Orange Bowl Snowflakes: The Offense

Submitted by LSAClassOf2000 on

This is the place to post your hot takes on what there was of offense in the Orange Bowl.

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M-Dog

December 31st, 2016 at 2:33 AM ^

I'm not sold on Drevno as the OC.  He's not on the level of Don Brown at DC.

There is some loyalty there between him and Harbaugh, but if Harbaugh set out to get the best OC in the country like he did with Don Brown, he would not be bringing in Drevno.

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HarbaughHarbaughBlue

December 31st, 2016 at 2:36 AM ^

but just imagine Evans and Najee behind Speight, who I clearly think of much higher than most of the people on here... His play did sway between average and bad the last 3 games but he has potential to be (at least I think) the best QB in the big ten next season if he has a successful off season. He has shown some very good flashes and has looked like Big Ben with his size, pocket presence, mobility and deep ball ( at least before he got dinged up)... Let's hope he improves enough to keep his job because he can be a NFL qb.

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cletus318

December 31st, 2016 at 9:19 AM ^

There are definitely things to like about Speight, and he made major strides over the past year. I'm not sure he can ever be a guy who can carry a team, but he can make some plays and generally avoid mistakes. That's a guy you can win with. His next areas of growth have to be accuracy, especially ball placement when windows are smaller, and maintaining his poise after he takes some hits. But he definitely needs better weapons around him. The difference in the game ultimately was that FSU had two special players on offense and Michigan had none.

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Stuck in Lansing

December 31st, 2016 at 8:30 AM ^

The O line is the biggest flaw in the team and greatest concern moving forward. It causes us to be ineffective running and passing. We need serious development from Bredeson at the tackle position, a better Mason Cole and two players currently on the roster to fill in a couple of the remaining three spots ( Onwenu and ????). If we score on 1st and goal from the 1 this game ends differently.

If Speight was not hurt, he opened the door just a crack for Peters and McCaffrey. His escapes early in the year have lead to him never throwing the ball away. 80% of his throws were behind the receivers leading to no runs after catch even when completions were made.

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Leonhall

December 31st, 2016 at 9:01 AM ^

I think unless speight is hurt, there will be serious competition between he and Peters. The oline hopefully gets tougher, they will be young or inexperienced but hopefully they "get it."



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KC Wolve

December 31st, 2016 at 9:39 AM ^

Bad O line and QB play. Truly hoping Peters is the real deal and wins the job. Speight is what he is. Without a great O line he is average at best against good teams. UM needs an elite arm or at least an above average arm that can run when things aren't going well. I'll take some growing pains next year if it means a young Harbaugh recruited o line and Peters are starting and getting experience.



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AlwaysBlue

December 31st, 2016 at 1:09 PM ^

is what he is by watching him play behind an average OL and without a great back or receiving group (with the exception of Butt)? The kid completed over 60% of his passes with 18 TDs and 7 interceptions as a first year starter. Michigan needs a better OL, a better running attack and wide receivers who can get some separation and make some plays regardless of who the QB is next season.

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Steve in PA

December 31st, 2016 at 11:07 AM ^

Speight was not accurate all year and that is the biggest flaw I see in his game.  I mentioned many times in other threads during the season that he needs to improve his accuracy.  He seems to do everything else JH asks of him but if he cannot become more accurate I think he will struggle in the environment of open competition.

Very happy to see the offense come together after halftime and make it a game despite missing 2 of the biggest pieces.

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UMinTroyOh

December 31st, 2016 at 12:18 PM ^

The looping throws are signs of a shoulder issue but could be a recurring confidence concern. Game plan had all the signs of recognizing a serious QB deficiency, be it injury or confidence.

Joined: 11/01/2009

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Durham Blue

December 31st, 2016 at 12:36 PM ^

Nutshell: FSU's defensive line was better than I thought but Michigan's offensive line played worse than their "par for the course", which was mediocre to begin with.  I think 15 tackles for loss tells the entire story.

Speight played the entire first half looking over his shoulder expecting to get hit.  We had zero consistency running the ball.  WR's had little to no separation against a suspect FSU secondary.

We need to get much better on the OL and with big play threats or else we'll always be on the outside looking in on the CFP.

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