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Michigan offensive coordinator Al Borges continues to 'empty drawer' with old San Diego Chargers play
Michigan coach Brady Hoke said the two-quarterback formation the Wolverines unveiled last weekend was something that was hatched in March or April.
Turns out, it is a lot older than that.
Offensive coordinator Al Borges used a peculiar three-back set during Saturday's 58-0 rout of Minnesota that put starting quarterback Denard Robinson in the backfield and backup quarterback Devin Gardner under center.
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Borges said his inspiration for the formation came from something the San Diego Chargers ran in the late 1980s and early '90s.
"We took a piece of that and expanded it to fit," Borges said. "Part of that is kind of old. The other pieces that we put, we just kind of built some stuff off it they didn't do back then. But, the option part was a piece from the past."
Michigan now has unveiled two offensive wrinkles in its past two games. It debuted the speed option against San Diego State, and the two-quarterback formation against Minnesota.
THURSDAY LIVE CHAT
Come back to AnnArbor.com at noon Thursday for a live chat with Kyle Meinke. He'll recap the Wolverines' win over Minnesota, discuss news that emerged this week and preview the game against Minnesota on Saturday.
Borges said he expects more wrinkles to be introduced as No. 12 Michigan (5-0, 1-0) continues Big Ten play. It takes on Northwestern (2-2, 0-1) on Saturday (7 p.m., BTN).
"Big Ten play, we'll empty the drawer more as we go," Borges said. "The first four games, we were still learning the offense.
"We're going to have our deals. Not all will work -- some will be good, some of them aren't -- but that was just one of them."
Michigan ran the formation four times in its first three series, with Robinson getting a handoff, Fitz Toussaint getting a misdirection pitch, Gardner getting a pass from Robinson (he was supposed to complete a double-pass, but it wasn't open downfield) and Gardner keeping the ball on an option play.
Borges said there are two main advantages to unveiling that package early in the Big Ten season, even if it was against an overmatched team. First, it forces opponents to prepare for it. Second, it helps Michigan work out the kinks before it runs the formation in a closer game.
The plays also helped get Gardner some meaningful snaps without taking Robinson off the field. Borges never has liked to take his starting quarterback out of the game to get a backup reps, but also knew Gardner could become an asset.
This was the best of both worlds.
"I know they (alternated quarterbacks) here in the past -- I'm just not a fan of breaking the starting quarterback's rhythm by taking him out a series or two for another guy," Borges said.
"Devin Gardner is a talented kid, and we just wanted to give him a chance to feature him a little bit in a couple of deals."
Michigan wide receiver Roy Roundtree (12) has just five catches this season.
Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com
Roundtree struggling?
Through five games this season, junior receiver Roy Roundtree has five catches. That's well off his pace as a slot receiver a year ago, when he grabbed a team-high 72 passes.
Is Roundtree struggling to adjust to his new role as an outside receiver? Borges said that's not necessarily the case.
"Within the game plan, we have 'X' amount of balls that will go to a split receiver, and if they go to him, then they go to him," he said. "There's going to be games when you catch some balls, there's going to be games when you're not. I told the kids that.
"Unless a player is a Jerry Rice-type, I don't have any special goals to make sure any player catches a specific amount of balls. And I won't, ever."
Montgomery coaching beyond his years
The defensive line's production has increased each week. Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison said defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery is one reason why.
Just 31 years old, Montgomery is the youngest full-time coach on the Michigan staff. But he doesn't act like it.
"Jerry's way older than his age," Mattison said, when asked about Montgomery being a young coach. "You say young coach, but that's because I'm an old coach. Jerry is way, way ahead of his time, and we knew that when he was hired here.
"He's very, very intelligent and he's a really, really good teacher. ... If (players) know somebody will help (them) become better, they'll listen. And I think they figured that out pretty quick with Jerry Montgomery, he can help them become better players."
Roh improving, but not enough?
Junior defensive end Craig Roh has rebounded from a slow start to the season, and currently has 12 tackles, four tackles for loss and a pair of sacks.
He's getting better, but still isn't where he needs to be, Mattison said.
"I'm proud of what he's done, improvement-wise," Mattison said. "I am not by any means totally happy with him. I don't think he's still where he needs to be to be any type of big-time rush (end).
"But, I am really happy with how he's bought in. He's worked extremely hard.
