Fleck Confirms That They Didn’t Know What Was Coming

Submitted by BernardC on October 25th, 2020 at 9:24 AM

PJ Fleck spoke about the unpredictability of our offense in his post game presser. It’s been a long time since we’ve heard something like this!

BernardC

October 25th, 2020 at 9:27 AM ^

https://247sports.com/college/minnesota/Article/Everything-that-PJ-Fleck-had-to-say-following-the-Michigan-loss-153594153/

Commie_High96

October 25th, 2020 at 6:52 PM ^

I only know his politics because he doesn’t shut up about it. He could take a cue from JH in that regard. 

And thanks for reminding me of “policy,” Rob f after I have been around here as long as you.  I make my play and I take my chances, I’m an edge lord after All. You gonna give me the banhammer? Send me to Bolivia?

rob f

October 25th, 2020 at 9:52 PM ^

No. I wasn't even considering Bolivia.

Should I?  

I'm just being consistent as possible in issuing reminders and warnings when and where necessary.  If I see a post along the lines of yours from someone else and respond by warning them, but then fail here to take the same action on yours, am I being fair?

I do deviate from the practice of issuing a warning when it comes to new user accounts. If someone new enters with their troll guns a-blazin, they're gone. And the same thing with certain major offenses that are so blatantly bad as to earn immediate banning, regardless of how long they've had an account. 

I think I'm being plenty fair here.

BlueInGreenville

October 25th, 2020 at 10:10 AM ^

Great to see fast dudes out there making  plays, as opposed to what our offense looked like the last couple of years - big dudes looking like they're taking a physics test on blocking angles.  And it's a young offense that should get better as the year goes on...giddyup.

WorldwideTJRob

October 25th, 2020 at 10:40 AM ^

I said it for weeks, that’s why I thought we had the advantage...there was 0 tape on the offense they were going to run tonight. Gattis/Harbaugh had months to perfect the scheme.

MGolem

October 25th, 2020 at 10:42 AM ^

I was thinking that as big a loss as Nico was the offense sets up very nicely to catch a lot of teams unaware. We may lack for that go to guy when we need that crucial play but opposing defenses can’t really key in on anyone in particular. Minnesota needs to feed Bateman and we knew it and schemed to keep the ball away from him disrupting what they wanted to do. Teams can’t do that to us and that could be a real strength going forward. 

BlueMan80

October 25th, 2020 at 10:45 AM ^

I was surprised to see all the two back sets myself with Bench Mason, but when you have a sledgehammer, you might as well use it to your advantage.  Bravo Gattis!

ArmenHammer

October 25th, 2020 at 11:30 AM ^

I think Gattis does that to legitimize the H-backs as run threats, and sometimes while also having the known RB available as well w Mason motioning in. That allows us to be unpredictable by the time the H-backs get sent downfield. He did this first with Corum and did the same with Evans later. 

Don

October 25th, 2020 at 11:21 AM ^

"It’s been a long time since we’ve heard something like this"

I think you could make the case that it's not something we've heard since at least 1969. That's not to say that we haven't had many powerful offenses since then, but unpredictability per se hasn't really been a strategic feature of them.

Chaco

October 25th, 2020 at 12:30 PM ^

In some ways yes - I think the Moeller offenses were somewhat predictable but we were so stacked with talent it was hard to stop because we had great lines and great running backs and QBs who generally made the throws they needed to.  That’s hard to stop but not the same as “which way are the attacking this time”.

Don

October 25th, 2020 at 1:18 PM ^

100% agree.

These are comments I copied from ESPN after the 2007 Rose Bowl:

USC center Ryan Kalil knew Michigan's defensive front had been feared most of the season, but he said the Trojans were totally prepared for everything they saw.

"They were very, very comfortable with their schemes and we didn't feel they would change up too much, and they didn't," Kalil said. "There was nothing we didn't see. We were able to call it all out, whether it was from myself or John David Booty . We were able to see everything."

USC's center, Ryan Kalil, and its defensive end, Lawrence Jackson, both talked about the predictable nature of Michigan's strategy -- on both sides of the ball. Jackson called U-M's defense traditional and stale. Meanwhile, USC -- after mustering only three points in the first half Monday -- scrapped its plan and came out throwing.

Carr: "What we discussed at the half we are still in the game at 3-3 was going earlier to our two-minute offense [shotgun formation, more open plays]," he said. "But we wanted to protect our defense, so we decided to stay with the plan."

Cushing.... praised the Wolverines afterward because that is what players are taught to do and there is no percentage in not doing so. But he also admitted that he had been well-enough prepared to know what was coming with just about every Michigan trip to the line of scrimmage.

"Yup, pretty much so," he said.

"I understand what they were trying to do," Cushing said. "It is the Big Ten mentality to try and overpower you."

Perkis-Size Me

October 25th, 2020 at 11:45 AM ^

Interesting in that we’re used to only ever hearing the opposite. I feel like I’ve heard at least Nebraska, OSU and Iowa all call us out in the past as being highly predictable on offense. 

Great to see this offense come into the 21st century. Great to see MICHIGAN come into the 21st century. 

MaizeBlueA2

October 25th, 2020 at 1:14 PM ^

Speed. In. Space.

That's what that was. Which is EXACTLY what I was saying in the thread I made.

Run the ball and get the ball out quick and take the pressure off Milton.

https://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/timeout-we-know-you-can-run-ballright#comment-243940237

This is the blueprint. Eventually Milton is going to have to win you a game, but hopefully you can get to Indiana/Penn St. before he does.