Snowflakes: Bowl Game Edition - Offense

Submitted by LSAClassOf2000 on

In keeping with the semi-official system of content management, this will be your thread for discussing the offense and offensive playcalling in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.

stephenrjking

December 29th, 2013 at 1:07 AM ^

22 yards of rushing. That's barely more than a yard for each practice.

This is not a blip. This is total and absolute failure. I'm not saying that Michigan could have carried Shane to a win with better running, but they gifted their true freshman star with no rushing at all.

And that's what Hoke and Borges were supposed to bring.

Magnus

December 29th, 2013 at 1:57 AM ^

I disagree completely. Rich Rodriguez teams were boring to watch. We never had a dynamic horse of a tailback, and we never had an electric slot dot. Yes, Denard Robinson was dynamic and electric as a runner, but he was not a good passer. And if he didn't have success on the ground, the offense ground to a halt.

Denard Robinson was fun to watch (at times). Rodriguez's teams were not.

MGJS SuperKick Party

December 29th, 2013 at 1:08 AM ^

Shane played well. His passes were on target, and the receivers were dropping them.



My one major complaint is why did Derrick Green get one carry? He ran the ball so well at the end if the season, and he rode the bench today.

jackw8542

December 29th, 2013 at 1:31 AM ^

Why was this game not Green's big chance to shine?  Instead, we play Rawls, who was fourth string, at best, all year.  Does Hoke want Green to transfer?  One of the few benefits of this bowl game COULD have been to work on the line's abillty to run block and to give Green a chance to show what he could do.  Instead, we throw in a true freshman QB and give him NO running support.  This team is unwatchable and this is largely a result of stupid game plans.

Boom Goes the …

December 29th, 2013 at 1:15 AM ^

the only game of the last 4 with over 200 yards total offense besides getting a late garbage time TD tonight.  I feel like those kind of stats have been discussed already, but it ticks me off to no end

Muttley

December 29th, 2013 at 2:14 AM ^

I was hoping we'd be able to run the ball in the middle with at least some success after the 15 practices.

It's hard to rely on a possession passing game when that's all you've got.

Unfortunately, you are right, our problems are more fundamental than Al's play-calling.

AMazinBlue

December 29th, 2013 at 1:36 AM ^

TD, he couldn't believe that Michigan's offense only gained more than 175 yards in one of the last 5 games and that OSU.  They barely got 200 in this game.  Borges, Funk, Jackson and the enitre S & C staff need to go.  This team is weak (compared to competition) and they get pushed aroundby everyone, including UConn and ... everyone.

If massive changes doon't happen soon, Hoke and the entire staff will be looking for new jobs after 2014.  I've lost my faith in this staff.

DownriverAlum

December 29th, 2013 at 1:39 AM ^

Spielman said he looks forward to watching Gallon in the NFL.  I'd be estatic if he made it, but at 5'8" does he have the body to excel as a WR at the next level?  Maybe special teams?

 

* Note - I do not watch the NFL

remdog

December 29th, 2013 at 1:43 AM ^

The running game is almost nonexistent. It's gotten worse throughout the year. It's the worst I've ever seen at Michigan. My guess it's probably the o-line but maybe the playcalling is part of the problem as well. Unless this is fixed, next year is going to suck as well. There's plenty of talent at the skill positions to have an explosive offense but without the o-line opening holes it's all wasted.

Can they fix it in the off season? Is it a matter of o-line talent maturing? Have we just recruited terrible o-line talent? I'm not sure but if Hoke doesn't get a new o-line coach and Borges or a new OC doesn't show more consistently intelligent playcalling, we're screwed.

And now we have to worry about our totally crappy D as well.

MGrether

December 29th, 2013 at 1:47 AM ^

Today sucked.

But reminders... In the past ten years we have had three massive coaching regime changes, and two system overhauls. Add into that some recruiting mess and you have what we have. Our Seniors were brought in to run a different system. Our freshman are... well... freshman. Time and consistency are your answers until we have reestablished an identity and depth. If you want to change OC's... make sure it is to someone who matches the philosophy of the talent we are bringing in.

