Round Pegs in Square Holes? A Look at Michigan’s Offense

(I decided not to write anything on the PSU game because I don’t really have anything to say.  We played hard but got beat by a team that was: A. playing at home, B. loaded with veterans, C. much better than us.)

One of the popular current criticisms of Rich Rodriguez is that the players on this team don’t fit his offense and therefore he should “adapt” it to fit their talents. 

Purveyors of this view generally sound something like this: “He’s trying to fit round pegs into square holes!/He’s trying to fit square pegs into round holes!/Ahhhh Threet can’t run play Minor more this crap doesn’t work in the Big Ten!!!”

Some even lobby for a temporary return to a more conventional offensive look, as if lining up in the I-formation will magically cure our young QB’s inaccuracy or our third-string, walk-on tackle’s inability to block people.

Let’s get this out of the way right now: Michigan’s offense sucks because of youth/inexperience, inconsistency and injuries, not because they play the spread-option.  If they lined up in a pro-style, west coast, run ‘n’ shoot, wishbone, flexbone, single wing, or A-11, they would still struggle.  The results might vary a little bit, but this team would definitely not confuse anyone with 2001 Miami or 2005 USC. 

For those of you screaming for Coach Rod to adapt to his current players, I have some simple numbers for you (courtesy of Mgoblog).

West Virginia 2007: 26 percent pass, 74 percent run.
Michigan 2008: 46 percent pass, 54 percent run.

Pat White was better at running than throwing, so they ran it more.  Steve Threet is a better passer than runner, so we throw it more.  I understand we’ve been behind a lot, and therefore have had to throw more often, but this would not account entirely for a 20% shift in play-calling.

With that out of the way, I’d like to take a position-by-position look at Michigan’s current and future offensive personnel and how they fit into RichRod’s spread-option scheme.  Hint: these players fit a lot better than you might think.  (That’s what she said.)

Overview:

The current incarnation of the Rodriguez “Spot The Ball” spread is based on speed and tempo.  All 11 players need to be able to run, and the no-huddle approach necessitates a high level of conditioning. 

As in any offense, the play flows through the QB, in this case ideally a dual-threat type.  The offensive line employs a zone-blocking scheme, nearly identical to the one used by Michigan in 2006 and 2007 (Who says our offense is completely different?).  Rodriguez has said that it doesn’t really matter how big O-Linemen are, as long as they can move.

Backs and receivers each fall into two categories.  Outside receivers are taller, possession-types, and slot receivers are typically shorter, speedier, and more explosive.  Running backs are classified as either SB (Superback/All-Purpose) or MX (Max/Power).  Slot WR’s and SB’s are somewhat interchangeable in that they both can line up in the slot or backfield to take pitches or handoffs, or to catch screens.  

Tight ends should be tall and athletic, with more of a premium on receiving than blocking ability.

Spread Option Dream Team

If I could pick any recent college players to build an offense to these specifications, it would look like this:

QB - Michael Vick (the VT one, not the USP Leavenworth one)
SB - Reggie Bush, Warrick Dunn

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