patrick omameh

Kelvin Grady

Dropped passes: "We were frustrated, but it happens. Unfortunately it happened in a pretty big ballgame." They'll catch some extra balls this week, and avoid it happening again. "There's nothing that happened on Saturday that's not fixable." Even the best players drop the ball sometimes.

The offense has high expectations for each week, and had more mistakes Saturday than they've probably had for the rest of the year. "We had to make some changes, and unfortunately some of those changes didn't work."

Denard was poised, but got caught in a couple situations he's not used to being in. He spoke up in the locker room after the game, and got a message across to the whole team. Said that the team had to work to avoid feeling that way again. "In his eyes, you could just see it. He's hungry."

Iowa's a great team with a great defense. "We've gotta be ready for it and we are."

"We're 5-1, not 1-5. Even though we lost to a pretty good Michigan State team in a rivalry, we've gotta move on."

"Sometimes when you're winning and everything's going perfect, we don't see the things we need to work on."

Patrick Omameh

"I feel like we were doing pretty well early in the game, and they switched up some looks on us." Michigan adjusted, but wasn't able to execute as well. Being unable to get the pass game going hurt as well. "If we executed the way that we should have, it would have been more favorable on our side."

Team had grown accustomed to 500 yards of offense every week. They learned they can't just expect it, they have to work for it.

The team should respond well coming off a loss. "It's going to be something to grow from."

Iowa defense - "They have a talented front four. They have a talented defense overall." Big, strong guys on the front. "They're a sound defense. They won't throw a lot of different things at you, but they're really good at what they do."

Denard "was clearly upset after the game. We all were." He told the team that it's going to be unacceptable for them to play that poorly again.

Greg Banks

Resolve going into this week's game. "It's a learning experience." They'll recuperate and go into the week with the same focus as last week.

"Losing is losing. Every game for us is a big game." Trying to prove that they can accomplish their goals despite setbacks.

Leaders - seniors all have to step up. "There's some things I could have done better myself."

It was hard coming in as a young guy, the freshmen this year will get it soon enough. "You just gotta bring them up to speed. The game's gonna go how the game goes." Seniors need to help keep them up to speed on the field. Off the field, they lead by example in the weight room, etc.

"We have the players to defend anybody that we play. It just comes down to execution and keeping a clear focus."

"We aren't blind to the fact that we have some glaring weaknesses, but we're working hard to get on those."

Ryan Van Bergen

"We just didn't play gap-sound football" against the run. Guys were trying to make plays in the wrong gaps.

Hard for the young guys to come in without seniors to teach them the ropes in the secondary. "I think that as they grow, the defense is gonna get better and better." That improvement can happen from week-to-week. Once a couple different guys "click," the defense should be good.

In the locker room after the game, Coach Rod said that one loss can't deter the team from their goals. There's a lot of season left. "We still have a lot of opportunities to prove ourselves as a good team."

Fewer injuries than last year, losing Molk was a big deal. The losses started snowballing. This year, the seniors have made the underclassmen understand that there can't be a letdown.

Molk and Schilling, Roundtree, Denard are offensive leaders. All three D linemen, Jonas and Obi "try their best." And Craig. J.T. Floyd and Jordan Kovacs are the leaders at DB.

"I'm very confident in the gameplan." They knew what Michigan State was going to run, and that's what made it so disappointing, because they knew what was coming. "We were prepared for it all week, and unfortunately we just didn't get it done when it came time."

Formation notes: Michigan debuted something sort of like Gator Heavy:

This isn't different personnel than the shotgun 2TE set that Denard scored on to beat Notre Dame but deploying the two TEs as H-backs gives Michigan added flexibility and unpredictability in the run game. I called this "Shotgun 2H," since if I did call it Wolverine Heavy I'd have to come up with something else if and when we see a formation that adds McColgan or Brandon Moore to the mix by taking one of the WRs off the field. Wolverine Super Heavy? Wolverine Weis*?

Other than that it wasn't too exciting. Bowling Green stuck with base personnel the whole game, deployed a ton of eight-man fronts either by alignment or a safety walking down before the snap, and played way more man than any previous opponent. You can see their "base 4-4," as I called it, above. Here's what I called "nickel 4-3," as the slot LB is way outside the box:

This almost always saw a safety walk down, FWIW, and often had the nickel LB blitz for contain.

Substitution notes: You know all about the carousel of incredibly dangerous quarterbacks. Lewan started at left tackle and Huyge did not get in until Dorrestein came off with a slight injury. On the last series before Michigan sent in the backups, Barnum replaced Schilling at left guard.

At tailback, Shaw and Smith remained the starters with Hopkins getting the first non-those-guys opportunities. When he fumbled it was back to the starters for a while, then Cox, then Toussaint, then Teric Jones. With Shaw and Toussaint "doubtful" for Indiana per RR, Hopkins and Cox are poised to get more first-team opportunities against Indiana.

At wide receiver, the usual rotation with less Terrence Robinson and more Jeremy Gallon.

*(Fairly indifferent to you at this point, xoxo.)

On with show:

Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M20	1	10	Shotgun 2-back	2	0	3	Base 4-3	Run	Inside zone	Smith	5
Lewan starts at LT. BG slants a bit and the backside DT gets into the A gap past Schilling; Omameh tripped and so the frontside doesn?t look to good; Smith(+1) cuts it back behind Schilling. DE is moving laterally down the line and is in good position until Shaw pops him backwards, allowing Smith to snake his way for decent yardage. Lewan clamped onto a LB downfield, FWIW. He was not blocking for the cutback so it didn't really matter.
RUN+: Smith						RUN-:
M25	2	5	Shotgun 2-back	2	0	3	Base 4-4	Pass	Rollout quick out	Roundtree	7
Man coverage so Roundtree has plenty of room working against a safety. Robinson seems a little late on this but this is not a good D and it doesn't matter; Roundtree has time to catch and cut back inside past the safety overrunning the play to pick up some YAC and a first down. (CA,3, protection 1/1)
M32	1	10	Shotgun 2-back	2	0	3	Base 4-4	Run	Zone stretch	Smith	5
BG flowing hard, so Molk and Omameh have no chance of scooping the playside DT; Omameh ends up taking him and riding him down the line; Shaw stands up a LB in the playside B gap. Molk(+1) sees what's going on and adjusts, picking off the MLB as he shoots up into the gap and giving Smith(+1) a crease he finds and hits. Schilling(-1) could do nothing with the backside DT, who did a good job of not getting sealed and makes a diving tackle just as Smith looks to be off to the races.
RUN+: Molk, Smith						RUN-: Schilling
M37	2	5	Shotgun 2-back	2	0	3	Base 4-4	Pass	Corner	Roundtree	35
BG has been putting their DBs in man on Michigan receivers and being very aggressive up front so Michigan goes after it, running a hitch/corner combo that opens up as Roundtree gets his man turned and ends up with yards of separation. Robinson reads it and pulls up on his roll, hitting Roundtree in the numbers. This was pretty easy but I usually DO any long pass that's right on the money and this is a 30-yarder to the edge of the field that could not be thrown better. (DO, 3, protection 1/1, RPS +2)
O28	1	10	Shotgun 2-back	2	0	3	Base 4-3	Run	Zone stretch	Shaw	12
Similar to the last stretch but to the other side: playside BG DT does not get sealed and neither does the backside guy. I'm not minusing either G here because they do control their guys well enough; neither manages any penetration. Molk(-1) whiffs on the MLB, though, and he's through on Shaw. Shaw(+1) runs through a tackle, then spins through another one(+2) past four BG defenders, stumbling his way for a first down. Lewan(+1) engaged the DE, who then attempted to shuck him upfield; Lewan was off balance for a moment but maintained contact and finished the kickout, providing a large amount of space for Shaw to operate in. Smith isn't getting a plus but I appreciate his instinct to bash the DT flowing past Schilling; too often in these situations under Carr guys just ran by and problems resulted.
RUN+: Shaw(3), Lewan						RUN-: Molk
O16	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	QB power	Robinson	9
A down G scheme where Koger and Dorrestein block down on the playside DL and Omameh pulls around to the outside. Omameh(+1) has the agility to wall off the MLB, who charges outside to force Robinson back into safety help; Molk(+1) got out on the WLB, providing a ton of space that Robinson hits it up into. This was the GTFO play.
RUN+: Molk, Omameh, Robinson, Koger						RUN-:
O7	2	1	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	Dive	Shaw	3
A power look with Lewan and Schilling doubling the backside DT; Molk and Omameh double the playside DT. Koger kicks out a DE and this leaves the WLB unblocked. Schilling(+1) peels off the double to get a shove on the MLB blazing into the picture, giving Shaw a spot to cut up behind Lewan, who's burying a dead donkey. A note: I try to keep +/- about in line with how good a play was; as the field compresses I get more generous since a two-yard run from the six is much better than a two yard run from the 50.
RUN+: Schilling, Lewan						RUN-:
O4	1	G	Shotgun 2TE	1	2	2	Base 4-3	Run	Inside zone	Shaw	2
Omameh(+1) gets under one DT and kicks him out. Schilling gets a good shove on the BG DT but doesn't seal him away; there is still a big gap right up the middle. Molk again lets the MLB by him but I think that's partially on Schilling not getting his block exactly right. I won't minus Schilling because he did hit this guy back far enough that it's still two yards in a situation when you do that twice and you get a TD.
RUN+: Omameh						RUN-:
O2	2	G	Shotgun 2TE	1	2	2	Base 4-3	Run	QB lead draw	Robinson	2
BG actually does a good job of coming underneath the blocks on to the playside but in doing so they just open up the outside, which Robinson(+1) reads, using his agility to walk in.
RUN+: Robinson						RUN-:
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 7-0, 12 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M12	1	10	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 4-3	Pass	PA circle	Grady	9
This curl-flat combo was picture paged against ND. It looks like BGSU is running almost all man here, so the guy covering this is the safety. He is nowhere near the LOS when the play starts so it's a fairly simple read for Denard to see the open guy and hit him. Grady turns upfield for some YAC. (CA, 3, protection 1/1)
M21	2	1	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Nickel 4-3	Run	QB lead draw	Robinson	24
Hopkins in. Schilling(+1) locks out his DT; Omameh(+1) locks on to his guy and starts driving him downfield, which is important because the BGSU LB is attacking the LOS. Hopkins(+1) gets a good block on him but the quick reaction and Molk(-1) missing another LB means Robinson can't cut it behind Omameh's excellent block but has to hit up the small crease Hopkins has provided. Second level and more because of excellent blocks from Stonum(+1) and Grady(+1).
RUN+: Schilling, Omameh, Hopkins, Grady, Stonum, Robinson						RUN-: Molk
M45	1	10	Shotgun trips	1	0	4	Nickel 4-3	Pass	Flanker screen	Hemingway	7
Hemingway is the outside WR; the other two guys attempt to get him blocks, with Roundtree doing okay since the BGSU CB attempts to go inside of him, opening up the outside and a good gain. (CA, 3, screen)
O48	2	3	Shotgun trips	1	0	4	Nickel 4-3	Run	Belly	Hopkins	2
Correct handoff(ZR+1) as BGS blitzes from the backside, getting two guys in unblocked. Hopkins is immediately tackled by the second guy, falling forward for a couple. (RPS -1)
RUN+: N/A						RUN-: N/A
O46	3	1	Shotgun 2TE	1	2	2	Base 4-3	Run	QB stretch	Robinson	46
Schilling(-1) does not get a seal again and this time his guy shoots into the backfield, which is bad. Robinson(-1) misses a pretty obvious cut since Omameh(+1) had sealed the backside DT and there was a crease up the middle. He heads outside, running past both Schilling's guy and a charging linebacker, then stopping on the sideline for a safety to overrun him and slide to the ground. He leaps past a tackle attempt from a corner and is then into the open field, at which point it's academic. Points to Dorrestein, Stonum, and Webb for getting downfield blocks that assured no BG players had angles. Oh, yeah: Robinson +4. BWS picture-pages.
RUN+: Robinson(3), Webb, Dorrestein, Omameh, Stonum						RUN-: Schilling
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 14-0, 9 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M9	1	10	Shotgun 2-back	2	0	3	Base 4-3	Run	QB lead draw	Robinson	42
BG slanting again; this time Molk(+1) realizes it and starts a combo block with Schilling on the backside DT, bashing him downfield; Omameh(+1) seals the playside guy. Schilling(+1) peels off the combo to take out the WLB and there's a big hole; Smith is one on one with the MLB and gets a hat on the guy; hole is big enough for Robinson to move through it. Robinson(+2) then smoothly jukes a safety down in the box and is off, getting great downfield blocks from Odoms(+1) and Grady(+1); the last guy has an angle and tackles him as Robinson crosses the 50. Robinson bangs his knee and is done for the day.
RUN+: Robinson(2), Omameh, Molk, Schilling, Odoms, Grady						RUN-:
O49	1	10	Shotgun 2-back	2	0	3	Base 4-3	Run	Zone read keeper	Gardner	1
Gardner in. Correct read(ZR+1) as the DE crashes down and there's no one scraping over, but instead of slamming it upfield into acres of space he cuts outside and gets tackled by the cornerbacks.
RUN+:						RUN-: Gardner
O48	2	9	Shotgun 2-back	2	0	3	Base 4-3	Pass	PA fly	Stonum	35
Stonum(+2, though I don't track this) smokes the corner with a great double move, getting yards of separation. There is no deep safety. Gardner has okay protection and launches it deep but the ball is well underthrown, forcing Stonum to cut back and haul it in underneath. This is something Stonum could not do last year; he's made a leap. Some part of the throw ending up short was Dorrestein(-1) letting his guy in on Gardner, shortening his release. Still... (MA, 2, protection 2/3, Dorrestein -1)
O13	1	10	Shotgun 2-back	2	0	3	Base 4-3	Run	Zone read keeper	Gardner	2
Incorrect read since the crashing DE is not the guy to read since Shaw is going to cut him; it's the scrape backer who keeps contain. Gardner is run down from behind by a late blitzer who came free and either would have nailed Smith in the backfield if the handoff was made or (more likely) run right by him and given Smith a good shot at a TD. (RPS -1)
RUN+:						RUN-: Gardner
O11	2	8	Shotgun 2-back	2	0	3	Base 4-3	Pass	Bubble screen	Gallon	11
Just man on the edge and Gallon's guy is ten yards off the LOS so unless he tears at this immediately he's not in great shape; he does not. Hemingway(+1) blocks his corner into the sideline, leaving Gallon(+1) one on one with the safety, who he beats for a touchdown. (CA, 3, screen)
RUN+: Gallon, Hemingway						RUN-:
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 21-0, 4 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M26	1	10	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Nickel 4-3	Run	Belly	Hopkins	4
Slot LB is the contain and is tearing downhill so probably a correct handoff despite the DE crashing on Hopkins (ZR +1, RPS -1). Hopkins(+1) does well to carry the tackler four yards.
RUN+: Hopkins						RUN-:
M30	2	6	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 4-3	Run	PA circle	Roundtree	5
Same play as earlier; BG again in man and the safety too far away to effectively combat this, overrunning the play. Roundtree cuts past him but slips as he goes and stumbles short of the sticks when he had an opportunity to pick up a lot of YAC. (CA, 3, protection 1/1)
M35	3	1	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	Inside zone	Hopkins	7
Omameh(+1) latches onto and controls one DT with help from Molk(+1), who then pops off and whacks the MLB. Schilling and Lewan double the other guy and handle him, though really they should. Hopkins slams it up in the crease, picking up the first down and a bit more.
RUN+: Omameh, Molk, Schilling, Lewan						RUN-:
M42	1	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	Zone stretch	Hopkins	19
The classic stretch we haven't really seen much of this year. Molk(+2) and Omameh(+2) execute a textbook scoop block, which seals the playside DT and dooms BG. This is tough to do and they make this look easy. After they seal the guy Molk crushes him backwards and Omameh peels off to batter the MLB; Webb(+1) kicks out another LB and Schilling(+1) successfully delays the backside LB with a cut; Lewan(+1) cut the backside DE. Essentially everyone on the OL except Dorrestein dominated his man on this play, and Dorrestein still did a good job of kicking out the DE. Hopkins has huge lanes to hit, which he does, running through an arm tackle and into the secondary. (Run+: Molk(2), Omameh(2), Schilling, Webb, Lewan.)
O39	1	10	Shotgun 2-back	2	0	3	Base 4-3	Run	Inside zone	Smith	4
BG slants under the blocking, which gives M trouble as Omameh and Dorrestein are split on the backside and Molk and Schilling have a tough time with the playside DT. The latter guys do get their guy under control but do not get out on LBs; Omameh(-1) does not help seal the other guy and he comes through Dorrestein. Dorrestein avoids a minus for pushing the guy beyond the play; allowing Smith(+1) to cut behind it and pick up an excellent edge block from Hopkins(+1) to pick up a few.
RUN+: Hopkins, Smith						RUN-: Omameh
O35	2	6	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	Zone stretch	Hopkins	-2
Well, first Michigan gets a deserved chop block call as Schilling(-1) engages with the backside DT and then Lewan chops him. I blame Schilling since Lewan had this guy. On the frontside BG again slants under, this time getting past Molk(-2) and Omameh(-1), leaving Hopkins facing down two guys in the backfield. He gets hit and fumbles. Fumbles are not a part of the run tracking.
RUN+:						RUN-: Schilling, Omameh, Molk(2)
Drive Notes: Fumble, 21-0, 1 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M24	1	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Nickel 4-3	Run	Inside zone	Smith	9
Gardner should have pulled with a TE coming to block the backside DE and Lewan moving out on the WLB (ZR -1). Schilling doesn't get a seal but manages to control his guy enough that he can't make a play in the backfield. With an unblocked linebacker coming up into the playside B gap the cutback's where it's at. BG DE does a good job of flowing down the line and cutting it off but Koger(+1) gets enough of him to provide Smith(+1) a window behind him; Lewan has engaged the WLB and though he ends up playside Lewan just donkeys him to the ground, giving Smith another cutback lane he takes; a safety fills at this point.
RUN+: Smith, Koger, Lewan						RUN-: Gardner
M33	2	1	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	Zone stretch	Smith	11
Lewan(+1) gets a face-planting cut block on the backside DT, leaving him crumbled on the ground. On the frontside Molk(+1) and Omameh(+1) get a good scoop on the playside guy; Omameh pops out on a LB. BG brought a safety down late and has a guy in the gap, though, as Webb got caught up in some wash and can't get out front. Because of the Lewan cut, though, there's a huge cutback lane. Schilling(+1) gets a shove on the WLB and Smith has a lane, leaving a guy over the slot receiver to recover and tackle. Handoff was correct (ZR +1).
RUN+: Lewan, Molk, Schilling, Omameh, Smith						RUN-:
M44	1	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	Zone read keeper	Gardner	3
Should hand off with the DE maintaining responsibility; this is compounded by a safety filling fast, leaving three guys out on Gardner with no shot for him to do much (ZR-1).
RUN+:						RUN-: Gardner
M47	2	7	Shotgun 2-back	2	0	3	Nickel 4-3	Pass	PA Fly	Gardner	Inc
MICH obviously pissed about all this cover zero safety nonsense, so they go deep. Gardner sets up in the pocket and this time the pocket is excellent. He lays one out to Hemingway, who's got a step on the DB; DB falls; ball hits Hemingway in the hands at the ten... dropped. Breastonian. (DO, 3, protection 2/2)
M47	3	7	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 4-3	Pass	Post	Gardner	53 (pen + 2)
Gardner knows he has Grady on a linebacker and goes right to him, feathering a ball on a post route that fits perfectly in a window between that LB and the safety, who takes a terrible angle and turns a big gainer into a touchdown. Molk gets it called back for whacking some guy. (DO, 3, protection 2/2)
M49	3	5	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 4-3	Pass	Slant	Hemingway	16
Zone this time; double slants to one side of the field. Roundtree's interior slant drags a defender and opens up Hemingway's; Gardner nails it for the first down. Finally. (CA+, 3, protection 2/2)
O35	1	10	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 4-3	Pass	PA circle	Gallon	Inc
BG prepared for this after seeing it a few times and blitzes into it, getting a guy in free(RPS -1). Gardner has an opportunity to make a play but his pass is inaccurate as he gets hit as he throws. Still think his delivery gets poor when he's under duress. I am going to mark this IN because the ball is out before he gets hit. (IN, 0, protection 0/2, team, RPS -1)
O35	2	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-3-	Run	Zone stretch	Shaw	3
BG again slanting under blocks. Lewan(+1) does an excellent job to react to it, latch onto the guy, and shove him out of the RB's path, giving Shaw a lane with Koger(+1) kicking out a blitzing LB. Schilling blocks a linebacker on the second level but Dorrestein(-1) could not do anything with the WLB, who flows down the line and tackles. RPS -1.
RUN+: Lewan, Koger						RUN-: Dorrestein
O32	3	7	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Nickel 4-3	Pass	Flare screen	Shaw	2
Great read by one of the BG DTs, who takes off after Omameh as soon as he feels him release. A safety is screaming down past blockers as well but while this play looks grim Shaw might have a cutback lane for big yardage if the DT(!) isn't quick enough to get out there and tackle him from behind. (CA, 3, screen)
O30	4	5	Shotgun empty	1	0	4	Nickel 4-3	Pass	Drag	Hemingway	Inc
Zone behind a four-man rush; Gardner cannot find anything and tries to hit Hemingway on a drag. He is between two guys, and one of them almost intercepts. Very poor decision since he was short of the sticks anyway. (BR, 0, protection 2/2)
Drive Notes: Turnover on downs, 21-7, 4 min 2nd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M31	1	10	Shotgun trips	1	0	4	Nickel 4-3	Pass	Flanker screen	Odoms	2
Tate in. TRobinson(-1) gets chucked by the guy he's blocking and Roundtree(-1) whiffs on a cut, leaving Odoms dealing with two guys and no blocks. He gets what he can. (CA, 3, screen)
RUN+:						RUN-: Roundtree, TRob
M33	2	8	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 4-3	Pass	Bubble screen	Roundtree	0
TRobinson(+1) gets a good cut this time, but instead of heading straight upfield and either juking the linebacker coming out on him or plowing into him and getting somewhere between 4 and 8 yards Roundtree(-1) spins around and falls to the ground in an attempt to get outside. (CA, 3, screen)
M33	3	8	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 4-3	Pass	Deep hitch	Odoms	13
Just a very long pitch and catch; worry that he does not have the arm strength to get this out there against top competition, because as it is this BG CB isn't exactly miles away here. Nevertheless today it's good enough and Odoms evades the CB for a few YAC, though it could have been more if he had kept his feet. (CA+, 3, protection 2/2)
M46	1	10	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 4-3	Run	Zone read keeper	Forcier	5
Eh? probably the right read since the DE was sliding down the line to prevent the belly and the LBs both came in(ZR+1). Tate ends up on the edge with the slot LB and I still want him to just run upfield until he gets tackled but he tries to juke the guy to the outside and gets tripped up.
RUN+: NA						RUN-:
O49	2	5	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Nickel 4-3	Run	Inside zone	Shaw	10
Backside DT gets completely donkeyed by Lewan(+1) and Schilling(+1), ending up somewhere around the first down marker by the time Shaw flies by. Molk(+1) and Omameh(+1) had done basically the same thing to the other DT, with Lewan and Molk getting easy popouts on the BG LBs. One of them gets a diving tackle attempt that Shaw spins out of but he's lost his momentum and goes down. If this was a read it was the right one with a DE in an inconvenient place and a scraper over the top(ZR+1).
RUN+: Lewan, Schilling, Molk, Omameh						RUN-:
O39	1	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Pass	PA Bubble	Roundtree	10 (pen -6 lol)
Forcier fakes the inside zone and immediately goes to the bubble; Odoms pounds a guy in the midsection for a good block and somehow gets called for a chop block because these guys are pure Sun Belt. (CA, 3, screen)
O45	1	16	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 4-3	Pass	Throwback screen	Stonum	-3
The counter to the flare screen; Robinson(-2) gets confused and doesn't block the slot LB at all, which blows up the play. (CA, 3, screen)
RUN+:						RUN-: TRob(2)
O48	2	19	Shotgun empty	1	0	4	Nickel 4-3	Pass	Improv fly	Roundtree	Inc (pen +15)
Ton of time as M stones four rushers; no one open for Forcier so he starts rolling in the pocket. His receivers break deep and he picks out Roundtree but throws the pass well short. Roundtree is run over, drawing a flag. I don't really know what to tag this. It was good play to chuck it because the DB was definitely in trouble but the ball was not great. I'm going with... (MA, 0, protection 3/3)
O33	1	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Nickel 4-3	Pass	PA Bubble	Roundtree	23
All Roundtree(+3) as he jukes two different guys and turns this into a big play; Stokes(+1) did get a good block on the corner and finished it off by shoving the guy past Tree as he cut back for his final six or so yards.
RUN+: Roundtree(3), Stokes						RUN-:
O10	1	G	Shotgun 2H	1	2	2	Base 4-4	Run	Inside zone	Shaw	8
Wolverine heavy, sort of. It works, with Omameh(+1) controlling and shoving his man to seal him just as Shaw approaches the line; Dorrestein(+1) kicks out the DE and Koger(+1) gets an excellent lead block on a filling LB; Molk(+1) moves to the second level and plants the MLB. Shaw bursts through and gets cut to the ground by a desperate safety.
RUN+: Omameh, Koger, Shaw, Dorrestein						RUN-:
O2	2	G	Shotgun 2H	1	2	2	Base 4-4-	Run	Inside zone	Shaw	2
Pretty much the same thing, with BG slanting heavily to the inside; Dorrestein(+1) caves his guy in and Shaw(+1) reads that, slipping outside and running over a linebacker who tried to fill. Webb(+1) got a good edge block.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 28-14, EOH.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M49	1	10	Shotgun 2-back	2	0	3	Base 4-3	Run	Zone stretch	Shaw	2
No cutback with Schilling(-1) unable to do anything with the backside DT; he is moving into the backfield. This is relevant because BG has slanted heavily and the frontside guy is shoving Omameh(-1) well into the backfield, forcing Shaw outside the tackle. Smith(+1) plugged the LB to that side, actually pancaking him, which does give Shaw a little crease; the delay allows a BG safety to thwack him just past the LOS.
RUN+: Schilling, Omameh						RUN-: Smith
O49	2	8	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 4-3	Pass	PA cross	Roundtree	21
BG again getting good pressure on this PA rollout protection scheme by having a linebacker zip up into the hole between the line and a pulling Schilling, so Forcier doesn't have much time. The BG linebackers jump the circle route M's thrown a few times today, opening up Roundtree behind them. Forcier reads it and finds Roundtree. Ball is a little high but just in front of the safety and Roundtree brings it in as he's hit. The guy in the face increases the DOD. (DO, 2, protection 1/2, team -1)
O28	1	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	Inside zone	Shaw	8
Schilling(+1) owns one DT on a single block, shoving him back three yards. Omameh(+1) and Molk(+1) do the same to the other, with Molk popping out on a middle linebacker. All that beef moving downhill means Shaw is met four yards downfield and the pile lumbers another four. Lewan flashed his impressive agility here, too, though for no real purpose.
RUN+: Schilling(2), Molk(2), Omameh						RUN-:
O20	2	2	Shotgun 2H	1	2	2	Base 4-3	Run	Zone counter	Shaw	2
At least I think this is designed to cutback with both TEs headed to the backside of the play, the line blocking down, and Shaw ready to cut back real fast. Lewan(+1) helps cave in the playside DT and then pops out on the LB. Webb(+1) takes out the slot LB and Shaw looks like he's about to be in the clear with Koger ahead of him and just one BG safety left; he heads outside, Koger(-1) watches the safety run by, and that guy makes a desperate arm tackle to prevent six.
RUN+: Webb, Lewan						RUN-: Koger
O18	1	10	Shotgun 2H	1	2	2	Base 4-4	Run	Zone stretch	Shaw	9
Slanting under again and moving an eighth guy in the box. Molk(+1) moves past the playside DT and then realizes what's happening. He peels off and seals that guy. Lewan and Schilling are dealing with the playside DE who is threatening to slant between them as Koger(+1) kicks out a blitzer. Webb(+1) is leading Shaw and kicks out the playside LB, giving him a lane between that block and the Lewan/Schilling double. Shaw(+1) did a good job of finding and hitting a small crease.
RUN+: Shaw, Koger, Webb, Molk						RUN-:
O9	2	1	Shotgun 2H	1	2	2	Base 4-3	Run	Inside zone	Smith	0
Confusion between Lewan(-1) and Webb(-1) as Lewan starts moving to the second level and then gets held up by the DE; DE is now in good position to eliminate a cutback. Webb runs by this for a second level block; this is not so good. Forcier could have kept but I don't know if he actually has a read here; since it would have been successful and he didn't keep it I have to ZR -1 him. Smith(-1) should have just run to the frontside of the play, where Omameh(+1) had blown out the playside DT badly and there was a gap for the first down and maybe more.
RUN+: Omameh, Koger						RUN-: Webb, Lewan, Smith
O9	3	1	Shotgun 2H	1	2	2	Base 4-3	Run	Inside zone	Smith	3
These are not all the same play as the H-backs keep going in different directions, FWIW. Here Omameh(+1) and Molk(+1) pancake a BG DT; Schilling(-1) falls and loses his guy, drawing Webb's block and allowing a BG guy to come in to tackle after a short gain, but the obliteration of the DT was sufficient for the first.
RUN+: Omameh, Molk						RUN-: Schilling
O6	1	G	Shotgun 2H	1	2	2	Base 4-4	Run	Zone stretch	Smith	4
Good handoff (ZR+1) with lots of guys unblocked on the backside. BG is running down the line fast, preventing anyone from getting a seal, so the OL just rideS guys down the line. Omameh(+1) gets the relevant block, controlling his guy and keeping him at the LOS, driving him far enough along that there's a cutback hole between him and the unblocked backside DE; Dorrestein and Molk(+1 each) get second level blocks. Smith hits it up and is lassoed down by the DE.
RUN+: Smith, Dorrestein, Molk, Omameh						RUN-:
O2	2	G	I-Form Big	2	2	1	Goal line	Run	Iso	Shaw	0
No push from the line but there is a gap for McColgan to hit, which he does(+1), blowing his guy into the endzone. If Shaw(-1) had run up his FB's back it's a touchdown but he hesitates and then has nowhere to go.
RUN+: McColgan						RUN-: Shaw
O2	3	G	I-Form Big	2	2	1	Goal line	Pass	PA boot FB flat	McColgan	2
McColgan wide open as BG bites (RPS +1) and he flips it in for the easy TD. (CA, 3, protection NA)
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 37-14, 9 min 3rd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
O37	1	10	Shotgun 2-back	2	0	3	Base 4-3	Pass	Fly	Stonum	Inc (pen +15)
Forcier fumbles the snap on what was going to be a bomb and just chucks it after he recovers. TA? IN? MA? I don't know. I'm going to file it TA since I think he's just getting rid of it to live another down. BG's corner has great position on the play and gets an awful flag for pass interference. This is raw, throbbing injustice in a can. A perfect example of the kind of play a cornerback in position should be allowed to make. (TA, 0, protection 2/2)
O22	1	10	Shotgun 2-back	2	0	3	Base 4-3	Pass	Rollout quick out	Gallon	14
No PA, just a plain old rollout that sees Shaw cut the playside DE, giving Forcier plenty of time to find Gallon yards in front of a slot LB that appears to be in man coverage. Easy pitch, catch, and YAC. (RPS +1, CA, 3, protection 1/1)
O8	1	G	Shotgun 2-back	2	0	3	Base 4-3	Run	Zone stretch	Smith	8
Molk(+2) gets a great reach block on the playside DT, creasing the line; Omameh(+1) gets a second level block, and Lewan(+1) cuts two(!) guys on the backside. Schilling(-1) whiffed his second-level block but Smith(+1) runs through the tackle into the endzone. Dorrestein(+1) pancaked his guy too.
RUN+: Molk(2), Omameh, Lewan, Smith, Dorrestein						RUN-: Schilling
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 44-14, 7 min 3rd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M38	1	10	Shotgun 2-back	2	0	3	Base 4-3	Pass	Bubble screen	Roundtree	2
I am officially in half-ass mode, FWIW. Good play by a deep corner to charge this down. (CA, 3, screen)
M40	2	8	Shotgun 2-back	2	0	3	Nickel 4-3	Run	Zone stretch	Cox	3
Corner blitz provides contain on the QB so BG has a DE and a LB on the backside; they slant hard to the playside and don't get sealed. Cox cuts up in a big hole between Omameh and Dorrestein and sort of avoids two tackles before being whomped by a safety. RPS -1. Could have minused Dorrestein if I was feeling mean.
M43	3	5	Shotgun 2-back	2	0	3	Base 4-4	Pass	PA Deep comeback	Stonum	10
PA rollout sees a BG blitz get in Forcier's face; he pulls up and nails a comeback route to Stonum. It's weird to remember he can do these things. (CA+, 3, protection 1/2, team -1)
O47	1	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-4	Pass	Bubble screen	Roundtree	16
This one is wide open by alignment and M takes it; Roundtree gets a block from Hemingway(+1) and it's easy. (CA, 3, screen, RPS +2)
RUN+: Hemingway						RUN-:
O31	1	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	Inside zone	Smith	6
Little room as BG slants under again and Molk(-1) gets driven into the backfield some. Smith(+1) cuts back and gets outside thanks to a crushing block from Webb(+1) on the edge and jukes a tackler for decent yardage.
RUN+: Smith, Webb						RUN-: Molk
O25	2	4	Shotgun 2-back TE	2	1	2	Base 4-4	Run	Power off tackle	Forcier	16
This is a broken play since Shaw just takes off to block someone on the backside as Forcier holds the ball out for a mesh that never comes. Okay, so Forcier just runs the play, which features Dorrestein(+1) and Webb(+1) blocking down as Omameh and Molk pull. Smith(+1) kicks out a linebacker; Omameh(+1) demolishes his guy, and Forcier hits the gap, makes a safety miss, and would be gone if he was Denard but is not Denard and gets a shoestring tackle for his troubles.
RUN+: Forcier(2), Omameh, Smith, Dorrestein, Webb						RUN-: Shaw
O9	1	G	Shotgun 2-back TE	2	1	2	Base 4-4	Run	Down G	Smith	6
Other side of the line with Webb(+1) sealing the playside DE and Schilling pulling around. Schilling(+1) and Cox(+1) both kick out second level guys and Smith is one on one with a safety in some space; he lowers his head and is tackled. Meh.
RUN+: Webb, Lewan, Cox, Schilling						RUN-: Smith
O3	2	G	Shotgun 2-back TE	2	1	2	Base 4-4	Run	Inside zone	Cox	2
Omameh(-1) whiffs on his guy, who ends up falling in the backfield in the path of the runner, forcing Cox outside where he runs through one arm tackle and then meets a safety while still off balance, getting stood up. This was possible thanks to Huyge, now playing RT, kicking his guy out far enough for Cox to have a lane.
RUN+: Huyge						RUN-: Omameh
O1	3	G	I-Form Big	2	2	1	Goal line	Run	Zone stretch	Smith	1
Omameh, Huyge, and Webb all blow their guys out and Omameh actually has a moment in this play where he's blocking two separate BG players by pushing them in the chest simultaneously. McColgan doesn't even have anyone to block as Smith strolls in.
RUN+: Omameh, Huyge, Webb						RUN-:
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 51-21, 13 min 4th Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M6	1	10	Ace twins	1	2	2	Base 4-4	Run	Inside zone	Cox	4
Barnum in. Okay, I will do some vague charting here but I'm not going to bother with RPS since M is just running the game out. Here blitzing linebackers hit the gaps too fast for the linemen to get out on them, forcing a cutback from Cox(+1). He runs through a tackle and drags another guy forward four yards; would have gotten a couple more if the refs hadn't whistled it down for lack of forward progress that seemed to be progressing still.
RUN+: Cox						RUN-:
M10	2	6	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	Inside zone	Cox	2
Also discarding ZR since I don't want QBs carrying at this point, but this should have been a keep if it wasn't a 30 point game in the fourth. Omameh(-1) gets stalemated and then his guy fights inside; Dorrestein is only doing OK on the edge so Cox does not have gap to the outside and has to cut back into a crashing DE. He keeps his feet impressively on a tackle attempt but the delay allows BG to converge and he only gets an extra yard out of it.
RUN+:						RUN-: Omameh
M12	3	4	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel 4-3	Pass	Scramble	Forcier	7
Five guys come and Michigan blocks them all; Forcier actually has Koger wide open for the first but sees a lane open up in front of him and knows he can get the first with his legs; he does so. (SCR, N/A, protection 2/2)
M19	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	Zone read keeper	Forcier	2
Forcier keeps; no idea what or who he's reading here since the blocking is unfamiliar. He fakes the bubble as he attempts to get to the edge but a linebacker runs him down; Molk was blocking for the handoff and the LB read keep too fast. Denard gets the corner here but you knew that.
RUN+:						RUN-: Forcier
M21	2	8	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Nickel 4-3	Run	Inside zone	Cox	10
Omameh(+1) and Molk(+1) fire off to double one DT, who gives a ton of ground; Molk pops off on the MLB. The other DT is crushed by Barnum(+1) with help from Lewan; a crashing DE is taken out by Koger(+1). Cox just has to run up in the gaping hole and does.
RUN+: Barnum, Omameh, Molk, Koger						RUN-:
M31	1	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Nickel 4-3	Run	Zone read keeper	Gardner	3
Gardner returns, and should definitely keep this since BG is cheating on the RB but still gets run down for two yards by taking an angle not far enough outside. I think he's plenty fast but he's got a lot of work to do as a runner.
RUN+:						RUN-: Gardner
M34	2	7	Shotgun 2-back TE	2	1	2	Base 4-3	Run	Power off tackle	Toussaint	60
Features a pull from Omameh as Huyge(+1) blocks down on the playside DT and provides a big hole. Koger(+1) kicks out a DE; a blitzing MLB has taken himself out of the play and Omameh(+1) clubs the last LB out of the way, opening up green pastures for Toussaint.
RUN+: Huyge, Omameh, Koger, Toussaint						RUN-:
M6	1	G	Shotgun 2-back	2	1	2	Base 4-4	Run	Zone stretch	Toussaint	6
Backside DT is cut to the ground by Lewan(+1) and the frontside guy kind of lunges in at Molk, forcing Toussaint around him but falling uselessly; Omameh(+2) controls and then destroys the playside DE, who is blocked into the endzone. Toussaint with an easy TD. Barnum(+1) also did well to get a block on the second level.
RUN+: Omameh(2), Lewan, Barnum						RUN-:
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 58-21, 7 min 4th Q. Backup OL comes in and charting ceases, as we're not going to learn anything about this year's team from this game. You can watch Cox's long run, on which Quinton Washington obliterates some dude, though. And here's Gardner's touchdown.

