Tate loves too....
I noticed Tate loves throwing to the HB. In HS, his rb, Brannon clay?, had over 80 receptions. In the mgoblue video from the scrimage Saturday, Tate threw to Minor numerous times.
I don't think any of our RBs in 08' had over 10 receptions.
Sounds like a plus and a half for us, because he sees the RBs as an extra reciever(unlike Threet/Sheridan).
This is why all of our RBs will have HUGE years. Maybe its just another play added to the playbook(HB screen), regardless, Minor should have a huge year.
"Sounds like a plus and a half for us, because he sees the RBs as an extra reciever(unlike Threet/Sheridan)."
I agree, Sheridan/Threet should have realized that the RBs are on our team, and aren't enemies to avoid throwing the ball too.
Also, PS, McGuffie was 3rd on the team with 19 receptions, Odoms tops with 49 most of which were swing passes.
March 30th, 2009 at 10:02 PM ^
...a most effective way to utilize Michael Shaw out of the backfield. Or, the merchants of speed that are Denard Robinson, Terrance Robinson or Vincent Smith.
March 30th, 2009 at 10:05 PM ^
I believe that tate also loves
(please note the sarcasm to your title)
March 31st, 2009 at 12:27 PM ^
HUMOR BAD.
NO USE.
March 30th, 2009 at 10:22 PM ^
catching and not dropping said passes (especially when thrown behind the line of scrimmage, see the ND debacle). otherwise, I agree in principle.
March 30th, 2009 at 10:24 PM ^
along with passing to koger. that guy is a future NFLer.
March 30th, 2009 at 11:03 PM ^
Tru dis.
A young QBs best friend is a good TE.
March 30th, 2009 at 10:57 PM ^
I thought this was going to be a post about how Tate loves. Your headline let me down.
March 30th, 2009 at 11:55 PM ^
as well we all hope he does, i think he will get plenty of love. We should be just as concerned about mono as we are broken bones.
March 31st, 2009 at 12:38 AM ^
definitely a let down. I was expecting something along the lines of "he doesn't just throw and run...he loves, too!" And maybe an anecdote about Tate talking a DT out of tackling him by invoking some long lost principles of love, friendship and brotherhood.
March 30th, 2009 at 11:28 PM ^
Forcier doesn't need to throw to his running backs in this offense if 33% of the plays are bubble screens. I get what you're saying, but this offense isn't the same.
First of all, the backs are often kept in to block because Rodriguez likes to send out four WR's or three WR's and a TE.
Second, if you call a bunch of bubble screens AND then call plays for passes to the RB's, then you have ZERO downfield passing game whatsoever.
Throwing to the running backs might be a little bit more of the gameplan with Forcier, but there's not going to be a second coming of Larry Centers.
March 31st, 2009 at 12:01 AM ^
I wonder whether the ubiquitous bubble screens were a product of Rich Rodriguez's system, or whether he simply did not have the personnel to complete downfield passes last year.
WVU fans frequently complained about the constant bubble screens, but given (1) Michigan's Qbs last year, (2) Michigan's offensive line last year, and (3) Michigan's receivers last year, RR was severely limited in his ability to test defenses vertically.
I would imagine that we see the bubble screens become less frequent as the personnel and experience in the offense improves. And it is possible that more passes to runningbacks become the norm.
March 31st, 2009 at 12:02 AM ^
It's the system.
Forgive me for not being convinced by your one-line declaration of truth.
Presumably, Rich Rodriguez is not recruiting four receivers for next year (all of whom are currently over 6 feet tall) so that he can have Tate/Denard/Whoever throw swing passes to slot receivers for the next 4 years. RR is an intelligent coach, and I highly doubt that he would recruit those players if he did not intend to actually utilize their abilities.
Last year, Threet and Sheridan combined for a completion percentage south of 50%, even with all of those gimme bubble screen passes. I can only imagine what would have happened if RR tried to throw the ball downfield more often.
Add in the early struggles with the running game, and what do you get? The bubble screen became Michigan's "go to" play for any type of consistent yardage. Translation: more bubble screens.
I think we'll see changes in the play-calling manifest themselves as RR builds the team to his specifications.
