There are no Playmakers
One of the most depressing things about the Harbaugh era at Michigan is the lack of big time playmakers. The highlight reel of the last 5+ Years is mostly sacks, tackles for loss, and some great catches from Darboh, who was a great story, good player, but ultimately just another guy.
When I watch other teams in college football I consistently see highlight reel plays from wideouts and running backs, QBs running around, defensive backs jumping routes for big game swinging plays. Michigan seems to have guys who just do their job, and when everything goes perfect it looks good, but when one thing breaks down, it’s catastrophic.
I feel like this has to do with Harbaugh’s history in the NFL. The best teams in the NFL are the teams that execute complex plays inside the system and do it perfectly. New England’s offense has been a prime example, and Kyle Shannahan’s offenses have been a good recent example of this. They have good inside run games, the throw a lot of stuff short, they move the chains. NFL players rarely make mistakes, and if you have a good scheme, perfect offense beats perfect defense.
The problem is, 19 year olds often make mistakes, some 19 year olds pretty much only make mistakes. It’s not their fault, they are children, most of them have never had jobs, most of them were playing football for a coach that is being paid to less than minimum wage for the extra work he puts toward football. It is completely reliable to say that there will be many mistakes in a college football game.
So when you’re coaching a college football team, you better get some big plays, some playmakers. This means you better not be scared to air it out early and often, you better not be scared to run your QB in goal to go situations, you better be putting your best PLAYMAKERS, on the field.
I feel like Harbaugh is constantly trying to stamp out all mistakes, and not doing a good enough job getting play makers on the field, and allowing them to blow up games. OSU makes mistakes, Clemson makes mistakes, Bama makes mistakes, but they also make gamebreaking plays every game. They don’t play scared.
November 1st, 2020 at 1:57 AM ^
I think you articulated something I'd been feeling but couldn't quite give form to, and although I might be going too deep into feelings-ball I think this is the root of my longterm ennui.
Like, we all remember Denard's first three years, right? There are all kinds of problems with his 2010 team - to wit, possibly the worst defense in school history, but goddamnit, he made plays. He gave us something to get excited about. Everyone in the stadium knew that he could dazzle you with a 40 yard run at any given snap and while the team was worse than the worst Harbaugh team, at least it wasn't boring. I'm not saying I want the RichRod era back, because boy howdy I don't, but seriously, just give us something to cheer for.
We may not be fielding a great team this year (again), and while I can't say I love that, what I'm really getting tired of are *boring* teams.
November 1st, 2020 at 1:14 AM ^
Michigan plays like they are in a walk through, trying to be perfect but at half-speed. It is incredibly boring, and in 2020 it is incredibly ineffective.
When was the last time we really had a guy who was scary to the other team, that wasn't a defensive end. Jourdan Lewis was lock down, but when playing press man it is really hard to make plays on the ball against real competition. Peppers was electric with the ball in his hands, but that was mostly just punt returns, which require the punter to give you a chance, and wildcat, which was predictable so it stopped working after a game and a half. Wino, Hurst, Taco, Gary, etc. have all been scary Defensive ends, but teams learn to throw the ball out quick, and run up the gut, so by the time we are in the meat of conference play they become less impactful, and defensive ends are becoming much less important in the college game, as passing is becoming quick fades, RPO's, screens, and occasional slants. Devin Bush was incredible, that I will never deny. Nico would have been scary this year for sure, but I can also say that we would have misused him for sure, so not really all that game breaking. Running backs have all been power guys, none have been NFL players. DPJ should have been scary, but the coaching staff figured out a way to contain him. The list goes on, I haven't even mentioned a QB yet. I heard someone say, I cannot remember who but they were in the media an announcer or maybe on a podcast, "I was prepared for a lot of things from Joe Milton, but not a game manager". When he was throwing 5 yard passes on the last drive of the game, running the clock out on himself, I thought about that line.
November 1st, 2020 at 8:15 AM ^
I say this all the time to my ND buddy. It’s not even that I have to sit through games that end up losses. It’s just so incredibly boring the way they lose. I’d still be upset if they lost 45-42 yesterday. But I’m certain it would have been more entertaining.
