Moore officially the lone OC
Partridge officially LB coach.
February 17th, 2023 at 12:32 PM ^
The offense is what it is and Moore seems equipped to run it, so that part seems fine. I'm a little worried about OL development. I hope Newsome and analysts are able to spell him a bit on that
February 17th, 2023 at 2:08 PM ^
Gotta think that TEs and OL are coached pretty cooperatively given this offense
February 17th, 2023 at 2:22 PM ^
Given that Moore himself went from our TE coach to arguably the best OL coach in the country without skipping a beat, that seems like a decent bet
February 17th, 2023 at 5:15 PM ^
Sure, but that still seems like A LOT for 2 guys to handle with OC duties and how many TEs Michigan puts on the field consistently.
February 18th, 2023 at 2:29 PM ^
Ron is helping with tight ends as far as passing game goes. Newsome will focus on blocking with tight ends and tackles. Moore will work closely with guards/center. Guards have a load of experience so some guys are looked at as on field coaches, helping young guys develop.
Also Moore believes the center is very important on the line because the whole offense revolves around them in a sense. So Moore will work very closely with centers. Moore is still the line coach, but he’ll have help. Mike is still helping with run game planning and Bellamy/Campbell will help develop passing game. Lot of veteran guys on the offensive staff and obviously Harbaugh is a veteran offensive guy. This will be Moore calling the plays, but he’ll have plenty of help planning.
Hopefully Campbell can get them using JJs feet more. If Michigan runs their offense like second half TCU they’ll easily win the Big Ten again. With Corum back, they’ll be able to play how Harbaugh wants to while developing the passing game more and hopefully using JJ on the ground. Michigan will be extremely hard to defend for a defense if Michigan commits to using JJ on the ground.
Look for Warren and Orji to get some decent run in second half’s next season. Michigan wants to continue to develop Warren and keep JJ healthy for the second half of the season. The luxury of having Corum back with a healthy Edwards is that Michigan should be able to get some good leads going into halftime this year and be able to utilize more backups to help build depth and grow younger guys.
February 17th, 2023 at 12:32 PM ^
Huge! But please for the love of God utilize the passing game more Moore, we really need to be more balanced to win a national championship
February 17th, 2023 at 12:35 PM ^
Our two best offensive players are our running backs. The strength of the offense is the run game. When we needed to open it up last year, we did, to great success, save for the two pick sixes. We don't need to take touches away from Edwards and Corum to prove some inane point.
February 17th, 2023 at 12:37 PM ^
Although I would like to see Edwards utilized in the pass game more…
February 17th, 2023 at 2:14 PM ^
Hopefully having two healthy hands will make that happen this year.
February 17th, 2023 at 3:43 PM ^
I mean, if not for the cast - the very impressive cast at the beginning of the injury too - I think we would have seen more of this, but yes, he's very good catching passes and hopefully he has two fully functional hands in September.
February 18th, 2023 at 10:12 AM ^
November ...
February 18th, 2023 at 10:52 AM ^
Catching AND throwing!
February 17th, 2023 at 12:44 PM ^
Also clearly whatever we've been doing has been working, since not only did we go 13-1; we became an INSANELY explosive offense in the last few games of the season
February 17th, 2023 at 12:45 PM ^
Offensive balance isn’t an “inane point.” The fact is that, for two years in a row, Michigan’s dominant run game suddenly wasn’t so dominant in the CFP. and while it’s true they were able to make plays in the passing game this year, it was against TCU, which wasn’t Georgia or the kind of team they would have to beat to win it all. More balance throughout the season would not only benefit the passing game, but also save Corum and Edwards from some wear and tear. Win, win. Corum was great while carrying the ball 25-30 times a game last year…until he got hurt and couldn’t play at all. Finally, I’ll say that although Corum and Edwards are great, McCarthy, in his second year as a starter, may end up being the team’s best offensive player in 2023.
February 17th, 2023 at 1:26 PM ^
I agree with this 100%. I'll also add that an injury to JJ is our biggest risk. I highly doubt our QB2 whoever that may be, gives us much of a chance in those few precious games that we'll be evenly matched.
February 17th, 2023 at 1:38 PM ^
Agree also. This is sort of like Bo's team where we only ran, ran, and ran some more. Then we would go to a bowl game and his record was 5-12. No one says don't have a dominant run game, but also work on the pass game so that JJ has enough experience where he then doesn't throw 2 pick sixes in a key game.
