Would like to see Mason as RB in short yardage situations. Who's with me?
Hey all, first post! :D
I'm starting this thread with the hope that it will pick up steam. I, like many of you, am all for our new-look offense, and yet, have missed seeing Bench Mason getting his hands on the ball in short yardage situations a couple times a game. -Both because I think it's a solid play-call in said situation, and b/c everyone seems to like Bench, and I think it will lift the spirits of the team and all of us fans. I know it would put a smile on my face anyway.
So, with either Tru and/or Zach likely sitting out again, and after taking a long hard look at our short yardage plays against Army, are you 'telling me there's a chance' this will happen? What do you think? Pro's and cons? One con that came to mind is the possibility (likelihood?) that he hasn't gotten any O reps and might be rusty. And the last thing we need is more sloppiness with the ball. (Unless they've gotten him some reps these past two weeks.)
Anyway, go blue!
September 19th, 2019 at 7:58 PM ^
YES! YES! YES! YES!
September 19th, 2019 at 11:14 PM ^
Wheneve inside the 2 or if you need 2 yards you should always sneak it if you have a down to spare. Analytics says this as well. Or run the biggest fastest dude you have on the team.
But even in the NFL coaches still run out the shot gun on down an goal. Its baffling
September 19th, 2019 at 5:55 PM ^
Seems logical and hi percentage. So no but not my choice.
September 19th, 2019 at 5:56 PM ^
I would like to see them go under center and run behind a fullback on short yardage. Running out of the shotgun in short yardage is asinine. I don't understand why the entire playbook from last year was scrapped. They should have kept the effective parts.
September 19th, 2019 at 6:00 PM ^
Again, very logical and makes sense. So no.
September 19th, 2019 at 6:00 PM ^
One of the frequent complaints about last year's offense was that it was "just a bunch of completely unrelated plays"
September 19th, 2019 at 6:07 PM ^
I get that, but short yardage situations are completely different. It doesn't matter if it's connected to the rest of the offense.
September 19th, 2019 at 6:09 PM ^
This year's offense is the same. Been that way for a very long time.
September 19th, 2019 at 6:05 PM ^
If we comment enough the coaches will listen!!!
September 19th, 2019 at 6:07 PM ^
The shotgun snap takes a little longer to get to the QB than a traditional snap, thus killing more clock. So sorry, I think, no Ben Mason.
September 19th, 2019 at 6:20 PM ^
WD - you took he comment right out of my mouth. Several comments have been made on prior telecasts about how it is harder to be successful running in a goal line situation while using a spread. Maybe going back to Shea under center with Mason and ZC (or whomever) in the backfield would be a nice change of pace. Not on film (this year). From there either smashmouth or a flip to Nico or a naked bootleg. Pick your option.
September 19th, 2019 at 6:20 PM ^
Yes, I would like to see Mason go through the line behind one of the OG's. But Gattis has no FB in his offense, so it won't be seen. That said, most of the running plays we've seen were the same ones they ran last year, only now from the gun. The handoff is in the same location, the only thing that's new is the looping TE coming around the QB. The blocking schemes and run plays are largely the same - at least according to Brian's UFRs and previews/recaps.
Best we can hope for is BVS. Along with the hope that he doesn't fumble again...
September 19th, 2019 at 6:22 PM ^
I still think this offense will get going, and I’m still excited about Gattis and think he will succeed here. However the shot gun in short yardage situations is something I haven’t understood.
September 19th, 2019 at 6:30 PM ^
I want to see Ben Mason put on weight and Ben Herbert/Shaun Nua/Don Brown turn him into a beast 3 Tech.
September 19th, 2019 at 6:35 PM ^
I would like to see play action or a QB bootleg.
September 19th, 2019 at 6:43 PM ^
Just how hard would it be to insert Mason on a goal line or short yardage play. He is nearly impossible to stop. If nothing else he's a great blocker.
September 19th, 2019 at 9:43 PM ^
OSU stuffed him on consecutive downs last year trying to get a yard. He's not the unstoppable thing that people make him out to be.
September 19th, 2019 at 10:32 PM ^
That’s fair.
To be clear, I don’t want to trot him out nearly as often has last year. I’m talking, maybe, twice or three times a game. And some might be just bluffs.
September 19th, 2019 at 6:48 PM ^
I’d like to see Mason as a professional wrestler.*
*once his eligibility is up.
September 19th, 2019 at 6:49 PM ^
If Gattis had any intention of using a fullback, then sure, but I highly doubt we'll see it this year, and I am sure that, if we did see it, this board on the whole would howl about how Harbaugh's fingerprints were finding their way into the offense again.
September 19th, 2019 at 7:37 PM ^
I’d be fine with us taking whatever the defense if giving us. So far there’s been next to no checks at the line, next to no response to soft coverage from CB, next to no post-snap adjustments in routes, etc.
i still think there’s plenty of time for this offense to find its feet and plenty of talent to make it downright deadly.
heres to hoping we fix the ball security stuff and chalk up the first two games to opening game jitters and the weirdness of army. Long winded answer but just score and win the game. I don’t care if they give it to Michael Sessa in the red zone if they punch it in.
