Electric player as a focus on offense

Submitted by Mgoczar on October 22nd, 2018 at 1:18 PM

I think we are all rewatching the Purdue's destruction of OSU highlights for the nth time. 

I didn't really know about Rondale Moore, but what a coming out party. If you google Rondale moore it suggests "rondale moore squats" I didn't follow that link but I'm assuming he squats a ton. This reminded me of that Saquon barkely ridiculous squat video that made rounds. 

Where am I going with this? Well the common thing being (besides insane squat weights) that both are electric players (Rondale moore is just a freshman - good lord). So questions;

1. Would Michigan ever game plan with an electric player who is an RB/returner/and slot receiver like this?

2. Are we even recruiting players like Moore? (seriously, just screen for how much they squat)

Clarence Beeks

October 22nd, 2018 at 1:21 PM ^

Rondale Moore was HIGHLY recruited (including by Michigan). He wasn’t just some random sleeper that Purdue happened to uncover by chance that no one else knew about. In other words, it’s not like Purdue has a magic formula for identifying and recruiting guys like him. He ended up there the right way: relationship development.

So, yes. We are recruiting guys like Rondale Moore. Including, quite literally, Rondale Moore.

Don

October 22nd, 2018 at 2:36 PM ^

"Rondale Moore was HIGHLY recruited (including by Michigan...We are recruiting guys like Rondale Moore. Including, quite literally, Rondale Moore."

It's certainly possible that 247 is literally wrong, but it looks like Michigan literally did not recruit Rondale Moore.

https://247sports.com/Recruitment/Rondale-Moore-96211/RecruitInterests/

Don

October 22nd, 2018 at 3:53 PM ^

I just looked at the Rivals list you linked to, and under the column "Prospect's Interest" and "Visits to School" there's the word "NONE." 

More directly, under the column at the far right titled "School Offer" there's no check mark—there's just a blank dash, which probably means no offer was forthcoming.

Regardless, it looks like we should have offered him.

umjgheitma

October 22nd, 2018 at 1:22 PM ^

Pretty sure the coaches are recruiting good football players. Don't think this is going to be a lightbulb moment for anyone that you can't get every possible dynamic playmaker each year

Watching From Afar

October 22nd, 2018 at 1:22 PM ^

Are we even recruiting players like Moore?

Eric Gray and Giles Jackson are both shifty guys and Jackson is headed for the slot when he gets to AA. Those guys are Rondale Moore types.

It'd be nice to see more stuff for DPJ and a willingness to throw a few more 50/50 balls to guys like Collins, DPJ, Black (when he returns), and Gentry. I think the offense is still of the mind that the defense can win games so long as they aren't put in terrible situations for 3/4 of their drives so maintaining a consistent offense that doesn't bust is better than the alternative at this point in time.

Watching From Afar

October 22nd, 2018 at 1:48 PM ^

I'm not saying the MSU game was necessarily an instance wherein Michigan should throw 50/50 balls. The defense, as I said, is capable of winning games when they aren't put into a box by the offense.

That being said, DPJ is the best athlete on the field more often than not. Collins is 6'4", Black has great body control, and Gentry is 6'8". At some point, you recruit the athletes you do because of the advantages they provide. There will come a time where a back shoulder fade needs to be thrown to DPJ because the running game can't get 5 yards on 3rd and 5 and you need a score. There will come a time where a defense is making Michigan go 3 YPP to score by giving up everything underneath, but a score is needed faster than that.

I'm not saying go PSU level of 500 every day of the week. I'm saying doing that once in a while can pay off like it did against MSU.

gbdub

October 22nd, 2018 at 3:15 PM ^

A 50/50 ball on third and long in plus territory is not a high (negative) variance play. Worst case scenario is it gets intercepted deep - but that's basically a punt anyway.

Throwing it away or eating a sack means long field goal or pooch punt attempt.

I think the best expected value comes from letting it rip.

And honestly, most of the plays people are griping about aren't "50/50 balls". The 3rd down rollout where Shea took a sack, DPJ was straight up open. That's a 90% ball if the throw is at all accurate.

If Shea is going to have an NFL career, he needs to pull the trigger there and trust his WR. That's about as "open" as you can expect to get in the league.  

Watching From Afar

October 22nd, 2018 at 4:33 PM ^

Generally agree here. That bomb at the end of the 1st half is a perfect example.

