Maryland Snowflakes: The Offense

Trick plays always look stupid when they fail and brillant when they succeed. 
 

I think they stopped the QB run game after the fumble. 

Not calling a play “with crossing routes” is a generic take.  Much of that depends on what the defense is doing.  Also, very hard to see without an all 22 view.  
I am more connected about the old JH pattern of run, run, 3rd & 7 pass, punt.  Would love to see us throw about ten more times a game.  I think it makes our run game even better, and keeps us much closer to 50/50 run/pass.  If we are balanced, this offense could be deadly.

Granted, I didn’t pay much attention to the route combinations on those plays. But it’s pretty rare for coaches to simply call deep throws. Any well designed pass play is going to have some sort of short-intermediate option alongside the deep throw. 
 

Without actually seeing the routes ran on those plays and how they were covered, I’m not going to put blame on JJ’s reads. And those deep throws were all routes the WR had a good advantage on, he simply didn’t hit them. But I’m pretty skeptical that the coaches were calling deep throws and that’s the reason the easy yardage wasn’t being taken. 

Unless it's the end of the game no one is "calling deep".  Almost all passing plays have a layering of receivers and the QB makes a live decision.  JJ saw open receivers deep and missed the throws.  However, on those plays there aren't 3 other receivers deep too,

JJ has been money on the deep balls for pretty much his whole career at Michigan.  Unfortunately that was not the case today for whatever reason.  And I don't mind the coaches calling the multiple deep shots even though he was missing.  Our WRs had a step or two on their guy so the play was there to be had, JJ just missed.  Keep doing it, IMO.

My main issue with JJ today was holding onto the ball too damn long on passing downs.  Pockets were unbelievably clean.  And by the time I counted to 4 or 5 seconds I expected JJ to take off running and get chunks of yards.  There were screamingly wide open lanes in front of him a bunch of times.

I think JJ was overly amped for this game and the overthrows sort of prove that.  I think he will settle in as the year goes on.  I just hope we don't absorb a loss as he gets comfortable.

Agree. I’d argue the offense was “good” today, with the caveat that they struggled to find a good rhythm at times. It seemed a bit clonky but it was efficient.
 

At the end of the day, they averaged 7 yards per play. JJ completed 70% of his passes for 220 yards and a pair of TDs on 8.5 YPA. Corum ran for the most yards in a single game since Timmy B and another pair of TDs. The OL did a good job opening holes in the run game and did pretty well giving JJ time in the pocket. 
 

You’d obviously like a little more cohesion and sharpness, but it’s hard to be upset about the output. 

The Gash play was insane. I did not like the double pass. I did not like that it felt often forecasted our intent to run allowing them to sell out and putting us in third and long.

It felt when they spread out the defense and run a balanced attack (third drive of the second half) it was easy. Hopefully they learn a lot self scouting this week.

Anytime Maryland was caught in man, there were guys running a yard open. JJ missed what, 4 bombs where the WR had at least a step. Maryland ran a ton of zone and that was met with poor route combos. I don't have all 22, but there were clips online showing 4 WRs in vertical routes against essentially cover 4 type set ups. That won't get anyone open.

Also, the no read zone reads are back. I've been saying it for years, but it's clearly a coaching decision. Otherwise neither Shea, Milton, Cade, nor JJ can make them at that's almost impossible. Telling your QB to give every time for whatever reason is idiotic if you're going to have a mesh point. There were backside bubbles and slants/curls wide open and JJ gave to Corum running into boxes with guys not even thinking about JJ pulling. It's just dumb to build an offense out of that motion and then just cut 1/2 of it off randomly.

Ah yes….

Personal attacks.

Do I think that trying something in a game in a low pressure situation to get experience, put something on tape, and give an opportunity to coach and practice during the week might make a difference in subsequent games? Meaning do I think if he overthrew multiple receivers against UConn last week he might have done better today?

Um… Yes. Yes I do.

Pretty much everyone here blames coaching for almost everything… and yet it seems far too few understand it.