Penn State Snowflakes: The Offense
November 11th, 2023 at 3:50 PM ^
That image of Blake is Michigan, bruised and bloodied by everyone but resilient and tough.
November 11th, 2023 at 3:23 PM ^
We got the win and things may have been different with Jim there, but I've rarely seen a team play more scared. We're gonna play defenses as athletic as Penn State, and we're sure as hell not beating Georgia by running down 2 guys in the box. And what does Bryce Underwood think seeing our current 5 star QB throw the ball 8 times?
November 11th, 2023 at 3:37 PM ^
Some people are so soft. What I do in a game of chess doesnt meant ill do in every game.
Yall yelling at the screen KING ME! Amazing what you guys think translates game to game. The first 9 weeks we couldnt run now we cant pass? Its not them (the opponent) forcing us into these decisions its us chosing and winning. Go watch Colorado.
November 11th, 2023 at 4:27 PM ^
I think the crowd may have been a factor in the run-heavy approach, too. Would've been harder for the WRs to hear JJ.
November 11th, 2023 at 5:20 PM ^
Exactly, McCarthy was out there crowning everyone else a King, and he would be the most justified person in being annoyed at not having a single pass attempt in the second half. How can you not trust this team?
November 11th, 2023 at 6:03 PM ^
If it's soft to want in-game passing reps against a great defense before OSU and the playoff, guilty as charged.
November 11th, 2023 at 6:11 PM ^
Reps? You want reps? Guy you see the forest through the trees?
November 11th, 2023 at 3:23 PM ^
It wasn’t pretty, and the play calling in the second half was just plain stupid, but that was a great win in the toughest of circumstances. The emotion Moore and Corum expressed after the game was a window into what the team has been going through. Weaker men could’ve easily folded. Not these guys.
November 11th, 2023 at 3:24 PM ^
Disagree. Only way we were losing that game was with a bad turnover.
PSU only scored on prevent defense in garbage time.
Moore handled it correctly.
November 11th, 2023 at 3:29 PM ^
Running the ball every play doesn’t guarantee there won’t be a turnover, and Corum did fumble today. Not using your NFL QB for an entire half is dumb. Playing not to lose, with the team Michigan has, only increases the chances of losing.
November 11th, 2023 at 3:39 PM ^
Name doesnt check out. You can ONLY lose if you turn it over. It was Penn States job to make us pass. They didnt. Take you Wins good god people.
November 11th, 2023 at 7:38 PM ^
You saw Corum fumble, right? Calling only runs doesn’t guarantee you won’t turn it over.
November 11th, 2023 at 4:47 PM ^
No, it didn't, I'm sorry.
Penn State's best chance to win was a huge turnover-type play. Dropping the QB back regularly with that pass rush and Michigan's pass pro struggling is the best thing that can happen to them. Since Michigan was confident that they could keep the PSU offense from doing damage, it made lots of sense not to risk that kind of play given how easily Robinson was coming around the corner on full dropbacks.
In 2003 Michigan was running the ball on every down against Michigan State, and running it well (Chris Perry had 50 carries for 200+ yards). Mid-4th Q they were driving at the edge of the red zone up 14 and they called a play-action bootleg. John Navarre got destroyed, fumbled, and MSU picked it up for a long TD the other way. The only thing that kep them in the game.
PSU's best chance to compete was for Michigan to hang JJ out to dry on just one play or two and get a fumble or a bad throw for a pick, either for a direct score or superior field position. Since Michigan had produced two decisive drives to establish a cushion on the scoreboard, they never needed to risk anything else, and they knew it.
And the result is a win.
They absolutely called a good game.
November 11th, 2023 at 5:39 PM ^
And in the end, they were a 2 point conversion away from making it a one score game. You play to your strengths. When you have a QB like McCarthy, and it may be decades before Michigan has another as good, you don’t put him on the shelf, along with his ability to make plays, because you’re afraid something bad might happen.
November 12th, 2023 at 3:08 AM ^
2 point conversion from making it a one score game
Penn State had played 58 minutes and scored 9 points. You think tossing it up was the way to go? Our coaches dont agree. They are 27-1 in their last 28 games. I think they got this.
November 11th, 2023 at 3:30 PM ^
User names definitely checks out
November 11th, 2023 at 3:23 PM ^
Love it. Proved we can still strangle teams with the run game and have explosives with Corum and Edwards.
Now teams absolutely have to pick their poison, as we know what JJ can do.
November 11th, 2023 at 3:23 PM ^
I found them offensive
November 11th, 2023 at 3:24 PM ^
Wild. Won that game with 60 yards of passing.
Not even one pass in the 2nd half (except the one that was a pass interference penalty). No complaint because it worked. Never would have predicted that we would play that type of game.
I will say that I do think we wasted too many 1st downs in the second half with base run plays.
Nonetheless...it did work, and that is complimentary football with the great D we played all day, and especially in the second half.
November 11th, 2023 at 3:24 PM ^
Win your clunkers!!
