GBMWolverine

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Mailbag question: Giving up big plays -- Good offense or bad defense?

There seems to be some concern about all the BIG OFFENSIVE PLAYS this week in practice, although I'm happy to see the explosiveness, I do worry that it may be a result of the Defense being out of position.

Also, I'm wondering if the big plays are the results of the QB's being off limits to the defense or because the plays are occurring against the second string defense.

I look forward to your response and I enjoy your blog, and as always " GO BLUE "

Thanks Don

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Thanks for the question and comments.

Our biggest concern is that at this point defense should be light years in front of the defense.

During summer camp and early in the season defense generally has an advantage. Fact that the offense is lighting things up at this point definitely makes us nervous.

One of the things that needed improved from last season was stop giving up big plays. Coach Bo always said you will not win games if the offense turns the ball over, or the defense gives up big plays.

We still believe in that philosophy.

One of the biggest things that has hurt the last several years has been the different philosophy and having three different defensive coordinators in three years. Along with good quality depth on defense and going to have to count on true freshman is never a good thing especially at positions that you normally red-shirt kids at or hope to get them a year of development and under strength and condition coach.

During the spring practices we were mostly on the defensive sideline when the team was scrimmaging in practice and almost every time they came off the field you could tell a lot of kids were confused of their assignments.

Can our offense be that good and maybe that is making the defense give up big plays? Well we really will not know until the first game and even then we might not know until we play Notre Dame.

This offense has some weapons and speed on the team, but the defense is still lacking speed, athleticism at many key positions and the depth at those positions this year is going to cause Michigan to play a lot more younger players including a lot more true freshman than most teams would want to play and count on during the season.

Thanks for stopping by Go Blue Michigan Wolverine
If you have any questions please E-Mail

Written by CoachBt and ErocWolverine

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Mailbag question: A freshman quarterback can be successful?

Mailbag question: A freshman quarterback can be successful?

Do you recall what Tim Tebow's "star-rating" was in high school? What were the scouting sites saying about him out of high school? What about Pat White?

I'm curious because Tebow seemed to do very well as a freshman. And there are countless other examples of freshmen who instantly make their mark. (Of course, I realize there are many, many more who don't.)

Nevertheless, I think people are being too guarded when it comes to Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson. I'm not succumbing to the "Fear of Freshmen" until I see them in an actual game. The great players are born ready. Sure, experience can only help them get better, but some players -- even when young and inexperienced -- have the chops and can somehow manage to raise their level of play to fit the situation.

Optimistically Blue,

-- Q

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Thanks for the question.

Tim Tebow was a five-star high school All-American his senior year. He also was not the starting quarterback his freshmen year. Chris Leak took a large majority of the snaps for the Florida Gators’ National Championship team. T. Tebow was used as a situational running quarterback the majority of the time, just to get him on the field and to change things up for the Gators.

Pat White did not even play as a true freshmen, he red-shirted his first year at West Virginia. P. White then split time with Adam Bednarik the first half of his red-shirt freshmen year.

P. White was not as highly rated as Tebow, but he was third in Mr. Alabama Football, passed for 1,500 yards, and rushed for another 1,900 yards. He also accounted for 36 touchdowns that year.

Can true freshmen be successful? Sure. Terrelle Pryor looked good at times last season. The key to his success and other true freshmen quarterbacks revolves around what are they asked to do. In Pryor's case, having a Beanie Wells to hand the ball off to sure made it a ton easier for him to be successful.

Also, you can look back to Michigan's own situation several years ago where Chad Henne had a very good freshman year. But it was a guy by the name of Braylon Edwards who helped Henne’s situation out as well. Whenever C. Henne got into trouble, he just threw the ball up and knew in most cases that B. Edwards would go after the ball or out jump the defender.

Thanks for stopping by Go Blue Michigan Wolverine
If you have any questions please E-Mail

Written by CoachBt and ErocWolverine