We need to control them.
Last night's game was a disaster. There is no other way to describe it. The defense made it's adjustments, but they allowed a sub par offense to effectively move the ball on two scoring drives! Let's not pretend Sparty gave them any looks that they shouldn't have expected. Lewerke was their only effective weapon due to his scrambling ability, but he is not a world beater duel threat, yet he was able to gash for some decent runs. Then the misdirection screen; that was all the cause of being undisciplined as everyone went with Stewart on his motion leaving the backside wide open! It's the same crap Purdue did. Now, I love Don Brown and this defense, but this defense is young and that youth showed up in the first half last night. All that stated, they are the reason Michigan was 4-0 and why they were even in that game last night!
For the offense; I think everyone is correct in questioning the staff. There has been no progress made after 6 weeks in the season and that is on the staff.
The OL is clueless and some of that is inexperience, but by this time in the season there should be progress in execution. Other teams are doing much more with less and that begs another question looming regarding talent evaluation. With 2 staff members in that room this unit should be more than effective. Should we expect Bama or Clemson production? No, but it is not out of the realm of possibility to see a unit that is physically imposing, consistent and effective.
The RB room. The Saquan Barkley's of the world are few and far between, but we have some highly recruited players and yet the lack of explosion, determination, and tenacity is absent. This again is a coaching issue! Isaac was being damn lazy when he lost that fumble and honestly he is a lazy player because for someone with his natural gifts, he neither evades or runs through tackles. Someone is not properly motivating him. Where is Kareem Walker? Why is Evans still so high when running? Ball security? Sure, what can they do if the OL can't block. Well, when plays are blocked well enough, they are rarely taken advantage of.
Receivers! All that star studded talent and nothing to show for it. No separation, no sense of their surroundings and how to make the field work for them, and no one coming back to the ball when pass-pro breaks down. A total waste so far.
QB play; I am not going to beat up O'Korn. What is he supposed to do when he has no protection, no complimentary running game, and receivers who don't get open? I like O'Korn! Much more than Speight, but neither can be truly effective with this sort of supporting cast.
Play calling and identity; What is Michigan's identity on offense? I always hear power run into play action pass. Yet week after week, I see less and less run game replaced with more 4 & 5 receiver sets. When did Michigan decide to become finesse? Finesse doesn't work in football. Elements of it don't hurt, but championship teams are built on toughness and their ability to be physical.
So all these issues are coaching related issues and they are infuriating. Do I believe Harbaugh needs to assess his offensive staff without bias and with complete honesty? HELLS YEAH! That still doesn't account for that this offense is still very young. I believe Michigan is one of the youngest teams in the country right now. So do I agree with all the lashing out at Jimmy? No I do not.
Jimmy is the right guy for Michigan and he is doing great things. I trust him to get the job done. I also understand the growing pains are just now manifesting as we are seeing Harbaugh's players begin to take the field with the last of Hoke's going to be aging out after this year. That's why I say we need to control our emotions.
Am I happy we lost to Sparty? No! That shouldn't have happened, but that 1-4 record against rivals is fluffed. Because out of the 3 games against Sparty, Jimmy has truly only lost 1 and that was last night. The other 2 we're dominated by Michigan, but so happened Sparty had a miracle happen to steal one away. The Buckeyes were gifted 3 td's last year and had the referees in their corner. Otherwise, Michigan dominated their butts too.
This program is simply going through the natural progression of player personnel turnover and that can prove to be frustrating, and difficult. Especially when there has been so much success early on in the coaches tenure. It skews the reality of our perception as fans. Next year, this team will still be young, but much more experienced and then the year after; LOOK OUT!
I want Jimmy to honestly evaluate the offensive staff because obviously things are not clicking. I also would like some evaluation on the evaluation of talent, especially up front. Michigan has some monsters in the making, but they have struck out on some BIG time prospects too and the answer of "the staff isn't concerned" when these BIG fish are being nabbed by the Bamas, UGAs, and Clemson's of the world; well that smells funny to me.
So my plead to us fans is to be pissed about the results and expect answers, and corrections to the problems. However, don't forget that Harbaugh is truly only starting out in truth; THIS SEASON! Trust in Harbaugh and Michigan.
GO BLUE!!!!
