OSU Snowflakes - The Offense
November 24th, 2018 at 9:11 PM ^
Big picture.....offensive Rankings S&P+
2015 - 38th
2016 - 41st
2017 - 85th
2018 - 23rd
If the goal is to be a top 5 or top 10 consistent program, that's not gonna cut it. While a change in OC would probably help and the offense could use more talent and tenure, there's no doubt the antiquated conservative philosophy is Harbaugh's. Won't hold my breath waiting for aggressiveness or creativity.
November 24th, 2018 at 9:20 PM ^
Fuck.
November 24th, 2018 at 9:23 PM ^
Upon further review - Harbaugh does not have his o-line in place. We played above our talent all year. Field position and early scoring setup this disaster. OSU could play loose and call any play they wanted because they had the lead and the field positon to mitigate any negative results. This was a case of a more talent riding an avalanche of opportunity. Haskins is remarkable. If I was more knowledgable, I would go back and examine that throws poorly under pressure statistic.
November 25th, 2018 at 1:02 AM ^
I don't think UM played above their talent this year. They are arguably the second most talented team in the Big 10. The problem is there is still a good sized talent gap between UM and OSU.
November 26th, 2018 at 3:25 PM ^
Um, we never pressured him. If we did, I think the outcome of the game is a W for Michigan. We couldn't get pressure on Haskins. Therefore, he had all day to throw when he dropped back. This allowed OSU to pick on Watson and Gill with their great QB and great WRs and exploit mismatches they knew were there.
If we got the pressure our D usually gets on an opposing QB, Haskins doesn't have the time or the ability to make half of those throws, we get more stops, and the outcome is far different.
November 24th, 2018 at 10:09 PM ^
Maryland’s O is better than ours and that’s fact. I’m cool with Harbaugh, but he needs to get a Joe Moorhead, shitcan Pep and stop calling plays. This is a serious problem that’s not fixing itself.
November 24th, 2018 at 11:21 PM ^
I worry that his pride won't allow him to do that. Much like Dantonio's pride won't allow him to shitcan their OC and ditch their archaic schemes.
November 24th, 2018 at 11:49 PM ^
No, it isn't better.
November 24th, 2018 at 10:50 PM ^
Color me shocked that our tightend that is a three star converted qb dropped a bunch of balls while their five star WRs ran all over our defense.
November 24th, 2018 at 11:02 PM ^
I was concerned we would try to win a 20-17 type of game.
When it became clear that we had to be prepared to win a shootout, we had no Plan B.
November 24th, 2018 at 11:06 PM ^
As much as I sat back and railed on WV and Oklahoma’s defense last night, there’s something to take away from those offenses. They are difficult to stop. Plug Shea, DPJ, Black, Collins, Bell, and Martin into that scheme and they are averaging 40 points plus a game.
We have the horses to score points. We make offense look so damn difficult. Like it takes all of our effort to gain 10 yards. We need to adapt. We can’t ground and pound and throw to the TEs all game. College football isn’t played that way anymore.
It’s sad I can be at the games or in my living room and tell what play we are going to run based on package and personnel. I am a defensive coordinator at the HS level but there is no reason I should be able to diagnose what we are going to do so regularly.
If, and this is a huge if, we get a new OC who has full control, we could be very good next season. We will have a stable of backs who are good at certain things. We have 5 receivers who could be good to great. Our OL should continue to improve. There are no excuses for this.
We don’t have John Okorn throwing to McDoom and Crawford anymore. We don’t have Ulizio and Kugler types on the O-line. Let your athletes make plays. Collins is a jump ball nightmare and DPJ constantly gets separation and has great after catch ability. We need to stop this 3 TE and Oliver Martin as the lone receiver package crap. We have the athletes and they are now going to be upperclassmen. Let them make plays!
November 25th, 2018 at 12:00 AM ^
I agree with you. Do you have any recommendations as to the best available OC?
November 25th, 2018 at 8:28 AM ^
Don’t forget Jake McCurry. He was obviously the wrinkle implanted into the gameplan that caught Urban and everyone by surprise!!!! I don’t mean to rail on the kid, but what the hell was he doing on the field in this game?
