Patterson interview talking about us not getting our playmakers in space like other programs
A pretty casual interview with Patterson with one answer that I think is telling.
“Just letting guys go make plays,” Patterson said. “All the best athletes in the country are getting put into open space, and there’s no reason why we can’t. We did a lot of good stuff this year, but I think we’re realizing how talented we really are -- and explosive we can be.”
Although that seems innocuous, I believe that does show frustration with the play calling. All the fans know it, and obviously the players known it too. It's just unusual in a Harbaugh regime to see it mentioned by someone in the program.
https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2019/01/michigan-qb-shea-patterson-time-let-guys-make-plays.html
January 5th, 2019 at 2:38 PM ^
That's like suggesting John Beilein didn't have the basketball program on the ascent in 2009 onward.
Did you see the shitshow that Harbaugh inherited?
January 5th, 2019 at 3:06 PM ^
By his 5th year, Beilein's teams looked completely different than when he started. He had already adapted. 5 years after that, they looked different again. Still adapting, still moving forward.
January 5th, 2019 at 4:02 PM ^
Hmm, he inherited the 6th, 4th, 20th, and 37th ranked classes from 2012-2015, but agree the last two years of Hoke weren’t good in recruiting. However Harbaugh has gotten pretty good recruiting classes (8, 5, 22) entering into this fourth year. I definitely agree that he exceeded expectations in year 1, but with the NFL draft talent we had in his second year at least 11-2 should have happened. Year 3 was weird with the QB injuries. However, this year we should have at least been more competitive against OSU and for sure been able to beat Florida (at least not get blown out).
This next season is the defining one. Year 5. All of his recruits. Returning QB and WRs. The incoming recruits were another top 10 ranked class. ND, MSU (after a bye week), and OSU (with a new coach) are all at home.
January 5th, 2019 at 9:06 PM ^
One of Hoke's great classes has 6 supposed top OL. That worked out horribly. That being said, he brought in some great talent on defense.
January 5th, 2019 at 5:11 PM ^
"Did you see the shitshow that Harbaugh inherited?"
You mean the team stacked with NFL talent? It was no different than all the talent Urban Meyer inherited from Ron Zook.
People can talk shit about Hoke the coach but you can't talk shit about his recruiting (outside of the OL class which turned out to be an epic bust).
Hoke had all that talent but only managed to go 5-7. Harbaugh took that same roster plus a transfer QB and went 10-3 (and should've been 11-2 if not for the damn punt fail against Sparty).
January 5th, 2019 at 6:44 PM ^
We beat the teams we're supposed, but struggle against anyone in the top 10.
1-9 vs Top 10
37-5 vs 11 and below
The criticism versus the Top 10 is valid, but he's absolute rock-solid against the remainder. Now if Jim can only "get over the top".
January 5th, 2019 at 11:32 AM ^
Is Patterson allowed to criticize the coaching? MGoBlog might ban him for saying his opinion. Glad he’s speaking up. I just Harbaugh is listening....
January 5th, 2019 at 11:37 AM ^
Oh snap.
January 5th, 2019 at 11:40 AM ^
Patterson is allowed.
Mineral King is toast.
January 5th, 2019 at 11:42 AM ^
Oh yeah!?
January 5th, 2019 at 11:59 AM ^
You can mouth off to that candy ass Jim Harbaugh, son, but don't mess with MGoBlog mods.
January 5th, 2019 at 12:10 PM ^
You do mean the MOMS, right son!
January 5th, 2019 at 12:20 PM ^
Good shit Shea.
January 5th, 2019 at 11:50 AM ^
I am considering reporting Shea to the Moderator Sticky Action thread
January 5th, 2019 at 11:57 AM ^
There’s a difference between being critical and being a trolling, whiny bitch. There’s been plenty of fair criticism of the program in this blog and many other outlets but when you need to sound like a Valenti caller and use words like unacceptable you lose me. I don’t care about your feelings.
