Wisconsin Snowflakes - The Offense

Submitted by LSAClassOf2000 on November 15th, 2020 at 4:00 PM

This will be the thread for takes regarding the offense and offensive playcalling. 

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CFraser

November 15th, 2020 at 9:21 AM ^

I was riding the Harbaugh train till this season. I guess I was being naive but it’s more than clear now. It’s worse than Hoke and, probably RR. I guess I just wanted to avoid the chaos of a switch and there really aren’t any surefire/exciting hires out there; Fickell? Meyer? Not likely...OSU connections...but let’s not forget Bo was an OSU assistant - also, see Mattison et al. 

I will admit when I’m wrong and I was definitely in the delusional/slow to come around group. Everyone needs to go. This is not an emotional reaction, but a measured and cogent conclusion to the data presented that were developed over years. The players obviously know it too; look at their complete ambivalence and apathy. Rip the bandaid off now, it’s just going to get harder. 

Joined: 08/15/2017

MGoPoints: 6262

Hail to the Vi…

November 14th, 2020 at 11:59 PM ^

Agreed, hopeless and it's because of the cadence of the play calling not the scheme itself.

The scheme is fine. If you're a baseball pitcher, for example. If your batter knows your cadence is fastball, fastball changeup. he's just going to wait for the pitch he likes and tee off on you, regardless on how good your fastball or changeup actually is.

That's what we've seen from the Michigan offense for 3 straight games. Everybody watching knows when it's their faux read option (1st down), their power run, either RB or QB (2nd down) and then a three route scheme from the receivers/TE on third down.

Certainly if the fans watching on the couch with a beer in their hand don't have to guess, the opposing defense doesn't have to guess. Michigan lost to a dog shit MSU team running the same cadence, got beat handly by a good-not-great IU team running the same cadence, and then comes out against Wisconsin and get their doors blown off running the... same cadence.

Call what ever plays you like as an offensive coordinator. If I know when that play is coming, it's not going to work. This isn't fucking brain surgery

Joined: 09/13/2010

MGoPoints: 12888

DoubleB

November 14th, 2020 at 11:06 PM ^

Read the UFR and listened to the podcast about how Milton was a bright spot. Less than 3 quarters later he may have lost his job. 

Looking forward to the excuses on how Milton wasn't part of the problem.

He isn't the only problem, but he's not part of the solution either. His inaccuracy is absolutely devastating.

Joined: 11/19/2008

MGoPoints: 7470

mackbru

November 15th, 2020 at 12:20 AM ^


He also isn’t (yet?) able to read defenses. He looked confused and overwhelmed, to the point that the coaches called running plays on 3rd and long. I feel bad for the kid. He’s obviously got some talent and leadership qualities. But he’s in no way ready. And I find it hard to believe he was decisively ahead of Dylan and Cade. 

Joined: 09/01/2009

MGoPoints: 34136

DoubleB

November 15th, 2020 at 9:38 AM ^

It's a great example of how a player can grade out at 80% or whatnot, but still be a liability to the team. The 6 or so plays he misses are downgraded or zeroed out, but they don't reflect the lost yardage, points, opportunities lost that directly affect the final result. 

It's one thing to miss a guy on a quick out for 5 yards. It's another to miss a guy wide open by himself in the end zone. Both might grade out somewhat similar, but one is a hell of a lot more important than the other.

Joined: 11/19/2008

MGoPoints: 7470

rob f

November 14th, 2020 at 11:13 PM ^

What offense??

There was none other than one drive when Cade came in.

And then the driving rain arrived, along with more questionable play calling by Gattisbaugh. 

Joined: 11/11/2010

MGoPoints: 194589

Mpfnfu Ford

November 14th, 2020 at 11:16 PM ^

When Harbaugh was first hired, we thought we were going to be Wisconsin with more skill talent. They gave up on that within a couple of seasons and Michigan started morphing into some weird hybrid of spread and manball that had completely dysfunctional OL coaching until they finally decided to go all in on spread, which they never really did either.

Wisconsin is what happens when you establish a clear identity. You can add wrinkles out of the pistol and shotgun and add jet sweep because they fit in with what they build. Michigan under Harbaugh swings wildly from one identity to another based on who will tolerate his presence in offensive coaching meetings, before they finally get thrown into the Harbaugh blender. 

It was hard not to be envious of Wisconsin when watching Michigan attempt ‘offense”

Joined: 05/19/2012

MGoPoints: 6469

antonio_sass

November 15th, 2020 at 1:31 AM ^

we did the right thing by moving away from i-form 22 personnel football. we've been just about as good as wisconsin for 5 years and to harbaugh's credit his aspirations were to be better.

every team worth a damn runs a spread.

it's the right thing to do. the results have been a disaster. 

edit: meant to reply to post above. 

but yes, also bench Milton. seems like a good kid but he's in over his head.

Joined: 09/08/2010

MGoPoints: 4680

burtcomma

November 15th, 2020 at 12:09 PM ^

So, are we in a rebuild to a new offense? Has Wisconsin under Chryst beat OSU?  Has Wisconsin under Chryst won a B1G championship?  Are their limitations to Wisconsin’s chosen offensive football identity?  Yep, they’re better than us over the past few years, but they have not won a B1G title since 2012.  

Joined: 11/01/2009

MGoPoints: 5851

bluegary

November 14th, 2020 at 11:20 PM ^

What offense. They suck. So did the defense and especially the coaches. Not 1 positive thing from this game. Hoping for a COVID outbreak and cancel the rest of the year.

Joined: 02/01/2019

MGoPoints: 4283

chatster

November 14th, 2020 at 11:40 PM ^

If Dylan McCaffrey plans to finish the school year at Michigan in order to get his degree, would there be any chance that he might wait to learn about the new coaching staff for next season before leaving for another school?

If not, will Michigan in 2021 just be facing another season in which they’ll have to rely on an experienced quarterback from the transfer portal and then hope that he could be as good as Russell Wilson was when he transferred to Wisconsin from North Carolina State?

Joined: 09/14/2010

MGoPoints: 26926

RandallFlagg

November 14th, 2020 at 11:41 PM ^

Everyone needs to relax.  Harbaugh always saves the good plays for OSU.  It would be dumb to open the playbook in a meaningless game.  

Joined: 10/31/2020

MGoPoints: 4230

Epictetus

November 14th, 2020 at 11:53 PM ^

When they lined up for the 4th and Goal a chill ran down my spine. I shuddered as my mind reached into a deep and dark chasm, returning with long forgotten nightmares of late-stage Al Borges. 

Joined: 10/31/2020

MGoPoints: 357

Jordan2323

November 15th, 2020 at 12:03 AM ^

I dont see Joe or Cade either one as the answer but next week they would both get a half of play. Let Joe have quarters 1 and 3 and Cade 2 and 4 and then see who needs to be the qb for the rest of the year. You would have potentially 4 games left for that qb to see what he can do. I'm not sure either is the answer. One has too strong of an arm and no accuracy and the other has good touch but what looks like maybe a weak arm. I'm hoping it was the wet ball and no grip for Cade. 

Joined: 11/09/2013

MGoPoints: 48909

jmstranger

November 15th, 2020 at 12:04 AM ^

If you can’t throw the ball down the field with at least some success then you’re not a legitimate offense. Milton can’t accurately throw the ball down field. 

Joined: 05/23/2010

MGoPoints: 9450