Snowflakes Thread: Offense Vs. Cincinnati

Submitted by LSAClassOf2000 on

This will be the snowflake thread for the thoughts on our offense in the game versus Cincinnati.

corundum

September 9th, 2017 at 3:41 PM ^

Offensive play calling left a lot to be desired. Cinci's LBs were playing very aggressive and we didn't throw a single HB screen?

Speight not only continued to overthrow a bunch of passes, but also threw a couple passes to Black that were obviously covered that should have went to his second or third read.

The beginning drive with Isaac up the middle over and over followed by play action was a thing of beauty, yet we never really went back to that. I would have been happier if Isaac got 30 carries rather than letting Speight sling inaccurate passes all 2nd quarter.

It did seem like Speight settled in at the end of the 3rd quarter, but we are going to need four quarters of solid QB play to beat the stronger teams in the Big Ten.

Lastly, Brock Huard is Great Value Kirk Herbstreit and one of the most annoying color guys I've heard call a game this season.

1464

September 9th, 2017 at 4:02 PM ^

I don't expect us to blow our good play calling on Cinci. That said, I am officially out of Team Speight. I thought late last year may have been injury, and gave him a game this year. This was the one that made me think that this is who he is. Michigan needs a QB.

I Like Burgers

September 9th, 2017 at 4:32 PM ^

He wasn't THAT bad. He had the two fumbles, couple of bad throws (like to Black in double coverage) and then probably 5-6 passes that were overthrown. He also had a couple of clutch 3rd and 4th down passes.



Could it have been better? Sure. But it's not like it was atrocious. It was an above average performance by an above average QB. It just is what it is with him. He's likely never going to be elite, and it's going to be a bit until Michigan has someone that can dethrone him.



And then we can complain about that guy.

Bigku22

September 9th, 2017 at 4:40 PM ^

I think above average is a little strong when you consider the opponent. He wasn't the disaster some are making him out to be, but his accuracy left a lot to be desired. 

Bottom line is O'Korn isn't the answer, if Peters can't beat out O'Korn then he's definitely not ready, so we can bitch all we want, there's nobody else. 

I Like Burgers

September 9th, 2017 at 5:04 PM ^

Suppose it depends on what you're comparing him to.  For the Big Ten, he's easily one of the top 5 QBs -- that's above average.  And that's what I was thinking of when I said that.  But if you're looking at the teams in the Top 25?  Ehh...he's probably in the bottom 10 for QBs.

But yeah...O'Korn certainly isn't any better, and there's clearly a reason they aren't playing Peters so we just have to ride or die with Speight and his 20/32, 2TD/1INT type of games.

Gameboy

September 9th, 2017 at 4:36 PM ^

I have no idea what happened with the first fumble. Just one of those things.

The handoff was on Crawford. He took off too early and got their hair earlier than he should have been.

The boxscore is pretty accurate on the day that Speight had which was mediocre (a couple of beautiful throws, several high misses, good pocket presence).

People around here make it sound like other QB's never miss any throws. Most QB's have a hard time getting above 60% in completions.

Bigku22

September 9th, 2017 at 4:46 PM ^

That's fair, but a lot of other college QBs offer you mobility or something on the ground. Speight has good movement in the pocket, but if he's not passing efficiently he really doesn't offer much else. 

He needs to be in the 60% range for the offense to be consistnetly effective. 

bamf16

September 9th, 2017 at 7:18 PM ^

He did make a couple nice throws, but they seemed more exception than rule.

 

And I know that in today's "Fantasy Football" world, we judge disproportionally by stats, but I cannot fathom how someone could have watched today's game and written of Speight, "He was fine" but someone who didn't watch the game and just looked at a box score.

Bigku22

September 9th, 2017 at 4:10 PM ^

While I agree on the surface it would have been nice to see much more Isaac and power run game. 

I believe (will have to see in UFR) Cinci was playing a ton of loaded boxes with single high. Basically daring us to throw the football. 

So we did, mostly unsuccessfully unfortunatley. An experienced QB with our weapons should be able to take advantage of that kind of D and hit some big plays. Just didn't happen outside of one early. 