January 5th, 2019 at 12:14 PM ^
I understand where you are coming from but let me ask you this, is it acceptable to beat OSU once every 10 years? Is it acceptable to go 15 years without winning the B1G? Is it acceptable to end the last three seasons going 1-8? People invest a lot of time and money into Michigan football and are fed up with the same results. Yes there is a way to be critical but if people are more upset at the whining than the losing then I just have to laugh.
January 5th, 2019 at 12:59 PM ^
I don't understand how people aren't in flames after going 0-7 against osu?? Isn't it more important to prepare for that game. I just dont get how people are more worried about trolls and whiny bitches than actually winning the game. let people voice their opinions who cares its just a blog. When people attack players verbally however i completely agree banning them. It is NEVER acceptable to attack a player with verbal abuse. But this should not apply to the coaching staff. they are paid employees. Unless your attacking them for a condition they have or attacking a family member, it should be completely acceptable to call for their job when they aren't living up to expectations.
January 5th, 2019 at 1:31 PM ^
People pretty much are in flames. Have you been reading the blog lately? I’m not sure who your comment is directed to.
January 5th, 2019 at 9:13 PM ^
He didn't do it in a way that was condescending or in which he came off as a douche.
January 5th, 2019 at 11:33 AM ^
It's one thing for Steve Deace, former Harbaugh knob slobber, to talk of the Harbaugh era being in jeopardy pointing out such matters as Michigan having its worst loss ever to OSU this past season. Michigan having its worst loss ever to PSU the year before. That during the Peach Bowl Michigan spent 4 play clock minutes at goal to go only to kick a FG. I could go on...but it is an entirely different thing for the QB to essentially call out his coach.
I think two things will happen. Shea Patterson will get a whole milk, don't eat chicken, bounce balls against the garage wall pep talk, and nothing will substantially change. I could be wrong, after 13 seasons even Lloyd Carr finally managed to change, for his final game, beating Urban Meyer and his Florida Gators in an offensive shootout.
January 5th, 2019 at 11:55 AM ^
Harbaugh switched from a ball control Alex Smith system to the pistol attack with Kap ... the Smith approach was winning games but the switch to Kap pistol attack got them to the Super Bowl. Jim Harbaugh is not Lloyd Carr.
January 5th, 2019 at 12:13 PM ^
And when Harbaugh got his version of Kaepernick at Michigan he remained steadfast with ball control. You're right, Harbaugh is not Lloyd Carr. We could make comparisons without excuses if you would like. To keep it fair and relative we could limit the discussion to the first four years of their respective Head Coaching tenures at Michigan.
January 5th, 2019 at 1:04 PM ^
First time commenter, be gentle, but i believe there is a reason for this. Remember last year we brought in Greg Frey to "help with zone schemes". I believe Drevno doesn't know the ins and outs of coaching zone quite as well as he knows angle blocking. Drevno and Frey butted heads and it blew up in Harbaugh's face. Scrap that plan and go with a single o-line coach who knows both... enter Ed Warinner. He uses this year to "transition" by getting the line up to speed first. Next year it gets turned loose. Maybe wishful thinking but I can dream right?
January 5th, 2019 at 1:44 PM ^
This ^^^^ !!!
I said this elsewhere too : there felt like a method to this years scheme ... it felt like Harbaugh knew he had a young OL that needed to gel and develop its run blocking chops so he tested them time and again — the way you get better run blocking is by run blocking.
Add to that Shea relative inexperience in the system and he tested a lot of things out, and I think Shea’s comment could point to that fact.
“but I think we’re realizing how talented we really are -- and explosive we can be.” They’ve got a plan for 2019 and this year will have helped that plan a great deal in the long run.
January 5th, 2019 at 12:29 PM ^
Greg Roman for OC?
January 5th, 2019 at 12:45 PM ^
Jim isn’t Lloyd but he’s not going to change. He had the opportunity this year and stuck to Bo ball. Next year will be the same as every other year - show a few wrinkles during OOC play, everybody gets a boner, then back to TE and Mason ball come Big Ten play.
Kyler Murray rushed for a 1,000 yards this year. Was LR afraid to used his QB? Harbaugh has to stop being a giant vagina with the play calling and let his kids play.
