upon further review

Upon Further Review: Offense vs Illinois

By Brian — November 5th, 2009 at 1:51 PM — 37 comments
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Personnel notes: Odoms did not play and was replaced by Roundtree. Patrick Omameh got a series late in the first half, probably because Dorrestein was injured. It sounds like Dorrestein might miss the Purdue game, with Patrick Omameh his likely replacement at RG. Robinson did not play until the game was over.

Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M30 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Nickel Pass Long handoff Mathews 5
Illinois walks a safety down. Corner is playing off Mathews a bit so Michigan takes the quick pass for a few yards. (CA, 3, screen)
M35 2 5 ??? ? ? ? ? Run ? Brown 3
First missed play of the day; we cut to Brown with the ball and an indecipherable blocking scheme; think Michigan pulled out something new and it didn't quite work.
M38 3 2 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Hitch Koger 9
Good timing from Forcier, with the ball getting thrown before Koger fully turns around, which allows him to pick up a few YAC. (CA+, 3, protection 1/1)
M47 1 10 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone veer keeper Forcier 4
Okay, so the veer: here the line blocks one way—they downblock—and the running back comes across the line going the other way, with the frontside DE ending up unblocked. Here Forcier should definitely give it off as the DE came inside (ZR -1), but he does juke the DE in question and turns no gain into three yards. Forcier could have had a couple more but he's clearly been told to get down before he gets hit.
O49 2 6 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Nickel Run Zone read stretch Brown 10
Illinois crashing the DE and using an OLB on a scrape. Schilling and Ortmann are trying to scoop block the backside DT and can't get it done because the DT is serious about flowing down the line but Schilling(+1) adjusts well, deciding to seal the guy instead of attempting to pass him off and head to the second level. Since Illinois has slanted hard to the playside and neither Moosman or Huyge has managed to seal his guy, Brown's only option is to hit it up in the small crease the Schilling block provides. Good read there and he hits the crease, bouncing off Schilling and running through a diving ankle tackle attempt by the backside DT, hitting it up into a vacant second level. This could be a touchdown but Brown bizarrely cuts right instead of left and finds Illini.
O39 1 10 Shotgun 2-back 2 1 2 Base 4-3 Run Power off tackle Brown 4
Moundros in. This is a gap-blocked play with Huyge pulling around in an attempt to attack the gap between Koger and Ortmann. Schilling(-1) does not seal his guy, who closes off the intended hole and forces Brown away from the blocks of Huyge and Moundros. Moosman(+1) got a really effective down-block on the backside DT, though, and this gives Brown a cutback behind Schilling. Unblocked LB meets Brown two yards downfield; he picks up two more.
O35 2 6 Shotgun trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read stretch Brown 6
Huyge gets a good stretch block on the backside DT, who was lined up in such a way that made this relatively easy as Illinois appeared slightly misaligned at the snap. Schilling loses control of his guy but it's not quite quick enough for that DT—Josh Brent, he's pretty good—to close down the gap. Brown squirts through it and meets a linebacker that Moosman(-1) had a free run at and could not block. He tackles just short of the first.
O29 3 In I-Form Big 2 2 1 Base 4-3 Run Power O Brown 2
Pretty easy, as Illinois' line is slanting away from the play. Moundros(+1) gets a good kickout block on the OLB on the line and Schilling gets a block downfield, clearing the way for a first down.
O27 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Nickel Run QB power O Forcier 4
Another power run play, this with Forcier as the primary ballcarrier. DE they're running right at slants himself out of the play; Huyge pulls around with the MLB in his sights; MLB attacks the LOS well and is in a difficult spot for Huyge, cutting off the outside hole and then getting inside of Huyge when he tries to block the MLB. Forcier does well to read the play and cut upfield and looks like he's got a big crease; MLB makes an ankle tackle to hold it down. (RPS +1, Huyge -1) Excellent play by 38 here. Our linebackers never do this.
O23 2 6 Shotgun trips 1 1 3 Nickel Pass Bubble screen Roundtree 8
This is called, as Forcier makes only a token fake to Brown before pulling it out for the bubble. This isn't a true bubble, either, as Roundtree takes a couple steps outside and then sets up; he's not running as the ball comes to him. He makes a good, decisive move outside and picks up first down yardage; good block from Koger. (CA, 3, screen)
O15 1 10 I-Form twins 2 1 2 Base 4-3 Run Iso Brown -1
Huyge(-1) is blown back into the backfield by the playside DE, which erases the hole. Brown has no options and gets tackled for a loss.
O16 2 11 I-Form twins 2 1 2 Base 4-3 Pass Waggle hitch Mathews 14
Schilling pulls around and does a good job blocking on the edge; Forcier pulls up and zings one to Mathews just as he breaks open in front of the DB. On replay, throw is a bit inside, but this close to the sideline that might be okay. (CA, 2, protection 2/2)
O2 1 G I-Form Big 2 2 1 Goal line Run Zone stretch Brown 2
Dorrestein(+1) gets off the ball and knocks the playside DE back by himself, opening up the corner and providing a lane for an easy Brown touchdown. Huyge(+1) and Moundros(+1) also erased guys, providing a walk-in.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 7-7, 3 min 1st Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M21 1 10 Shotgun 2-back 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read stretch Brown 8
Vincent Smith the other back. Michigan running away from the line shift, and Illinois is slanting away from the play, meaning Moosman hardly has to try to block the playside DT. Schilling(+1) makes a good adjustment to get the slanting DE, Smith(+1) pops the blitzing OLB, and Ortmann seals the MLB. Brown can't cut upfield of Stonum's block because of the flowing WLB and cuts outside where a diving ankle tackle sees him fall.. Pursuit would have limited this to a couple more without the fall.
M29 2 2 I-Form twins 2 1 2 Base 4-3 Run Iso Brown 4
Similar to the previous third and short conversion, with the backside DT getting himself easily sealed by Schilling(+1) but no frontside crease; Brown cuts back, where the frontside DT peels and tackles, but not before the first down.
M33 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Long handoff Mathews 15
This is interesting: it's new. It's basically the zone-read-to-bubble play except instead of throwing the bubble it's just a long handoff to Mathews, who is the lone receiver away from the playside. With the CB there cheating down it's open and Mathews(+1) cuts it up for good yardage, making the most out of the room he was given. (CA, 3, screen)
M48 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Nickel Run Zone read veer Forcier 2
This doesn't really work because Illinois is running a scrape. Result: backside DE crashes down on Brown, causing Forcier to pull it (ZR + 1), but the scraping OLB gets out on Forcier and prevents him from picking up any yardage. When Michigan was running this against Iowa and Penn State they were blocking the backside DE and reading the OLB; I guess they thought Illinois would adjust to that. They didn't.
50 2 8 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Edge pitch Brown 2
Roundtree(-1) fails to get a block on the OLB to that side, so the play gets strung out. There was not really an option for a cut up since this is not a true option play and Forcier did not take the DE away by forcing him to come up.
O48 3 6 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Throwaway Brown Inc
Wholesale OL failure as both OTs get run around and Forcier has to step up in the pocket, where Huyge and Schilling have both failed to control the IU stunt/blitz. The pocket collapsing, Forcier steps up, finds more pressure, and just tries to get rid of it to Brown; ball is understandably inaccurate. (PR, 0, protection 0/2, team)
Drive Notes: Punt, 7-7, 13 min 2nd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
O43 1 10 Shotgun 2-back 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read stretch Brown 5
Omameh in at right tackle(!). I didn't notice this live but Craig Ross did, and it's true. Dorrestein is apparently having injury issues. Omameh kicks out the DE on the stretch; DE gets upfield enough to take out Smith and force Brown up behind him. Playside DT gets doubled by Moosman and Huyge; that double takes long enough that the release into the second level does not get the MLB, who can tackle Brown. Still a decent gain.
O38 2 5 Shotgun 2-back 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read stretch Smith 4
Hell of a four yard run as this is epic OL fail. Omameh(-1) gets slanted inside by the DE and he's going to crush the play for a four yard loss but Smith runs through the tackle. Corner comes up to try to finish it off and misses; Smith spins through his tackle attempt past another DL, where he meets a diving linebacker, avoids him, and falls forward. This is basically 8 YAC; great, Hart-like run. Announcers are talking about Halloween costumes.
O34 3 1 I-Form Big 2 2 1 4-4 split Run Power O Brown 2
Koger and Ortmann double the playside DE, driving him off the ball; Moundros(+1) pops the OLB, knocking him backwards and giving brown enough room to pick up the first. It's remarkable how bad Brown is about contact.
O32 1 10 Shotgun trips 1 1 3 Nickel Run Zone read stretch Brown 19 (Pen -0)
Only six in the box for Illinois as they are manning up on the outside with a single deep safety. Omameh is blocking the backside end since Michigan assumes a scrape and they're right; MLB eliminates himself as Forcier contain. SLB then freaks out to the playside, giving Brown a huge cutback lane as Huyge(+1) slices the backside DT to the ground. Brown jets into the secondary. He cuts outside a good block from Mathews to make the safety chase and gets down to the 13; Mathews gets a somewhat ticky-tack holding call... but I can see it. Dumb. It comes back and we have a do over, basically.
O32 1 10 Shotgun 2-back 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Pass Sack -- -2
PA stretch fake with Grady rolling out for some pass pro. Forcier appears to have a hitch for a few but doesn't throw it immediately and then the CB comes up, then definitely has a corner route for lots but doesn't throw that, either, and eventually starts running around, taking a sack. Should have thrown it. (BR, 0, protection 1/1)
O34 2 12 Shotgun 2-back 2 0 3 ? Pass Tunnel screen Roundtree 4
Late to the play again. This is not actually a bubble, as Roundtree is moving inside at the catch. Probably an attempt to take advantage of people over-reacting to the bubble, but on this play Illinois does a good job of staying responsible and holds it down. (CA, 3, screen)
O30 3 8 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 3-3-5 Nickel Pass Sack -- -8 (Pen+15)
A couple of blitzers. One of them attempts to spectacularly hurdle Minor and gets owned, but that blitz and the general tendency of the OL to give ground spooks Forcier and he ends up attempting to roll out against DEs way upfield; he rolls himself into a sack. Should have stepped up in the pocket, where the spectacular leap attempt would have given Forcier a lane to escape the pocket and do his Forcier stuff. He gets facemasked on the tackle. (BR, 0, protection 2/2)
O15 1 10 Shotgun 2-back 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read stretch Smith -1
Poor read by Smith(-1) as he does not have faith that Moosman can seal the playside DT. Moosman eventually does in the manner of many successful stretches. By that point Smith has abandoned the idea and attempts to hit it up behind Moosman, which ends with Smith getting tackled by the unblocked MLB.
O16 2 11 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone veer keeper Forcier 5
Michigan's version of what Illinois does all the time. They must have practiced this all week to prepare for it and threw it in the playbook. Downblock the line, fake the handoff, Forcier(ZR -1) makes the wrong read again when he should give it off, I think, jukes the DE again, and gets a decent gain out of it. Man, this thing can be dangerous if run by a huge fast guy.
O11 3 6 I-Form twins 2 1 2 Base 4-3 Pass Rollout corner Mathews Inc
Good playcall gets Illinois in man and should see this open up but the corner here makes a good play and Mathews doesn't sell his route; his in cut does not turn the CB, possibly because it's a rollout, and the guy is close enough to grab Mathews's shoulder as the pass arrives. It's high and as a result Mathews can't extend to bring it in. Pass interference? Technically, yes. The grab came before the pass arrives. Does this ever get called? No. So it's a good play by the DB. (MA, 1, protection 1/1)
Drive Notes: FG(28), 10-7, 7 min 2nd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M46 1 10 Shotgun 2TE 1 2 2 Base 4-3 Pass PA short seam Hemingway 21
New item! Michigan runs a zone read, basically, but Forcier pulls it out and immediately throws to Hemingway, who is open because his guy has set up to play on the corner, allowing Hemingway to lope past unmolested. Forcier hits him for a first down. (CA, 3, protection NA, RPS +1)
O33 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Nickel Run Zone read stretch Brown -7
Schilling(-1) fails to pick up on the slanting DT and just runs by him; slanting DT shoots into the backfield. Brown(-1), for his part, should instantly slam it up behind the failed block and hope he doesn't get run down by the backside DE. Even if he does it would be a minimal loss; as it is he tries to stretch it out to the sideline and ends up giving a ton of ground and getting tackled for a big loss. Brown is fast as hell but has little in the way of RB skills.