November 26th, 2018 at 3:37 PM ^
We already average 37 points per game. There are only 7 P5 teams that have average more points per game than Michigan. Our offense has been pretty good this year.
Moreover, we average the same amount of points per play (.521) as Ohio State (.525). Heck, West Virginia is only slightly better, averaging .555 points per play.
So you may have a problem with the pace of the offense, but they can score, they maximize their chances to do so when they have the ball, and they are good at it. I know you're frustrated with losing and I am too - believe me. But the facts don't support your hot take that our offense is bad. In fact, just the opposite.
November 24th, 2018 at 11:06 PM ^
My only advice to Jim Harbaugh is the following, trust in the QB's that you recruited (DCaff, Milton) and hire an OC that will modernize the offense to look more like OSU and Bama. One that can capitalize on the ground and through the air.
November 24th, 2018 at 11:26 PM ^
To be honest..even with a good spread offense we most likely lose this game. Maybe we lose it 54-72 or some even more ridiculous basketball score, but we'd still lose. This game all came down to our defense not being able to stop what Ohio State does on offense.
Even in a Big 12 style shootout the team that makes a few key plays on D usually ends up winning. It's like it's often in basketball..it's not the shots you make that win games, it's the shots you don't make that lose you games. We couldn't make them miss many shots, and it would be difficult to keep pace with that for any offense.
That being said, I'd love our offense to incorporate more spread elements and be a little more flexible. I don't approve of the mentality that you waste downs just to set something up. Michigan's style of offense shortens the game already enough that you can't afford to risk 3 and outs with predictable plays just so you can perhaps fool them later in the game. Or even worse..you think you just gotta run into a defensive wall often enough for it to finally cave in later. In reality, of course, defenses get a lot of energy and confidence out of plays that stop the other team for negative yards or no gain.
November 25th, 2018 at 12:04 AM ^
Our D was designed to stop 9-10 teams per year. It hasn't been designed to stop this kind of passing attack that can also run out of passing formations. I hate Urban but he clearly had Haskins ready to run often as a surprise. Even Chase and others bit on the fakes.
The guy who has been bashed a lot (Watson) is just doing what he's being asked. He wasn't the right fit vs. a team like OSU but busted his butt and got burnt.
DB no longer has to worry about ANY team but OSU. That should be his focus starting Sunday morning.
November 25th, 2018 at 12:36 PM ^
Not to flip it back to the offense again, but your comment reminded me of something. One of the things that drives me nuts about this staff at that OSU had a clear plan to target two players on Michigan's defense -- Watson and Gil. They scouted the hell out of things and planned accordingly.
Michigan didn't do any of that.
November 25th, 2018 at 1:09 PM ^
I actually felt bad for Watson. That poor guy was targeted time and time again. It was relentless and there were no defensive adjustments to give the poor guy any help.
November 24th, 2018 at 11:32 PM ^
The playbook was opened up more for Rutgers
November 25th, 2018 at 12:20 PM ^
True, and unbelievably so. Debord and Borges had better game plans for OSU.
November 24th, 2018 at 11:46 PM ^
UM gets good athletes, and good kids. OSU gets great athletes and weaponizes them. You hear they prepare for UM all year round. They were ready, we weren’t.
November 24th, 2018 at 11:55 PM ^
Get rid of Pep and install the Pistol offense like when he was with the 9ers...the offense I thought they were originally going to have. It gives the QB the option to hand it off, throw it if there is a mismatch they like, or keep it. They have enough athleticism at RB and QB to make it work, and I think Patterson can make the correct reads.
November 25th, 2018 at 12:00 AM ^
Jim M. is our best O mind. Look at the job he did with our WRs this year. Put him in charge and open it up more. OSU used a "pass 1st, run 2nd" offense and had everything available by the 3rd quarter.
November 25th, 2018 at 2:27 AM ^
Couldn't happen to a more arrogant, self-entitled fan base.
Wolvie nooooo!
Sincerely,
The entire college football world
#MichiganHubris
November 25th, 2018 at 11:23 AM ^
Yep. Michigan took a sharp foot up the ass. Beefed it royally.
Sparty still blows, though. Watching them play Rutgers was like when I can't find the damn plunger for whatever reason so I just keep pushing the handle down, hoping and praying that it finally goes down after watching the stuff swirl the bowl 30 times over. Congrats to Sparty for finally sending it down the pipe.