Rock : Paper : Scissors
ZRO beats just crashing a DE
Extra LB crash beats ZRO
ZRO to bubble screen beats extra LB
Just crashing a DE is a draw against ZRO
It's not intended to do anything except keep the defense reacting to the offense and not the other way around.
I mean, I recognize that the bubble screen is a fixture of RR's offense -- and to a certain extent, it has to be that way.
My only point was that I think we'll see fewer bubble screens in the upcoming years than we did last year. We'll still see more than we're accustomed to as Michigan fans, but I think we'll see a little more variety as the QBs mature, etc.
at least I agree with what you were saying. There were many signs last year that RR didn't trust in his QBs' abilities. Bubble screens every other play were merely one.
I agree with Magnus if he's trying to say that we won't see near as much downfield passing as we did with Lloyd, because that's just the truth. However, I don't think we'll continue to see every pass within 10 yards of the LOS if he feels comfortable going beyond that.
RRod is a smart enough coach to know that if you can add a weapon like downfield passing to your offense, it is wise to do so... I guess that's what you've been sayin though
Using outside receivers and throwing boatloads aren't mutually exlcusive in RR's offense. See: Chris Henry.
Do I really have to give you a dissertation on what Rodriguez's read option offense is? Or could you just go back and think about/take a look at WVU's offense for the last several years and figure it out?
The big story with Bill Stewart this year was that he wanted to throw the ball downfield more [than Rich Rodriguez].
Obviously, when we get a QB who can be trusted to complete passes downfield more often, those bubble screens will be less frequent. (I said recently, either in this thread or another one.) But those bubble screens will still be a staple of the offense.
"It's the system" , then goshdarnit, RR will stick by it. When he played for coach Nehlen, he was known the Rich "bubble" Rodriguez. Although that was due to his abnormal liking of chewing gum. He has taken this passion and made it an integral...nay....SOLE part of his playbook.
Even the guys on defense are taught how to throw and catch bubble screens..true story.
This is all true.
March 30th, 2009 at 11:59 PM ^
The 2008 ND game was a recipe for disaster:
Young players
Inexperience
Lack of a consistent kick or punt returner
Terrible weather
An opponent that had supreme revenge motivation
A crowd that knows how to make a lot of noise
A stadium that actually can be indimidating to play in
No major college QB
Mix ingredients in a large bowl and soak with water for 3 hours at 60 degrees.
Remember that last year was a one time thing. UM will never play that badly again. Don't think for an instant that what happened at Notre Dame last year is representative of UM football.
This year, the game will be at the Big House. It will be UM who has the revenge motivation. And the crowd will be better this year because they had the nine win seasons they have taken for granted taken away from them last year. They will appreciate good play a lot more, especially at the beginning of the year and especially against ND.
As for the performance, it can't possibly be worse, and should be a lot better. The players are older, have more experience, and everyone still there has bought into the system. They have had more time with Barwis, and an entire off-season to get pissed about how badly last year went. And, of course, they should have a QB who belongs under center of a major college program.
UM has a lot of revenge games this year; it should help them right the ship in a hurry.
March 31st, 2009 at 12:02 AM ^
"Remember that last year was a one time thing. UM will never play that badly again."
They were possibly worse the very next week against Wisconsin.
Yeah except for that whole comeback thing... Great game.
MGoBlog = Idealists Anonymous
March 31st, 2009 at 12:36 AM ^
shows nice touch on those RB flares and swings.
Tate is indeed a lover. Him being in ann arbor has really made him a sensitive, caring, and overall warm-hearted young man. Let's just hope he doesn't begin to start wearing tyedye, birkenstocks, and hemp bracelets.
Wait til you see the pictures.
Cartman: “Ma’am, I need to clear out your giggling stoners and your drum-circle hippies right now, or soon they’re going to attract something much worse”
Old Lady: “What’s that?”
Cartman: “The college know-it-all hippies”
March 31st, 2009 at 11:21 AM ^
Yeah, because look what "tyedye, birkenstocks, and hemp bracelets" did to Dhani Jones.
March 31st, 2009 at 12:01 PM ^
I KNOW RIGHT
Turbo grew up in AA. I'd bet he wears "tyedye, birkenstocks, and hemp bracelets" all summer long.