O40 2 17 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Scramble Forcier 16
Forcier does have a pocket this time and steps up into it as a DE comes crashing around the outside of Ortmann. Seeing no one open, because there is no one open, he takes off for good yardage. I won't chart this, because it's a good decision and doesn't deserve a TA. Protection 2/2.
O24 3 1 I-Form Big 2 2 1 4-4 split Run Power O Brown 2
Another good double on the playside DE blows him back; Moundros(+1) kicks out the OLB, and Schilling pulls around into the SLB. Brown has the first down before he hits anyone, at which point he goes down immediately.
O22 1 10 Shotgun 2-back 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read stretch Brown 5
Very similar situation to the seven yard loss, with the playside DT slanting hard; this time Brown makes the hard cut upfield and because Huyge(+1) got a great block on the backside DT he's out of the play. Brown can run up into folk for a decent gain. I think Molk is getting some of these reach blocks and the cutbacks aren't so constant.
O17 2 5 I-Form twins 2 1 2 4-4 split Run Iso Brown 0
OL sliding over to run an iso off tackle; Huyge(-1) is pwned and blown back into the intended hole. I'd rather see Michigan double the guy and leave Brown with the linebacker; instead they shoot Omameh at the linebacker and leave Huyge to get pwned. Brown heads outside and is lucky to get back to the LOS.
O17 3 5 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Nickel Pass Sack -- -8
Actually very good protection from the tackles, who don't let the DEs tear around the corner this time, but Schilling(-2) is just beat one-on-one by an Illinois DT—no trickery—and the immediate pressure up the middle gives Forcier no choice but to eat a sack. I do think Forcier had a slant for the first but just did not have the confidence to throw it. Still... (PR, 0, protection 0/2)
Drive Notes: FG(41), 13-7, 1 min 2nd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M20 1 10 Ace 1 2 2 Base 4-3 Run Zone stretch Brown -2
Illinois shifts a LB late and Michigan busts his pickup as Ortmann doubles the playside DE with Schilling. Koger(-1) lets the LB right inside of him without getting a block; that guy tackles for loss.
M18 2 12 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run QB draw Forcier 5
I don't know what Forcier's looking at because he's got a crease between Ortmann and Moosman that Brown's heading up into to provide a lead block, but Forcier heads directly upfield instead. On his way through a small crease someone knocks the ball loose; Michigan is fortunate to recover.
M23 3 8 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 3-3-5 Nickel Pass Post Roundtree 77
Excellent pocket this time gives Forcier time and room to step up and throw; he rifles a ball 20 yards downfield that hits Roundtree right in stride. A trailing safety is beaten, but a Roundtree stumble gives him a shot at a tackle; he misses it. Roundtree is on the 45 and gone until Hawthorne tracks him down. (DO, 3, protection 2/2)
O1 1 G I-Form Big 2 2 1 Goal line Run Iso Brown 0
Schilling(-1) is blasted back by a single blocker on the backside; the frontside DT double gets him moving backwards and should be enough for Brown to get in but for Schilling falling backwards and giving him no room. Brown falls forward to about the half-yard line; probably could have extended it in.
O1 2 G I-Form Big 2 2 1 Goal line Run Power O Brown 0
They've got a gaping hole to run a sneak but they don't check to it. Argh. Dorrestein(-1), back in for Omameh, gets blown back and Schilling runs into him, falling right in Brown's path. Resulting unblocked guy tackles Brown just short of the line.
O1 3 G I-Form Big 2 2 1 Goal line Run Inside zone Brown 0
Brown's fault: the interior line freaking caves the DTs back and if Brown hits it up immediately this is a walk-in touchdown. His vision has always been bad, though, and he waits too long, and his balance has always been bad so he can't run through a tackle here.
O1 4 G I-Form Big 2 2 1 Goal line Run Outside zone Minor 0
Again a missed read from the RB as Grady takes an interior LB charging up and the OL has slammed Illinois into the endzone. Minor should still get in, but ends up tackled as his elbow hits.
Drive Notes: Turnover on downs, 13-7, 11 min 3rd Q. After the review, Rodriguez looks like Don Draper on this week's Mad Men.
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 Zone read stretch Smith 0
This looks like it's going to go pretty okay as a double on the frontside DT looks like it's working. Playside DE gets upfield so there's a crease; Schilling pops off the double to block the playside LB, at which point the DT they were doubling beats Moosman(-1) and shoots up into Smith at the LOS. My kingdom for a Molk. This play has one of my persistent pet peeves about the stretch: Brown goes outside the playside DE and basically makes himself useless. If you tell him to shoot it up then the players never have to stop doubling the DT here and this is a good gain.
M20 2 10 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Flare screen Brown 7
Good gain; great cut block from Roundtree gets a DB to the ground and the Illinois DL sucked up, removing themselves from the play. Dorrestein(-1) manages to whiff on the charging safety, but Brown cuts up behind him, where a DT and the CB the outside WR was blocking converge. (CA, 3, screen)
M27 3 3 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run QB stretch Forcier 2
Michigan hurries to the line and catches not one but two Illinois players on the field of play as they snap the ball. No call. Ridiculous. Anyway, again Brown just heads outside the tackle and Forcier has to cut it up; a quick-reacting corner blazes past Stonum and Schilling can't block the backside DT, so Forcier gets taken down after just two. If Brown was acting as a lead blocker maybe they get this; I really don't get this blocking scheme on third and short.
Drive Notes: Punt, 13-14, 7 min 3rd Q. That is a ridiculous noncall.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M36 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Hitch Koger Inc
Quick hitch identical to the first one from earlier; Koger drops a ball that hits him in the hands. (CA,3, protection 1/1)
M36 2 10 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Hitch Roundtree 4 (pen -15)
Come to the play late as it's being thrown so not much detail; simple pitch and catch for just four. (CA, 3, protection 1/1) Moosman gets a dumb, unnecessary chop block call.
M21 2 25 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Corner Stonum Inc
Stonum runs what looks like a slant at first before breaking it out into a deep corner route on which he's got a step and there's a window. Good pocket for Forcier breaks down with a delayed blitz but Forcier can stand in and throw just before he gets hit; the ball is a couple yards long. (IN, 0, protection 2/2)
M21 3 25 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 3-3-5 Nickel Pass Improv comeback Stonum Inc
Third and twenty five sees a four-man rush that's picked up well; instead of stepping confidently and firing to someone, Forcier hesitates, bringing his eyes down and then scrambling out. He pulls up to fire deep to Stonum, who's trying to get open, and throws it a bit wide of a covered receiver; ball is deflected away. Trying to make the best of a bad situation and a throw that was okay after finding no one open, so... (TA, 0, protection 2/2)
Drive Notes: Punt, 13-21, 4 min 3rd Q. Michigan's trying to avoid the hellacious wind and ends up with a line drive rugby punt for little yardage.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M20 1 10 Shotgun trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read stretch Brown 17
Michigan again blocking the backside DE so maybe this is supposed to be a cutback sort of thing. Huyge(+1) cuts the backside DT, who leaps over the block and stumbles wildly; scraping MLB runs himself out of the play chasing Forcier and the SLB move out anticipating a stretch; huge cutback lane. Brown cuts behind the out-of-control backside DT and heads right up the middle, grabbing a chunk of yards before the safeties close him down.
M37 1 10 Shotgun trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass TE seam Koger 22
Bubble fake with Koger faking a block on the LB lined up over him, then releasing beyond him; Forcier hits him as he clears the second level but before the safeties get up on him. Poor block from Huyge(-1) gets a guy in Forcier's face and forces him to get rid of it when he had two receivers breaking deep against one safety and could have waited for a home run if a guy wasn't in his grill. Good play anyway; throw is a bit high but Koger brings it in. (CA, 2, protection 1/2, Huyge -1)
O41 1 10 Shotgun trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read stretch Brown 17
Excellent blocking by the interior line with Schilling getting a seal on the backside DT easily. He's out of the equation. Moosman and Huyge double and blow back the playside DT, with Huyge releasing onto the MLB; he gets outside and threatens to hold it down but the blocks by Moosman(+1) and Schilling have provided a major crease; the backside DE is getting blocked so he's out of the picture, too, and the scraping backer has run himself out of the play for Forcier. Brown's got space and this is what he's good at: darting into the secondary. Again the safeties close him down.
O24 1 10 Shotgun trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read keeper Forcier 2 (Pen +5)
Backside DE unblocked this time and stays home but Forcier pulls it out(ZR –1). He's one on one with the DE and jukes him pretty well... and then fumbles for no reason whatsoever. The ball is juggled and he brings it back in; the distraction may have prevented him from fully juking this guy. Result is two yards; Michigan finally gets the “hey you have 12 guys on the field” call as Illinois is egregiously late getting off.
O19 1 5 Shotgun 2TE 1 2 2 Base 4-3 Run Zone read stretch Brown 9
Backside DT slices into the backfield past Schilling and Ortmann and threatens to make a play but he needs Brown to get delayed and that doesn't happen. Brown runs past, then cuts up. Schilling's gotten out on the MLB and a double from Moosman(+1) and Huyge(+1) has stoned that guy; Brown slices through a crease between Schilling and Moosman before getting taken down by a safety.
O10 1 G Shotgun 2TE 1 2 2 Base 4-3 Run Zone read stretch Brown -6
Three fold: Huyge(-1) gets absolutely blasted back into the backfield by the playside DT and Moosman, attempting to get the same double he did on the previous play, ends up running at no one, with a linebacker coming behind him. This is not a good situation. Brown should just cut up behind Huyge and take his 0 yards, but instead he tries to get outside—preposterous—and ends up giving up a ton of yards. Freshman mistake.
O16 2 G I-Form twins 2 1 2 Base 4-3 Pass Waggle throwaway -- Inc
No idea why this is so open; Illinois should have someone cruising in to crush Forcier on the rollout. It's second and goal from the sixteen. It is open, though. Forcier doesn't like his deep options and should throw to Moundros in the flat for a few yards but doesn't and ends up getting to the sideline and throwing it away. Borderline BR, but (TA, 0, protection 1/1)
O16 3 G Shotgun trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Sack -- -4
Dorrestein(-2) gets completely destroyed by the DE, run around like the other guy is Brandon Graham. Huyge(-1) is bowled over, too, so Forcier has no lane to scramble up in. He gets the ball banged loose and Illinois recovers. (PR, 0, protection 0/3, Dorrestein -2, Huyge -1)
Drive Notes: Fumble, 13-28, 14 min 4th Q. Michigan fit all that in like two minutes of game time BTW. Jet tempo is fast.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M20 1 10 Shotgun trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Stop and go Mathews Inc
Great stop and go route from Mathews coupled with a pump fake from Forcier gets Mathews open deep for what could be a long completion. Mathews looks inside for the ball the whole way, adjusting only when it's clearly farther outside than he thought it was going to be, at which point it's too late. Mathews had plenty of time to adjust and just did not. The throw as not great but it wasn't that bad, either; this is more evidence that the receivers aren't adjusting to balls well. (MA, 1, protection 2/2)
M20 2 10 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Deep post Hemingway 66
Great protection allows Forcier to step up in the pocket and nail Hemingway as he smokes an Illinois safety, getting two and half steps on his guy. Hemingway has to break stride a tiny bit, allowing the safety to catch up, but the end result is still a huge gain. These last two plays invite the question: why are these the first deep balls of the day? (DO, 3, protection 3/3)
O14 1 10 Shotgun trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Bubble screen Roundtree 4
Roundtree has a bunch of space and manages to cut inside the crashing safety for a few yards. Timing seemed a little off on this; also if this was Odoms maybe he makes the guy miss totally? (CA, 3, screen)
O10 2 6 Shotgun trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Hitch Hemingway Inc
Hemingway has this for near first-down yardage when a DB comes up to hit him, jarring the ball loose. DB made it tough but you'd still like to see him make the catch here. (CA, 2, protection 1/1)
O10 3 G Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Flare screen Brown Inc
This is too far in front of Brown but it's possible this is on Brown for not running the route right or adjusting to the pass as it came. Still: (IN, 2, screen)
O10 4 G Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Slant Stonum Inc
Forcier finds a window to zing this in to Stonum. It'll be a tough-ish catch with the safety breaking to possibly make a play on the ball, but it is there; Forcier wings it high and wide. (IN, 0, protection 1/1)
Drive Notes: Turnover on downs, 13-31, 8 min 4th Q. Charting stops as this game is over. Forcier fumbles on the next play after a blocked punt.