Worst case scenario, MSU picks it off on their own 2 yard line and probably falls down, giving Michigan's defense a chance to really do some damage. Maybe they keep their feet and return it to the 25ish.

Best case scenario, it's a TD or PI.

If neither of those happen, you're punting anyways because you're around the 45 and not close enough to go for it.

FauxMo

October 22nd, 2018 at 1:27 PM ^

Of course you want players like that. But what happens to Purdue's offense when someone with a better defensive mind - like, oh, I don't know, Don Brown? - finds a way to eliminate that player? You want those guys as a part of a complete offense, not the whole thing. If he had gone to Alabama, sure, he'd still be incredible, but you'd only see him get two or three balls a game, not 15. I hate to make this analogy, but Denard Robinson is a good example. He was pure electricity for us, but he was our WHOLE offense. When Denard got contained, as he always did against MSU, we had no other bullets to fire... 

BroadneckBlue21

October 22nd, 2018 at 1:31 PM ^

We have this five-star guy that is becoming kind of a big deal. You may have heard of him, his name is Donovan Peoples Jones. He kind of gets the ball on fades and screens and punt returns. 

Oh, and he does one helluva Paul Bunyan.

Ron Utah

October 22nd, 2018 at 1:34 PM ^

Yes.  We have recruited several players like this (including Moore) and now use an offense that can take advantage of talents like Moore's.  Giles Jackson and George Johnson III are examples in the 2019 class.

canzior

October 22nd, 2018 at 1:35 PM ^

I watched the preseason show BTN did with them in training camp and there was a lot of excitement about that kid.  It's great to see him doing well. Also great we don't play Purdue next year which is nice.  

Rhino77

October 22nd, 2018 at 1:35 PM ^

“I didn't follow that link but I'm assuming he squats a ton.”

Way to go all in on the post man. Good effort. 

But yes, Moore is good...in fact Moore is better. 

Sambojangles

October 22nd, 2018 at 2:14 PM ^

Didn't DPJ do a like 6 foot box jump? I think he probably squats a bit.

Also if you thought the OSU game was the Rondale Moore coming out party, you're not paying attention. He had like 2 touchdowns in the first quarter of the Northwestern game.

Also also, have you heard about someone like Jabrill Peppers? It wasn't that long ago that he was here. I heard he's pretty athletic.

I have more but it feels like piling on. This is not a good OP.

Mgoczar

October 22nd, 2018 at 2:30 PM ^

Ok.

Thanks I guess. 

Jabrill Peppers was on defense. We all know how pepcat went. 

DPJ is awesome, he a great vertical threat. What I meant is quick twitch make you miss in a phone booth guy. Moore is that. Saquan was that. Curtis Samuel for OSU was that etc etc. These are slot types that make people miss with great burst. Not sure why this isn't a decent query. 

Also as a "focal" point meaning someone whose intangibles makes them hard to cover/account for. DPJ is coming along but we need someone like Moore to put the fear of god in the other D. No one from OSU could cover him. 

Squatting was just a segue. Tongue in check.

This is not a good comment, Sambojangles. 

CHUKA

October 22nd, 2018 at 2:50 PM ^

Sure DPJ might squat a lot, but he’s not very “twitchy”. The best way I could put it would be he’s much faster than he is quick. Moore is so explosive laterally that approaching defenders hesitate when tackling him so they don’t end up on ESPN. He’s surprisingly powerful too. 

Of course Moores don’t grow on trees though. 

WestQuad

October 22nd, 2018 at 3:46 PM ^

Everytime we play back yard football my eight year old goes, "Remember when that guy did that spin?"   (DPJ vs. Nebraska) Granted it was totally unnecessary, but yeah, we got guys like that. 

 

 

WHAT A RETURN. DPJ PUNT RETURN TO THE HOUSE! MICHIGAN LEADS 46-0. pic.twitter.com/OtI57CeYma

— Wolverine Corner (@WolverineCorner) September 22, 2018

CHUKA

October 22nd, 2018 at 2:44 PM ^

We have some explosive guys and we try to get them the ball, but the plays just don’t work for whatever reason. On every jet sweep I see Bell get it’s like he misses the open lane and either loses yards or gets like 2. Don’t get me wrong though, some of them get blown up because he didn’t have any blocking, but that’s rare. I actually think the receivers have blocked pretty well this year.