UNLV Snowflakes: Coaching
September 9th, 2023 at 6:47 PM ^
All great, except for that insipid play call on 4th and 3
September 9th, 2023 at 6:48 PM ^
Should have kicked the field goal right?
September 9th, 2023 at 6:49 PM ^
Nah. But 3 yards is a long way to go on a dive play.
September 9th, 2023 at 7:02 PM ^
Yeah I'm fine with the decision to go for it, but a dive run from the shotgun? Same play we ran last week on 4th and goal and the same result.
September 9th, 2023 at 9:28 PM ^
I assume that they called 2 plays and the play they ran depended on how the defense lined up. The defense lined up in a way where M thought we had an advantage on a dive. He almost got there too. I agree they shoulda just called a pass though.
September 10th, 2023 at 12:24 AM ^
I'd also call into question the 3rd down call where JJ ended up throwing the ball into the blitzing linebackers face mask - reminded me of a similar 3rd down play the lions ran with Jared Goff on Thursday. Seems like the QBs options are really limited on those plays - not sure whether that's due to the play call itself, changes the QB needs to make at the line, or changes the QB needs to make with his feet as the play develops.
September 10th, 2023 at 10:55 AM ^
These wily coaches playing the rope-a-dope long game. M will show dive on a 4th and short against osu and WHAM! run it right into the line. ;)
September 9th, 2023 at 7:49 PM ^
They did that motion with Wilson before the snap and nobody even looked at him. If JJ could have checked to something to get him the ball he would have waltzed in.
September 9th, 2023 at 8:03 PM ^
Don’t we need to give FG team some reps too? I know you want to give your A team every opportunity, but the FG there would’ve been at least a reasonable call
September 9th, 2023 at 8:43 PM ^
Exactly. Got 2.5.
September 9th, 2023 at 8:08 PM ^
If Corum had bothered to look at the left edge, he could STILL be running. The play call wasn’t great…but my god that was a TD if Corum had bounced
September 9th, 2023 at 11:50 PM ^
The third down call was worse.
September 10th, 2023 at 10:00 AM ^
Username…definitely does not check out
September 9th, 2023 at 6:50 PM ^
Nice work. Surprised to see JJ keeping on a read.
September 9th, 2023 at 7:09 PM ^
Suprised to see an actual read where he's allowed to keep it.
September 10th, 2023 at 3:39 AM ^
Agreed, but I also don’t understand how we expect JJ to be able to make the reads against PSU/OSU if he’s never made them during a game. So it was a pleasant surprise for me, but I was also glad to see they didn’t overdo it.
September 10th, 2023 at 7:00 AM ^
Exactly. OSU/PSU have to prepare and worry what could happen. They will be more open to run JJ multiple times in those games. Fun times ahead.
September 9th, 2023 at 6:53 PM ^
Good.
September 9th, 2023 at 6:56 PM ^
Seemed fantastic. I love the offensive balance.....it allows JJ to get into and stay in a rhythm. Minter fielding a dominant unit. Special teams was fine.
Keep doing things this way and there's no ceiling for this team.
September 9th, 2023 at 7:01 PM ^
Good play calling on both sides of the ball. Minter has this defense humming.
September 9th, 2023 at 7:02 PM ^
The coaches had the 1s ready to dominate in all phases. They looked like world beaters. The 2s and 3s are naturally a drop-off, and need game reps, so while I would've liked 42-0, I know that 35-7 is an investment that should pay off down the road, so I was glad for the 4th quarter switch, regardless of how ugly it may have looked on tv.
September 9th, 2023 at 7:02 PM ^
Another vanilla workmanlike victory over an overmatched opponent.
September 9th, 2023 at 7:07 PM ^
Very good. My piping hot take is that UNLV is well coached and could be a bowl eligible team by years end. Great game plan on both offense and defense to take advantage of the opposition.
September 9th, 2023 at 7:36 PM ^
I feel like both the last 2 weeks were very well coached units. Next week will probably be another good mid-major staff with Scott Loeffler at HC with a bunch of Carr guys.
