EXACTLY Why Shoelace Stayed In

[Guest]

I watched the 2nd Half and am so much more convinced now that ... leaving DRob in was the right decision, especially when your argument is that "he might have gotten hurt."

This drive was the NEW offense ...it's what Borges said he'd do- combine Denard's strengths with a more Pro Style Offense that reduces the number of hits he takes and accomplishes ball control --6:10 taken off the clock w/ a gimme FG. If that isn't 'Michigan football,' I don't know what is!


The drive is broken down as follows:

--- Handoff to Shaw, no hit - 181yds total for DRob rushing at this time
* announcers complain about Gardner not being in
---Pass to Jackson on play action, no hit
* announcers complain again
--- QB designed draw, gain of 5, low impact hit
--- Handoff to Fitz, DRob nowhere near play...
--- Pitch to Vinny, long gain, DRob nowhere near play ...
--- Shotgun spread formation, handoff to Vinny, huge gain
* announcers complain - second & third time phrase "one play away" is used
--- I Formation, play action pass INC to Roundtree ... No hit
--- QB designed draw, gain of 4, runs out of bounds
* announcers suddenly get it - talking about what they'll look for on film and why DRob needs reps
--- Shotgun, 5-step drop, bullet to Gallon, no hit
--- Spread formation, inside handoff to Fitz
--- Shotgun, scramble ahead for 3, minimal hit
* announcers are scrambling a bit too -- now saying DRob needs the reps but its "at the expense" of Gardner ...
[Timeout M, announcers point out Gardner again]
--- I Formation, play action pass, overthrown, no hit

Field Goal

--- Enter Gardner agter EMU gives it back
--- Shotgun spread formation, handoff to Fitz ...er, Rawls who trips and falls for a loss
--- Shotgun spread formation, handoff to Rawls for gain of 3yds
--- QB designed draw, first down, minimal hit on Gardner (Thank God!)


Even the JV quality production of the BTN includes meetings about scripting storylines for the game. I think these guys went too heavy with the non-issue storyline

 

[Guest]

By any measure, any contact Shoelace had on that drive was minimal. He ran out of bounds, managed the clock, called a few audibles and ran a great mix of plays where he was distributing the ball. Football is a physical game. Borges called a brilliant sequence that series to get DRob real game experience running the Hybrid O.

Gardner will be fine when he needs to come in

 

[Guest]

Champ was right.

 

[Guest]

Because that is what Denard does,
Because that is the offense,
Because he is the starting QB,
Because this drive gave him the most complete and thorough drive of the season with the Borges offense starting to be integrated


There is no compelling argument against playing him.

The only thing that can be said is that "WHAT IF....." and you can't coach that way.

Now ... if we had a different person calling the offense, he'd have run the ball more. The drive would have likely stalled, if not taken far less time off the clock. Our starting QB ... the leader of the team benefitted from the drive, from managing the game, from calling audibles and leading the team down the field with a lead.

There was no "risk" to Denard on the drive. He ran out of bounds, avoided hits and on all but two plays on the drive, wasn't touched by the defense. A pro style QB can take hits all game long, just as severe or worse than a running QB.

Rich Rod ran the kid into the ground. It's clear to me Borges is far better at balancing Denard's skills with the new scheme and this drive was the first time he looked completely comfortable and it will pay dividends this Saturday.

 

[Guest]

I think Denard should only play when it's guaranteed he won't get hurt no matter what happens and he should be taken out of any game where Michigan is leading.

In a few weeks, against a Northwestern, and with another few games under his belt and in the rearview on the schedule, maybe you do put Gardner in.

And for the love of God, change that gay sig pic of yours.

 

[Guest]

You're changing your argument (again).

There were two plays on the entire drive and on neither play did Denard take a hit that was a greater risk than he'd face walking down a flight of stairs. He did *literally* hand the ball off ... to Vinny and Fitz. He ran play action and ran out of the I Formation. I took great pains to detail the drive play-by-play to help dispell the notion that he was at risk.

The announcers beat the "Garnder should be in" to a bloody pulp but even they were only really arguing Gardner needed the experience, not that Denard was in physical danger.

Any play, any time, any tackle ... believe me.

Terrell Davis' career came to an end while tackling a Jets defender who'd picked up a fumble because a Broncos lineman fell on him helping on the tackle.

You can't coach out of fear of what might happen when it might happen on any play. And all things relative, TWO plays does not constitute a crisis in my mind.

 

[Guest]

No kidding! Taking over 6 minutes off the clock while leading comfortably and settling for a "gimme" FG!

Talk about old school Michigan football!

Usually that's our first drive of the game though!