November 25th, 2018 at 1:05 PM ^
and MSU wont get any better next year. That Lombardi kid at QB is a joke. Unless they find a better alternative at QB, Sparty will have a long 2019 season for sure.
November 25th, 2018 at 1:05 PM ^
now now, win with grace and class
November 25th, 2018 at 1:06 PM ^
respect the rivalry and the opponent
November 25th, 2018 at 4:13 AM ^
I think one problem may be Harbaugh's insistence on using the West Coast Offense, and its lengthy and wordy playcalling. It seems to take Michigan an inordinately long time to get plays in, relayed in the huddle, lined up, shift, motion, signal for the snap and get the snap.
It's fine if you are trying to bleed the clock, but can doom you if you need to run something up-tempo.
November 25th, 2018 at 5:05 AM ^
I hate everything.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:51 AM ^
Michigan played one of the worst defenses in the country and needed turnover luck to keep it close in the first half before getting blanked in the third quarter. I’m sorry that’s screwed up.
yeah the defense had a rough game, but Nick Damn Saban figured out years ago now that college football was tilted to offenses and it wasn’t going to be possible to shut down 15 teams with a great defense. You’re going to have to be able to win at least 2-3 shootouts a year if you want to win a championship, and Michigan is unprepared for that. Why on earth would you spend the day running up the middle on a team with no pass defense?
November 25th, 2018 at 9:34 AM ^
It’s a shame that after 4 years our offensive line is still average and the depth blows penis
November 25th, 2018 at 1:03 PM ^
You all have recruited well with loads of 4 and 5* kids so the issue must be player development.
November 25th, 2018 at 1:59 PM ^
I agree. We have good players and they're a joy to watch when put in a position to succeed. They weren't at all yesterday.
November 25th, 2018 at 10:37 AM ^
Not only was the offense very vanilla and predictable, there was an utter failure to take advantage of any stops that the defense did make and seize momentum in this game.
First Q - Down 7-3, Gentry drops ball in the end zone when a TD gives UM a lead
Early Second Q - Down 7-6, Defense gets a stop to and gives the offense the ball at midfield. Sack on the first play stalls the drive plus a poor third down throw by Patterson where he didn't lead DPJ and a false start on 4th down forces UM to punt.
Start of the Third - Down 24-19, Defense gets a stop to start the third and the offense goes three and out.
Later in the Third - Defense holds OSU to field goal to make it 27-19. This was the offense's last chance to apply any pressure to OSU. What happens - dropped first down pass by Gentry immediately leads to blocked punt TD. Game over.
November 25th, 2018 at 1:02 PM ^
I really expected an Ed Warinner offensive line to look better than they did. You guys are loaded with O line talent but the performance to the field doesn't translate. I would love to have Warinner back over Studrawa as Ed is an excellent O line coach and nothing more.
November 25th, 2018 at 12:16 PM ^
FIRE PEP! If he still had a job on the bus ride back, it wasn't soon enough.
November 25th, 2018 at 12:18 PM ^
Osu being a bad defense was smoke and mirrors and it feels like the coaches fell for it. I don’t care how they’ve played...look at the players. Osu has ballers all over the field more than capable of being a top 10 defense when they want to. They are the warriors at this point. Just put in effort when you need to here and there knowing you can flip the switch and when you do you have a mike Tyson knockout punch.
That attitude will keep games closer than they should be when you don’t give a shit and cause you to lose to Iowa and Purdue occasionally. It will also allow you to turn it the hell on big time when you want to.
Osu pushed the “on” button on all their superior talented freak athletes and it delivered a tyson-esque blow to Michigans’s chin. And balls.
November 25th, 2018 at 12:59 PM ^
It was very surprising to see the size difference between the OSU secondary and the Meat Chicken WRs. Tariq Black, Zach Gentry, and Peoples Jones should have been a miss match nightmare. Nico Collins made the OSU CBs look silly and its amazing that UM didnt exploit that all game long.
November 25th, 2018 at 1:24 PM ^
I still don't understand why this team isn't able to play hurry up or excel in a 2 minute drill. Usually a team with a (possibly) NFL ready QB and solid wide receivers is built for this.
