Offensive Playcalling & Personnel
I know Harbaugh is our beloved coach and this doesn't mean that I'm not overjoyed to have him. Complaining about offensive playcalling after a 10-2 regular season and a double overtime loss is a heck of a lot better than complaining about playcalling after a 5-7 season and a drubbing by OSU. He changed our culture and the trajectory of our program. I don't even know if he's the one making these decisions or if it's Drevno or Fisch. It's just that we were sooo close to having an undefeated regular season and a playoff berth and it's a hard pill to swallow believing we could have done more. All that aside, is it possible to have some criticism about our offensive playcalling, while still having confidence in our coaches?
Can anyone explain why we don't use Peppers in more creative ways at RB or WR and at the very least as a decoy to open up space for other players? Can anyone understand why we don't get more speed on the field at the same time? Why not put in Evans, Chesson, McDoom, and Peppers on the field at the same time and run some sweeps, passes to the RB, fake throws one way and then back the other way, etc? Why didn't McDoom see the field yesterday? Why does Smith get so many carries and Evans so few? I can't imagine they are just giving him the ball because they like him. They must believe he's the better player. I know Smith is a workhorse, is good in pass pro, and rarely fumbles, but he also rarely hits big runs. It just seemed like it was so hard for us to break big plays because we had no guys that had a ton of speed that could do so. I don't get that. Granted, much of this will solve itself as Evans and McDoom will likely be starters next year as Darboh and Smith graduate, but I don't see the logic. We need more playmakers on the field, not just reliable guys.
Edit: I'm also a little surprised they didn't give Mone and Gary a few more snaps. I though Mone was a beast in his few snaps and I'm surprised by the fairly few number of snaps Gary got over the course of the season for a consus #1. The defense seemed to tire towards the end of the game, so it seemed to make sense to play those two a litlte more, particularly in the second half of the 3rd quarter and the first half of the 4th quarter.
November 27th, 2016 at 5:00 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 5:06 PM ^
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November 27th, 2016 at 5:49 PM ^
To have nice things, it takes time.
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November 27th, 2016 at 5:51 PM ^
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November 27th, 2016 at 9:00 PM ^
Wisky and Spartina do just well with their lower ranked recruits and run like crazy
If you think this issue is just due to recruiting then you will be dissapointed again next year
There are O-line coaching issues
November 28th, 2016 at 3:27 AM ^
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November 27th, 2016 at 6:05 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 6:13 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 6:04 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 5:03 PM ^
Play calling was excellent yesterday. The goal was to get the ball out quick and prevent Speight from getting hit. The play worked and the one call that would have changed the game was the screen to Smith that was called back after the face mask penalty.
Speight pick six was a pass he should not have thrown. But when you have an injury and are likely only playing because of cortisone shot injection, you want to get rid of the ball and cannot take sacks.
The truth of this entire game is that the defense played great as did the special teams and when it came down to it the offense did just enough but the refs were just a little better Saturday. Harbaugh is 0-1 against urban and now 0-1 against Ohio based refs.
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November 27th, 2016 at 6:04 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 6:44 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 7:10 PM ^
I thought Kalis missed the pickup. But either way, that a was a great defensive play and a very well disguised blitz. It wasn't tipped at all, in any way. Chalk one up to the defense, there. Maybe it would have been better to eat the ball and take the safety, but that's not what anyone does in a snap situation like that. I can't lay blame on Speight for that one. Besides, he got it back on the next series.
November 27th, 2016 at 5:04 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 5:06 PM ^
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November 27th, 2016 at 5:07 PM ^
RB's on the field. Those younger and smaller RBs are not good at protection yet. Even Smith blew the coverage on the Int that led to six. For JP to play as WR or RB, he has to pratice with the units. There is so much you pile on him.
I think the play calling became a bit too conservative in the second half but Speight had less time to make throws.
