2019 Michigan Season Thread

[Anonymous Coward]

Play calls are something entirely different. They're also a smaller deal than "the whole offense's structure."

So if we ever hear that Gattis is accepting play call inputs from others including Harbaugh, my response will be "oh that sounds normal - good."

Collaboration is good. And it's wrong to think Harbaugh wouldn't have loads of objectively helpful ideas for any OC. That doesn't even have to be Harbaugh braggy. Many HCs out there, perhaps a majority, have brilliant things to tell their OC.

By hoping Harbaugh goes mute on playcalls, I guess I'd say you're being rigid and setting yourself up for disappointment ... even if the offense is fully new and amazing. In 2019, it's inevitable that there will be moments where some sort of Harbaughian play is better than what Gattis had considered.

And he can do that without taking one inch of the offense back from Gattis.

[Temp430]

What?  I thought the plan was to clone Harbaugh's brain and transplant it into Gattis' skull??

[MrNubbz]

The conference or the world isn't really ready for that

[MrNubbz]

this is what has me salivating at the mouth. As good as DPJ and Nico looked last year, Tarik Black is a flat out better receiver than both of those guys. He's had some really crappy luck with injuries. If he can just stay healthy- look out.

Nico and DPJ both looked great as true sophs last year playing in a very restrictive offense for WR's and with a new QB that was learning a new offensive system on the fly that was completely foreign to him.

Collins from what I watched of him seemed to develop as the season progressed not only his ability to get open but to hang on to the ball.However if Black stays healthy that could spell problems,but I'm wrong quite frequently so there's that

[CWSooner]

I don't understand that fear. If the reports are correct that the offense is already transformed -- no longer beholden to full clock huddling, capable of fast snaps, erasure of the fullback, emphasized RPO game, and at least the mere attempt to have pass and rush plays be integrated to the normal extent that they look like one another in terms of alignment presnap ... if all of that's true, then we already have what we want.

That'll mean we've spent an entire offseason building a *structurally* different offense. It's not really possible (let alone smart) for an entire structure to be undone in the confines of a single game ... or even during the season. Harbaugh gave up the structure. It'd already be over.

You should stop thinking that Harbaugh'd even *consider* taking it back midseason. What examples are there of a coach ever doing something similar?

You should take a look at the head-coaching career of one Mr. John Blake, OU HFC from 1996 through 1998.  He sometimes changed offenses in mid-game.
He's not in Jim Harbaugh's league.  Hell, he's not in Adam Sandler's league.  But he was a head coach at what was even then a major college program.

[Anonymous Coward]

You should take a look at the head-coaching career of one Mr. John Blake, OU HFC from 1996 through 1998.  He sometimes changed offenses in mid-game.
He's not in Jim Harbaugh's league.  Hell, he's not in Adam Sandler's league.  But he was a head coach at what was even then a major college program.

Whoa. He switched midgame to a system(s) his players had never practiced?

[CWSooner]

Whoa. He switched midgame to a system(s) his players had never practiced?

I think it was his second season (of three dreadful ones).  He had decided during the off-season to go back to the wishbone.  First game, they ran a series or two with it, he was not satisfied with the results, so they went back to what they had been using before.  Pro-set, power-I, whatever it was.

[Anonymous Coward]

Well crap, you've fully succeeded in feeding Mdot's concerns. 😉

[CWSooner]

At least he won't be overconfident.

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm all about the full range of realistic expectations. With my conversation with MDot, I just don't think it's feasible that if Harbaugh really did give over full control of the offense (seems likely but we can't know for 2 weeks), and if it is as structurally new as it sounds (ditto), that Harbaugh would demand them to switch back in the middle of a game. On the other hand, I do expect Harbaugh to always be a part of the play and game situation conversation. 

[Anonymous Coward]

To be more specific:

If Michigan's offense has really made these changes:

• no huddle
• elimination of fullback from the roster
• emphasis of RPO

Then ...

• condensing a FB out of thin air is off the table
• Also, huddling for full snap counts during 2-minute drills is in truly no one's interest, including Harbaugh's. Meaning we might as well say it's impossible. Michigan wasn't full huddle last year because Harbaugh prefered the huddle so much that he needed the team to spend 30 seconds on it per play in time sensitive scenarios. Michigan huddled like that but because they hadn't practiced any other way to get in the play.

But ...

• it would still be conceivable for Harbaugh to recommend a lesser RPO emphasis. About which: ok fine

[Temp430]

It's been reported that Ben Mason, even though now primarily on the DL, is still a FB should the need arise.  But now at 280 lbs.

[Anonymous Coward]

Dwumfour is wearing a soft cast on his hand. Honestly ... that is weirdly excellent news for the season (assuming it's what has kept him just below 100% in camp). Dwumfour's outlook would be significantly worse if he were still struggling through last year's (foot?) injury.

[Anonymous Coward]

Would like to see the doctors get that under control, if possible. UC is no joke.
Ambry Thomas has shown flashes of being a special player. 

Ambry Thomas is now practicing. That's progress! Being back for UW feels more realistic than ever.