Mailbag question: Why isn't the offense held to the same standards as the defense?
GBMW,
Why does it seem like Coach Rod never holds the offense to the same standards as the defense?
After the game all he did was blame the defense.
Yes the defense was bad, but I thought the special teams and especially the offense did not help out the defense either.
Sam T.
Orlando, FL
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Thanks for the question.
We wondered the exact same thing.
For two consecutive years Coach Rod has basically done the same thing, that is demonstrate the pattern you detailed in your question. Maybe he does not see or understand the consequences of the problems of quality bodies and lack of talent on the defensive side of the ball. Various sited say the coaches are aware of shortcomings, but awareness and lip service alone will not build a championship defense.
We can understand that Coach Rod is frustrated and it is very difficult to not be upset by the defensive performance that is now an established pattern of futility.
Concerning your post, it is true that the offense and special teams have also had big mistakes or letdowns that have hurt the team this season. Therefore we agree with your post and would like to see Coach hold all three phases of the game equally accountable.
This game was basically lost in the first quarter by the offense in our opinion. Between the combination of special teams and offense, Michigan had the ball twice deep in Badger territory and did not produce. We are not blaming the offense totally, but when the defense is playing well and giving the offense opportunities on a short field, along with scoring defensive points, this offense needs to score and do something with the ball.
Michigan had a thirty-five yard field after a stop and a short punt, and then a twenty-five yard field after a Kovacs interception. That was with a score 7-7 and the defense playing well. Due to the good play the offense had the time of possession lead at that point.
Michigan could only manage three points out of two golden opportunities. Had Michigan been able to put the ball into the end zone giving Michigan a big lead, this would have changed how Wisconsin played the rest of the game. This has been a problem the last few weeks. Given a chance to either put a game away or build a big lead, the offense has misfired.
GBMW went into the game knowing how bad this defense was and expected Michigan needed to score forty points to win. With such expectations, it becomes imperative that Michigan scores every chance the team gets, or at least capitalize on the opportunities that the defense gave the offense early on.
Remember that the defense did score seven points of the total when it picked up the fumble and ran into the end zone.
After all, it is Coach Rod who says that football is the only true team game.
GBMW is not blaming the loss solely on the offense, nor is GBMW letting the defense off the hook. We just expected Michigan to score a lot of points, because the defense is that bad and we also expected Wisconsin to score a lot of points with how the UM defense did not match up well with Wisconsin.
In fact, it was collective breakdowns in all three phases of the game that hurt Michigan's chances, again!
Special Teams: Roughing the punter and a missed field goal.
Offense: Key penalties (again) and missed opportunities on short fields.
Defense: Completely pitiful for three quarters of play (again).
Thanks for stopping by Go Blue Michigan Wolverine
If you have any questions please E-Mail
Written by GBMW -- CoachBt and ErocWolverine
3 comments:
Before Saturday, UM's offense led the Big Ten in scoring and rushing. I don't remember where our D ranked, but it was very near the bottom. That's why the D gets more criticism.
Anonymous,
Well the last time I checked the head coach is in charge of the entire football program. That is why he is getting paid more money than any other Michigan football coach ever.
My thing is to win games ... that is the biggest stat I care about!
As for stats the Michigan team ranks 9th for passing offense.
They are tied for last for turnover margin. That plays into offensive play.
Michigan is 56th in total offense.
Michigan is 102nd in turnovers.
Michigan is 90th in passing.
Michigan is 64th in passing efficiency.
I think all aspects of Michigan football should be held accountable.
I mean they are 1-6 in the Big Ten, last in the standings in the Big Ten and oh yea 5-6 going into the osu game.
They are 3-9 last year.
They haven't won a road game this year and including last year they are 1-8 on the road.
Our O's record is inflated due to the good showing in the non conference games, in the big 10 they are in the bottom half between 7th and 10th in almost all meaningful offensive categories like PPG, YPG, YPP and Red Zone %.
This is an improvement over last year but its not what everybody thought they would be....and don;t bullshit me about inflated expectations, RR specialty is in O and this combined with returning starters, decent dept and increased familiarity with the O lead everybody and their mothers to predict and expect this team to be good.
But what we have on field has been mediocre. OL has been a disappointment, especially in pass protection, WR have been as inconsistent as they were last year, no fire in this group, Roundtree seems like the only guy doing something in the passing game and at the start of the season it was Koger, the rest have been pretty invisible.
YEah..talk about double standards!!
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