The Snowflake Thread: Offense

Submitted by LSAClassOf2000 on

Due to the uncertainty of weather, this goes up early...

This thread will be your official repository for thoughts on offense and the general offensive playcalling. 

alum96

September 20th, 2014 at 7:24 PM ^

No TD vs Utah and ND - neither great defenses.  No TD in 2014 vs Big 5 type talent.

Devin has not progressed, Shane does not look ready.

Utah changed OC with a QB with 16 INT last year and he looks composed and a solid Big 5 QB.  He progressed.  We have not. At some point you have to stop pointing at OCs and start looking at players.  OL is OK at pass protect, Devin is NOT running for his life like he did last year.  He is making bad decisions, not making his secondary reads, etc.  Same old stuff.  No progress.

Green looks improved but unlike pass protect , the OL is not doing well in run blocking vs competent defenses. I

No easy answers this year.  It's a huge mess.  No identity.  Every team will stack box, focus on Funchess and dare Devin to find a 2nd or 3rd WR.  Which is almost never .  Not piling on Devin here as it sounds like I am - he unfortunately has not progressed, it is what it is and is not changing in the next 8 weeks, if it hasnt in the last 8 months. 

Reset next year with new staff and most likely without Funchess.  Looks like Green is competent behind a good OL at least.

Elwood

September 20th, 2014 at 7:26 PM ^

Gardener is leaving his WRs to get lit up. The pocket was pretty average throughout the game. Green looks like his vision is better. He needs to keep his momentum before he gets hit

reshp1

September 20th, 2014 at 7:27 PM ^

Gardner looks like there's something wrong with him physically. The one Funchess double move he turfed 10 yards short and INT both were nowhere near on target. His throwing motion looks like it's compensating for an injury, he seemed only capable of throwing the short passes. I'm guessing that's why there are no shots deep, not that Nuss is adverse to it. Morris took more shots deep in one series than Devin did all game.

 

DairyQueen

September 20th, 2014 at 11:58 PM ^

I agree.

And the only conclusion I can seem to come to is that the guy who preceded Gardner was a guy named Denard Robinson who, despite HOW MUCH I loved him, was NOT EXACTLY a great "Throwing Quarterback", thus....nearly anyone after him would look like smokin' Tom Brady.

Even seeing Shane Morris (in 2013 and 2014) throw the ball, the same gap seems to exist, as Morris now looks like Tom Brady and Gardner looks like Denard.

And then, you add in, oh wait, Shane Morris is a True Sophomore, with like 1.02 games worth of experience, so, essentially he's a true freshman, who's only game started was with the 2013 O-line-havin', Al Borges-play-callin', we-quit-as-a-team-in-the-lockeroom-before-the-game-decidin' Michigan football team.

In short, although we're in our FOURTH YEAR, we STILL DON'T HAVE ANY 'GOOD FIT' QUARTERBACK WITH EXPERIENCE.

Essentially, QB-wise, we're either:

1, Denard Robinson PART DEUX

or

2. TRUE FRESHIE Shane Morris

 

oh the hurt....the hurt.....

Chameleon Eyes

September 20th, 2014 at 7:35 PM ^

ok. i don't care about this season anymore. The players came out in the second half ready to quit. to quit on the coaches and each other. Hoke's gotta go. Bring in Harbaugh or else we'll be in the same position in year 4 when the new coach comes in.

 

to hell with grammar and sentence structure this afternoon, man.

westwardwolverine

September 20th, 2014 at 7:52 PM ^

I'm probably going to be called insane for this but....

I feel like I'm watching the 2009 or 2010 Michigan offense when they would face off against a good team. 

We seem to be moving the ball fairly well, pick up a first down or two and then bam! Terrible mistake. We had 175 yards at the half and 3 points. I don't know how many times I watched games in those RR years where the same thing occurred. And just like those years, it feels like the offense is building towards something, unlike the Borges years where it seemed like we needed a superhuman Gardner/Denard performance to pull off any win against decent teams. I mean, we had sub-200 yard days against MSU, Iowa and Nebraska last year. I think it would be wrong to not leave the coordinator in place. It'll pay off. 

But back to the QB. Nussmeier hasn't received the benefit of 2011 Notre Dame Denard or 2013 Notre Dame Devin. He's gotten Akron or Northwestern Devin and I think that is what we are going to see from him the rest of the year. He's broken. He may still be better than Shane, but I think its over a la Fitz last year. The abuse he took on the field last year has created a player who plays nervous and scared. When there is no pressure, he still can't make a decent decision. I feel bad for the guy, but he's done. Put in Morris and let him grow with a young line. 

 

WolverBean

September 20th, 2014 at 8:41 PM ^

This actually sums it up pretty nicely: it seems like there's an identity, and that it works in fits and starts, and puts up yards, and then somehow totally fails to score points. Very frustrating.

And agreed with ann.arbor.lover one layer down. It blows my mind to watch the OL play reasonably well, only to have our supremely talented QB make crucial error after crucial error. Though to be fair, it sure would help if someone could get open downfield!

ann.arbor.lover

September 20th, 2014 at 7:54 PM ^

If someone told me before the season that our weakest link in offense is not the OL, but our 5th-year senior QB, I would tell him to f* off and that he had had too much 'shroom.

