Western Michigan Snowflakes: The Offense
September 9th, 2018 at 9:11 AM ^
Good thing Runyan played almost the entire game No reason to give Hudson meaningful time.
September 9th, 2018 at 4:26 PM ^
Mayfield is backing up Runyan and he played almost the whole 4th quarter.
I can see Mayfield starting next season, but right now he’s not strong enough or experienced enough to go head to head with Wisconsin, PSU, MSU or OSU.
This was Runyan’s 2nd start at LT. I have been one of his biggest critics, but I am not ready to give up on him just because a true freshman looked good in garbage time against a bad MAC line. Give him another chance.
September 9th, 2018 at 10:28 AM ^
I agree about the pass blocking. That's why I predicted a rough season (rough by our standards/hopes). See nothing that has changed, and it will cripple us again, unfortunately. In today's football, pass blocking is more important than run blocking.
September 8th, 2018 at 3:17 PM ^
I feel better.
September 8th, 2018 at 3:19 PM ^
More Tru Wilson pls
Also, Ambry Thomas had the snap count, that shouldn't have been offsides
September 8th, 2018 at 3:22 PM ^
Also more Ben Mason
September 8th, 2018 at 3:44 PM ^
That’s what I thought too. He timed it so perfectly.
September 8th, 2018 at 3:49 PM ^
So which of our running backs would you like to see less of?
September 8th, 2018 at 4:43 PM ^
Evans should have 15 touches at minimum every game. He's criminally under-used
September 8th, 2018 at 8:22 PM ^
I call Evans, Gyro Hips. Never seen someone so lose just swivel through traffic like he does. So weird
September 8th, 2018 at 5:12 PM ^
I'd like to see all evenly, so I guess Higdon. His vision issues are really pushing up from behind. Higdon had speed and power and Evans had vision and speed. Wilson had vision, speed, and power.
September 8th, 2018 at 5:34 PM ^
Wilson looked terrific, but keep in mind that he was playing against a MAC team’s backups. We need more confirmation.
I would like to see Evans get more consistent touches, especially as a receiver. At any rate, the offensive skill positions are looking pretty good. Just more blocking up front please...
September 8th, 2018 at 5:47 PM ^
Did WMU have their backups in?
September 8th, 2018 at 6:01 PM ^
I can’t imagine their starters were playing in the 4th quarter when they were down seven TDs.
September 8th, 2018 at 10:14 PM ^
Maybe. But what I generally notice about teams down a lot in late phases of the game--mostly and most especially Michigan in 2009 and 2010--is that you keep first string in to try and prevent it from being a total rout.
September 9th, 2018 at 1:06 AM ^
If Evans could make those cuts at full speed, he'd be the next Barry Sanders
September 8th, 2018 at 7:44 PM ^
This is Tru.
September 8th, 2018 at 3:20 PM ^
Shea looks good rolling out...more please
September 8th, 2018 at 5:08 PM ^
I need PFF to dig me up the stat on 'QB accuracy on the run' because Shea's pretty awesome rolling out or scrambling.
September 8th, 2018 at 3:20 PM ^
The team is, indeed, much better than last year. Never came close to anything like this last season at any time.
There’s a lot that’s tbd. We can’t tell a lot against a team this bad. It seems that Runyan holds his job in part due to his run blocking; he was decent against ND and made good plays against a bad defense today.
It’s nice to see some good passing plays. I’d like more, but you don’t need to do much when Higdon and Evans are eviscerating the defense all day.
I’m happy with this. Hopefully the reps help improve the team for tougher opponents.
September 8th, 2018 at 3:24 PM ^
I will admit that it's nice to see the QB throw the ball in the vicinity of a receiver, let alone be downright accurate at times.
September 8th, 2018 at 3:50 PM ^
The touchdown throw to DPJ is something I am not sure we could have seen last year. That play gives me a lot of hope for this season.
September 8th, 2018 at 4:21 PM ^
Speight played well in 2016, but he didn't make that throw! That was a sight to see at the Big House...
September 8th, 2018 at 8:37 PM ^
He did actually. To Grant Perry
September 8th, 2018 at 4:50 PM ^
Yeah that throw was a beauty. We had a perfect angle from our seats and I couldn’t believe where he was putting it as it was released. It takes a lot of confidence and accuracy to make that pass.
September 8th, 2018 at 5:39 PM ^
It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a U-M QB make that throw. That was picture-perfect, right in stride.
