Bill Connelly details our offensive woes

Uggh!  Thats just depressing.  

But we knew this was a young team that was going to go through some growing pains, just have to hold onto our butts and watch for this team to get better in preparation for 2018.

We'd be awesome playing in Canada with their spacious end zones (or whatever they call them up there). All kinds of room to run under those frozen ropes.

Not saying anything that hasn't already been said, but eventually, this offense will cost the team at least one game. Possibly two, and not unreasonable to ponder three games either. 

Unless drastic improvement is made, of course. The team doesn't seem to have too many issues moving the ball down the field, but someone when they get into the red zone, it just shrivels up and dies. 

Going into season the national narrative on Michigan was this is a talented but VERY young team that will encounter growing pains as the break in the most new starters of any team in D1 football.

We beat Fliorida soundly so board takes a look at this fact - discards it as an unpleasant truth and talks itself into a Michigan national title run.   Final four or bust baby....HERE WE COME!

Michigan wins next two games but does so in a less than convincing manner.   Maybe because of the youth and the growing pains everybody in the world could see coming except the members of this blog.

So nothing has happened that wasnt expected to happen maybe with the exception of the convincing Florida win and now we're all gnashing our teeth and rendering our garments over the offense sputtering in the red zone.   WTF everybody?

3-0 folks.   And most likely going to be 4-0 in less than week.

I find myself simultaneously worrying and telling myself that its too early to worry. These young guys should grow exponetially as they get battle tested. I don't think 3 games is enough, especially if they haven't tasted success much yet. 

If big lineup changes start happening, or we start running all curls every other 1st down, then I think its time to panic. Until then, we can try to remain calm knowing that Isaac is a load, Speight will get us mostly in the right plays, left side of the line is above average, and Onwenu is still 350 lbs.

Are there numbers out there that look at success in running between the tackles vs. outside? I would be interested in the success rate of our inside run game (seems particularly bad).

I ain't even worried.

I mean, I think that unless we're lucky (and I think luck is really underestimated around here), we'll lose one or two of OSU/Wiscy/suddenly-harder-than-anticipated-remaining-field, but that's pretty much what I expected before the season.

If we lose 4 in the regular season, depending on circumstances, injuries, etc. I will be concerned. But at 3-0? Not even worried.

10-2

I'm glad he mentioned how tricky our schedule has been. Yes, I am aware that this isn't a great offense. The youth and inexperience is much more evident on this side of the ball. I will say, however, that the defenses we have faced so far have each been good. Florida is a mess on offense, but they are still deserving of a top 25 spot because of their defense. Cincinnati is a bad team, but wouldn't Luke Fickell have a slight advantage having schemed against us the last couple of years? Also I have a sneaking suspicion that they were looking ahead to our game while playing Austin Peay. This doesn't excuse our play, but it can make a young and struggling offense look worse. Lastly, our performance against Air Force didn't surprise me. They are a consistently good and tricky team that seems to always have upper classmen filling out their two deep. We were an inch and a bad holding call away from blowing that game open. If Ty scores on either of those touchdown runs, we'd be looking at a completely different game. 

Our offense is going through growing pains right now. I haven't mentioned Speight because we've all seen what he's done so far. Some of it is clearly on him. A lot of it I would put on the receivers not getting seperation or simply the lack of chemistry he seems to have with the younger receivers. We'll be fine as the season rolls on. This week is scary, but I have a feeling that the pickles are gonna start falling out of the jar. 

S&P+ overachievers (min: 2 games)

1. Mississippi State (+29.3 points per game above projections)
2. Air Force (+28.9)

S&P+ overachievers (min: 2 games)

1. Mississippi State (+29.3 points per game above projections)
2. Air Force (+28.9)

I know that Speight's accuracy is not great, Bob. A few darts, but really bad misses in high-leverage moments.

I know that we have really tall pass-catchers whose height we haven't exploited.

I know that Ulizio has struggled more than he has succeeded. (I also know that losing Devery Hamilton and missing on Isaiah Wilson have been really bad for the program. Not going to touch on the Swenson stuff because man I just don't know)

I know that Evans has been the most disappointing player re: preseason expectations, even more than Speight. 

I know that we have less-talented experience and less-experienced talent at QB. Apparently we need talented experience. Trusting, I guess, that Peters' spring game was a mirage. Speight's clearly wasn't.

I don't know that our OL is so much greener than that of most teams. Two seniors, one junior, and two sophomores. 

I don't know if there are too many cooks in the kitchen when it comes to play-calling. Probably it will take more time, but I keep wondering of Harbaugh needs to have a Beilein Moment and help Drevno and Hamilton get "promotions" elsewhere. Keep Frey as the OL coach, make a Don Brown hire (i.e., look up who has the best offenses and check in on his availability) for OC, and then use the other staff position on a Beyonce RB coach.

I don't know that our WR's have been getting great separation. All the TV director fails.

I don't know what's going on with Wheatley and Bunting.

So yeah. 

I'm hoping we get by Purdue.  Then use the bye week to really get cooking.