What is the source of our run blocking issues?
Is it youth or coaching?
As Brian pointed out in the Minnesota game, we were very close to a few huge running plays. Yet, PSU was a tire fire. Part of it was losing Lewan, another part was the heavyside formation (which we ran PA out of to see AJ Williams get burned...).
EDIT: and Coaching is your winner!
October 13th, 2013 at 7:25 PM ^
October 13th, 2013 at 7:52 PM ^
It all comes down to if you trust the coaches to evaluate players or not. None of us are privy to what goes on in practice to make a call. I do think the "try them all because they might be better than they are in practice" philosophy is probably grasping at straws. I mean, I could magically turn into a pretty awesome QB if I got thrown into a game, but chances pretty stacked against it.
October 13th, 2013 at 8:35 PM ^
I know people keep wanting to think the coaches are missing something, but they see these kids every day and know how well they play in practice. Mike Hart was a nothing recruit who showed potential on the practice field and earned playing time. I'm not saying Green or Smith are busts, but they've had a whole season to earn the coaches' trust and Green has gotten a couple of carries and Smith mostly plays on special teams. Letting them "work it out" on gameday is dumb; you have to show SOMETHING during the week to warrant playing time, and obviously none of them have. Maybe next year they'll be better, but that won't change what is clearly an underwhelming unit playing behind an even worse offensive line.
October 13th, 2013 at 11:04 PM ^
October 13th, 2013 at 7:10 PM ^
The run plays especially seem to be telegraphed by the personnel and lineup. As others have pointed out, it's really tough to run between the tackles when everyone knows that's what you're going to do, but the fact that Michigan can't even get one yard most times in that situation is worrying too.
The offense (and at times the defense too, I'm afraid) seems predicated on the idea that Michigan has far superior athletes at every position and can just line up and do whatever it wants and not even care what the defense seems to be trying to do. Staring at third and long in practically every series (because it was run, run, for little gain or loss of yardage) is no way to be successful.
October 13th, 2013 at 7:40 PM ^
October 13th, 2013 at 8:27 PM ^
October 13th, 2013 at 8:34 PM ^
defense puts 8 in the box and we run into the pile. Pull the QB or have him throw on every fing down until they back off, or get rid of wide outs and put in 4 tight ends then run. Our run plays take way too long to develope at in every OT we lost two yards per play, we should have kicekd on first down or had QB dive forward for 1-2 yards. Instead he runs back 5 yards to handoff to RB who gets stacked up 2 yards behind line.
October 13th, 2013 at 10:18 PM ^
...without at least 1 good interior lineman, and those 3 guys have all started 6 or less games in their careers.
I would honestly say, F it, Schofield to left guard, Glasgow at C, let Kalis and Bryant duke it out for RG and Magnuson/Braden battle for RT. We're not protecting Gardner worth a damn, anyway, so it's not like we need Scho at RT.
When you want to run, run left. So what if they know it's coming? They largely know it's coming already, and even if they don't it's getting 1 yd. per carry.
I'd put Lewan/Scho at LT/LG and run iso and power over there, then basically be a West Coast philosohpy. Throw some quick game (slants, outs, hitches, screens) on 1st down, stay ahead of the chains, and when you mix in some runs, run behind two guys you can count on.
October 14th, 2013 at 12:23 AM ^
As someone pointed out above, the CMU game needs to be the blue print for this team. In that game, UM threw to open up the run and it worked. Heck, we even have the example of the PSU game. For the couple good solid drives in the second half, they were spreading the ball out and using the whole field with Gallon and Funchess. Gallon had 100 yards receiving in the second half alone. Obviously Fitz didn't do much, but his few good runs were during the time where UM was moving the ball around.
Maybe it's fear of Gardner turning it over, but I think they have to take that risk. If you are gonig to run power contantly with three TEs in the game, you are making it too easy for the defense. Use all of your talent and the entire field (actually throw a pass outside the numbers) and there will be a lot more room to run.
October 14th, 2013 at 1:36 AM ^
Whether that's warranted or not is a question, but the S&C staff should not be automatically exempt from scrutiny, either.
October 14th, 2013 at 7:19 AM ^
I thought that O-linemen were the hardest to develop. If that's true, then youth really is our problem. This year and next year we'll have nothing but underclassmen at the position. But a couple of years from now we could have a an incredible O-line.
October 14th, 2013 at 8:30 PM ^
I don't particularly care for the Blocking scheme being used. I see a lot of stretch zone, reach type blocking along with counter & trap action but very seldom Drive Blocking wich is the Basic type of blocking any great rushing team employs. We don't know how much coach Funk has as far as inpute but Al Borges is the play deseigner / Co-ordinator. If we Cant drive block & get a Hat on a Hat heck even two hats on A guy & drive someone off the line all that other stuff aint gonna work! it's all Finesse.