September 19th, 2019 at 10:36 PM ^
I don’t know. [If it was successful] Maybe it’d actually feel like a —gasp—collaboration? The best of both worlds. The Army game felt like the worst of both worlds with the shotgun handoffs up the gut.
September 20th, 2019 at 5:23 AM ^
This is so true. It would probably work the first few times but when it doesn’t work in a critical time in the game, it would fall back on Harbaugh and how stubborn he is with this offense. I love Mason and would be fine utilizing him in the offense, but just take what the defense gives you. Make the right reads from a player and coaching standpoint and it probably doesn’t matter which one of our athletes gets the ball.
September 19th, 2019 at 7:00 PM ^
I think Ben Mason is the best proof we have of time travel becoming a reality, as we already have the tale from long ago about the fullback being asked what he can do on 4th & 3, "I will get you three yards." Then when asked what he can do on 1st and 10, "I will get you three yards."
September 19th, 2019 at 11:46 PM ^
Leroy Hoard?
September 19th, 2019 at 7:11 PM ^
I agree. Ben Mason was really good for us last season in short yardage situations. AND our Oline is good this year so he could do even more damage
Just because we want to run a spread offense doesn't mean we cant utilize an NFL caliber FB occasionally in 3rd and 1s or 4th and goal situations.
That being said its pretty clear it isn't going to happen. Harbaugh seems pretty focused on using Ben Mason on the line
September 19th, 2019 at 7:13 PM ^
Id rather have 4 WR 1 TB on short yardage,seems to work for every team in NCAA
September 19th, 2019 at 7:18 PM ^
To think that it all started with William "Refrigerator" Perry!
September 19th, 2019 at 7:24 PM ^
Count me all in !
September 19th, 2019 at 7:25 PM ^
I like Army’s offense in short yardage. Mike Leach’s in medium yardage, and more fake punts. We’ve had success with our fake punts this year, why not fake punt on 1st or 2nd down? Or even actually punt on 1st down?
September 19th, 2019 at 7:29 PM ^
I hear you, but short yardage out of the gun can work, too.
Maybe if Shea ever keeps the ball again it will work right.
September 19th, 2019 at 7:36 PM ^
Hmm... What a unique idea.
September 19th, 2019 at 7:49 PM ^
FB dive is an unstoppable play in college football, so yes. Fight me!!!
September 19th, 2019 at 7:57 PM ^
I am not a football expert, but I would like to see Ben Mason bull his way through in the short yardage plays.
September 19th, 2019 at 8:11 PM ^
Would like to see some completed passes in short yardage situations too. Quick slants, QB waggles, shit that John, Jim & Jay Harbaugh use on their 1993 Madden game when they're at Jack's for family get togethers.
September 19th, 2019 at 8:13 PM ^
September 19th, 2019 at 8:13 PM ^
Ben Mason is a fan favorite. If Gattis wants to win over the fan base, have some short yardage packages for Mason. Heck, way more effective than the zone read unless your QB is a threat to keep.
September 19th, 2019 at 8:42 PM ^
Maybe...sort of...learn from Army. Put Mason under center...have Filiaga and Vastardis lined up in the I behind him. Mason keeps between Ruiz and Owenu...Filiaga and Vastardis come piling in behind Mason and that 1600+ pound caravan plows into the end zone...eezy peezy.
September 19th, 2019 at 8:43 PM ^
Shotgun running is fine, even at the goal line, if you use good shotgun running plays. Use the threat of a keep, outside run, or "long handoff" type pass to spread the defense horizontally. Don't just run a standard power or inside zone from farther back.
September 19th, 2019 at 8:48 PM ^
Yes. If it was 1986 I agree
September 19th, 2019 at 8:52 PM ^
You've got to buy in. Look, Gattis has said there is no place for a Full Back in his offense, ergo there will be no FB dive. Now obviously Harbaugh as head coach can override this, but then right back to the question of whose offense is it and whose in charge of the offense? Personally I don't think Harbaugh has bought into the new offense and so we will at some point see the return of the FB dive.
Screw it, do whatever, I just want the trek through the nine circles of hell to end.
September 20th, 2019 at 1:14 AM ^
But why? It makes no sense. It's as bad as eschewing the pass because this is football and you are supposed to manball it all the time. It's being stubborn for the sake of being stubborn instead of adapting to what works best.
September 19th, 2019 at 9:00 PM ^
Houston's air raide spread is even going under center for short yards. "Modern" is so passé let's just pick up the f-ing first down/ short TD. BEN MASON NOW !!!
September 19th, 2019 at 9:24 PM ^
why does 99% of michigan fans have a boner over this guy? its like you guys hear his name and shoot up cialis and plug a viagra.
September 19th, 2019 at 10:16 PM ^
Not gonna lie this made me burst into laughter. I'm pretty tired, though.
September 19th, 2019 at 10:01 PM ^
Well it doesn’t matter whose in there in short yardage if we run the play from the shotgun.
We need to have Shea or McCaffrey under center in short yardage situations period.