The Snowflake Thread: Offense

Submitted by LSAClassOf2000 on

This will be your snowflake thread for the offense and offensive playcalling. Ugh. 

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HollywoodHokeHogan

November 23rd, 2013 at 3:37 PM ^

             as a QB coach than as a coordinator.  I don't think there is a hell of a lot you can play call when the O-Line is laughably awful as ours.  I think that despite Brian's UFR scores, Schofield is not very good (or at least he isn't playing very well, sometimes he looks like he's not giving 100% effort).  We all know about the mess of the interior. 

But as the QB coach, I'm not sure what the excuse is.  It's possible the DG is just really bad a being a pass first quarterback, but he's had a mountain of hype.  In any case, DG is a REALLY BAD QB.   He can't read defenses.  He fumbles if he is coughed upon.  He throws off of his back foot.  He refuses to move within the pocket, he always moves backwards and laterally when pressured.   He calls poor audibles (he's the one checking into the some of the runs with 9 in the box that everyone freaks out about).  He's not a great runner like Denard because he slows up and hesitates too much.  His fundamentals just break down at the drop of a hat.

I think last season and at the start of this season, defenses were afraid to blitz him because he's a running QB.  But once it became clear that he was horrible at avoiding pressure (and he is horrible at it.  The line is bad but any pressure causes him to run around like a chicken with it's head cut off), teams started blitzing him all the time.  The line and Fitz made this easy to do b/c they blow blitz picks, and because they can't establish a running game to make the offense two-dimensional.    Once teams saw how effective blitzing was, the offense just tanked.

Poster here say things like "Devin's broken . . . he's mentally defeated" and so on, but I think that's just story-telling to make him into a sort of heroic figure and give the season a familar narrative.  Truth is he's not a good QB.  That is in part due to coaching. But it is in part on him as well.

Joined: 02/12/2011

MGoPoints: 20454

J.Madrox

November 23rd, 2013 at 4:13 PM ^

He fumbles every time he is coughed upon. So the 19 sacks he took over the three previous games in addition to all his runs, how many times did he fumble?

He throws off his back foot and and refuses to move within the pocket. So you think our offensive line is fine and does a good job pass blocking, Gardner just can't recognize all the time he is given? I must be imagining all the sacks he has taken and the numerous times he is forced to do a play action fake and turn around to an unblocked blitzer. When you have no faith in the guys in front of you your mechanics are going to break down.

He makes poor audible calls. How do you know what audibles he does and does not have available to him? Does Borges give him the freedom to check into a few different plays or just one at the line?

He is not as a good a runner as Denard. Well hell, no one is, Denard was a freak of nature as a runner. I must have also imagined those impressive runs Devin had vs ND. Or their defense must be so much slower and less athletic then Iowa's which is why Gardner was able to run so effectively vs them.

Gardner will never be as good a QB as everyone was hoping for before the season, but he is not terrible and Shane Morris is not a better option. He has been hit more then anyone should and has no confidence in his line.

I agree Borges is a failure of an OC and a coordinator, but Devin seemed to throw the ball pretty well at the end of last year for you to all of sudden decide he cannot be a functioning QB anymore.

Joined: 03/15/2013

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HollywoodHokeHogan

November 23rd, 2013 at 4:30 PM ^

   Did you read my whole post, or just random fragments?  I believe DG is tied for fourth worst in the country at 4 lost fumbles.  I'm pretty sure that isn't good.   I never said the Oline was fine.  I said the opposite, in fact.  When he does have time, like he did today, he often throws with bad mechanics.  I don't know what audibles he has available to him, but EVEN IF he doesn't have them, don't you think there might be a reason the coaches don't trust him. 

DG was an effective runner today against Iowa?  What game were you watching?  He averaged 1.2 yards per carry with a long of 8 yards.  I'm not sure that's effective.

 

Devin's always had these problems.  Last year the line was better and they had the threat of Denard running the ball for the last few games at least.  Now the running threat is gone.  I don't think teams blitzed him much last season because of his running.  Now that they see how bad he is under pressure and they are blitzing very often.  I really think he was lucky last season

Joined: 02/12/2011

MGoPoints: 20454

Hotroute06

November 24th, 2013 at 5:53 AM ^

This,

Everyone wants to give Borges hate ( which he does deserve most times )

But the real reason has always been Gardner ALWAYS.  Why do people refuse to believe this?  Devin had solid protection today and look how awful he looked.  Devin had a SOLID running game last week against NW and he should have thrown 4 INT's.  The whole thing just sucks... why did we have to give him that fucking #98 when he had not even proved anything.