*Elaborate yawning mechanism.*

Yes, yes, steampunk fictional questioner who does not appreciate where he has come from.

Well, is there really even a point?

No, not on this side of the ball. I would have cut this off sooner but for BG's annoying persistence on offense and our first extended look at Devin Gardner. The offensive line was crushing to the point where it was tough to tell whether or not I should be handing out pluses to the tackles on plays where the interior linemen were ridin' that donkey five, six, seven yards downfield. Here's Fitzgerald Toussaint's touchdown. Watch Omameh:

 

This was most of the day. So take everything below with a grain of salt. Michigan won't face a defense this bad after this weekend again.

We demand low-information charts anyway.

Low information charts, then.

Hennechart comes with a reminder that numbers in parentheses are screens! I've also added the zone read metric to these charts instead of spreading it out. It's in the format correct decisions / opportunities.

DENARD ROBINSON

Opponent	DO	CA	MA	IN	BR	TA	BA	PR	SCR	ZR	DSR
2009, All Of It	1	7	6(2)	3(1)	4	4	-	-	?	-	44%
UConn	2	15(6)	-	-	3	2	-	-	2	-	68%
Notre Dame	3	25(8)	3(1)	4	1	-	4(1)	2	-	-	71%
UMass	4	10(3)	-	1	1	-	1	1	-	-	73%
BGSU	1	4(1)	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1/1	N/A

DEVIN GARDNER

Opponent	DO	CA	MA	IN	BR	TA	BA	PR	SCR	ZR	DSR
BGSU	2	4(2)	1	1	1	-	-	-	-	4/7	N/A

TATE FORCIER

Opponent	DO	CA	MA	IN	BR	TA	BA	PR	SCR	ZR	DSR
BGSU	2	9(6)	1	-	-	1	-	-	1	3/4	N/A

Nobody had enough downfield throws to warrant a downfield success rate, but everyone impressed. Denard hit a 30-yard corner route, Devin had two long should-have-been touchdowns, the second a beautiful touch seam, and Forcier rolled out and pulled up to hit Roundtree over the middle.

My only complaint/worry here was the short toss to Gallon on which Gardner was pressured. He defaulted to that pushing motion, it looked, and the resulting pass was well off target. Oh, and there was the failed fourth down attempt. In any case, it certainly looks like Michigan is more loaded at quarterback than they've ever been.

Who works for number two?

Uh… if that's a question about the second-string quarterback, I think it should be Tate, but not because of any of the passing numbers above. It's the zone read stuff, where Gardner's barely above 50%, and the numbers from the—

Donkeychart.

Run chart, but whatever. BEHOLD THE DONKENING

Chart II?

Chart II.

 

Offensive Line
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Huyge	2	-	2	Couple of good plays at RT late.
Lewan	11	1	10	Was very effective on cuts, too.
Schilling	10	5	5	Had some trouble with BG slants.
Molk	16	5	11	Wish he'd be more consistent on MLBs.
Omameh	20	6	14	Most of Michigan's long runs came over his side of the line.
Barnum	2	-	2	I'll take it from the back of the rotation starter.
Dorrestein	6	1	5	I'll take it from the back of the rotation starter.
Webb	9	1	8	Fetch me the club…
Koger	7	1	6	…and smite the heathen seals.
TOTAL	83	20	63	Even more obliteration.
Backs
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Robinson	8	-	8	Not bad for four rushes.
Gardner	-	5	-5	Yeah… about that.
Forcier	2	1	1	Was limping, too.
Shaw	10	2	8	Broke some tackles, seemed to hit all the right holes.
Smith	10	2	8	Smart blocking, good cuts, an occasional broken tackle.
Cox	2	-	2	Physically impressive. Good balance again.
Toussaint	-	-	-	Runs were super easy.
Hopkins	3	-	3	Fumble not included.
McColgan	1	-	1	Usual.
Jones	-	-	-	Stopped charting by the time he got in.
TOTAL	36	10	26	Shaw again most impressive.
Receivers
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Stonum	2	-	2	--
Odoms	2	-	2	--
TRobinson	1	3	-2	--
Roundtree	3	2	1	--
Grady	2	-	2	--
Gallon	2	-	2	--
Hemingway	2	-	2	--
TOTAL	14	5	9
Metrics

So this was more of the same, with Lewan being impressive for a tackle just because he is noticeable on so many run plays. Tackles mostly just lock out DEs who are happy to cut off the outside; Lewan is making an impact comparable to an above-average guard. Also, the tight ends were just clubbing guys all day.

At tailback, Smith and Shaw came out about even in the numbers above and the official ones (both had 12 carries; Smith had three more yards) but if I had to pick it would be Shaw and it wouldn't be that close. The three backups who got charted all flashed some ability and didn't screw up except for the Hopkins fumble. Cox really is physically impressive, capable of dragging tacklers and again flashing great balance. I'm hoping we get to see more of him as the season goes on.

So about number two?

Right, so, Gardner has a –5 up there, the only minus of the day aside from Terrance Robinson. This came about because he pulled the ball on three separate instances when he should have handed off and got roped down for little gain; on a couple other runs he eschewed certain yards for more of that high school stuff where you just cut it outside all day on the assumption you are faster than everyone else. Tate has more experience at the college level and when he cut it way outside he had a block and got tracked down by a linebacker from behind; he also seems to be better at ascertaining when to hand it off.

That plus Tate's excellent day throwing makes me lean towards Forcier in the unfortunate event of a serious injury to Robinson.

I still have a couple more charts, by the way. Receivers:

	This Game					Totals
Player	0	1	2	3		0	1	2	3
Stonum	-	-	1/1	2/2		1	-	3/4	11/11
Odoms	-	-	-	2/2		-	-	3/4	9/9
Hemingway	1	-	-	2/3		1	-	1/1	2/3
Jackson	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-
Roundtree	1	-	1/1	8/8		5	2/3	1/2	19/19
Grady	-	-	-	2/2		2	-	1/1	6/6
Robinson	-	-	-	-		-	0/1	-	2/3
Gallon	1	-	-	1/1		1	-	-	1/1
Koger	-	-	-	-		-	-	1/2	2/2
Webb	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-
Smith	-	-	-	-		-	-	0/1	4/4
Shaw	-	-	-	1/1		1	0/1	0/1	3/3
McColgan	-	-	-	1/1		-	-	-	1/1
Hopkins	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-
Toussaint	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-

A fairly boring day here. Just one drop, but it was a big one: Hemingway's oopsie on Devin Gardner's first shoulda-been touchdown.

And this isn't a chart but PROTECTION METRIC: 26/31, Dorrestein –1, Team –4.

The "team" minuses were for blitzes into Michigan's favored rollout package that got Forcier and Gardner in trouble a couple times. Michigan might have to go way from that now that Bowling Green has demonstrated how to pressure it consistently. M got away with it against a team with little talent, but add some speed to that linebacker or some competence to the secondary and bad things might happen.

Did we see anything new?

Obviously the Wolverine Heavy look was new, but Michigan also started responding to BG's tendency to slant like there's no tomorrow by breaking out the pulling OL. Watch Omameh:

That's a completely standard run play I've seen Michigan defend dozens of times over the past few years. I've even got an automatic link for it: Down G. See? It linked.

On Down G you've got a tackle and sometimes a tight end blocking down on the line as Michigan pulls one OL and finds a lead blocker from somewhere else, whether it's a tailback or a H-back or whatever. This is a response to BG's uber-slanting. If the DL slant in the direction of the play, they meet the downblockers head on and get blown up as they do above. Then there's lots of space off tackle and usually the linebackers will be hanging out on the backside of the play where the cutbacks are on a zone. On this play one blitzes right up the middle, another heads to the backside, and there's just one guy in a big hole starting down the mobile death that is Patrick Omameh. And then you get a lot of yards.

Here's another example, on which Shaw busts his assignment but BG is so confused that it doesn't matter and Molk doesn't even have anyone to block:

Michigan has not shown this much in the RR era (and literally never ran it during the DerpBord stretch-and-stretch-only era). I wonder why they chose to do so in a game they'd salted away already. It's not like this is rocket science—it's a totally standard play—but I'd rather break it out against Michigan State than BG.

What does a can of injustice look like?

This:

Poor BG cornerback. This is my least favorite iteration of pass interference, where a guy is running in front of or even with a receiver who tries to run through the DB. The DB has great coverage and is penalized for it. They should clarify the rule to express that a player who is even or deeper with a wide receiver can't be penalized for not changing his momentum. If you're beaten and the ball's underthrown and you run a guy over, fine, flag. But that stuff above is painful even when you're on the right end of a wrong call.

Heroes?

Again, you could almost pick anyone. Special commendation to the offensive line and tight ends.

Goats?

Hopkins fumbled, Molk got that personal foul, and Devin Gardner had some iffy running plays, but that's it when you score touchdowns on 9 of 11 drives.

What does it mean for Indiana and beyond?

Indiana is going to get nuked. They are currently sporting the 92nd-best rushing defense in the land thanks to the dynamic ground attacks of Towson, Western Kentucky, and Akron. None of those teams have a win over a I-A opponent, and they're actually 1-3 against I-AA thanks to Towson sucking and Gardner Webb beating Akron in OT. Akron exceeded their season average in yards by over 100 and their opponents other than the I-AA team were Syracuse and Kentucky. They are donkeys.

As for the rest of the season, Taylor Lewan seems to have locked down the left tackle job and pushed that position from average or slightly above to good, potentially verging on great. His emergence gives Michigan spare bodies on the OL and makes the offense close to bulletproof without an Angry Michigan BLANK-Hating God injury monsoon with the lone exception of quarterback, where your prayer vigil should be unceasing.

Even there, both Michigan quarterbacks showed well. Michigan gave up a couple scores late in the first half and there was a rumble of worry in the stadium when it was 21-14, but Rodriguez just threw Forcier out there and watched him march down the field for a touchdown, another touchdown, some more touchdowns, additional touchdowns, etc.

I'd ratchet up expectations another half-notch here. Lewan gives the offense more depth, Denard's added a few more items to his "not a fluke" pile, and the backup quarterbacks look solid. Also they just put up 721 yards, and I don't care who it's against if it's a I-A team: 721 yards means your offense is scary.

Darryl Stonum

First: Look at those glasses! He says they're not prescription.

When he made two big plays late in the first half "I just felt like it was the momentum changing." The offense started poorly, and he needed to provide a boost. "I don't know if 2 touchdowns in 45 seconds is quite the dream," it might be better. "I was always the big-play guy in high school, I was always the deep threat in high school. I've always wanted to get that transition over to Michigan."

In the third year of the offense with Denard throwing well, it's not just Stonum that's blossoming. Everybody knows stuff so can go out there and play fast.

"I try to lead by example most of the time. I'm not really a vocal screaming yeling in the huddle type of guy." He lets his work ethic speak for itself. Always works as hard as he can in weight room, in class, and on-field.

Patrick Omameh

Defenses play differently with Denard in the game. They'll contain instead of trying to sack Denard. He's making the right reads and is pretty dangerous. "We knew we didn't want him carrying the ball 30 times a game every game." They were able to get the ball to some RBs and establish something else on the ground.

"We've got some pretty athletic offensive linemen." They relish the opportunity to show off that athleticism by getting downfield and making plays. "I knew we had playmakers, it was just a matter of us getting the ball into the laymakers hands and setting up opportunities for them through our blocking."

The OL is coming together each week, as they have pretty good experience. Molk jumped back in where he left off with his injury last fall and spring. Taylor Lewan - "I watched the whole game yesterday, and he seemed to have a pretty good game." He and some others have been performing well in practice, even if they haven't seen the field much.

"There's absolutely more [offensive improvement] to come. The offense is clicking but we're still not performing to our full potential and capability."

Craig Roh

UMass was a "mini wakeup call." Seniors have been good at getting them pumped, but they need to do better than last week. "I'm frustrated now and I was frustrated then. You just can't do anything about it now." The defense needs to prepare better and be more hungry going forward.

The first two games were good for the defense. Against UMass "looking at the tape, we just didn't tackle well." Were surprised by a few schemes as well. Have to have a certain persona to tackle well. "I really did think every guy came in with that" and it just didn't work out for some reason. They'd hit guys in the backfield, or allow 5 yards to be stretched into 10. Don't want to let guys get more than they should.

"With our training from Mike Barwis, we don't get very tired ever." The fourth quarter points for UMass were not a result of that.

Taylor Lewan played well. Proud of him because they've been buddies for a couple years. "He's finding a happy medium between being aggressive and holding a lot." That style will work well in the Big Ten.

Mike Martin "he is the strongest person I' ve ever seen in the weight room, and it's really showing on the field." Beat a double team to sack the QB.

It won't be tough to get up for BGSU. "From our performance this Saturday, this team is definitely going to get up for this game."

"The offense really helped us out this past Saturday, and that's why it's a team." One side will have to rely on the other from time to time.

Craig doesn't listen to music before games to get pumped up - reads a bit of the Bible.

Jordan Kovacs

Being a hometown guy, it'll be a different experience to play BG. He doesn't know anybody on the team though, outside of Bryan Wright. "It's gonna be weird" being on opposite sidelines. Knows him well, good kicker. They keep in touch a little bit, but haven't been trash talking yet.

Defense mindset - "Obviously we aren't satisfied with the way that we played defensively." It's much nicer to get that out of the way early in the season, and with a win. "I expect it to be a 1-game slip-up. I'm sure we'll make our corrections today."

Feels different than last year's struggles. They'll move forward. "I think they're pretty simple things." Technical errors and a couple missed assignments. Players might have been hesitant after giving up big plays to Notre Dame "maybe guys are just inexperienced and aren't feeling comfortable in their zones yet."

Obi and Jonas are the senior leaders on D. Each said a few things after the game in the locker room, as did Craig Roh.

"If you can control the ball, you can wear out a defense." The D didn't do their job to get themselves off the field.

Cameron Gordon

Interception - "The first thing I was thinking is 'yes I finally got one.' Sometimes, you don't want to do too much." He should have tucked the ball better.

The team will be very focused after a letdown against UMass. "Last game was a reality check for many games to come. Of course, it's a good thing that we still got the win." There's a small margin for error at this level. The other teams prepare, too. "You have to prepare even better. It's not like high school."

The defense wants to do their part like the offense has been doing. "We're still not as good as we need to be or want to be." Both sides of the ball can improve, but there's only been three games.

Going against Michigan receivers in practice helps prepare for other teams' best receivers.

Transition to safety is good. Still room for improvement. "What's the best room in the house? That's room for improvement."

Choosing Michigan - "I love it here." Everyone will face adversity growing up, and he's learning at Michigan that working hard and staying in the fight will help you through.

Didn't get any awesome emails this week but there are a few bits from the comments and other blogs. Anyway:

Offense

GS's run chart comes to a lot of reassuringly similar conclusions as the UFR did: the left side of Michigan's line struggled against Kapron Lewis-Moore but the right side and Molk got their pwn on; he was way more impressed with the tight ends (8-0=8 combined!) than I was and similarly down on Shaw. More Omameh hype:

Much better from Omameh. The 2* who was a 250 pound DE in high school crushed the 5* all-world linebacker multiple times, with brutal efficiency.

I meant to mention this in the UFR, but BWS also picture-paged some running back inefficiency. This is a key point:

As you can see here, the defensive end is staying high, forcing Denard to hand the ball off. But the Notre Dame linebackers have engaged with the offensive line before they were able to get upfield. If Michigan's linemen were given a free release to the second level, they're fast and smart enough to make the block. But instead, Notre Dame's linebackers were told to plug the holes at the point of attack and make Shaw slow down at the line and pick a hole. In doing so, it gives the weakside defensive end enough time to crash down for the tackle.

Last week against UConn we saw a lot of holes open up; this week ND linebackers were clogging the LOS. I made my position on this clear: Michigan really needed to exploit this tendency more. The other play he cites is the frustrating Shaw dance where this…

…turned into no yards because Shaw cut behind Schilling and then tried to spin to the backside of the play.

Magnus also criticizes the play design of the Te'o sideline to sideline play. Might and Main points out that Stonum got chewed out after the Vincent Smith swing pass that Calabrese killed for a minimal gain on third and seven. This is what I said:

Last week this was paired with a slant and I'm confused why it's not this week. ND is in man-to-man for once and the deeper hitch is covered by the CB, leaving the flare open; accurate, but Calabrese is all over it for minimal gain. (CA, 2, protection 1/1)

Given the reaction of RR, it's likely this was supposed to be a slant after all.

Defense

Didn't get much feedback this week, but here's Magnus making a valid criticism of the 53-yard touchdown breakdown:

Rogers shouldn't get a -1 for the 53-yard TD pass to TJ Jones.  Here's why:

In a Cover 2 defense, the flat defender (Rogers) is supposed to play any receiver in his zone.  If no receiver enters his area, he's supposed to gain depth.  On that play, an underneath receiver entered the flat zone; furthermore, the QB was rolling to his side.  When a QB rolls to the flat defender's side, there will always be a receiver in the flat - that's just how plays are drawn up.  So when that receiver enters his zone, Rogers had to suck up closer to the line of scrimmage.