 

 

gbdub

September 9th, 2017 at 4:45 PM ^

I think our receiver weapons are mostly theoretical at this point. Not great at getting separation, at least not consistently. They definitely have talent, but it's going to be awhile before they are reliable. Probably why Perry is the one getting most of the clutch throws.

goblue4321

September 9th, 2017 at 5:19 PM ^

Speight inaccuracy wasn't even his worse things today. The fumbled hand off to Isaac cost a touchdown, (same kind of shit against Ohio st last year fumble in red zone which was huge in game) and the fumbled reverse to Crawford was 90% on speight. Michigan doesn't even need speight to be great, just don't turn the ball over. He's just bad, 9-3 at best with speight. I'm sure coaches know whose best qb but damn give peters a shot.

rainingmaize

September 9th, 2017 at 4:01 PM ^

To me Speight has NFL size and NFL pocket awarness while having D3 everything else. I think the staff knows just about everyone else on the roster is a better thrower, but they also know that the line isn't the greatest at this point of the season, and the rest of the offense is uber young. Therefore, it is probably a good bet to assume a qb with good pocket awarness and with experience gives you a bette chance to win now rather than throwing out a young and inexperienced QB to the wolves.

goblue4321

September 9th, 2017 at 5:27 PM ^

So then what happens next year when UM returns 18 starters probably pre season top 5 and still have shitty speight, wont win elite games with him, better to play peters now get experience for next year

goblue4321

September 9th, 2017 at 5:57 PM ^

He's a red shirt junior, he makes too many little mistakes. The mistakes he makes should not happen as a returning starter and will cost games against the elite teams. But harbaugh is the coach who makes all the money and he knows best and I assume speight is the best option which kinda sucks. I hope I get proven wrong tho

rainingmaize

September 9th, 2017 at 7:31 PM ^

Well, their are a few reasons not to take your lumps all at once. For one, its probably easier to break in a new QB when he is surrounded by veterans on offense. Also, you don't want your QB to get Carr disease and become damaged goods constantly taking hits and running all the time. Also, coaches have to get wins.

TrueBlue2003

September 9th, 2017 at 4:06 PM ^

I thought he was really good.  Bounced when it was there. Showed some vision.  He was good.  Everyone else, woof. Oh, and Perry was awesome as is becoming expected.

Yes, the playcalling was vanilla by design but when it's Cincinnati, it shouldn't matter that they know you're going to run it up the gut, your guys should be able to block them and we were pretty bad at it. The o line was very bad, and that's not easily corrected.

And Speight just seems like he is what he is: mediocre.   

I'm not that worried about the fumbles and miscues, though.  That's easily fixed.  Young guys jittery for their first home game.

gbdub

September 9th, 2017 at 4:42 PM ^

Speight has to stay the QB even if he's a poor thrower (and he's not THAT bad) simply because he has the best pocket awareness and composure. That's going to be the most important skill with this young line that is probably going to peak at mediocre in pass pro.

I Like Burgers

September 9th, 2017 at 5:14 PM ^

Yeah, that's why I think 9-3 was the right projection for this team preseason.  Maybe even 8-4.  Ohio State and Penn State feel like definite losses (like seriously...try and imagine Speight at a night game in Happy Valley)  And considering their other road games are @ Purdue (who's looked great), @ Indiana (gave OSU a run and can pass), @ Maryland (has looked improved) and @ Wisconsin....its hard to see things clicking well enough in all of those to win them all.

bacon

September 9th, 2017 at 4:39 PM ^

A young offense that didn't come prepared for a dogfight today. Speight was underwhelming and off, the receivers weren't getting separation, the line wasn't blowing their guys off the ball. They are capable of more. He right side of the line is not good, but they saw some new stuff today and it took a while to adapt. I'm not surprised. I think the left side was not as good as I would have expected and that I chalk up to mental lapse against an inferior opponent. Similar problem on the defense. When Gary got the targeting call, they got pissed and showed what a motivated defense should do against a team like this. I don't think we should read a ton into this performance.