Interesting numbers on our running game...
Michigan had its poorest effort in the running game in 2008, Its poorest effort since 2001. Rushing for a total of 1,771 yards. Interesting enough, almost 1,000 of those yards came from the last 6 games. Sucks we lost Mike Hart, michigans all-time leading rusher, right?
Well, the final 6 games we rushed for almost 1,000 yards.
Lloyd carr's numebrs on the rushing game his last 3 seasons(final 6 games)
2005: 916 yards
2006: 900 yards
2007: 735 yards
What improved? The offensive line and big running games from Carlos Brown and Brandon Minor. Who are ALL returning.
Having another full offseason to workout under BARWIS should improve these numbers even more. What else? A dual threat QB will help.
Yes, 2008 SUCKED, but the running game was better than when we had Mike Hart the final 6 games of 2008. Shows promise for 2009.
Summing up a article on rivals.
A better note is that our YPC in 2008 was better than our YPC for ALL OF 2007, despite no Mike Hart, no Chad Henne, no Jake Long, and the worst offensive line and QB ever.
Imagine how high it would be if all those passes weren't over recievers heads.
YPC is yards per carry. Completed passes don't affect it.
Yeah, but the lack of completed passes means everyone can load up the box and stuff the run. Which does affect it.
Eh, when you're down double-digits in the 2nd half, I doubt they're loading up on the run.
you're saying that you DON'T think having a legitimate passing threat last year would've helped our rushing game?
...of course a legitimate passing threat last year would have helped the running game.
But, we didn't have it. So, Michigan had large deficits in the second half last year. As we know by watching Michigan, defenses go into prevent-style defenses and are not as attack-oriented with large leads. So, if Michigan was running in the second half with a large deficit, there probably weren't 8 in the box to combat it.
I think you were both saying the same thing.
Your post actually makes my thoughts on the matter worse than what they were.
You stated yourself that we didn't have a legitimate passing threat. So teams were able to gameplan (without necessarily even loading the box) to stop the run in the first half, without having to respect our passing game.
The problem was obviously compounded in the scond half of games that we "had large deficits in" last year, but that was only maybe 4 games: ND, ILL, PSU, and OSU.
This is all wile_e8 was trying to point out.
Ha. Some reason I thought it was YAC.
Is YAC yards after contact or yards after catch?
Yards after the catch.
dang it i had a perfect picture but it won't let me add it
...and if we can establish a solid pass game and spread the field, perhaps even a show a downfield threat, it should open things up for a more effective run game.
I can't imagine UM not having a better team in all facets this year. First of all, Forcier can actually run the spread and complete passes. Also, he is just fast enough that someone is going to have to cover him, which will open up the field a little bit for one of those "quick little slot guys." And the aforementioned extra year of growth and Barwis for the OL will work wonders.
This will also allow the defense to not be utterly gassed by the middle of the third quarter anymore because they won't be on the field nearly as long. If Forcier stays healthy and/or Robinson learns quick, UM football will be back to its normal high standards, and people won't be treating 3-9 like it is suddenly the norm in Ann Arbor anymore.
I am already tired of watching inferior teams make their season by beating UM; I have seen enough of it in the last two years to last a lifetime. Hopefully, UM is finished losing to second and third-tier teams.
And hopefully, teams will actually be afraid of the Big House again.
we don't know that Tate can run the spread to the full extent that we need him to yet. That being said, even a true freshman Tate should still be an improvement on last year based solely on being a good fit for the offense.
After watching the Spring game and film on Tate you have to expect that he will be able to do a lot more within the offense then anyone last year. The spring game showed that he had the pocket mobility and burst needed to get outside of the pocket. Forcier may not have the top end speed of Pat White ( or Denard Robinson but that's a whole new argument) but he still should be able to run the spread option and make the defense commit to him.
to the offense will be the ability to complete a pass. The rushing figures from last year's last 6 games were done with a completion percentage below of 44%. In the last six games only two were blowouts and both games didn't get out of hand until the second half.
I suspect if teams are going to load up the box this year Tate will have a much better year passing statistic wise then most of us think.
I think that Tate's running ability will help our running backs just as much as his passing. If Tate can master the ball fake and make good reads it'll keep the defense on their toes and taking their first steps in the wrong direction, much like what has happened to our D over the years against spreads (see Illinois 2008). I think that with our overall improvement of our team athleticism and quickness specifically at the skill positions, a step in the wrong direction could be catastrophic for opposing defenses. That's the optimistic view. Extremely optimistic.
Obviously his ability to throw the ball well keeps the safeties from coming down to help against the run, but I think overall misdirection will help our running backs out immensely.
Hey, guys. The running game improved in the second half of the season.
I bet none of us knew that.
YOU'RE CRAZY, MAGNUS!!
Seriously though, the offensive line improved a lot. That gives me hope for our offensive coaches abilities to get kids to understand things. We just lacked talent all around last year. That is quite obvious. (RIGHT??)
Noone knew it was better than the 2007,2006,2005 seasons.
...except other people with Rivals accounts and other people who have been paying attention.
It has been discussed before.
I could have sworn some guy named Brian Chef or something pointed it out on his blog. It's pretty underground, indie rock style football blog though so I don't know why I'd expect people to have read it.
.....of which I didn't have much to choose from, was the first-down and goal drive Michigan had against Ohio State. Minor, four straight runs, and he was powerful in getting to the end zone on fourth down. I think that was one of those leadership moments that Minor can build on going into this season.
Our running game was VERY good in the last half of the year. Michigan shredded Penn State for a half, Minnesota for a whole game, Purdue the whole game, even Northwestern in the rain and snow. Running will be a great strength this year. It will lighten the Tate-load, that's for sure.