Thinking Outside The Box - Making Lemonade
Given that Michigan is not particularly good on offense or defense, if it wants to rescue the season at all (meaning not finishing in last place, or close to last), what can still be done?
Michigan did enter the season with one potential strength - it's 'stable' of running backs; and add to that a quarterback that can't be ignored as a running threat. So, IF Michigan beats Rutgers next week, what about bringing the Triple Option out against Penn State, and going forward? Add to that a "bend, but don't break" defensive strategy, so you can also reduce the number of possessions against you, and maybe you have a formula for finishing 5-5, instead of somewhere between 1-9 and 3-7.
This idea is not likely to generate awards or career advancement opportunities for Josh Gattis or Don Brown, except for maybe showing they have the ability to adapt - but if the interest is in finishing well as TEAM, then perhaps it could be considered.
It works for service academy teams that would otherwise be overmatched, and B1G defenses don't prepare for the triple option in their other games...
Thoughts? My only request if you want to bash the idea, is that you come up with a realistically better one (and no, you can't just forfeit the rest of the games), that still gives Michigan a chance finish decently.
November 15th, 2020 at 4:51 PM ^
I would put this in an email and send it straight to Jim Harbaugh.
November 15th, 2020 at 6:09 PM ^
Holy shit I almost hurt myself laughing at this.
November 15th, 2020 at 8:01 PM ^
Are you serious, Clark?
November 15th, 2020 at 4:56 PM ^
The running backs are overrated and are playing behind a dog turd of an offensive line.
November 15th, 2020 at 5:04 PM ^
With Milton lost not knowing what he is seeing it’s obvious a loaded box this line and offense isn’t built to run against.
Have to get a qb going! Maybe McNamara can be that qb but this offense is a qb centric offense. Doesn’t go without good qb play.
unless you want to go back to fb and te...
November 15th, 2020 at 5:15 PM ^
Regarding the RBs, how can you tell? They’re each getting 2-3 carries per game.
November 15th, 2020 at 5:40 PM ^
Exactly. We don't have a running back. We just have a bunch of guys. So much for a meritocracy.
November 15th, 2020 at 6:02 PM ^
The backs are probably quite good. I bet Wisconsin would kill to have Zach Charbonnet, Blake Corum, and Hassan Haskins on their roster. They would have no problem producing there.
November 15th, 2020 at 4:57 PM ^
I don't know, how about letting some of the kids in the Michigan Marching Band play some football?
November 15th, 2020 at 4:57 PM ^
You have to practice the hell out of the triple option. It's not something you can adopt over the course of a month. But I appreciate the creativity.
November 15th, 2020 at 5:15 PM ^
This was going to be my comment as well. You don't just practice the triple option for two weeks and then roll it out against B1G level opponent.
If the staff actually attempted this it would further confirm they have no idea what they are doing.
November 15th, 2020 at 5:40 PM ^
So you're saying the staff will probably attempt this; if nothing else, to reaffirm their incompetence...
November 15th, 2020 at 5:00 PM ^
I like it. Ben Mason spinning fullback series too as a change of pace
November 15th, 2020 at 5:02 PM ^
OMG, how did it all come to this?
November 15th, 2020 at 5:04 PM ^
While we are at it, maybe we can just start cut blocking like Air Force since our Oline can't block anyway.
November 15th, 2020 at 5:10 PM ^
No. Not a possibility. I think the only thing you can salvage this year is alternating QBs to find out what you have for next year. Basically a season long spring game. Hopefully one guy shows promise before the end of the season. If not, I guess we know there's no reason not to prep for JJ.
November 15th, 2020 at 7:14 PM ^
Harbaugh ain’t playing a freshman qb no matter how good he is. He can’t even believe they’re eligible!
November 15th, 2020 at 5:15 PM ^
November 15th, 2020 at 7:32 PM ^
That's right. My 11 year old grandson loves to draw up offensive football plays-and explain to me how they work. They are great-they smile and smile and laugh a lot. And if you can protect your QB for 10 seconds they might even work!
November 15th, 2020 at 5:19 PM ^
No, just scout better and have an actual game plan and not call running plays on 3rd and long. As for the defense? Throw shit at the wall until it something sticks...can’t be much worse than what’s out there now.
November 15th, 2020 at 5:44 PM ^
That 3rd and 8 running play in the first quarter was my queue to reach for the remote. I had debated even turning the game on, but decided to give them a chance. A mistake I will not be making the rest of the year. Here's to hockey and basketball.
November 15th, 2020 at 7:13 PM ^
If this play was truly called by Gattis he should be quickly removed from everybody's list of capable play callers. If that play wasn't raising the white flag of surrender, nothing was.
November 15th, 2020 at 5:23 PM ^
This team is fighting the 3-9 RR team of 2008 for the title of "worst Michigan team I can recall"
I have no further comment at this time!
November 15th, 2020 at 6:17 PM ^
Promise?
November 15th, 2020 at 5:23 PM ^
Yes, implementing an entirely different offense in the 5th game of the season is a stupendous idea.
You realize it’s not possible, right? Please tell me you understand that.
November 15th, 2020 at 5:24 PM ^
Who is this running threat QB you speak of ???
November 15th, 2020 at 6:20 PM ^
I have it on good authority that #7 Rick Leach is rested and ready!
November 15th, 2020 at 9:23 PM ^
Exactly!!!! If Milton runs a 4.6 then so can I.
