Michigan to integrate RPO concepts

Submitted by DJMich23 on
According to Sam Webb's Spring Preview, Jim Harbaugh was quoted as saying the following about the RPO in regards to Michigan “We're with it and I look to have some of that in our offense”. Link is ($) but I thought it might be note worthy. Nick Baumgardner mentions on Twitter that Michigan used RPO concepts last year continuing with “we shall see if they can develop it”. https://247sports.com/college/michigan/Article/Jim-Harbaugh-says-run-pa… https://twitter.com/nickbaumgardner/status/976254632618991616?s=19

maize-blue

March 21st, 2018 at 3:18 AM ^

Last year they were supposed to run a lot of 3 or 4 WR sets, more of a spread look. But they didn't.

dragonchild

March 21st, 2018 at 7:03 AM ^

if the QBs can't even make single reads, not sure what adding a third WR would do to help, let alone a fourth.  Maybe a decoy the defense will just wave at on their way to murderating the QB?

Harbaugh made mistakes, but much of what he did throughout the season that fans hated were to mitigate those mistakes.  He ran plays he felt he had to run, not so much the ones he wanted to run.  After Black went down we only had one serviceable receiver, so running two wasn't all that great as things were.

Rufus X

March 21st, 2018 at 11:11 AM ^

Adding receivers, varying formations, and complex shifting is EXACTLY what you should do if your QB can't make progression reads... it gives the defense more perceived offensive options on a play, when in fact there is only one or two. 

 

Year of Revenge II

March 21st, 2018 at 3:31 PM ^

First of all, that did not fit Speight's skillset unless it was a quick-release, West Coast offense set.  It would have made some sense from a couple different angles, but Black went down, then Speight went down, and the offense turned into a shit show against good teams given the weakness of the oline.  

I personally think it would have been somewhat different if Peters had been given the reigns from the get go, but Harbaugh evidently did not trust his leadership abilities.  

lhglrkwg

March 21st, 2018 at 5:53 AM ^

RPO is the new wide 9

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Rufus X

March 21st, 2018 at 7:47 AM ^

Coaches just laugh histerically inside when some idiot journalist asks if they are going to integrate "RPO" into the offense.  Run Pass Options in some forme or another have been in use since the 80s, but just because Collinsworth says it 40x during a broadcast then Graham Couch et al decide they need to ask it any chance they get.

They can't say "yes" because it is an asinine question, but if they say "no" then they will be presented as out of touch. So you get the answer "we'll have some of that in our offense".  Stupid question, nondescript answer. Welcome to sports journalism.

blueday

March 21st, 2018 at 7:47 AM ^

Some things well, then expand throughout the season. Run the ball well and protect the QB for starters.

Maize and Luke

March 21st, 2018 at 8:22 AM ^

I don't have time to go through every reply so maybe this had been said.

RPO is college football today. While I'm sure a lot of fans and/or coaches might not love it, they need to embrace it. Having a QB who sits in the pocket on every passing play is way too easy for the defense. For every stationary player (QBs included) = 1 more defensemen in coverage.

Gatorade_Cereal

March 21st, 2018 at 8:49 AM ^

I think it just alludes to Patterson taking the reins and having new commits be the mobile dual threat recruits that we have not been getting. Exit: pure pocket passers??

butuka21

March 21st, 2018 at 9:12 AM ^

The most successful coaches change with the times and the talent they have. You have shea you need to change your offense to fit his style and take advantage. It’s pretty simple actually if you think about it. Even Saban is changing.

Andy213

March 21st, 2018 at 1:04 PM ^

So yeah that's awesome thank you super bowl 50 whatever number it was for bringing  Oprah to Ann arbor. All the students will get a 1992 geo metro and protein bars. Randomness. 

Feaster18

March 21st, 2018 at 2:17 PM ^

Some of you are complaining that Harbaugh hasn't been rolling with the changes, but until he gets some better personnel, particularly at QB, he'll just have to be riding the storm out.  

Mongo

March 21st, 2018 at 3:04 PM ^

just did not have a run-threat QB to make it work effectively. If Shea is cleared and the starter, RPO will be a great off-schedule addition to manball sets. Heck, Shea can probably run that RPO stuff in his sleep because that was his Ole' Miss base offense.