November 1st, 2020 at 1:00 AM ^
We have future playmakers. Sucks it took Harbaugh 5 years to start recruiting speedy guys. Giles, Corum, Jackson, Sainristil, and Henning are promising future offensive pieces in terms of explosiveness
One thing that has sucked about Harbaughs time is his RBs have always lacked top end speed so even if they break a 20 yarder with nobody else in front of them they almost always get caught from behind with the exception of the very rare run such as Charbonnets last game
Most of it has to do with playcalling. We dont put our guys in position to make big plays. Look at MSU this game with all their huge gains. MSU just had about half a seasons worth of big plays in one game vs us because they took deep shots
November 1st, 2020 at 6:10 AM ^
Roman Wilson, too. He looks like our most reliable receiver right now.
November 1st, 2020 at 10:17 PM ^
So why did they keep throwing it to All the whole game? The guy has concentration problems and drops more balls than other receivers get thrown in their direction.
November 1st, 2020 at 1:06 AM ^
Considering out executing is the Michigan way, playmakers are clearly overrated.
November 1st, 2020 at 1:40 AM ^
I think we have playmakers, but we play in such a way that like 21 of the 22 men on the field are within 10 yards of the LOS. There's no space. Guys are making moves or turning the corner just to get back to the LOS or gain a few yards. Everything is going sideways, backwards, or within 10 or 15 yards of the LOS. There's no deep ball attempts to even threaten the defense to pull back a safety or two. I blamed this forever on QBs who didn't have the height or the arm. You've got a rocket launcher back there. At least fire a couple over the defenses head to let them know you have the fucking weapon in your arsenal.
November 1st, 2020 at 8:44 AM ^
Seems like the staff knows how inaccurate Milton is downfield to the point that they're reluctant to even try anything deeper than maybe a 15 yard post. Can't say I blame them for doubting since all of Milton's deep shots have been off by 5+ yards but you're right, MSU lived with 8-9 guys in the box and safeties creeping up all day because we have no deep threat at all. Just 15 slot receivers and a tall tight end who seems to drop half the passes thrown to him
November 1st, 2020 at 9:48 AM ^
This is Milton's first year starting, what was the excuse before?
November 1st, 2020 at 1:44 AM ^
We have nothing but 5 slot receivers and are somehow shocked that miltons deep ball is struggling
November 1st, 2020 at 1:51 AM ^
It's not that is isn't working, it's that it's not even being attempted. I think he threw like 2 actual sideline deep balls. One should've been PI and the other was way overthrown. MSU had what felt like 20 deep ball shots, and got a handful of long catches along with a half dozen hold and PIs. I could see 9 or 10 in the box all day, and we weren't even trying to make them respect the deep ball. Even if it's just a prayer to draw a hold or PI. That's much more proactive than seeing those 9 or 10 in the box and running up the gut, or running jet sweeps and pop passes that need 6 yards just to reach the line of scrimmage.
November 1st, 2020 at 8:45 AM ^
Well, we have Erick All but we seem to utilize his height to only go run 3 yard curls and out routes and even when we do throw it to him, he drops half the balls. He needs to be going downfield pretty much all the time. He's our only tall receiver
November 1st, 2020 at 1:57 AM ^
I don't think it would matter how many playmakers are on this team, JH doesn't have the slightest clue how to use them. You hit on it at the end. He coaches afraid.
Haskins is a playmaker, he makes guys miss pretty much every carry. And what does he have to show for it? He gets to split carries with 3 other guys. How can guys develop like that? What is the point of giving Evans 3 carries? Great story, but give the carries to the better back. Corum seems legit so let him give Haskins breaks. The other guys shouldn't play unless there's an injury. OSU has a clear lead back and then guys back him up, develop, wait their turn and are ready to step in when the time comes.
Then at wideout they have line changes between every play. How can guys get better when they aren't out there? How can there be any sort of rhythm when you have different sets out there every play. Play your three best wideouts. Let them develop. The other guys have practice to get better.
Seems so weird from a guy who came in preaching meritocracy. I counted 11 WR/TE who have seen snaps. Seems really high. But that probably speaks to what you touched on regarding the NFL and trying to have a lot of formations to out scheme defenses.