Oh well.

reshp1

September 20th, 2014 at 8:38 PM ^

Sadly, I've come to this conclusion as well. In addition to the mental aspect that just hasn't progressed since last year, he seems to also be physically off now as well. There's something very wrong with his throwing motion, to the point where I wouldn't be surprised if it's injury related.

With how much he's given to this program and the guts he showed to keep at it through the pounding last year, I absolutely hate the idea of sitting him in his last year. But, with his performance to this point, it wouldn't be fair to the other guys on the team to keep him in there, at least not until he's worked out his issues.

westwardwolverine

September 20th, 2014 at 8:46 PM ^

There is nothing more that I wanted from this season than to see Devin Gardner win a Big Ten title after his performance last year against OSU. Its sad man. He just looks nothing like the guy who had so much potential in 2012. 

getsome

September 20th, 2014 at 9:00 PM ^

im not sure hes progressed much mentally in terms of digesting football / game comprehension since he arrived at mich, not just since last yr.  obviously the dudes got huge confidence issues, its evident just watching from a distance and his up and down performances/ demeanor reflect it.  he got destroyed last year, much of which can be attributed to 10 guys on O incapable of blocking properly and schizophrenic OC borges - but some of its on gardner too.  

its always on the QB to recognize unaccounted for rushers and get rid of the ball, just like its on QBs to calmly run their progressions when not under real duress - QBs just have to be able to do certain things and the best ones are good athletes with high football IQs.  unfortunately gardner does not have solid foundation upon which to exercise his great athleticism - the happy feet, up-and-down confidence, inability to read Ds, not much will change this year.  sucks for him bc hes obviously hard working kid and its his last year.  but hes mentally cooked.  he still provides mich with best shot at winning games this year bc morris looks lost too (though he should def improve with game reps)

True Blue Grit

September 20th, 2014 at 8:00 PM ^

His passes were constantly off target or short or behind receivers.  If he isn't physically 100% why is he out there?  Or maybe it's because he crapped his pants when the pressure started and could never recover.  I love DG and really respect all he's done for the program.  But, he just isn't going to lead this team anywhere.  I'd say to salvage the season before it gets any worse, you insert Morris as the starter.  At this point, it can't get any worse.  

LordGrantham

September 20th, 2014 at 8:00 PM ^

How do we not have one QB who can play a game without constantly throwing picks? What the hell do these guys do in practice everyday?

beevo

September 20th, 2014 at 8:05 PM ^

..and noticed their QB hitting screens, wheel-routes and dump-offs to his receivers in stride.  It makes a HUGE difference.  It was the difference in their winning the game. 

LSAClassOf2000

September 20th, 2014 at 8:14 PM ^

Again, in the event this game stands as it stopped, these threads went up...

A few things of minor note - we were pretty balanced at 64 plays (30 passing, 34 rushing) and we gaind 276 yards across those plays. That's good for 4.31 yards per game, so Utah was slightly outpacing us but we had - like in the ND game - slightly outgained them. The telling thing from an efficiency standpoint is the 0.156 points per play on average, which doesn't win you much. 

enlightenedbum

September 20th, 2014 at 8:17 PM ^

Line is too young and DG is making too many mistakes to have extended 80 yard drives.  So we crap out over and over again between the 50 and the opposing 25.

And we don't have anybody who's a threat to make a big play and has two functional legs so we can't score that way.  Hard to get points when you combine those two facts.  Well, unless you scheme yourself into big plays like a certain former coach who I wish had convinced his DC to come with him.

reshp1

September 20th, 2014 at 8:24 PM ^

We're the offensive version of bend don't break. We put up a bunch of yards between the 20s and don't come away with any points. Too much short yardage plays that kept the ball moving as long as we didn't make any mistakes. As soon as we do (holding, false start, sack, etc) it was drive over.

I had some Alabama fans tell me on Reddit that that's been Nuss's MO and why a lot of Alabama folks were glad to see him go. Too conservative and relied on perfect execution play in and play out to keep drives going, again, great between the 20s, not very efficient at scoring points.

westwardwolverine

September 20th, 2014 at 8:58 PM ^

Interesting. In 2012, Alabama was 13th in the country in red zone scoring % at a little over 90%. They dropped to 86th in 2013 at a little under 80%. However teams ranked between 63 and 98 are within 78% to 82%. So they went from very good to probably average/a bit below average. 

In 2011, they were 21st at just under 88%. 2010, 43rd at just over 84%. 2009, 29th at 86.44%. 2008, 38th at just over 85%. 

So in 2012 with Nussmeier, they had the best season in the red zone they've had since Saban started making BCS bowls. In 2013 they had the worst...Not sure what to make of it. 

MGrether

September 20th, 2014 at 8:21 PM ^

Carr stayed passed his experation date. RR didn't care about OLines or Defensive recruiting. Borges didn't care about an offensive identity. 

Mattison has stayed all 4 years and the Defense is starting to look really good (especially the run defense). We have had change at the OC position (and Borges, who had to change in order to fit the style of the players he inhereted, so really it is like a double change) and it is still a mess.