As someone who has two teams that are 100% underclassmen in a brand new system going up against teams with 100% upperclassmen in established systems... it is tough, the results on paper suck, the progress is not visable to those who are not at practice... but there are no fast solutions other then training and maturation, and acquisiton of talent to create depth. All these things are multiple-year solutions, not multiple-month.

missoulawolverine

December 29th, 2013 at 2:03 AM ^

I agree we cant fire the coaches and we should let this play out atleast 3 more years..i dont wanna see another rebuilt or scheme change or any of that crap. If we wanna get ahead of where we are right now, longevity is the key..other teams have  years of depth, strength training, off season, spring ball just like us. We are a project for awhile longer til fully installed..say whatever but im tired of thinking some new coach is gonna magically right the ship be real..in the pros you can buy your troubles away(except the lions).college is development.look at the top teams they have had there system and players in place for years and play red shirt jrs..not freshmen unless they are that good, not out of pure necessity like us

SagNasty

December 29th, 2013 at 2:07 AM ^

I hate this excuse. Changing systems is a weak excuse. Ohio just changed coaching staffs and they seem to be doing ok. I could deal with the losses if the team played like they did against Ohio, but tonight was just an embarrassment. Good coaching staffs find a way to win with the players they have. Look how bad Msu offense was to start the year and look how much it improved by the end of the year. That is due to good coaching and player development. Wake up people, hoke is in over his head and is not an elite coach. I am sick of this shit. Go out and get a top level coaching staff or settle for being bottom feeders in a weak ass conference.

Blue1972

December 29th, 2013 at 11:09 AM ^

Cut me some slack as it has been a few years since I have posted. Also, don't want to start any rumors, but the single Green carry smelled funny. As I recall, it occurred early in the second half, almost as if he were purposely held out of the first half.

 

Maybe he "didn't practice well," or was injured, but by withholding him completely from the first half it looked suspiciously as if he were quietly suspended for the first half of the game.

LSAClassOf2000

December 29th, 2013 at 7:37 AM ^

I asked myself the question last night - on a yards per play basis, where would this peformance fit in within 2013? It turns out that it sits somewhere near the middle for us actually at 4.92 yards per offensive snap. Akron, Penn State, Michigan State, Nebraska, Northwestern and Iowa were all worse performances on that metric. We ran 53 plays to get 14 points, which comes to 0.264 poinys per play, which is actually the second or third worst performance of the year (don't have that spreadsheet on this machine). On the basis of total offensive yards, that's the fourth worst showing too, so all in all, this was something of a "meh" game even by our own averages.

ohioNblue33

December 29th, 2013 at 8:15 AM ^

People bringing up RR need to stfu already. It's in the past, it's over. How about you guys start bringing up your ex girls to your current girl an see how that goes!

Leonhall

December 29th, 2013 at 8:20 AM ^

Not sure whose cereal derrick green pissed in, but how can he only get 1 carry? Justice Hayes couldn't get into any game during the regular season for more than 1-2 plays, yet in 3 weeks of bowl practices he all of a sudden is the best back on the team? I don't understand this staff. Either Hayes is better than we think or something fishy is going on with green.

mddubbs

December 29th, 2013 at 8:41 AM ^

IIRC correctly, 1997 Oline was really young too!  I understand the youth issues regarding strength, physicality and comfort with the systems.  Next year we'll have youth at the tackles and so the beat goes on.  At some point, we need to see game improvement. The Lloyd coaching tree is abysmal and the sooner we recognize the real issue, the sooner it can be corrected.

RagingBean

December 29th, 2013 at 10:51 AM ^

The worst part of this whole thing has been the utter schizophrenia of the offense. We don't have any base plays, which means perpetually running a grab bag offense that gets blown up after each new play is run once.