November 27th, 2016 at 5:07 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 5:35 PM ^
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November 27th, 2016 at 5:44 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 5:10 PM ^
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November 27th, 2016 at 6:49 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 5:11 PM ^
Routes s
During ! Peppers in the wildcat absolutely sucked knowing they were no trick plays out of t
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November 27th, 2016 at 5:11 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 5:11 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 6:18 PM ^
Right. This is why I don't love the pepcat, aside from the deteriorating productivity during the season. You're using him in a way where there is no substantial passing threat and the safety play is dictated by that. So yeah, he gets touches but the spacing is still tight, especially against the athletes of an OSU where he can't just completely run around the corner on them the way he would against Illinois or something. I'd have much rather seen a spread set with 4 wideouts using him, as a slot or a RB. Even use him at running back decoy and do play action or a flea flicker.
Well, at least I probably don't ever have to see that Morris running play ever again.
November 27th, 2016 at 5:12 PM ^
We won the game and it was fucking ripped from us. Yes, there are probably things that could have been called/done differently, but it should have been good enough.
November 27th, 2016 at 5:42 PM ^
Why settle for that? Why not try and make plays? I don't understand that logic. It's one thing if a guy blows a coverage, misses a block, fumbles, drops a ball, etc. But, to not give a guy a chance that has made plays over the course of the season doesn't make sense when you need a big play.
November 27th, 2016 at 5:13 PM ^
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November 27th, 2016 at 5:16 PM ^
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November 27th, 2016 at 5:59 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 7:51 PM ^
Of course, when our foot was on the gas, we had two killer interceptions, which led to OSU's only touchdowns in regulation. I would imagine this weighed on the minds of the staff during the 4th quarter.
November 27th, 2016 at 5:21 PM ^
I certainly agree we can criticize the play calling and be all in for the regime. What I shake my head at is the meme that existed about all the creative plays that were being saved up for "the Game." Brian would wryly complain about showing this or that clever play design against weaker opponents, thinking such a play deployed in the Game would be deadly. I disagreed with that, assuming that Harbaugh was creating more film to watch and playing off of those tendencies.
But we saw a regression in key November games (I acknowledge QB issues), and the decoy aspect of that regression—especially in light of how effective OSU was in using our fear of Samuel in that capacity—is most troubling to me. Harbaugh has shown a surprising tendency that I hope the pain of this season's finish will make him rethink: he played not to lose with leads in big games on the road.
I think a fully weaponized Harbaugh offense with healthy and skilled QB play will make this observation moot, but I was stunned at how he managed MSU, Iowa and OSU when holding leads in the 4th quarter.
November 27th, 2016 at 5:21 PM ^
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November 27th, 2016 at 6:15 PM ^
The TV broadcast showed a stat--I think it was late in the 3d quarter--that UM had averaged 1.5 yards per rushing attempt up to that point of the game. If that was right, then I don't think running the ball more would have helped.
November 27th, 2016 at 10:44 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 5:24 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 5:30 PM ^
* Too many bunch sets when running the ball. Watching the Pats right now, they have a passing spread which they run out of and it has worked for years. Harbaugh's approach is bunch set, with multiple shifts and misdirection, trying to rely on a good OL and some trickeration at the LOS. Problem is that the OL is average at best, not particularly mobile or strong, and poor at run blocking.
Hopefully the next OL recruits will be better run blockers and Harbaugh/Drevno will modify their approach to be more of a passing spread with run looks. The current system is not good in modern college football.
* Too many Peppers running wild cat out of bunch sets. Never works.
The one time that they used Peppers as a RB and went away from him actually worked.
Peppers will soon be gone so this is a moot point.
* Not enough mid field passes to the center of the field. With the TEs that Michigan has and the slot WR talent they should have exploited the middle of the field all season. They did not.
Playcalling was poor all day. Protection broke down in key situations. WRs and Butt dropped passes all day.
That offense will have a lot of pieces coming back next season.
Hopefully Harbaugh, Drevno and Jeb make the adjustments because they are gonna need it.
PS: Harbaugh is too stubborn to go away from Smith and give more carries to Higdon, Evans and Ty all of whom are faster and more elusive. This cost the team big time.
Harbaugh is stubborn like early Bo, and Carr... and at times keeps trying shit that does not work over and over again vs. tough opponents. He clams up in close games vs. letting the talent that he has take over. The lack of creative utilization of the playmakers vs. Iowa and OSU cost them both games.
November 27th, 2016 at 5:34 PM ^
I think that we are all reacting to struggle the OCs have in creating effective plays. You point to a key: the power source of a operational Death Star Harbaugh offense is the OL that can run the ball against a standard front all day long. Then, when they load up the box, you have a Harbaugh QB (i.e., Luck) there with play action to punish that decision.