Last night's game was a disaster. There is no other way to describe it. The defense made it's adjustments, but they allowed a sub par offense to effectively move the ball on two scoring drives! Let's not pretend Sparty gave them any looks that they shouldn't have expected. Lewerke was their only effective weapon due to his scrambling ability, but he is not a world beater duel threat, yet he was able to gash for some decent runs. Then the misdirection screen; that was all the cause of being undisciplined as everyone went with Stewart on his motion leaving the backside wide open! It's the same crap Purdue did. Now, I love Don Brown and this defense, but this defense is young and that youth showed up in the first half last night. All that stated, they are the reason Michigan was 4-0 and why they were even in that game last night!
For the offense; I think everyone is correct in questioning the staff. There has been no progress made after 6 weeks in the season and that is on the staff.
The OL is clueless and some of that is inexperience, but by this time in the season there should be progress in execution. Other teams are doing much more with less and that begs another question looming regarding talent evaluation. With 2 staff members in that room this unit should be more than effective. Should we expect Bama or Clemson production? No, but it is not out of the realm of possibility to see a unit that is physically imposing, consistent and effective.
The RB room. The Saquan Barkley's of the world are few and far between, but we have some highly recruited players and yet the lack of explosion, determination, and tenacity is absent. This again is a coaching issue! Isaac was being damn lazy when he lost that fumble and honestly he is a lazy player because for someone with his natural gifts, he neither evades or runs through tackles. Someone is not properly motivating him. Where is Kareem Walker? Why is Evans still so high when running? Ball security? Sure, what can they do if the OL can't block. Well, when plays are blocked well enough, they are rarely taken advantage of.
Receivers! All that star studded talent and nothing to show for it. No separation, no sense of their surroundings and how to make the field work for them, and no one coming back to the ball when pass-pro breaks down. A total waste so far.
QB play; I am not going to beat up O'Korn. What is he supposed to do when he has no protection, no complimentary running game, and receivers who don't get open? I like O'Korn! Much more than Speight, but neither can be truly effective with this sort of supporting cast.
Play calling and identity; What is Michigan's identity on offense? I always hear power run into play action pass. Yet week after week, I see less and less run game replaced with more 4 & 5 receiver sets. When did Michigan decide to become finesse? Finesse doesn't work in football. Elements of it don't hurt, but championship teams are built on toughness and their ability to be physical.
So all these issues are coaching related issues and they are infuriating. Do I believe Harbaugh needs to assess his offensive staff without bias and with complete honesty? HELLS YEAH! That still doesn't account for that this offense is still very young. I believe Michigan is one of the youngest teams in the country right now. So do I agree with all the lashing out at Jimmy? No I do not.
Jimmy is the right guy for Michigan and he is doing great things. I trust him to get the job done. I also understand the growing pains are just now manifesting as we are seeing Harbaugh's players begin to take the field with the last of Hoke's going to be aging out after this year. That's why I say we need to control our emotions.
Am I happy we lost to Sparty? No! That shouldn't have happened, but that 1-4 record against rivals is fluffed. Because out of the 3 games against Sparty, Jimmy has truly only lost 1 and that was last night. The other 2 we're dominated by Michigan, but so happened Sparty had a miracle happen to steal one away. The Buckeyes were gifted 3 td's last year and had the referees in their corner. Otherwise, Michigan dominated their butts too.
This program is simply going through the natural progression of player personnel turnover and that can prove to be frustrating, and difficult. Especially when there has been so much success early on in the coaches tenure. It skews the reality of our perception as fans. Next year, this team will still be young, but much more experienced and then the year after; LOOK OUT!
I want Jimmy to honestly evaluate the offensive staff because obviously things are not clicking. I also would like some evaluation on the evaluation of talent, especially up front. Michigan has some monsters in the making, but they have struck out on some BIG time prospects too and the answer of "the staff isn't concerned" when these BIG fish are being nabbed by the Bamas, UGAs, and Clemson's of the world; well that smells funny to me.
So my plead to us fans is to be pissed about the results and expect answers, and corrections to the problems. However, don't forget that Harbaugh is truly only starting out in truth; THIS SEASON! Trust in Harbaugh and Michigan.
GO BLUE!!!!
