Tony Elliot : “We became a National Championship caliber team ...”
... when the offensive line improved.”
I said this in another thread, but it seems appropriate here — Michigan’s OL, although improved — isn’t yet championship caliber. When facing an good opposing front 7, the run game often stalled and Shea was under pressure. Unfortunately, Higdon didn’t do a whole lot of creating on his own, and Shea is still a work in process as a pocket passer
Michigan has a great OL class, and still has young elite guys who redshirted. Coach Warriner did a fantastic job, but everyone knows, football is one (and lost) in the trenches. If it took Dabo several years to get his OL and QB combo where it needed to be to compete for championships, it may be that that same dynamic is effectively limiting Michigan still.
Let me add guys, please let’s not digress into complete negativity. Yes, this season ended badly, but when we look at the OL and QB play of Alabama, Clemson, OU and ND, can we really say that Michigan is on par? ND’s were exposed today, so drop them out. Yes, play calling and schemes on both sides of the ball may need to be adjusted. But the bottom line is going into this season OL and QB were HUGE questions. They both improved, but maybe — just maybe — they remain as such.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:00 PM ^
Who in hell is Tony Elliott
December 29th, 2018 at 9:04 PM ^
Clemson’s OC.
December 30th, 2018 at 7:53 AM ^
He's their Co-Offensive Coordinator. Means that Clemson has 2 OC's. Can Harbaugh snag one of them?
December 29th, 2018 at 9:02 PM ^
I completely agree that it starts up front. I'm an Eagles fan and it's clear we (mainly) won our SB because our lines were just completely dominant that year.
Still, it's demoralizing because it feels like, every year, we emphasize that our OL needs to get better. It improved by leaps and bounds this year, but to still have an OL that isn't good in what is now Year 5 of the Harbaugh era is so disappointing and shocking, frankly. Also doesn't help that one of our future, elite-looking OTs in Hudson transferred, but still Harbaugh's Stanford teams featured massive, bullying OLs while our entire roster currently has maybe 3 future, good tackles on it in Jones, Keegan, and Mayfield.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:07 PM ^
Yes, it’s demoralizing. But, maybe (just maybe) the struggles of the OL are indicative of just how far down things were. I think there has also been some bad injury luck, but just too many busts and also ran’s.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:12 PM ^
That's probably true, but I still don't feel great about Harbaugh's overall OL management. Just feels like we wasted years trying to turn pure guards into tackles and into trying OL schemes that were never right, and it's hurting us now because we don't have the elite OL recruits we need (e.g. Isiah Wilson).
December 29th, 2018 at 9:17 PM ^
I don’t disagree, necessarily, but SOMEONE had to play. Again, I think the fact that we saw this going on might not be an indictment against the staff as much as a statement of the actual state of the roster.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:24 PM ^
We're arguing in circles here. "The actual state of the roster" is a reflection of the staff's inability to recruit (really, to close) when it comes to top OL recruits.
Throw money, cars, strippers at them, I don't care. But we cannot keep hoping all the 3 star OL recruits of the world will turn into Taylor Lewans. We need to recruit more Isiah Wilsons and less Andrew Steubers. That guy was basically a human turnstile today.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:04 PM ^
For anyone that says There is no reason to be negative, that’s crazy! Today’s game was as disappointing as any. Feel like there were 3 massively disappointments this year. So tired of being down double digits in the 4th quarter yet still running the play clock almost completely down. This offense, with the talent at wide receiver should be more explosive.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:09 PM ^
Several things are required to get the ball to the talent at WR.
1) Pass Protection
2) Open WR
3) QB that can deliver the ball, on time and accurately
December 29th, 2018 at 9:09 PM ^
We already know Clemson juices. Wouldn’t surprise me if Bama does too
December 30th, 2018 at 6:46 AM ^
I know is chic to say all the elite teams are doing things wrong and we are the only ones doing things right. However, it was 3 players out of 100 guys on the squad. That is far from systematic. Just as likely those three dudes worked out together and took the same supplement. We need to start recruiting QB’s like Lawrence, Tua and Watson! Then maybe we can stop the excuse making and win more games.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:09 PM ^
How could this, or any other thread, possibly not diminish into complete negativity? The team has shit the bed at the end of every year for decades. It's a complete joke. Always will be.