So I'm still having this ichor problem.

Man… man. This is going to sound insane, but if Michigan just stops turning the ball over they'll have a pretty good offense.

If my eyes weren't empty sockets dripping with a viscous black goo, I would have perfect eyesight.

Hush, tentacled alter-ego cornerback.

Ain't sayin' it. In fact, here's a chart—

Charts!

GODDAMMIT

Charts.

NO I MADE A LOL

big-ten-2009 HA HA HA

Charts.

(Hennechart legend; MA is "marginal", screen results are in parens.)

TATE FORCIER

Opponent DO CA MA IN BR TA BA PR
Western Michigan 2 14 1 2 1 2 - 3
Notre Dame 5 20 (6) 2 4 3 3 - 4
Eastern Michigan 1 8 (2) 1 1 (1) 1 4 (1) - -
Indiana 3 13 (3) 1 (1) 2 5 3 - 2
Michigan State 5 19 (3) 2 4 3 3 - 5
Iowa 1 8(1) 1 3 (2) 2 3 2 2
Delaware State - 2 (1) - - - - - -
Penn State 3 9 (3) - 4 (2) 4 2 1 1
Illinois 2 13 (6) 2 3(1) 2 2 - 2

DENARD ROBINSON

Opponent DO CA MA IN BR TA BA PR
Western Michigan - 1 1 1 2 - - -
Eastern Michigan - 1 1 (1) 2 (1) - - - -
Indiana - 1 1 (1) - - - - -
Michigan State - - - - - 2 - -
Iowa 1 2 - - 1 1 - -
Delaware State - 2 2 - - - - -
Penn State - - 1 - 1 1 - -

Robinson DNP until garbage time late.

Forcier had a decent game. He was not asked to do a whole lot until late. Illinois was apparently vulnerable to screens, so we saw an uptick in little short throws that were effective until the last one. The downfield success rate is good, not great: 9 / 15 = 60%. And the BRs weren't killer interceptions but just poor reads or poor decisions where to scramble, which is progress. I might need another category for "aigh."

The fumbling issue remains a problem, though: Forcier was irresponsible with the ball and coughed it up twice, once on a QB draw he made a poor read on. Michigan lost one, causing everyone to turn the TV off. Hopefully this is a major point of emphasis in the offseason; Forcier can't be as careless with the ball going forward or the offense is never going to get off the ground.

Receiver chart is interesting mostly for its distribution:

[Receiver chart explanation: throws are rated on how difficult they are to catch. A 3 is a totally routine ball that would induce groans if dropped. 2 is moderately difficult; you'd like to see players catch 50-70% of these. 1 is a circus catch on which the QB is bailed out by a great play from a WR or, more usually, not bailed out. 0 is totally uncatchable and mostly exists to chart how often a player is targeted.]

This Game Totals
Player 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3
Hemingway - - - 1/1 3 - 1/2 8/8
Mathews - 0/2 1/1 2/2 8 1/6 3/4 11/11
Stonum 3 - - - 6 1/3 3/4 10/10
Savoy - - - - 2 - 1/2 4/4
Odoms - - - - 5 1/3 4/6 16/17
Grady-19 - - - - 2 - 2/3 9/12
Roundtree - - - 5/5 5 - 1/4 5/5
Stokes - - - - - - 1/1 1/1
Koger - - 1/1 1/2 - 3/4 4/6 7/11
Webb - - - - 1 - - 3/5
Minor - - - - - - - 1/1
Brown - 0/1 1/1 - 1/4 2/3 6/7
Shaw - - - - - 1/1 0/1 -
Smith - - - - - - - -
Grady-24 - - - - - - - 1/1

Roundtree tied for the most looks with Mathews, and Stonum is the new Roundtree. Roundtree has passed Grady on the depth chart in what looks like a permanent way because when he is thrown a ball that hits him in the hands it does not fall to the ground. At least, not yet.

Koger also had another bad drop, further sullying his crazy start to the season. He's kind of a tight end version of Braylon, capable of making spectacular catches and dropping routine ones.

And PROTECTION METRIC: 22/27, Schilling –2, Team –2, Huyge –1.

Actually a good day here, though it was against a poor pass rush and Michigan got smoked a couple times. Note the low overall number: Michigan was ground- and screen-heavy.

Why the hell couldn't we get it in from the one?

In four ugly acts:

  1. Schilling is blown back into the path of an iso play that otherwise would have worked. Even with the pwnage Brown should have an opportunity to extend the ball over the goal line; he does not.
  2. Michigan attempts to run off tackle where Dorrestein, who's apparently injured and missed the last drive of the first half in favor of Omameh, gets blown off the ball; Schilling runs into him and Brown has no lead blockers.
  3. Brown waits way too long on a stretch play that sees Illinois's line cave in.
  4. Minor fails to read the blocking in front of him as Illinois's line again caves in and cuts to the wrong side of Grady's block.

Minor scores on third down and possibly second down if he's in, assuming he is healthy, which is a bad assumption. Actually, at this point I'd rather see Vincent Smith down on the goal line instead of Brown, who is a terrible short-yardage back. Brown's quick and nimble but has no balance or power: you hit him and he's tackled. Sometimes if you wave at his foot he's tackled.

Does this make you want to rage about the coaching?

