Open up the playbook?

RUTGERS95

Heisman
Sep 28, 2005
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Greg say, 'my number one job is to be a risk manager' so no, I don't think we open it up but I'm sure we show some new wrinkles
 
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ashokan

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May 3, 2011
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Westcoast

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We'll only "open it up" if we are a few scores behind and its still early 3rd or sooner.
 

read option

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This thread would make sense if we hadn’t scored 24, 36, and 35 points in the first 3 games. Which btw, we won and did so convincingly.

Why deviate from what’s worked unless we absolutely have to? If we get behind, yea open it up. But I’m fine doing what we have been - not turning the ball over, having a solid kicking game, managing field position, and giving our D every chance to be successful. This is Michigan, not a video game.
 

NickRU714

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Aug 18, 2009
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This thread would make sense if we hadn’t scored 24, 36, and 35 points in the first 3 games. Which btw, we won and did so convincingly.

Why deviate from what’s worked unless we absolutely have to? If we get behind, yea open it up. But I’m fine doing what we have been - not turning the ball over, having a solid kicking game, managing field position, and giving our D every chance to be successful. This is Michigan, not a video game.

We have one been one of the heaviest run based offenses so far this year.

It's not crazy to imagine that's unsustainable for success over the entire season.

Especially as we play better and better programs.
The play calling may have been dictated by the blowouts but we aren't going to be in blowouts every week.
 
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NickRU714

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Aug 18, 2009
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Why wait until we are behind and then have to come back?

Why not give the offense every chance to succeed and try to score early and often?
It's always "let the defense succeed".
 
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read option

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Why wait until we are behind and then have to come back?

Why not give the offense every chance to succeed and try to score early and often?
It's always "let the defense succeed".
Because you’re playing Michigan. You try things you’re not capable of succeeding with and it plays right into their hands.
 
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May 11, 2010
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The 4th and 1 handoff to Kyle up the middle was not going to work.

Open up the field a little or put Brown in for short yardage
 

RUShea

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Because you’re playing Michigan. You try things you’re not capable of succeeding with and it plays right into their hands.
I'd argue that playing Michigan is exactly why you NEED to open it up. We're not beating them punting and playing defense. Need to score. Unless the goal is not to win and just to keep it close. Have some balls and try to win once in a while.
 
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read option

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Passed every play the last drive. How did it end? First INT all season including a pick 6.
 

RUShea

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Passing is the only reason we even had a drive going. I guess losing 24-7 instead of 31-7 is better so good point.
 

ScarletDave

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1 trick play, the fake HB screen to a bubble screen to the other side, too bad it tricked our own team and ended up in a 80-yard Pick 6 icer
 

LotusAggressor_rivals

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This thread would make sense if we hadn’t scored 24, 36, and 35 points in the first 3 games. Which btw, we won and did so convincingly.

Why deviate from what’s worked unless we absolutely have to? If we get behind, yea open it up. But I’m fine doing what we have been - not turning the ball over, having a solid kicking game, managing field position, and giving our D every chance to be successful. This is Michigan, not a video game.
They did that against substantially worse defenses than Michigan. I also don't think that this offense is so sophisticated and multifaceted that they can flip a switch and suddenly have a wide open offense.
 
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They did that against substantially worse defenses than Michigan. I also don't think that this offense is so sophisticated and multifaceted that they can flip a switch and suddenly have a wide open offense.
I don’t think anyone can for the most part. In reverse, some of those teams that are more open and use lots of tempo can have hard times killing off a game.

It’s kind of you are what you are you live or die with it.
 

read option

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They did that against substantially worse defenses than Michigan. I also don't think that this offense is so sophisticated and multifaceted that they can flip a switch and suddenly have a wide open offense.
Ding, ding, ding! You don’t go from one style to a completely different style at the flick of a switch. There’s a playbook with plays that are practiced throughout a game week which vary, but the bulk of an offense is ingrained. We are a run first, RPO team, with a conservative style. We’re not all of a sudden gonna go Air Raid.
 

RUShea

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There's a big difference between air raid and being so afraid of our QB making a mistake, that you run on every 3rd and 5+ and concede a punt.
 
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There's a big difference between air raid and being so afraid of our QB making a mistake, that you run on every 3rd and 5+ and concede a punt.
Do you think if we “opened up” the playbook that there wouldn’t have been more sacks, more penalties, and more turnovers? I bet we would scored one more TD but given up at least two more. That math doesn’t add up.
 

NickRU714

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Do you think if we “opened up” the playbook that there wouldn’t have been more sacks, more penalties, and more turnovers? I bet we would scored one more TD but given up at least two more. That math doesn’t add up.

So what?
We lose by 34 instead of 24.
What's the difference?

Don't you think those additional reps would have been valuable experience for games later in the season we have a better chance to win?
Winning those games actually matter - not keeping it close against UM.

@rutgersal (the enternal optimist) said it best pregame. Rather lose by 100 throwing the kitchen sink than 24 playing it safe and conservative.
 

ashokan

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There's a big difference between air raid and being so afraid of our QB making a mistake, that you run on every 3rd and 5+ and concede a punt.

I've heard good coaches say that if guys have talent (and most in B1G should) that they even surprise themselves over what they can do in games. I've thought there is something to that. Greg looks at an offense like its a necessary evil that needs to be sandboxed. I'm pretty tired of that to be honest. He's been complaining about red zone issues for 15 years and the light never goes on for him. I was thrilled when Prime told his team "I'm almost 60 and dont have time for you to mature." Nothing wrong with making players feel you believe in them - then they can surprise you. Look what Boise did all those years or Army with its ham-n-eggers at bottom of recruiting list
 

RUShea

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Do you think if we “opened up” the playbook that there wouldn’t have been more sacks, more penalties, and more turnovers? I bet we would scored one more TD but given up at least two more. That math doesn’t add up.
We lost by 24. In your world, what is the end game? Is the goal to cover spreads or should we actually try to win games?
 

read option

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So what?
We lose by 34 instead of 24.
What's the difference?

Don't you think those additional reps would have been valuable experience for games later in the season we have a better chance to win?
Winning those games actually matter - not keeping it close against UM.

@rutgersal (the enternal optimist) said it best pregame. Rather lose by 100 throwing the kitchen sink than 24 playing it safe and conservative.
The difference is we stayed in the game longer with smart, safe playcalling. Call the game the way you suggest and we’re out of it by H with turnovers and short fields.
 

LotusAggressor_rivals

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We have one been one of the heaviest run based offenses so far this year.

It's not crazy to imagine that's unsustainable for success over the entire season.

Especially as we play better and better programs.
The play calling may have been dictated by the blowouts but we aren't going to be in blowouts every week.
Before the game, Schiano said that the Michigan Front 7 was one of the best in the nation and had no weaknesses. Yet RU futilely tried to run up the middle in 2 3rd and 1 situations. Then they tried a screen pass on 4th and 1 expecting a 300 LB OT to get out in space and block a CB on a play that fooled absolutely no one. Michigan defended it as if they'd been sitting in RU meetings all week. What worked against VT and Temple isn't going to work against Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State. I guess it's a sign of progress that they didn't do a direct snap to Langan. It's fine if you want to be run-heavy team, but you need a borderline dominant OL that excels at run blocking. The OL is improved, but they aren't that.