own standards he is a failure so far. He talks about being accountable. Well he needs to be accountable and make a damn staff change.
November 2nd, 2013 at 11:14 PM ^
I recorded the game and wanted to see what went wrong before the half. What was telling for me was the way that Mattison calls his blitzes. MSU had the ball 3rd and 6 on the Michigan 24 just before the half. They are in a shotgun formation (clearly pass), with 5 blockers and a blocking back. Michigan sends 6 defenders and all 6 are picked initially. Cook is able to get rid of the ball quickly because his primary receiver is wide open over the middle. His blockers give him just enough time to get rid of the ball.
The reason he was able to complete the ball near the 1st down was because the defensive coverage was soft. The Michigan defenders were 3-4 yards on the other side of the 1st down marker. The defensive backs started out 5+ yards off the line of scrimmage and immediately started to backpedal. The soft coverage was the problem.
MSU under the same circumstances will get up on the line of scrimmage in press coverage when they blitz. They immediately engage with the receivers and disrupt the route. By using tight coverage they force the QB to look for an alternate in the progression because the primary WR is covered. By the time the QB looks off the primary target they are being sacked. This happened to DG all day.