Joined: 09/24/2011

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Qmatic

November 23rd, 2013 at 3:38 PM ^

I hate to criticize Gardner, I mean he's a great guy, plays with a lot of heart, plays to win, etc. but you can't deny the truth and the truth is he is a bad quarterback. He can't read the defense, has terrible pocket presence, and even his mobility has looked average the second half of the season. I'm willing to go through growing pains with Morris at QB next year, because it'll set us up way better for the future than enduring another year with #98 at QB.

Joined: 01/09/2013

MGoPoints: 32780

I WAS THERE

November 23rd, 2013 at 3:40 PM ^

Haven't seen this mentioned, so I may be late to the party...but anyone else think Gardner should give back Ole 98?

-I think he has potential that's outta this world, and he's clearly a Michigan Man...but you need to be at least All-Conference to wear it.

Joined: 01/09/2012

MGoPoints: 2712

Wendyk5

November 23rd, 2013 at 3:45 PM ^

I blame Borges, not for his schemes or playcalling but because we seem to have no viable back up QB. If Gardner isn't getting the job done, fine, put the next guy in. BUT THERE IS NO NEXT GUY! Every other team has a competent back up. Where's ours? Borges seems to have a problem with being prepared when we need the #2 guy to come in (see Russell Bellomy). I have no idea why they haven't put Shane Morris in. Maybe he's not ready, not as good at this point as everyone had hoped, etc, etc. But then there should be a guy between him and Gardner. I would imagine Gardner wouldn't at all mind if he could take a break from all this (even if this is against the accepted belief that a starting QB would want to play no matter what). Sometimes stress does funny things to a person and he just needs to get away. But I guess that isn't happening. I mean really - the negatives are piling up exponentially. After the season, someone has to go. 

Joined: 11/20/2008

MGoPoints: 67736

Coldwater

November 23rd, 2013 at 3:50 PM ^

I wish Hoke would groom Morris to be the starter. Move Gardner to WR. He's more of a weapon there. He's lost it a QB. It's not happening for him. Give Morris the first team reps all of Spring Ball with a new offensive coordinator. Don't go back to the spread. Keep it pro style and fix the o- line.

I give Hoke one more year to see what happens. If its still a joke after year 4, fire him. He'll end up back at a low or mid major program for the rest of his life.

Joined: 12/14/2008

MGoPoints: 11234

Sione's Flow

November 23rd, 2013 at 3:53 PM ^

In defense of Gardner, for the last 3 weeks, he's essentially been a mugging victim.  Today was better, but he's clearly rattled.  Borges is not putting the offense in a position to succeed, with his playcalling.  The players are trying to do what's asked of them, but running the same play consecutively when it's not working is just stupid.

Joined: 06/05/2011

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mgobleu

November 23rd, 2013 at 4:12 PM ^

I really don't see how you can bust the guy. He's been hit more times than a prostitute's perenium, and I'll be darned if he's not just a little bit gunshy from it. He has a hard time making good reads because he never feels like he has time to raise his eyes upfield. Yeah, he tries to do too much and thinks he needs to hit a home run every time, but its not as if he can count on long sustained drives when his OC keeps calling stretch run plays to the short side of the field, or I-form up the gut in obvious situations. When he's had time, he's been good, sometimes great. Blitz him enough times without anyone to pick it up and he freaks out. I really don't blame him.

Joined: 07/02/2008

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1974

November 23rd, 2013 at 4:54 PM ^

"the bloom is off the rose in Tuscon."

What? Wishful thinking much?

I've looked at the Arizona papers a few times just for curiosity's sake, and I haven't seen anyone important say that.

Based on records, that WSU loss was probably his worst at Arizona. I wouldn't bet on RR having major long-term success at Arizona, but the good he has done there pretty much outweighs the bad.

Joined: 04/17/2011

MGoPoints: 7799

Amutnal

November 23rd, 2013 at 4:14 PM ^

Where's that idiot Sten Carlson with his "the future is bright" mantra? What the fuck could you possibly see in this offense that inspires optimism for the future. Hoke is not smart. He is not a tactician. He a fat guy who can say "This is Michigan."

If he cannot see the epic incompetence of Al Borges how the fuck can anyone expect him to coach Michigan back to greatness, to get the most out of all the resources that we have at our disposal.

We should cut our losses now.

Joined: 02/05/2011

MGoPoints: 2294

Atrained

November 23rd, 2013 at 4:25 PM ^

I know Gardner didn't play great today, but I feel like he is getting more flak than he deserves.  In the last few weeks we've had A LOT of dropped passes.  I think Gardner's poise in the pocket is certainly suspect, but he's not getting a lot of his help from his receivers at this point.  Funchess and Gallon, who were pretty consistent in the beginning of the year, have both had a few drops in each of the past couple games.

Joined: 11/16/2013

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