February 17th, 2023 at 2:02 PM ^
Harbaugh is still basically Bo. I think ideally we would be like the Eagles. Basically score quick with the passing game early and then run the ball to close out the game but instead we will be a run dominant team who can run tempo or throw to catch up. Anyone who says look how we threw the ball against TCU, we looked like every other team in the Big 12. we also couldn't run the ball at all....
my biggest gripe is that we never have any urgency. Two minutes before halftime and we will get off three plays in our hurry up offense. we don't have a hurry up offense. God forbid we have 40 seconds to march 80 yards downfield to win the game, we wouldn't be able to.
February 17th, 2023 at 2:15 PM ^
Spot on! As much success we have had over the last 2 years - which has been GREAT - our 2 minute offense is offensive and closer to 3 and 1/2 minutes. Just such bad clock management for a team so good and skilled.
February 17th, 2023 at 1:29 PM ^
Why do people keep saying our offense is bad in the playoffs? We put up 45 points! That is good! The big difference was 2 pick sixes and everyone's answer seems to be "throw the ball more" which was the problem along with a couple defensive breakdowns.
February 17th, 2023 at 1:37 PM ^
We were down 21-0 to start the game because the offense wasnt good enough.
February 17th, 2023 at 2:34 PM ^
Because to GET 45 points, we had to stray from “our offense.” We didn’t ground and pound our way to 45 points, JJ had to extend plays with his legs and air it out. “Throw the ball more” wasn’t the problem in that game, it was damn near the only thing working. Maybe if the offense had been more practiced in that concept, the pick 6’s wouldn’t have happened.
February 17th, 2023 at 3:09 PM ^
This point can't be made enough! When we needed JJ to win it while playing from (way) behind--and sure he almost pulled it off--it'd be nice to give him a little more than, "okay, young gun, pull one out of your ass now."
February 17th, 2023 at 11:28 PM ^
Username checks out
February 17th, 2023 at 2:14 PM ^
Top post, Oracle part deux. +1000 if I could. This encapsulates what the Michigan offense needs to do in 2023 to improve to be able to win a CFP game.
Lean on the run, sure, but refine and utilize the passing game, involve DE in multiple ways, and utilize JJ's legs more, and we will profit even more.
February 17th, 2023 at 2:35 PM ^
And by "more", all you mean is to give JJ 3-4 run plays each game. Be they RPO's, called runs, or some other trickery, he needs to run the ball 3-4 times/game to make all the other RPO's viable.
I don't think that's a lot to ask...
February 18th, 2023 at 11:17 AM ^
I don’t even think “utilize his legs more” inherently means giving him more “run plays.” I mean that’s part of it, but more rollouts/waggles with his mobility and ability to throw on the run is also part of “utilizing his legs.”
February 18th, 2023 at 1:30 PM ^
Yes, JH, for sure, the mobility aspect. But I was primarily implying what VaBlue said. I'd like to see JJ get 3-4 carries in every cupcake game and then more carries in the big games. The *threat* has to be there at all times for this offense to take the next step.
Yes, he could get injured in this scenario. But as we've seen, our RBs can get injured too. If we want to take the next step -- that is, actually having a better chance to win a CFP game -- then there are things that need to happen, and the constant threat of JJ carrying the ball is one of them.
February 17th, 2023 at 2:15 PM ^
Michigan’s dominant run game getting stonewalled in 2021 was understandable against that defense from Georgia. This past season, though, it was a little disheartening to see it falter in the tcu game. I’d say, though, that if Corum had been healthy for that game the result would have been different. JJ definitely has to be a part of the run game, along with a decent jump in passing game effectiveness for Michigan to win it all.
February 17th, 2023 at 2:37 PM ^
If Corum had played against TCU, with the same game plan, he might have added 20 yards to the run total. He still would have been running directly into a LB filling a gap, regardless of which gap he chose. He may have had made a couple miss and get some yards, but it wasn't going to be consistent enough to work out for the whole game.
February 17th, 2023 at 4:33 PM ^
Your point is a good one but I would say your estimate is low. We have seen Corum get 15-20 yards on one carry without much blocking. I felt like that TCU was one game where he could have made a real difference with grinding out those tough yards.
February 17th, 2023 at 5:27 PM ^
That and I saw at least two, maybe three small cutbacks that Corum routinely hit and Edwards didn’t. Add on an added threat with Corum and Edwards both out there and their defense might’ve had issues.
