You are Al Borges for this week. What is your game plan to beat Ohio State?

Submitted by M-Dog on
In a bizarre College Football Kafkaesque twist, you wake up not as a giant cockroach, but as Al Borges.(Do NOT go there.)
 
Your season is shot, your program is reeling, and your job is in the crosshairs.  The Game is your last desperate chance at redemption before the long cold winter sets in.
 
Forget about what you want the offense to be in the future or what you wanted it to be in the past, how are you going to beat Ohio State this week with these players?
 
You are not going to beat them straight up.  You will have to think outside the (9 men in the) box.  There is no point in any risk aversion at this juncture.
 
Do you roll the dice, spread 'em out, and go NASCAR, ala the first half of the CMU game?  Do you try to run Devin to put pressure on their D knowing that he may be injured?  Do you cross your fingers and hope that Green and the OL have made enough progress to fall forward for 2 yards at a time and keep Devin out of third and long?  Do dare give Morris some reps?
 
None of these are very good options, most of them are a little desperate, but desperate is all you've got at this point in time.  You won't beat Ohio State without doing something risky and imaginative.
 
What's your plan, Al?  
 
MGoBoard
Football

tybert

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. 

Joined: 11/17/2008

MGoPoints: 8453

YoBoMoLoHo

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.

 

Joined: 11/30/2011

MGoPoints: 273

BayWolves

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.

 

 

Joined: 06/21/2011

MGoPoints: 11056

get-on-my-lawn

November 24th, 2013 at 2:41 PM ^

Such tool bags, maybe i would take this blog mote seriously, along with many others. Until then, expect this blog to be filled with pissed off, annoyed people who post stupid shit because we cant stand the people who think they "run" this blog, as well as "run" the fan base. How about every man thinks for themselves and doesnt need to be TOLD what they can and cannot do regarding the team and program.

Joined: 02/14/2013

MGoPoints: 1064

death by wolverine

November 24th, 2013 at 2:44 PM ^

I think our only hope is that we have practiced several " trick plays" all year just for OSU. Be it by a player that hasn't played much or special teams. Also scrap a running game the whole first half. Have Devin in shotgun with two fullbacks. Either way Borges needs to do at least two touchdowns on the board for us to keep it close.

Joined: 09/24/2009

MGoPoints: 4490

fergodssake

November 24th, 2013 at 2:50 PM ^

"Borges resigned from Auburn December 10, 2007, after a steady decline in the team's offensive production, before the team's appearance in the New Year's Eve Chick-Fil-A Bowl.[8]"

hmmmmm.....

Joined: 07/22/2013

MGoPoints: 71

DonAZ

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.

Joined: 12/05/2011

MGoPoints: 16761

M-Dog

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?

 

Joined: 07/06/2008

MGoPoints: 257507

Gob Wilson

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... 

Joined: 11/24/2012

MGoPoints: 1916

goblue81

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!"

 

Joined: 10/02/2010

MGoPoints: 1654

Soulfire21

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.

Joined: 03/18/2010

MGoPoints: 22716

Norcal Trublue

November 24th, 2013 at 4:39 PM ^

Some illegal paraphernalia on Ohio's buses. Then we have the police stop them before we they enter the Stadium. The whole team is detained and they have to forfeit. Booya 2 wins in 3 yeas

Joined: 10/14/2011

MGoPoints: 135

Norcal Trublue

November 24th, 2013 at 4:41 PM ^

Some illegal paraphernalia on Ohio's buses. Then we have the police stop them before they enter the Stadium. The whole team is detained and they have to forfeit. Booya 2 wins in 3 years

Joined: 10/14/2011

MGoPoints: 135

mGrowOld

November 24th, 2013 at 5:11 PM ^

If I'm al I would just continue to call the same shit plays I have all season for two reasons:.
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.

Joined: 10/04/2010

MGoPoints: 212943

robpollard

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.

Joined: 06/03/2009

MGoPoints: 13966

CoachParker6

November 24th, 2013 at 5:21 PM ^

I have witnessed several teams be successful against ohio's defense this year. Early in the year Cal and Northwestern attacked Ohio with 4 and 5 WR sets, hitting the short easy stuff and forcing ohio to adjust. Several other times during the year ohio was scored on pretty easily therefore if I were Al I would do the following:

- 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.

Joined: 11/17/2013

MGoPoints: 220

Jablueski

November 24th, 2013 at 7:10 PM ^

Any time we get the ball inside our five yard line, put in ten back ups (Miller, Bars, Braden, Pliska, Mateus, Gunderson, Bryant, Mitropoulos-Rundus, Godin, Paskorz) on the OL. Have this OL false start and block hundreds of times in a row. The OSU defensive line gets tired, then we put in our starting OL to run our offense against a worn out OSU DL or a scrub DL.
 
So what if the ball ends up somewhere around our own one picometer line. It is still first down, OSU's DL is ready for pancaking. Maybe the whole thing is illegal. I don't know. 
 
Any time OSU has a first down inside our five yard line, put 50 defenders out there with super press (tackle the receiver) coverage. Hit their players every play. We get penalties every play. OSU has great difficulty scoring touchdowns. Eventually their offense gets discombobulated or worn out.
 
The NCAA will ban our tactics next year. OSU will be furious. Big deal. That's just out smarting the opponent. And just desert for all their dirty garbage over the years (such as the drug dogs searching our team.).

Joined: 06/25/2009

MGoPoints: 52

jabberwock

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.

Joined: 07/04/2008

MGoPoints: 51146

markusr2007

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.

Joined: 10/21/2008

MGoPoints: 19372

sammylittle

November 24th, 2013 at 10:38 PM ^

And avoid it. There is no challenge in taking what the defense gives you. Real men run at 9 men in the box. I would show Ohio I am not afraid of them by attacking their strength with my weakness until it works!

Joined: 09/29/2008

MGoPoints: 7825

MGoBlue96

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

Joined: 12/26/2010

MGoPoints: 26099

jdon

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

 

Joined: 09/28/2009

MGoPoints: 5905