September 9th, 2023 at 10:02 PM ^
Loeffler—not a good head coach
September 9th, 2023 at 7:18 PM ^
Worth noting Hart became the first black head coach in Michigan history in the second half. Moore becomes the second next week.
September 10th, 2023 at 2:03 AM ^
Can't think of a better guy for the honor.
September 9th, 2023 at 7:27 PM ^
Jay Harbaugh had that "talk with the sideline reporter just before halftime" banter down well.
Joking aside, both he and Hart looked comfortable in the role. This coaching staff has some really, really good personnel.
September 10th, 2023 at 7:03 AM ^
Agree. Excellent staff. Worry that they are going to be poached within 3 years.
September 10th, 2023 at 12:11 PM ^
Oh, they will be, and it'll probably be more like 1-2 years. But this is how it happens. Get them experience in another situation and then bring 'em back for longer second tenures at Michigan.
September 9th, 2023 at 7:34 PM ^
Made solid coaching decisions all around.
Jay Harbaugh coached a clean half, 2 minute drive was textbook at the end.
Mike Hart I think had the harder job of having to manage all the substitutions and handling the pressure of making sure everyone walked away healthy. I thought he handled the Tuttle injury situation with wisdom.
I liked the end around call, of course I’m not sure if Hart had much influence on that or not, I’m sure he wanted to boost the running production.
I also liked the sweep call and getting JJ more involved in the run game.
We have an excellent staff
September 9th, 2023 at 10:28 PM ^
I'm very disappointed in our 3rd and 4th stringers. C'moung man.
September 10th, 2023 at 1:25 AM ^
In my hot take voice:
Kenneth Grant should change numbers to 53 so Trente Jones can get some playing time, because the coaches are thinking “Grant” when they see Hinton.
September 10th, 2023 at 7:50 AM ^
Two complaints from 100 plays in the game
4th down dive from the shotgun
No deep pass plays in two games. The 47 yard TD play was 20 yard throw and run
September 10th, 2023 at 9:03 AM ^
At the same time, JJ is completing 87.3% of his passes at over 10 YPA. Hard to complain about the lack of deep attempts when he’s so efficient with the intermediate stuff and is giving his guys YAC opportunities.
September 10th, 2023 at 10:17 AM ^
The 47 yarder was on a play where the first read was a deep route but UNLV bracketed it so JJ went to Roman. There were a few others called but JJ took a checkdown. Replays weren't deep enough on the other routes to see if that was the right call but the way he's seeing the field right now I tend to trust him.
September 10th, 2023 at 12:16 PM ^
I understand the comments about the deep balls, but it's much more significant that we are utilizing the parts of the field that we shied away from (for the most part) last year -- and were pretty much forbidden for decades. JJ completed a number of passes in the intermediate -- and slightly deeper -- areas in the middle of the field. That is hugely significant. If JJ continues to use all areas of the field, our passing game will continue to have lethal potential.
At least for now, gone are the games where the vast majority of intermediate throws HAD to be to the sidelines and deep shots had to be thrown "where only the receiver has a chance". Plays all over the field are being called for JJ, and he's delivering. This needs to continue. I have no complaints at all.
September 10th, 2023 at 12:18 PM ^
That said, his best throw was a deep sideline out. That's a throw half of NFL QBs wouldn't dare to attempt much less be able to make.
September 10th, 2023 at 2:11 PM ^
Near the beginning of the game? Definite NFL vibes with that one.
September 10th, 2023 at 10:26 AM ^
IIRC Alejandro Zuniga tweeted that Michigan got 94+% of available yards in the first half. The only reason it wasn't 100% was the drive that ended failed 4th and 3.
Dunno how many yards UNLV had but it wasn't many.
He didn't have any hard decisions to make but Jay Harbaugh's half was the cleanest, most dominant half of football in a minute. Jaybaugh for head coach! (Somewhere)
Hart also looked very comfortable. As mentioned above he had the harder job dealing with the mass substitutions. Also ready for a step up the ladder.
September 10th, 2023 at 10:33 AM ^
They had 148 yards for the game before the garbage time drive and were at 60 at some point in the second half.