Yeah. If Minor was healthy enough for fourth down he's healthy enough for first down. I think the coaches thought, as everyone did, that a sustained goal-line stand from Illinois was highly unlikely and didn't think it was a good risk. I can understand that on first and second down. On third, though, it was painful to see a play that Minor would have slammed into the endzone easily end short.

The other major coaching bitch from the game: why didn't Michigan take timeout with a minute left in the half? There was another possession waiting against a terrible defense there if Michigan would have just taken it. I'm willing to live with Rodriguez taking risks like the ones at the end of the first half against Iowa as long as he does it when it's a good idea, too. 

My theory as to why Michigan did that, FWIW: they wanted to come after the punt hard but didn't want to give Illinois a chance at a drive afterwards if they got a penalty. That was why they waited to take TO but eventually did at about 30 seconds. Michigan did come after Illinois punts hard all day and blocked one. So it might not have been a terrible decision.

What is wrong with the run game?

Remember that it did pretty well against Penn State so failures against Illinois are not a trend. But issues exist:

  • Brown is not an effective short-yardage runner. He's very fast and the risk-reward with him is good on normal downs where a zip into the secondary is a possibility. On short yardage he is bad because his vision and cuts aren't great and he goes down very easily. Without Minor or Shaw, Michigan could either deploy Cox or Smith in those situations; they are freshmen.
  • Moosman is not as good as Molk on tough reach blocks. Lot of cutbacks against Illinois because the playside DT did not get sealed. Cutbacks are tougher sledding, usually.
  • For whatever reason, Illinois was blowing guys back all day. I don't know if they were timing the snap count or just beastlier or whatever, but there were many instances where the playside DT would shoot into the backfield, which is very bad. Backside DT you can run past; playside DT not so much. This, again, is a Molk issue but it's also a RG/LG issue and a RB issue. Brown compounded problems twice by not cutting his losses and turning zero-ish-yard plays into huge TFLs. This goes back to his lack of vision. Moving Moosman out of the RG spot hurts Michigan there, too.
  • Dorrestein is apparently hurt.

Here's a successful run from Brown on which Moosman does not seal his guy and Brown has to hit it up behind Moosman in front of Schilling:

From what I've seen, Molk is more likely to actually get that block on the frontside. He won't do it all the time and the cutback can be effective but then you're relying on the backside block, which is often a tough one.

The other thing on this play: why in the hopping hell does Brown cut right instead of left? This could be a touchdown if cut left, but instead Brown heads into three guys. I mean this…

which-direction

…leads to…

which-direction-no

Aigh!

Heroes?

Forcier, I guess, and Roundtree, I guess. I didn't think anyone on the OL played particularly well, and Brown's drawbacks were evident.

Goats?

Brown? I know he had a good number of yards but he was one of three players primarily responsible for the goal-line stand, with other demerits going to Schilling and Dorrestein.

What does it mean for Purdue and the rest of the season?

I still think this can be a fairly effective offense when it doesn't turn the ball over willy-nilly. Is that ever going to happen this year? I don't know.

That effectiveness is seriously lessened by Molk's absence. A healthy return for Minor—which is supposed to happen this weekend—would help out; Brown and Minor have their strengths and when Michigan has only one the effectiveness of their game is compromised. Getting Odoms back would help, to. Though Roundtree had a good game, Odoms has proven himself a tough blocker and reliable option more likely to break a screen long, and maybe he won't fumble punts.

I think they'll be able to move the ball against Purdue effectively, with stupid mistakes the difference between a good output and the Illinois game. Wisconsin and Ohio State are a little dodgy with Molk out.

Upon Further Review: Defense vs Illinois

By Brian — November 4th, 2009 at 2:24 PM — 76 comments
Filed under:

Video note: Unfortunately my computer rebooted itself after applying an "important update" last night, which obliterated a 14-hour process via which I convert the torrent into something clippable. So no video today. I will go back in an add it later, and I'll revisit the key points in a couple of Picture Pages posts.

Personnel notes: Leach replaced Ezeh until very late; Ezeh and Kenny Demens were part of the goal line package, though, with Leach apparently relegated to the bench because he's slight. The rest of it was as per usual, thought it seemed like the starting DL got more time than usual.

Michigan did continue its passing down substitution package, replacing Williams with JT Floyd.

Formation notes: This is what I'm calling "4-3 under split" based on an earlier Steve Sharik post:

4-3-under-split

Both outside linebackers are on the LOS with Leach a single middle linebacker. Michigan went to this frequently against 2TE formations.

And this is what I'm calling "nickel even":

4-3-nickel-even

It's not really a nickel package, with Brown on the slot receiver, but it functions more like a nickel package than a standard 4-3 as Michigan would play two deep behind it unless Williams rolled up into the box. Note the position of the DTs right on top of each other, with both guys playing 1-techs over the center. This was probably an adjustment to what Illinois runs more than anything else.

Possibly annoying terminology note: I tried to call Juice Williams "Juice" because if I call him Williams sometimes Williams does something to Williams and that gets confusing.

On with the show:

Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
O18 1 10 Ace 4-wide 4-3 under Run Inside zone Roh 0
Roh(+2) shoots inside the tackle at the snap into the intended hole, is held blatantly, and is basically tackled, but still manages to force the RB back behind the play and tackles with help from Mouton, who didn't have to do much other than clean up with Leshoure already going down by the time he arrives. (tackling +1)
O18 2 10 Shotgun 2-back Twins 4-3 under Run Triple option veer Graham 27
Uncalled illegal formation as Illinois only has six on the line. It's hard to hand out minuses here because I'm not sure who's got which assignment. Graham crashes down on the dive fake and tackles it; Mouton hangs inside and gets blocked by a guy who should not have an angle on him. I definitely blame Mouton(-1) for sucking in; even if this was a dive he was going to get obliterated by the tackle for not knowing WTF was going on; Warren comes up to support on the pitch guy but with no one on Williams it's an easy big gain. I also blame Graham(-2), though, because this dive was stuffed anyway and if he had stayed out Illinois had nowhere to go. Good job by Leach to hop into the appropriate hole, FWIW.
O45 1 10 Shotgun trips 4-3 nickel even Run QB counter trap Mouton 6
Both the backside T and G pull around as the rest of the line blocks down; Juice fakes a handoff to Leshoure that holds Graham outside. Roh(+1) actually does a good job of reading it and getting inside of the puling G, but Williams(-1) and Mouton(-1) run themselves into blocks passively; here the pulling OT has to route around the Roh-based disruption and he still gets a good block on Williams. Result: six yards.
M49 2 4 Shotgun 3-wide 4-3 under Pass Flare -- 14
Williams rolls up to the LOS and blitzes; no one gets out on the tailback rolling out of the backfield on a flare route and he's wide open(cover -2) for plenty of yards. I don't know if this is on anyone specifically; sometimes you have a blitz read that changes if you see the RB head out of the backfield like that, sometimes you don't. (RPS -1)
M35 1 10 I-Form 4-3 under Pass Scramble -- 4
Busted play. Illinois wants to throw a long handoff to Benn but Benn runs a route. Juice improvises for a few yards; Leach did a decent job of reading it and coming to tackle.
M31 2 6 Shotgun 2TE 4-4 under Pass Long handoff Warren 12
Warren(-1) playing in the parking lot and giving this to Illinois (RPS -1, cover -1). He then misses a tackle(-1), adding several yards.
M19 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 4-3 nickel even Pass Long handoff Warren 4
Man, Warren keeps bailing into three deep at the snap here and Illinois is looking for it; they get it again here but Warren and Williams do manage to hold it down to four yards. A small victory.
M15 2 6 Shotgun 4-wide 4-3 under Run Speed option Williams 5
Benn goes in motion and Kovacs immediately signals for Williams to attack the LOS. Looks like Michigan has this scouted and expects Illinois to run a speed option to the now-overloaded short side. They do. Williams(-1) gets crushed by the TE and driven back; Warren is bailing out into cover-three and can't help on the edge.
M10 3 1 Shotgun 2-back 2TE 4-4 under Run Zone stretch(?) Brown 4
Illinois confuses Michigan by shooting one RB past Juice and using the other one as a lead blocker for him; Brown(-1) ends up sitting back the whole play, sucking inside when Williams does his draw fake and giving up the corner for the RB instead of following his assignment and getting out on the edge to hold this down. He was not blocked at all and could have crushed this since Graham absorbed a double team and no one was out on him.
M6 1 G Ace Twins 4-3 under split Run Inside zone Leach 1
Think this is just Michigan beating the Illinois playcall with this split formation. Playside TE is taken upfield by OLB Mouton; DE Roh slants inside, taking the tackle with him, and Leach(+1) reads the direction of the play, shooting into the hole to tackle with help from Williams. (RPS +1)
M5 2 G Shotgun 3-wide 4-3 nickel even Run QB zone stretch Leach 2
Roh(-0.5) is flowing down the line okay when he trips and hits the ground, opening up some space. Leach(+1) reads the direction of the play, flows outside too quickly for a guard getting a free release to get an angle on him, takes on the lead block from the RB, sheds, it, and tackles(+1). Very good play from him.
M3 3 G Power I ??? Run Power off tackle Williams 3
2TE, I-form, Benn lined up next to the fullback. You tell me what to call this. [Update: it's the power I.] Illinois runs a version of a power o; Williams(-1) is blitzing and gets in unmolested but goes inside of the fullback and fails to string the play out enough because Mouton got slightly chopped by a linebacker. Mouton keeps his feet but is off balance and in no shape to hold up to the RB's lead block. Warren makes a valiant effort to get out on the edge; Benn leaps over him for a score.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 7-0, 9 min 1st Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
O19 1 10 Shotgun 4-wide 4-3 nickel even Run Speed option keeper Roh 2
Roh(+1) gets into the DE, refuses to get sealed, and strings this out to the sideline, cutting off the room and forcing Juice OOB basically by himself. Leach had also flowed down the LOS and was there to assist on the escort.
O21 2 8 I-Form Twins 4-3 under Run Pitch sweep Mouton 6
Ford, the FB, motions out; Warren is in zone and follows. Play is a pitch sweep with pulling linemen on which Graham(+1) shoots into the backfield, taking out a pulling guard and absorbing two blockers. This leaves Mouton(-1) totally unblocked; he overruns the play and is fortunate to grab the RB as he passes; this could have been two yards and was six because of Mouton.
O27 3 2 Shotgun 3-wide 4-3 nickel split Run Zone read stretch Van Bergen -1
Backside of the line just doesn't get blocked as Martin(+0.5) and Graham(+0.5) slice up, but the key is RVB(+1) coming upfield of an attempted double despite another blatant hold and getting in the running lane, forcing a cutback into doom. I don't know if this was a technically sound play by RVB, who ended up attempting to shove his back into the RB, but it worked. James notes that Williams is totally irresponsible on the read here, and this will bite Michigan later.
Drive Notes: Punt, 7-7, 2 min 2nd Q. Michigan muffs the punt.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
M41 1 10 Shotgun trips 4-3 nickel even Run QB counter trap Williams 14
Same play as earlier, with the backside tackle and guard pulling around to the backside as the RB makes a fake out to the edge. Juice keeps it, following his lead blockers. Roh heads inside, drawing a blocker; Mouton(-1) also dives inside even though any tailback handoff is something he's not going to be able to get to; he's run himself out of the play despite a bleeding obvious double pull from the OL. This leaves Williams(-1) on the edge with an OL. He compounds matters by losing leverage and letting Juice outside of him. Even if Mouton had played this correctly, it wouldn't have helped. Juice breaks outside for good yardage.
M27 1 10 Shotgun 4-wide 4-3 nickel even Pass PA seam Williams Inc
Play action gets Michigan sucking up, with Williams(-1) reduced to an ineffectual chuck on Benn as he realizes he's not about to get blocked into next week but is instead going to give up a wide open route(cover -1). Juice turfs it. Mouton(+0.5) did a pretty good job of avoiding the RB's block to get some pressure.
M27 2 10 I-Form 4-4 under Run Speed option Warren 6
Michigan drops back into a two-deep look as Benn comes across the formation with Warren dropping into a second deep safety slot; Illinois runs at the vacated area. Graham forces a pitch; FB crushes Williams(-0.5) back; he has no chance to do anything once he guy locks on. Warren(-0.5) reacts late and can only undercut the RB as he nears five yards; he cartwheels forward for more. (RPS -1)
M21 3 4 Shotgun 2TE Twins 4-3 under split Pass Hitch Brown Inc
RB motions out and Leach goes with him in man. Michigan sends six, with Brown(+1) coming unblocked to hit Williams as he throws (pressure +1), which might be the reason this hitch is thrown wide of the receiver. Might be just Juice, too. (RPS +1)
Drive Notes: Missed FG(38), 1 min 1st Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
O10 1 10 Shotgun 4-wide 4-3 under split Run Zone veer handoff Mouton -3
If this is a read, Juice made the wrong one, because he hands off to the back when Mouton(+2, tackling +1) is coming up on him hard and it seems like an up-the-middle keeper is called for. This is impressive change of direction and tackling from Mouton.
O7 2 13 Shotgun 2-back 4-3 under Run Triple option dive Brown 8
This isn't so much a dive as an off tackle but eh that's life. Brown(-2) ends up totally unblocked in the hole as he crashes down from the slot receiver but whiffs a tackle(-1), turning zero yards into eight. Leach cleans up; I'm impressed Leach read the play well enough to get over to tackle. He's played well so far.
O15 3 5 Shotgun 3-wide 4-3 nickel even Pass Sack Martin -9
DTs twist and Michigan blitzes two linebackers, causing Martin(+2) to slant into the backfield past the center and the guard, who have other problems, as the Michigan blitz causes Illinois to bust a pickup. (RPS +1) Martin gets there first and forces Juice to pull the ball down; RVB(+1) follows it up to crush Williams for a big loss. (Pressure +2)
Drive Notes: Punt, 7-7, 11 min 2nd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
O27 1 10 Shotgun 4-wide 4-3 under Run Zone read keeper Mouton 5 (Pen -10)
Given future events this is scary: Illinois runs a read intended to shoot the right between the backside tackle and DT and should have a huge gainer, but Juice keeps it. I mean, really, if this is a handoff it could be a 70 yard touchdown. Juice keeps it and fakes a bubble, which is also there since Mouton(-1) has failed to cover either the handoff or the bubble or the keeper, and Williams picks up five before the other Williams tackles him. Holding brings it back.
O17 1 20 I-Form 4-4 under Run Speed option Williams 3
Usual course of events: Illinois doesn't block Graham and forces him to force a pitch; this time Williams(+1) gets to the outside shoulder of his blocker and drives him upfield, forcing the pitch man to the sidelines and making this a minimal gain. (RPS +1) Good blitz call.
O20 2 17 I-Form 4-4 under Run Inside zone Roh -1
Roh(+1) on a slant, he steps inside of the guard(!) and gets upfield into the path of the run, forcing the play to the backside. He gets a hand on the RB's thigh, slowing him and allowing Williams to finish with an easy tackle. (RPS +1)
O19 3 18 Shotgun 2TE Twins Nickel Pass Sack Graham -9
Williams pulled for Floyd; M drops seven guys off into deep coverage but it doesn't matter much because Graham(+3) murders the freshman RT and crushes Williams almost before he can set up in the pocket (pressure +2)
Drive Notes: Punt, 10-7, 5 min 2nd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
O29 1 10 Shotgun 4-wide 4-3 under Run Zone read keeper Graham 1
Graham(+1) stays home, drifting slightly inside. Juice pulls it out and Graham gets out on him as he passes, grabbing Juice from behind and tackling with help from Williams (+0.5), who makes the easy fill given Graham's presence all over Juice's back.
O30 2 9 Shotgun 4-wide 4-3 under Run Speed option Williams 3
Williams(+1) reacts quickly and fills to the short side of the field. Unblocked, he tackles(+1) for a minimal gain.
O33 3 6 Shotgun 3-wide 4-3 under Pass Sack Leach -9
First read is a hitch that Roh(+1, cover +1) has dropped out on and covers; Juice probably has a slant against Woolfolk but can't find it before Leach(+2), who's looped around on a delayed blitz, gets in on Williams and forces him to take evasive action. Leach comes in under control and reads Juice's planned scramble, securing a solid tackle against a guy considerably more athletic than him. Very nice play; I've seen so many guys overrun this. (Pressure +1, RPS +1)
Drive Notes: Punt, 13-7, 30 sec 2nd Q. Rodriguez doesn't call timeout with a minute left in the half. They go after the punt, but don't get it.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
O1 1 10 Ace 4-3 under Run QB sneak -- 2
Eh.
O3 2 8 Ace Twins 4-3 under Run Zone stretch Roh 5
Frontside jammed up by Graham(+0.5) and Martin(+0.5), forcing a cutback into Roh(+1), who has zipped into the backfield. Ford ends up carrying Roh, though—he used power—a couple yards downfield, at which point Williams(-1) lays a wicked hit on... Roh. Leshore gets another three yards out of it. (Tackling -1)
O8 3 3 Shotgun 4-wide 4-3 under Run Speed option -- 4
Illinois motions Benn to the short side of the field for a trips look and run their speed option. Michigan is slanting away from it, which means Graham sucks in and is blocked by the line as Mouton shoots upfield unblocked; Juice pitches outside, where there is no support. Would rather see Michigan force Juice to take the ball here, but that's not how they've been playing it. (RPS -1) Williams does come up through blockers to lay a pop on the RB as he reaches the sticks, but the RB wins that battle and gets the yard he needs.