November 15th, 2020 at 5:25 PM ^
The QB that was a running threat is no longer on this team.
November 15th, 2020 at 5:26 PM ^
Wait, hold up - we are talking about Lemonade?
Speaking just for me, it's fine but not personally my bag but that's my personal bias of thinking that most R & B these days is overproduced (I'm all about the old-school Gamble & Huff Philly-style, which was probably considered overproduced for its time.) It's not an album meant to speak to me, and that's cool. I definitely can appreciate it for its historical context as Beyonce' coming into her own as an artist who is uniquely positioned to mainstream unapologetic Black feminism. It's also increasingly rare these days in the post-Napster era of rampant downloading to make an album a household name and true media event and Beyonce is one of the few artists who has the clout and stature to do just that.
November 15th, 2020 at 5:43 PM ^
I think Beyoncé is over produced. She is a great performer with a great voice. Her songs are sadly simplistic. That said, simplicity is what the masses want. She delivers in a fantastic way.
November 15th, 2020 at 11:33 PM ^
Patrick Bateman?
November 15th, 2020 at 5:36 PM ^
How about this idea: scout our opponents and prepare for what they do, like Wisconsin and end-arounds.
November 15th, 2020 at 5:53 PM ^
Sad part is, I think that if nothing else, the staff DOES do this. Like, even the worst D3 program in the country with a $5000 annual budget does this. Which means that our staff knows what the opponents are going to do and, more damnably, knows we can’t do anything about any of it.
November 15th, 2020 at 5:41 PM ^
Let’s do an only-trick-plays offense. Lots of flea flickers, fake spikes on first down, hook and ladders, Statue of Liberty, you name it.
November 15th, 2020 at 7:00 PM ^
The transcontinental may be our only hope.
November 15th, 2020 at 7:50 PM ^
When is the last time UM ran a waggle?
November 15th, 2020 at 5:47 PM ^
Stop it, triple option?
Give McNamara every 1st team rep this week, kid has obviously better field awareness. We have WRs open on most plays, just throw it into their hands in stride. (We saw 4 passes in a row like this)
The Milton trial needs a few weeks off.
Offense: use Corum and Evans in check off routes/wheel routes consistently, linebackers not going to keep up with either one. Dink and dunk to protect QB.
Jet sweeps- use our micro fast receivers in the run game, stop the between the tackle habit until defenses play to stop the wide options. We don't have the O line to play Wiskey man ball, so stop it.
Defense: Zone, zone, zone - keep it in front of you, our linebackers are well, not good. Someone on the staff knows zone defense, if not watch the damn MSU film.
Simplify things, our D line is wiped out. Stunts on the regular.
All bets are off as far as a great season, time to pull things together and put in the effort to avoid morale issues/transfers. We are at damage control time, not triple option time.
November 15th, 2020 at 6:06 PM ^
I predict Milton starts against Rutgers, and I doubt McNamara sees the field unless the wheels fall off again. Even if Milton is up by a bunch, they'll keep him in.
November 15th, 2020 at 5:50 PM ^
They can't run the offense they've practiced for four months, so the answer is to install a brand new offense on the fly, and yes, make that an offense none of them have played at any level of football.
YES!! IT'S JUST SO FOOLHARDY, RIDICULOUS, AND INSANE,
IT
JUST MIGHT
WORK!!
November 16th, 2020 at 4:21 PM ^
They could run it out of the Wing T formation just like Otto D Unfah did with the Bethel Thrashers the against Webster University Gorloks in the 1938 Apple Belt Athletic Conference Championship Game.
November 15th, 2020 at 5:52 PM ^
It's like OT season again, except without the hope
November 15th, 2020 at 7:02 PM ^
Or the thoughtful Covid/political discussion.
November 15th, 2020 at 5:54 PM ^
Though I agree with others who've commented, that the triple option takes time to implement.
However, I do agree with YOU, in your focus on the team.
At this point, it seems to me one good that coaches and players can aim for, is to keep the team cohesive, and still trying to improve.
November 15th, 2020 at 5:56 PM ^
How about we implement the offense Gattis was brought in here to run and somehow get Harbaugh to let go of his influence? That is much more realistic of a solution than a complete overhaul midseason.
November 15th, 2020 at 6:06 PM ^
Defense--Despite yesterday's issues with the run, the corners mostly held up. Not perfect, but they showed signs of life. They won't be functional in zone until the season ends. So double down--blitz a ton and play man or man free. You might get crushed but there's a legitimate chance to force some big plays and turnovers which have been another part of the defense's problem.
Offensively, you need to find a few things you can actually do well--specific run game, a few passes. I think this side of the ball is much harder to fix. UM can't run it at all and they don't have competent QB play at the moment.
November 15th, 2020 at 6:06 PM ^
After watching our OL and the way we use our backs, I see no way Donovan Edwards commits here
November 15th, 2020 at 6:23 PM ^
Regular lemonade or more like Mike's Hard?
November 15th, 2020 at 6:29 PM ^
Thanks. We’re looking at everything.
November 15th, 2020 at 6:59 PM ^
Running the triple option takes fundamentals and discipline. This team has not showed either of those two skills. - I suggest running the offense we were told they were going to run. Quick hitters on the outside until the middle softens and then hit them up the gut. It probably won’t work, but then again, when you have a new qb, replace your entire offensive line, and have your best playmaker at wr opt out of the season, there’s not a ton of plays you can call and feel good about.