What would you like to see change on offense?
In 2010, our offense was our strength, but let's face it, it was a bit wobbly and inconsistent. Everyone knows about the turnovers, but I also felt we had increasing trouble running the ball and getting yards on 3rd down. Oh, and that "failing to score after driving" thing.
A lot of people have speculated (rationally) that we'll see a drop-off in productivity (in terms of yards) as we transition from spread-and-shred to "west coast spreadish" or whatever, and Brian has demonstrated the concerns many of us have about, regardless of rhetoric, Borges bringing more "square pegs into round holes" solutions.
On the other hand, maybe there are things we can do a lot better once we incorporate some more formations, short passing routes and so on. I, for one, think a hybrid offense is both plausible and, in some ways, desirable.
I'd like to see:
*More time-killing drives, so we can keep our young defense rested and tire out some of the big, lumbering front 7s we'll face
*More dump-off pass options when receivers are covered downfield, thus cutting down on interceptions
*More screens without the word "bubble" in them, to take advantage of when our opponents blitz us
*More crossing routes to our stable of fast slot receivers, complete with downfield blocking for more YAC
Now, I'm not saying we move all the way to West Coast in year 1. This would be a huge mistake. But if Borges is smart, he'll expand our offense's repertoire rather than try to transform it overnight. Personally, I think these additions--alongside the spread-and-shred stuff that worked for us this year--would help cut down on turnovers and give us more options for controlling a given game.
What changes do you think would be both advantageous and reasonable to expect?
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:39 AM ^
Agreed. I like V Smith, but I cant understand why he got a lot of carried on 3rd and short situations. I enjoyed the spread, but I felt like last yr RR should have implemented some more I form on 3rd and short situations with a guy like Hopkins. I just want a RB to emerge and become a go to guy to take some pressure of Denard. There is going to be a major battle for that starting RB job.
January 23rd, 2011 at 2:04 AM ^
IMO the spread is fun when it's rolling, but when it's dead and you don't have that flow that spread offenses need it fizzles out. I supported RR fully but I do prefer the pro style. I hate being really worried in short yardage situations. Like when it's first and goal from the 1, and I'm thinking we have a 50/50 shot of getting in(in 4 plays, Illinois will do that to you). I get tired of seeing all of our plays from the shotgun too. I also prefer the pro-style in the video game.There's my life story.
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:36 PM ^
Insert Mike Cox into the running game and take some pressure off Denard. Does inserting a decent field goal kicker count? I will gladly take less yards but more points and a more consistent point production from game to game. I hope we turn the ball over less next year.
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:23 AM ^
never punt. TD every possession.
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:24 AM ^
And a kicking game will help that as well.
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:26 AM ^
Many have talked about the PA boot with Denard, and I, for one, would be all for that. What I'm envisioning (2TE 2WR single back set, left hash) is run action weakside, strongside TE block then release into the flat, weakside WR runs a shallow slant right, strongside WR fly route, and the RB, depending on the situation, could have a wheel route or flare to the weak side against the flow of the rest of the pass patterns. If the run game can get going, this kind of play could be deadly.
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:32 AM ^
Everytime I see "wheel route" I can't help but thinking of the Illinois game.
January 23rd, 2011 at 1:12 AM ^
Definitely. I omitted the reference for those who were able to block that memory out. However, no one would have bad feelings about it if Shaw, Touissaint, etc. take one all the way via the wheel route.
January 23rd, 2011 at 1:18 AM ^
We got a clutch 1st down conversion at the start of the 3rd OT using a wheel route vs. Illinois. That was pretty nice.
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:26 AM ^
Play action pass to fullback in the flat. Or Koger. Who I think will have a monster year.
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:27 AM ^
Less basketball on grass!! Only smash mouth footbaw!! More zone left!! Denard under center!! I form!!
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:28 AM ^
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:30 AM ^
Huddles!! Great idea. Let's make our offense as unlike Oregon and Auburn as possible... Not like they're doing anything right....
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:41 AM ^
January 23rd, 2011 at 8:26 AM ^
(in B10 play) to be more like Stanford in their bowl game this year (mini huddle, 350 plays, multiple formations, motion, shifts, etc) then not huddle like we did last year and run about 25 different plays.
The first time I see the new offense, shift a formation and/or put someone in motion before the snap, I may tear up a little, out of utter joy....
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:29 AM ^
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:54 AM ^
Is that during the game or at the end when we are winning? Because if you think they should run the victory formation at random I like your style. It's a bold strategy and will keep other teams on their toes
January 23rd, 2011 at 1:20 AM ^
Trick play out of the victory formation. Maybe put a few sleeper WRs in the line and throw on a rollout?
January 23rd, 2011 at 1:30 AM ^
Fake spike, fade to Roundtree. Would work everytime.
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:30 AM ^
A feature back or two to take attention away from Denard (Toussaint, Shaw, Hopkins, V. Smith, anyone). That being said, I don't want to see Borges let Narddog's 4.3 go to waste. Chances are, of course, Denard won't have the same rushing stats this year, but I would hope Al has a plan to use his feet too (roll-outs, designed snap-runs, QB draws, etc). Even as efficient as Denard was this year passing the ball (top 20 passer rating), we'll probably see a little bit more maturing in his throwing game (get the picks down in the single digits this coming year).
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:34 AM ^
Footballs sailing between the uprights and over the crossbar after having been kicked.
