How similar is our offense to the Lions?
Honest question. I haven't watch a lot of Lions Xs and Ox breakdown. But I have Lions fever this year and after watching this video I feel like we are pretty similar:
- Lions and Harbaugh both buck the trend of spread/passing offense by using a dominating Oline and a powerful running game
- Both rely on QBs under center
- Both tend to favor short/intermediate passing game with multiple TEs as targets.
- Both use multiple blocking schemes (Power, IZ, OZ, etc) to confuse defenses keys.
Sorry if this is dumb, but again I'm not an avid view of Lions football. I'm curious more if our coaches are learning from what Ben Johnson is doing to the NFL.
August 31st, 2023 at 12:07 PM ^
Lions offense is more of a 90s throwback. There's plenty of overlap, but the offense that Michigan uses is (by design) most like that of the Ravens.
August 31st, 2023 at 12:17 PM ^
Ravens offense is a Todd Monken offense so they use AirRaid offense so it's not the same.
The Lions offense is similar to the Kyle Shanahan's offense where they do a lot of motioning, shifting with IZR, OZR and gap run plays. It's a very diverse run game.
August 31st, 2023 at 12:42 PM ^
Seth was likely referring to the Ravens of last season considering they just hired Monken this year.
August 31st, 2023 at 1:00 PM ^
I'm digging the new helmet sticker next to your name, Seth. Traditionalists are probably going to argue that it ruins the clean look of the avatar, but I'm a fan.
Will you get one of those after every UFR? Also, maybe the Mods can get one for every troll they send to Bolivia.
August 31st, 2023 at 1:38 PM ^
Yeah, you can see it in the formations as they’re pretty different. Lions used the least shotgun in the league at 51% and were under center 49% of the time. Michigan went under center at times with JJ last season, but it was way less than 49% of the time. Ben Johnson came up under disciples of the West Coast, generally a pass first scheme, in his time with the Dolphins; hence why the Lions throw the ball a hell of a lot more than Michigan does.
August 31st, 2023 at 12:07 PM ^
It is 100% the same other than the many parts that are different.
August 31st, 2023 at 1:11 PM ^
Allegedly.
August 31st, 2023 at 12:23 PM ^
42 is the answer to a different question.
August 31st, 2023 at 12:33 PM ^
How much is seven times eight ...
August 31st, 2023 at 1:09 PM ^
Lamar Woodley.
August 31st, 2023 at 12:32 PM ^
Jackie Robinson!
August 31st, 2023 at 12:16 PM ^
Not dumb at all. The parallels between the success at UM and in Detroit has been fun to watch, at time, eerily similar. I mean, play design is a bit different, but the trend of similarities in success are there, ie good QB play, good OL play, improved skill positions, and improved coaching.
August 31st, 2023 at 12:25 PM ^
*** [Anticipated] success.
I know there will be a ceremony for the Keeping The Packers Out Of The Playoffs title they won last year but they still have a bit more to do.
August 31st, 2023 at 12:31 PM ^
I already put a lawn chair on Woodward to reserve my spot for the super bowl parade.
August 31st, 2023 at 12:51 PM ^
No, not really. The offense was great last year. They may improve, but the ticket to success will be the defense.
August 31st, 2023 at 6:20 PM ^
My optimism bit the dust in 1980. I'd love to be wrong.
August 31st, 2023 at 1:00 PM ^
Chrisu except Detroit hasn’t won anything or made the playoffs. I think good qb play, good OL play, improved skill positions and improved coaching are things that all successful teams have in common.
August 31st, 2023 at 12:19 PM ^
more importantly, do you want to be like the Lions?
August 31st, 2023 at 12:28 PM ^
But I have Lions fever this year
Take 2 tylenol and go to bed. Get plenty of fluids, and if the fever persists see your physician.
August 31st, 2023 at 12:42 PM ^
In addition, please add more cowbell.
August 31st, 2023 at 12:36 PM ^
I know what I want to see:
Corum and Edwards in the back field for at least 40% of plays.
JJ running at least 3 times in the first half.
August 31st, 2023 at 2:33 PM ^
That 40% number is huge. I doubt they get anywhere near that. Besides, that package doesn’t have to be on the field all that often to be effective.