September 8th, 2018 at 3:26 PM ^
Runyan is a huge liability in the passing game. If we don’t have anyone equal to or better we have major problems in big ten play.
September 8th, 2018 at 3:28 PM ^
HOT TAKE
September 8th, 2018 at 3:30 PM ^
The second-string O-line looked good. No way Runyan is the starter mid-season.
September 8th, 2018 at 3:36 PM ^
He looked decent this game and Western's DEs were pretty athletic if undersized. It was a good bounce back for him and JBB this week, even given competition, IMO.
September 8th, 2018 at 4:24 PM ^
I did not think Runyan looked good through the first quarter despite the on-field results. He seemed to do better as the game wore on. I still question his ability to hold up against better competition and really really wonder how he graded out as Michigan’s most athletic o-lineman last year.
September 8th, 2018 at 5:34 PM ^
Runyan hardly touched the end over him on the second or third pass attempt of the game. The dude made some weak spin move and about destroyed Shea on the play. It looked like more of the same.
That being said, Ruiz looked much better, and got to the second level on a handful of plays.
September 8th, 2018 at 4:05 PM ^
I actually think Runyan would make a better RG and mayfield looked decent enough to get a run at LT.
September 8th, 2018 at 9:19 PM ^
I agree, Stephenrjking.
I am well aware that this was a MAC team, but I still feel better.
Hopefully these reps were meaningful.
September 8th, 2018 at 3:20 PM ^
I feel like it's been a while since Michigan won. I like when they win.
This OL sincerely needs to continue making strides in pass blocking for Michigan to win against the better defenses though.
September 8th, 2018 at 3:21 PM ^
Great to see Tru Wilson with some hard running. McCurry with a TD! He a walk on? What a highlight for him.
Starters were solid and love Shea but he does need to get better at throwing it away when the internal clock hits 4 seconds and there's no running to be had.
September 8th, 2018 at 3:21 PM ^
I think this is a 10-3 team. But after last year, I'll take that.
September 8th, 2018 at 3:37 PM ^
9-3 going to the rose bowl baby. Called it last week affirming it now
September 8th, 2018 at 3:53 PM ^
9-3 with a win over MSU at MSU would be OK. Not great not memorable but acceptable.
Think this team can hang with anyone. Can they make the 5-6 big plays to win though?
September 9th, 2018 at 10:56 AM ^
10-3 assumes we beat at least two of Wisconsin, MSU, Penn St, and OSU. That is optimistic to me, given the evidence before us. Not out of the question, but I think the likelihood of losing to all four is greater than beating two of this group.
1-11: 0.3%
2-10: 0.7%
3-9: 1%
4-8: 2%
5-7: 3%
6-6: 4%
7-5: 25%
8-4: 40%
9-3: 20%
10-2: 3%
11-1: 1%
September 8th, 2018 at 3:22 PM ^
I was fairly impressed with Mayfield's pass pro during his limited playing time, and Shea is the real deal.
September 8th, 2018 at 3:25 PM ^
He looks the part too. Play him now.
September 8th, 2018 at 3:26 PM ^
I agree with this. He’s still about 10-15 lbs away from where he really needs to be but from what I saw he looked the part. I imagine that once we get into the teeth of this schedule Runyan is going to have a short leash.
September 8th, 2018 at 3:28 PM ^
I want to see him and Hudson start at tackles and see what happens. To me, like the JOK vs. Peters debate a year ago. Stubborn Harbaugh going with experience instead. Both those guys have way higher upsides.
September 8th, 2018 at 3:30 PM ^
It was only a small amount of snaps but I thought he looked just as good as Runyan and it looks more natural for him. Runyan very much looks like a Guard out of position. I can't imagine Mayfield is far off.
September 8th, 2018 at 5:52 PM ^
Thought it was interesting that Mayfield played LT and Hudson played RT. Also, Mayfield played with both the second and third string.
September 8th, 2018 at 5:59 PM ^
Those are their positions. Mayfield at LT and Hudson at RT. It's been that way since fall camp started.
September 8th, 2018 at 6:44 PM ^
Hudson looked ready in the run game. Mayfield looked solid in pass pro.
Both were junk tim and I suspect JH is trying to avoid the controversy if both performed well in the 2nd Q or otherwise against fresher WMU players.
September 8th, 2018 at 7:03 PM ^
There is no change Coach Harbaugh is holding guys out because he's worried about creating a "controversy."
September 8th, 2018 at 9:23 PM ^
He passed the eye test as far as technique and foot speed.