You can make a case that the 4th game of Harbaugh's first two years was the team's best performance all season. Two years ago, Michigan (unranked) smoked a 22-ranked BYU team 31-0, and last year, Michigan beat the eventual Big Ten champ 49-10.
Then, there is this...
13
20
17
24
26
20
22
... Those are the points scored by the offense in regulation during the last 7 games. Averaging 20 points on offense isn't going to cut it against PSU, Wisco, and OSU, but what surprises me are the excuses people are making. Some blame youth, but Alabama and Clemson each started true freshmen at tackle last year, and Bama had a true freshman QB, en route to the championship. Some blame play calling, as if we don't have one of the best offensive minds in the game calling the shots. Everyone is reaching so far for excuses that they don't recognize how simple it is. In college football, you cannot succeed on offense if you have both an immobile QB (who also loses accuracy under pressure) and an offensive line that can't control the trenches.
You don't need both. Bama won titles with subpar QB play and a great offensive line, and Louisville can score at will with a talented, mobile QB and a bad line. But if you don't have either, Harbaugh's skill at calling plays is negated.
Speight isn't changing. He's still going to flinch under pressure and throw off his back foot when he sees a guy in his face. The key for the rest of the year is the offensive line. Let's hope the big guys play a great game on saturday.
Then, there is this...
13
20
17
24
26
20
22
... Those are the points scored by the offense in regulation during the last 7 games. Averaging 20 points on offense isn't going to cut it against PSU, Wisco, and OSU, but what surprises me are the excuses people are making. Some blame youth, but Alabama and Clemson each started true freshmen at tackle last year, and Bama had a true freshman QB, en route to the championship. Some blame play calling, as if we don't have one of the best offensive minds in the game calling the shots. Everyone is reaching so far for excuses that they don't recognize how simple it is. In college football, you cannot succeed on offense if you have both an immobile QB (who also loses accuracy under pressure) and an offensive line that can't control the trenches.
You don't need both. Bama won titles with subpar QB play and a great offensive line, and Louisville can score at will with a talented, mobile QB and a bad line. But if you don't have either, Harbaugh's skill at calling plays is negated.
Speight isn't changing. He's still going to flinch under pressure and throw off his back foot when he sees a guy in his face. The key for the rest of the year is the offensive line. Let's hope the big guys play a great game on saturday.