August 31st, 2023 at 3:17 PM ^
25% maybe? I'd say JJ running three times a half is huge(er).
August 31st, 2023 at 12:56 PM ^
There may be some similarities but I would say from a play-calling standpoint I found myself at multiple times last year thinking:
"I wish Michigan's play-calling was more like Ben Johnson's"
While watching Michigan, while improved last year a little bit, there was still a lot of baffling play-calling. Ben Johnson's play-calling last year on the other-hand was masterful.
August 31st, 2023 at 1:02 PM ^
The only game I questioned Michigan’s play calling was the TCU game.
August 31st, 2023 at 1:06 PM ^
Oh, come on. Not even a little bit during the Illinois game? 😊
August 31st, 2023 at 1:12 PM ^
Not really, considering the injuries they had in that game. Also, the weather was horrible. One of the coldest games I have attended in awhile.
August 31st, 2023 at 1:55 PM ^
not only that, but the illinois game was truly meaningless. win and we play ohio for the B10 east championship. lose and we play ohio for the B10 east championship, and of course that game leads to our eventual meeting with purdon't.
August 31st, 2023 at 1:15 PM ^
I mean, the play-calling has been the subject of more than a little bit of talk, with people even questioning the efficacy of the whole Co-OC thing we had going on... I am hoping this year will be better. I realize fans are often hyper-critical of their teams play-calling, but Michigan's has been particularly funky at times over the last couple of years especially on 3rd down and redzone situations.. at least in my humble fan opinion. It got better last year I think largely because they were so often in easy 3rd and short situations.
Watching the Lions last year, and seeing Ben Johnson call plays was the most impressed I have felt watching my teams (Lions and UofM) call plays in my 33 years of life lol.
August 31st, 2023 at 1:17 PM ^
Fair enough. But it was also good enough to win 13 games.
August 31st, 2023 at 1:20 PM ^
I mean, yeah it was. And I had a great time last season. That said, always things to improve on and I feel like play-calling in certain situations is one of them. Again, in my humble fan opinion.. lol
August 31st, 2023 at 2:10 PM ^
I think the play-calling was completely baffling for stretches last year, particularly in the redzone. It felt like a miracle last year when it did not take 3 downs and often 4 to score in short goal-to-go situations and it eventually bit back really hard in the Playoff.
August 31st, 2023 at 2:58 PM ^
Play calling was not great in the red zone in the playoff game, but Michigan was also missing their best player on offense and Edwards was not close to 100%.
August 31st, 2023 at 3:43 PM ^
Those situations were brutal all season even with Corum.
September 1st, 2023 at 12:16 PM ^
A little validation for me seeing front page article today from Brian agrees re: play-calling:
" I do have some optimism because Weiss was reportedly the playcaller on third downs and in the redzone, and for the most part I did not like what Michigan was doing in the redzone last year"
August 31st, 2023 at 1:18 PM ^
wtf I thought OT season was over
August 31st, 2023 at 1:25 PM ^
They both have the talent to be elite college offenses.
August 31st, 2023 at 1:29 PM ^
- Lions and Harbaugh both buck the trend of spread/passing offense by using a dominating Oline and a powerful running game
--- I don't get this line of thinking (or argument). If your OL is sub-par, no amount of scheming is going to get sustained success. A powerful running game NEEDS a competent OL. A spread attack NEEDS a competent OL. A passing offense NEEDS a competent OL. Harbaugh is not doing something radical or going against the grain. A dominating OL is a must for any sustained success.
Rant over. Back to work.
August 31st, 2023 at 2:39 PM ^
my son's flag football team runs the same offense as Michigan did pre 1906..
August 31st, 2023 at 2:54 PM ^
SINGLE WING 4 LYFE
August 31st, 2023 at 7:38 PM ^
- Both rely on QBs under center
I don’t have the stat handy, but l don’t think this is really true. Michigan has gone very heavily towards the shotgun. Probably close to exclusively shotgun with the exception of short yardage situations.
August 31st, 2023 at 9:37 PM ^
Are you implying Harbaugh to Lions as OC next February once Ben Johnson is hired away ???