What I see from this team is what I am seeing in the second year of coaching at a brand new school where I am building 3 sports programs from scratch. Lots of youth = lots of mistakes + lots of mental errors + no one to right the ship because no one know what "right" looks like = lots of time to progress. Psychy is fragile. Development is slow, but steady. If you focused on the small victories or improvements, there would be a lot to talk about. But the big picture still feels sucky because the losses still hurt. I see the same thing in this team. 

Here is the big problem: cutting everyone loose now will only further set us back. This is not a video game transition, where everything changes smoothly and instantly. You would have to land someone REALLY big and have it be someone with a similar philosophy to not get back into the suck cycle again... and right now, I do not know of a good coach that will touch our program with a 100 mile pole unless Les Miles or Harbough want to come and "save the program."

As Bryan predicted: Darn good dline, Good linebacker play, improved secondary (though hindered by Raymond's injury) solid but not great improvement from the Oline, signs of a true offensive identity that is beginning to move the ball (out rushing ND and Utah)... and a quarterback who has PTSD and is on his 3rd OC and 2nd position in 5 years.

Next year, we get this entire offense back that is not Gardner. I like the improvements that I am seeing... it is just not leading to points on the board. I can next year being the year it all comes together, as long as Nuss quits on the persistent playaction off of mediocre run game.

So... this sucks. But suffering is what is on the success menu. Put in Shane. Move Gardner to WR to book end Funchess and Butt... and make any available sacrfices to the football gods that we never have to go through a turbulent period like this again.

Bill the Butcher

September 20th, 2014 at 8:21 PM ^

Well I guess I now know why Alabama let Nuss go without much fuss.  His play calling has been no better than borges.  

He needs to call a screen pass to the backs to slow down the pass rush.  I think the one to Hayes was the first all year.  I'm not talking a bubble screen I mean a regular old screen pass.  Its a great play to hit the defense with when they are pinning their ears back and coming after the qb.   

Also, for all his faults at least Borges' offense seemed to always get a receiver wide open and he took shots down field.  I haven't seen much of that this year.  

Devin is spooked or something, but he is very inaccurate and he keeps leading his receivers into trouble.  Funchess got lit up because Devin's throw exposed him.  And then the next time Funch goes across the middle he short arms a possible catch cause he doesn't want to get lit up and it turns into an interception.

This offense has been pathetic despite better line play and RB play than we had last year.  

funkywolve

September 20th, 2014 at 10:31 PM ^

Agree 100%.  When your offense is just okay it's hard to string together 8, 10, 12 play drives without making a drive killing mistake.  You need to be able to get 20, 30 yd chunks on one play sometimes.  Nuss has rarely if ever tried those chunk plays.  The one I can recall was against ND when they threw downfield to Funchess on the sideline.  They completed it but by then they were down 28 or 31 points.

AlwaysBlue

September 20th, 2014 at 8:31 PM ^

like what it is...young with the senior leader who is playing like a freshman. The OL is a bit better than I expected, but DG is nothing like I expected. For all the damn overreaction here, the truth is that if DG could see the field and go through his progressions they would be much, much better. And not only can't he do that he can't seem to deliver the ball in stride. He's behind or ahead of his target on even short passes.

Drbogue

September 20th, 2014 at 9:31 PM ^

Short of the ND game last year, when was DGs last "great game?" Minnesota after Denard went out? I'm sorry, but the guy gets progressively worse as each game goes on. I can see why we are focusing on a run game.

MDot

September 20th, 2014 at 9:48 PM ^

In order for this offense to work to it's full potential (a la Bama), either the QB has to be elite, or he must be surrounded with gamebreakers. One or the other. And therein lies the problem. You can't have an average QB, with serviceable RB's & a young o-line. Not with this system. The point that Rick Neuheisel was trying to make earlier this week absolutely applies to this team. Every aspect of this offense is somewhere inbetween "mediocre" to "above average". A great QB can cover a lot of that up. Or a dominant run game. We have neither. The raw talent is on this roster, but it's simply been "raw" for too long. But I guess that's what should have been expected from a position coach masquerading as a head coach.

Stupid Flanders

September 20th, 2014 at 9:53 PM ^

There was a long stretch in 2nd-3rd quarters where Funchess on field = pass, no Funchess = run. Every single time. Whether that allowed Utah to key on anything I don't know, but it seemed unusual to say the least.

gwkrlghl

September 20th, 2014 at 9:58 PM ^

We outgained Utah (just like ND) and lose again. We seem to consistently move the ball from our own 20 to the opponents 50-40 and then the drives just die. They aren't inept like the early RR offenses were, they're just a mess and DG's lack of confidence makes it worse

abertain

September 20th, 2014 at 10:24 PM ^

Or WR? Michigan basically has zero guys who threaten the defense vertically at this point. I know we all want Nuss to actually, you know, call some plays to Funchess, but it might help to have a guy with that much speed on offense. I'm just throwing shi- at a wall because one of the terrible things about watching M football, in particular the offense, right now, is how damn boring it is.