November 1st, 2020 at 2:24 AM ^
Disagree a bit. Michigan has a youth movement going on and I think there is a lot of potential.
The separation thing... Some of that is definitely disconcerting. But there were a couple clear holds/jersey grabs by state that went uncalled. So it was almost like the coaches stopped fighting the refs and went away from some vertical routes.
I believe the mini mouse CB from Cass was on Eubanks at one point and clearly interfered but no flag. I thought they should go back to exploit that matchup.
November 1st, 2020 at 8:41 AM ^
It’s not just the game from yesterday, it’s been every single season under Harbaugh. It’s a constant lack of any kind of star playmaker doing anything amazing. Harbaugh “cemented” his reputation in the NFL...I think he ought to go back there. His style of coaching is clearly not optimal for the modern college game.
November 1st, 2020 at 10:08 AM ^
Youth movement you say...in year 6.
Posters here saying Harbaugh only won with Hokes players..is correct....only the OL was lacking at OT... and looks like still is. Hayes got bullied. Mayfield gone soon. All we have are inside guys to be kicked to outside like Barnhart. Oh, and outside guys we got weren't outside at all...Keegan now playing the interior. Still fail at OT recruiting, til maybe Persi and Bounds. Nothing before that.
November 1st, 2020 at 2:56 AM ^
This isn't about the talent. This is about a team that plays scared the moment they face any adversity. We've been fielding soft teams for the last 20 years.
November 1st, 2020 at 3:37 AM ^
This is correct and what people trashed Maizen and sometimes myself for saying all the time.
People don't seem to really appreciate how good that 2015-2016 team was. It literally had 5 All Americans combined on both sides of the ball plus multiple other All Big Ten.
Harbaugh gets credit for getting them to reach their potential (but still came up short on the scoreboard of course).
Hoke absolutely needs more credit for recruiting that team though, it was full of guys who OSU and other big programs actually wanted and we were legit a top five talent on paper in the nation.
All we have out there right now are guys that just seem to take up space. They'll make a play once but then disappear for the rest of the game.
The closest thing I feel like we have is either Haskins or Charbonnet, and something else I've bitched about since 2017 and was repeatedly criticized for is a running back will break a nice run and Jay will immediately substitute for a different back! I don't get it.
November 1st, 2020 at 7:56 AM ^
Please. People trashed Maizen because s/he was an ass.
November 1st, 2020 at 8:01 AM ^
He was considered an ass because he was saying things that was unpopular at the time, but that we all knew was correct. We were looking for affirmation at the time of the 2018 recruiting class that Vincent Gray could be a lockdown corner or that Taylor Upshaw was a big ten caliber player.
November 1st, 2020 at 9:40 AM ^
"He was considered an ass because he was saying things that was unpopular at the time, but that we all knew was correct."
Not even close, Toby. It wasn't the content of his messages. If you couldn't see that Maizen had a personality disorder, I don't know what to tell you.
November 1st, 2020 at 4:20 AM ^
One of Michigan’s biggest issues under Harbaugh has been their inability to generate and to stop explosive plays - a pass > 18 yards and a run > 12 yards. If you look at all of M’s losses under Harbaugh you will notice a sizable discrepency in the number of explosive plays. Urban Meyer says this about Michigan often. It is very difficult for college players to string together multiple 13 play drives in a games without screwing up. You need big chunks and somebody to take it to the house 2-3 times per game. It’s on both sides of the ball as we know the defense gives up lots of chunk plays too with DB’s aggressive style.
November 1st, 2020 at 6:05 AM ^
Looking at the PBP stats of the game, MSU had an 8-7 advantage in explosive plays. More telling, Michigan’s longest play from scrimmage was only 26 yards whereas MSU had 5 plays of 28 yards or greater all of which were complete daggers to Michigan.
November 1st, 2020 at 10:01 AM ^
This is due to his tendency to play man all on O, and his choice of Brown on D.
November 1st, 2020 at 5:20 AM ^
I think your assumption OP is not far off and they hope that Milton can be a playmaker or get the ball to other playmakers. Problem is offensive playmakers have to be really dynamic or have little to no limitations to make any play given opposing defenses.
