Notre Dame Snowflakes: The Coaching
September 2nd, 2018 at 1:03 PM ^
And most specifically Jon Runyan. He was friggin clueless on pass and run. One play they replayed I watched him go in a circle 3 yards in diameter and not touch a single ND player. It was the most clueless thing Ive ever seen on a football field. If our tackles are going to suck this bad anyway I want Mayfield and Hudson in there.
September 2nd, 2018 at 3:00 PM ^
They need to get Mayfield and Hudson in t here NOW. Let them get game experience before we play the good teams. Runyan and JBB will NEVER be able to block a good player. Mayfield and Hudson have much higher ceilings.
September 1st, 2018 at 11:29 PM ^
OL play was not good, but how can you have watched that game and not come to the obvious conclusion that the play calling was terrible? Seriously! How many times did we line up in the exact same formations? We ran trips more times than I could count with ND knowing we aren't gonna throw the ball downfield and only to underneath route? How many effing times did we just run the ball straight up the middle? We were huddling with less than 4 min in the game? You clearly aren't being objective if you think the OL play was worse than the play calling. At best they were equally horrendous.
September 1st, 2018 at 11:41 PM ^
I disagree. I thought the play calling was around a B. I didn’t like the pass play call on the goal line when we were running over them in the I on that drive, otherwise I wasn’t too upset. There were shots downfield, and decent short pass plays to stay on schedule. The QB play was solid given what they had in front of them, and D Caff looks like a good backup so QB development is there. If the offensive line provides even average protection, a lot of those plays are probably effective. Now, if we want to question the coaches as to why the O-line is not improved, I’m down with that.
September 2nd, 2018 at 12:05 AM ^
You are right, ND is also very good and is underrated. Winbush is a flat out stud.
September 2nd, 2018 at 12:14 AM ^
Boy does McCaffreys poise reminds me of Brady.
September 2nd, 2018 at 2:10 AM ^
He did look impressive man. I support Shea and all but something seemed different with Caff commanding the offense. It was like we started to hit a groove. I was actually a little disappointed when Shea was about to go back in on Caff’s first drive but Shea ended up getting those cramps anyway.
The only questionable thing I saw from Caff was the Higdon pass, and I don’t know whether to chalk that up to him not being warmed up or him not having the arm strength.
September 2nd, 2018 at 1:36 PM ^
The difference is Dcaff is tall enough to see the field, and hes pretty damn good
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:19 AM ^
Doesn't it though! And he should have been left in.
September 2nd, 2018 at 12:15 AM ^
QB development is there? Have you even been watching the games for the last 3 years? O line and QB development are definitely NOT there and that's the only reason that this team is 8-8 in it's last 16 games.
September 1st, 2018 at 11:41 PM ^
"How can you have watched that game and not come to the obvious conclusion that the play calling was terrible?"
Because I watched carefully. Playcalling complaints occasionally have merit, but they are usually the default resort of the ignorant fan who doesn't know what they're looking at. Understandable, but not helpful.
"...ND knowing we aren't gonna throw the ball downfield and only to underneath route?"
So last year people were complaining that the routes were too long, and this year they were too short.
Actually, the answer here is pretty easy: ND knew we weren't going to throw long, not because of the formation, but because they knew that Runyan was a turnstile and they were going to get to the QB so fast that he would not have time to throw deep.
FWIW we used quite a variety of formations, everything from full spread (which often resulted in the tackles getting devoured) to rarer beefy max pro/goal line stuff.
"How many times did we just run the ball straight up the middle?"
A fair amount, because the few times we tried to stretch the defense wide they swarmed us, often with the tackles looking on helplessly. Inside was the only place Michigan was gaining positive yards. FWIW Higdon ran 21 times for 72 yards, not spectacular but he usually produced something good.
"We were huddling with less than 4 min in the game?"
Certainly some work on time management, though it's worth noting that the team absolutely did have time to tie the game and lost because of, hey look, the tackles getting mugged.