Not that JH will lose his creativity when a monster OL is in place, just that an actual, effective run game is the missing piece that necessitates things like Peppers and the Train.
I actually think next year's OL may be a superior run-blocking line (assuming Newsome returns to form): Newsome-Bredeson-Cole-Owenu-JBB (or frosh?).
November 27th, 2016 at 6:35 PM ^
Big guys with devastating knee injuries (i.e- knee injuries that require major surgery and keep you HOSPITALIZED for 38 days) don't bounce back as quick as smaller athletic guys.
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November 27th, 2016 at 5:57 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 6:20 PM ^
Let's take an honest look at the talent available on offense (and, indirectly, Hoke's recruiting in that area).
Other than a Grade A jumbo wide receiver (Jake Butt), how many older (classes of '12/'13/'14) and often-used players look like next-level types?
Chesson and/or Darboh? Sure, but neither is elite at this point.
(Still too early to make a call on Bunting ... he hasn't played much this year anyway.)
DeVeon? I see an UDFA opportunity for him. Same for Isaac.
Speight? Seems like a great guy but no more than a game manager. (I know how much this idea warms the heart of fans of the old regime, but I'd prefer someone capable of being a playmaker.)
Cole? He was on a nice trajectory prior to this year and still appears that he could make it, but he's not elite.
(Too early for JBB, though it doesn't look great for now.)
Kalis/Magnuson/Braden/Kugler/Dawson? Ouch. Like Speight, they seem like nice people, but they're average players or worse.
* * *
If you'd told me in early March (after signing day) of 2013 that Michigan would have an elite defense in 2016 I'd have been *very* optimistic without knowing how the offense would turn out. After getting a 5-star, two 4-stars, and a "sleeper" 3-star in 2012, then following it with -- on paper -- an epic O-line haul in 2013, I'd expect a crushing offensive line to protect *Shane Morris* in a championship season with 5-star Derrick Green (assuming he hadn't gone pro early) bulldozing back-seven guys on opposing defenses.
Amazing, isn't it?
Most of our elite players were on defense this year. The offense wasn't good enough to beat top-level teams. Never mind the play calls ... we won't know anything for sure about Harbaugh, Drevno, et al. in that area for a couple of years.
November 27th, 2016 at 7:04 PM ^
Yeah, agreed, but I don't want to go there. Our missed guys that were 4-star talents from the '12 and '13 class are well documented and as equally frustrating.
November 27th, 2016 at 9:10 PM ^
Wisky, PSU, and Spartina run wild with much lower starred players. There is a coaching problem with O-line and backs. Recruiting won't necessarily save us.
November 27th, 2016 at 10:48 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 11:30 PM ^
Too early to call on Speight. He is only going to get better and better and he is fairly good now.
Peters has NFL talent and hopefully he gets a shot next year.
RBs...Higdon, Evans both have playmaking ability. Ty is an enigma. All three of those guys could sniff the NFL.
Darboh and Chesson will probably both be NFL players for 5-7 seasons.
Grant Perry looked great yesterday. Has a nack for getting open and good hands.
Where was McDoom yesterday? Its a mystery as to why he has not been utilized in the passing game to stretch the field with his speed.
Assasi and Wheatley Jr. could both be Beasts at TE.
There is plenty of talent there.
November 27th, 2016 at 6:32 PM ^
I honestly think this is one of the reasons a guy like nick saban hires a guy like lane kiffin. Sometimes you need to stick to what you are good at and acknowledge that other people are better at other stuff.
Harbaugh is a leader. An authority figure. A motivator. A QB whisperer. But wrapped up in all that is a lineage that is lined with conservative tendencies. Three yards and a cloud of dust...maybe not literally but compared to a more modern offenses.
Don't get me wrong. I think a guy like Harbaugh can win it all his way. But in never hurts to teach an old dog new tricks either...and it could get us there sooner.
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November 27th, 2016 at 5:40 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 6:06 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 5:41 PM ^
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November 27th, 2016 at 10:46 PM ^
FWIW I talked to a retired coach in Virginia this morning, who said he has seen Speight develop and thinks he will be real good.