Georgia Snowflakes: The Offense

Thank you Michigan Football for the best season of football in the 2000 era!  You guys did the unthinkable. The Georgia team was ready to play and momentum took over. Recruiting will pick up and the transfer portal will level the talent ratio a bit. But we have to look beyond this game to see that Michigan has a bright future.  JJ and Edwards are stars already! The talent will come our way and hopefully the teams we build in the future will continue to compete on the Big and Expanded playoff platform. Go Blue!

Completely biffed this game. What can you not do? Turn your back on UGA or try to outrun their linebackers to the sideline.

They should've been throwing downfield to Wilson and Anthony from the jump. 

The bungled opening possession merely set the tone. They didn't have the right plan, and they didn't execute.

Can't really put this on the players' execution.  Went into the game knowing there was a talent gap, but the coaching staff showed their plan in the first two drives and never broke their own tendencies.  Every time Gattis tried to scheme a RB outside Dean blew it up instantly.  Really thought.  I was expecting a lot more misdirection.  They sniffed out the flea flicker and the fake end around and then Gattis just called it quits on those.  He didn't have anything to run off of that??  Seemed like a stark departure from what we were doing all season.  Tough when the line is starting in Cade's lap though.

Pretty sure Georgia’s DC gave the Remember The Titan’s “YOU BLITZ ALL NIGHT!” speech to his LBers. Michigan didn’t have an answer to it.

Cade was the starting QB that finally won us a B1G Championship and got us to the playoffs and he seems like he’s a great leader, but I fully expect JJ to be the starter next season. He’s simply too talented physically in comparison. JJ, Edwards, and Anthony are really easy to get excited about. Can’t wait to see the offense next season. It’s going to be way too much for most B1G teams.

Offense just couldn’t shake free. The closing speed of Georgia was unreal. Even when UM got a crease, it closed so fast they only got 2 or 3 yards instead of 6 like they did in the Big Ten. And #99 could tackle Corum with his pinky it seemed. Once Georgia neutralized Michigan’s running, it was too much to put on Cades shoulders. He’s just not that level of a QB. There’s a reason a Heisman QB was the guy who beat this Georgia defense. UM doesn’t have that and that’s not a knock on Cade or JJ. Playoff games usually are won by great QB’s. Burrow, Trevor Lawrence, Deshaun Watson, Tua, Baker Mayfield, Justin Fields, Jalen Hurts etc,  all playing in the NFL. It’s the reason I won’t be surprised if Alabama wins again next Monday.  Georgias QB was excellent tonight, but not sure he can keep up with Alabama. Here’s hoping JJ or maybe a future Dante Moore is at that level. Otherwise we will be like Wisconsin or ND and just be good enough to get there. 

Proud of this team!  an absolute hoot. Exceeded all expectations. these kids poured  their heart out for the team.. only disappointment , is for the kids. They wanted this  more than any one of us. 

The game plan was to blame. Every thing we ran was on film and on multiple game tapes. Flea flicker, sweeps. Etc.. we needed new wrinkles.  the WR are talented/ fast enough to test that Secondary.. down 14-0 JJ needed to be more involved . No disrespect to cade 

I'm excited for the stable we have on offense next year. They got a taste of success and a bad taste tonight. I believe they will work thier tales off and will come back with chip on their shoulder. 

Go Blue 

Turnovers don’t help in a comeback. Offensive line, with all its improvements and accolades, needs to take another step next year, Oluwitame should help that. 
 

RB room still very good, although Corum has done some disappointing things in our two losses….hope this makes him only hungrier going into next year. 

WR room should be very good next year with Andrel, Wilson, and Ronnie Bell, Cornelius will be battling for his starting job.

TE room still good, but Schoony should have made that early catch even with a tipped ball. 

JJ will be the guy. Love you Cade, but this game showed what was needed. 

After the OSU game I was very much in the camp that even if JJ improves as expected, this could be Cade's team going forward.

I'm not blaming Cade for tonight.  He did his best.  He made some nice throws.  He had few mistakes that were Joe Milton-level egregious.  He's the best QB Michigan has had since probably Rudock if we're being honest.