Michigan offensive coordinator Al Borges continues to 'empty drawer' with old San Diego Chargers play
Michigan coach Brady Hoke said the two-quarterback formation the Wolverines unveiled last weekend was something that was hatched in March or April.
Turns out, it is a lot older than that.
Offensive coordinator Al Borges used a peculiar three-back set during Saturday's 58-0 rout of Minnesota that put starting quarterback Denard Robinson in the backfield and backup quarterback Devin Gardner under center.
[ Managing your entire home is as easy as pushing a button. Click here to see how. ]
Borges said his inspiration for the formation came from something the San Diego Chargers ran in the late 1980s and early '90s.
"We took a piece of that and expanded it to fit," Borges said. "Part of that is kind of old. The other pieces that we put, we just kind of built some stuff off it they didn't do back then. But, the option part was a piece from the past."
Michigan now has unveiled two offensive wrinkles in its past two games. It debuted the speed option against San Diego State, and the two-quarterback formation against Minnesota.
THURSDAY LIVE CHAT
Come back to AnnArbor.com at noon Thursday for a live chat with Kyle Meinke. He'll recap the Wolverines' win over Minnesota, discuss news that emerged this week and preview the game against Minnesota on Saturday.
Borges said he expects more wrinkles to be introduced as No. 12 Michigan (5-0, 1-0) continues Big Ten play. It takes on Northwestern (2-2, 0-1) on Saturday (7 p.m., BTN).
"Big Ten play, we'll empty the drawer more as we go," Borges said. "The first four games, we were still learning the offense.
"We're going to have our deals. Not all will work -- some will be good, some of them aren't -- but that was just one of them."
Michigan ran the formation four times in its first three series, with Robinson getting a handoff, Fitz Toussaint getting a misdirection pitch, Gardner getting a pass from Robinson (he was supposed to complete a double-pass, but it wasn't open downfield) and Gardner keeping the ball on an option play.
Borges said there are two main advantages to unveiling that package early in the Big Ten season, even if it was against an overmatched team. First, it forces opponents to prepare for it. Second, it helps Michigan work out the kinks before it runs the formation in a closer game.
The plays also helped get Gardner some meaningful snaps without taking Robinson off the field. Borges never has liked to take his starting quarterback out of the game to get a backup reps, but also knew Gardner could become an asset.
This was the best of both worlds.
"I know they (alternated quarterbacks) here in the past -- I'm just not a fan of breaking the starting quarterback's rhythm by taking him out a series or two for another guy," Borges said.
"Devin Gardner is a talented kid, and we just wanted to give him a chance to feature him a little bit in a couple of deals."
Michigan wide receiver Roy Roundtree (12) has just five catches this season.
Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com
Roundtree struggling?
Through five games this season, junior receiver Roy Roundtree has five catches. That's well off his pace as a slot receiver a year ago, when he grabbed a team-high 72 passes.
Is Roundtree struggling to adjust to his new role as an outside receiver? Borges said that's not necessarily the case.
"Within the game plan, we have 'X' amount of balls that will go to a split receiver, and if they go to him, then they go to him," he said. "There's going to be games when you catch some balls, there's going to be games when you're not. I told the kids that.
"Unless a player is a Jerry Rice-type, I don't have any special goals to make sure any player catches a specific amount of balls. And I won't, ever."
Montgomery coaching beyond his years
The defensive line's production has increased each week. Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison said defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery is one reason why.
Just 31 years old, Montgomery is the youngest full-time coach on the Michigan staff. But he doesn't act like it.
"Jerry's way older than his age," Mattison said, when asked about Montgomery being a young coach. "You say young coach, but that's because I'm an old coach. Jerry is way, way ahead of his time, and we knew that when he was hired here.
"He's very, very intelligent and he's a really, really good teacher. ... If (players) know somebody will help (them) become better, they'll listen. And I think they figured that out pretty quick with Jerry Montgomery, he can help them become better players."
Roh improving, but not enough?
Junior defensive end Craig Roh has rebounded from a slow start to the season, and currently has 12 tackles, four tackles for loss and a pair of sacks.
He's getting better, but still isn't where he needs to be, Mattison said.
"I'm proud of what he's done, improvement-wise," Mattison said. "I am not by any means totally happy with him. I don't think he's still where he needs to be to be any type of big-time rush (end).
"But, I am really happy with how he's bought in. He's worked extremely hard.
