Hypothetical - spread option offense in previous UM rosters
I was perusing Rivals recruiting summaries for our previous classes, and I got to thinking about what our offense could have looked like if RRod had been here a few years earlier. In 2005, we would have Avant/Manningham on the outside, Breaston at slot ninja, and Antonio Bass at QB (where he was damn good in HS, IIRC). Holy crap. Then in 2006, we'd have had a similar offense paired with the '06 defense - my brain just exploded. So I'm wondering, can anyone think of any other previous Michigan teams that could have rocked the spread and shred?
Please note that this is just a hypothetical, nothing against the pro-style offense or Henne as QB.
Also, a random tidbit from the rivals recruiting database: In 2004, Morgan Trent and Mike Hart are listed with the same 40 time.
EDIT - I know that RR has run various versions of the spread, including the pass-happy days at Tulane. I guess I'm as susceptible to the run-heavy meme as everyone else - my first thought was "who would be our Pat White". I do agree that Henne could have been a successful quarterback in many spread offenses, including Rodriguez's.
I'm at work so I can't take too much time to hypothesize, however....I think the version of the spread offense that Lloyd used against Florida in the Capital One Bowl was incredible.
We could've been national champions that year if it would've been used all season. Even RichRod gave props to it during that game.
August 4th, 2009 at 10:50 AM ^
if you have an NFL arm back at QB, like Henne, then you get the Cap One Bowl game. RR nor the spread need a runner, if the QB is very accurate.
August 4th, 2009 at 10:05 AM ^
Remember that Shaun King set team passing records at Tulane under RR's tutilage. I only mention this because King, while somewhat mobile in a sneaky kind of way, will never be mistaken for Donovan McNabb, but was still able to execute RR's offense to perfection.
I think Rick Leach, Steve Smith, Jim Harbaugh, Drew Henson, and Henne could have done a great job with a spread more friendly to the pass. For that matter, Tom Brady is running the closest thing the pros are using to a spread and doing great in New England.
I am basically subscribing to the theory that, no matter what sets or personnel you use, if you spread the field and your playcalling isn't predictable, good things happen: as long as you have a good QB with at least one or two moves to elude rushers.
August 4th, 2009 at 10:18 AM ^
When you ask about this are we assuming the offensive line trims down to 280-290 lbs...or are we saying with the teams exactly like they were? I think our O-line would've struggled a bit, and Lloyd was convinced you absolutely had to have the threat of running the football on just about every play (big reason he didn't go shotgun often). I think he may have believed this because he knew the limitations of his O-lines. The 2008 O-line might have held up though.
That being said, we did have the WR's...
August 4th, 2009 at 10:34 AM ^
I could imagine Rick Leach would have played well in some version of the spread. Watching old clips on youtube, he certainly wasn't afraid to tuck the ball and go.