January 5th, 2019 at 11:57 AM ^
Carr changed much sooner than that, as many noted here, in the Orange bowl against Alabama e.g., but to be fair to Harbaugh, he does not have the offensive talent the 1999 team had, Brady, Terrell, Walker, Thomas and an NFL OL. In a couple of years that should be the case.
January 5th, 2019 at 12:17 PM ^
yeah but in 1997 it took Glen Steele going over the head of Jim Hermann against Penn State to show the capacity of that team.
January 5th, 2019 at 9:23 PM ^
Carr didn't change. He went the passing game because Michigan was down 14 points twice in that game. Go rewatch the rose Bowls against USC. The only time Carr changed his philosophy was in the last game of his career.
January 5th, 2019 at 11:35 AM ^
I think the schematic design of our passing game is completely busted. Everything is either a long developing play action pass towards the sideline, something to the TE up the seam, or a quick hitter in the flat. What makes things even more perplexing is that our base running play is inside zone yet we run no routes to take advantange of that. You'd think once you get the linebackers going down hill you'd want to attack that vacated space but not Michigan. No mesh, no crossing routes, no slants, and our screen game and intermediate routes in the middle of the field are non-existent. It seems like they tried to marry Warinner's run game with Hamitlon's pass game and have failed miserably. Browns and Colts fans had these same issues with Hamilton when he was their OC so I don't expect this to get any better unless he's gone and Harbaugh brings in someone more dynamic. I think losing Enos was a bigger deal than people realized at the time.
January 5th, 2019 at 11:50 AM ^
Agreed. Some people act like Fisch wasn't great but his passing game seemed to generate more open receivers than Pep's does. We had a top 10 passing offense in 2015 and a top 5 passing offense in 2016 until Speight's injury per S&P, and that was with significantly less talent than we're working with today. I want to see us throw the ball more but we need better play design as well, I'm not sure Pep can deliver that.
January 5th, 2019 at 11:57 AM ^
I didn't realize UM's passing game ranked that high in S&P+ under Fisch, but you're absolutely right that the play calling was much more creative. Add in the fact that Fisch has spent the last year with Sean McVay and I'd be more than OK with bringing him back and making him the OC. Supposedly the reason he left was because him and Drevno didn't see eye to eye and Drevno isn't here anymore so...
January 5th, 2019 at 1:18 PM ^
I would assume anyone not agreeing with the inept Drevno should be promoted, if anything. Awful O line coach, and in completely over his head as an OC.
Also couldn't close to save his life as a recruiter.
January 5th, 2019 at 3:20 PM ^
Maybe this is a hot take, but I do feel that Fisch's passing scheme was a reason Jake Butt was so good. Obviously Butt was very talented, but Fisch's scheme always seemed to put him in the right place to make plays
January 5th, 2019 at 5:11 PM ^
Yes indeed. Way more imo.
January 5th, 2019 at 12:11 PM ^
This is a interesting observation. Enos would have developed that pass game into the Harbaugh system for 2018. We did add a mesh pass play to the Peach Bowl and it worked well for a couple of easy first downs. Can Pep add more of these concepts? I don't see why not, as he is an experienced coach. But they have to start in the off-season, spring ball and all summer to have those extra 15-20 plays installed for the season. You can't just draw it up in the dirt and then run it. Heck, it took all the Peach Bowl practice time to install one simple mesh pass play.
January 5th, 2019 at 12:22 PM ^
It also doesn't help matters that our TE's and OT's are absolutely horrible blockers. That it's year 5 and we're going into next season with a Hoke recruited OT and a 3 star from Connecticut says something about something. You'd think jamming multiple TE's who can't block next to those guys at the LOS would be a bad idea but hey what do I know.
January 5th, 2019 at 1:00 PM ^
December of 2007 Lloyd Carr and his coaches installed a completely new and different offense which resulted in the defeat of the Urban Meyer coached Florida Gators in the 2008 Capital One Bowl.
January 5th, 2019 at 1:25 PM ^
They actually were working on that offense and were going to implement it sooner in the season but Hene got hurt. They didn't just conjure it up in December. There were glimpses of it in 2006 against Ohio State.
