The Timmy Chang Chronicles Pt. 8: A trip to Ann Arbor comes up short
What can I say? We all knew Hawaii was outmatched and it showed. No shame on that. There’s levels to this game and the defending Big 10 champions are amongst the elite. Hawaii performed as well as can be expected but multiple decisions made by the coaching staff made me scratch my head.
Why pull Yellen in a bad spot? With Brayden Schager injured and Cammon Cooper not even making the trip, Joey Yellen was set to make his second straight start for Hawaii. We saw what he was against Western Kentucky and his first half performance was an extension on that. It wasn’t all his fault, in fact majority wasn’t. Michigan’s pass rush was continuously in the backfield, his receivers got little separation and well…we know past 20 yards, Yellen can’t hit the broad side of a barn. Listen, that’s fine. Alex Smith made a career worth close to 190 million for passes under 20 yards. What irritates me is that we as fans already knew this. We knew Michigan would control the line of scrimmage. Michigan would put pressure on the QB early and Michigan’s offense would be unstoppable. What I don’t understand is the lame duck, lack of ambition play calling. To start the game with “Marty-ball” or the classic Marty Schottenheimer offense of run on first down, run on second down, pass on third offensive ideology showed both a continual lack of understanding his players strength by OC Ian Shoemaker and laying down in defeat from HC Timmy Chang. I wanted UH to be daring. To play with nothing to lose. Go for a deep bomb from the jump, a trick play on offense or on kick off, something. This scared, run the ball offense is the antithesis of Hawaii football and I for one hate it.
Secondly the game was out of hand by halftime. Why didn’t the backup QBs get playing time? What harm would that do? It makes no sense and exposed the starters to more fatigue. Playing in Michigan combined with travel and personal commitments tires out key players like Parsons, Ta’ala and others. If Yellen is the guy for this season, all the starters should’ve been pulled by halftime.
The part that bothers me is the lack of ambition from the Warriors. The defense was put between a rock and a hard place this week and the offense did nothing to help. Not on the players but like Norm Chow’s Pro Style offense, UH isn’t equipped to consistently play with 11 or 12 personnel. It’s time to go back to 4 wide and get the ball out of the QBs hands quicker. More receiver screens, short routes, zone blocking schemes. UH’s offense lacks any set up plays, offensive penetration and true identity. It is very frustrating.
HC Timmy Chang has his work cut out for him but every game exposes Hawaii even more. I hope his recruiting ideology is spot on because on a day that saw multiple P5 upsets, the Bows were out coached, out played and had zero belief that they could win. Again I do not put that on the players. The players, those young men who give everything they have need help and I hope come next week, they get it. The continuous blame put on Todd Graham though valid, can and should only last so long. With a fifth straight bowl bid slipping from the Bows, it’s time for a revamp. Go Bows always and whoop Duquesne’s ass.
