Maryland Snowflakes - The Offense
October 7th, 2018 at 11:23 AM ^
We'll get there. All the fuck wits around here rending their garments over the first few games, where we're very clearly breaking in a new offense, are just stupid. Nobody has any patience anymore, or really even a basic understanding of tactics. It's embarrassing, and it'll probably continue.
October 6th, 2018 at 4:35 PM ^
Shea Patterson is the modern day Fran Tarkenton. DPJ and Nico make plays and are healthy. OL did some good blocking. Higdon, Wilson and Mason did some nice running. We ran a lot of plays today, way more than Maryland.
October 6th, 2018 at 4:35 PM ^
This will be an unpopular hot take, but comparing the two holding calls against RBs is wrong.
The Higdon play was literally incomprehensible. At least with Wilson it looked like he reached out and sorta touched the guy as he was going by. It wasn’t holding, but full speed I can maybe see how you miss it.
I don’t even think they started slow. Just got stuffed on 4th and 1. Opening drive was McKeon being unable to keep his feet. Other than that, no complaints.
October 6th, 2018 at 4:40 PM ^
There's no reason to defend the official there. He blew it, period.
October 6th, 2018 at 4:53 PM ^
They did start slow. Patterson killed our first three drives with poor third down passes. If he hit those guys in stride, those drives continue.
October 6th, 2018 at 5:23 PM ^
What the fuck game did you watch? Patterson didn’t kill any drives on bad third down passes. There was 2 McKeon COMPLETIONS that came up a yard short, but they had a chance.
October 7th, 2018 at 12:30 PM ^
Your last sentence corroborates his thesis. Ya dolt ?.
October 6th, 2018 at 6:06 PM ^
I agree with smwilliams on the Wilson holding penalty. I thought it might be a hold live, because it's hard to figure out how the hell he got that guy to slow down as much as he did without holding him. On the replay, there was no hold. But I see how the ref could have thought otherwise. I thought otherwise myself when I saw it live.
October 6th, 2018 at 7:09 PM ^
Either you see a hold or you don't. If you didn't see one, don't throw the flag.
October 6th, 2018 at 9:07 PM ^
Uh, he slowed the defender down because he blocked him? Legally? That’s another way a defender slows down.
October 6th, 2018 at 9:24 PM ^
On the stuffed 4th and 1 play we ran behind Runyan, who got rocked back and is probably the least capable of the 5 OL to drive someone off the LOS (not incapable, just less so than the other four). Meanwhile, Onwenu and JBB flattened their guys. Short runs to the R side A and B gaps were more common after that.
October 6th, 2018 at 10:56 PM ^
You don’t compare two horrendous holding calls. They were both ludicrous in their own ways. When you compare the two, one phantom holding calll gets diminished, and that’s unfortunate.
October 6th, 2018 at 4:36 PM ^
I have no worries about the O Line anymore. I don't think they are world beaters, but they aren't a liability either. Add Shea's ability to escape, and I think our offense should be capable against the rest of our schedule.
October 6th, 2018 at 7:37 PM ^
How can you make this statement? We haven’t played an opponent of any merit yet since nd- and we got worked hard. If we hold some of our own against Wisconsin then we can talk. I’ll see you in a week
October 7th, 2018 at 4:52 AM ^
Wisconsin Def is weak this year. NW is reanked 30 spots higher in the S&p+ than Wisconsin, the gaz is better than any rusher they have and they are far more attacking.
October 6th, 2018 at 4:36 PM ^
Did Onwenu get hurt? Someone said he did in the Reddit postgame thread but I did not notice it during the game.
October 6th, 2018 at 4:44 PM ^
Think he mixed him with Dwumfour.
October 6th, 2018 at 4:48 PM ^
That's what I was thinking as well, thanks!
October 6th, 2018 at 4:36 PM ^
Gentry had >100 yards receiving and a GREAT edge block on a key drive. Really hope we get another season out of him.
October 6th, 2018 at 5:36 PM ^
Me too, but not likely.
October 6th, 2018 at 5:59 PM ^
Why would you think that? Why does this blog think every half decent Michigan player will leave early? Gentry isnt leaving yet and neither is Hudson. Most likely Shea will be here next year too. Rashan probably not. Bush could leave maybe. But not every decent Michigan player is leaving early for the pros.
October 6th, 2018 at 7:35 PM ^
Its not about his production, but his potential in the NFL. Dude is 6'8 265 and runs a 4.6 with good hands. The measurables alone give him a 3rd-4th round grade, with everything else he looks to be an early 2nd rounder, and if he gets going even more maybe a 1st rounder.
October 6th, 2018 at 8:05 PM ^
The BPONE, my dude...the BPONE does it to us
October 7th, 2018 at 12:18 PM ^
I'm so glad there is now a term to describe the Fan's self loathing.
October 6th, 2018 at 4:37 PM ^
OL played really well. really could feel md getting worn down as the game progressed.
more mason please. don’t care down/distance - just like watching him play.
shea is a difference maker. if we had someone like him in 2016 we would’ve been unstoppable
October 6th, 2018 at 4:39 PM ^
I enjoy fullbacks. Yes, I realize that this is extremely B1G of me.
October 6th, 2018 at 8:39 PM ^
Loved the 2 FB sets with Mason and Wangler. Those were fantastic on short yardage.
