1) Turnovers have to end. Michigan cannot continue to turn the football over at a high rate and win. This team is not talented enough to keep doing this and win games. They need to be fundamentally sound in all aspects of the game.
2) Negative plays have to be curtailed, especially on 1st down. It puts way too much pressure on our offensive line when teams can turn the pass rush loose. With the limited big play ability UM has shown so far, avoiding negative plays and penalties is a must.
There was a stat on Saturday that Michigan had a 44% average of zero or negative yards on offense. Also in the first half against Wisconsin they had ran 24 plays with 16 of those plays were zero or negative yards for a total of twenty-one yards in the first half.
3) Michigan needs to hit a few of those vertical passes to the split ends. Way too many near misses. One to Matthews on Saturday should have been a Touchdown.
4) Threet needs to be a lot more consistent with the short passing game. He is off target too often, and in that area, bad passes get tipped and picked, or just picked.
5) Offensive line has to play better. And actually play well for an entire game. Getting healthy would be a huge help.
6) Linebackers, especially outside (and Mike to some degree), need to improve their drops and reads. Too many times they are heading downhill too early and therefore not able to get into coverage. Wisconsin's late Touchdown was easier because, even though Michigan had decent secondary coverage, nobody was underneath. This gave Evridge a clean throwing lane and the split end room to adjust.
7) Defense needs to do better a job on contain and continue improved tackling. Defensive ends, particularly Jamison, were caught out of position too often. However, the Wisconsin game was the best tackling effort by Michigan’s defense so far this season.
8) Timing on pitches, options and sweeps needs to improve. Too many end up on the ground, and many that don’t end up on the ground are behind the running back, forcing him to adjust and lose speed.
9) If Michigan is going to continue to use the split end screen, passes needs to be more accurate and the split ends need to block better for each other. Timing could also be better.
10) With regard to field position, our defense is getting put into a hole way too often, and our offense is starting deep in its own territory too often. Special teams have to be better and improvement in that area would be a huge lift for the offense and defense.
11) Michigan needs to generate more big plays in all phases of the game. Block a punt, or return kick for Touchdown. Hit a long run with one of our quick backs or in a reverse. Get more defensive Touchdowns. These types of plays provide such a momentum boost that they can turn a young team around in a hurry.
written by CoachBt and ErocWolverine
1 comment:
good points. a couple other things... outside blocking by the WR/TEs needs to improve as the bubble screens are getting blown up...Massey in particular struggles to block in space. Ferrara is not ready at guard, the OLine did much better with McAvoy in there in the second half. WRs are getting open often and have all season long, Threet needs the hit them. The middle of the field has been open often and more emphasis at getting the ball to Odoms, Koger etc. on quick passes over the middle will be effective in bringing those LBs up in coverage.
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