Michigan First downs in the First Half

Submitted by tasnyder01 on

Since I've seen a lot of arguments regarding what we do on first downs, and a few people think that Borges still called a bad game re: first downs, I've tried to quantify the play-calls on our first downs through the first half. (Sorry about the table. It's not working for some weird reason?)

PA to gallon Gallon drops it
Toussaint run 9 yards
Pass Complete to Gallon for 15 yards
Toussaint Run 10 yards
Gardner Run 13 yards and TD
PA screen 70 yards Gallon to IND 11
Toussaint Run -4 yards
Toussaint run 5 yards
Pass INC
Green run 7 yards
Green rush 2 yards
Pass Incomplete
Pass attempt Sack for -5 yards
Green run 3 yards
Pass To Gallon, 17 yards
Toussaint run 5 yards
Pass INC (to Gallon)
Pass to Gallon for ten yards
Green rush -1 yard
Gardner rush 14 yards, and new first down
Pass 12 yards, to Jackson
 
That's a 10/9/2 pass/rush/Gardner-run ratio. (I can't recall if those runs were designed or scrambles, so I'm putting them in their own category).  That's a pretty good ratio, and there were never more than 2 first-down runs in a row. We opened the game up with a PA to Gallon, and most of those passes on first down were PA.
 
I really don't see how anyone could say this wasn't a great game in terms of playcalling, but that's besides the point. The main point is to quantify this new style of play-calling, and to show that Borges did adjust to the failures of the PSU game, or at least the first-down playcalling failure.
 
Now, will this type of play-calling continue? I don't see how it couldn't. This new balanced attack just put up record numbers, whereas the old style put up the wrong type of record numbers. And to those saying "we only played IU, so these stats don't mean anything", I really don't know what to tell you. We just broke records, records which also got posted on horrible defenses. Yes, IU is not good on defense. We still put up numbers that were better than anyone else who has ever played crappy defenses. And in the passing game, which I hope shows Borges where we need to go in the future.
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October 20th, 2013 at 2:45 PM ^

will dare Gardner to pass on them just like they did to Denard. Stop the run force the pass and throw everything but the goal posts at him in the way of all out blitzes. If the offensive line plays the way they normally do on the road Devin won't have time to wave to his parents in the stands. He will be forced to pull it down immediatly and run for his life (preferably not spinning backwards) to try to move the ball. If the Michigan coachs expect this they need to have some quick screens and slants to try and break a couple, because UM doesn't have half the problems on their offense as State does and two TD's and a fieldgoal will be all we need to win.

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