"You clearly aren't being objective if you think the OL play was worse than the playcalling."
Actually, it's the opposite. Funnily enough, a lot of people think playcalling is easy to analyze, because of course their team SHOULD be gaining dozens of yards on every play, but they have no idea how the plays mesh together, what the call is supposed to do, and how easy or difficult it is to execute.
But it's complex, so people default to criticizing it. See the first point.
September 2nd, 2018 at 8:53 AM ^
+1 for cute female curlers
September 2nd, 2018 at 11:12 AM ^
This is my new favorite gif, thanks!
September 1st, 2018 at 11:57 PM ^
I think these are all fair points. The tackles aren't great. But, if ND knew they weren't going to throw it deep because the tackles were a problem, then why did it take so long to start rolling Patterson out? Where are the chips to help Runyan? Where are the screens to negate the full out rush every play? UM didn't take advantage of NDs aggressiveness the same way ND did to UM.
Higdon runs a fade on a crucial play late? No passes to Evans again. Nothing to Gentry in the seem.
ND blitzed every single time they went 5 wide. Why not throw a screen to take advantage of that. I think the OT argument is an over simplification. They arent great but there are teams out there putting up more points with worse tackles.
September 2nd, 2018 at 12:13 AM ^
Here's where playcalling criticism breaks down:
- They did roll Patterson out
- They helped out with "chips" a lot--they went to big formations and used RBs. Some of the complainers are complaining that Michigan didn't spread it out enough. Michigan was actively helping the tackles a lot of the time, including on that last fumble play.
- They ran a lot of screens, both to RBs and to WRs. Because that was such an important part of the offense, ND was ready for it; they knew they could be aggressive because Michigan couldn't hurt them deep if they took risks, thanks to the pass protection. That one play, early, where the ND DE batted away a Patterson pass, was also basically a screen that was sending Runyan out left. Exactly what was intended. But the defender got in the way of it.
- Evans caught 2 passes for 37 yards.
- Gentry got several targets, and was (sadly) often well defended. He had a chance to catch a touchdown and wasn't able to hold on. The throw was pretty good. There were a couple of plays like this.
"They aren't great but there are teams out there putting up more points with worse tackles."
We'll put up a lot more points, but we didn't against this defense. And teams with tackles this bad aren't going to fare well against a defense like ND's (or ours), honestly.
September 2nd, 2018 at 1:24 AM ^
I think you're spot on tonight, though the passes to Evans were in the 4th quarter. I was stunned it took that long to call given how aggressive ND was.
Both QBs missed some open WRs, but running for your life will do that.
ND fans around me noted both the roughing on Chase and the no-call on the 4th down throw when Karan was held were gifts.
We out-gained them and that includes giving up 2x the amount of sack yards. They got some breaks, we missed two opportunities for 6 in the red zone.
Patterson's INT was the result of a missed block straight up the middle - Ruiz and Higdon (I think) both whiffed.
End of 1H or not, DPJ's wtf punt return at the 4 was a bad decision.
We don't play another D this good until Wisconsin. Plenty of time to improve. Players will make plays.
September 2nd, 2018 at 1:54 AM ^
Great points, but I would argue that the INT was on Patterson's lack of situational awareness. It was 2nd and 2 or 3. He needs to throw it away or turf it. There was no reason to play hero ball and try to make a play then.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:28 AM ^
I actually think he may have been trying to throw it away and underestimated the effort required throwing off his back foot.
September 2nd, 2018 at 8:25 AM ^
"We'll put up a lot more points, but we didn't against this defense. And teams with tackles this bad aren't going to fare well against a defense like ND's (or ours), honestly."
I agree with you on that. It is just frustrating as it always seems other teams can use UMs aggressive DEs against them but UM never can.
I went back and watched the first couple drives.
You were right on the chip on the deep pass attempt to Collins.
