ECU Snowflakes: The Offense

Submitted by LSAClassOf2000 on September 3rd, 2023 at 2:00 AM

You know the drill - this is your thread for hot takes and brief musings about our offensive performance and offensive playcalling in our game against East Carolina. 

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UMinSF

September 2nd, 2023 at 5:02 PM ^

I'll speak only for myself - because Michigan's been winning almost all our games! I do not understand the relentless negativity of many folks here despite being in the middle of the best period of Michigan football in decades. 

It's not "denying the obvious faults"; it's appreciating the many, many positives - and not expecting perfection.

Failing to power in a TD when leading 30-0 is inconsequential. They did better in the red zone last year than the year before, and I think they'll do better this year when it matters.

First game, coming off 2 spectacular seasons in a row. I'm enjoying the ride, and focusing on the positive. If that's a strange tendency, so be it.  

Joined: 04/06/2009

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JonnyHintz

September 2nd, 2023 at 5:21 PM ^

Seems you don’t understand the concept of a snowflakes thread.

But I’ll bite. It’s not that “Failing to power in a TD when leading 30-0” is itself an issue. It’s more about what it means later in the season. If you can’t power in a TD against ECU, it brings in to question whether you’ll be able to do so later in the season in Happy Valley in a closer game. It simply raises the question about what happens in a situation where it IS consequential.  

Joined: 01/11/2015

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LDNfan

September 2nd, 2023 at 5:45 PM ^

The team won every game last year even without having great success at 'goal to go' situations. So, I'll take my chances that this coaching staff and these players will figure it out a way to get the job done when it matter most...just like they have done exceptionally well at for two years running. 

So, I'll hang out with the positive snowflake crowd...thank you very much :) 

Joined: 09/28/2014

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JonnyHintz

September 3rd, 2023 at 9:12 AM ^

But… we didn’t win every game last year and a goal-to-go situation arguably cost us a win in the CFP semi-final. It’s not outrageous for fans to want to see improvement in that area from such a veteran staff and team. If this team is going to reach its lofty goals, success in the redzone is paramount. 

Joined: 01/11/2015

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stephenrjking

September 2nd, 2023 at 5:46 PM ^

I would be worried if Michigan tried to run it up the gut four times with Donovan Edwards using the same play at every time against Penn State in a close game.

I don’t consider that scenario to be very probable, absent a lot of other, larger problems like Corum and McCarthy and a couple of receivers all being injured. 

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20144031

UMinSF

September 2nd, 2023 at 5:54 PM ^

Haha, maybe you're right, Jonny - wouldn't be the first time a concept flew over my head :)

I take these threads to be one's overall thoughts about the team and how it performed; maybe it's intended to be more of a bitch session.

IMO today's 30-0 goal-line failure has no bearing - none - on future PSU game, because the situation is completely different. I'm pretty certain Michigan has better plays they don't want to show in a blowout. 

But who knows? Maybe I'm wrong and it's a portent of future disaster - hope not.

Anyway, you do you and I'll do me. I'm having too much fun to dwell on vague negative future possibilities.

Joined: 04/06/2009

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lhglrkwg

September 2nd, 2023 at 3:28 PM ^

Im a little concerned about the OL. ECU was selling out on the run for sure, but that still felt like a not great performance. Felt like I saw Hinton specifically get beat a few times

ill wait for the UFR to be sure

Joined: 07/03/2008

MGoPoints: 88063

stephenrjking

September 2nd, 2023 at 7:55 PM ^

He was mostly fine. On that last starters drive he had two plays where he missed something in pass pro, in both cases because it appeared that he had the line protection call wrong (in one case setting as if the protection was shifted right when it wasn't, in another vice versa--both times putting him out of position to make a block). It's something to watch if getting the call wrong is a consistent issue, but it's different from being physically beaten. 

Running issues were almost entirely a combination of the defense selling out with 8 men in the box hitting gaps *hard* and a smattering of imprecisions with missed blocks by TEs and stuff. 

We'll see if Seth or Brian sees something I missed, which is possible. 

Joined: 03/15/2012

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stephenrjking

September 2nd, 2023 at 3:29 PM ^

First drive: inside the 5. Lit it on fire - no reason to try anything fancy against a massive underdog. They knew this, threw extra guys against the LOS, punt.

Next 5 drives: TD, TD, TD, 1-minute drive EOH FG, TD.

Next drive was “get Edwards a TD.” Then the backups. Don’t let the score number fool you, Michigan got basically everything available; the score is an artifact of the clock rule and little else.

The issues are all minor here. Loveland is not yet a great blocker. Don’t know what deep balls look like yet. Small stuff.

JJ looks fantastic. Corum is back. Edwards is running and catching. Loveland is a great target. Good target numbers for Wilson and Johnson.

Looks good so far. 

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20144031

goblu330

September 2nd, 2023 at 3:37 PM ^

I don’t think it is possible not to be a little bit concerned about Corum.  He was absolutely ridiculous the first 10 games last season.  Best player on the field by a margin.  He didn’t look the same today.  The line was not great but he wasn’t pushing the pile like last year and did not seem particularly explosive.

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SD Larry

September 2nd, 2023 at 3:30 PM ^

JJ was very accurate, probably the most accurate yet.  Most passes was nearly  pinpoint perfect.  Must have had a high QB rating today with 3 TD's no TO's and very few incompletions. Roman had a very nice game too after an early drop.  Blake got his feet wet and looked better as the game went on in his 10 carries for 70 plus yards. Donovan looked fine.  Would like to see more push by the O line at the goal line, though ECU seemed to know what was coming in the red zone.  As far as I know, no injuries today, which is another plus. 

 

 

Joined: 10/05/2014

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MJ14

September 2nd, 2023 at 3:39 PM ^

Pass distribution looked almost perfect to me today. Wilson 6 catches, Johnson 5, Edwards 4, Loveland 4, and then some splits. When Morris is healthy I think you throw him in there for 3 or 4 a game and then whatever leftovers and that’s about how it should break down on average. Give or take a catch here or there. Plus I think they threw to Corum once or twice. 

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