You are Al Borges for this week. What is your game plan to beat Ohio State?
November 24th, 2013 at 1:47 PM ^
November 24th, 2013 at 1:49 PM ^
What the hell does Big Al have to lose? He's either fired after this season, or taking Brady down with him if Brady refuses to can his butt.
What freaking pressure does the guy have now anyway?
Everyone expects a 150 yds showing for the game.
November 24th, 2013 at 1:58 PM ^
All iso's, all the time. It'll catch them off guard.
November 24th, 2013 at 1:59 PM ^
I began watching the Michigan game after the score was 21-21; My 1st thought was "Hey, Michigan's offense scored some touchdowns!!! WooHooo!!! Then, my father explained that 1 TD was scored by Beyer, & the another TD was a direct result of an interception (Countess?). So I was quickly broght back down to earth, to the reality of Michigan's offense, to the fact that Michigan scored 6 points versus the Iowa defense.... All I know is that after the M game I watched most of 2 other games, Oklahoma State vs Baylor, & Arizona State vs UCLA.... and during those games I had 2 impressions: 1) All 4 of those teams would soundly defeat Michigan. And, 2) All 4 of those offensive coaches do a better job than Michigans offensive coaches.
November 24th, 2013 at 2:25 PM ^
4 or 5 wide all day with one to three of the WRs running flys. This would be the set on 95% of all play calls.
The other 5% can be whatever Borges wants as long as it is not (a) stretch, (b) fullback option, (c) any running play into an 8+ man box.
November 24th, 2013 at 2:36 PM ^
Single coverage on Funchess is our great hope. Arm punt it and hope for a catch or a PI.
November 24th, 2013 at 2:29 PM ^
Just a thought....
November 24th, 2013 at 2:41 PM ^
November 24th, 2013 at 2:44 PM ^
November 24th, 2013 at 2:50 PM ^
hmmmmm.....
November 24th, 2013 at 2:57 PM ^
The strategy of keeping the ball out of the hands of the OSU offense depends on Michigan getting first downs ... which they're awful at ... so that strategy won't work.
Borges's best hope is for a shoot-out. Gardner is more comfortable in that kind of game anyway. So go wide-open and live or die on that. Any other approach fails.
(Predictor: if we see Gardner under center even once, game over. I'm totally serious.)
Go down swinging.
PS -- Am I the only one on this site who sees every click result in "Connection Timeout" ... every action requiring 30+ seconds of waiting and retries? It's almost unusable lately.
November 24th, 2013 at 3:08 PM ^
Yeah, at least I'd rather lose an Indiana-type game or Notre Dame-type game than an Iowa-type game or a Nebraska-type game. At least it's more entertaining for the fans that show up.
And we actually won the Indiana and Notre Dame-type games, so who knows?
November 24th, 2013 at 3:01 PM ^
Kafkaesque.
November 24th, 2013 at 3:12 PM ^
I like that better. Changed it.
November 24th, 2013 at 4:05 PM ^
I’d embrace Kafka’s existential attitude and embody the true sense of disorientation and confusion in the face of an apparently absurd game. I’d play all the defensive players in offensive positions. Make Wile our QB and suit up the cheerleaders. How could it be any worse? Finally, I'd go for it on 4th and 20 and then turn around and punt on 1st down. Put Defense back in and let them all play 60 minutes. Ryan at fullback...then parapent from the pressbox onto Stadium Blvd into a waiting car. It would be a great story...
November 24th, 2013 at 3:10 PM ^
Al Borges thought bubbles from Monday strategy session.
"We're going to need to try something different on the first series:
- 1 &10... Pistol delay handoff to Fitz for -1yds
- 2 & 11...I-Form speed option with Kerridge to the short side of the field for -3yds
- 3 & 14...I-Form play action pass with Fitz picking up the blitz DG sacked for -6yds
- 4 & 20...Punt
Then for the rest of the first half, I'm just going to call the same plays, but I'll get sneaky and change the order we run them in. Oh and in between series, I'll go get some brain food from the snack bar... mmm nachos.
At half-time, I'll put Lewan at RT and move Schofield to RG. Then I'll move Glasgow to TE so I can have Kalis play C. Magnusen will play LG and we'll have Butt play LT. Then they'll think we're running right, but we'll actually run to left. They will be so confused - it will be genius!"
November 24th, 2013 at 3:18 PM ^
Couple things:
- NASCAR offense randomly in the first half
- Minimum of 4 receivers in every formation, attack their 2nd level (their linebakers are the weakest on defense)
- NO I-FORM EVER*
And by ever I mean if we have a decent running game (hahaha) then maybe do a PA pass in a short yardage situation, but that's IT.
November 24th, 2013 at 3:36 PM ^
Then interim OC Coach Hecklinski should run a controlled no huddle offense to give DG more time to read the defense.
November 24th, 2013 at 4:20 PM ^
November 24th, 2013 at 4:25 PM ^
He will run nr 28 25 times figuring the suckeyes would never believe he was that stubborn and stupid to try it.