I am talking about RB screens where they use the aggressiveness of the defense against them. Similar to what ND did a few times. Let the DEs take themselves out of the play. Not the quick hitters to the WR. Although, those were effective, relatively speaking, without anything really negative.
Evans didnt get any attempts until later.
My beef with the Gentry usage is they didnt use his size. It seemed his targets were more outs or short routes. The endzone target was the only one over the middle I remember and he had a chance to catch it. Probably would have if the ball was higher.
Not really relative to this exact discussion, but I thought Nico Collins looked good. Used his body well on the slant to shield the defender and seemed to really attack the ball. Hopefully, he gets some more usage moving forward.
Always enjoy your level headed takes.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:38 PM ^
"Seems like other teams can use UM's aggressive DE's against them but UM never can."
Ding! Ding! Ding!
September 2nd, 2018 at 12:01 AM ^
I’m with you on this. The most salient criticism to be made of Harbaugh is that he failed to recruit tackles well enough to survive the loss of Newsome.
September 2nd, 2018 at 12:16 AM ^
Well, he has, but those tackles are freshmen and sophmores.
September 2nd, 2018 at 12:20 AM ^
Yes. But they also aren't Devery Hamilton or Isaiah Wilson. Those guys would be starting and Michigan would be 1-0 and a playoff favorite right now if they were on the roster; frankly, if even one of them were on the roster.
Now we're left hoping that two guys that didn't see the field today, Mayfield and Hudson, can develop and win a position and be not terrible. But we're talking about a RS freshman and a true freshman. That's bad.
Frankly, Maizen was a jerk, but he was right about this aspect of Drevno: Didn't recruit well, didn't develop. Drevno was Harbaugh's responsibility.
September 2nd, 2018 at 1:13 AM ^
My problem with the play calling is that it’s just so damn incoherent. There is no flow to the offense. We are seemingly knocking the d line off the ball for a series, get it down to the 2, and then, inexplicably, decide to expose our biggest weakness by dropping back to pass. We do 1 thing we’ll: run between the tackles. Everything else should be a constraint off of that. Higdon should have had 120 rushing yards tonight.
Instead this feels very much like Borges 2013 where we are throwing all the shot against the wall to see if anything, mercifully, will stick. Occasionally we have enough talent that something stick (see Nico’s deep reception) but for the most part we have no real identity.
September 2nd, 2018 at 7:49 PM ^
Hate to admit it but Dantonio nailed it last year when he said UM ran 38 different formations against MSU.
We have a "jack of all trades, master of none" offense.
Might be able to get away with it if we had an O line but it's befuddling to see us run power, inside zone, RPO, and zone read all in the same possession.
September 2nd, 2018 at 1:14 AM ^
So pulling a kid out of Georgia and getting beat by Stanford means you dont recruit well...dude, those are some big asks. I generally agree with your posts tonight, but if anything, the blame should be on not stealing some extra 3 stars from Iowa or Northwestern.
September 2nd, 2018 at 7:37 PM ^
THIS. All of the blame for the T situation gets placed on losing the recruiting battle for Henderson/Wilson with Newsome's knee rounding out the reasoning.
In my mind, they should've loaded up on tackles to the point of over-recruiting the position, especially given the high-miss rate and the general seasoning the OL needs to be effective.
September 2nd, 2018 at 10:11 AM ^
Appreciate your comments. You are actually reasonable and thoughtful rather than just having a strong emotional reaction leading to “fire harbaugh” every time the team doesn’t score on offense.
Plenty of areas to improve, mostly agree with you: Oline fixes would spell an entirely different story in this game. Wimbush seemed to have more time on most plays while Patterson was running for his life and has little trust in the Oline...for good reason
September 2nd, 2018 at 12:56 PM ^
"Actually, it's the opposite. Funnily enough, a lot of people think playcalling is easy to analyze, because of course their team SHOULD be gaining dozens of yards on every play, but they have no idea how the plays mesh together, what the call is supposed to do, and how easy or difficult it is to execute."