So far Milton has proven he’s versatile enough to move in the pocket but not slippery enough to really escape, make short to intermediate throws but no touch on the deep stuff and force some questionable passes in tight windows. Again - we’re 2 games into his career, so he can improve a lot. He’s young and that’s ok but so much was made of his intangible leadership qualities it was as if nobody wanted to question his playmaking skills.
November 1st, 2020 at 6:11 AM ^
We need a quarterback that can hit a deep shot. We haven’t had a quarterback that can do that. Milton overthrows every deep throw by 15 yards. Nico Collins probably knew that and didn’t want to come back knowing our quarterbacks suck.
November 1st, 2020 at 6:47 AM ^
Good point. I never considered Milton's inexperience as a factor in his decision. Shea had his issues, but when he threw a jump ball to Nico it always came down near Nico
November 1st, 2020 at 6:13 AM ^
Corum is a playmaker. He needs to play more and the 4 running back rotation needs to go.
We have playmakers at WR. But Milton can’t through a deep pass with any accuracy, so defenses can smother the shorter stuff with impunity.
November 1st, 2020 at 6:55 AM ^
Corum - yes; receivers- I don’t see it
November 1st, 2020 at 9:37 AM ^
A haunting question: Is Dylan McCaffery that much worse than Joe Milton? Time will tell. If so, we're in a heap of trouble.
November 1st, 2020 at 12:30 PM ^
I was thinking about this. McAff is a better (1) runner and a better (2) deep ball passer.
Milton must have excelled so much more in the short and intermediate game to overtake him.
Milton will struggle unless and until he shows he can throw a deep pass that lands near a receiver. The counter we have right now seems to be throwing slants and crosses.
November 1st, 2020 at 6:17 AM ^
Michigan has 2 qbs, 0 rbs, 1 receiver in the NFL, Brady, Henne and DPJ. The well has been dry.
November 1st, 2020 at 6:53 AM ^
I actually agree with you - especially no deep threat receivers. BUT, if Michigan had Collins and Thomas they would have won and there would be little complaining.
i know “but and if” - but god dang.
November 1st, 2020 at 10:32 PM ^
Not sure how you can reasonably arrive at that conclusion.
Thomas would have been a huge help, but that simply means Lombardi throws it to the other side of the field.
For Collins, as many have pointed out, it can only work if you have a QB that can get him the ball. So far Milton has no deep ball.
I didn't see anything yesterday to convince me we were just 2 players away from winning the game.
November 1st, 2020 at 7:01 AM ^
All these hot takes still smack of Sparty trolldom. It's true that we lost a game we could have won, and that the personnel choices don't make a lot of sense. But this whole season is a wash anyway.
Re: this particular hot take, you've got to be kidding. Haskins and Corum are obviously both playmakers. Charbonnet and Evans haven't made enough of their opportunities, outside of Charbonnet's first carry, which basically any D1 RB could've taken to the house thanks to the defensive bust. But Haskins and Corum are a good 1A and 1B.
All now has enough drops that he should stop getting opportunities. But Bell is a surprisingly good WR and Johnson created a lot of YAC on his own last game. Sainristil has also been good enough.
Hutchison, Paye, Barrett, and Hill are all playmakers on defense. Gemon Green was in perfect position a number of times. There are big problems at CB2, Hawkins isn't good enough, and the DTs are a work in progress. But, y'know, take a deep breath. There are some playmakers.
I agree that Harbaugh overall has not been the world beater we expected. But they'll bounce back and beat Indiana next week. Fortunately the team is not as soft as all the whiners on this board, and will take things one week at a time to build towards giving OSU a run for their money. Hopefully that's this year, but if we get pounded by OSU again this year and next, it'll be pretty hard for the AD to keep the old torch and pitchfork mob at bay.
November 1st, 2020 at 2:45 PM ^
I’m not saying we don’t have good players, I’m saying we don’t see the players make high light reel plays. We don’t do anything exceptional.
You are acting like you’re the voice of reason and everyone else is being crazy, but this is over.
6 year trial run is enough, calling to fire Harbaugh after 2017 was crazy, but in year 6, you lose to a team that lost to Rutgers?? In a rivalry??? At home??? With better talent??? With more time to prepare??? IT IS OVER.
