Mailbag Question:

Guys,

Your blog is the very best and very informative.

My question:

Why is it that our opponents seem to be able to play pitch and catch against us while our receivers are covered like a blanket? I know that coaches see these people every day, have they decided that we do not have the material to press and man up. Opponents catch the ball in space and then we miss a tackle. If our receivers do manage to make a catch, they are drilled right away. Do you have an opinion?

Thanks.

DADRIEHL

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Thanks for the question and the positive comments. There are a few problems with Michigan's offense.

First off, Michigan does not have a viable vertical game that backs opponents up. Cornerbacks can crowd the line of scrimmage without much worry of getting beat over the top.

Secondly, our Split Ends and slot receivers have not done a very good job of blocking on the edge.

Third, our quarterbacks do not get the ball to our receivers in positions to make yards after the catch.

Lastly, most of our Split Ends are not very good at making the first guy miss and gaining yards after a catch.

The defense has a few problems of its own.

You are spot on when you say that we do not have the cornerbacks to get into opposing wide receivers' faces and play press coverage. During the spring the coaching staff did try to play press coverage, but it did not work very well. We reported (after watching several spring practices) that Stonum took Warren to school quite a bit during one on one drills. One time during the drills Warren and Stonum went head to head four times in a row and finally Coach Shafer told them to get the hell out of there.

Michigan's outside linebackers are not very good in the flats.

Also, with regard to the outside linebackers and cornerbacks, they are not adept at shedding blocks and making tackles.

Finally, Michigan's safeties keep taking terrible angles, and it costs the team dearly.

written by CoachBt and ErocWolverine