The Offense

[TotesMagotes]

Clearly the perception is that the defense is way behind the offense and that is probably the case. But the offense is pretty bad.

If you look at how the offense has performed on a per play basis over the first two games the numbers are scary bad.

4.98 total yards/play (89th nationally)
5.90 pass yards/attempt (99th nationally)
3.94 rush yards/attempt (73rd nationally)

And don't assume that because we put up 41 on BC that the numbers are scewed because of the K State game.

Against BC...

5.25 total yards/play
4.60 pass yards/attempt
6.12 rush yards/attempt

The rush yards/attempt look good when you factor in the two big Duke runs but when you take those out you're talking about a 3 yard average. Now, its not really fair take Duke's runs out because he is a big part of the offense but he may be a much bigger part than we would have hoped.

My point is, this offense has not been efficient through two games this year and if they continue to average 5 yards/play its going to be close to impossible for this team to score more than 20 to 25 points/game.

With the defense and offense on the pace they're currently at 5 wins is a stretch.

 

[lauderdaleballer]

I agree... Too be honest the performed the same way against KSU as they did against BC... Outside for 2 long runs, we had the same performance... My issue is that we can't run between the tackles... Everyone knows that when Duke comes in the game that he's running to the outside... We need to play better and I really don't like all the screen passes...

 

[5Ringz]

Mike James has turf toes on his legs.

I thought he was going to break out this year?

Sigh

 

[Cityboy4life82]

So far the offense is a product of the defense. Can't really judge the offense at this time. When a team continues to find themselves down 14 pts before the 8 minute mark of the first quarter it will have an impact on the play calling, scheme and game plan on offense.

I will say that for UM to compete the offense will have to win games and score if we are going to be weak on defense.

 

[Insanecane]

Fisch tends to like the shotgun formation a little too much. I beleive that affects our run blocking. To sit in shotgun most of the drive and then somehow have to go back to I formation road grading mode is a difficult changeup for a lot of offenses. Hence why a lot of offenses who want to run a successful I do it as their primary offense.

 

[umhurricane2511]

Fisch tends to like the shotgun formation a little too much. I beleive that affects our run blocking. To sit in shotgun most of the drive and then somehow have to go back to I formation road grading mode is a difficult changeup for a lot of offenses. Hence why a lot of offenses who want to run a successful I do it as their primary offense.

Don't really have much of a choice when you start every game down 14 points within the first 8 minutes.

 

[WhatTheHell]

The o-line looked like a giant piece of tissue paper on Saturday.

 

[ScubaCane]

They were manhandled by KSU

 

[UMFarArcher]

[QUOTE

Don't really have much of a choice when you start every game down 14 points within the first 8 minutes.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, that puts everyone on offense behind the eight ball. Everyone trying a bit too hard, reaching, just to catch up.

 

[DiegoCane]

FWIW, Fisch's offense was equal or worse in 2011 then Whipple's offense in 2010 and 2009 in both scoring and total offense.

 

[bathtubgin]

Mike James has turf toes on his legs.

I thought he was going to break out this year?

Sigh

I dunno about breaking out, but he'd fair a little better if Fisch would just stick to straight ahead, between the tackles stuff for him and quit trying pitches, etc. to him.

Of course he'd fair a lot better if he stopped going down at first contact every **** run.

 

[CaneAlmighty]

I've said it before, FISCH is doing less with more compared to what D'onforio has to work with.
FISCH is looking like Warner, Olsen and Nix rolled into one.

 

[mydas77]

Fisch is not helping our D at all with his style of play. Our D six and he refuses to play keep away from the the other offense. Posses the ball needs to be our offensive strategy going forward. Big oline, big back, run run run.

Keep that putrid defense off the field.

 

[Caneofthe718]

It always takes the vast majority of people longer to see a mediocre offensive coordinator on their own team for many reasons. I'm pretty much convinced though. Fisch is not it. I'm pretty sure D'Onofrio is not it either.

****** coordinator hires says what about the head coach? It's not good. If the schemes aren't there then that's always a recipe for long term mediocrity. It's still early into Golden's tenure but it's going to take a lot for me this season outside of wins and losses for me to turn back around on this. He says all the right things which is a very refreshing change but what I see on the field does not inspire long term confidence at all in this coaching staff.

I went into this year not expecting much due to several factors outside of Golden's hands for this year but the schemes are under his control and none of it looks good enough to carry anything right now. The coordinators that he chose look like liabilities right now and that says a lot about Golden as an evaluator X's and O's wise to me. I hope I'm wrong but I don't think I am.

 

[drifters1234]

The bottom line is that outside of bethune and duke, we have to win the turnover battle to have any chance of winning games this year.

 

[LuCane]

Fisch tends to like the shotgun formation a little too much. I beleive that affects our run blocking. To sit in shotgun most of the drive and then somehow have to go back to I formation road grading mode is a difficult changeup for a lot of offenses. Hence why a lot of offenses who want to run a successful I do it as their primary offense.

Don't really have much of a choice when you start every game down 14 points within the first 8 minutes.

You definitely have a choice when you're goal to go. I think it's just Fisch's style.

And, I agree with the overarching point of this thread. The defense is ****ed. We all know that. But, the offense has underperformed from what they're capable of doing.

 

[CaneAlmighty]

It always takes the vast majority of people longer to see a mediocre offensive coordinator on their own team for many reasons. I'm pretty much convinced though. Fisch is not it. I'm pretty sure D'Onofrio is not it either.

****ty coordinator hires says what about the head coach? It's not good. If the schemes aren't there then that's always a recipe for long term mediocrity. It's still early into Golden's tenure but it's going to take a lot for me this season outside of wins and losses for me to turn back around on this. He says all the right things which is a very refreshing change but what I see on the field does not inspire long term confidence at all in this coaching staff.

I went into this year not expecting much due to several factors outside of Golden's hands for this year but the schemes are under his control and none of it looks good enough to carry anything right now. The coordinators that he chose look like liabilities right now and that says a lot about Golden as an evaluator X's and O's wise to me. I hope I'm wrong but I don't think I am.

It's hard to fault Golden for bringing in D'onforio who was with Golden during Temple's remarkable turnaround. D'onofrio got Temple to a Top 20 Total Defense Ranking. So there is favorable background to making a case for bringing D'onforio with him. They both had success together and have chemistry and it seems like Golden trusts D'onofrio. Trust is big when it comes to coaching. The draw back is firing a friend and someone that you have a good history with is very very hard and usually doesn't happen unless the HC gets fired.

Fish is another story. There is nothing that points to Fisch being any good as a OC. As QB coach he seems to be fantastic. Harris's average year can be credited to Fisch. Great. But that's about it. His offense is all over and place with no identity. He's had the talent and experience edge on offense relative to what D'onofrio is working with and yet produces similar mediocre results.
The offense should be the one carrying this team and it shouldn't take a true freshman named Duke Johnson to bail out the offense.
The offense should be setting the tone. Moving the ball, getting decent Time of possession, and scoring and taking the crowd out of the game. we shouldn't be settling for as many FG's as we've had too.
Say what you will, but right now I'm more sold on D'onofrio considering the youth and little depth he was handed plus what he did at Temple than I'm sold on Fisch.