My critique of the play calling had nothing to do with how we weren't just tearing up chunks of the field. It had to do with how freaking predictable our formations were and what the defense pretty much knew was coming. There was nothing creative. Nothing nuanced. The entire first half particularly, looked like Michigan from 1989. We lined up in formations that pretty much told the D what was coming and said "Cmon...try and stop us!". That doesn't work anymore.
Now if you want to say we don't have the talent to do what Harbaugh wants to do, then that rests squarely on JH. He has had enough time. He was brought here and paid $8,000,000+ for no other reason that to beat OSU, MSU and be in the football playoffs. Period. That is the truth. So far he has been a failure. That isn't being harsh. That is the truth. Michigan could have paid another coach far less for the same results.
September 2nd, 2018 at 3:27 PM ^
JH was NOT hired simply to defeat tOSU and MSU and be in the playoffs PERIOD. He was hired to put a team on the field that could compete with M rivals while MAINTAINING THE STANDARDS CREATED BY YOST AND BO. JH WILL. Doing so is incorporated in his DNA. He is Jack and Jackie Harbaugh's son. He was BO's teacher's pet. JH was born to coach UM and do so successfully. HE SHALL. RELAX. CARRY ON and always GO BLUE.
September 2nd, 2018 at 7:39 PM ^
Reacher, well even by your standards JH has failed miserably. He has not put a team on the field that can compete with his rivals. Unless you think Rutgers and Maryland are now our Rivals.
Also, very few people give a crap about the standards Bo and Yost had (other than they are a part of Michigan football history). People want to see Michigan win and win games against their rivals. As long as they are compliant and not breaking any laws, who give a flying crap about whether they are living up to the standards of Yost and Bo.
September 3rd, 2018 at 12:12 PM ^
According to John Bacon Yost was a racist: http://www.michiganradio.org/post/sad-step-backward-michigan-football-history
September 2nd, 2018 at 1:03 AM ^
I agree that huddling late was not a good idea, but that's not play calling.
Maybe it's you who is not being objective?
September 1st, 2018 at 11:32 PM ^
Winbush was waaaaayyy better at passing than advertised. He looked great and those first two touchdowns were over defenders in good position. We also took some bad penalties that kept drives alive. I’m not so bent out of shape about this loss. ND is very good.
September 1st, 2018 at 11:58 PM ^
I don't have a ton to gripe about on the offensive side of the ball. I didn't like the pass call down by the goaline, nor did I like the pass on 2nd and 1 at midfield. Other than that, I think the play calls gave the guys a chance.
Hoping Runyan isn't this season's Ulizio, but it sure started that way.
Don Brown shat the bed in the first half. Blitz, man coverage, abandon the middle, so the only two things Wimbush can do well, he was able to do... tuck & run and throw arm punts. The defensive calls in the first half were awful.
September 2nd, 2018 at 10:29 AM ^
Ill say it, but I prefer Durkin's D.. they seemed to actually try to shut out teams and play collective D... Brown's seems to only try to get seven guys on the QB at once.... if the QB runs up middle it is often a bomb play....or a screen.... Brown's D never seems to simply contain...
3rd and 18... 3rd and 18!! and they send the house.. Bush gets schooled by Wimbush...first down...
Durkin's D would not have allowed that.
We do not have an elite D, but rather some elite players on it. Big deal. allowing two TDs th first five minutes? Give me Bo or Mo's D anyday than this... feels like a videogame where we have these players all with high numbers, but nobody can play.
Gary and Winovich always blow upfield way too far, and I just cannot believe with a running qb that they allow Bush in middle alone, sending eveyone else..and Bush misses alot...
September 2nd, 2018 at 12:01 AM ^
His 1st TD pass was literally into the chest of a Michigan defender.
His second pass in the game was in one of our CB's hands.
