Space Coyote on Routes, QB and WRs
Saw this on Twitter, found it to be an especially great read (as always for Space Coyote). Here's a link to the entire thread, I've capped out the part about Michigan.
November 15th, 2022 at 11:07 AM ^
That Alabama team wound up winning the national title the following year. Michigan acquitted themselves fine in that game and Patterson could have played better but Alabama clearly didn't want to be in that game for a half and once they got focused it was over.
And Patterson had a fine 2019 season - 23 TDs, 8 picks, 8.5 ypa. He never figured out how to run the ball and that hurt the offense immensely but he was also injured early on and that clearly limited him. He was a perfectly fine college QB and that receiving room wound up not being as good as people thought - DPJ underwhelmed compared to expectations, Collins was good, and a young Ronnie Bell was the most consistent guy on the roster.
November 15th, 2022 at 12:30 PM ^
Patterson was 5th in the offensively challenged B1G in passer rating behind Tanner Morgan, Jack Coan, Sean Clifford, and Payton Ramsey.
Middle of the B1G isn't "just fine".
November 15th, 2022 at 9:32 AM ^
You'd think there'd be a better forum than Twitter for this kind of thoughtful analysis.
November 15th, 2022 at 9:39 AM ^
Weren't they recruiting “speed in space” guys the last few years? Asking those guys to become Braylon all of the sudden seems like a big ask.
November 15th, 2022 at 10:30 AM ^
If JJ is throwing to Gattis' guys, run some of Gattis' package.
November 15th, 2022 at 12:25 PM ^
We've got ONE receiver in the top 25 in yards in the B1G (Ronnie Bell at #11).
Cornelius Johnson wouldn't be the #1 on about 10 of 14 B1G teams.
Our receivers don't suck... But they are mediocre.
...and that Mgoblog preseason prediction of CJ being borderline AA and 1st round pick looks more ridiculous by the game.
November 15th, 2022 at 12:51 PM ^
I can't argue with those who can explain exactly why Michigan's passing game has been merely very good in Big Ten play. I wish I knew more.
Maybe it's the competition level, maybe it's the coaching and play-planning/calling, maybe the players have things to work on, and maybe JJ needs more seasoning to achieve his predicted elite status.
It was a shame to lose Erick All (and what's Schoonmaker's status?), I think it's possible that his presence took some pressure off the QB and other receivers with his skill set. This being a Harbaugh offense, it's expected that the tight ends play a significant role.
Nonetheless, I'm fine with very good at this point, because the running game is elite, and the defense gets itself off the field with dominant performances. I hope it's enough to win the last two games.
Is it odd that the two pass plays that stuck with me from last year were in the Big Ten Championship game, and one was thrown by a running back, or is that merely the theory of recency at work?
November 15th, 2022 at 1:49 PM ^
You wouldn't know we have the 5th best scoring offense in the country (and probably similar yardage wise) based on the threads we have complaining about the offense, lol
November 15th, 2022 at 1:53 PM ^
I do kind of roll my eyes every time someone suggests we don't need a passing game, because we run so well. Our schedule has been atrocious, and after one more week of that, it becomes overwhelming. It may be true that we won't need to pass well to win against Ohio State, then (I hope) Georgia or TCU, or whatever, but I don't see that we can count on it.
These teams have elite talent, and I have to assume if they sell out to stop the run they'll be able to do so. We don't need to have a top 5 passing offense to take advantage of that, but we have to be able to exploit the opportunities they give us, and so far I don't see any sign that we can do that.
It's frustrating. We keep hearing how terrible various the defenses we come up against are -- often (as with MSU) with their secondaries particularly singled out. But at this point, our inability to connect on passes of more than 15 yards in the air even against them is a real problem, and I hope we have the opportunity against Illinois to address it.
And, yes, I think the route calling is as much to blame for the "lack of separation" as the actual receivers themselves. How about some deeper crossing patterns, or back shoulder passes, or even pump-and-go's, or something that would force the defensive back to stop and change direction quickly, without warning? If all we're doing is fly patterns, even the worst defensive backs will be able to stay in contact.
Obviously the coaches know way more about all this than I do, and I'm sure they're on top of it. But I admit to being confused, with this much talent at wide receiver and JJ's obvious talent at quarterback, at why we struggle so much.
November 15th, 2022 at 3:20 PM ^
I recall watching the Tennessee/Alabama game earlier this year and watching the Vols stack two receivers wide and the trail guy (don't recall his name at the moment) was getting clean releases and by the time he got to the safety the poor safety didn't have a chance. The receive made a slight cut and if the QB hit him, it was game over. Would love to see a similar setup with Roman Wilson being the offset guy in the stack and just tearing ass into the secondary.
Like most people on here, I'm no expert, but it doesn't seem irrational to think there are wrinkles to existing plays or even extra chapters of the playbook we've been saving up for the game considering how lopsided every game has been to this point. We clearly haven't executed the "vanilla" stuff to perfection thus far, but I guess the hope here is that *IF* there's more in the bag, it will be far enough outside the box that it schemes guys VERY open for big plays in the passing game. Here's to hoping.