February 17th, 2023 at 12:48 PM ^
Yes but we finally have a QB who can open up the offense so much more. He's a national championship level QB, we don't just have to rely on the running game anymore
February 17th, 2023 at 12:53 PM ^
We should run and pass on every play. This will confuse defenses and help to attract top talent at RB, QB, TE, and WR.
February 17th, 2023 at 1:00 PM ^
save for the two pick sixes
To steal an MgoBlogism, other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?
February 17th, 2023 at 1:20 PM ^
Would be nice if Corum, for the first time, could be healthy for OSU.
February 17th, 2023 at 1:34 PM ^
Our best receiver is a running back. He could be used like Percy Harvin at Florida and still open up our passing game while strengthening our run game
February 17th, 2023 at 1:40 PM ^
We didn't open it up until the third quarter against TCU. Also, you could make the argument that they could have done more passing in the regular season.
February 17th, 2023 at 1:47 PM ^
I disagree. A team can do more than one thing well. The better we pass the ball, the better our run game will be. JJ taking the next step towards being an elite qb is not only necessary for him to play in the NFL, but also for us to beat the SEC teams and win a national championship. Only calling pass plays as a way to change things up isn’t a good plan. There will be games where we won’t be able to run efficiently and we have the talent to have a good passing game. The passing game shouldn’t just be there as a safety valve.
February 17th, 2023 at 2:05 PM ^
Football 101 is that the run opens up the pass and the pass opens up the run. As a Michigan/Manball fan I love that we can dominate with just running, but we’d have a lot more of this 80 yard runs if we had some passing. Passing isn’t 2% milk.
February 17th, 2023 at 1:59 PM ^
Just because the 2 rbs is our best players doesn't mean JJ isnt as capable. This logic of "Corum is our best player so no one else should run the offense" is idiotic. This isn't 1987, throw the gd ball around some.
February 17th, 2023 at 2:36 PM ^
1987 and throwing the ball around... <shudders> I can't be the only person who remembers Demetrius Brown.
February 17th, 2023 at 3:02 PM ^
The skill coming oup at Receiver and having Johnson/Wilson/Henning back with Clemons, Morris and Walker, time to open up the passing game more. Got to get JJ throwing and the offense more than pounding the ball.
We know we can grind it into the ground. But we need a big back to take that load as well, ie a 3rd back. Corum/Edwards are awesome and our line is awesome. But that beats them all into the ground. We have to get to the CFP and with the legs/health of our players to win it.
February 17th, 2023 at 5:57 PM ^
Diversifying your playcalling and protecting your guys from overuse are both far from inane points.
February 17th, 2023 at 7:03 PM ^
You need to take touches away to keep them healthy. They can still get their touches with running 30 times a game.
February 17th, 2023 at 7:57 PM ^
"Besides those two pick sixes at a critical time in a playoff game our passing was just fine."
Live reps will help you play better in those key moments. Use the tomato can games to sharpen our passing game. Once we are up 21 points we can go back to what we always do.
Our running game is amazing but if you are prepared and practiced in the passing game that makes us OSU/Bama/Georgia ready.
February 18th, 2023 at 1:32 PM ^
Passing more doesn’t default to taking touches away from Edwards and Corum.
Go look at Georgia’s offensive total pass and rushing attempts. They had more than 200 PAs than us, yet only 37 fewer rushing attempts.
More completions and more first downs allows for more rushing. Being able to pass for first downs on third down is one area Michigan can improve.
The final games of the year even proved that their best offense is a balanced offense. If you’d rather JJ not throw 3 to 4 TDs a game like he was doing against OSU and TCU, all while having a dominant Edwards…why?
Edwards is elite—he’s Reggie Bush good, which means he’s part of the passing game. Corum doesn’t need to get 30 carries any game with Edwards there. Both can go for more than 1200 yards next year and still allow for more passing.
February 17th, 2023 at 1:30 PM ^
The only game we lost we threw the ball way too much. Man i cannot understand comments like the above.
February 17th, 2023 at 1:36 PM ^
Uh, usually when youre down 21-0 and running Edwards up the middle isnt working you kinda have to pass.
February 17th, 2023 at 3:57 PM ^
Well, yes, when your game plan is so stale that their LBs pretty much knew what run was coming every play, it does appear "running of the middle" is the game plan.
I mean, Seth pretty much said we should do our non-zone type runs to confuse their LBs, who were firing downhill at the snap. Did we? Nope. Felt like Late Carr. Zone run right, Zone run left, pass, punt.
February 17th, 2023 at 1:38 PM ^
Lol ya because the run game was working so well....