Instead we act like the old Baltimore Ravens offense with trent dilfer... huddling up until the bitter end
November 25th, 2018 at 1:27 PM ^
After the first touchdown to Nico I felt Michigan should have really attacked with the size mismatch we have at WR, honestly it looked like they could have thrown 50/50 balls to Nico the rest of the game and he was going to either get the catch or force a ton of PI on their corners. DPJ and Black could likely have done the same.
November 25th, 2018 at 2:53 PM ^
The defense was atrocious and ultimately why we lost, but I think the offense missed a golden opportunity in the third quarter to take the lead with a TD. Down 5 we force a punt on OSU's first possession and get the ball on our side of the field. I think we went three and out. That offensive failure was the defining moment where we lost the game.
November 25th, 2018 at 4:12 PM ^
Our offense is archaic! It's slow, plodding style could never compete with the elite in college football. OSU saved us from an embarrassment that we would never live down from Bama.
Harbaugh needs to find a young spread-minded OC genius and fire Hamilton and GET OUT OF THE WAY!! Harbaugh might some day prove to be a great head coach, but right nowe he is strangling the life out of this program. His old school thoughts and ways are destroying what is left of this once proud program.
To hell with the traditions of defense and run-first offense. THROW THE FUCKING ball downfield. Get an OC that can coach a the spread, not RichRod's spread, and throw the ball and score points. I'd rather be Oklahoma than Michigan.
We will NEVER beat OSU as long as Harbaugh controls the play calling. If this plan of his continues, he might as well go back to the NFL and let's get a real offensive minded head coach. It's 2018 not 1978.
November 26th, 2018 at 12:27 AM ^
The problem to this is that Harbaugh is not recruiting spread players but is recruiting players for his system.
November 25th, 2018 at 9:06 PM ^
Help me with the logic of this hysteria: we score 39 points, gain 400 yards, have just as many first downs as Ohio, and yet Harbaugh’s offense is to blame for this? This loss was a defensive gameplan blown. Has Michigan ever beaten a team that scored 62 points in regulation? Calling for Pep’s head or suggesting Harbaugh doesn’t know how to coach offense is ignoring the realty of the situation in favor of a preferred negative narrative.
November 25th, 2018 at 11:17 PM ^
Obviously no one is suggesting that the defense doesn't deserve a healthy portion of the blame. However, using the number of points and total yards by UM in this game is missing the boat of what actually happened. 20 of those points came after the game was out of hand and 6 more of them were gifted. That leaves 13 meaningful points scored when the outcome was actually hanging in the balance. As I pointed out earlier, there were 4 drives from the 1st through the third quarter that came after the defense got a stop. Those 4 drives resulted in 3 points. They stalled for various reasons - poor playcalling, inability to make plays that WERE there to be made, and just flat out being out executed by OSU.
My main point is that offensive flaws had a major impact in the result of this game. A TD on any of those drives would have resulted in M either taking the lead or having a chance to tie the game down 27-19. Momentum is huge in college football and offensive shortcomings were a big reason why M was never able to seize it in this game. I'm not saying that a TD on any of those drives would have meant M would have gone on to win, but sure as heck would have kept the game close for a lot longer.
Not to mention that what ultimately broke this game open was a special teams blunder and an INT that set them up with a short field.
Football is three phases - we lost all three in embarrassing fashion. Sorry, I'm just venting and sick at how poorly prepared this team looked yesterday.
November 26th, 2018 at 7:50 AM ^
39 points is also misleading...ton of that came from garbage time. And, of course, that ridiculous kick off error by OSU. Scoring 13 points in the first half, and—if I remember correctly 0–in the pivotal third quarter is a disaster. Don’t take solace in the fourth quarter padding. We were already down a ton by then.
November 26th, 2018 at 7:44 PM ^
Fair point
November 26th, 2018 at 12:26 PM ^
Just thinking out loud, but does anyone else think Patterson may have played with shoulder/elbow/arm issues? One deep shot was a flutterball, and numerous intermediate attempts were short. Not the same sharp passing we saw prior to the last 2 weeks. Looked like he was laboring on his delivery. Not that it really matters given the defense, but he was definitely out of sorts.