Indiana Snowflakes: The Offense
October 8th, 2022 at 8:12 PM ^
McCarthy completed 78% of his passes today. He’s completing 78% of his passes for the season. McNamara completed 64% of his passes last year. The only time McNamara ever bettered 78% in a game was when he went 9-11 against Western Michigan. McCarthy had his first 300 yard passing game today in his fifth start. McNamara has one 300 yard passing game in 16 career starts. McCarthy has thrown for more than 200 yards in 4 of his 5 starts. McNamara threw for over 200 yards only four times in all of 2021. No, McCarthy isn’t. “basically Cade.”
October 8th, 2022 at 11:40 PM ^
Thank you, I was about to post the same. I appreciate Cade and will always respect what he did last year as the starter, but JJ was arguably better in his third full game as a starter than Cade was in any of his 16 starts. And I think that most everyone agrees JJ is just getting started, while Cade was probably about at his ceiling.
October 8th, 2022 at 11:09 PM ^
JJ's intermediate passing game is infinitely better than Cade's. Cade can't make half the throws JJ made today
October 8th, 2022 at 3:54 PM ^
I complained ALOT in the first half, but I will give credit where it's due. They did good in the 2nd half
October 8th, 2022 at 3:56 PM ^
I don't know how much the Mike Hart situation affected the offense's focus in the first half, but you'd have to think it did have an impact. Fantastic job to refocus in the second half and move the ball at will. Very encouraging going forward that they were able to overcome such adversity.
October 8th, 2022 at 3:56 PM ^
My question is where have the screen passes gone to? Maybe we’ve removed them for other games but they’ve all but disappeared lately. Not much motion by our receivers today either.
October 8th, 2022 at 6:51 PM ^
I'm pretty sure we haven't thrown a successful screen since Chad Henne.
October 9th, 2022 at 7:50 AM ^
I'm pretty sure you have the memory of a fruit fly.
October 8th, 2022 at 3:56 PM ^
I make a motion that we fire whoever was calling the offense up until midway through the 3rd quarter and promote whoever called the rest of the game…does anyone second the motion?
For real though, why does Michigan insist on making offense look so damn hard every freaking week? Indiana had the worst passing defense in the entire conference going into this game…so logically we decided to try and stuff the run into over-loaded boxes for two-thirds of the game while piling up a whopping ten points.
For the love of all that’s holy, burn every single page of the first half of today’s game plan and just focus on those last two touchdown drives! If they’d have done that from the start, the game could’ve easily been over at halftime. So many weapons at our disposal and yet we insist on trying to beat our opponents into submission with a rubber hose week in and week out.
Look what happens when you let JJ throw…he gets over 300 yards passing! And that’s including the entire first half derping! Unleash the beast!
October 8th, 2022 at 4:04 PM ^
You didn't like the play-calling for the first drive of the game?
October 8th, 2022 at 4:06 PM ^
After all of these years it's obviously Harbaugh who tries to man ball every team no matter what
October 8th, 2022 at 4:30 PM ^
I thought Klatt commentary very interesting about the pass to run, versus run to pass dichotomy.
When 3 linebackers and a deep safety are screaming to the ball carrier 70 of your snaps, I think some more variety might be necessary…
October 8th, 2022 at 5:29 PM ^
31-10
And should have been even more lopsided, if not for some general fuckery, and a ref gifted drive for Indiana's first (and only) TD. Perspective is important.
October 8th, 2022 at 7:14 PM ^
Watching the one replay of 9 guys selling out hard to the side Corum was running to before he even had the ball was eye opening. Fuck it just use Iowas QB waggle if you cant figure it out on your own. As far as plays where "running back gets demolished 2.5 yards behind scrimmage" there have been more than a few this year.
October 8th, 2022 at 8:24 PM ^
Yep, use the waggle -- especially when you have Schoon, who has shown to be automatic in the short passing game.
It's so simple to break tendency like that, and it's very indicative that Jim is quite stubborn.
October 8th, 2022 at 3:57 PM ^
I think the first half is a wash due to Mike Hart going down on the sideline.Easy to sit back and be critical.These kids and coaches overcame a ton of adversity(including losing Trente).Hats off to them.
October 8th, 2022 at 3:57 PM ^
I know we were missing Roman Wilson today but who else was out?
I saw somewhere that we were missing 4 starters today.
October 8th, 2022 at 4:01 PM ^
Wilson, All, NHG and I’m not sure who else.
October 8th, 2022 at 6:59 PM ^
Kolesar on special teams?
October 8th, 2022 at 3:57 PM ^
Thank you for opening up the playbook in the 2nd half. Conservative play agaisnt a team who wants to kick your dick in is stupid….
Coach Hart, thoughts and prayers brother! Hope youre ok
October 8th, 2022 at 3:58 PM ^
Blake Corum is playing outstanding football, and deserves an invite to New York. Some great catches and a couple drops, but the receivers played well. JJ played well too. He threw a lot of good passes. One forced throw into good coverage resulted in a pic. No one is perfect in college football. Our O Line outplayed I U O line.Hope our Olineman carted off will be ok.
October 8th, 2022 at 6:11 PM ^
The interception hit Bells hands' could have been a TD.
I know, ifs and buts...
October 8th, 2022 at 8:00 PM ^
You may be right though I saw it different, and thought I U defender tipped to the other I U defender. JJ played well today. Just not a fan of throwing into double coverage that was tight on that play in that situation. No one is perfect in college or pro ball, and my eyes are not either.
