Offensive creativity

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

Is it just me or does it seem like Borges is not only better at running the spread but far more creative?

When RR was hired the one appealing thing, for me, was that he was going to bring this dynamic, tricky, offense to Michigan. I thought we would be seeing trick plays, crazy stunts and plays that left the cameras and audience confused as to who had the ball or what was going on. But that never happened. For the full three years it was very bland. Nothing very creative and ended up just being QB runs with Denard.

On to Hoke/Borges - After the Minnesota game I said to myself - that was more trick plays than I think RR ran the entire 3 years he was here. Now I don't know if that's 100% true or not but it sure seemed like it. The creativity of the gardner/robsinson/toussaint/smith formation in the backfield was one I expected under RR and not under Hoke. I'm not sure what it means but it's pretty interesting to me how this coaching staff has adapted.

 

[lostleader]

I don't think we will see much of that formation under tougher competition. It was neat and the team seemed to enjoy it, but most of the plays were slow developing and I just don't see it being a permeant staple of the offense. However every team will have to keep it in there minds, because UM could run it anytime. The coaches will also have to run some "Normal" plays out of that formation for it to be truly effective!

 

[TheVictors]

Pure genius.

Makes me laugh at the haters early-on this year that demanded Gardner be playing ... laugh at those complaining that the offense wasn't any different than under Rich Rod (EMU game) and feel soooo good about the future of the program.

Hoke in the post-game press conference was asked about when he and Borges started talking about using Shoelace as H-back with Gardner at QB and his answer was ...

"April? March??"




Love it! Scheming for the game, for the opponent and working on concepts in practice that aren't immediately applied to gameplans. And I guarantee some form of that formation will re-appear against Nebraska or Ohio* or in another higher-profile game.

Awesome!

 

[Monster]

I'm surprised we haven't done any passes back to the QB yet. That play would have potential for huge yards with Denard.

 

[hungry]

I really think it worked better with Denard as a decoy and not getting the ball.

 

[jever4321]

Yep, I watched the presser and I got the feeling things are going to open up offensively now that they are in the B1G schedule. Denard and V.Smith alluded to it as did Fitz and Devin. Good stuff. I hope the can muddle through NW without showing too much, then open the can of WHOOP-ASS and pour it all over Sparty.

 

[Michchamp]

I really think it worked better with Denard as a decoy and not getting the ball.

I agree. I think it was the 2nd play they ran with Gardner that they faked it towards Denard, and Gardner had that long run. The only bad thing was when he smashed right into Gallon downfield. I can't believe he didn't knock him out of the game.

we used misdirection extremely well against Minnesota.

I don't know if this was something that didn't work against earlier teams & Minnesota was just that bad, or if they finally felt confident enough in practice to try it in a game. I'm guessing the latter... the only thing I can remember that was close was the toss back to VSmith on the screen against ND.

I think Borges is really hitting his stride with the play calls and, more importantly, the sequencing.

 

[TheVictors]

It was always a tradition under Bo to "keep the playbook closed" until Conference play began. Clearly in this different era, you can't do that 100% but it seems pretty clear Hoke and Borges know what they're doing in **developing** the offense.

 

[jever4321]

It was always a tradition under Bo to "keep the playbook closed" until Conference play began. Clearly in this different era, you can't do that 100% but it seems pretty clear Hoke and Borges know what they're doing in **developing** the offense.

Yep. that's AWESOME.