This was an eye opening loss-shockingly bad.
It’s probably cold comfort to say that the team can learn from this loss, but for everyone here, what we saw tonight was the culmination of our offensive failures to improve in games 1-4, so I don’t see the turnovers necessarily as the reason we lost as we only needed to score 15 points to win. The story was the same, but the ending was different as we played an opponent who had all the motivation to outwork us. People who want to deny that coaching is not the reason for our offensive failures only need to take a look at the defense. The defense is a sparkling example of what excellent coaching does for you. The defense was young and inexperienced, but add great recruiting, scheming and development and you have something that is almost beyond reproach.
We are seeing the same issues week after week. With a team this talented and young, we should be seeing incremental improvements from game to game, not stasis. We are beyond the lets add a few wrinkles and hope for improvement scenario, so what do we do?
Quarterback:
We have poor to mediocre qb play no matter who is under center. Both qbs have been easily rattled and have accuracy issues. They have both failed to make plays down the field. Does inserting Peters make a difference? It seems like whoever we’re putting in there is committing turnovers anyways, so the question is does Peter’s upside and arm talent give us a chance to score more points even with 1-2 interceptions per game? This kid is not a novice to the system and if there was ever a time for him to emerge, it would be right now. Tonight’s defensive performance was heroic-if we can manage to scrape together 24-27 pts per game, we are going to have a chance in every game.
Receivers: probably the worst receiver play I’ve seen in my lifetime of watching UM football. Aside from Black who’s hurt, only Perry is a somewhat reliable target. Most of time, there’s no separation or situational awareness. From a pure production standpoint, Crawford doesn’t warrant the number of targets, but he needs to fight harder for some of those balls. There’s no doubt in my mind that Martin and Nico get their chances soon-there’s no one else.
Tight ends: probably one of the few offensive position groups with a positive trend. Not a lot of opportunities tonight for a variety of reasons, but there is promise here of a weapon we can continue to leverage as the season goes on.
Fullbacks: Meh. Poggi better but not a difference maker. Hill, man oh man, did he have a few opportunities tonight, but the drops were bad given his sure handed history.
O-line: Not sure how they keep grading out ok given the teams poor sacks and TFL allowed.
No need to speak about the right side. When JBB is your response to the Ulizio sieve, you know you’re in trouble. When Cole is getting outworked by a former walk-on, you’re in trouble. Not sure if a youth movement here with Ruiz, Filliaga and Steuber would be feasible, but just getting a hat on a hat more often than not, would be a win.
Playcalling: what is there to say that hasn’t already been said? Lack of identity. Too cute/clever. Doesn’t play to the strengths of the personnel or acknowledge their limitations. If I never see another fade route again for the rest of the season, it will be too soon. Where are our physically imposing tight ends and receivers in the red zone? Why go away from the run game and short passing in the 4th when the weather got nasty? That draw play on 3rd and 4 was atrocious. College football isn’t rocket science, but trying to install pro concepts maybe isn’t the answer right now.
It’s probably cold comfort to say that the team can learn from this loss, but for everyone here, what we saw tonight was the culmination of our offensive failures to improve in games 1-4, so I don’t see the turnovers necessarily as the reason we lost as we only needed to score 15 points to win. The story was the same, but the ending was different as we played an opponent who had all the motivation to outwork us. People who want to deny that coaching is not the reason for our offensive failures only need to take a look at the defense. The defense is a sparkling example of what excellent coaching does for you. The defense was young and inexperienced, but add great recruiting, scheming and development and you have something that is almost beyond reproach.
We are seeing the same issues week after week. With a team this talented and young, we should be seeing incremental improvements from game to game, not stasis. We are beyond the lets add a few wrinkles and hope for improvement scenario, so what do we do?
Quarterback:
We have poor to mediocre qb play no matter who is under center. Both qbs have been easily rattled and have accuracy issues. They have both failed to make plays down the field. Does inserting Peters make a difference? It seems like whoever we’re putting in there is committing turnovers anyways, so the question is does Peter’s upside and arm talent give us a chance to score more points even with 1-2 interceptions per game? This kid is not a novice to the system and if there was ever a time for him to emerge, it would be right now. Tonight’s defensive performance was heroic-if we can manage to scrape together 24-27 pts per game, we are going to have a chance in every game.
Receivers: probably the worst receiver play I’ve seen in my lifetime of watching UM football. Aside from Black who’s hurt, only Perry is a somewhat reliable target. Most of time, there’s no separation or situational awareness. From a pure production standpoint, Crawford doesn’t warrant the number of targets, but he needs to fight harder for some of those balls. There’s no doubt in my mind that Martin and Nico get their chances soon-there’s no one else.
Tight ends: probably one of the few offensive position groups with a positive trend. Not a lot of opportunities tonight for a variety of reasons, but there is promise here of a weapon we can continue to leverage as the season goes on.
Fullbacks: Meh. Poggi better but not a difference maker. Hill, man oh man, did he have a few opportunities tonight, but the drops were bad given his sure handed history.
O-line: Not sure how they keep grading out ok given the teams poor sacks and TFL allowed.
No need to speak about the right side. When JBB is your response to the Ulizio sieve, you know you’re in trouble. When Cole is getting outworked by a former walk-on, you’re in trouble. Not sure if a youth movement here with Ruiz, Filliaga and Steuber would be feasible, but just getting a hat on a hat more often than not, would be a win.
Playcalling: what is there to say that hasn’t already been said? Lack of identity. Too cute/clever. Doesn’t play to the strengths of the personnel or acknowledge their limitations. If I never see another fade route again for the rest of the season, it will be too soon. Where are our physically imposing tight ends and receivers in the red zone? Why go away from the run game and short passing in the 4th when the weather got nasty? That draw play on 3rd and 4 was atrocious. College football isn’t rocket science, but trying to install pro concepts maybe isn’t the answer right now.
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