October 8th, 2022 at 3:59 PM ^
The coaching staff needs to lean on J.J. more. When you can't run the ball, you have to change it up and open up the passing game. Can't run into a brick wall all half.
October 8th, 2022 at 3:59 PM ^
This team is at its best with both a healthy Cade AND JJ. It looks like they are missing the change of pace that they had access to last year by bringing JJ in. They figured it out in the end but it seemed the offense needed a jolt in the 2nd quarter.
October 8th, 2022 at 3:59 PM ^
Second half, Michigan out gains Indiana in yards 263-29. Take away the end zone interception and that was about as perfect a second half as a team could play…which is pretty damn nice after a stressful first half where you’ve killed yourself with nearly 90 yards in penalties.
October 8th, 2022 at 5:05 PM ^
Especially when coach hart got taken off the field. It’s hard to focus on a game when that happens.
October 8th, 2022 at 8:04 PM ^
Wow. That stat speaks volumes.
October 8th, 2022 at 4:03 PM ^
Predictable playcalling throughout the first half, and JJ tried forcing that throw on the pick, but they played much better in the second half.
Corum’s stutter step is a thing of beauty to watch. He’s a special player and we are going to miss him big time next year.
October 8th, 2022 at 4:03 PM ^
Edwards looks slow to me, especially at the start of a play. Maybe it’s because I’m use to watching Corum and how quick he is.
October 8th, 2022 at 4:06 PM ^
Corum hits the hole immediately, unless there isnt a hole and he stutter steps.
edwards takes a second to asses if there is a hole then runs.
October 8th, 2022 at 4:35 PM ^
Edwards was baaaaaad today, he stuck with play when cutback was available and, and cutback when play was blocked and missed the crease. And was whiny about it
October 8th, 2022 at 8:26 PM ^
Edwards also unfortunately chooses the wrong path often. His value in the passing game could be immense, however, if he was utilized in that way more.
October 8th, 2022 at 4:05 PM ^
Too much running up the middle with IU selling out to stop the run. Figured it out too late.
October 8th, 2022 at 7:17 PM ^
Too late? Maybe late but not too late.
October 8th, 2022 at 4:06 PM ^
Put your jockstraps on…we are going to need a lot more next week but nice 2H adjustments.
October 8th, 2022 at 4:06 PM ^
Michigan won. That’s what I care about
October 9th, 2022 at 8:05 AM ^
Right. And great and all.
But it’s still ok to discuss elements of the game.
October 8th, 2022 at 4:07 PM ^
Doesn't seem like JJ and the offense hit on 100% of the downs where they roll him out (he can keep it or pass)?
October 8th, 2022 at 4:11 PM ^
It was a little scary in the first half, but played heck of a second half. IU definitely stacked the box but we blew them off the second half. Hope none of the injuries are serious and everyone back soon, including the coach. If one of my coaches is taken to the hospital, I would not be that much vested in a game. JJ can be a monster and we are starting see it. Not having Wilson definitely handicapped this team. But, nice to see CJ get some great catches in. Good game.
October 8th, 2022 at 4:14 PM ^
I just don’t how Michigan is going to move forward in recruiting elite offensive talent when the coaching and playcalling will continually prevent them from excelling.
clunky offense until the latter part of the second half.
October 8th, 2022 at 8:29 PM ^
Michigan has a top 10 SP+ offense. Have you seen Texas A&M? They don't have trouble finding talent & they are terrible.
Bad take.
October 9th, 2022 at 8:10 AM ^
I think both of you are on to something. True, there are times at which I’m sure many wonder what guys like Davis & Harbor see in this offense that makes them want to come to Ann Arbor when they could go almost anywhere. It’s not like an edge rusher who should be salivating when watching the UM defense.
But it’s clear what Harbaugh’s offenses want to do. The Iowa/Illinois game had a huge turnover inside the 10. McCarthy threw a pick in the end zone. They don’t take unnecessary chances on offense, but I also can’t remember the last time Michigan lost a game because the offensive play-calling was the primary reason why. (Maybe MSU in 2020?)
I’d love to see the downfield passing attack do what OSU does. But it’s clear Moore, Weiss, & Co. don’t.
But it also doesn’t mean we can’t kick the dog when they run on 3rd or 4th & short into a stacked line that looks like the defense has 15 guys out there.
October 8th, 2022 at 4:15 PM ^
A lot of derping in the first half in all three phases, but mostly the offense. Feels like the issues are borne out of piss poor play calls that don't take full advantage of soft spots and what the defense is giving. Second half was better.
October 8th, 2022 at 4:19 PM ^
I'm a little disappointed in our deep threat game... We aren't throwing contested passes deep and making these plays.
October 8th, 2022 at 4:19 PM ^
A warm take: it ain't how ya start, it's how ya finish.
October 8th, 2022 at 4:20 PM ^
I'm so glad that 4th quarter happened, so we can all pretend that the first 3 didn't.
October 8th, 2022 at 4:39 PM ^
Exactly correct. A stagnant 1st 1/2 against a competent offense likely results in a point deficit we can’t overcome after making 2nd 1/2 adjustments
October 8th, 2022 at 4:21 PM ^
The offense in the 2nd half played better. Throwing down the field an PAP will open up the running game!
October 8th, 2022 at 4:28 PM ^
Remember this off season when we thought the strength of this team would be the offense, strong at every position...and the ONLY thing that could hold this team back was offensive playcalling?