Blaming the players is a bad look. Especially when the OC can't coach worth shit.

Devon Dampier is still killing it at Utah and Beck looks mediocre at best.

Row 1 behind the MI bench. What signs should I bring?

#FreeZachMarshall

An image of a Rhino 🦏with a ❌

Ideas?

In the last 6 quarters (2 against Penn State & Indiana)

Michigan running
Between tackles 7.4 YPC
Outside the tackles 1.4 YPC

For the season
Between tackles 5.7
Outside tackles 3.3

For the 3.3 YPC outside tackles, that ranks us 136/138 in the country for the season

They’ve run the ball outside the tackles on 67% of their carries this season which is 5th most in college football, even though we’re clearly more successful between the tackles

We ran rhino over 50% of the time Saturday and the rhino (TE) released 2 times for a pass, once on the goal line. Therefore, we had 2/3 receivers against 4 DBs and 3 Linebackers when the RBs didn’t release or stayed in for pass protection

Absolutely horrible scheme

Just seeing how happy him and his teammates were on that final drive was so heart warming. I really needed that! I will always root McCarthy no matter what unless he's playing my Lions!

Info Graphic

I've been digging pretty heavily into Michigan's offensive play-calling this season, trying to put some actual numbers behind what we've all been watching.

One thing that's frustrated me with Jason Beck's offense is how often we seem to run east-west instead of attacking downhill. So I wanted to see if the numbers actually backed that up.

I analyzed play-by-play data from 122 FBS teams through October 24, looking at how frequently teams run left or right compared to up the middle, and how productive those runs are.

Here's what I found:

How often Michigan runs east-west: - Michigan: 47.1% of directional runs - FBS average: 40.8% - Michigan ranks 26th out of 122 teams in frequency.

How effective those runs are: - Michigan: 4.09 yards per carry - FBS average: 5.89 yards per carry - Michigan ranks 117th out of 122 teams in production.

So Michigan runs east-west more frequently than roughly 79% of the teams in our dataset, despite being less productive on those runs than roughly 95% of them.

And here's another interesting part: Michigan averages 4.55 yards running up the middle, compared to 4.09 running left or right.

Now, there's an important distinction here. The play-by-play data identifies runs as left, middle, or right. Not every left or right run necessarily goes outside the tackles, so east-west is being used as a general description rather than a perfect classification.

And I'm not suggesting that every unsuccessful run is Beck's fault. Blocking, personnel, defensive alignment, and execution all matter.

But I do think it's fair to question why we're calling these runs at a higher rate than most of the country when we're getting considerably less production from them.

This is what I've been trying to understand about Beck's philosophy. Is he adapting his offense to what Michigan's players are actually doing well, or is he continuing to call the offense he wants to run regardless of the results?

I'm not arguing Michigan should exclusively run between the tackles. Obviously, you need variety to keep defenses honest.

But when you're near the bottom of FBS in production on a type of run you call more often than most teams, I think that's worth examining.

At what point does sticking with your offensive philosophy become refusing to adjust to your personnel?

Data Source & Methodology

All statistics were calculated using ESPN's college football play-by-play data for the 2026 season, through October 24.

I downloaded the individual game records and used Python to analyze rushing plays across 122 FBS programs with usable data.

Here's how the numbers were calculated:

• Rushing direction: Runs were classified as left, middle, or right using directional information in ESPN's play descriptions.
• East-west frequency: Left and right rushes were combined and divided by the total number of runs with an identifiable direction.
• Effectiveness: Total rushing yards divided by rushing attempts for the applicable direction.
• National comparison: Each team's frequency and yards-per-carry figures were calculated separately. The FBS averages represent the equally weighted average of the teams in the dataset, rather than pooling every rushing attempt together.
• Rankings: Teams were ranked by their percentage of left/right rushing attempts and their average yards per carry on those attempts.

A few important limitations: This is a 122-team sample, not every FBS program. ESPN's directional descriptions are not the same as detailed film charting, so some off-tackle runs may be classified alongside true outside runs. Quarterback rushes and scrambles may also be included. The frequency and efficiency figures were produced using slightly different classification filters, which is why their Michigan carry totals aren't identical.

This is descriptive analysis, not an opponent-adjusted efficiency model. It doesn't account for defensive strength, blocking assignments, or play design.

The goal isn't to claim these numbers prove Beck is a bad play-caller. It's to examine whether the actual production supports how frequently Michigan chooses to attack in certain directions.

Source: ESPN College Football — game-level play-by-play data, independently compiled and analyzed with Python.

That’s why it’s so important we move away from Beck now and Whittingham wakes up and realizes this isn’t low stakes Utah.

