UNLV Snowflakes: The Offense

The running game will improve some when the o-line starters get settled.  This offense (and the team as a whole) has all the tools.  Stay reasonably healthy and the sky is the limit for this group.  

JJ looks fantastic. Blake looked much more comfortable than he was last week. Roman looks like a true #1. Run blocking is a bit of a concern but JJ taking that next step more than makes up for it. Overall, good stuff.

Michigan put about 60% effort into this one. 

So f’ing efficient. Great, controlled execution by all the guys.

JJ was the triggerman and spectacular - it elevated everyone.

Go Blue.

Did Henderson even play ?

Hinton got better for sure... first few series looked good...but then seemed to get worse..... only slightly better leverage, an still gets pushed back with no knee bend. This needs immediate attention.  He sure looks the part.   Can't have him out there unless he vastly improves.

Hinton played better…but “better” isn’t good enough. He has the mettle to start, but not yet. 

Confused by the decisions at tackle, to say the least. 

Pleasantly surprised and comforted by Morris at WR. He’s a more than capable 3rd option at WR and provides more than just depth but a reliable go to pass catcher. 

Last year the the posts wanted to see the passing game this year, got that.

This year the playbook for the run game is a play in progress.

Everything is great. But if JJ goes down, we're dead.

JJ will have a 15 year NFL career and will play in the Super Bowl and/or what we used to call the pro bowl.

JJ is excellent. Roman and CJ are gamers. Passing game incredibly efficient and effective.

Running game will be fine. 

Our receivers and JJ are completely on the same page. If I was a D coordinator, I’d coach how to interrupt routes. Then when you do that, we’re gonna pave you with the running game. 

The run game is a concern. So far, it may just be how teams are defending us, but I worry we will set many downs on fire trying to “establish the run” rather than take what the defense is giving us.

Also it’s likely that things are very vanilla right now, too.

I feel like the run blocking wasn’t the greatest at the beginning of last year but truly developed throughout the season, so I’m hoping for similar results.

Michigan's offense will definitely need to get better once the team gets to the meat of the schedule. You'll need more explosive plays and the run blocking needs to get better. But if the key guys stay healthy I think that's a probable development.

JJ is absolutely fire.

The improvement in his accuracy this year is remarkable.  He's so smooth, so poised - what a pleasure to watch!

Receivers look great, and Roman has become very special.

I feel like the pass blocking is excellent - JJ has plenty of time back there.

Run blocking still not great, but overall the offense looks terrific.

Michigan is a good, deep, experienced team - very dangerous.

What stands out is JJ hitting Wilson in perfect stride on multiple occasions.  That was key to one of the touchdowns.

I love seeing them have a ton more plays this year where Corum AND Edwards are both on the field. Would love to see that actual number but to my eye it's a huge increase from last year. Also, Corum showing he can come out of the backfield and catch the ball (even on checkdowns) presents even more problems for opposing coaches to gameplan for. I saw a few plays this game where they had both RBs on the field and put Edwards in motion as the ball was snapped or split him out right before the snap. I have a feeling that these moves are going to pay huge dividends against the better teams on our schedule.

Is there any word on Tuttle? Concussion or something else? I thought he had the best chance to be a solid back-up. I hope we don't need him to win a game(s), but we might.

Brian pointed it out in UFR from last week and I saw it live yesterday: CJ's run blocking is not good too frequently.

Rewatching...Hinton played better, but he's not a starting RT.

Barnhart and Jones are both better.

The starting tackles should be Barnhart/Jones or Henderson/Barnhart.

Let Hinton redshirt and he'll be ready for primetime in a year.

Run game needs to get untracked.

 Not concerned with RBs.  They will get their numbers when they play all 4Qs.  I see some nice Q3-4 pounding of teams that stack up the box.

I rewatched the game and Cornelius Johnson run blocking was completely atrocious. He was responsible alone for most of the failed runs in the opening drive. He really needs to work on this, it’s a serious problem. 

Re-watched some of this and here are some  items I notice:

• Hinton played much better...but it's not even close to acceptable. I just don't know if he has it...this year...he should progress but man I just am not totally sure he has what this teams needs for this year. Does he have another year of eligibility?
• I think the RB's will be ok. They are all finding their way and these "lesser" teams are going to do all they can do clog up the run game and take a chance. I would bet BG absolutely just loads up and does all they can to stop the run and you take your chances with JJ throwing the ball around. That said...teams will soon start to adjust as JJ keeps playing so well, especially teams that have a chance against UM (even if it's small). 
• Lot of people have mentioned CJ run blocking...whoa...didn't notice it during live watch but he missed a ton. I mean even if he could just mirror the guy and slow them down that would be helpful, but they blew right by him. 
• Edwards, specifically...Not sure what to make of this. No need to "worry", but I do think it's ok to ask the questions and think about ways to get him freed up.

Overall, hard to complain, This is basically exhibition work and this team is hugely talented and will grow all year. I also like that somehow they are #2 in the country but have kind of an underdog feel...but a confident/elite underdog feel. I like it.