O12 1 10 Shotgun 2TE 4-3 under Run Draw? Brown 1
Illinois OL sets up to pass block, sliding the line one way and then handing the ball off the other way. Handoff is awkward and almost fumbled but I don't think it would matter because Michigan's slant + RVB stunt leaves no holes and gets three guys in unblocked on the tailback. He goes nowhere. (RPS +1) I guess Brown (+0.5) for keeping contain.
O13 2 9 Shotgun 2TE 4-4 under Pass Hitch Mouton 17
Same setup as the previous play except Juice keeps it. TE Cumberland runs a good hitch route but Juice is a little late and Mouton has a shot at making a play here; he fails(-1), diving over the top without getting the ball and giving this guy another 7 YAC. (Tackling -1)
O30 1 10 Shotgun 4-wide Nickel under Run Zone read dive Leach 70
I don't know who's issue this is. Michigan is in a pure two-deep with Mouton rolled up the LOS and Brown over one of the slot guys, with Leach the only real MLB aligned like that. On the snap, Michigan's DL slides a bit and Roh gets kicked out by single blocking, opening up a hole here. Roh's not really defending Juice or the dive, so he gets a -1. Then: Mouton backs out and appears to be spying on Juice on a potential keeper, and Williams is sucking up as Benn runs a bubble route. Reasonable. However, Leach(-3) runs himself way out of the play in anticipation of a stretch that Illinois doesn't really run much; they run this all the time. He then compounds the error by not freaking out and running back downfield away from a releasing C; he gets blocked out of the play. Kovacs(-2) is dropping into a deep zone and does not come up soon enough to get an angle to slow the RB down, and he runs for a long way. Oh, and hell, Mouton(-2) had no idea who had the ball way too long and failed to close down either Juice or the RB.
Drive Notes: Touchdown,13-14, 9 min 3rd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
O21 1 10 Shotgun 4-wide 4-3 under Run Triple option dive Williams 27
Ugh, ugh, ugh. Illinois motions a guy into the backfield for a two-back look and Williams is keying on this so he flies to the LOS. Illinois runs a triple option look off of it; Williams(-2) blitzes into the backfield and has this dive dead to rights, but comes in way too hard and gets back-juked. Freakin' disaster. Opposite of what Leach did earlier. Guy now has a huge cutback lane since the linebackers are to the playside and Roh(-1) got his ass kicked and let himself get shoved out of the hole. Probably wouldn't have mattered much but might have held it down if Roh could provide some delay here. (Tackling -2)
O48 1 10 Shotgun 2TE 4-4 under Pass TE Wheel -- 34
Michigan in a two-deep zone that Williams cannot get out onto his guy on because he's picked by Benn and rode down the field. Probably should be offensive PI but they never call that. Can't really blame Williams here; he can't run through a dude. Result is an open bomb that Michigan can't do anything about. Pocket was great for Juice, too. (Pressure -1, cover -2, RPS -1)
M18 1 10 Shotgun 2TE Twins 4-3 under Run Zone read keeper Brown 2
Michigan slants so hard that the backside TE and OT have no one to block and can just roll downfield. Herron crashes down on the RB, causing Juice to pull it. Mouton(+1) came up to the line, read the RB's path, and hopped playside of the C's attempted block, which lets him flow down the line past the guys who released downfield, and Brown is unblocked coming in from the edge. This makes the bubble pretty open but it works. Brown(+1) sets up and makes a good open field tackle(+1).
M16 2 8 Shotgun 2-back 3-4 nickel Pass Wheel Brown Inc (Pen + 14)
Brown(-2) is decent position on this play but never turns around to look for the ball and ends up pushing this receiver before the ball gets there because it's underthrown. I hate these calls, which reward the offense for being inept more than anything else. Pressure was coming, possibly resulting in a marginal throw. I keep watching this and I hate this call so much. It's ridiculous. Guy is in position and trying to make a play and should have a right to his momentum; instead he gets a call.
M2 1 G Power I Goal line Pass Waggle flat Ezeh 2
All eleven players freak out assuming it'll be the same Benn sweep, leaving both TEs wide, wide open. Ezeh(-1) and Mouton(-1) and cover -2.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 13-21, 5 min 3rd Q. aaaargh
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
M45 1 10 Ace 4-wide 4-3 under Run Inside zone Sagesse 5
Blocking the backside DE here and shoving Sagesse(-1) way down the line opens up a hole that Mouton can't fill fast enough despite reading the play quickly and getting to the ball as fast as you can reasonably expect. Hole too big and Sagesse moving too far out of it in anticipation of a stretch.
M40 2 5 Shotgun 2-back Twins 4-3 under Run Triple option dive Banks? 7
This really should go nowhere as the two backup DTs get some push and Brown gets past the slot receiver to sit unblocked in the hole. But Sagesse bulling his way into the back of the LT doesn't prevent the LG from getting out on Leach and when the RB tries to cut back into the mess that is the four guys in the middle of the line he somehow squirts through for first-down yardage. I'm not sure who, if anyone, is to blame here other than bloody-minded fate. I'm going to -0.5 Banks for getting kicked out of the hole eventually, I think.
M33 1 10 Shotgun 2TE Twins 4-3 under split Pass Sack Brown -8
OLBs flanking the LOS here on this two TE package and both are sent on a blitz. RB has the pickup on Brown(+2), who sets up inside then bursts upfield of his blocker, sacking Juice when he tries to move up in the pocket only to hit his own RB. Graham(+1) was driving the RG back into the pocket, creating the restricted space in which Juice had few scrambling options. (Pressure +2)
M41 2 18 Shotgun 4-wide 4-3 under Pass Fade Woolfolk 37
Of course. Michigan sends four with Herron backing out into a short zone and Graham(+1) immediately crushes the guard attempting to block him, hitting Juice as he throws what's basically and arm-punt, Juice Williams gets nailed as he throws. Juice Williams. His throw? Perfect. Woolfolk(-1) was beat deep in man press (cover -1), but not that badly and the receiver made a spectacular catch. I mean... Christ.
M4 1 G Ace Twins 4-3 under split Run Inside zone Martin 1
Martin(+1) back in; he drives playside of his blocker and forces a cutback into Herron(+0.5), who is one-on-one in some space with the TB and holds him to basically no YAC. Maybe one before the cavalry arrives.
M3 2 G Shotgun 2-back TE 4-3 under split Pass Zone read keeper Williams 3
Williams(-2), the contain guy, completely overruns the play and Juice takes it in for an easy touchdown.
Drive Notes: Touchdown,13-28, 1 min 3rd Q. Here's to you, worst third quarter ever.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
O21 1 10 Shotgun trips 4-3 nickel even Run Veer handoff Martin -6
Play Illinois has run earlier with a veer outside look paired with the backside guard and tackle pulling around. This time Juice hands it off... for some reason. This doesn't seem like it can be a real read because it just doesn't block two guys on the frontside of this play, and Martin(+1) and Graham proceed to crush this guy in the backfield. No idea how this handoff ever works.
O15 2 16 I-Form 4-3 under Run Pitch sweep Mouton 4
FB motions out for three-wide look and Illinois runs a down G scheme with a pitchout, pulling the playside G around as the down-block Graham. Mouton(+1) gets outside of the pulling guard and upfield, forcing the play back inside to Leach, who tackles(+1) a couple yards downfield with help from Williams. Graham also did a good job of flowing down the line and preventing the other pulling OL from getting out on Leach.
O19 3 12 Shotgun 4-wide 4-3 under split Run QB draw Graham 26
Oh, right. This. This looks like a scramble at first blush but there are linemen releasing downfield, it's a called run. Graham(-1) comes too hard inside and vacates a passing lane. Martin(-1) is doubled and blasted way out of the center of the field; Leach(-1) ends up way overrunning Juice's cutback lane, and the safeties are nowhere to be found. (RPS -1)
O47 1 10 Shotgun 4-wide 4-3 under Run Zone read dive Leach 5
Martin(+1) and Graham do a good job of cutting off any potential frontside holes and there's nowhere to go there; there's a cutback from the RB into unblocked linebackers since Martin absorbed a double. Leach(-1) does not read it quickly and ends up taking a hit from the RB two yards downfield, getting bowled over for another 3 YAC. Should have/could have reacted more quickly to hold this down.
M48 2 5 Shotgun 2TE Twins 4-3 under split Run Zone read dive Kovacs 22
Same play. Michigan is stunting, which ends up seeing RVB run outside and out of the play, opening up a crease. This time Leach(-1), who can't win, has delayed waiting for a cutback to the Martin/Graham side and gets sucked into a mess. Herron(-1) could not hold the POA on his stunt and gets blown back, which doesn't help matters. Kovacs(-1) then misses a tackle(-1) and turns this from a first down into lots of yards.
M26 1 10 Shotgun 2TE Twins 3-4 Base Run Zone read keeper Williams 23
is this on Williams or Mouton? Williams blitzes off the snap and can be thought of as a crashing backside DE. Is Michigan supposed to scrape here, then? That would make sense to contain this, as Williams has the dive dead to rights and Mouton could scrape out to contain Juice. I don't know which it is. I originally gave Williams minus two billion because I'm just fed up with him, but I think this might be on Mouton, who lord knows has had some serious mental issues this year. One of these two guys gets a negative two billion. I tentatively assign them to Williams.
M3 1 G Power I Goal line Run Speed option Ezeh 1
Brown pops up on the QB, forcing a pitch, and Ezeh(+1) manages to get outside the lead blocks from the FB and TE to force the play back inside where Demens and Graham are; RB falls, possibly because of Graham, for no gain.
M2 2 G Power I Goal line Run Iso Martin -4
Absolutely nowhere to go as Martin(+1) wins the battle with his guy and Graham dives forward, creating an impenetrable pile of bodies. Campbell(+1) cuts through a block on the backside and grabs the RB's foot, causing him to fumble. (For a loose definition of "caused".) Illinois gets it back, though a few yards short of the LOS.
M6 3 G Shotgun 2TE offset Goal line Pass PA TE corner Williams Inc
Unbalanced formation with both Ts on the same side of the line; this is an attempt to fool Michigan into leaving the RT—actually a TE—uncovered. That doesn't quite work but Williams(-1) gets beat by Cumberland and Juice can hit him for a TD; it glances off his fingertips. Brown was applying pressure on the corner. Bonus: Cumberland was covered up on the LOS and that went uncalled. Woo Big Ten refs.
Drive Notes: FG(23), 13-31, 9 min 3rd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
O11 1 10 Ace 4-3 under Run Inside zone Watson 8
For some reason, Steve Watson is in at deathbacker. Watson(-1) falls to the ground as Michigan flows down the line against the zone blocking, opening up a cutback lane the RB hits. Ezeh's in and gets blocked; Williams(-1) basically whiffs a tackle but the RB falls as he cuts behind it.
O19 2 2 Shotgun 2-back Twins 4-3 under Run Busted play -- -2
Juice fumbles the snap.
O17 3 4 Shotgun 4-wide 4-3 under Run Speed option Watson 6
There is no one on the edge as Watson(-1) drops off into a zone, weirdly, and Mouton gets caught up in the wash of the WR blocking the hell out of Watson. Juice has an easy time moving up for the first down. (RPS –1)
O23 1 10 Shotgun 2TE Twins 4-3 under Run Zone read keeper Watson 1
WOOO THE DRIVE OF WATSON. Here Watson(+2) does a great job as the unblocked DE, convincing Juice to keep the ball by coming down a little bit on the RB, then hopping out to contain him. Forced back inside, Juice is tackled by Watson from behind.
O24 2 9 Shotgun 4-wide 4-3 under Run Zone veer keeper Ezeh 11
Here's why Ezeh's lost his job. Michigan slants and shifts Ezeh right over the hole where this Illinois veer play goes if Juice keeps the ball. Mouton has shot upfield to erase the potential handoff, leaving Ezeh(-2) alone in the hole with one assignment: Williams. Ezeh, of course, decides to run out and try to tackle the tailback. Who Mouton has owned. And doesn't have the ball.
O35 1 10 Shotgun 4-wide 4-3 nickel even Run Inside zone Mouton 3
Good by the DTs to hold the POA and Mouton(+1) attacks quickly, swallowing the RB in the backfield when he hesitates.
O38 2 7 Shotgun 2TE 3-4 Base Pass Long handoff -- Inc
Behind the receiver and incomplete.
O38 3 7 Shotgun 3-wide 4-3 under Pass Cross Brown 5
Dumpoff short of the sticks.
Drive Notes: Punt, 13-31, 4 min 4th Q. Charting stops. I would have stopped it already if I had known Watson was in. Graham(+3) blocks the punt.