October 6th, 2018 at 11:35 PM ^
I like Mason too.. but also wanna see Wangler out there.. I liked that TD...and he moves quite well.
October 6th, 2018 at 4:38 PM ^
I'm happy with the way the offense performed. Good balance. Biggest thing I noticed was the oline seemed to get a pretty consistent push on running plays - not something I've seen in a while.
Question for those who know: on the long pass play to Higdon when DPJ got called for the block in the back, and the Maryland guy got called for targeting: why did the offsetting penalties send the ball back to the original LOS? I thought Higdon's gain would at least stand, since the penalties were down field. Also, the ref's call before they added targeting was the penalty on DPJ from the spot of the foul, but the play still resulted in a first down.
October 6th, 2018 at 4:54 PM ^
So, as nearly as I can tell, the officials were mostly correct. Rule 10, Article 4: If live-ball fouls by both teams are reported to the referee, the fouls offset and the down is repeated.. However, Rule 10, Article 1(b) states that "Any penalty may be declined, but a disqualified player must leave the game whether the penalty is accepted or declined."
So, I think that the correct course of action would have been for the officials to give Michigan a chance to decline the targeting penalty, which would have resulted in 1st and 10 for Michigan at about the 23 yard line (the foul occurred near the 13, IIRC). However, I'm not 100% sure, because the rules conflict.
However, what's actually missing here is an approved ruling, whereby offsetting fouls should have the ball placed at the basic spot, which, in this case, would have been the spot of the foul. That would ensure that the offense is never worse off for the defense having committed a penalty. As it stands, Maryland gained about 20 yards of field position by committing a targeting foul. Basically, I think the rule is wrong.
October 6th, 2018 at 4:38 PM ^
Offense depends too much on tight ends. None of these guys show the ability to get YAC which is hurting us on alot of these play action boot legs that Harbaugh likes to throw.
With Tarik we could play DPJ in the slot more and I think we are ranked in the top 5 in the nation and none of these games are close.
October 6th, 2018 at 4:54 PM ^
If you're mad following this game then I can't possibly imagine how you enjoy sports
October 6th, 2018 at 4:55 PM ^
Franklin Hatchett back trolling again! You are way too obvious.
October 7th, 2018 at 11:30 AM ^
It must really suck to live your life. I mean that sincerely. Hope it gets better, but that's not likely with your attitude on everything.
October 7th, 2018 at 1:27 PM ^
Good coaching is you take what D gives you. Gentry was wearing them out. I thought this was one of the best called offensive game plans of the year.
October 6th, 2018 at 4:39 PM ^
Ben Mason is working his way into becoming my favorite Wolverine. By the end of his career, he could be my favorite ever.
October 6th, 2018 at 4:40 PM ^
When Black returns does he replace DPJ?
October 6th, 2018 at 4:42 PM ^
No, he replaces Nico Collins or some of the 2/3 TE sets.
October 6th, 2018 at 7:40 PM ^
He won't replace Nico. It looks from both production and from Shea's connection with him, that he isn't getting replaced. When Tarik returns he more than likely will just be added into the rotation with DPJ and Nico, he won't take reps away from them though.
October 6th, 2018 at 11:15 PM ^
No one replaces anyone. We only have 2 WRs who play on the outside and are consistently productive. Martin hasn't done much, Bell has been a nice surprise. Black will take the outside snaps Martin and Bell were taking (or when a TE is split wide), Black, Nico and DPJ will split outside reps, Perry, Bell and Martin inside with Bell and Martin probably getting a few outside snaps each game.
October 7th, 2018 at 11:31 AM ^
Don't you have a bulldog to diddle or something?
October 6th, 2018 at 4:41 PM ^
Ben Mason is even better than we thought. He looks like the best college football FB in a generation.
More progress on offense today and little to complain about. Go Blue!
October 6th, 2018 at 6:51 PM ^
"He looks like the best college football FB in a generation."
After 5 carries for 12 yds? I assume this is intentional hyperbole.
October 6th, 2018 at 7:48 PM ^
He gets first downs and touchdowns on about 90% of his touches. What are you expecting from a FB?
October 6th, 2018 at 8:36 PM ^
And he's a terrific blocker coming out of the backfield. He's productive in all facets of a FB's role.
October 7th, 2018 at 8:58 AM ^
And he hurdles dudes sometimes, just because he can.
October 6th, 2018 at 10:30 PM ^
Not hyperbole at all. Did you see what he did on those carries? Did you see what he did on his catch? Did you see his blocking?
I liked Houma. I liked Hill. Mason is a very significant step up from both of those guys. Who from recent memory would you rather have at FB?
October 6th, 2018 at 11:58 PM ^
I agree. Mason is a weapon. Can he leak out and catch passes. Man this offense can hit another gear with a triple threat FB. Oh the possibilities !
October 7th, 2018 at 9:36 AM ^
Have to agree with RH. The only kinds of guys I might think about trading Mason for are way old school—like Jerome Bettis, Mike Alstott, Joel Mackovika. Definitely the best I’ve seen in the current cohort of college fullbacks.
October 6th, 2018 at 4:42 PM ^
offense had their best game, refs fucking suck, and maryland might have the dirtiest team in the big 10. Yes, even dirtier than purdue