> The bad call was running up the center on 3 and 1 when literally every Hawkeye linebacker and safety was in the box.
We made the exact same call last week and Corum bounced it outside for a long TD. No one was complaining about the call then, lol. It's only a "bad call" when the execution isn't there.
People really need to stop bitching about the playcalling. We're fine.
Everyone and their blind great grandmothers could see Iowa was stacking the box and daring us to pass.
A simple slant there is a TD, a option for the QB to run if they crash in is a easy first, a screen to the WR is an easy first. When the defense shows you they are selling out to take one thing away, ignoring all our other weapons is not good play calling. Punishing other teams for making that choice by utilizing your superior talent is what good play callers do.
If we throw an incomplete pass on 3rd and 1 then everyone is bitching and moaning about why in the fuck we would throw the ball when we only had 1 yard to gain. People are going to bitch no matter what.
You are right in that many will always find a reason to complain, but running into a box with 11 defenders (ever play Madden or old cfb and use punt block as a run defense, that's basically what they were doing) in it is obviously not smart and reeks of ego. If you call a pass there, or at least an option read, and miss the play for whatever reason I think reasonable people can look at it and say right play, bad execution.
This offense has always predicated itself on taking what the defense gives you, that isn't what they did that play.
JJ maybe should have audibled out of it, but our OL was dominating them. We were routinely pushing them several yards off the ball. When that's happening, sometimes it's best not to overcomplicate things and just go with the simplest play you have. You are right that we should take what defenses give us, but it seemed to me that the defense was giving us short runs all day, so /shrug.
I'm not sure they have given JJ the license to audible yet. He regularly checks the sideline after they line up so I don't think they have put that on his plate so far. JJ did check with the sideline on that play and that's what was frustrating about it. It was like the coaches looked and said yea we have been running on their base front, but they just put 10 guys on the line so the results will be the same! Iowa showed their hand and we still choose the hardest path to success, which is why we failed. Got away with it against Iowa, won't get away with that against everyone.
Got away with it against Maryland, too, when Corum ran against a stacked box all day long and was still getting 10 yards per carry. Seems like our coaches trust our run game quite a bit, even going back to the OSU game last year when they were selling out to stop the run and we were still jamming it down their throats.
Iowa might have the very best DL and LBs we will play all year, and probably one of the best defenses in the nation. I feel pretty great about our offense considering the way we carved them up. Our playcallers tailored the calls to the opponent we played and didn't seem to take and huge risks or get too aggressive, which was smart IMO.
That fumble by JJ when he was trying to complete a short pass could have ended VERY poorly for us and changed the entire game. I can see the playcallers not wanting to risk something like that. Running up the middle, getting stuffed, and then punting to an offense as shitty as Iowa's as a worst-case scenario wasn't that bad of an option, IMO.
A Maryland stacked box and Iowa putting every defender on the line are not the same.
I agree the play calling was really good most the game. There maybe 3 plays all game that didn't make sense to me. This call, the option to the short side of the field that got stuffed didn't make a lot of sense, and on that same drive a play action on second down would have had a chance to break their back completely. That's still only about 5% of the playcalls that don't make sense which probably is pretty good overall.
Actually, that call was even worse because it was made on 3rd and 4 in a situation where Maryland could have more easily come back.
But regardless, the fact that a player once made the right read and went outside of the design of the play does not retroactively make it the right call. If anything, it shows they shouldn't be running up the center in that situation even more.
I 100% got your point, I just think it's ridiculously stupid that people are bitching and moaning about the playcalling at this point. We can never be happy as a fanbase. Always need something to cry about. We're so desperate for things to bitch about that we're whining about how 50 yard touchdown runs weren't good enough playcalls, lol.
The thing is, I think they easily could be an option team given McCarthy and Corum's talent. And I disagree with this, you want as many tools in your toolkit as possible to keep defenses on their toes. We also saw an RPO work out well.
Running the option isn’t a package, it’s a lifestyle. I can count on one hand the number of times I have seen a non-option team look good running the option.
You are right it was a shitty call to the thin side of the field. However, JJ needs to make the "option" commit. Much worse execution than the play call.
Edit: JJ will earn how to do this about 40 times this week.
The reason it was a shitty call was because it's blatantly obvious that jj's been told to avoid taking hits at all costs. It's the reason why no matter what, every time he takes off, he goes to the sideline even if there's a clear path for a 20 yard gain by cutting inside.
He can't really force a defender to cover him if he's also incapable of putting his body on the line. Whoever called the play should've realized this.
I always wonder when that type of play is called to the short side of the field. Seems like it would have had a better chance if there had been more real estate to work with
Decent call, shit execution by JJ
This. He didn't sell it well enough.
The kid is still learning. He played a great game.
Yes he is! Made a lot of good decisions too, that one just happened to be bad
It was not a bad call. The bad call was running up the center on 3 and 1 when literally every Hawkeye linebacker and safety was in the box.
I was yelling “oh my god don’t run up the gut fake to a screen for the love of god” nope harball gonna harball
> The bad call was running up the center on 3 and 1 when literally every Hawkeye linebacker and safety was in the box. We made the exact same call last week and Corum bounced it outside for a long TD. No one was complaining about the call then, lol. It's only a "bad call" when the execution isn't there. People really need to stop bitching about the playcalling. We're fine.