Meanwhile, Cam Gordon's job is to play the deepest man on his half of the field.  Whether one, two, or three receivers enter his zone, he has to play the one who runs farthest down the field.  It was a well designed play to pick on an inexperienced safety.  Gordon got caught looking in the backfield and didn't see TJ Jones streaking up the sideline.  By the time Jones came open, he was no longer the responsibility of James Rogers - that was all Cam Gordon.

This is the exact reason that Michigan wants to run a lot of Cover 3.  Gordon doesn't have the speed/experience to cover a deep half, and Kovacs doesn't have the athleticism to make a play on the ball, either.

On the other hand, this seems reasonable to me too:

Magnus, I think you should look at the video again......Rogers doesn't even react to the fact that both receivers are going vertical.  He almost immediately looks up #3 and starts to jump the route (completely disregarding his coverage duties).

Rogers was the one caught looking in the backfield. He should be reading 2 to 1.  When 2 gets vertical, he should immediately get into phase on #1.  He jumped the flat route and disregarded the fact that 2 receivers had gone vert, putting Cam on an island.

Who is right? Video:

I can see it either way. It's tough to zone up when you've only got six guys in the coverage, and Rogers was faced with a choice of sinking back on the vertical routes, leaving Rudolph wide open, or leaving Gordon one-on-one with two guys. From his play it looks like he's not even considering dropping back into coverage, which is either a major bust on his part or just the way the D is drawn up. Either way I should have RPS –2ed the play.

Magnus also disagrees with my minusing the linebackers on Armando Allen's nine-yard run off tackle late (the play before the epic Mouton hold:

By alignment, it looks like Kovacs has outside contain to the bottom of the screen.  He steps down to get a jam on the TE and replace his feet, but he then gets caught inside.  If Kovacs can keep contain here (like he did earlier in the game when he fought off a block from the pulling OT), he's funneling the running back to the inside.

If Kovacs holds the edge, Mouton is stepping up to take on the pulling OL.  Ideally, Mouton would stuff up the OL, cut his legs, or take him on with the inside shoulder and force the RB further inside.  But Mouton gets caught up in the wash of Kovacs getting blown down the line.

Meanwhile, Ezeh is scraping unblocked and would presumably make the tackle after a minimal gain.

This is plausible, but it's hard to see how Kovacs can possibly maintain contain when he's one guy lined up opposite two ND tight ends and the fullback. This is bad defense design and should have been RPS-1ed.

Formation notes: Michigan did all its usual stuff. Notre Dame was interesting: they started the game in a 4-3 instead of the 3-4 they are purported to run. Then they switched around a bit. ND 3-4:

ND 4-3, although it's partially obscured:

  

Then after halftime they started moving from one to the other when Robinson lifted his leg to signal for the snap. This caused a lot of issues; I'm concerned that Michigan will still be stuck tipping their snap count when a Michigan State team that jumped a ton of snaps last year comes to town. I don't recall them doing that against UConn, so maybe that's just a road thing.

Substitution notes: Nothing too shocking. Grady, Robinson, Koger, and Webb fought over snaps with Odoms, Roundtree, and Stonum taking most of the 3WR snaps. Stokes got some time but was not targeted. Smith and Shaw were the only running backs except in the BEEF MACHINE package, in which Lewan, Washington, and Campbell come in with Hopkins to make sure the Illinois thing Never Happens Again.

Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M20	1	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	QB lead outside	Robinson	4
Koger lined up to the same side as the RB; RB kicks back to pick up backside blocks and Koger acts as a lead blocker. Dorrestein(+1) cuts the backside DT out of the play, giving Robinson(-1) a major cutback crease he could hit for big yardage, but he doesn't see it and continues outside, where Schilling(-1) fails to seal Williams, instead moving out on Te'o and allowing the DT to grab Robinson at the LOS. A bunch of shoving ensues, ending up with four yards.
RUN++		Dorrestein				RUN-			Robinson, Schilling
M24	2	6	Shotgun 2-back	2	0	3	Base 4-3	Pass	PA rollout hitch	Odoms	7
Zone read fake with Shaw a lead blocker on the edge. Odoms just runs a little stop route at the sticks and Robinson hits him for the first down. This one is a bit high but not too bad. Immediate tackle. (CA, 3, protection 1/1)
M31	1	10	Shotgun trips TE	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	QB lead outside	Robinson	2
A slight variant on the lead draw from last week sees Michigan go off tackle to the trips side, hooking the playside DE with the idea being to hit it up just outside of him. Huyge(+1) does seal off the guy, but Calabrese is moving way too fast for Schilling to get out on him and he fills the hole to tackle after a minimal gain. Good play, but you can see the Irish LBs creeping forward at the snap, which Michigan will use later. (RPS-1)
RUN++		Huyge				RUN-			Schilling, I guess.
M33	2	8	Shotgun trips TE	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	QB lead outside	Robinson	3
Same thing, but this time Huyge's(-1) guy pushes him into the backfield and disengages to tackle. And you know what? The receivers are not blocking on this. They're looking back at Robinson for a pass, and they are wiiiiiide open. I'm ZR-1ing this. BWS picture paged this along with the Roundtree TD coming up.
RUN++						RUN-			Huyge
M36	3	5	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Pass	TE flat	Koger	Inc
Robinson first looks to a hitch on the far side of the field; covered. M has slid the protection and then leaked Koger out into the flat, so Robinson starts a roll that way and tossed it out to Koger. It's a bit in front of him, sort of tough but catchable, and dropped. 50-50 this is a first down if caught; Robinson probably should have just taken off. (MA, 2, protection 2/2)
Drive Notes: Punt, 0-7, 9 min 1st Q. Little bit disappointed there's no PA early here with the ND linebackers clearly hyped up to stop everything, but I guess there might have been on that odd play where the receivers weren't blocking.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
O31	1	10	Shotgun trips TE	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Pass	PA seam	Roundtree	31
Go back to the last clip: this is the exact same thing except Robinson throws it to the blindingly wide open Roundtree for a touchdown. (CA, 3, protection 1/1, RPS +3) Picture paged as well.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 7-7, 8 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M44	1	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	Inside zone	Shaw	4
DE maintaining contain; correct read (ZR+1) Again the ND linebackers are just crashing down on this stuff; I'm not sure if this is good recognition or plain irresponsible. Here it's good. Schilling only does okay with the DT, can't seal him but also doesn't lose him. Molk can't do much with Calabrese since he's flowing downhill so fast. With frontside blocked off Shaw cuts it behind Schilling, where the backside DE and the DT combine to tackle. This is a play on which everyone was.
RUN++		NA				RUN-			NA
M48	2	6	Shotgun trips TE	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	Inside zone	Shaw	1
This one is all on Shaw(-2) because the OL has this creased with an excellent block from Omameh(+1) driving the DT back and preventing Calabrese from shucking off Molk(+1); he would have a crease and likely a first down if he just hits it up in the hole. Instead he starts dancing, trying to cut behind Schilling and getting nothing. Bubble looks open if Denard keeps, FWIW.
RUN++		Omameh, Molk				RUN-			Shaw(2)
M49	3	5	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Pass	Tunnel screen	Stonum	-2
Robinson throws this well to far outside and high, giving Webb no angle to block Walls, who makes a TFL. I can't tell but it looks like the playside DE may have gotten a finger on the ball. The wobble in the throw makes me think it was deflected. (BA, 3, screen)
Drive Notes: Punt, 7-7, 4 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M35	1	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Pass	Hitch	Odoms	9
Just a straight dropback pass; Robinson zips one on the money to Odoms, who ran off the corner and came back to the ball; good route. (CA+, 3, protection 2/2)
M44	2	1	Shotgun trips TE	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	QB lead draw	Robinson	13
This time Schilling(+1) and Molk(+1) execute the scoop perfectly, walling off Calabrese; Denard(+1) sets up his blocks to force the DE inside and Te'o outside and then zips up in the hole provided by the scoop. He then jukes Motta out of his jock and gets the ball punched out by Te'o from behind; Smith hops on it. Uh... I'm not going to deal with fumbles as part of the run charting for simplicity's sake.
RUN++		Schilling, Molk, Robinson				RUN-
O43	1	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Pass	Hitch	Odoms	10
Virtual replay of first play on drive, with Michigan going max pro and Odoms coming back to the ball smartly. Robinson hits him in the numbers. (CA+, 3, protection 2/2)
O33	1	10	Shotgun trips TE	1	1	3	4-3 under	Pass	PA seam	Odoms	32
ND seems dead on this at the snap as they have one hard corner on Stonum, a safety splitting Odoms and Roundtree, one deep safety too far inside, and everyone else basically in the box. Safety hesitates on the play action fake and Odoms is running wide open downfield; Denard hits him. A little behind Odoms, so he has to spin to grab it. This may prevent the TD. (CA, 2, protection 1/1, RPS+3)
O1	1	G	BEEF MACHINE	3	2	0	Goal line	Run	Iso	Hopkins	1
Yeah, let's massively overreact to last year's Illinois debacle. No, seriously. I totally endorse this course of action. Lewan, Washington, and Campbell come in, as does Hopkins, and they bellow in rage as the ball is snapped. The stampede ends a half foot into the endzone. Excelsior!
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 14-7, 1 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M8	1	10	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 4-3	Run	Zone read keeper	Robinson	36
Excellent read as Te'o is either blitzing or just super irresponsible and with the backside end getting blocked there is no one covering on the backside except the LB lined up over the slot. Robinson cuts upfield and then smoothly jukes past him, picking up a downfield block from TRob(+1); Motta just barely has an angle on him. (ZR+1, RPS+3)
RUN++		Robinson(2), Dorrestein, TRob				RUN-
M44	1	10	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 4-3	Pass	PA quick seam	Grady	Inc
Play action fake to a quick seam to Grady; Motta is charging this down but this looks like it will be complete except for the DL who bats the ball down at the line. (BA, 0, protection NA)
M44	2	10	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 4-3	Run	QB draw	Robinson	6
Opens up as ND is rushing just three but that extra guy in coverage makes the space after he clears the line minimal. This time Robinson doesn't do a great job of setting up his blocks and ends up making Schilling useless and having Grady lose his guy; still six.
RUN++		Molk				RUN-
50	3	4	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	TGDCD	Shaw	1
ND blitzes the slot LB and he forms up and is able to slide down on Shaw after the handoff, causing a slight delay as he dives to grab Shaw's legs. Schilling(-1) does not handle Williams, who comes off of him to tackle. Possible that without the blitzing LB Shaw squeezes through this hole and bursts into the secondary. Good play by ND.
RUN++						RUN-			Schilling
Drive Notes: Punt, 14-7, 12 min 2nd Q. I would think about going for this but it's tough when you haven't been able to get much consistently.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M14	1	10	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 4-3	Pass	Deep curl	Odoms	21
This is a curl-flat combo that we'll see a lot where the slot guy runs a little out route and the outside guy runs a deeper curl, forcing the corner to pick between the high and low receivers. This is the play on which Roundtree got killed against UConn. Here it's Roundtree in the same spot but Odoms fights past the jam from the corner and settles down in the spot that exists in cover two; Denard rolls and hits him. A bit high but perhaps necessary to get it over guys. (CA+, 3, protection 2/2) This was picture paged earlier this week.
M35	1	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 3-4	Run	Inside zone	Smith	2
Late move from two-high, which ND has spent the entire game in to date (which says a lot about their faith in their LBs, faith that's been largely repaid), to one-high. Motta comes down on the slot guy. Here Michigan has a major opportunity to hit something with Calabrese flowing to the front side of the play, Molk(+1) blasting Williams downfield, Omameh(+1) sealing the other DT, and Te'o scraping out to contain Robinson. There's a big cutback lane for Smith except for Huyge(-2) temporarily walling off the backside DE but then uselessly crashing into the frontside of the play, allowing his guy to tackle Smith for little gain.
RUN++		Molk, Omameh				RUN-			Huyge(-2)
M37	2	8	Shotgun trips TE	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	QB lead outside	Robinson	13
Another late move sends the slot LB on a blitz, which should kill this play since it's another lead draw where Robinson running right into it, but Robinson reads it and smoothly cuts to the backside. This happens quickly enough that he darts through the gap between good blocks from Omameh(+1) and Dorrestein(+1) to burst into the secondary, where Huyge(+1) gets a downfield block and Robinson picks up the first. RPS-1. Robinson gets dinged on the play, Gardner comes in.
RUN++		Omameh, Huyge, Dorrestein, Robinson(2)				RUN-
50	1	10	Shotgun 2-back	2	0	3	Base 4-3	Run	Zone stretch	Smith	4
Suddenly rare stretch; Michigan cannot seal either DT and there's no frontside holes; +1 to Shaw for realizing this and hitting it up as a lead blocker. There could be a big cutback lane but for Huyge(-1) not getting a cut, instead trying to wall the guy off and getting squeezed down; Smith has nowhere to go. Correct handoff with the slot LB lying in wait. (ZR+1)
RUN++		Shaw				RUN-			Huyge
O46	2	6	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Pass	Improv	Koger	Inc
Robinson looks to a hitch on the short side he decides against, then has to deal with an unblocked delayed blitz from Calabrese, which he dodges. He thinks about running for a second then attempts to go to the Koger out that was his second read before Calabrese got involved, chucking an off-balance duck that Motta nearly intercepts. Robinson made the right read on the hitch and would have had a right read on the Koger out but for the delay. After the delay, though, it's time to put it in the stands. (BR, 0, protection 0/2, team -1, Smith -1)
O46	3	6	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 3-4	Pass	Throwaway	Roundtree	Inc
Late move to one high; ND sends five, Schilling fails to pick up on the blitz coming inside of Smith. Blitzer gets a free run on Denard, who chucks it away. (PR, 0, protection 0/2, Schilling -2)
Drive Notes: Punt, 14-7, 7 min 2nd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M37	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	QB off tackle	Robinson	7 (pen -15)
A pull! Schilling and Webb block down as Huyge pulls around and Shaw acts as a lead blocker. This catches ND off guard. Webb(+1) seals the DE; Shaw and Huyge(+1 each) get downfield blocks and it's only Calabrese avoiding a block from Molk(-1) and making a good play in space that holds this down. Dorrestein is called for clipping for executing what looks exactly like every other cut block on the backside of a running play. WTF.
RUN++		Webb, Huyge, Shaw				RUN-			Molk
M22	1	25	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Pass	Deep hitch	Stonum	Inc
We come back to this late as Michigan goes max pro again and Robinson finds a hole in the zone for Stonum. This isn't the greatest throw in the world but you can make an argument it's an attempt to keep it away from the linebacker underneath. It's definitely catchable, if a bit low, and Stonum dives for it. He can't bring it in. I have to give this a 2 but I kind of want to give it a 3; this a spot where you have to help your QB out. If he'd thrown it further inside chances are the LB gets a hand on it. (CA, 2, protection 2/2)
M22	2	25	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Pass	Flare screen	Shaw	Inc
Te'o has this dead to rights (srsly, dead to rights) even if caught, but Robinson doesn't do Shaw any favors by throwing it in front of him (MA, 1, screen, RPS-1)
M22	3	25	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Pass	Fly	Stonum	Inc
It's either this or a give up and punt; Stonum does have a step on his guy but Robinson throws it well long. (IN, 0, protection 2/2)
Drive Notes: Punt, 14-7, 6 min 2nd Q. Verrry questionable call kills this drive dead.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M2	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	QB stretch	Robinson	2
ND jumping this and prevents anyone from getting sealed on the frontside, so Robinson cuts behind the Molk/Omameh double and gets tackled by the guy Schilling couldn't seal. Omameh(+1) had driven his guy back and if Dorrestein(-1) had gotten a good kickout there was room. Also Robinson could have cut back behind Schilling for a better gain.
RUN++		Omameh, Koger				RUN-			Schilling, Dorrestein
M4	2	8	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	QB off tackle	Robinson	7
Late shift to one high. Michigan tries to pull guys around but charging ND defenders take them out; Smith(+1) does a great job to cut the charging slot LB and Schilling(+1) improvises to cut off a penetrating DT. Koger(+1) gets an extended block on Te'o that Robinson can cut behind and near the first down.
RUN++		Smith, Schilling, Koger				RUN-
M11	3	1	I-Form Twins	2	1	2	Base 3-4	Run	Iso	Smith	2
Williams crushes Molk(-1) back but Schilling and Huyge(+1 each) handle the playside DE and McColgan gets Calabrese, giving Smith the room to get the first.
RUN++		Schilling, Huyge, McColgan				RUN-			Molk
M13	1	10	I-Form Twins	2	1	2	Base 4-3	Pass	Waggle FB flat	McColgan	Inc
Batted as Robinson turns his head around and throws. (BA, 0, protection NA) ND had a blitz on that was perfectly suited for this play (RPS -1).
M13	2	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	QB stretch	Robinson	87
Molk(+1) finally gets a good reach on Williams, sealing him off though he does get driven back some. Schilling seals Calabrese away. As Robinson approaches the line it doesn't look like he has anything, so he slows up enough for a crease to appear between Dorrestein and Koger as Dorrestein's guy attempts to hop inside, thinking he will cut it up. Robinson then accelerates outside. Downfield Omameh(+3) has obliterated Te'o, pancaking him and wiping out an attacking safety for good measure. Roundtree(+1) cuts his guy to the ground; Odoms just headbutts his all the way to the sideline, and Denard is set free. Engage turbo.
RUN++		Omameh(3), Molk, Odoms, Roundtree, Robinson(3), Schilling				RUN-
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 21-7, 2 min 2nd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M30	1	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-3 shift	Penalty	False start	Omameh	-5
Okay, so Notre Dame comes out of the locker room in the second half and starts shifting its line when Denard raises his foot for the snap. Here they show a 3-4 and shift to a 4-3. Omameh gets flagged for a false start.
M25	1	15	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 3-4	Pass	Short bubble	Roundtree	9
This is the evolution of the bubble screen: no route, slot receiver hangs out, slot LB takes one step towards the zone fake, and Robinson hits Roundtree, who runs straight upfield into the open space. (CA, 3, screen)
M34	2	6	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 3-4 shift	Run	QB lead outside	Robinson	1
Smith moves down from the slot into the box when they execute the shift, then attacks Shaw(-1, though a harsh one) right at the LOS, cutting off any possible holes for Robinson. He starts improvising and gets taken down when he tries to cut back. (RPS -1)
RUN++						RUN-			Shaw
M35	3	5	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Pass	Tunnel screen	Roundtree	-3
Te'o tears ass after this and blows it up right in the backfield; not sure how you're supposed to block this or if this is actually a read; if it is the other side is way more likely to result in a first down. (CA, 3, screen, RPS-1) Michigan will start using this, too.
Drive Notes: Punt, 12 min 3rd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M17	1	10	Shotgun trips TE	1	1	3	Base 4-3 shift	Run	Inside zone	Smith	0
My frustration from this game is that Michigan is not exploiting these run-nuts LBs. Every play they are selling out to kill runs and Michigan has gashed them with play action but not enough. Anyway: ND shifts right before the play and their solution to the inside zone is to slant the DE underneath the backside T, which the ND guy does, beating Huyge(-1) badly. Meanwhile, two separate ND LBs have Robinson contain and Calabrese hits the LOS immediately. They are absolutely ripe for PA. (RPS-1)
RUN++						RUN-			Huyge
M17	2	10	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 3-4 shift	Pass	Hitch	Odoms	Inc
Good protection; Robinson has time to throw, but double-clutches the ball and looks decidedly uncomfortable as a he turfs a ball in the direction of an open Odoms. (IN, 0, protection 2/2)
M17	3	10	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 3-4	Run	QB draw	Robinson	2
I think ND is stunting here so the NT is just about to disengage and run away to the other side of the play when he reads draw, which means he's in a very tough position for Molk to do anything about and can force Robinson upfield where other DL can take him down from behind. (RPS-1)
Drive Notes: Punt, 11 min 3rd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M27	1	10	Shotgun trips	1	0	4	Base 3-4 shift	Run	QB lead draw	Robinson	3
Late shift brings a safety down and the slot LB in, which forces Shaw to block that LB, which leaves Te'o totally unblocked to tackle. Robinson takes a shot on this play. (RPS-1)
M30	2	7	Shotgun empty	1	0	4	Base 4-3	Pass	Bubble screen	Roundtree	10
A classic; with the slot LB backing out Grady can go dive at his feet at the first down marker and though he doesn't get him down the delay is more than enough with Odoms(+1) mountain-goating Walls on the outside. (CA, 3, screen)
RUN++		Odoms				RUN-
M40	1	10	Shotgun trips	1	0	4	Base 4-3 shift	Run	Inside zone	Shaw	5
No frontside to this play because Dorrestein cannot deal with the backside DT, probably because of the late move; Omameh(+1) does smack Calabrese downfield, and the DE was held outside by the fake (ZR+1) long enough for Shaw to hit it up behind Dorrestein, who did maintain his position and block long enough so that this wasn't a total loss. (RPS-1)
RUN++		Omameh				RUN-
M45	2	5	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 3-4	Pass	PA flare draw	Robinson	14
Pump fake to the flare screen sends Te'o screaming after Shaw; Molk(+1) crushes the backup NT out of the hole as Huyge(+1) kicks out the DT and Omameh(+1) shoves the other one upfield. There's a crease and Robinson's zipping through it, finally getting tackled when a corner comes from the backside after he cuts it outside, away from the safeties. RPS+1.
RUN++		Robinson, Omameh, Molk, Huyge				RUN-
O41	1	10	Shotgun trips	1	0	4	Base 4-3	Run	Zone read keeper	Robinson	1
Robinson thinks the backside DE is too far inside and pulls it out, and he's right but the safety coming down provides contain (ZR-1), allowing Calabrese, who Omameh didn't have an angle on if it wasn't the handoff, to join and tackle. Fortunately this is actually a short gain. (Run minus: Robinson.)
O40	2	9	Shotgun trips TE	1	1	3	Base 4-3 shift	Pass	PA short seam	Roundtree	15
Outside lead fake that's the same play Roundtree scored on earlier. LBs freak out again; this time the other deep safety is heading right for Roundtree from the snap. Since the throw is a bit high and Roundtree has to leap to get it he gets crushed, but hangs on. Throw was decent enough, just a good play from the ND safety. (CA, 1, protection NA)
O25	1	10	Shotgun 2-back	2	0	3	Base 4-3	Run	Zone stretch	Smith	0 (Pen -10)
Guh. Schilling(-1) and Molk(-1) get driven back by the NT, which erases any space for a cut; Molk(another -1) compounds things by holding the guy. Shaw(-1) whiffs on a block of Calabrese and Smith is tackled for nothing. Omameh(+1) did get a good block, FWIW.
RUN++		Omameh				RUN-			Schilling, Shaw, Molk(2)
O35	1	20	Shotgun empty	1	0	4	Base 3-4	Pass	Bubble screen	Roundtree	5
This time Odoms(-1) gets bowled over, and so does Grady, so Roundtree gets tripped after an okay gain. (CA, 3, screen)
RUN++						RUN-			Odoms
O30	2	15	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3 shift	Run	PA flare draw	Robinson	8
Omameh(+1) again handles a charging DE/DT type and the fake pulls the NT and Te'o well outside, but not as far as last time. This allows Te'o to recover and tackle downfield. Molk(+1) got a good block downfield and special commendation to Roundtree(+1) for plastering the slot LB despite its lack of relevance. The flare screen was totally open. Not that this was a bad idea. (RPS+1)
RUN++		Omameh, Molk, Roundtree				RUN-
O22	3	7	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 3-4	Pass	Corner	Roundtree	Inc
ND blitzes right into this and Smith(-2) whiffs on the lead block, forcing Robinson to pull up and throw it before he gets sacked. He's hit as he throws and the pass is long. (PR, 0, protection 0/2, Smith -2, RPS-1)
Drive Notes: Missed FG(39), 21-17, 4 min 3rd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
O25	1	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 3-4 shift	Run	Zone read keeper	Robinson	0
Late shift with the slot LB charging of the edge. Koger(+1) does a great job to neutralize him and Robinson pulls it, which is a decision I'm indifferent about on the backside but a super-aggressive Calabrese would have killed this if not pulled so whatever. PLAY ACTION, come on. Robinson(-1) has the edge and will pick up probably five yards if he just plows upfield but he decides to try and cut outside the safety, which does not work and results in no gain.
RUN++		Koger				RUN-			Robinson
O25	2	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-3 shift	Run	Inside zone	Shaw	6 (pen -8)
Come on. ND linemen have been doing this all day and not getting called for it but Omameh(-2) reaches outside the pads of a DT and does the only thing that's keeping Mike Martin from eating Crist's face and gets a weak holding call. Way to be consistent. The rest of the play is a correct handoff (ZR+1) with the DE containing and Koger heading outside to pop the slot LB, a good block on Te'o by Dorrestein(+1), and Calabrese again blasting into the play , jamming up any potential frontside creases and forcing a cutback from Shaw that he takes and does as well as he can with. (RPS-1)
RUN++		Dorrestein				RUN-			Omameh(2)
O33	2	18	Shotgun empty TE	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Pass	Seam	Roundtree	Inc
Roundtree is hand-wavingly wide open as he breaks through the linebacker level, which Robinson realizes. He throws the ball on a line, unfortunately, allowing Te'o to knock it down and almost intercept. Loft that, man. (IN, 0, protection 2/2)
O33	3	18	Shotgun empty	1	0	4	Base 4-3	Pass	Seam	Shaw	Inc
This is probably his best option as Shaw does have a small window in which he can catch the ball for a first down; Robinson throws it well long. (IN, 0, protection 2/2)
Drive Notes: Pooch punt, 21-17, 3 min 3rd Q. Given the down and distance I would have preferred a draw or something on second or third down to give M a chance on fourth.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M41	1	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-3 shift	Run	Zone read stretch	Smith	2
Similar thing to many other plays where the ND D's total sellout on the run makes it very difficult to gain anything. Huyge(-1) gets blasted back by his guy and beaten to the inside, which is very bad for a tackle; Dorrestein(-1) can't cut his guy, and the late shift means Molk can't seal the NT, leaving Smith able to do nothing but cut back into a lot of bodies. (RPS -1) Both Gs do get good second level blocks; Omameh is so much better in space than battling Reyes.
RUN++		Omameh, Schilling				RUN-			Huyge, Dorrestein, Molk
M43	2	8	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 3-4	Run	QB off tackle	Robinson	5
Webb(+1) blocks down and Dorrestein(+1) pulls around, which gets both guys on the end sealed away. So it's Smith(+1) getting enough of Calabrese to get Robinson outside and he's cruising in the open field until Te'o, who is the backside MLB(!) on this play runs him down. This is what they mean by sideline to sideline. I talked crap about Te'o in the preview but I take it all back. I'd be surprised if M plays a better linebacker all year. Michigan got ND on this play and Te'o kept it down to five instead of like 15.
RUN++		Webb, Dorrestein, Smith				RUN-
M48	3	3	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 3-4	Pass	Basically Forcier	Stonum	12
Michigan runs the PA QB outside again and this time ND drops back into it. Robinson sees this, does not throw the ball, and ends up halted in the backfield with mofos coming after him. He thinks about running and is cut off by Smith. He reverses field and evades two more ND players, pulls the ball out from his elbow, and pulls up to heave a ball to an open Stonum for the first down and more. The pass was wobbly, but the situation was desperate, and so... (DO, 2, protection NA). Tate's on the sideline saying "I taught him that."
O40	1	10	Shotgun trips TE	1	1	3	Base 4-3 shift	Run	QB stretch	Robinson	5
This time Molk(+1) does get a seal on Williams, allowing Robinson a seam between the C and T that has Schilling and Smith. Huyge does okay but does not fully kick out the DE, who comes from behind to grab Robinson's jersey and slow him down. Schilling whiffs on Te'o but it shouldn't matter since it's far enough outside that he won't be able to recover; this does cause him to peel off. Smith(-1) does the same thing instead of take on the safety, who finishes the tackle.
RUN++		Molk				RUN-			Smith
O35	2	5	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 3-4	Pass	Hitch	Odoms	6
Zinged in with good timing, slightly low. Odoms brings it in for the first and his knees are on the ground. (CA, 3, protection 1/1)
O29	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3 shift	Run	Belly handoff	Smith	6
Not 100% clear on why this one works. ND shifts and M runs the belly at them. The difference here is that the primary hole is on the backside of the play instead of right behind the C. Omameh(+1) seals and pancakes the DT. Impressive even if it's the backup. Webb(+1) kicks out the DE and Dorrestein(+1) pancakes Te'o. Safety fills quickly to hold it down.
RUN++		Omameh, Webb, Dorrestein				RUN-
O23	2	4	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 3-4	Run	Inside zone	Smith	0
Corner(!) comes down to blitz late, creating an eight-man front. Schilling(-2) starts moving to the second level immediately but knows he's screwed up as the slanting backside DE is way inside of Huyge, who has no help; he peels back uselessly as Huyge gets driven backwards. Blitzing CB pulls Koger and Smith has a guy in the backfield being blocked and another one behind him unblocked; he manages to slide under that tackle and turn -2 into 0. (RPS-1)
RUN++						RUN-			Schilling(2)
O23	3	4	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 3-4	Pass	Rollout corner	Roundtree	Inc
Roll away from some pressure as ND brings five; M picks it up. Robinson stops and forms up. Roundtree's running to the front corner of the endzone with a safety right on his hip. Robinson lofts a perfect pass that's in the only spot Roundtree has a shot at making this catch. Because of the excellent D, it's still a difficult over-the-shoulder catch. He doesn't make it. (DO, 2, protection 2/2)
Drive Notes: Missed FG(40), 21-17, 11 min 4th Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M15	1	10	Shotgun 2-back	2	0	3	Base 3-4	Pass	PA rollout hitch	Odoms	7
This is the other thing you can do to screw with cover-two corners: run a hitch with a corner route behind it. On this play M hits the hitch as Walls turns his hips; he still recovers to hit immediately. Odoms hangs on. (CA, 2, protection 1/1)
M22	2	3	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 3-4	Pass	PA rollout flat	Roundtree	7
This wasn't picture paged but the route concept was. Here Robinson hits the quick flat right as the CB chucks the deeper WR, finding the man open for the first down. (CA, 3, protection 1/1)
M29	1	10	Shotgun trips	1	0	4	Base 3-4 shift	Pass	Bubble screen	Roundtree	5
Late move to one-high with the safety coming down. Grady(-1) does not get an effective block on the safety but Roundtree(+1) manages to sort of run through the tackle, getting forward for good yardage. (CA, 3, screen)
RUN++		Roundtree				RUN-			Grady
M34	2	5	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 3-4	Run	QB stretch	Robinson	11
So: here ND does not move late and the OL does much better. Molk(+1) seals the backup NT no problem; he comes underneath but can't really do anything about anything. Omameh(+2) completely plows Te'o: he is really great in space. This is just as good a block as he got on the 87-yarder. Koger and Dorrestein kick guys to the outside but with Molk coming back to cut the NT their jobs are super easy. Backside LB/DE is the guy who just barely manages to trip Robinson up as it looks like he might be jetting for the endzone. Srsly: Omameh's block. Lethal.
RUN++		Omameh(2), Molk, Roundtree				RUN-
M45	1	10	Shotgun empty	1	1	3	Base 3-4	Pass	Bubble screen	TRob	10 (Pen -15)
Not blocked well. Grady does just enough to sort of cut the slot LB and Odoms lets the CB inside of him a bit, though not enough to blow up the play. This gives TRob the opportunity to dart around for near first down yardage. Grady gets a completely ludicrous penalty for a standard cut block… one he missed. (CA, 3, screen)
M31	1	24	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3 shift	Run	PA flare draw	Robinson	11
Opens up as Omameh(+1) seals out the DT and not just because of his momentum. Te'o is watching for this now and not as wildly out of position but he's still not there to stop it immediately; Robinson(+1) WOOPS past Calabrese; the two MLBs whack into each other and yakety-sax themselves to the ground. Really wish Robinson had made a hard cut back upfield for more yardage; instead he lowers his shoulder into a CB. (RPS +1)
RUN++		Omameh, Robinson				RUN-
M42	2	13	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 3-4	Pass	Flare screen	Shaw	11
Robinson fumbles the snap but picks it up and throws it to Shaw pretty much on time. Te'o's now hesitant and stays in the middle of the field, where Omameh(+1) is agile enough to get a piece even after forcing him up the field and mostly out of the play. Dorrestein gets a good downfield block, giving Shaw a lane to near the first down. (CA, 3, screen)
RUN++		Omameh, Dorrestein				RUN-
O47	1	10	I-Form Twins	2	1	2	Base 3-4	Pass	FB flat	McColgan	Inc
Iso fake draws a crowd and Robinson rolls out but into blitzers; one of them leaps to bat down a pass to an open McColgan. (BA, 0, protection NA)
Drive Notes: Punt, 21-17, 6 min 4th Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
O48	1	10	Shotgun 2TE	1	2	2	Base 4-3 shift	Run	QB stretch	Robinson	1
Omameh(+1) gets a great push on the playside DT, driving him off the LOS; Calabrese crashes; Smith picks him off. This leaves Webb and Dorrestein doubling the playside DE, who is AFAIK a LB; they do not drive him off the line sufficiently, leaving Robinson to cut back behind things. He slips on the turf and falls for little gain.
RUN++		Omameh, Smith				RUN-			Webb, Dorrestein
O47	2	9	Shotgun 2TE	1	2	2	Base 3-4	Pass	Hitch	Odoms	Inc
Robinson zings it wide of an open receiver. Odoms has a shot at it but it's tough. (MA, 2, protection 1/1)
O47	3	9	Shotgun trips	1	1	3	Base 3-4	Pass	Flare	Smith	3
Last week this was paired with a slant and I'm confused why it's not this week. ND is in man-to-man for once and the deeper hitch is covered by the CB, leaving the flare open; accurate, but Calabrese is all over it for minimal gain. (CA, 2, protection 1/1)
Drive Notes: Punt, 21-17, 4 min 4th Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M28	1	10	Shotgun empty	1	0	4	Base 3-4	Pass	Hitch	Shaw	Inc
Everyone runs hitches woo. Robinson doesn't throw it at first, thinking it covered, then starts rolling a little bit before throwing a dart to Shaw he should catch but does not as a safety hits him. (CA, 2, protection 1/1)
M28	2	10	Shotgun empty	1	0	4	Base 3-4	Run	QB draw	Robinson	12
Molk(+1) latches onto the NT and drives him well back; DEs fly upfield, leaving a big gap for Robinson. Grady(+1) and Omameh(+1) get downfield to seal off Calabrese and force Te'o around the mess, allowing Robinson first down yardage.
RUN++		Robinson, Molk, Omameh, Grady				RUN-
M40	1	10	Shotgun empty	1	0	4	Base 3-4	Pass	Bubble screen	Roundtree	7 (pen offset)
Grady(-1) completely trucked by Smith, but Odoms(+1) gets a great block on the edge, opening up a good gain on first down. Offsetting penalties bring it back. Michigan's is somehow a hold on Grady when all he did is get run over. YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ON OUR SIDE ASSHATS (CA, 3, screen)
M40	1	10	Shotgun empty	1	0	4	Base 3-4	Pass	Curl	Stonum	17
Another perfect example of curl flat akin to the picture pages; this time Robinson just sits in the pocket and zips it in to Stonum, picking up the first. (CA+, 3, protection 2/2) ND's coverage was altered to combat curl-flat but the CB dropping deeper slipped on the turf.
O44	1	10	Shotgun empty	1	0	4	Base 3-4	Pass	Hitch	Stonum	7
M rushes to the line and figures they will get the corner playing off after the last play hit them deep; they are right , as a perfectly timed hitch from Robinson hits Stonum for seven (CA, 3, protection 1/1)
O37	2	3	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 3-4	Run	QB stretch	Robinson	2
Te'o blitzes but M runs away from it; still the blitz takes away any cutback lane. Molk gets a seal on the NT but Schilling is out of the play, Omameh(+1) is dealing with a DE, and Dorrestein has to kick out a LB. This leaves Calabrese unblocked since Shaw heads outside the C-T gap; he tackles. Robinson spins inside of him but still falls.
RUN++		Omameh, Molk				RUN-			Dorrestein
O35	3	1	Ace 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 3-4	Run	QB sneak	Robinson	0
They rush to the line but still manage to come up short. Bloody fate.
O35	4	In	Shotgun 2TE	1	2	2	Base 3-4	Run	QB lead outside	Robinson	1
This is a wad of bodies that Robinson runs up into, with Omameh getting just enough push and everyone falling forward to get just the inches they need.
O34	1	10	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 3-4	Pass	Flat	Shaw	12
Curl-flat again and again the defender closest to the pass just falls down on his cut. Hoist upon your own petard, turf-bastards! This allows Shaw to zip up the sideline for decent yardage. (CA, 3, protection 1/1)
O22	1	10	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 3-4	Pass	Flat	Shaw	5
Blitz and man behind it, unusual. Robinson takes the quick dumpoff; Shaw breaks a tackle at the 17 and runs down to first and goal but after a lengthy review is ruled OOB. (CA, 3, protection 1/1)
O17	2	5	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 3-4	Run	QB off tackle	Robinson	0
Blitz off the edge draws both Huyge(-1) and Shaw when it should only draw one. As a result Te'o is totally unblocked and makes a tackle despite Webb(+1) burying the playside DE. One downfield block and Denard could break this a long way. (Run plus: Webb, run minus: Huyge.)
O17	3	5	Shotgun trips	1	0	4	Base 3-4	Pass	Post	Roundtree	15
Blitz and man to man behind it; Robinson stands in the pocket and delivers a deadly accurate dart to Roundtree, who catches it despite the safety interfering like a mofo before the ball gets there. (DO!, 1, protection 2/2)
O2	1	G	Shotgun 2TE	1	2	2	Goal line	Run	QB stretch	Robinson	2
Over as soon as Dorrestein(+1) cuts the backside DT, which takes out another LB and gives Robinson a massive cutback lane he takes; Omameh(+1) got out to plow Te'o a final, definitive time.
RUN++		Omameh, Dorrestein				RUN-
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 28-24, 27 seconds 4th Q.

