Michigan 27, USC 24

[lineygoblue]

Not by Michigan. Not this week. Maybe another day.

[Mike]

Brian Cook with a great summation of Sherrone's first big blunder.

To make this work—really work—Michigan needed to commit to being a spread-n-shred wholeheartedly on January 11th. They clearly did not, and I expect they'll pay a price for not doing so. There's only one amount of ass you can apply when you're trying to run Fritz Crisler stuff, and that amount is not "half."

We'll be lucky to gain over 200 yards of offense this week. The coaching staff basically put together two offenses, one for each QB, and neither of them work well.

[AlabamAlum]

[Jeff Buchanan]

There's a general consensus among observers and analysts I trust that M's offensive scheme planning for 2024 was biased toward a pro-style offense. That's an offense that both Moore and Campbell are comfortable with. It's believed that among offensive staff, none of them know squat about running a spread and shred offense with a capable QB like Orji to run it. So, they tried Orji at running a pro-style offense. He wasn't good at it so, after the conclusion of fall camp, Warren becomes QB 1 with Orgi relegated to Orgi-cat packages.

Three games in it's pretty clear that Warren, while he can make difficult throws, doesn't see downfield and because of that he'll turn the ball over under pressure. Warren is pulled and replaced by Orgi as QB 1. Does the play-book change? Pre-season, the tea leaves suggested that M was moving towards a spread and shred offense, Orgi was good at it and would be named the starter for the season opener v. Fst. You'd think a goodly number of plays were installed in fall camp for Orgi to run an offense suited to his skill set. I haven't seen that even after he took over the offense v. Ast. IMO, Campbell, maybe Moore too, are both over their heads knowing how to call a game that properly optimizes Orgi's skill set.

When Warren got pulled and Orgi came in to run the offense he was called on to execute plays from under center. Plays with the Orgi under center are similar to the boneheaded plays Al Borges called for Denard. That signals that offensive play calling is trying to find some kind of balance between smash and spread and shred. Putting orgi under center demonstrates that a pro-style bias persists.

From the shot-gun, Orgi had flashes. So, the offense with Orgi as QB, looks as if it can be productive. What's missing are more play calls for screens, end-arounds, any play where Orgi can make a short throw to the outside demonstrating to the opposition defense that there's a threat to that part of the field. Think Edwards in the slot. An offense including lots of plays like that are great counters to a power-inside run game ("smash"). With a credible outside threat demonstrated, opposition Ss have to honor that which in turn keeps them from stepping up to load the box.

[iam416]

I mean, I'll say it again....SHERRONE!!!!! is gonna fuck USC up. FUCK. THEM. UP.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Your double reverse hex voodoo™ will not work here...

[lineygoblue]

I still like the idea of Coach Moore as HC. I think it was a good choice. He's proven he knows how to coach. As far as coaching, I'm a bit disappointed in Wink, and also a bit in Campbell. But we'll have to stick with what we've got for now. Moore at least deserves the same chance as R Rod had.

In the off season, we've got to find the next Jake Ruddock.

Optimistic Liney thinks that this offense could be really good next year with Ruddock #2 in the fold. A lot of youth, and also a lot of potential.

Pessimistic :Liney thinks that next year the defense is going to go thru what this year's offense is going thru. Grand and Mason will be very hard to replace. It may be impossible.

And finally, Realistic Liney says this weekend is going to be ugly for M fans. And so will several more weekends.

[THE_WIZARD_]

sandbagging_burlap_bags.jpg

[Mike]

I just hope our lads can limp off the field without sustaining any life-long injuries. Both physical and psychological.

[lineygoblue]

Amen, Mike. Truer words ....

[Jeff Buchanan]

Good news. v. Ast, Wink dialed his blitz rate and exotics way down. Wink's blitz rate is now in the same range (for one game) as Minter's blitz rate in the 2023 season. Seth at mgo (UFR Defense) thinks there are two possibilities why he did that: (1) It was Ast. Vanilla works fine. (2) He's realized his players aren't NFL types that have been playing high level football for15 years, some longer that that.

[Hannibal]

How in God's name are we only 3.5 point dogs?

USC wins this one big. I'm thinking 38-17 or somewhere thereabouts.

[THE_WIZARD_]

sandbaggus ignoramus

[lineygoblue]

How in God's name are we only 3.5 point dogs?

USC wins this one big. I'm thinking 38-17 or somewhere thereabouts.

Oregon 2007 territory. Book it.

[THE_WIZARD_]

USC is still an unknown...yes good win against LSU...but how good is LSU really? They should have lost to the Cocks...and they beat USU...whoa.

Still unknown. They are not Texas.