September 2nd, 2018 at 12:18 AM ^
Yes, our guys were in position, thats what you ask you dbs to do. Throw those ten times each and the defense wins those 7 out of 10. Just luck
September 2nd, 2018 at 12:20 AM ^
In other words, ND made plays and M didn’t. That’s about the last 14 years or so.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:48 PM ^
Boom.
September 2nd, 2018 at 12:22 AM ^
that 2nd TD was infuriatingly in a mIchigan player's chest. make the play, man!
September 2nd, 2018 at 2:46 AM ^
I place the blame squarely on our lack of a turnover chain.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:03 AM ^
Saw that Boise State now has a "Turnover Throne"... and they won. That must be it - we need a turnover gimmick worthy of our program. Maybe we can finally use that Macaroni Noodle that Dave Brandon wanted?
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:00 AM ^
That was Hawkins, Metellus’s replacement after he was ejected for targeting. I could be remembering wrong, but I think ND threw this deep ball at almost immediately after he entered the game, that’s good coaching.
September 2nd, 2018 at 12:05 PM ^
Sorry. Hawkins was not in good position. Rule #1 in playing Safety:
Dont let ANYONE behind you...
Rule #2:
See Rule #1
Hawkins allowed the ND get behind him and this isn’t basketball. Going over the back is most certainly allowed. Hawkins was a step too short so he couldn’t high point the ball. It’s not a coincidence that ND called that play shortly after Mettilus was ejected. They tested the back up Safety and took full advantage in Spades..... 7 easy points.
September 1st, 2018 at 11:35 PM ^
I don’t fully disagree with your point. Yes I think the offense may (MAY) have had a good game plan, for playing a tight game where you don’t get down early. We got down early.
Harbaugh prepared the team to play a drag out game where we either lean on Notre Dame with a lead or we’re within one score the whole time.
That didn’t happen. Which isn’t a shock. What was shocking is the offensive staff forgot to install a hurry-up offense. I don’t care what argument you make that’s the end of the discussion. You’ve mismanaged the game, and honestly need to apologize to your team. That should be the first thing you teach going into a game like this and I hope going forward. Harbaugh isn’t negligent as a coach and has a hurry-up offense installed.
And before anyone says that we have a new QB. This guys been here since spring. Coaching is a big fat F.
September 1st, 2018 at 11:36 PM ^
No offense taken, I'm pretty drunk.
The line is terrible. But the backs and receivers aren't great either.
The line wasn't great last year or the year before either, and the consensus around here is that both seasons wold have been much better with a slightly better QB. We have that now and we still suck.
September 2nd, 2018 at 3:13 AM ^
Yep, until Harbaugh develops some good tackles we will not win the B1G. Defense did not play well but in most games they do but the D gets worn down because the offense can not move the ball and score points. We are probably looking at a 4 or 5 loss season since we do not have a good D1 OL.
September 1st, 2018 at 11:41 PM ^
You are wrong on this one. You aren't wrong that the tackles were bad, because they certainly are. But this loss is certainly on the coaching staff. Honestly, now that I look back on it, most of the losses over the last two years have been. Everyone knows that the tackles are bad, yet we don't adjust for that fact until the damn backup is in. How long are we going to force Shea to sit in a pocket that can't stand up? Mccaffrey comes in and we start to roll him out and give him easy routes to throw. It's like Harbaugh thinks that the first team O, no matter who it is, should be able to run a pro-style offense, but when a backup QB comes in, he recognizes that we have to make things easier with the shitty O-line play. Same thing happened with O'Korn against Purdue and Peters against Rutgers.
UMBig11 said that if we want to blame the offensive system, we need to blame Harbaugh, and it's about damn time that he starts taking criticism. His stubbornness with his system is what lost us this game. Get Shea outside the pocket, throw more to allow the art of surprise to spring Higdon, and for the love of god: Stop thinking that our tackles can protect a QB in the pocket, because they clearly can't. An entire fanbase sees the flaw with this team, it's about time that our supposed quarterback whisperer recognizes the realities as well.