Play Calling Vs Execution (Al Borges Edition)

Hank from Breaking Bad?

They could definitely be related.

The interwebs are aflutter with upset Wolverine fans blaming Michigan's two losses on Al Borges.

Many of these folks love themselves some spread offense and do not want to see Denard Robinson "wasted" in a pro-style or west coast offense.  Many blamed the loss to Michigan State on the play calling of Al Borges.

"He passed it too much in a trash tornado." (agreed)

"4th and 1 play action resulted in sack by MSU corner and was a terrible call"  (meh, I already offered my opinion on this one, threw rock against paper, it happens) 

"Michigan should be in the shotgun almost exclusively" (would their defense still be as atrocious as it's been in recent years?  And if they were able to execute, which should come in time, won't it benefit Michigan to have elements of both?)

When RR came to Michigan he failed to adjust his system to the talent he had, though to be fair, he didn't have a whole lot of talent.  Hoke, on the other hand, inherited the B1G offensive player of the year and a top 10 offense.  The offense is still scoring pts and putting up yards, but it feels like there is regression going on.  I do believe Borges is doing his best to utilize his talent.  The main issue is it's difficult to teach all the intricacies of a play you've never run or taught in your long history as a football coach.  Football isn't a sport where you simply draw something up and then implement it.  You dissect every player's movement down to each step, turn of the hips, etc.  Everything matters and is important.  The best coaches make sure these fundamental things are in place and hammered into their player's brains.  It becomes hardwired exactly how to do things perfectly.  This takes more than one off-season.

When you see Denard struggle and Michigan's offense having difficulties, it's not specific play calling but rather execution.  I know you can say that about nearly every play in football "just execute!"  But my point is that teaching all the fundamentals needed to allow a player to execute without thinking is a long and arduous process. 

Borges knows football.  He's a smart guy who is honest and thoughtful about his approach to the game.  You can see this easily by listening or reading the transcript of his press conferences.  He understands he has this shiny weapon that has the ability to torture defenses...but he's never used that weapon before.  He is adjusting to Denard just as much as Denard is adjusting to him.  It's been 9 games with some mixed results.  We are likely to see more mixed results in these final 3.  The key for me will be if we see progress.

The light bulb has yet to come on for Borges or Denard.  I still believe it can happen in time, hopefully it won't be too late.