Mailbag Question: Michigan Offense better?

Hey Guys,

About the Michigan offense?

It seems like many people think the offense is getting better, but are they really?

It seems to me the punt return and kick off return is a lot better so that is helping the offense.

Also with Minor back getting meaningful snaps, it seems like the offense is moving the ball better. So is it just because McGuffie is sitting down and Minor is playing then the offense really getting better.

Thanks again ... Jim from Tampa

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Thanks for the questions.

Any time an Offense puts up 42 points it is going to appear to be better.

Michigan’s Offense is still very inconsistent. It almost completely disappeared in the third quarter yesterday when a few first downs would have helped our overwhelmed defense.

There are also some signs that the offensive line is improving. Agree with you that yesterday’s game was all about Brandon Minor. He ran hard and made great cuts. He was the offense yesterday.

Split Ends are still inconsistent with their blocking. The quarterback is still making poor reads, leading to way too many negative plays, and missed passing plays.

So yes, the offense is getting better, but not as much as yesterdays scoreboard would indicate.

written by CoachBt and ErocWolverine

Mailbag Question: Michigan running the 3-3-5 stack Defense, WHY?

Hey Guys,

It was a terrible loss on Saturday. I have a few questions.

Why did we run the West Virginia 3-3-5 defense against Purdue and why are the players playing so poorly with bad fundamentals, poor tackling, and bad pursuit angles and terrible containment?

Coaching or just not football players? Are they better athletes then football players?

Thanks ... Jim from Tampa

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Thanks for the questions and keep them coming. This helps us as much as it helps you understand what is going on, or what we think is going on.

It appears to us that Coach Shafer is longer in charge of the defense. That is why they changed to the 3-3-5 stack defense.

Coach Shafer has never run this defense before and we doubt he would make that change, especially in the middle of the season with so much to learn.

There a multiple problems here with this defense:

Coach Rod did not do a good job assembling his defensive staff. You have Coach Shafer, a 4-3 person who also likes his 3-4/Okie Defense.

You have Coach Hopson who is a 4-3 and 4-2 nickel person.

Then you have Coaches Tall and Coach Gibson who are 3-3-5 and 4-4 people.

Just not a good fit.

As for the players, they were recruited to play in a completely different scheme and philosophy. They do not have the skills to handle playing aggressive, in space game.

Yesterday the team looked slow and maybe even a bit overtrained. It's possible they spent extra time on field installing the new defense. The players who are not sure and confident of assignments have a tendency to look and play slow.

written by CoachBt and ErocWolverine

Mailbag Question: Michigan "Okie" Defense for Dummies?

Hey Guys,

I need an explanation of the “Okie” Defense for Dummies and why isn't it working for Coach Shafer and this Defense this year?

Thanks!

Andy

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Thanks for the question. “Okie” Defense is 3-4 defenses that use 3-3 personnel. What Michigan does is remove a Defensive Linemen and replace him with another safety.

The safety/nickel back lines up like a Outside Linebacker in traditional 3-4 defense. The major reason it is not working is Michigan does not have the proper personnel to make it work.

3-4 needs Linebackers who can run and play in space, and Cornerbacks who cannot only play press coverage, but also get of blocks and help in run support or in flats when Outside Linebackers / nickel blitzes.

You also need safeties capable of defending deep 1/2 of the field. To this point after the Michigan State game, none of those groups Outside Linebackers, Safeties, or Cornerbacks have shown the ability to make plays in the nickel / Okie look.

written by CoachBt and ErocWolverine

Michigan at Purdue Weather

BTN: Purdue's Coach Joe Tiller

Big Ten Coverage Map

Big Ten Network Coverage Map

November 1, 2008
12:00pm EDT.

Michigan at Purdue
DirecTV Channel 610
BTN

Central Michigan at Indiana
DirecTV Channel 609 and 609-1
BTNa

Coverage map applies to cable systems only and indicates which game will be the primary game on the main Big Ten Network channel. Satellite providers DIRECTV and DISH Network will offer the primary game nationally and all other games on "overflow" channels. In addition, subscribers to telco providers AT&T U-Verse and Verizon Fios should click on the map to see channel assignments.

All Big Ten Network cable partners have the ability to offer additional games on "overflow" or "alternate" channels.

To find your own zip code:
http://www.bigtennetwork.com/gamefinder/

Michigan at Purdue Predictions

ErocWolverine:

Well this should be a win with all the problems and injuries that Purdue has going into this game, but will Michigan finally learn how to play four quarters of football? Not saying Michigan has been world beaters either.

Either the playing young and inexperience excuses need to stop now because we are at the end of the season now and most of these kids have gotten it or they will not.

This team needs a win badly because it could be their last one of the year and knowing how hard the players have worked in the off-season I hope it happens today for them.

This team is playing for pride right now and nothing else because there is nothing else to get excited about at this stage of the season. Yes, they still have a chance at going to a bowl game, but what have you seen from this team this year to make you think they can win four games in a row and beating teams like Minnesota, Northwestern, and Ohio State right now.

Enjoy this game because it might be the last victory of the season.

Michigan 27
Purdue 13

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CoachBt:

Michigan 24
Purdue 14

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MaizeMan:

Michigan 14
Purdue 17

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Josh Turel:

A losing season and a loss to an instate rival. Now I know how Spartan fans feel every year!

Anyway, tough battle last week and despite the growing pains from the new staff, the kids played as hard as you can expect. I know there are no morale victories but once the effort is gone, so is the season. I enter this week much like the Lions do, expecting to lose. I remember telling my friend after the Wisconsin game that this could be the last one they win and I am sticking by that.

Purdue is a wounded opponent who in any other normal year would be a sure victory but I promised myself not to predict another win after the Toledo game. I do not know how or why, but Michigan will lose this game.

One other note:
I have have had a few people complain to me that Michigan is getting "out coached" at halftime and not making the proper adjustments. I have long laughed at this statement anytime it is applied and now even more that I am a coach. Any coach who waits until halftime to coach their team or make adjustments should be fired on the spot, and never be given another job. The fact is, college coaches make their adjustments during the game. Why do you think there are coaches all over the sideline, print out machines of coverage’s (NFL), phones to the box?

I could go on, the fact is, and college coaches are constantly making adjustments with their players. They do not hold all the big secrets in until halftime. On top of that, both teams have put huge hours into studying each other, going over keys, and putting in the game plan, preparing for every possible scenario. There may be a wrinkle or two that is new, but you are going to see the same team you have seen on film all year, no one is going to overhaul their program in a week and expect to be successful.

At the high school level, we do go over some more things but nothing that is earth shaking and we constantly coaching DURING the game. In the NFL, halftime is mostly to take a leak and rest up a bit. Countless amount of NFL players have been quoted as saying nothing they have put in or went over on the dry erase board in college or the NFL has been the reason they won a football game.

Michigan 17
Purdue 24

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Special Guest Poster this week (jonpc from GBW):

Michigan will fall to 2 and 7 despite a good first half effort by the Offense. Two late Michigan turnovers and a game ending missed field goal will result in a loss.

Michigan 23
Purdue 24