December 29th, 2018 at 9:12 PM ^
Always?
December 29th, 2018 at 9:11 PM ^
I'm sorry, who is Tony Elliot?
December 29th, 2018 at 9:43 PM ^
December 29th, 2018 at 9:51 PM ^
This is absolutely true, but if you don’t see a team that got out coached today, I don’t know what to say.
December 29th, 2018 at 10:01 PM ^
I did see that, but I also think that phrase is bandied about too often by fans.
I saw plays that were there to be made — late underthrows, lack of movement up front, drops, missed cuts/holes, bad pass pro, etc.
Players make plays. I’m not absolving the coaching staff of its responsibility — I think the defense, especially, should know how to adjust on the fly to a clear out QB draw design. The offense, couldn’t control the LOS, simple. Nothing works well when you can’t control the LOs.
December 29th, 2018 at 10:10 PM ^
While our O-line improved considerably this season, we are a long way from elite there. Hopefully, this 6 player recruiting class pans out better than our last 6 person class. We won’t get over the top until the O-line can get us there.
Of course, developing a passing game that can take up the slack for tough going on the ground would help, too. Our passing game is way to dependent upon a functional running game to set it up. We can’t run the ball, we are toast.
December 29th, 2018 at 10:49 PM ^
I agree with you. Michigan relies on the run game to set up play action. That's not going to work against good teams all the time, especially teams with really good DL's. Michigan can use RPO concepts and spread concepts or even bunch concepts to open it up, but will they? They certainly have the personnel to do it.
December 29th, 2018 at 10:16 PM ^
That may have been the case for them, it’s not the case for Michigan. You still have to have dynamic players in the skill positions staring with the QB. The productive RB’s and speed st WR
Oh, then there needs to be an OC that can put a plan together and get the guys to execute that plan. Then make adjustments when needed.
December 29th, 2018 at 10:34 PM ^
I very much agree.
Negativity is a choice. I choose to be positive. (Last two games are facts, not attitudes.)
Occassionally, a QB has "all day" to make a throw, unless it's Shea Patterson this year. If the first read isn't there, he has had little time to make a second read or go back to the first. When the play is to go deep, it is throw it or safety valve or run and take the sack.
I would love to see what this team could do if it passed on first down about half the time went big-play instead of time-of-possession.
December 29th, 2018 at 11:26 PM ^
So true. Please, next fall, open it up Jim. You’ve got the QB, whether it’s Patterson or McCaffrey. Or even Milton.
December 30th, 2018 at 6:32 AM ^
I disagree, Shea was not under pressure as much as you think this year. While he was an improvement over what we had in previous seasons, he still is not what I would call an elite QB. He can be dynamic in this offense especially with the talent we have out wide, but that requires the playcalling to be changed to a modern style.
December 29th, 2018 at 11:24 PM ^
Gosh I just pray after a GREAT recruiting week, a bunch of these guys don’t de-commit.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:41 AM ^
i think all of our players have already signed their LOI. Feel bad for those that change thier mind
December 30th, 2018 at 12:21 AM ^
It’s amazing that OSU worked us over with a patchwork offensive line.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:40 AM ^
Huge question mark next year got a lot of work to do
December 30th, 2018 at 1:55 AM ^
Totally disagree with everything you say. Getting from good to great isn't about personnel aside from QB because every year you will have to reload somewhere important. It's about scheme and coaching and the sad realization from this year is that (a) Harbaugh's schemes just do not generate enough explosiveness, rock paper scissors wins, and creativity relative to other top college offenses (OSU, OK, Clemson) and (b) Brown's gimmick is up. Much in the way the spread and read options took the world by storm until they were solved, now too Brown's D took opponents by storm but is now solved. Florida sprinkled in a little of everything, tunnel screens, crossing routes, pick plays, etc., etc. Bottom line is with the incredible players we had this year on both sides of the ball, to end the season the usual 0-2 the way we did, means it's 100% back to the drawing board for Harbaugh.