January 5th, 2019 at 12:33 PM ^
Was this post written in Jan 2017?
January 5th, 2019 at 12:51 PM ^
Jan 1977.
Some things don't change at Michigan.
January 5th, 2019 at 1:29 PM ^
Are you the DC for OSU or Florida? Assuming you’re one since you could see every play coming and had your D ready.
January 5th, 2019 at 11:41 AM ^
It's just common sense, get our skill players the ball in space. I love Karan Higdon, but he's not a transcendent talent. Let's get our wide receivers the ball in space and see what happens. I love the deep ball, but it's low percentage and hard to rack up yards after catch on.
January 6th, 2019 at 8:19 AM ^
Agreed. I am a firm believer in having your best players on field. If, next year, Michigan does not have a whole lot of DPJ, Black, Collins and Giles sets on the field there is something seriously wrong with this coaching staff. Charbonnet is a friggin line-backer...the kid can block. Between the OL a TE and a good back...with Patterson or McCaffrey at QB, if Michigan cannot design plays to fracture a defense...I just don't know how that would be possible. These are the tools elite offenses possess and this is why they rip a defense apart. Drag Giles into the vacated spaces and let Charbonnet break those arm tackles and run over a few safeties.Time to get the job done.
January 5th, 2019 at 11:42 AM ^
Clearly they are talking about it back in the football building. Shea wouldn't make those comments in public unless the coaches have been talking about it in meetings.
So yes, they are going to open it up next season. Harbaugh knows how to pass the ball. It may not be his preferred way to create ball control, but he can adapt to his skill players. They added a mesh pass play for the bowl game and it worked well for a couple of easy first downs. Coaches just need to add more of those pass plays to the existing system. But we are not going wide open air raid ... man ball is core to Harbaugh's success and he is never going to abandon it.
70 plays is about average for a game in 2018. We were at about 45 run 25 pass in 2018 given Higdon was the hot hand. For 2019 that split could go to 40 run and 35 pass, with the extra pass plays adding mesh, crossers, RB wheels, etc. Basically "long handoffs" to your best skill players in space. Plus we will likely get an extra 5 plays per game given the more up-tempo approach. TD drives will be a bit less time consuming. Should be able to get average yards per play up another 1-2 yards and scoring average to about 41 points per game. This offense should be in the top 25 in 2019 with a ceiling of top 15 if Shea has a great season.
January 5th, 2019 at 12:08 PM ^
Actually, I'd say the ceiling could average 225 yards rushing and 275 yards passing next season with this very veteran group returning. That would put them right on the cusp of Top 10-12 in Total Offense. THAT is where they need to be if they want to make the playoffs.
I don't think the above numbers are unreasonable. In fact, anything less with all of the returning NFL-level talent would be evidence of poor play calling.
January 5th, 2019 at 12:37 PM ^
To make the playoffs, we likely need more offense than that.
The 2018 leaders:
- #1 OU - 570yds split 247run / 323pass at 8.6pp
- #2 OSU - 535yds split 171run / 364pass at 6.6pp
- #3 Clemson - 530yds split 256run / 274pass at 7.3pp
- #4 Bama - 528yds split 202run / 326pass at 7.9pp
- #10 OKSt - 500yds split 190run / 310pass at 6.4pp
- #50 UM - 420yds split 204run / 216pass at 6.1pp
It will be interesting if Clemson can keep up with Alabama. I don't see Clemson putting up 256 yards of rushing on Bama. Going to be a long night for the Tigers.
January 5th, 2019 at 12:54 PM ^
We should be targeting 300 pass.
January 5th, 2019 at 3:22 PM ^
"So yes, they are going to open it up next season"
But didn't they say the exact same thing this past off season?
January 5th, 2019 at 11:43 AM ^
I understand how the philosophy developed that had coaches thinking that if I put a great defense on the field that I will only need X from my offense. Well, X has changed in college football and it seems obvious to everyone but Harbaugh’s staff. You have to try to put the ball in the end zone every possession.