November 1st, 2020 at 7:32 AM ^
I’m amazed the OL and it’s coach isn’t getting blasted. They were awful. Is it because most of you convinced yourself Warniner was a great coach because I watched 4 NFL OL last year struggle for half a season and now am watching a walk on start at center(in year 6!) and a couple guys who have been in the program get abused from the first snap on yesterday
November 1st, 2020 at 5:15 PM ^
It's impossible to be an OL and play well with 8 players always in the box and the 3 others always ready to run right at the line. Stacked boxes are extremely hard to protect against and get push against. MSU was throwing 8 guys at the line every play. No threat of Milton hitting anything over 10 yards.
November 1st, 2020 at 8:39 AM ^
Disagree. There's talent all over the field and some good pieces for a new coach to come in and work with.
How can we possibly "make plays" when we just run right into the teeth of the defense over and over again when it clearly wasn't working? What happened to all those creative plays from the prior game? What happened to attacking the edges? Nope, we just run right into a brick wall over and over. Hard to blame the players for not "making plays" with such atrocious gameplanning (or lack thereof).
November 1st, 2020 at 8:58 AM ^
I wonder who calls them plays?
November 1st, 2020 at 9:34 AM ^
There were many opportunities in yesterday's game to make big plays, no matter what coach was doing the play calling. Where's the one handed grabs like we saw Penn State do last night? Look at how many big player Indiana has made already, in just two games.
What really is a bummer is how big plays sparty made on us yesterday. Talk about jumping off the ledge...
November 1st, 2020 at 9:30 AM ^
If you compare our best players to what a team like Indiana has: at QB & WR, there no comparison and that's Indiana. I like Clifford at Penn State better than Joe Milton and they have better WR.
The short answers is -no we don't have any playmakers. Our best guys are all diamonds in the rough. Joe Milton throws with too much force and it's going to take several more weeks to remedy that. There are just too many flaws with this on just offense alone to go into.
November 1st, 2020 at 9:53 AM ^
I think Dax is on D. Maybe Barrett. mcGrone fell back it seems.
Jackson is, too. We have some prospects on O. On D, not yet but Jean-Mary recruited well I think
November 1st, 2020 at 10:15 AM ^
not to agree with Urban Meyer but he said the same thing.
Milton couldn't go down field even if he wanted to because 90% of the time the receivers were completely covered. we don't have that talent we had in previous years.
Also Milton's accuracy is still suspect but the WR's were not getting open.
November 1st, 2020 at 12:35 PM ^
Minnesota and State’s receivers had little separation on several long completions. The QB needs to put a ball up there that the receiver can make a play on.
Milton is not giving his receivers that chance. Roman Wilson was getting some separation. Cornelius J is 6’2 ish. Give him a shot at a jump ball down the field.
November 1st, 2020 at 12:04 PM ^
I've beaten this drum quite a bit on here. Harbaugh is exceedingly mistake-averse, especially with his QBs and game planning. As a disciple of Bo, running the ball and "safe" passing, most often to the sideline, are his bread-and-butter.
Now, Lloyd Carr did this too, for the most part, but he had much better players. He still lost more games than he should have, given the talent. Those of us that are old enough to recall can remember the frustration of zone left, zone left, 3rd down pass, punt. It was good enough for 9-3 with the talent advantage.
But yes, upvoted absolutely. Watching Michigan on offense is mind-numbing and cringe-worthy at times. Blake Corum is "next man up" to be criminally underused -- watch out for a transfer here if it continues.
November 1st, 2020 at 4:32 PM ^
We forget Lloyd was a really good coach. Won a national title, big ten titles. He was unequivocally better than coaches like Mark Dantonio and Harbaugh.
November 1st, 2020 at 12:04 PM ^
doubled.
November 1st, 2020 at 12:18 PM ^
I don't know that this is 100% fair. It's definitely a problem this season so far for your squad, but you've had some solid players the last few seasons.. particularly at WR and TE. I don't think Harbaugh is the answer for your program but I don't think this is the reason why. It's a problem for this season, but not for the Harbaugh era.