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Mazzccua is our best run blocker

I’ve not studied enough of OL this year, mostly cus they’re playing better than years past when I would rewatch to diagnose the train wreck.

Lutovsky and Evans both had some nice pulling plays yesterday, but I also noticed Mazzccua in on the short yardage runs.
Rhule emphasized Mazzccua was a backup, perhaps more related to his off field status, but it’s possible Luto is more trusted for their pulling guard plays.

Side note: Ben Scott did not have a good day snapping the ball at least 3-4 bad snaps from him.
 
Yeah the snaps cost us a couple plays on the ground, messed up the timing with the handoff. Luckily DR is tall and quick enough to corral them.
 
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I’ve not studied enough of OL this year, mostly cus they’re playing better than years past when I would rewatch to diagnose the train wreck.

Lutovsky and Evans both had some nice pulling plays yesterday, but I also noticed Mazzccua in on the short yardage runs.
Rhule emphasized Mazzccua was a backup, perhaps more related to his off field status, but it’s possible Luto is more trusted for their pulling guard plays.

Side note: Ben Scott did not have a good day snapping the ball at least 3-4 bad snaps from him.
At least that many. Thought this was messing with DR and timing of offense. Definitely hurt Buschini. Scott had a bad day.
 
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He played as an extra TE and was able to block down on some dudes who were not expecting to get what they got. That big kid is a major change from the finesse blockers that we have at tight end.
Maybe they'll use him like IL did with us and have him catch a td.
 
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Doesn’t appear we are getting a push upfront. A good deal of the running yardage is schemed counters, reverses rather than the oline opening up running lanes.
disappointing given we have the most experienced OLine in the league.
We looked the best in the I formation with a fullback lead but I think that limits Raiola in the passing game
 
Maybe we need to run that heavy set more often. I remember in the Frost era Minnesota use to bully are defense with those heavy sets, and they ran it repeatedly all game long.

I remember we came out against OSU (Frost) with all heavy sets and ran right down the field for a TD then went away from it for most of the game. 🤷‍♂️ Michigan, with top notch talent, abused OSU with their heavy sets…
 
Unless he did something to warrant being kicked off the team for the entire season (which he didn’t ) he should have been out there for the Illinois game. May have been sitting 6-0 and in the top 10 heading into Indiana
 
I wouldn’t be sad if we replaced Satt, and ran our offense under center.
JMO
Raiola took more snaps under center against Rutgers than in any other game this season (I think) and we used a fullback more than I ever remember as well- at least over the past six seasons or so.
 
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Doesn’t appear we are getting a push upfront. A good deal of the running yardage is schemed counters, reverses rather than the oline opening up running lanes.
disappointing given we have the most experienced OLine in the league.
We looked the best in the I formation with a fullback lead but I think that limits Raiola in the passing game
We had the most experienced OLine in the league. Corcoran is out and a freshman replaced him. Mazzcua is out and replaced by a junior. We have a Fr, Soph, Jr and 2 Sr playing.
 
I remember we came out against OSU (Frost) with all heavy sets and ran right down the field for a TD then went away from it for most of the game. 🤷‍♂️ Michigan, with top notch talent, abused OSU with their heavy sets…
That's not quite what happened, sadly - we went down two tds in the first quarter, then came out heavy on the next drive and eventually forced them to call timeout because they were so discombobulated. Out of the timeout we ran play action and threw deep to a wide-open Wandale, but the pass was overthrown and he jumped, tipped it, and it fell into the lap of a safety that was lying on the ground. One more example of nothing ever going right for that team.
 
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Scott had a couple of high snaps including the one where DR threw the int. I personally think DR panicked because of the bad snap and threw a pass he wouldn't normally make if he got it cleanly and was surveying the field.
Seriously, if DR requires every snap to be perfect and gets thrown off when they are not, he is in for a long career.

Should the same expectation be on him to throw every pass perfect?

It’s football.
 
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Doesn’t appear we are getting a push upfront. A good deal of the running yardage is schemed counters, reverses rather than the oline opening up running lanes.
disappointing given we have the most experienced OLine in the league.
We looked the best in the I formation with a fullback lead but I think that limits Raiola in the passing game
you don’t think Tom schemed up creating numbers advantages and running lanes with counters and reverses?
 
We’re running an offense that’s attractive to highly rated QB prospects who have a desire to play in the NFL. Like it or not, we’re a pro style offense. Not every play works on Saturdays or Sundays.
I think you hit the nail on the head, DR( or any high rated QB) didn’t come here to go under center and hand the ball off 40 times a game.
 
you don’t think Tom schemed up creating numbers advantages and running lanes with counters and reverses?
Fair
But we are 10th in the conference in rushing currently Those counters and reverses in the Osborne yrs were much effective when you can run between the tackles as well which I think we struggle to do currently.
Our yards per rush attempt is less this year than last despite having a threat in the passing game
Satt is having to scheme around a below avg oline
 
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Mindset is also lacking

We are a finesse team

I’ve come to accept it

We can get back to Bo levels of success playing patty cake with our soft conference while we have DR.
I agree as running the ball is not something you can turn off and on, you have to have the mindset to run it down someone’s throat repeatedly.

Sad to me that Bo level is all we can achieve with this roster. And on top of that there are people in our fanbase who think that 6-6 is an acceptable record this year.
 
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