But end of the day, I don't think we lack talent at WR.  I don't think we lack talent on the O-Line, though they could have been better.  

The two areas that were majorly exposed today in my opinion were CB and LB.  We have a good secondary.  But we don't have a championship-level secondary. We have an experienced LB in Josh Ross, but he has limitations, and Colson wasn't ready for prime time though the talent to be as good as one of these Georgia CB's is there. 

But Michigan's defense still gave them a chance to win with an elite, Trevor Lawrence-level QB performance.  And that, for all his strengths, is not something Cade can do.  I don't want to rag on him.  He made some good plays against yes a defense that was as good as advertised.  And he didn't get a ton of help.  But it's JJ that can get you those wins even when the defense does its job.

"Great offense beats great defense."  I believe Michigan has WRs who even today showed they are capable of that.  But they start a QB who tops out as merely very good, and even that not consistently.  JJ though...he's not as consistent as Cade.  I'm not saying they win this game with this JJ.  But the throws he made in the seam, his ability to run the ball, his ability to extend plays...when you don't have a bevy of 5 stars that's how you close the gap.  To take another step next year that's what they need.

And I'm telling you, even if they do take a step back on D because of losing Dax, Ojabo, and Aidan, if JJ becomes that guy this is a better team and it ain't close.  

Put Cade on this UGA team and they might be close to as good.  Stetson was (though it's worth mentioning he has an element that Cade doesn't have with his legs).  But we're not recruiting at that level yet.  To jump to that stratosphere we will need JJ McCarthy and then Dante Moore.  

I expect we'll hear Cade was injured early in the game or in practice, he was way off.  Offensive line was so disappointing.  Georgia's speed was simply next level above Ohio State fast, unreal.  When the middle got bottled up, Gattis would go to the speed stuff in the flats to loosen up defenses all year and Georgia just ate up both.  In the flats its supposed to be 1 v 1 with 2nd guy lurking, all night it was 1 v 4.

Falling behind early took us out of our game plan.  Looking forward to next year with a good receiving corp and running back stable.   

This was great season and allot of optimism going forward.  Allot of talent coming back next season and future looks bright. Let’s build from this season and take the momentum to the future.
 

Proud of this team but unfortunately the better team won tonight. 
 

〽️Go Blue〽️
 

Georgia’s defense was better than our offense. If we play clean, maybe it’s a semi competitive game and we get to 20 points. And when I say clean, I include the defense as I’m sure there’s few plays that they might want back (Vincent, buddy, what on God’s green Earth we’re you doing on that deep ball to end the half?).

As much as we all love Cade and what he has done for the program, I don’t think he was the best option tonight. And that’s not his fault. We couldn’t run the ball, pass protect or get stops. We needed more than a game manager to have a puncher’s chance. JJ, while erratic and inconsistent, brings escapability and an ability to make downfield throws that Cade can’t. With that being said, I don’t think there’s anything that Michigan could have done to win the game, but they could have made it a lot more respectable showing on the big stage.

We barely saw one of our most dangerous players, Henning, until the end. What is the deal there? He’s terrific with the ball, and the team trusts him to return kicks. So what is it that’s keeping him off the field except for gadget runs? Can he not run routes or something? 

JJ is the future. As in 2022 and 2023s QB1. He's gotta learn how to slide though. 

Go Blue 〽️

I mean, yikes, the offense was stifled throughout the game.  We could not penetrate their D line with any consistency.  A positive running play was followed up by a stuffed run or a TFL.  Rarely did we have a 2nd and 6 or less.  We were simply overmatched against Georgia's superior defensive speed and strength.  This game reminded me a lot of the 1992 Rose Bowl against Washington, except this game went more poorly for our offense.  Very few of our plays were met with less than 3 or 4 Georgia defenders swarming on the tackle.

Anyway, I feel surprisingly good and positive after this game.  The season was a resounding success by all accounts and although the final result did not look great, I believe it will pay really good dividends as we move forward.