We just saw against Indiana what we will see in Columbus if everything stays the same. I think Jay Hill and that defense will be healthy and ready to hold that offense down. But if Beck is still calling plays, we will squander all opportunities, settle for field goals and ultimately fall short despite a valiant effort by the kids.

A simple offense we master between now and then could be all we need. We must demote Beck from play calling and ideally fire him to win back the locker room he doesn’t realize he’s lost.

Fans, media, staff, boosters, donors please continue to ask hard questions and challenge Whittingham to wake up. Beating Ohio St is the only goal still on the table.

Coach Kyle, please understand…this is Michigan. Losing 3+ games isn’t acceptable. Losing to Ohio State isn’t acceptable. We can line up against anyone on any day and find a way to win. We expect to.

Do what needs to be done to give us the best chance in Columbus and to prove you get what this means to coach here.

Simply asking “what do you think the benefits of Rhino are” is not strong enough.

“Through 7 games your outside run and passing schemes have not worked at all yet you guys have continued to do the same thing after change was promised. What is causing you guys to stay on this broken path? Is it time to use last years scheme as that was much more successful?”

Should be the questions at the very least.

So I get Whit isn’t gonna fire Beck halfway through the season. But is he so thick to not understand Beck is literally costing us games?

What if he promotes Alford to co-offensive coordinator?

Just to play it out and see if there’s a difference? We’re literally doing the definition of crazy. And if we do this for the rest of the season then I’ll lose every ounce of respect for Whit.

DO. SOMETHING. DIFFERENT.

Hey my Fiancé got me ticket for my birthday we are driving from New York. I have a small grill and we’re going to do burgers dress up and a play music. Looking for someone to join. Or anyone can join us too.. we will be dressed in Michigan gear as well as being Cookies and Milk. Young Thirties couple.

"John, i love you. I love jj"

–Jim Harbaugh

I call it the Bonk Back.

So what you do is you get a receiver 1 on 1. You throw it to the defender. It bounces off the defender’s head and our wide receiver catches it. It’s unbeatable!

Indiana regressed, Ohio State and Oregon both lost their QB’s to injuries, and UCLA is still a bit of an unknown.

I think the most widely accepted train of thought is that, we're stuck with a zombified Kyle Whittingham as our head coach through the 2027 season at minimum. Utterly befuddled and despondent on the sidelines and in his press conferences.

And while I do think that probably does seem like the most likely and unfortunate fate that awaits Michigan Football for the next 14+ months; I can also see a very realistic scenario unfold that makes the situation so untenable for the golden goose athletic program, that some assembly of shot callers are forced to intervene and put a bullet in this monstrosity before next season begins:

• Whittingham continues this tone-deaf coach speak charade during the week while the offense shits down it's leg for the balance of the season
• Boos and heckles loudly rain down at the Big House when Michigan's offense is on the field, forcing broadcast booths to address the audible disdain from 110K+ fed up fans for the balance of home games this season
• Jason Beck is still employed and calling plays when Michigan goes down to Columbus and loses a competitive game, but offensively gets flayed alive by Ohio State's defense
• The overwhelming majority of players with plausible transfer or NFL draft prospects elect to sit out some meaningless Christmas Eve bowl game
• The roster absolutely craters the day the transfer portal opens, comprised mostly of players thought to be relied upon as key contributors on the 2027 roster

Like... what the fuck would Michigan do if something approximating this dooms day, and yet somewhat realistic scenario plays out?

Would anyone feel confident shuffling a detached and apathetic Kyle Whittingham into the transfer portal to rebuild the roster he and his staff just desecrated, making the pitch for Michigan against the likes of Cignetti, Mario Christobal or Lane Kiffin?

Do we want him hiring a new offensive coordinator after this year's spectacular - and very public - gong show with Jason Beck?

Are boosters going to continue donating millions of dollars to a haphazard, defunct operation led by a coach too checked out to navigate a post-game press conference, let alone lead a blue blood college football program?

If it becomes too glaringly obvious this disaster gets exponentially worse the longer Whittingham stays employed, the people that foot the bill should feel obligated to start making an unavoidable calculus: the upfront cost of a 4-year buyout vs. the opportunity cost of reducing your cash cow football program to rubble for another season at minimum.

Either way you slice it, this season is a train wreck. In the absence of a seemingly impossible epic program rally to end the sason - with players and coaches reunited in their collective commitment to the program; The next best option is to get rid of KW as soon as possible. If something approximating a brutal scenario such as this one plays out, do you think it forces decision makers to pursue extreme measures, or are we destined for ruin for the foreseeable future?