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:38 AM ^
I don't agree with the wobbly and inconsistent statement. I think the fact we had no kicking game and that the defense rarely put the offense in decent field position probably made it seem that way. This was the most exciting offense I've seen at Michigan and I would hope they wouldn't modify it too much. I don't have enough time to comment on the changes needed for the defense and special teams.
January 23rd, 2011 at 1:42 AM ^
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:38 AM ^
No change on offense. Just more experience (a 2nd year QB for once) and running back as good as Brandon Minor and hope he stays healthy. These 2 things were the only things that were missing.
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:38 AM ^
Smith not being used on short yardage situations.
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:40 AM ^
"wobbly and inconsistent" may be the best way to describe it. I was drinking the Kool-aid before big 10 season. Very quickly it became apparent our offense was vastly overrated.
January 23rd, 2011 at 1:40 AM ^
Bullshit. The offense wasn't overrated; it was under-experienced. They had a true Sophomore QB in his first year as a starter, minimal upperclassmen, and were 9th in the FBS in net total yards. How on earth can anyone without an agenda call that "overrated?"
There were plenty of things to bitch about, but the offense being "overrated" wasn't one of them.
January 23rd, 2011 at 9:34 AM ^
Offense was definitely overrated. Hell it still is with people listing the yardage statistic and ignoring the fact that we wasted hundreds of yards over the course of the season.
Not sure how you can get so mad about that fact. Our offense can both be overrated and under-experienced, those aren't mutually exclusive.
January 23rd, 2011 at 2:29 PM ^
So where should our offense have been with all of our inconsistent underclassmen?
This should be good.....
January 24th, 2011 at 8:43 AM ^
It should have been putting up more than 7 or 14 points against good teams.
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:41 AM ^
I kept saying, "goddammit! don't run another useless draw play!"
But with Denard, I say run the QB draw all day long.
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:23 AM ^
It worked so well last year, right?
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:34 AM ^
in some form of pro-set, the QB draw may be the only time Denard's number gets called.
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:44 AM ^
play-action QB roll out hitting wide open tight end crossing to the sideline. michigan football.
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:48 AM ^
the double wishbone.
January 23rd, 2011 at 1:21 AM ^
As a true-blue fan of TRULY old-school Michigan football, going back to the Crisler style of attack sounds like a great idea to me. We can throw in some single wing too while we're at it!
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:52 AM ^
I also like the Oklahoma diamond formation.
Some 2 QB plays with Denard and Gardner.
Hold onto the ball.
Less runs to Vincent Smith, more passes to Vincent smith
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:56 AM ^
On the field at the same time. I like it.
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:54 AM ^
There's a play in the old school M playbook - I don't know what it's actually called, and I can't find a video of it. But my dad and I always called it "The Michigan Play." I'm sure you all remember it:
It's a quick play fake to a running back, followed by a weakside rollout, after which the TE is almost invariably wide open for a first down (and more).
If someone can find video of it, I would love to see it again. I love that play.
January 23rd, 2011 at 1:04 AM ^
It's called the Waggle. I agree - it's a great play. It needs to see more use, because Denard and Koger would be great in it.
January 23rd, 2011 at 1:01 AM ^
Touchdowns.
January 23rd, 2011 at 1:00 AM ^
Especially the one other teams do where the qb lines up as a wr. The defense couldn't afford to ignore Robinson like they do almost every qb that lines up out wide.
<br>I know multiple QBs on the field has been joked about a lot in the last 2 years but in the case of a trick played I'd love to see it.
<br>Denard coming around in motion on a reverse pass would also be fun to watch.
January 23rd, 2011 at 3:07 AM ^
More Transcontinental.
January 23rd, 2011 at 1:07 AM ^
would like to see tons of play action passes!!!
January 23rd, 2011 at 1:08 AM ^
1) Run Game
2) Execution - these kids are young so this is to be expected, but execution of the playbook.
Complain all you want about zone stretch left but we executed it the same way every time. I hope this coaching staff throws in more waggles, more roll outs and naked bootlegs. I think they will still keep the qb iso because with a good secondary running game or vertical passing game iso becomes huge.
oh and
3) THROW IT TO THE TIGHT END....FOR THE LOVE OF GOD....HE IS WIDE OPEN....WITH HIS ARMS WAVING....
January 23rd, 2011 at 1:16 AM ^
Fewer fumbles, which I imagine will occur with the impending change in scheme.
January 23rd, 2011 at 1:23 AM ^
... The two things I hated during games.
1. Vincent smith is averaging 2 YPC and still getting the ball.
2. Quarterback draw goes for 20 yards, 10 QB draws and 15 yards later were still trying it.
A little change of pace would be nice.
January 23rd, 2011 at 1:19 AM ^
I'd like to see us run something similar to the Spread HD that Penn State ran with Darryl Clark and Evan Royster. It always seemed to me to be a spread offense developed from por style philosophy. They seemed to be able to keep teams guessing because they could just as easily run up the gut as spread you out and hit quick slants. They'd throw deep enough to keep your safties honest. I think this would be a good mix to match the abilities of our coaching, talent, and conference needs. That being said, I thought RR would mold hisoffense into something similar once he got here. Therefore, I don't expect tosee this next year.
January 23rd, 2011 at 1:21 AM ^
we will see more field goals being made!
January 23rd, 2011 at 1:23 AM ^