And good luck, Alabama.  You are gonna need it.

JJ is gonna be a star. He will not face that good of a defense maybe the rest of his college career? Constantly outrunning sacks, making plays with his legs, lofting NFL throws. Two years with him at starter guarantees some more hardware

I know football.  I’m I’m saying right now Antrel Anthony needs to be the #1 WR option next  year over Johnson, Wilson, and Ronnie Bell.   He’s the best route runner, has the best hands, and his ball skills are elite.   He needs  8 to 10 targets a game at least.   He’s going to be special.   Give him another off season in the weight room, then watch the hell out! 

Don't think the team played as badly as some on the board think.  We were just outclassed all-around by a more talented team.  We would have had to have played our best game tonight while Georgia would have to play their worst game, or close to it to win.  I think we could have been more competitive had we challenged them vertically a little earlier, but I still think we would have come up a little short. 

Part of it goes back to the fact that it is not in the DNA of the offensive philosophy to build a game plan around the pass, just as I and many others have said in the past.  And it turns out that if you want to play for national championships you have to be adept at both the ground game and the passing game.  In the BIG you can get away with just a serviceable passing attack, but that is not good enough when you get up to CFP-level competition. 

The other part is that there is a clear gap in the receiver corps. Our guys are good, they just aren't national title good.  This is one area where Ohio State can compete with the Georgia's, Alabama's, and Clemson's of college football and we cannot yet.  The difference is subtle but you can most clearly see it in the hands.  Our guys have good hands but they don't catch everything that comes their way like Georgia and Bama's or even Ohio State's guys.  They also don't separate as well.

Still, no tears here.  We were playing with house money and it was an astounding achievement just to get this far.  Would have loved to have gone further, but now at least we know the standard that we will have to play to if we want to do more than just get here in the future.  And that is a good thing.

3rd or 4th down are different, but I really wish the QBs wouldn't hold the ball and allow sacks (or force throws) on 1st and 2nd down. If it's not there, run if you have a clear path; otherwise throw it away and live to fight another down. 2&10 is a lot more manageable than 2&17 or 20. 

The offense needs to find a way to learn to play productively in the sped up environment that Georgia created today.  Everything the various previews said about their ability to bring pressure from anywhere and freak out a QB, and to pursue everything underneath, came true today.  For Cade it was worse, because when M kept a back in to protect, Georgia consistently brought a fifth pass rusher.  It looked hopeless.  But it wasn't hopeless, it was just extremely sped up.

Looking at the All 22 camera, there were many very open throws to wide receivers that Cade did not attempt and instead ate a sack or panic scrambled.  He needed to be a full beat faster and get the ball out to win today.  I know this is asking a lot, but that's what it takes to win at this level.  I remember the two Deshaun Watson Clemson teams in the championship game against Alabama.  They lost one and won one, but Watson was excellent in both games, standing in the fire and getting the ball out just in time repeatedly.  It's not impossible, it's just extremely difficult.  JJ can do this in time, and he can also learn to scramble well and stress the defense right back.

I'm optimistic like always , and I think we're in for some legit fireworks next season.

Happy new year, Go Blue!

O line gave up 4 sacks, that’s never gonna work in a game. I was worried Cade would get flustered and he did. Excited about JJ, Edwards and Anthony. Regroup, but it’s obvious there’s a huge gap between getting to the playoffs and actually having a chance to win the playoffs. Still a great year with a sobering end to it. Had Georgia played like that against Bama the outcome may have been different. They were dialed in and pissed to say the least. 

Georgia had all of the answers. Our OL wasn't fast enough to hold off their DL. QB play was affected. Our guys weren't able to adjust. They gave it their best but it wasn't good enough.

Disappointing? Sure, always hoping for a win. But at the same time, I am very encouraged for next season by what I see in this offense. As much as I would like Cade to stay, I would not at all be surprised if he transfers. JJ looks like the real deal, and an offseason of working with teammates and coaches as the starter, will help immensely.  Offensively we were close, but just not quite there yet.

Georgia ran the offense that we hope to run.  I think we can do it more next year.