Michigan football: Hybrid is the name of the game for Wolverines

Michigan football is becoming a new age team, filled with hybrid concepts and hybrid players. Will it work?

Hybrid is a buzzword heard around the world. We have hybrid golf clubs, hybrid vehicles; and for Michigan football, a hybrid scheme utilized on both sides of the ball.

It wasn’t always this way, in fact, the offense historically operated in the AOL era; surrendering two downs to the run and the third was a predictable short throw to the first down marker. A strategy that works against the likes of Rutgers but not against the college football giants.

And yet, we have very little understanding of this new age Josh Gattis offense. Josh himself categorized the offense with the term speed-in-space. This speed-in-space mantra is likely used to describe a huddle-less, run-pass-option attack which should mean more scoring, albeit more time spent on the field for the defense.

Not a bad plan when your blowing opponents out, however, will it work against Ohio State? And will it work against Notre Dame?

At this moment, we don’t know, but what we do know is the players believe in it after some initial apprehension.

“I just didn’t know with the people we had, I didn’t know how the spread was going to work,” offensive lineman Ben Bredeson said at Big Ten media days. “Obviously, we’re fully into it. I ran a version of this in high school but that doesn’t really matter. I just didn’t know how everything was going to fit at first, but going through spring ball, the personnel that we have fits this offense perfectly.

“It’s ideal, and we really run it at an elite level throughout spring. I think it’s only going to get better through the summer and into August.”

Skepticism followed by optimism and acceptance.

“I love coach Gattis’ offense; I love the way it works,” Bredeson said. “I love the way you can get playmakers the ball at any given play, no matter what’s called. I’m fully on board with this, and I think I speak for the entire O-line and offense when I say we’re all behind him.”

Troves of confidence by the lone O-lineman leader present at Big Ten Media Days. An honor bequeathed to those select few who are the embodiment of Michigan football. Ben was accompanied by linebacker Jordan Glasgow and Khaleke Hudson who plays the hybrid Viper position.

Why now?

Both sides of the ball were the problem against Ohio State but the offense was the major problem down in South Bend. How do you fix it? Revamp this predictable scheme by handing over the reins to an enormous question mark in first-time play-caller Gattis. Why? Harbaugh knows Josh is ready and It fits the men they have, specifically the quarterbacks.

“Their play-making ability,” Jim Harbaugh said. “Their ability to operate as a passer and a runner; how explosive they both are; Shea with his ability to make quick decisions. The shotgun really fits the RPO world. It really fits the up-tempo (offense). They both like it.”

Harbaugh went on to say that he intends to play both Shea Patterson and Dylan McCaffrey this season which is a game plan rarely seen in this day and age. Jim is going from one conservative extreme to an extremely hybrid approach which he says will be “redefining what a starter is.”

Hopefully, the updated concept will turn Shea into a game-changer and drag him out of the game manager role he found himself deeply entrenched in last year. Furthermore, playing both starters is ideal considering Dylan is the heir apparent.

Fixing the Defense

Now that the offense has made a very clear adjustment, it’s time to see what the defense has in store to counteract those troublesome crossing routes which killed the Wolverine D down in The Shoe.

What’s Don’s solution? Confuse anyone who will listen to him.

"“In your man stuff, it’s more of, he’s a hole player, and it’s verbal communication with whoever he’s gonna switch with,” Brown said. “But a lot of it is based on the QB’s directional. There’s also another coverage that we play where those guys are tied into those crossing routes, and their rules tell them to take it over. Now, the good thing is sometimes you’ll look at it and say we’re man-free and we’re really not, because we’re passing everything. Or, we’ll look at it and say (we’re) in zone concept and we’re really in the man concept. It all depends, based off the verbal communication, whether it’s man-free or the zone."

Brown continued to explain his philosophy:

"“There’s not enough time in this conversation but it’s two different concepts. If we’re getting a ton of mesh and crosses, we’re gonna match. There’s specific rules if the guy goes under or the guy goes behind. Everybody can create their own rules for that, you just kinda put your brain on and figure out what’s best for your guys. You may have a thug in there that’s good in the run game, but not a great pass defender. Well, leave him in the hole and let the guy carry through or let it go to the backside inside guy. Those are the things that your personnel will determine how you’re going to approach that and coach it. Does that make sense?”"

No, it doesn’t, Don.

My guess is he’s going to make his strategy even more confusing than it has been in years past, not only masking the blitz but also doing more to mask the coverage. He’s taking a defensive scheme and changing it to something we haven’t seen before. I call that a hybrid defense, although, Gattis has his own description for this team.

“It’s a different brand of football,” Gattis told 247Sports.