Do you know that from time to time I wake up sweating because in my dreams I forget Denard Robinson is on our team?

Like, you just expect him to have ripped Michigan's heart out with a third-and-twelve run. Yes.

Like he's McNabb back from the grave.

Yes. If the Iranian government ever gets a nuclear weapon this is exactly how they'll feel.

Chart?

COMMENCE THE CHARTENING! Hennechart, with a reminder that numbers in parens are screens.

DENARD ROBINSON

Opponent	DO	CA	MA	IN	BR	TA	BA	PR	SCR
2009, All Of It	1	7	6(2)	3(1)	4	4	-	-	?
UConn	2	15(6)	-	-	3	2	-	-	2
Notre Dame	3	25(8)	3(1)	4	1	-	4(1)	2	-

Robinson made some errors and had a number of balls batted down on rollouts ND blitzed into but even so that performance is possibly even more remarkable than the UConn one since it came on the road against solid senior corners and guru-approved defenders, not the rag-tag UConn secondary. Robinson's downfield success rate (DO + CA / All Throws Not Marked MA, PR, or SCR, screens excluded) is 71%, even better than the 68% he put up against UConn and up there with a solid game from Chad Henne.

Robinson did reveal some flaws against Notre Dame, most prominently a two-play sequence during which he threw what should have been another Roundtree touchdown on a line, allowing Manti Te'o to break it up, and followed that with a badly overthrown seam to Shaw. When a downfield pass requires some air under it, Robinson is shaky. It wasn't all bad, though. He did lay in a beautiful corner route to Roundtree, though that wasn't caught.

Most impressive to me is the 1 in the BR category on 40 throws in his first road start, and that was actually Robinson going through his progression to his second receiver, finding him open, and then throwing it late because he WOOPed a blitzing Calabrese. We'll see how for real ND's defense is this year, but I'm betting it's actually good. They have a lot of talent and I was impressed with their DC's creativity, but more on that later.

The final word on Robinson's day: I would be praising it if he had zero rushing yards. I mean, look at this:

That guy ran for 258 yards! That guy!

Receivers:

	This Game					Totals
Player	0	1	2	3		0	1	2	3
Stonum	1	-	1/2	3/3		1	-	1/2	8/8
Odoms	1	-	2/3	5/5		-	-	2/3	7/7
Hemingway	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-
Jackson	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-
Roundtree	1	2/2	0/1	7/7		2	2/3	0/1	7/7
Grady	1	-	-	-		2	-	-	3/3
Robinson	-	-	-	1/1		-	-	-	2/2
Stokes	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-
Koger	-	-	0/1	-		-	-	1/2	2/2
Webb	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-
Smith	-	-	0/1	1/1		-	-	0/1	4/4
Shaw	1	0/1	0/1	3/3		1	0/1	0/1	1/1
Cox	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-
Hopkins	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-
Toussaint	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-

Receptions got a bit tougher against a better defense and results were mixed trending towards good. Roundtree brought in two 1s (the one where he got clocked by the safety on a seam and the final one where he was getting interfered with), 2s were about 50-50, and Michigan hasn't had a flat drop in two games. They may not be explosive but the receivers are proving reliable.

Note that Roundtree had a huge game after being mostly ignored against UConn. Also, tight ends evaporated. Odd given the play action opportunities ND seemed to be conceding.

And finally, PROTECTION METRIC: 34/40, Smith –3, Schilling –2, Team –1.

That's night and day from last year. No doubt Robinson has a fair bit to do with that since getting out of your lane against him is doom; even so, Michigan got through a game against Notre Dame with 40 throws without either tackle picking up a protection minus. Someone buy Greg Frey an ice cream cone.

Can this last? I don't know. Michigan hasn't faced an intimidating 4-3 defensive end yet, and might not until Adrian Clayborn comes to town for homecoming. But the initial results are almost as remarkable as Robinson's numbers above.

And, finally, a bighuge run chart that has a shocking performance even to me, the guy who put it together:

Offensive Line
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Huyge	5	7	-2	Kapron Lewis-Moore gave him trouble.
Schilling	5	7	-2	Ditto.
Molk	11	6	5	Solid win on the day, but was less dominant against Williams; did most of his damage on backup Cwynar.
Omameh	21	2	19	Discussion below.
Dorrestein	8	4	4	Did better against Johnson than his compatriot.
Webb	3	1	2	Okay.
Koger	3	-	3	Also okay.
TOTAL	56	27	29	Up two from UConn.
Backs
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Robinson	11	3	8	Surprisingly stingy.
Gardner	-	-	-
Shaw	2	4	-2	Blew one good gain by not having faith in Omameh.
Smith	2	1	1	Meh.
Cox	-	-	-	DNP
Toussaint	-	-	-	DNP
Hopkins	-	-	-	BEEF MACHINE
McColgan	1	-	1	Eh.
Jones	-	-	-	DNP
TOTAL	16	8	8	Time to see what everyone can do.
Receivers
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Stonum	-	-	-	--
Odoms	3	1	2	Goat. Mountain goat.
TRobinson	1	-	1	--
Roundtree	3	-	3	Bubble's back.
Grady	1	2	-1	Way worse than the other slots blocking.
TOTAL	8	3	5	!?!?!?
Metrics
Zone Read	5	2	3	Not much of it, really.

So… yeah. The number above that leaps out is Omameh. The lone lineman to exit the UConn game with a minus (it was minus one) put up a 21-2-19, which I have no context on because I just started doing this but if that doesn't stand for a long, long time I'll be surprised.

What happened? The theory of Omameh since he started against Purdue last year has been that the coaches moved him from tackle, where there was an obvious need, to guard because his incredible mobility would be better used there. Against UConn he was tasked with fighting off a beefy, veteran Kendall Reyes. He was kind of bleah doing this. Against Notre Dame he was frequently permitted the opportunity to operate in space when ND went to three man lines, whereupon he did this:

And this:

This isn't some gimpy UConn linebacker. Te'o is a beast. Omameh is great in space. Anyone who doesn't put a first-level guy on him the rest of the year is asking for it. It was only right that Michigan's winning touchdown saw Omameh shove Te'o into the endzone. It was the coda to a ridiculous day.

As for the rest of the numbers: I went into the UFR thinking the offensive line had struggled and that the tailbacks were getting an unfair rap on limited opportunities; I came out of it with… well… that. Michigan averaged 7 YPC on 41 carries, so I think the huge positives are justified. They averaged 5 YPC even if you take out the +10 that was an 87 yard touchdown run. Despite the struggles it was a monster day.

Grimble grumble tailback gaaah?

I was going to be contrarian here, but… yeah. In this grading system tailback is like defensive end on defense: if you end the day with zero you're wasting playing time that a playmaker who makes plays (MAKE PLAYS!) can play in.

It was revealing watching Michigan tailbacks opposite Armando Allen. A large chunk of Notre Dame's production on the ground was created solely by Allen. Michigan did a great job of disrupting run plays; Allen MADE PLAYS that turned nothing, or losses, into big gains. So far this year the only thing a tailback's done that's comparable is Smith's nimble touchdown to open the scoring against UConn. Mike Cox might be a nut who runs backwards to see what it's like but it's probably time to give him a shot; Fitzgerald Toussaint is Chris Perry and Mike Hart but fast and is now healthy. Rotation beckons; hopefully by Michigan State they'll have found a back or two that can do more than take up space.

Do you believe Notre Dame's turf monster conspiracy theories?

Yeah, I do. It rained a lot but that turf was turrible beyond even expectations. They have tarps, you know. Michigan plays on turf and is used to solid footing; ND is used to the crapshow that is their grass. But lo! The results were deadly to ND on the final drive, when cornerbacks slipped twice, opening up simple curl-flat routes that ND was theoretically covering with their defense. Serves 'em right.

Asshat linejudge?

SERIOUSLY

WTF?

Surely you must be grumpy about something, you crab.

Fine: it was frustrating to see Notre Dame crash down against the run so violently without it getting thrust in their face sufficiently. Mets Maize on first down passing:

The thing that surprised me was Michigan's success with first down passes. A quick look at the stats revealed that they were 13 of 17 for 168 yards on first down.

Ah wait, here.  ROCK PAPER SCISSORS: +12, –13 = –1. I had Michigan down for a negative RPS despite handing out two separate +3s on the Roundtree and Odoms seams. I think this is understandable to some extent since you're taking your running quarterback on the road for the first time ever, but by some point in the third quarter they should have had the confidence in Robinson to start running more play action. Then again, they did manage 7 YPC. I don't know.

I will say this: late Michigan shifted to a few plays that notched up RPS+1s: the fake screen draws. Those worked, and then later opened up the flares that Te'o was crushing earlier in the game. Michigan was caught off guard when ND came out of the locker room and kept shifting between 3- and 4-man lines, did okay anyway until penalties killed their drives, and adjusted to what they saw on the field to pick up yards late, including a final touchdown drive. The adaptability I saw from Magee was encouraging.

Heroes?

Robinson, obviously. Odoms. Roundtree. And Patrick "Die, Te'o" Omameh.

Goats?

The left side of the OL had troubles most of the day; the tailbacks did not MAKE PLAYS

What does it mean for UMass and beyond?

I don't know how you stop this offense consistently if Denard is going to throw like he's throwing, especially if he develops as quickly as a true sophomore starting for the first time can be expected to. His package of skills is great right now; if he develops that extra bit as a passer like he should, it's lights out. Your best chance is to have referees call a thousand ridiculous penalties.

Other developments: Omameh downfield is lethal, the receivers are very sure-handed, Roundtree is still the go-to guy, and Michigan needs to embark on a three-week war to find a Steve Slaton-type object. But the vectors are oh so very good.

Over the next couple weeks I want to see:

• Denard develop some additional diversity in the routes he can throw.
• Cox and Toussaint and possibly Hopkins.
• Junior Hemingway's healthy return.
• Increased involvement of the tight ends in the passing game.

I expect they'll be working on some new run packages but will keep those in the garage until Michigan State.

I THINK I MIGHT BE EXCITED THIS IS 9000 WORDS

NEW! So I've finally decided I'm going to try to hand out +/- for run blocking, which has been a sore spot when it comes to numbers since UFR started. With Michigan running 75% of the time against UConn, I can't just go by gut feel anymore. I've got enough of a handle on it to at least give it a try. I'm adopting the same sort of +/- format Genuinely Sarcastic uses, because that seems like a good idea, and hope he continues doing his version since different eyes will see different things.

Also, Denard Robinson demands some changes to the way UFR does passing. I'm adding a new SCR indicator for a scramble that is clearly a good idea given Robinson's speed and the down and distance situation. A four yard run on third and fifteen is still a TA.

Formation note: UConn didn't seem to do much, if any substitution. By the end of the game it was clear that they essentially had two defenses, a one-high formation…

 

…and a two high formation…

…and that the only thing that changed other than that was the alignment of the linebackers based on the position of the WRs—when Michigan went to trips a linebacker lined up over the #2 WR. There was a slight variant of the one-high defense deployed when Michigan went to two TE sets that saw one of the linebackers drop down to the line and the others slide over; I called that "Base 5-3," FWIW. As always, nomenclature is an attempt to be clear about what I'm talking about, not a guarantee of fidelity.

Michigan didn't do anything too exciting except debut this formation I called "Shotgun H-back":

Here Martell Webb is lined up as a quasi fullback; usually he would pull to the backside and block the crashing DE, who always crashed on a… wait for it… scrape exchange.

Substitution note: Nothing you don't already know. No substitution on the OL except for Molk's momentary cramp. Robinson and Grady were rotating in at slot frequently even before Roundtree went out, with Robinson seemingly ahead of Grady when it came to PT. Koger and Webb rotated, with Webb more of a blocker and Koger a receiver. Jeremy Jackson got in some spot duty; Je'Ron Stokes did not see the field.

Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M4	1	10	I-Form Twins	2	1	2	Base 4-3	Run	Off tackle	Shaw	6
Basically an iso designed to go just outside the TE; Koger and Dorrestein double and drive back the playside DE, with Koger popping off on the linebacker scraping over the top. McColgan has the short side corner; all these blocks are very well done. Unfortunately Omameh(-1) is overpowered by the DT and lets him into the backfield, forcing Shaw to bounce it outside. This robs Koger of the angle on the MLB and he has a free shot at Shaw for about one; Shaw(+1) spins through the tackle and gets six.
RUN+		Koger, Dorrestein, Shaw						RUN-	Omameh(2)
M10	2	4	I-Form Twins	2	1	2	Base 4-3	Pass	Rollout hitch	Stonum	7
UConn walks down the strong safety, so the corner on Stonum gives him an eight yard cushion. The quick hitch is open and Robinson hits him in the numbers. Pass was late and from the stands this looked a little dodgy--there will be a couple additional plays like this--but you can't ask for more when it comes to accuracy and velocity. (CA, 3, protection 1/1)
M17	1	10	Shotgun Trips TE	1	1	3	Nickel 4-3	Run?	Scramble	Robinson	9 - 13 Pen
Michigan fakes a belly handoff to Shaw, doubling both DTs and hypothetically leaving Shaw one on one with the unblocked MLB. Not a convincing fake. it's supposed to go to a short bubble, but Robinson pulls it down and takes off, zipping by the MLB and scurrying around a safety, finally getting hacked down near the first down marker. Was the bubble open? Eh, probably, but not for 9 yards. Should Forcier have thrown this? Yes. Robinson? Run, jackrabbit, run. (SCR, --, protection NA) Omameh gets a personal foul for a hit well after the whistle.
RUN+		Odoms, Robinson						RUN-
M13	2	14	Shotgun Trips TE	1	1	3	Nickel 4-3	Run	QB lead draw	Robinson	22
UConn's nickel 4-3 is a 4-3 with one of the LBs lined up over the #2 WR outside. There are also two safeties about ten yards downfield. Molk(+1) and Schilling(+1) execute a classic scoop block, springing Schilling out on the the MLB, who he blocks out of hte play. Shaw(+1) takes out the other LB. Roundtree(+1) cuts a safety. Dorrestein(+1) gets a free release and has no one to block so he just runs downfield walling off the short side corner. A charging safety forces Robinson outside, where the corner manages to make a desperate lunging tackle, preventing an 85-yard touchdown. BWS picture-paged this play.
RUN+		Schilling, Molk, Roundtree, Shaw, Robinson						RUN-
M35	1	10	Shotgun 3-Wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	Belly keeper	Robinson	10
This is a variant on the zone read but I'm not entirely sure what it's supposed to be yet or who Robinson reads. I think it's the WLB, actually, as Koger kicks out the DE and all the linemen get blocked. Here Huyge(-1) and Schilling(-1) get split by an active DT and Shaw would be dead but Denard(ZR +1) pulls it out. He's now past the slanting DT and Schilling has released downfield along with Molk. Molk(+1) clocks Lloyd. Omameh(+1) controls the other DT and drives him two yards downfield, allowing Robinson to cut back behind when the LB avoid Schilling and Shaw. Dorrestein is again walling off a guy downfield; Robinson cuts behind; Stonum(+1) nails a corner, giving Robinson room to the sideline.
RUN+		Omameh, Molk, Stonum, Robinson(2)						RUN-	Schilling, Dorrestein
M45	1	10	Shotgun 2-back	2	0	3	Base 4-3	Run	Zone stretch	Shaw	5
Michigan blocking the backside DE; they are going to be reading LBs all game. With the WLB crashing down on the stretch, this is a missed read by Denard(ZR-1). Still hypothetically has a shot at succeeding but Omameh's guy has gotten a bit of push and is set up in the B gap; he absorbs Smith's block. Shaw(+1) has nowhere to go and cuts behind blocks into the wide open gap Denard should have taken, managing to fall forward after barely avoiding the guy Schilling was blocking.
RUN+		Shaw, Schilling						RUN-	Omameh, Robinson
50	2	5	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 4-3	Run	QB lead draw	Robinson	4
Double the playside DT and contain him, run right at the MLB, with Shaw getting a decent block; Robinson runs decisively, taking a hit from said MLB as he bounces off Shaw's block.
RUN+		NA						RUN-	NA
O46	3	1	I-Form Big	2	2	1	Bear 5-3	Run	Iso	Shaw	2
Do isos just go in a gap or can that change based on the D? Because UConn slants into this gap, leaving a big hole between Schilling and Omameh that has two linebackers, Molk, and could have McColgan if they went there. Instead it's just straight ahead at because Omameh(-1) and Dorrstein(-1) have lost out on blocks there are two tacklers and nowhere for Shaw to go; Shaw(+1) manages to fall forward for the first.
RUN+		Shaw						RUN-	Omameh, Dorrestein
O44	1	10	Shotgun 3-Wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	Belly handoff	Shaw	4
Not sure if this is the right read or not; DE is sliding down the line but maintaining some contain; definitely a handoff if Forcier, but Robinson? Benefit of the doubt since the DE did hesitate on Robinson. ZR+1. Omameh(-1) blocks down on the DT from an advantageous position and sees his block spun off of, forcing a cut outside where the backside DE is; the delay allows him to tackle. Crashing safety also there, but one-on-one that could have been a play.
RUN+		Robinson						RUN-	Omameh
O40	2	6	Shotgun 3-Wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Pass	PA TE cross	Koger	16
Zone stretch fake with Schilling pulling around to provide pass protection on the unblocked backside DE. Linebackers suck up like whoah (RPS+2), leaving Koger wide open as the guy who should be covering the zone he's entering is actually trying to tackle Robinson. Dart hits him between the numbers 15 yards downfield, caught, first down. (CA+, 3, protection 2/2)
O24	1	10	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Nickel 4-3	Run	Zone stretch	Shaw	-1
Frustrating, as UConn has six in the box and literally not enough guys to tackle if they run another draw. This is a stretch, and Robison makes the correct handoff decision (ZR+1) since the WLB is charging right at him. Omameh's(-1) DT does get a little penetration and closes off the frontside B gap, forcing Shaw to cut back; Molk(-1) and Schilling double team the NT and eventually pancake him but don't block anyone else. Blitzing WLB makes the play. (RPS-1) Run minus: Omameh, Schilling.
O25	2	11	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 4-3	Run	QB lead draw	Robinson	10
This is just too easy, as UConn does the exact same thing. With two deep safeties and six in the box they literally have no one to tackle the QB. WLB runs into a frontside crease, leaving no one for Shaw to even block until he's ten yards downfield. Molk(+1) controlled and pancaked the playside DT; Robinson and Shaw banged a safety, leaving the slot LB to come from behind and tackle. RPS+2.
RUN+		Robinson, Molk						RUN-
O15	3	1	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Nickel 4-3	Run	QB lead draw	Robinson	3
SIX GUYS IN BOX ON THIRD AND ONE AT THE 15. Edsall derp. A slightly short yardage variation as Molk and Schilling double and crush the playside DT. Weakside LB reacts quickly and defeats Smith's block but has no chance to keep this under three yards, let alone one. RPS+1. Millen's praising Lloyd, and praising him correctly, and this had no chance.
RUN+		NA						RUN-	NA
O12	1	10	Shotgun 3-Wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	Belly handoff	Smith	12
Almost all Smith. Schilling(-1) gets driven back and thrown almost into the path of Smith; he ends up with his back to the DT looking at him. On the frontside, Molk and Omameh just manage to wall off the playside DT; Omameh pops off on the charging SLB. Smith manages to slip through this mess into a totally unblocked safety, who misses, at which point he can cut behind Roundtree(+1) and get into the endzone.
RUN+		Smith(3), Roundtree						RUN-	Schilling
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 7-0, 7 min 1st Q. 108 yard drive with two passes. Bo, man. Bo.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M23	1	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	Belly handoff	Shaw	4
This is on Denard because the unblocked DE was hauling ass after the RB and he needs to pull it out (ZR -1). If he does he has Webb as a lead blocker, Huyge on Lloyd, and the slot LB between him and the safeties--first down probably, touchdown maybe. As it is Shaw(+1) does well to hop around the DE and pick up a few yards.
RUN+		Shaw						RUN-	Robinson
M27	2	6	?	?	?	?	?	Pass	Hitch	Stonum	5
Watching Rice-Texas instead of this play, come back just as Stonum's catching a zinger from Denard. (CA, 3, ?)
M32	3	1	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 4-4	Run	QB lead draw	Robinson	3
Corner rolled down into the box as a WLB, allowing the LBs to slide over. This lets them send two guys into the hole the draw has gone into already, forcing Robinson behind the ineffective Molk/Schilling double and into the path of the backside DT, who has shucked Omameh; SLB comes up unblocked to fill but not before Robinson's quickness picks up the first. (RPS -1)
RUN+		Robinson						RUN-	Omameh
M35	1	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-4	Run	Belly lead keeper	Robinson	12
Same play as the first snap on this drive and Denard has learned (or just been told to pull the damn ball, getting a ZR+1). He yoinks the ball out as the DE against crashes down and finds himself in plenty of space with Webb as a lead blocker. Huyge(+2) gets a great pancake block on MLB Lloyd and Robinson jets past the first down; would like to see him try to set up the safety inside and hop outside in an effort to get a touchdown. Also Odoms does a great, if ultimately irrelevant, job on the outside.
RUN+		Robinson, Huyge(2), Odoms						RUN-
M47	1	10	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 4-3	Pass	Flare screen	Shaw	16
Seven guys in the box now and UConn sends a safety-type player on a blitz. Four men are in a deep umbrella, leaving just two guys underneath, and they don't know where to go because Michigan is sending two OL each way. Michigan hits the flare. Odoms and Dorrestein get cuts downfield; Grady gets a decent block that springs Shaw through, leaving him one on one with a safety for six. Off balance, he can't put a move on and gets tackled. (CA,3, screen, RPS +1)
RUN+		Odoms, Dorrestein						RUN-
O37	1	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-4	Run	Belly handoff	Shaw	5
Essentially an identical play to the first one on the drive, where DE hauls ass after Shaw, Denard makes a bad read (ZR-1), Shaw(+1) evades the DE and hits the backside of the play. This time Denard actually gets out to block, Webb totally walls off the slot LB, Huyge gets another good block on Lloyd, and it's still six yards.
RUN+		Shaw, Webb, Huyge						RUN-	Robinson
O32	2	5	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-4	Run	QB lead draw	Robinson	32
You cannot draw up a scoop block better than this. Molk(+1) and Omameh(+1) drive the playside DT back and then Omameh pops out on the MLB. A pulling Webb(+1) wipes Lloyd out, Shaw(+1) takes out the weakside safety type thing and Millen drops "that's six" as Robinson crosses the LOS. He really is a fantastic broadcaster. Replay.
RUN+		Molk, Omameh(2), Smith, Robinson, Webb						RUN-
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 14-0, 1 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
O44	1	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	Off tackle	Shaw	15
Variant on the belly series from the last drive. On this one Webb pulls to clock the backside DE and Omameh(+1) blocks down on the playside DT; both linebackers have sucked to the backside because they're worried about Denard and not expecting this to go so far off tackle the other way since Shaw is lined up in the belly spot behind his QB. Ton of space; Shaw just runs by the SLB until he's forced inside by the corner. SLB tackles. RPS+1. Don't think this is a read, think this a called play, so no ZR.
RUN+		Omameh, Dorrestein						RUN-
O29	1	10	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 4-3	Run	QB lead draw	Robinson	-3
UConn adjusting to this by slanting the DE into the gap instead of letting the OT kick him out. This creates a mess. Denard slows up and tries to cut back, but Omameh(-1) has been driven back and he still tries to go around, eventually getting tackled for a loss. Should have just cut it outside. The evolution of dance here is for Tebow-style play-action fakes that consist of a single step forward. RPS-1. Run Minus: Omameh, Robinson
O32	2	13	Shotgun 3-Wide	1	1	3	Nickel 4-3	Run	Jailbreak screen	Grady	3
Fake the flare screen to Shawn and come back with the jailbreak on the other side of the field. This has sucked a lot of people out of position, leaving three blockers and three defenders before Grady is jetting for the endzone. Koger(+1) picks off the slot LB. Molk(+1) blocks MLB Lloyd. Schilling(-1) totally overruns the safety, who tackles unmolested. (CA, 3, protection NA)
RUN+		Molk, Koger						RUN-	Schilling(2)
O29	3	10	Shotgun empty	1	1	3	Nickel	Pass	TE cross	Koger	4
Not sure how restricted Robinson's read is here, but M is hoping for man and gets zone so Koger gets nailed as soon as he catches it. (CA, 2, protection 2/2)
Drive Notes: Missed FG(42), 14-0, 13 min 2nd Q. Shankapotamus punt sets M up with good field position on the next drive.
O38	1	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-4-	Run	Reverse	Grady	-3
PEDANTRY NOTE: Since the action of the play goes one way with what looks like a QB sweep and then has a pitch to the WR, I'm calling this a reverse instead of an end around. The play: Michigan runs QB sweep action and pitches it to Grady as Koger takes out the backside DE. Problem: this 4-4 has a weakside alley defender like a Kovacs and no one is doing the thing where they run with Stonum on a fly route for 20 yards. This guy bites but is so far to the backside that he can easily recover in time to hit Grady. Grady, for his part, just runs right into the guy when he could have cut it inside and gotten some yards, possibly lots, and then he fumbles. Not a great play for Grady.
RUN+		Koger						RUN-	Grady(3)
O41	2	13	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-4-	Run	QB lead draw	Robinson	6
Best block of the day for Omameh, who gets under the DT and pushes him back a couple yards. LB is flowing downhill at this very fast so Robinson decides to cut back rather than chance a pileup with that guy and Webb at the LOS. Omameh's guy pops off to try to tackle but falls over backwards thanks to Omameh and Denard runs through it; MLB ate Molk(+1) and Denard can fall forward, stiffarming as he falls.
RUN+		Omameh, Molk						RUN-
O35	3	7	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Nickel	Pass	Slant	Odoms	16
Smith runs the flare screen route, Roundtree heads straight downfield, and Odoms slants inside. Denard throws what looks like a dangerous pass, but the safety coming down isn't even looking at Odoms, he's trying to get out for the screen, only realizing his error as the ball arrives. Odoms catches and quicks his way past the safety, picking up the first down and considerably more. With Odoms coming to a stop and a guy in Denard's face he can't wait any longer to make this throw; it is on rhythm. (CA, 3, protection 1/2, Omameh -1)
O19	1	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-4	Run	Inside zone	Smith	4
Backside blitzer makes this a correct read (ZR+1) Omameh and Schilling(+1 each) successfully crease the DTs, leaving Molk one on one with SLB, who beats him(-1). Smith is tackled by that guy.
RUN+		Schilling, Omameh						RUN-	Molk
O15	2	6	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-4-	Run	QB lead draw	Robinson	-2
This one also appears designed to go right up the middle, but Omameh(-1) is beaten by the slanting DT and there's nothing. Robinson has a chance to hop outside and maybe beat the backside DE but slips and is tackled for a loss. RPS -1; this slant killed the play. Run minus: Omameh, Dorrestein
O17	3	8	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Nickel	Run	QB lead draw	Robinson	10
UConn stunting, which takes the playside DE inside. He's walled off by Huyge(+1); Schilling(+1) absolutely blasts the playside DT, erasing him; Smith shifts outside the DE when he sees the way the play is developing; Smith and Roundtree get blocks downfield and it's first and goal.
RUN+		Schilling(2), Huyge, Smith, Roundtree						RUN-
O7	1	G	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	Inside zone	Shaw	3
Correct read with a backside blitz. Schilling kicks out his DT; Molk plows the MLB; Omameh cannot handle his DT, who comes off him to make a play a few yards downfield. Not minus-worthy but I was thinking about it.
RUN+		Schilling						RUN-
O4	2	G	Shotgun 2TE	1	2	2	Goal line	Run	Inside zone	Shaw	4
Basically the same play; Schilling(+1) again does a great job of kicking out the DT; Molk(+1) gets out on the MLB, and Omameh does enough on the other guy, falling to the ground but getting in the way of him.
RUN+		Schilling, Molk						RUN-
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 21-0, 9 min 2nd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
O8	1	10	Shotgun Trips TE	1	1	3	Nickel	Run	Zone read keeper	Robinson	8
Robinson correctly reads the crash (ZR+1) and pulls it out, finding himself in open space. Huyge can't maintain his block on the outside but he's blocking the handoff so not his fault. Robinson jets for eight.
RUN+		Robinson						RUN-
O16	2	2	Shotgun Trips TE	1	1	3	Nickel	Run	QB lead draw	Robinson	6
They do get the intended crease this time (no slant from the DE) but the MLB fills immediately, bashing Smith close to the LOS. Robinson(+1) darts around Molk and has the acceleration to dart up into the crease behind him before Omameh's guy can come off and grab him. He does manage to reach out an arm and spin him down.
RUN+		Robinson, Molk						RUN-	Smith
O22	1	10	Shotgun Trips TE	1	1	3	Nickel	Run	Belly handoff	Smith	0
The read here should be keep but this might not actually be a read since he just ran twice. I have to assume it is, though, so: ZR-1. Smith has no hole because Omameh(-1) did not seal his man; that delay is enough for the backside DE to tackle for nothing. Run minus: Omameh, Robinson
O22	2	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-4	Pass	PA throwaway	Roundtree(?)	Inc
UConn blitzes right into this, getting an unblocked guy in Robinson's face before he even has a chance; a slanting player has slashed past the fake run blocks and is also in the backfield. Robinson avoids one guy, then the other guy, in a remarkable Houdini act. With another couple guys coming in to crush him he just chucks the ball hard, deep, and on a line well past Roundtree. Was he trying to complete this? Does he just throw everything like this and has no deep ball? I don't know, but the benefit of the doubt goes to the guy who just escaped two defenders and is chucking the ball away. (TA, 0, protection 0/2, team, RPS-1)
O22	3	10	Shotgun 4-wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Pass	Jailbreak screen	Stonum	4
UConn prepared for this, with the SLB in a position where there's no way anyone is going to be able to block him. Stonum(+1) does well to run through his tackle but he can't make the second guy miss. (CA, 3, screen)
Drive Notes: Punt, 21-3, 1 min 2nd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M19	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Pass	ZR Bubble	Roundtree	-1
Denard pulls it out with the DE crashing (ZR+1) but Huyge(-1) and Webb(-1) both have ineffectual blocks so DR goes to his safety valve; Odoms(-1) can handle his guy and it's a loss. (CA, 3, screen) Run minus: Huyge, Webb, Odoms
M18	2	11	Shotgun 3-Wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Pass	Quick out	Roundtree	Inc
This is a quick rollout with the two guys running an out and a fly to test the cornerback in a presumed zone; Denard throws the quick out before the play develops, allowing the corner to come up and crush Roundtree, separating him from the ball and knocking him out for the game. Another beat and he would have probably had Stonum, or the corner would have backed off Roundtree. (BR, 1, protection 1/1)
M18	3	11	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 4-3	Pass	Deep hitch	Grady	16
Great protection leaves Robinson all kinds of time, and there's a fifth guy spying. Robinson waits for Grady to clear the linebacker level and sit down in the hole in the zone, then zips one in a decent window right on the numbers for a first down. (DO, 3, protection 2/2)
M34	1	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-4	Run	Belly handoff	Smith	4
Same as previous plays; Webb(-1) just runs by the backside DE; Omameh(-1) cannot contain his man, and both of these guys get arms on Smith at the LOS. He does a good job of running through those tackles and getting a decent gain anyway. Schilling got his guy sealed again.
RUN+		Schilling, Smith						RUN-	Omameh, Webb
M38	2	6	Shotgun 3-Wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	QB stretch	Robinson	3
Molk(+1) gets a seal on the stretch block against that DT Omameh's been struggling with as Omameh heads to the second level, where the LB heads outside of him; Dorrestein(+1) pancakes the DE. Robinson should cut it up in between the C and T but heads outside, where Smith manages to wall off the SLB Omameh had no angle on. This leaves an unblocked safety to fill.
RUN+		Dorrestein, Molk						RUN-	Robinson
M41	3	3	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 4-3	Pass	Slant	Odoms	9
Smith runs the flare again, drawing up the WLB and opening a window in which Robinson zings a first down completion. Slightly high, but ok. (CA, 3, protection 1/1)
M49	1	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-4	Run	Belly handoff	Smith	1
Correct handoff with a S waiting for him and Webb going to block the crashing DE. Story is again the same: Omameh(-1), even with help from Dorrestein, cannot contain DT99, who forces himself over into the hole, leaving nothing for Smith to do except run up the back of his OL. If I was grading the UConn D he'd be en route to +10 or better. ZR+1. Run minus: Omameh
50	2	9	Shotgun 3-Wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	Belly handoff	Smith	4
No crash; correct handoff(ZR+1). Omameh(+1) does seal and kick the DT this time; they're running it to the opposite side. Unfortunately, Schilling(-1) can't get any drive or seal and Smith has to cut it back; Huyge(-1) whiffed on the SLB. Smith meets two guys two yards downfield and burrows for two more.
RUN+		Omameh, Robinson						RUN-	Schilling, Huyge
O46	3	5	Shotgun 3-Wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Pass	Slant	Stonum	11
The flare again sucks a linebacker up to it, leaving Stonum in a big hole in the zone. Zing, bobble, catch, first down. (CA, 3, protection 2/2)
O35	1	10	Shotgun Trips TE	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Pass	Bubble screen	Grady	4
Safety walks down. This bubble is the short bubble where the receiver does not run the full route in the hopes of finding space between the freakin' out LB over the slot and the interior defense. This not so much. Odoms does manage to cut his guy but a safety charges up as soon as it looks like a bubble and snuffs it out. Michigan will use this later. (CA, 3, screen)
O31	2	6	Shotgun 4-wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	QB stretch	Robinson	5
Dorrestein(+1) cuts the backside DT to the ground, removing him totally. Molk(-1) gets pushed back and Robinson has to cut behind; this open because of the Dorrestein chop. Omameh releases into the second level but ends up blocking no one, which is unfortunate because Denard squeezes through arm tackles only to take his first real shot of the day from a safety a yard short of the sticks.
RUN+		Robinson, Dorrestein						RUN-	Omameh, Molk
O26	3	1	?	?	?	?	?	Run	QB lead draw	Robinson	3
TV misses this play.
O23	1	10	Shotgun 3-Wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	Belly handoff	Smith	4
This again. Omameh(+1) does get enough of the DT for the RB to skip by; Schilling seals his guy out. Unfortunately Molk(-1) has a really weird whiff where he just runs away from the MLB, the only person he can reasonably expect to block, and that guy tackles.
RUN+		Omameh, Schilling						RUN-	Molk
O19	2	6	Shotgun 3-Wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Pass	Flare	Smith	-1
Incorrect read by Robinson as the LB is flying out of the zone and Michigan again has the slant they've worked for a bunch of first downs. He instead throws the flare, getting Smith whacked by the corner. (BR, 3, protection NA)
O20	3	7	Shotgun 3-Wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Pass	Scramble	Robinson	11
UConn in zone and does a great job of covering a slant/wheel to the top of the screen Denard is looking at. Same thing on the bottom, same coverage. No one open, he takes off, darting past outstretched hands for the first down. Bonus: Smith's wicked blitz pickup. (SCR, --, protection 2/2)
O9	1	G	Shotgun 2TE	1	2	2	Base 4-3	Run	QB stretch	Robinson	5
Playside DT just surges forward and falls, almost cut-blocking Molk. A charging LB darts past Webb, leaving two guys for Smith to block on the outside; the DT's fall has provided a cutback lane. Dorrestein(-1) could not cut the backside DT at all so he's there, but Robinson's hesitation move gets him to delay in case he cuts back around him, opening up a hole to dart into.
RUN+		Robinson, Huyge						RUN-	Dorrestein
O4	2	G	Shotgun 2TE	1	2	2	Base 4-3	Run	Belly Keeper	Robinson	-3
DR seems en route to endzone when he bobbles and drops the ball. Never really had it after the exchange.
O7	3	G	Shotgun 3-Wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	QB stretch	Robinson	0
Blitz into the play cuts off the outside and gives UConn another guy on the inside to snuff this play out. RPS -1. Michigan will use this later, too.
Drive Notes: FG(24), 24-10, 7 min 3rd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M11	1	10	Ace 4-wide	1	1	4	Base 4-3	Run	Dive	Shaw	5
End around fake from Odoms; this is just a straight handoff up the middle. Omameh(+1) and Schilling(+1) crease the DTs and Molk(+1) nails the MLB; OLBs converge to tackle.
RUN+		Omameh, Schilling, Molk						RUN-
M16	2	5	I-Form Twins	2	1	2	Base 4-4	Run	Off tackle	Shaw	-10
Omameh(-2) completely pwned by the DT, who I will name for you at this point: Kendall Reyes. Shaw(-2) compounds matters by dancing backwards instead of just trying to cut behind the mess and get back to the LOS, getting shoved and tackled for a huge loss. Run minus: Omameh(2), Shaw(2)
M6	3	15	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 4-3	Run	QB draw	Robinson	15
A give up and punt play, which is reasonable given the game situation and your sophomore QB. Except, uh? first down. UConn rushes four and has three LBs in the middle of the field. Smith(+1) gets enough of the MLB; Grady and Robinson get in the way, and the other Robinson(+1) gives a tiny hip fake that causes one of the LBs to hop outside the blocker; he continues upfield, getting submarined, flying for the first down, and giving his hip an owie.
RUN+		Robinson, Smith, T. Robinson, Grady						RUN-
M21	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Run	Zone read keeper	Gardner	-4
Correct read (ZR+1) as the DE crashes but a terrible decision by Gardner(-2) to attempt to go outside of Koger and his man when the interior line was crushing that side of the line downfield. Koger(-1) also should have done better.
RUN+		Omameh, Dorrestein						RUN-	Gardner(2), Koger
M17	2	14	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-4	Run	Zone read belly	Smith	13
Another good read (ZR+1) with an outside blitzer and the fake is good enough to suck two guys outside and give Smith a big cutback lane he takes. Omameh(+1) crushed Reyes on this play; Dorrestein(+1) sealed off the SLB.
RUN+		Gardner, Omameh, Dorrestein						RUN-
M30	3	1	Shotgun 2TE	1	2	2	Base 4-4	Run	QB lead draw	Robinson	4
Surprise. LBs flying downhill at this, filling the hole, but Koger(+1) and Dorrestein(+1) have doubled the playside DE, driving him well back and giving Robinson a lane outside he takes for the first down. Robinson is too quick for the alley guy. (RPS-1)
RUN+		Koger, Dorrestein, Robinson						RUN-
M34	1	10	Shotgun trips	1	0	4	Base 4-3	Pass	Flare	Smith	8
Fourth or fifth time they've run this; this time the LB sticks in the middle of the zone and Robinson nails Smith with a perfectly placed touch pass that he can ramble up the sidelines with. (CA+, 3, screen)
M42	2	2	Shotgun trips	1	0	4	Base 4-3	Pass	PA Bubble Post	T. Robinson	43
Dorrestein(-1) completely whiffs his cut block as Michigan goes for a fake handoff, then a fake bubble that sucks the UConn linebacker corps to the LOS in a fashion I've never seen before. Robinson has two guys running wide open and picks Robinson's post because it's probably the primary read; he does this with a guy in his face so it's kind of a tough throw. It's on the money 20 yards downfield, providing Robinson the ability to run after the catch, so it gets a DO. (DO, 3, protection 0/1, Dorrestein, RPS+3)
O15	1	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-4	Run	Belly handoff	Smith	5
Eighth guy in the box is coming down hard in the G-T gap so Smith has to squeeze between the two guards; both have maintained good blocks. At this point the backside DE is crashing in and the eighth guy has adjusted, so the tackle. Smith does a good job of getting some YAC. RPS-1.
RUN+		Omameh, Schilling, Smith						RUN-
O10	2	5	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Pass	Sack	--	-1
PA rollout finds no one open for Robinson so he tries to run it; this is well defensed. Good D by Uconn, correct decision by Denard. (TA, --, protection NA)
O11	3	6	Shotgun 4-wide	1	0	4	Base 4-3	Pass	Flare screen	Smith	11
UConn blitzes right into this, and gets DOOM'D for their trouble; you can hear Michigan Stadium go "yeeeeeah" as soon as they see what the playcalls are. RPS+2. There are only two guys to the same side of the field as Smith and four blockers; Huyge(+1) and Odoms(+1) do excellent jobs and Smith can walk it in. (CA, 3, screen)
RUN+		Odoms, Huyge						RUN-
Drive Notes: Touchdown (missed XP), 30-10, 13 min 4th Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M23	1	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-4	Run	Belly handoff	Shaw	3
UConn is pouring downhill at these so I won't judge too harshly on a drive when Michigan's just trying to put a game that's already put away fully underground. Omameh(+1) gets a good block; Molk's angle out of the line does not take him through defenders, and the crashing DE is crashing so hard Shaw again has to go behind a guy and get what he can, which is three since there are linebackers everywhere. I'm not going to ZR this either because the game's done and Robinson doesn't need more carries.
RUN+		Omameh						RUN-
M26	2	7	Shotgun 2TE	1	2	2	Base 5-3	Run	Zone read keeper	Robinson	9
Okay, I will. UConn pulls an LB down to the line to combat the second TE, Webb(+1) kicks him out. DE crashes, Robinson pulls (ZR+1), Huyge wipes out Lloyd (easy), and Robinson shoots up in the gap provided by Schilling and Webb, cutting behind the SLB after five yards to pick up nine.
RUN+		Webb, Huyge, Schilling, Robinson						RUN-
M35	1	10	Shotgun 2TE	1	2	2	Base 5-3	Run	Zone read keeper	Robinson	8
Basically same thing as M finally starts testing a UConn D intent on shooting the DE down the line. Here MLB Lloyd is the scrape guy and starts hauling ass after Denard immediately, but Denard just outruns him to the corner easy. Koger got a block on the playside DE. (ZR+1)
RUN+		Koger, Robinson						RUN-
M43	2	2	I-Form Twins	2	1	2	Base 4-3	Run	Iso	Shaw	3
Reyes submarines Omameh and falls; Schilling(+1) seals his DT; Molk(-1) whiffs on Lloyd, who meets Shaw a yard past the LOS thanks to the excellent Schilling block; Shaw just blows him and gets the pile to fall the right direction.
RUN+		Schilling						RUN-	Molk
M46	1	10	Shotgun 2-back	2	1	2	Base 4-4-	Run	Broken play	Shaw	-1
Shaw and Smith bump into each other, almost certainly because Smith gets the wrong playcall. Not going to bother with the blocking because who knows?
M45	2	11	Ace	1	2	2	Base 5-3	Pass	Waggle TE flat	Koger	10
This sucks the WLB to the fake and gets Koger open in the flat. Robinson gives him a soft toss and he turns it up to get near the first down marker. (CA, 3, protection NA)
O45	3	1	Shotgun 2TE	1	2	2	Base 5-3	Run	QB lead draw	Robinson	6
Dorrestein(+1) and Koger(+1) totally obliterate the playside DE, catching the linebackers up in the wash and letting Robinson just run up their backs for five. This is a variant of the regular draw where they're doubling one particular member of the DL on short yardage.
RUN+		Dorrestein, Koger						RUN-
O39	1	10	Ace	1	2	2	Base 5-3	Run	Inside zone	Smith	0
At this point I'm not really interested. WOOOOO. Omameh gets the main demerit, but I'm not sure what Molk is doing either? at this point whatever.
O39	2	10	Shotgun H-back	1	1	3	Base 4-4	Run	Belly handoff	Smith	3
I understand this blocking so I'll chart it: again with the inside zone; Omameh(+1) gets a goot block; Schilling a bleah but acceptable one; Molk(-1) gets the ole job by Lloyd. Kind of disappointed in Molk's downfield blocking this game.
RUN+		Omameh						RUN-	Molk
O36	3	7	Shotgun 3-Wide	1	1	3	Base 4-3	Pass	Hitch	Stonum	7
Simple pitch and catch, well timed if a tiny bit upfield. (CA, 3, protection 1/1)
O29	4	1	Ace	1	1	3	Base 5-3	Run	QB sneak	Robinson	2
They get it.
O27	1	10	I-Form	2	1	2	Base 5-3	Run	Iso	Smith	0
This is Omameh(-2) getting smoked. Run minus: Omameh(2)
O27	2	10	I-Form	2	1	2	Base 5-3	Run	Dive	Smith	1
Playside DT submarines Molk, taking himself and Molk out and opening a frontside crease. McColgan(-1) makes a really weird decision by hitting one of the contain guys instead of going right upfield and putting his facemask on the MLB's chest. Dorrestein can't cut said MLB and he tackles Smith near the LOS.
RUN+		Omameh						RUN-	McColgan
O26	3	9	I-Form Twins	2	1	2	Base 5-3	Run	Iso	Smith	0
Seriously, at this point whatever.
O26	4	9	I-Form Twins	2	1	2	Base 5-3	Pass	Waggle hitch	Grady	Inc
Can't see this from the tape but I had a good line on this in the stadium and it was open but Denard did not get the ball out fast enough. You can see that Stonum was open on the outside, too. I usually go with IN for balls that aren't bad ideas but are thrown too early/late but with Stonum sitting out there it's BR time. (BR, 0, protection NA)
Drive Notes: Turnover on downs, 30-10, 2 min 4th Q. EOG.

