Michigan Football: Al Borges' Offense Clicked When It Mattered Most

While Michigan's defense improved throughout the season, the offense sometimes struggled.

Taking most of the blame was offensive coordinator Al Borges, who came to the Wolverines from San Diego State along with Brady Hoke.

Borges, who has been a major college coordinator since 1995, was given the assignment of taking a read-option scheme and converting it to a power-I/west coast offense. 

He would be ditching the no-huddle look, in hopes of giving the defense more time on the bench.

Borges would also be retooling Denard Robinson, making him more of a passer than a runner.

As the season went on, the transition became difficult. Michigan had failed to establish a power rushing attack, and Robinson was mired in a passing slump.

Even though Robinson and Coach Hoke always had Borges' back, fans were beginning to question Michigan's play calling. 

The losses to Michigan State and Iowa brought forth the biggest concern.

Against the Spartans, fans questioned the fourth-and-one call from the Spartan nine midway through the fourth quarter. Michigan was driving for the tying score but Borges called a play action pass.

Robinson, you recall, was victim of a missed assignment and was sacked for a critical loss. 

The old adage claims that if a play is successful, it's because of the players, and if the play fails it's on the coach.

This time, tight end Brandon Moore missed his block but Borges took the heat. 

Borges also took the heat at Iowa when Robinson threw four incomplete passes with 16 seconds left and Michigan trailing by eight.

Never mind that Junior Hemingway's catch on the end line could have been ruled complete, and the miss to Roy Roundtree might have been interference. 

Regardless of the play-calling debate, The Michigan offense jelled against both Nebraska and Ohio State. The Wolverines scored a total of 85 points, rushed for 475 yards, passed for 347 and tallied 47 first downs. 

So give some credit where credit is due. Michigan's offense kept fighting to where even Rich Rodriguez would've been proud. 

For the Big Ten season, Michigan finished second in scoring offense (35.2), and third in total offense (431.6).

Equally interesting are the players who stepped up. Robinson, of course, received most of the headlines, but what about the emergence of Fitz Toussaint, Jeremy Gallon and Kevin Koger? And how can you forget the contributions of Martavious Odoms, Drew Dileo and Stephen Hopkins. 

While all but Koger and Odoms return from this group in 2012, it's not a stretch to expect the offense to be even stronger.