November 11th, 2023 at 3:24 PM ^
I truly think the game plan was just what we saw. Run the ball for as long as we can and if it's successful. Do I wish JJ would of thrown it more and really go for driving up the score ... yes but we beat them team and controlled this game. Happy for the win! This win meant a lot to the players!
Still gotta stay focused and beat Maryland.
Don't want to overlook the above but I can't wait for the OSU game!
November 11th, 2023 at 3:25 PM ^
We won but we definitely didn't play good offense for the 2nd half, good thing the defense held up
November 11th, 2023 at 3:25 PM ^
Double post ... deleted.
November 11th, 2023 at 3:25 PM ^
...would've been great in 1978.
But I admit it worked. So. Yay?
November 11th, 2023 at 3:26 PM ^
We won, but not my cup of tea
November 11th, 2023 at 3:26 PM ^
We have a running game & a passing game, and it's great to see that ground game for really the first time all season. Improve the pass pro for OSU in a warmup game with the Terps. GO BLUE
November 11th, 2023 at 3:26 PM ^
Feel like Barnhart is moving towards cyan territory. He was getting absolutely abused in pass pro early on...
November 11th, 2023 at 4:10 PM ^
Yeah, but I saw him make a few good plays later in the game. So I think he recovered somewhat.
November 11th, 2023 at 10:35 PM ^
he wasn't in pass pro later in the game
November 13th, 2023 at 3:46 PM ^
Barnhart is like most college players - he has strengths and weaknesses. Unfortunately for us, one of his weaknesses is "can't handle NFL edge rushers with no other responsibilities".
Michigan came out with a more balanced plan, and got hit in the mouth. Fortunately for us, they adjusted quickly, and picked a good plan which also played to Barnhart's strengths.
Was it the best plan? I'm not sure. I do think it was the best plan that a team without its HC, with the OC/OL shouldering too many heavy loads, with Corum and Edwards and this OL, and knowing they're playing PSU with an overwhelmed Allar, could come up with in a hurry.
A good plan right now is better than the best plan later.
November 11th, 2023 at 3:27 PM ^
Love coach Moore, but uh . . . Maybe fucking use JJ and pass?
November 11th, 2023 at 3:53 PM ^
We lost our coach less than 24 hours ago. We won. Against PSU. On the road. Covered the spread. I mean, I get it, but I am beyond thrilled
November 11th, 2023 at 3:27 PM ^
Conservative and victorious
November 11th, 2023 at 3:27 PM ^
You don't need to steal our signs. You know we're gonna run it, and keep running it.
November 11th, 2023 at 3:32 PM ^
It's funny you say that and I wonder if that is EXACTLY why they played this game this way. We won't do anything fancy, you know we are GOING to run it, stop us if you can. Well ... they couldn't.
November 11th, 2023 at 5:23 PM ^
Maybe, but also very on-brand for Sherrone Moore to run as much as humanly possible.
November 11th, 2023 at 3:28 PM ^
All of our offensive players should individually get to tell Tony P. to go fuck himself.
November 11th, 2023 at 3:28 PM ^
Michigan is for real baby. Bring on Maryland
November 11th, 2023 at 3:29 PM ^
Pay Moore his money and keep that man here forever.
November 11th, 2023 at 3:29 PM ^
I know many might criticize the game philosophy in the 2nd half, but you rely on the D and play the long game. Coach Moore. Great job!
November 11th, 2023 at 3:51 PM ^
You need to question coaches that are currently 24-1 in their last 25 games. I mean sure we won but we want that extra credit toss it up type win. Sure its a road win at #10 against a top 3 defense and you doubled the spread but come on. We need to make it more entertaining. We are a superbowl bound NFL team not a OSU QB looking to smash records and hoard trophies. Yall are watching the wrong damn team if you want the greatest show on turf.
However they want to strangle the other team just sit back and enjoy it.
24-1 people. You are in the midst of the best stretch of UM football in our lives and you better enjoy it before its gone.
November 11th, 2023 at 3:29 PM ^
The offense did enough to win. That works for me. I also kind of love the stubbornness of running that much.
November 11th, 2023 at 3:30 PM ^
I think this game plan loses to OSU. Need to be able to pass and be balanced.
November 11th, 2023 at 3:53 PM ^
Yeah PSU brought that 42 pass game to OSU. They were smart and opened it up!
November 11th, 2023 at 4:31 PM ^
You know there's a different game plan for every opponent right?
November 11th, 2023 at 10:58 PM ^
I’m starting to believe most of the posters on this board don’t understand what’s happening in game. “Just call the touchdown play! What are you doing?!”
November 11th, 2023 at 10:57 PM ^
Buffoonery. Did you watch last year’s game against OSU? Or the year prior?
November 11th, 2023 at 11:03 PM ^
This was not a game plan, this was basically good in-game decision making on a possession by possession basis. There were sure other ways we could have won, but this was the lowest risk way and it worked.
Michigan suffocated their offense and avoided putting JJ under extreme pressure all day with our shaky-at-the-moment tackles.