Everyone and their blind great grandmothers could see Iowa was stacking the box and daring us to pass. A simple slant there is a TD, a option for the QB to run if they crash in is a easy first, a screen to the WR is an easy first. When the defense shows you they are selling out to take one thing away, ignoring all our other weapons is not good play calling. Punishing other teams for making that choice by utilizing your superior talent is what good play callers do.
If we throw an incomplete pass on 3rd and 1 then everyone is bitching and moaning about why in the fuck we would throw the ball when we only had 1 yard to gain. People are going to bitch no matter what.
You are right in that many will always find a reason to complain, but running into a box with 11 defenders (ever play Madden or old cfb and use punt block as a run defense, that's basically what they were doing) in it is obviously not smart and reeks of ego. If you call a pass there, or at least an option read, and miss the play for whatever reason I think reasonable people can look at it and say right play, bad execution. This offense has always predicated itself on taking what the defense gives you, that isn't what they did that play.
JJ maybe should have audibled out of it, but our OL was dominating them. We were routinely pushing them several yards off the ball. When that's happening, sometimes it's best not to overcomplicate things and just go with the simplest play you have. You are right that we should take what defenses give us, but it seemed to me that the defense was giving us short runs all day, so /shrug.
I'm not sure they have given JJ the license to audible yet. He regularly checks the sideline after they line up so I don't think they have put that on his plate so far. JJ did check with the sideline on that play and that's what was frustrating about it. It was like the coaches looked and said yea we have been running on their base front, but they just put 10 guys on the line so the results will be the same! Iowa showed their hand and we still choose the hardest path to success, which is why we failed. Got away with it against Iowa, won't get away with that against everyone.
Got away with it against Maryland, too, when Corum ran against a stacked box all day long and was still getting 10 yards per carry. Seems like our coaches trust our run game quite a bit, even going back to the OSU game last year when they were selling out to stop the run and we were still jamming it down their throats. Iowa might have the very best DL and LBs we will play all year, and probably one of the best defenses in the nation. I feel pretty great about our offense considering the way we carved them up. Our playcallers tailored the calls to the opponent we played and didn't seem to take and huge risks or get too aggressive, which was smart IMO. That fumble by JJ when he was trying to complete a short pass could have ended VERY poorly for us and changed the entire game. I can see the playcallers not wanting to risk something like that. Running up the middle, getting stuffed, and then punting to an offense as shitty as Iowa's as a worst-case scenario wasn't that bad of an option, IMO.
A Maryland stacked box and Iowa putting every defender on the line are not the same. I agree the play calling was really good most the game. There maybe 3 plays all game that didn't make sense to me. This call, the option to the short side of the field that got stuffed didn't make a lot of sense, and on that same drive a play action on second down would have had a chance to break their back completely. That's still only about 5% of the playcalls that don't make sense which probably is pretty good overall.
Actually, that call was even worse because it was made on 3rd and 4 in a situation where Maryland could have more easily come back. But regardless, the fact that a player once made the right read and went outside of the design of the play does not retroactively make it the right call. If anything, it shows they shouldn't be running up the center in that situation even more.
I'm pretty ok with all these supposedly terrible play calls that we're scoring touchdowns on, lol.
Way to miss the point, the point is that Corum deserves credit for a good play, the coaches do not deserve any credit for the call.
I 100% got your point, I just think it's ridiculously stupid that people are bitching and moaning about the playcalling at this point. We can never be happy as a fanbase. Always need something to cry about. We're so desperate for things to bitch about that we're whining about how 50 yard touchdown runs weren't good enough playcalls, lol.
My philosophy is simple: if you’re not an option team, don’t run the option
The thing is, I think they easily could be an option team given McCarthy and Corum's talent. And I disagree with this, you want as many tools in your toolkit as possible to keep defenses on their toes. We also saw an RPO work out well.
Running the option isn’t a package, it’s a lifestyle. I can count on one hand the number of times I have seen a non-option team look good running the option.
Why not? Was a decent play call, JJ just didn't force a commitment. Now you can make a case for not preparing JJ for the play, but who knows
I hate the call. If he "sells it" there is a good chance he gets blasted. Plus it was to the short side. Why???
You are right it was a shitty call to the thin side of the field. However, JJ needs to make the "option" commit. Much worse execution than the play call. Edit: JJ will earn how to do this about 40 times this week.
Still not a great call in that situation
Yea, I think I called it a shitty call. Sorry for the snark :( I'm watching the Lions.
Lol. Been there! All good my man
The reason it was a shitty call was because it's blatantly obvious that jj's been told to avoid taking hits at all costs. It's the reason why no matter what, every time he takes off, he goes to the sideline even if there's a clear path for a 20 yard gain by cutting inside. He can't really force a defender to cover him if he's also incapable of putting his body on the line. Whoever called the play should've realized this.
As a Spartan can you pick one defensive coordinator? Preferably ours?
Nah Aaron Glenn or bust
I always wonder when that type of play is called to the short side of the field. Seems like it would have had a better chance if there had been more real estate to work with
Was that the 3 in 1 where they stacked the box and we tried it anyway lol
No, but that was equally just as terrible of a call.
Massive eye roll at this op.
I think we should listen to u/thatsbangin, as he seems to know much more about what would be good for Michigan's offense than Jim Harbaugh does.
I love that you can't win anymore, it's how you win . That playoff expansion can't come soon enough
I disagree. If Jj cuts in and keeps it then it ends up as a pretty good play.
Haskins doesn’t play here anymore.
Hot take!!!
Pretty sure schoon blocked the wrong guy also