Leaving the starters in
I think many of us were surprised that, unlike the Hawaii game, this game versus an overmatched opponent wasn't used to get lots of the backups and younger guys in to get some experience and save the starters once the game was well in hand.
Was anyone else surprised that Harbaugh left so many of the starters in so long?
The broadcast team also mentioned several times sbout leaving Speight, Pepper, and company in.
Did it have something to do with feeling that the effort was not at a level the Michigan coaches were happy with?
Did they also feel, like Scott Frost, that UCF was "outhitting" Michigan?
Did they feel it was necessary to get the run game working, and to address the problems that flared up on defense (QB runs, losing contain, some poor angles) ?
Or was this something like the four hour practices- planned in advanced to get the starters mentally and physically ready to play a full games when necessary later in the season?
September 10th, 2016 at 8:52 PM ^
September 10th, 2016 at 8:44 PM ^
September 10th, 2016 at 9:03 PM ^
September 10th, 2016 at 8:46 PM ^
September 10th, 2016 at 8:49 PM ^
September 10th, 2016 at 8:50 PM ^
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September 10th, 2016 at 8:50 PM ^
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September 10th, 2016 at 9:28 PM ^
I don't think Jabrill's inclinations have much to do with it. He would sit if he needed to.
But he was certainly out there. Given how complex Brown's scheme is, perhaps getting him more experience with all of the places he needs to play so that he is crisper later on in the year?
September 10th, 2016 at 8:51 PM ^
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September 10th, 2016 at 8:51 PM ^
September 10th, 2016 at 9:36 PM ^
Yeah pretty much....the guy is an artist painting on a canvas sometimes his logic isn't discernable but I trust it will almost always be correct
September 10th, 2016 at 8:57 PM ^
Need practice against that fucking zone read and mobile QBs.
September 10th, 2016 at 9:02 PM ^
fucking zone read
September 10th, 2016 at 9:10 PM ^
September 10th, 2016 at 10:32 PM ^
September 10th, 2016 at 8:59 PM ^
They needed to work through the funk.
September 10th, 2016 at 8:59 PM ^
September 10th, 2016 at 9:00 PM ^
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September 10th, 2016 at 9:03 PM ^
I'm getting the impression that Herbstreit isn't impressed with Tennessee's offensive line.
Jax about ready to kick a FB to start the 2nd. So far 0-0. Poor Les
At least Missouri is now up by 14 against Eastern.
September 10th, 2016 at 9:04 PM ^
Ettlein (sp?) going in for LSU. Jax makes FB 3-0.
September 10th, 2016 at 9:05 PM ^
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September 10th, 2016 at 9:09 PM ^
September 10th, 2016 at 9:13 PM ^
With stronger opponents on the horizon it was time to keep the starters in. Coaching points were a plenty in this win. Brown has to figure out what lineups and schemes are needed against these mobile quarterbacks.
September 10th, 2016 at 9:15 PM ^
September 10th, 2016 at 9:15 PM ^
If you view these games as lessons, you can't take the kids out after half the lesson is over if you aren't convinced they learned the lesson satisfactorily.
September 10th, 2016 at 9:17 PM ^
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September 10th, 2016 at 9:18 PM ^
September 10th, 2016 at 9:24 PM ^
September 10th, 2016 at 9:25 PM ^
The team was sloppy and did some things wrong on both sides of the ball. It may be that they wanted more work on the spread specifically, but perhaps there was also a desire to get more coaching/teaching opportunities out of this game. More film on guys equals more opportunities to see what they do right and wrong.
Certainly guys like Gary need all the experience they can get; with Bredeson getting the majority of the snaps at LG, he needs it too. It's a hybrid game/practice session, IMO.
That said, I suspect the coaches were more liberal with the athlete rotation than we've noticed. I think places like DL were playing the starters less than they would have if the game were in the balance. But that's a guess that the PFF snap totals will deny or confirm.
September 10th, 2016 at 9:29 PM ^
September 10th, 2016 at 9:31 PM ^
September 10th, 2016 at 9:40 PM ^
I think the perception that Harbaugh left Speight in for a long time is really misguided. We have a QB who has extremely limited experience starting or even playing in college football. He is not an upperclassmen QB who has much experience prior to this year. He needs some experience leading into some tougher competition. How is he expected to get this experience other than playing in games? Also, why no criticism for Meyer leaving Barrett in until the same point of the game? It's because it really wasn't that unusual.
September 10th, 2016 at 11:26 PM ^
Speight needs to see as much as he can early on. Have no idea if Frost and Harbaugh have a problem. And it doesn't bother me if they do. Harbaugh seems to know what is needed in regard to bringing his team along.
September 10th, 2016 at 9:57 PM ^
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September 10th, 2016 at 9:59 PM ^
September 10th, 2016 at 10:22 PM ^
Nobody on team needs reps more than Speight
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September 10th, 2016 at 11:33 PM ^
September 11th, 2016 at 12:04 AM ^
A new Defensive Coordinator and system. Even the players with extensive game experience will benefit from more experience in the new system.
September 10th, 2016 at 11:08 PM ^
September 11th, 2016 at 12:05 AM ^
Being a true blue cynical fan...I didn't think the game was totally out of reach until the 4th. Plus I really didn't mind the extra reps. These dudes are so young. They are going to need all they can get by the time PSU and Wisco roll around.
Also, I did think he was sending a clear message to Speight that he was Harbaugh's guy.
September 11th, 2016 at 12:19 AM ^
September 11th, 2016 at 12:59 AM ^
September 11th, 2016 at 1:02 AM ^
As a number of folks pointed out, yes, of course the starters still need work. Nobody would ever question that. However, playing them longer than needed to ensure victory does pose a risk they may become injured. It also means less experience for the backups who will be needed if and when the starters are injured or unavailable. The backup has not only less talent, but less experience, so the dropoff will be greater.
To count on the starters to remain completely healthy throughout the entire season is some awfully wishful thinking. OTOH there is something to be said for players learning how to play when they are tired and hurting.
I would guess that the staff had possibly discussed these things before the season and decided to treat the two games somewhat differently as far as substitutions go if all went well. Will be interesting how similar situations are treated going forward.
September 11th, 2016 at 7:20 AM ^
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September 11th, 2016 at 7:52 AM ^
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September 11th, 2016 at 8:07 AM ^
September 11th, 2016 at 9:02 AM ^
September 11th, 2016 at 11:43 AM ^
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