I'm dizzy because I keep running around in circles screaming "wheeeeeeeeeeee!" I know it's Thursday, I don't care.

Yeah, let's just get right to the—

CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAART

Chart. I've included our Denard Robinson All of 2009 chart for comparison:

[Hennechart legend, or hover over the table headers]

DENARD ROBINSON

Opponent	DO	CA	MA	IN	BR	TA	BA	PR	SCR
2009, All Of It	1	7	6(2)	3(1)	4	4	-	-	?
UConn	2	15(6)	-	-	3	2	-	-	2

Downfield success rate: 68%.

!!!!!111!111!!!!!!!

!!!!1111!!!!!1111!

I know. There has never been a UFR passing chart devoid of MAs and INs. The full dossier of things Robinson was dinged for:

• Chucking the ball away deep after escaping two unblocked rushers.
• Running out of bounds for a one-yard sack on a waggle play.
• Throwing a flare instead of a slant and getting Vincent Smith hit for a one yard loss.
• Getting Roundtree killed on an out that he caught until it was violently separated from him.
• Throwing a waggle hitch late on the last offensive play Michigan had.

That's it. The first is a good play. The second was a good decision since he had nowhere else to go and is Denard Robinson approaching the line of scrimmage. The other three were passes as deadly accurate as his other 18 but weren't the best options; only on the last was their any chance of a turnover. Everyone's worried about Tate Forcier transferring because of a lack of playing time… but what about Tacopants? He got zero balls.

UConn's secondary has to be terrible.

Yeah… UConn's secondary is probably terrible. They were starting a bunch of freshmen and failed to take advantage of a couple moments where it looked like Robinson was late on hitches. Also all that other stuff happened. Here is the avalanche of caveats and stern looks designed to keep your pants on—

—or put them back on—

TMI—and put Robinson's performance in perspective. Many of his downfield throws were either simple hitches or the slant/flare combo they ran about eight times where Smith would run a flare route, the linebacker to that side would start charging it down, and Robinson would zing a wide-open slant in the vacated space. Once the linebacker charged it down and Robinson threw the flare for no yardage; once he stayed home and Robinson threw the flare for good yardage. Michigan didn't show a whole lot, and for the most part avoided plays that could be risky.

The only play I gave the hallowed DO other than the wide open TRob (apologies for the use of that annoying shorthand but I'm not going to distinguish between the two Robinsons with full names for the next three years) post was this:

And while that's wicked sweet it's the only time he really fit it in a window. Not that I'm worried about his accuracy anymore*. It's more about what happens when his receivers are covered. Can he come off a primary read? Can he consistently recognize when guys are covered? Can he process information fast enough to get the passes out on time? Answers:

• Don't know, as both times UConn covered the primary read they covered everyone and Robinson ran.
• Don't know. He made three bad reads, but didn't throw anywhere truly dangerous.
• Not consistently yet. Some of the CAs above were late but he got away with them, and the last incompletion was very late.

Notre Dame and their veteran secondary will be another test.

On the other hand, how many times did you see Pat White zinging balls to hopelessly, almost unbelievably wide open receivers? Part of the magic of the offense is that when you can run 70% of the time and still put up first downs and string together long plays, things like that Robinson-to-Robinson pass where there isn't a defender in the same time zone as the receiver happen. The burden on Robinson to read defenses is going to be so much lower than it would be for a Henne or Tate because it's impossible to leave two high safeties against him (or at least a terrible idea) and taking a step forward is the best play-fake in the world.

Also, on third and 11 up 11 with this guy who wasn't even a quarterback last year, Rodriguez let 'er rip. They have some level of confidence there.

*(WOOO)

My pants—

More charts! Receiverchart:

	This Game					Totals
Player	0	1	2	3		0	1	2	3
Stonum	-	-	-	5/5		-	-	-	5/5
Odoms	-	-	-	2/2		-	-	-	2/2
Hemingway	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-
Jackson	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-
Roundtree	1	0/1	-	-		1	0/1	-	-
Grady	1	-	-	3/3		1	-	-	3/3
Robinson	-	-	-	1/1		-	-	-	1/1
Stokes	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-
Koger	-	-	1/1	2/2		-	-	1/1	2/2
Webb	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-
Smith	-	-	-	3/3		-	-	-	3/3
Shaw	-	-	-	1/1		-	-	-	1/1
Cox	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-
Hopkins	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-
Toussaint	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-

An exceptionally unchallenging day, but one on which they made no mistakes. Having Koger go 3/3 is encouraging. The only hypothetically catchable pass that wasn't was the one on which Roundtree got blown up. Hard to blame a guy for that.

PROTECTION METRIC: 12/16, Dorrestein –1, Omameh –1, Team –2.

Low sample size makes it tough to get a read but since the Dorrestein –1 was a failed chop block on the TRob post and the team minus was getting overwhelmed by a blitz into play action the initial returns are pretty good. No minuses from the tackles when they're actually setting up to pass block is win.

Rock-paper-scissors: +13, –7, TOTAL +6.

This may even be pessimistic since I started dinging Michigan points for running the same stuff over and over again when they probably put away the tricks because they didn't need them and I think I even RPS-1ed a successful QB lead draw on third and one because UConn was all over it. Is it really a bad decision if they leap all over it and still can't stop it?

It'll be interesting to watch this over the course of the season—Robinson's promise is that he can drop more RPS+3 plays this year than Michigan has in the last two seasons combined.

All right, now… the run game, which was the bulk of the offense?

Right, so this is the first time I'd ever systematically done this and it could end up being totally whack but here it is anyway:

Chart.

Offensive Line
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Huyge	7	2	5	No pass rush minuses, too. Excellent day.
Schilling	13	6	7	Clearly the best interior OL on the day.
Molk	10	5	5	Had some downfield whiffs.
Omameh	15	16	-1	Major issues with Kendall Reyes.
Dorrestein	9	4	5	Couple of pancakes.
Webb	3	2	1	Seemed better.
Koger	6	1	5	!
TOTAL	63	36	27	Splat.
Backs
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Robinson	17	6	13	Woo ha!
Gardner	1	2	-1	Should have cut his loss upfield for a big gain.
Shaw	7	2	5	Lot of hopping on bad ZR decisions.
Smith	7	1	6	TD killer.
Cox	-	-	-	DNP
Toussaint	-	-	-	DNP
Hopkins	-	-	-	DNP
McColgan	-	1	-1	Eh.
Jones	-	-	-	DNP
TOTAL	33	15	18	Zip.
Receivers
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Stonum	1	-	1	--
Odoms	4	1	3	Wha?
TRobinson	1	-	1	--
Roundtree	3	-	3	--
Grady	1	3	-2	Negs on the bad reverse.
TOTAL	17	10	7	!?!?!?
Metrics
Zone Read	10	3	7	Just Robinson. Gardner also had a 2-0-2.

I have no idea what the context is here and think I should separated out carrying and blocking +/- for the RBs, since the former seems more important than the latter but it essentially bears out what I thought when watching the game. The tackles were surprisingly good but not that involved on a day when Michigan did almost all of its damage up the middle. Schilling took a major step forward, something that's echoed by NFL draft types:

Steve Schilling/G/Michigan: Schilling, who looked liked a star in the making as a freshman, has struggled the past few seasons adjusting to Michigan's motion offense. On Saturday, he showed signs of major improvement in his ability to block on the move and annihilate opponents at the point.

Molk was good but did not execute many of his patented reach blocks because of the interior focus and whiffed on MLBs a bit too often for my tastes.

And Patrick Omameh struggled. He didn't exactly lose out, but as the only guy on the line anywhere near even he stood out as a sophomore. UConn's Kendall Reyes was a problem all day, bursting into the backfield on the Shaw ten-yard loss and causing most of the bounce-outs. Sometimes this just happens. I remember Eastern Michigan's Jason Jones doing a lot of damage, pointing out how good he was, and hoping this was true both for credibility and what it said about Michigan's offensive line. Jones eventually went in the second round of the NFL draft. I both think and hope Reyes is really good, headed for All Big East recognition. If not, Omameh has a lot of work to do.

What if Robinson explodes or something?

Well, we're in trouble. This might happen. Quarterbacks get injured frequently. But it doesn't appear that they get injured any more frequently when they run a lot, as MCalibur's diaries have shown. There is a slight increase in injury rate that does not rise to the level of statistical significance, which is to say that the numbers suggest there might be a slight uptick, but the rate at which this happens is low enough that we can't be sure. In any case, an extra 2-3% chance your QB goes down is so worth the added explosiveness a guy like Robinson brings.

Heroes?

Almost everyone to some extent but special mention goes to Robinson (obviously) and Schilling.

Goats?

The only person who even remotely qualifies is Omameh and even he did all right.

What does it mean for Notre Dame and beyond?

Next week's game is going to be interesting on the interior of the line since ND is running a 3-4. Omameh won't have a DT lined up directly over him; that will fall to Molk, who will endeavor to put Ian Williams on rollerskates for the third straight year. Williams has supposedly bulked up and didn't spend most of the last year rehabbing a knee so that matchup should be more even. If Molk can win it consistently, Schilling and Omameh will spend most of their time trying to stay in front of Carlo Calebrese and Manti Te'o, ND's MLBs. Those three matchups will go a long way towards determining the outcome of the game. I expect considerably more variation in the run game, with a lot more stretch plays to test the historically immobile Williams.

In the passing game… well, if Notre Dame leaves primary reads open Robinson will hit them. They will probably have an answer to the slant/flare combo that worked so well for Michigan against UConn, but with so few tricks pulled out of the bag in the first game they'll have to deal with a larger than usual set of plays they have not seen before. That combined with Robinson's legs demanding attention should set him up with a large number of makeable throws as long as he's not stuck with long-yardage situations. That goes back to the interior line, then.

We don't know much, but we'll know a lot more after Saturday.