Mailbag question: Where did the offense go

Mailbag question: Where did the offense go

Where did all the "explosion and imagination" in this offense go from the Indiana game.

I guess a win is a win, but it was an ugly win.

Fred T.

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Thanks for the question.

It is tough to be explosive when the offensive line is having problems blocking people.

It is also tough when the quarterbacks are having problems catching the shotgun snap.

An offense’s ability to be explosive and creative is always limited by its ability to execute the basic fundamentals. When the fundamentals return, so likely will the offensive production.

Most fans take for granted snapping the ball and catching the snap. But Saturday showed how the most basic fundamental in football, the snap, could be devastating if not executed well. Not all the snap problems were of Moosman's doing. The quarterbacks need to watch for and handle the ball better. We saw this a few times during spring practice with Forcier. We also saw, two years ago, where the centers were having all kinds of problems snapping the ball to the quarterbacks.

It did seem like the offense went away from what was working early on and was also not attacking or using weapons such as Kevin Koger, who seemed to be open on several passing plays.

We have noticed, lately, it seems like Tate Forcier is holding on to the ball longer than is needed. We are not sure if he is not finding the receivers open or is looking at something else. There were several times that he had a player open, but instead scrambled around and then could not find an open receiver.

It does seem that Forcier is still looking to run when he had some receivers open as well. He really needs to find his receivers and not take some unnecessary hits. Also, Forcier needs to read the defense better, especially in the read option of the defensive end. Several times he kept the ball and tried to run, which likely was the incorrect read.

Coach Rod, it seemed obvious, was telling Tate to get rid of the ball and give it to the running backs. Also, one time Coach Rod appeared to demonstrate to Tate which receiver he missed when going back to throw the ball.

Denard Robinson was having this problem (waiting too long) earlier in the past few games when the coaches did have him try and throw the ball.

Such is the life of freshman quarterbacks and offensive coaches.

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Written by CoachBt and ErocWolverine