GBMWolverine: Coach’s Corner — Michigan Football — Final Grades — Offense/Special Teams

Posted at 6:00am — 1/19/2011

GBMWolverine: Coach’s Corner — Michigan Football — Final Grades — Offense

Please do not consider this a distraction from the melodrama presently securing the attention of Michigan football fans. This is not a planned deception, we simply thought it was time for the final report card, albeit one that will never get to the parent to be signed and returned to the principal.

Note:
GBMWolverine hereby tenders a small disclaimer, more of a reminder, to our readers. Some of our guys, maybe all actually, are pretty tough on game grades. We watch the game and later go back and further dissect the action, looking for details that a lot of fans miss or overlook when watching a game.

Again, here is our grading scale, simple but typical, intended to provide a general summary judgment based on specific instances collectively observed.

A = Great – everything went well, execution was very notable.
B = Good – success was achieved but nothing was exemplary.
C = Average/Okay – a normal day with ups and downs.
D = Poor/Need Help – a clear weakness, obvious problems.
F = Hope and Pray for a great recruiting class at that position.

The final grades are posted:

Quarterback Personnel and Stats:
Denard Robinson: 1799 yards rushing with 14 TD’s, completed 62% of his passes for 2570 yards, 18 TD’s and 11 interceptions.

Tate Forcier: 95 yards rushing with 1 TD, completed 64% of his passes for 597 yards 4 TD’s, and 4 interceptions.

Devin Gardner: 25 yards rushing with 0 TD’s, completed 70% of his passes for 85 yards.

The story here begins and ends with one Denard Robinson. He was quite frankly Michigan’s 2011 offense, accounting for a whooping 4300+ total yards and 32 touchdown’s. He was usually the best offensive talent on the field. A true difference maker who made rival DC’s invent game plans to slow him down. Stopping him was almost impossible. With more help, Denard would have challenged for the Heisman. As the season wore on, Denard noticeable slowed as defensive’s started to figure out how best to defend his immense talent. Even though not up to par due to injuries, Denard was one of the most exciting and productive players in college football. If he learns to better take care of the ball and gets some additional help, he should challenge for the Heisman every season he plays. He is that talented. Forcier is a competent back up who can do a good job of leading the team. Devin Gardner is the future, with the talent to also be a difference maker player at QB.

Final grade A-

Running Back Personnel and Stats:
Vincent Smith: 612 yards with 5 TD’s, also caught 15 passes for 2 TD’s

Michael Shaw: 402 yards rushing with 9 TD’s, also caught 10 passes

Stephen Hopkins: 151 yards rushing with 4 TD’s

For the most part the running back’s were OK. There was no star or stand out. The top 3 combined for fewer yards than the QB had rushing, therefore you have a problem. When the three combine for only 20 touchdown’s you have a problem. If this offense is going to take the next step and continue to improve, the running back’s will have to be more productive. Add in some fumbles at inopportune times and you have a position that needs an upgrade.

Final grade C-

Receivers Personnel and Stats:
Roy Roundtree: 72 catches for 935 yards with 7 TD’s and some huge catches and drops!

Darryl Stonum: 49 catches for 633 yards and 4 TD’s.

Junior Hemingway: 32 catches for 599 yards and 4 TD’s, also had team leading average of 18.5 yards per catch.

Tight End’s: 19 catches for 266 yards and 3 TD’s

We know we sound like a broken record. Fact remains that Michigan’s talented tight end’s only caught 19 passes, this is a mystery we will never understand. They are among the best athletes and players on the entire team. If used properly the offense would not only give Denard Robinson another weapon, but they could have kept the safeties honest and made defending Michigan’s offense very difficult. Many of Michigan’s wide outs seemed to wear out as the season progressed. Junior was dinged up and Roundtree started dropping passes. The blocking also faded. With teams needing to crowd the line of scrimmage to stop Michigan’s rushing, Michigan’s receiver’s should have had a lot more than the 20 or so touchdown’s they did.

Final grade C+

Offensive Line Personnel and Stats:
Starters- LT Taylor Lewan, LG Stephen Shilling, OC David Molk, RG Patrick Omameh, RT Perry Dorrestein/ Key Back Ups OG Rick Barnum, OC Rocko Khoury, OT Mark Huyge

If you look only at the stats you would think this group deserves an A. 3100 yards rushing and only 11 sacks sounds very impressive. If you look deeper you will see that UM rushed for 1900 yards through the 1st half of the season, but only 1200 the rest of the way. As the competition stiffened, the O Line faded some. They were never terrible, just not as good as needed for this team to challenge the elite teams in the conference. Good news is this unit not only showed steady progress each of the three season under Coach Frey’s guidance, but they stayed healthy for the most part, a tribute to the hard work they did in the off season. But as the season wore on bigger, more physical defensive fronts gave the Michigan line problems. If Michigan is going to challenge the Ohio State’s and Wisconsin’s our offensive line will have to be better.

Final grade C+

Special Teams:
Punting was solid; Hagerup averaged over 43 yards per kick. Yes, he had some gaffes, but also flipped the field with some boomers.

Field Goal kicking was a nightmare. UM only made 4 of 14 and missed some very easy attempts. Extra points were OK at 56 of 58. Most teams expect to be perfect on PAT’s. Michigan must do better.

Coverages: were solid and actually a strength in some games.

Returns: were an adventure, some good and other flat out ugly. This is an area that has to improve.

Final Grade D

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Written by GBMWolverine Staff

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