Mailbag question: The BIG “O”

Posted at 8:00am — 8/4/2010

Mailbag question: The BIG “O”

Hi guys, keep it coming, so lets get right down to business.

How do you see Coach Rod using UM personnel in 2010?

Myself, I see too much QB running this season as being detrimental to the team. All that is needed is for the QB’s to run at the right time (third and medium, audible to a run when a D is in a vulnerable set), which will make a D crumble- see Vince Young.

We have a nice stable of RB’s that need the ball in their hands to develop. Not saying that the QB’s shouldn’t run at all, but they will get hit and that means injuries to our smallish QB’s, and that is something that we do not need in this critical year.

If Coach Rod is smart he will capitalize on all of the WR talent at Michigan. One thing that we learned last season is that the field must be stretched to be effective on offense. UM has Stonum, Hemingway, Roundtree, Odoms, Koger, Stokes, Gallon, Dileo and the 3 frosh receivers, and you can see that this is a gold mine that needs to be tapped. If these guys are used extensively, the run game will be there for the taking and it would be much easier to run. I say pass to set up the run- pass 60% run 40%

Michigan can be a very dangerous and explosive team if RR gets the most out of what we have. There are no Pat Whites or Steve Slatons on our roster, at least not yet.

Your thoughts-

Gary C.

——————————

Thanks for the question and the detailed explanation of your position.

For the last three years GBMWolverine has heard that Coach Rod is going to adapt or tweak the quarterback read-offense. While seeing some of this take place in practice, little has translated to the field on game day.

Over the same period we have been very consistent with our responses based on what we have seen during the three years of spring practices we have watched under Coach Rod at Michigan. This is still a run first offense.

We have seen nothing at practices to make us change that opinion, including plenty of the 2010 spring practice time.

Denard Robinson was the most effective quarterback (he was the obvious choice) this spring, but that doesn’t mean a starting spot is guaranteed. He will have to produce in fall practice (and we believe he will). Anything from injury to some bizarre unexpected problem can happen, so the coronation ball is still a month away.

Denard was involved in approximately 100 plays we viewed, and of those plays almost 70-80% were running plays.

Denard Robinson, at this point of his development, is a bigger threat as a runner than as a passer.

Even with this realization, Michigan must develop the passing game enough to keep the defense honest and prevent cheating the linebackers and safeties closer to the line of scrimmage. If not then fans will see a repeat of last year’s struggles.

Without a passing threat, more and more teams will blitz Michigan and put pressure on Denard (and Michigan’s offense) to beat them with his arm and not his legs. Teams will put the cornerbacks on an island and dare/force Michigan to try to beat them through the air, since the ground route will probably have been neutralized. The cornerbacks know that Michigan hasn’t been a huge deep threat (minimal is a kind term), so the corners can play tight and the safeties can move up knowing that their teammates are putting pressure on the offense to get rid of the ball quickly.

At this point none of the split ends have stepped up and become a serious threat. In their defense the opportunity to do so has been negligible. Only Roundtree and Odoms, the two primary slots, to some extent have developed into a threat.

From a philosophy standpoint GBMWolverine guys believe in being as close to a 50/50 run/pass ratio as possible. That will keep defensive coordinators guessing and on their toes. There will be limited times this season when Michigan can easily run the ball down a team’s throat. Then there will be games against high-level defenses where that luxury will vanish and Plan B must be a real option.

Two-headed monsters breath more fire than one-headed versions.

You bring up important points Gary, thank you.

Written by GBMWolverine Staff

Go Blue — Wear Maize!