November 24th, 2013 at 4:39 PM ^
November 24th, 2013 at 4:41 PM ^
November 24th, 2013 at 5:11 PM ^
1: My boss absolutely loves them
2. Anyone who dares to be to be critical of my genius is mocked and attacked for not not being supportive enough of the team
This is awesome....I can be completely incompetent and anyone who challenges it is ridiculed for not being a true "fan". Cause REAL Michigan fans accept complete and utter failure quietly and with no complaints. Anything else marks you a fair weather fan.
November 24th, 2013 at 5:12 PM ^
November 24th, 2013 at 5:19 PM ^
Go three wide / four wide. Throw the ball at least 40+ times - short and med, with just a few long. Tell Devin it's preferred to throw the ball away on 1st or 2nd down, instead of trying to do one of his duck-and-scramble (which doesn't work much, b/c he often "ducks" into the 2nd or 3rd defender who beat his man). Run draw plays on occasion. Never have two backs in at once, as the I-form is junk.
I don't expect this to happen, as it should have already (see Nebraska). But OSU has an excellent offense with a so-so defense, and will likely score 24 or more points no matter what we do (e.g., if we try ball control), so our only chance is to outscore them in a shootout.
November 24th, 2013 at 5:21 PM ^
- break tendency early and show several new plays off of successful stuff we have run at some points this year. A play I would consider is a Max protect play action where it looks like were running the fake bubble 24 drive/dive and send funchess down the seam or on a deep post. Use green or smith as the check down on the play.
Utilize Drew Dileo in the slot. For the life of me I can't figure out why Borges doesn't use Dileo's uncanny ability to beat man coverage. Ohio vs the 5 wide played 2 very basic defenses that allow for a short, controlled passing game. Putting Dileo on a LB is a matchup we can win all day.
Make sure Devin gets rid of the ball in less then 3 seconds. No matter how bad your line is you can always stay upright by getting the ball out in a timely fashion.
Trick plays must be a part of the game plan. Whether it's a simple flea flicker or a double reverse pass, I would pull something out of my hat early enough that ohio has to stay honest but not so early that it appears desperate.
Use radical formation shifts such as coming out in the I in 10 personnel, and then switch to a 4 or 5 wide set and watch what ohio does.
We have to have sight adjustments in this weeks offense to some degree. If we come out and our slot is un-covered, Devin should check to a bubble. If we notice Dileo on a LB or funchess on an LB check to a man beater and be smart.
One of the last things I would focus on is time of possession. The longer we have the ball the less points they will score. This game would be about efficiency for me and doing whatever needs to be done to move the sticks.
Ohio is an arrogant team that has not seen any real adversity all year. Putting them in a position where they're down and frustrated might make them easier to beat.
It's senior day, anything can happen as long as for this game you earn your paycheck, Al.
November 24th, 2013 at 6:09 PM ^
November 24th, 2013 at 6:17 PM ^
Instead of faking the Bubble Screen . . . actually throw the Bubble Screen!
I kid, we would never do that.
November 24th, 2013 at 7:08 PM ^
have the defense use the timeouts, for resting purposes, seeing we have yet to use them for any good purpose.
November 24th, 2013 at 7:10 PM ^
November 24th, 2013 at 7:38 PM ^
Blitz.
Not just a lame A gap blitz or even a wimpy double A gap blitz but an INYOURFACEMOTHERFUCKING TRIPLE A gap blitz!!!
on offense, EVERY offensive player blitzs their D through the A gap.
forget 7,8, or 9 in the box, 11 IN THE FUCKING GAP !
Narduzzi for OC.
November 24th, 2013 at 9:10 PM ^
and call every single play against Ohio as I deem fit for my offense and for my quarterback(s), as always.
I have 27 years of offensive coordinator experience. Do you honestly think I read the papers or blogs or whatever? If I'm fired, then so be it.
Because getting fired from Michigan football seems to be a proverbial springboard for comeback success elsewhere anyway. See Rodriguez and Arizona's demolition of Oregon. Or Gerg Robinson. Or Scott Shafer.
The sun will come out tomorrow. Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, they'll be sun.
November 24th, 2013 at 10:38 PM ^
November 24th, 2013 at 11:14 PM ^
Seriously, though I would spread Ohio out and go with short quick passes/screens, with an occasional draw mixed in. Target Gallon and Funchess as often as possible, to maximize their touches.
Though, I know Al won't do that exclusively, so I guess bang your head against the wall trying to run some power type plays hoping fruitlessly that the wall somehow breaks
November 24th, 2013 at 11:15 PM ^
Well.... we've scored 3 offensive TD's in the last 4 conference games(!!!!!!!!!!). I'd say we make sure the kicker is loose.
November 25th, 2013 at 9:20 AM ^
well, if I am Al borges then I will continue to do the same dumb shit that got us here...
now, if i magically became OC this weekend. I would choose ten plays, all out of the same formation, run no huddle and call the plays at the line. Then in the second half I would use 10 other plays.
Seriously, 20 plays all out of the same formation. Each ten could get you through a half... I would want to score at least 17 points a half...
I would throw deep jumpballs to funchess at least once each series..
jdon