Bredeson to Return for Senior Year

Submitted by Blarvey on December 3rd, 2018 at 2:01 PM

https://twitter.com/chengelis/status/1069657446334033920

MGoBoard
Football

ak47

December 3rd, 2018 at 3:01 PM ^

All we need is one Hill or Long back and to not get decimated by transfers and this should be a pre-season top 10 team next year.

Joined: 05/05/2011

MGoPoints: 33614

Bodogblog

December 3rd, 2018 at 3:28 PM ^

Look, I understand all the entreaties to open up the offense.  And next year when that happens (to an extent, and because of an experienced QB and better OL), there are going to be so many old white dudes saying "see, they should have done that last year LIKE I SAID... I'm so correct about LIFE LOOK AT ME!!!!" 

But.  No one could have predicted OSU would have torn through the defense like they did this year. Protecting the football, leaving the game in the hands of your defense by not turning it over and by possessing the ball, was a great formula for success in 2018.  It probably works fairly well against the OSU team that showed up for 12 of their 13 games.  It didn't work against whatever THAT was that showed up in Columbus. Yes, sure you knew THAT OSU team was going to show up.  You knew better than Vegas and everyone else.  Bullshit, but believe what you like. 

If Harbaugh and his staff knew THAT team was going to show up, then yes, they would have taken many more risks, and earlier.  But given the sample set of both teams for 11 games, their strategy was correct.  Now you can question if the error was all season, meaning you can't ask your guys to start throwing the ball all over the field when you get behind in game 12 when they haven't done it all year.  You have to practice that in weeks 1-11, so get that going against the Indianas and everyone else.  Fine, fair enough.  But remember 2017 OSU: nothing to lose that game, so they did everything they could, took all the risks.  Everyone but the QB executed just fine. 

What they did this year likely informs next year: if the defense is excellent, they'll probably be similar on Offense with a few more chances taken given an experienced QB and better OL.  And from now until eternity I'll bet Harbaugh throws everything he has at the Buckeyes from the jump. 

Joined: 06/08/2010

MGoPoints: 26674

MGoStrength

December 3rd, 2018 at 3:35 PM ^

Yeah, I don't think things need to drastically change, but just tweaked.  We can't just throw the ball as eye candy to allow the run and keep teams honest.  We need to, at least at times, throw first as an explosive way to run the offense with our playmakers on the outside.  It needs to be more than window dressing.  But, running will still be a focus, and always will as long as JH is our coach.

Joined: 07/29/2010

MGoPoints: 20002

Bodogblog

December 3rd, 2018 at 4:13 PM ^

I think with a legitimate left tackle, he throws more this year.  Which is why I believe Runyan goes to the right side and Mayfield (assuming the preseason hype was meaningful) goes to LT.  OSU exposed our poor pass blocking.  The staff did a great job covering for it most of the year.  

People forget how bad the ND game was.  It was so bad.  The line got better certainly, hail to Warinner, but they also knew they had a problem and took action to mitigate it. 

Joined: 06/08/2010

MGoPoints: 26674

Sten Carlson

December 3rd, 2018 at 4:19 PM ^

I've been wanting to comment on the idea you express about the passing game, but I've had a hard time really formulating my thoughts to express them properly.  Let me put forth a sincere caveat that I really do love all our players.  But, as an objective fan, I cannot honestly say that I they are flawless.  Further, I think we would all agree that it is the coaching staff's job to try (as best they can) to scheme around the weaknesses that their players exhibit.

Ron Utah put out a great diary in which he aptly said the passing game was "two steps forward and one step back."  To me, Shea was responsible for both steps.  Further, I would make the same comment about the OL run blocking in that I think it improved DRAMATICALLY, but it was actually hindered (on occasion) by a RB who -- as much as I love Higdon -- would simply biff wide open holes and cutback lanes.

I feel like since Harbaugh has been at Michigan he's been calling an offense with one hand tied behind his back.  He's had pieces, here and there, but he's never really had ALL the pieces and has had to scheme around weaknesses.  People keep saying that Harbaugh refused to use the weapons he had on offense, I disagree.  He tried time and again to open the offense up, either initially like in the NW game, or after establishing the run like in the MSU game, and Shea simply wasn't able to hit those passes effectively.  

Similarly, while trying to "establish the run" the oft maligned OL would open wonderful holes and cut back lanes, only to have Higdon slam into their backs … boom 2nd and 9.  Then, when the running game was successful,  too many of the play action passes went begging … boom 3rd and 5.  Now, they're looking at their QB's #1 weakness : sticking in the pocket on obvious passing downs, stepping up, and driving the ball downfield into a zone defense.

To be honest, it's amazing to me how productive the Michigan offense actually was, and I think this is another testament to how great a coach Harbaugh really is.  People give him shit, and rip on Pep, but what other choice did they have but to throw body blows and rely upon their great defense.  Again, Shea was miles better, and both he and Higdon had good year seasons.  But, time and again it was Shea's legs that were the real difference make.  That was good enough for 10 (maybe 11) wins.  But, apparently it wasn't good enough to win championships.

I know this comes off poorly, and I know people are going to tell me it's all Pep and Harbaugh's fault.  But go back and look at the NW game -- the closest to a lose of any the wins.  Harbaugh did the right thing by breaking tendency and throwing, and the plays were there to be made, they just weren't.  Three possessions later, he finds himself down 17-0 on the road against a pesky NW team.  What then?  Personally, I think that game colored Harbaugh's image of Shea -- i.e., he wasn't (yet) capable of commanding the passing game fully.  So, the second half of that game became the microcosm of the rest of the season.

 

Joined: 11/16/2009

MGoPoints: -56

DHughes5218

December 3rd, 2018 at 8:34 PM ^

One of the areas where we have an advantage over OSU is they pitch leaving early for the NFL to their recruits so every year they have at least a few guys go pro early. Michigan sells a prestigious degree and life after football. Rarely do we have someone who goes pro early to be a 3rd or 4th round pick. I’m not talking about those who will go in the top half of the first round, you probably should go early if you’re projected there. I think Hill, Long, and Patterson all come back but if the played at OSU, they would be gone because that’s what they’ve been sold since their high school recruitment.

Joined: 10/04/2014

MGoPoints: 7268

Bluedream

December 4th, 2018 at 2:52 AM ^

OSU has had 17 early entries in the last 3 drafts.  

14 started as rookies.  

8 first round, 4 second round, 2 third round, 1 fourth round, 1 seventh round, 1 UFA. 

The 2018 3rd rounders are starting. 

3 out of 17 made a bad decision. 

If that’s what they’re selling it appears to be working. 

Joined: 02/16/2018

MGoPoints: 881