What's this coming out of my eyes?

It looks like ichor of some variety.

Gross. Are you sure it's not blood?

I didn't think tentacled Cthulu-beasts had blood.

I thought I was Boubacar Cissoko.

Fine: tiny tentacled Cthulu-beasts with poor ability to model the future.

I think a chart might focus the pain emanating from my eyesockets into one white-hot point. I heard people undergoing torture do stuff like that Chart?

Chart.

Defensive Line
Player + - T Notes
Graham 11 3 8 Not quite up to the usual standard as I think he got suckered on a couple of runs, but still pretty good.
Heininger - - - Didn't record anything.
Watson 2 2 0 Replacing Patterson because he got on the field late.
Roh 7 2.5 4.5 Effective slanting all day; not great in pass rush yet.
Herron 1.5 1 0.5 Eh.
Martin 7 1 6 No frontside creases all day; too bad about the linebackers.
Van Bergen 2 - 2 Not a major factor.
Banks - 0.5 -0.5 Played less.
Sagesse - 1 -1 Meh.
Campbell 1 - 1 Good play on the goal line.
TOTAL 31.5 11 20.5 Same total number as against Penn State, weirdly.
Linebacker
Player + - T Notes
Ezeh 1 3 -2 Managed to do this on like five plays.
Mouton 5.5 9 -3.5 The usual at this point. Excellent athlete, many mental mistakes.
Brown 4.5 5 -0.5 He's okay. 
Fitzgerald - - - DNP
Leach 4 6 -2 Better than Ezeh, and did okay, with half of his minuses coming on the big play.
TOTAL 14 23 -9 Also the exact same total as against Penn State.
Secondary
Player + - T Notes
Warren - 1.5 -1.5 Not tested.
Cissoko - - - Happy trails.
Floyd - - - DNP.
Turner - - - DNP.
Woolfolk - 1 -1 The one bomb, otherwise not tested.
Williams 2.5 14.5 -12 DELICATELY PHRASED STATEMENT.
Emilien - - - DNP
Kovacs - 3 -3 Again burned as a deep half safety.
TOTAL 2.5 20 -17.5 Blar.
Metrics
Pressure 9 1 8 Poor BG.
Coverage 1 9 -8 Argh.
Tackling 5 7 -2 First negative tackling day.
RPS 8 7 1 Scheme seemed fine.

[A reminder: RPS is "rock, paper, scissors." Michigan gets a + when they call a play that makes it very easy for them to defend the opponent, like getting a free blitzer. They get a – when they call a play that makes it very difficult for them to defend the opponent, like showing a seven-man blitz and having Penn State get easy touchdowns twice.]

That appears to be a huge negative number next to Mike Williams's name.

Yeah. First a disclaimer: it is possible some of those minuses should migrate over to other folks on the defense because Williams wasn't actually the guy who was supposed to have contain as Michigan was running a scrape exchange. I watched the plays a lot, though, and think there's only one instance where that is a serious possibility. On the others it seemed obvious that Williams was irresponsible.

This is not a surprise. Williams was –6 against Iowa and –4 against Penn State, and the Penn State numbers were generous. It was evident Michigan was trying to use him to defend the long handoffs, which he could not do for whatever reason. Against Illinois he had a huge problems.

So… yeah. He's the reason—or at least, the emblem of the reason—Misopogon spent the last week of his life composing a master's thesis about Michigan's defensive recruiting and retention relative to its rivals. He's a weak link, probably the weakest, and Michigan has no alternative the rest of this year. Next year they'll have to hope he gets better or that one of the freshmen passes him. I can't see him getting any better after the last three games.

In an SAT analogy:

2009 Michigan Football : Mike Williams :: _______ : ________

A. 2008 Michigan Football : Nick Sheridan
B. Notre Dame Football : South Bend, Indiana
C. MAC Football Programs : Former Lloyd Carr Assistants
D. Life : Entropy
E. All Of The Above

Next year Williams will either be much better or on the bench.

Aren't those sorts of errors on plays Michigan practices against every damn day?

Uh… yeah. I do think it's a bad sign that Williams is making really basic errors that no one should make. "Hey, you have QB contain" is not a thing that should be dependent on which coordinator you're playing for. "Do not let the QB outside of you." Not hard. Apparently, Robinson has taken over coaching the safeties. Eventually he'll be the everything-except-DL coach.

So how was Kevin Leach?

He was okay. There were a lot of plays I thought he did well on that did not rise to the level of a + given the standards I've set for them over the past few years, and the mistakes he made were less mindboggling than the ones Ezeh did in his brief time on the field. Ezeh's main contributions were leaving an Illinois TE vastly wide open on first and goal and running out of a hole that Juice was in when he had the ball. It looked like he though Juice was the Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog.

Er. Check that.

Run_Away

Leach did not remind me of any scenes from Monty Python. He didn't do anything that made me want to hit my head against a wall. There was the one big error on the 70-yard touchdown where he sucked out of position because he was keying on the OL instead of the backfield, but that error was shared by at least four other people.

After a game of Leach I do think he's better than Ezeh, which is a mindboggling statement in a thousand different ways. Redshirt sophomore walk-on > scholarship third-year starting linebacker (and Butkis semifinalist!). Is that a failure to develop talent or just an indictment of Carr's ability to recruit the right sorts of guys late in his career? I hate 'em both.

Should we be grumbling about Robinson? If not, who should we be grumbling about?

I can't imagine the defensive coordinator who can mash these parts together and come up with something good. I have been saying this since the start of the year, though: the linebacker play has been consistently terrible despite experienced players returning and at least some continuity at coaching the position. Maybe it's just that Michigan picked up a bunch of duds, but Mouton's stunning regression is a black mark from any angle.

Other than that, read the masters thesis. We dead, and we aren't going to be in a position to be good next year. Better? If not, heads will start rolling in earnest. Good? No.

Heroes?

Graham and Martin both played very well.

Goats?

See SAT analogy above.

Also, Jordan Kovacs was much better in the quasi-LB role than he is as a deep safety. This is not really his fault.

What does it mean for Purdue and the future?

Oh, hell. It seems likely that one of these days Michigan is going to have a game in which they do not have huge screwups that yield long touchdowns for the opposition and everyone moaning about it is going to have to take a step back, but that day seems likely to come in 2010 at the earliest. The safeties are just totally inadequate, the linebackers remain subpar even after the Ezeh-Leach switch, and the DL is making a valiant effort only to see huge cutback runs and ridiculous lost contain submarine all their efforts.

As for Purdue, they picked up 140 yards last week, so there's a chance if we catch them on one of their bad Boiler days, but this is an offense designed to tear up the middle of the field with short passes and Michigan is uniquely positioned to not stop this sort of offense. The defense will remain terrible until 2010.

Upon Further Review: Offense vs Penn State

By Brian — October 29th, 2009 at 12:43 PM — 35 comments
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Personnel notes: Dorrestein actually started at right tackle and Huyge came in when Molk got hurt. Kelvin Grady got severely restricted playing time after the third-down drop early, so Roundtree got a lot of time and continued convincing quarterbacks to throw him the ball in situations where that's a terrible idea.

Other than that, not much to report.

Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M30 1 10 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Hitch Mathews 7
PSU LBs are pulling up to the LOS even without a playfake; this goes outside to Mathews, who's thoroughly open as PSU runs cover three. The short safety is actually the guy who reacts to this throw first. Throw is a little upfield and outside, which actually allows Mathews an opportunity to turn and get a couple YAC he otherwise wouldn't have gotten. (CA, 3, protection 2/2)
M37 2 3 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read stretch Brown 7
Michigan hurries to the line and ABC screws up; I think I see Molk(+1) get a great sealing reach block on the playside DT and Moosman get out on the MLB, which opens up a crease Brown hits for a first down.
M44 1 10 Shotgun empty 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Bubble screen Odoms 7
PSU a little late reacting to this and it's still Hull on the field, not Lee. Hull ends up charging upfield, which leaves Odoms enough of a crease behind Koger's effective block of Bowman; a filling safety comes up to tackle after a good gain. (CA, 3, screen.)
O49 2 3 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run QB zone stretch Forcier 2
AKA “that other play Denard runs.” PSU attacks the playside hard but Schilling(+1) has cut the backside DT to the ground and this provides Forcier a lane; he cuts up. I don't know if he falls here or is attempting to get to the turf so he doesn't get clocked. Molk tears his ACL on this play and is lost.
O47 3 1 I-Form Big 2 2 1 Base 4-3 Run Iso Minor 3
Schilling gets a decent block on the DT but not a superior one, so they're just hanging out around the LOS; not much of a crease. Michigan had an easy time doubling and sealing the other DT, though, as he was shifted away from the center, and Minor has an easy cutback up the middle behind Schilling's block that he takes for the first down.
O44 1 10 Shotgun Trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read veer Minor 8
This was the play Minor crushed Penn State on last year with one small adjustment: Michigan is anticipating that the backside DE will crash down and blocking him. The WLB is headed out to the bubble and the other LBs are flowing in anticipation of the stretch, giving Minor a big hole to slam it up into; Hull reacts to attempt a tackle but Minor(+1) drags him six yards after first contact is made.
O36 2 2 Shotgun Trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read keeper Forcier 8
Near identical play to the last one with a tweak or two: Dorrestein doesn't block the backside DE, instead getting out on Bowman, and Forcier keeps the ball after the DE crashes down. Forcier slides out into open space; Hemingway loses his block and the play ends up a bit shorter than it otherwise would have been. (ZR +1)
O28 1 10 Shotgun 2-back 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read stretch Brown 6
Penn State shifted away from the direction the play goes in here and their linebackers don't shift correspondingly. Also, they appear to be slanting way from the play, which gives Schilling the opportunity to block the playside defensive end(this is the guard lined up backside of the DT!) and three blockers to release into the second level. Hull does an excellent job of fighting inside of Moosman's block and holding this down. As it is first contact is made four yards downfield and the pile lurches forward. (RPS +1)
O22 2 4 Shotgun Trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Bubble screen Odoms 20
Penn State not covering this at all so far when Michigan goes to its trips set. They've got a safety and a corner to the WR side of the field but the linebacker over there doesn't even think of heading out on Odoms. The corner reacts too quickly for Mathews(-1) to get any sort of block on him, but Odoms(+1) avoids the tackle and picks up a good block from Hemingway(+1) to burst past the first line of defense; he jukes the last remaining safety to pick up another six or so. (CA, 3, screen) Odoms dinged up on the play. (RPS +1)
O2 1 G I-Form Big 2 2 1 Goal line Run Zone stretch Minor 1
Michigan attacks what looks like a weak spot on the PSU DL and gets enough seal/push that I think this is a touchdown but for a poor block attempt by Ortmann on one LB and Koger(-1) getting blasted back by a DE; Ortmann's lack of a block means Grady has to get out on that guy and Minor is taken down by a couple guys therefore unblocked.
O1 2 G I-Form Big 2 2 1 Goal line Run Iso Minor 1
Right up the middle; good push from Moosman and Schilling. Minor runs through a couple of arm tackles from LBs blitzing from the outside to pick up the touchdown.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 7-0, 11 min 1st Q. That was fun. I bet we do that like eight more times.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M28 1 10 Shotgun Trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Rollout out Grady(19) Inc
Man, there are 7.5 guys in the box here and no one near the slot receiver; Michigan should just toss the bubble until they stop it. Instead they run play action, pulling Schilling around for some help on the backside. Penn State has scouted this and neither LB to the WR side bites much. I can't see the downfield routes but it seems like someone should be open deep; Forcier doesn't find anyone, eventually checking down to Grady late. Grady's open and may have some YAC for a decent gain; Forcier throws it too far inside, so he's got no shot. (IN, 0, protection 2/2)
M28 2 10 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read stretch Minor 4
Moosman(-1) beat one-on-one by Ogbu, the playside DT. Ogbu is right in the hole that Minor tries to slam up into; he's getting blocked so Minor manages to run him over. Great second-level blocking from Schilling and Koger keeps defenders from finishing the play immediately; Koger eventually loses his guy as Minor cuts outside of him and the play is held to a meh gain.
M32 3 6 Shotgun Trips 1 1 3 Nickel Pass Rollout deep out Grady Inc
Nice block by Minor on this rollout gets Forcier time and space with which he finds a wide open Grady downfield. The throw is low-ish and will take Grady off his feet but still very catchable; Grady drops it. I have to call this a 2, but it's a borderline 2 and this is one of the first big drops that just kills Michigan's offense all day. (CA, 2, protection 2/2) Interesting side note: Koger(!) is running a bubble route here, which pulls a zone defender and opens up this space.
Drive Notes: Punt, 7-7, 8 min 1st Q.
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 Pass Bubble screen Odoms 7
Adjustment here on Michigan's part because they probably know that Penn State runs a cover three all the time: Stonum, the outside receiver, comes down to block the safety tasked with Odoms, allowing him outside where he goes one-on-one with the corner. Odoms, clearly dinged up, can't make Lynn miss, though he picks up good yardage. (CA, 3, screen)
M27 2 3 Shotgun 2-back 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read keeper Forcier 4
Forcier sees the DE crash inside of the backside tackle and the MLB also crash down, so he pulls it out. Bowman is charging right at him; he threatens to break it outside, then cuts it up for first down yardage. Brown could have blocked a prone Hull for some more, I guess.
M31 1 10 Shotgun 2-back 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read stretch Brown -1
Moosman(-1) shoved way too far back by Ogbu; Dorrestein(-1) blasted back by the playside DE, so there's no hole, and the cutback comes too late for Brown to do anything except get swarmed. Molk aigh.
M32 2 11 Shotgun 2-back 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Pass Slant Stonum Inc
Extremely crappy, almost nonexistent PA fake by Forcier doesn't hold anyone, but Minor wasn't exactly selling it either. The WLB just gets a zone drop—it's a zone blitz dropping off into that side right into the throwing lane. Forcier throws it anyway. WLB drops it. Bad decision on par with the Iowa INT. (BR, 0, protection 1/1)
M32 3 11 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Nickel Pass Sack -- -2
Good protection at first, but then a late stunt fools Dorrestein(-1) and forces Forcier to start running around. He can't find anyone and eats it for a sack. (TA, 0, protection 1/2, Dorrestein -1)
Drive Notes: Punt, 7-10, 2 min 1st Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M12 1 10 Shotgun Trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read veer Brown 17
PSU's alignment here is asking for this; they've got a safety shaded over the trips WR side but only two guys covering three WRs, which means Bowman has to stay outside for contain/bubble purposes. With Hull heading out for the stretch this means there's huge lane between the LBs. With the backside end getting blocked Brown shoots into the secondary through a gaping hole. Safety fill ends it but not until many yards.
M29 1 10 Shotgun Trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read veer Brown 5
Believe this is the exact same play but it's hard to tell because Michigan rushes to the line and gets the play off as ABC is showing a replay of the previous one. When we come back Brown is hitting the same hole he did on the last play but the LBs are playing it better, with Bowman crashing in and forcing Brown inside, where he meets Hull four or five yards downfield.
M34 2 5 Shotgun Trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run QB zone stretch Forcier 2
Direction of this play fools the PSU DL and the DE steps the wrong way, getting sealed. Michigan now has three blockers on two LBs but one blocker is Roundtree. Forcier's got a lead blocker and maybe a crease if he hits it up but he decides to bounce it—reasonable. Bowman makes a great play to close the inside crease and then get out on Forcier's bounce, slowing it and allowing PSU to close after just a couple yards.
M36 3 3 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Sack -- -7
PSU blitzing into this rollout, which picks off lead blocker Brown and gets Hull in unblocked. Forcier appears to have a shot at the first down with Roundtree, but Hull is in too quick and crushes him. On replay this is just a massive protection screwup from Ortmann(-2), who should know he has Brown helping and block Hull easily. He does not. (PR, 0, protection 0/2, Ortmann -2)
Drive Notes: Punt, 7-10, 12 min 2nd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M17 1 10 Shotgun empty 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run QB zone stretch Robinson 7
Robinson in. PSU splits the linebackers in response to the empty set and Michigan runs at the gap up the middle, with Robinson slashing past Ogbu, who defeated an attempted reach block from Moosman. He's into the linebackers because Schilling(+1) has sealed Odrick. I think Ogbu's been a lot better in the ground game than Odrick so far. Robinson zips for good yardage before folks can converge.
M24 2 3 Shotgun Trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read inside Minor 7
This isn't quite the veer, which I believe is supposed to go between the backside tackle and guard, but because PSU slants hard it goes there, basically, with M shoving guys down the line and Minor cutting back behind everyone. A late-arriving Bowman, who was the contain, grabs Minor's ankle and holds on for dear life, but well after first down yardage.
M31 1 10 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run QB lead draw Robinson 6
Michigan's favorite play with Robinson, by now rote: Michigan attacks the side of the line that has a big gap between the NT and DE, doubling and blowing out the DT, kicking out the DE, and shooting Minor at the MLB. Hull takes a pounding from Minor, but sheds and tackles. That's seven yards downfield, but he does tackle. Tough to stop this, I guess. No one's really done it consistently so far.
M37 2 4 Shotgun Trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read stretch Minor 14 (Pen -5)
This is such a crap call. PSU is slanting or something; they're not looking for the stretch, with the playside DT hitting it upfield immediately, allowing Moosman(+1) to seal him. Schilling gets a free release into the second level, where he blocks Hull out of the play; the SLB heads outside, where Koger blocks him; Minor has a big crease to shoot into, which he does. Bowman finally tracks him down. Play comes back because Dorrestein apparently lined up in the backfield. Is this a point of emphasis now or something? I've never seen this called before and this is the second time Michigan's gotten hit.
M32 2 9 Shotgun 2-back 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Pass Scramble Robinson 0 (Pen +10)
Some sort of screen. Roundtree comes up to block Bowman and Michigan really has the angles here to get a good gain with Brown flaring out, but Robinson doesn't bother to throw it, probably because Moosman(-2) got smoked by Odrick and this was slower developing; yes, this screen got blown up by pass pressure. Robinson tries to scramble and gets hacked down for no gain. Bowman gets a holding call for attempting to avoid Roundtree's block... very dodgy. Potential missed horsecollar on Robinson, I guess. Really weird, though I can see what the referee was calling on replay since Bowman did grab him and throw him to the ground. (PR, 0, protection 0/2, Moosman -2)
M42 1 10 Shotgun Trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run QB zone stretch Robinson 2
Wish we had Minor in on this, as PSU is slanting under this play and there's plenty of room on the outside but for Bowman, who avoids a terrible attempt at a block by Roundtree, gets out on Brown's attempt at a lead block, sets up, cuts off the outside, and still makes the tackle as Robinson tries to duck inside. A +3 play if Bowman was playing for Michigan; we should offer Vanderlinden one million dollars to coach here. Also wish we had Odoms here, despite his dwarf status he'd at least screw with Bowman, I think.
M44 2 8 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Seam Koger Inc
Part one of doom. Michigan just runs Koger into the slot, gets him wide open, and Robinson hits him, only to have it dropped. This is a solid 2 on the catch scale; Robinson fired it hard and high and Koger couldn't get his hands up in time. (MA, 2, protection 1/1)
M44 3 8 Shotgun Trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Rollout out Roundtree Int
Bowman undercuts Roundtree and has him blanketed; everyone's covered, actually. Robinson throws it anyway and it's intercepted. Terrible. (BR, 0, protection 1/1)
Drive Notes: Interception, 7-10, 6 min 2nd Q. And now commences the Worst Drive Ever.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M8 1 10 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read stretch Brown -3
This is so Brown's fault in every way imaginable. Moosman turns and pancakes the playside DT, providing a huge(!) hole to cut up into, but Brown doesn't take it, instead attempting to get outside a tackle who's given two yards of ground. He's just seen the playside DT die in a fire and his immediate instinct should be to hit it upfield. Instead he continues to head outside where Ortmann loses control of Crawford and ends up drawing a holding call. PSU declines it because Brown lost three anyway.
M5 2 13 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Penalty False start Ortmann Pen -5
Bleerrrr
M3 2 15 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Throwaway -- Inc
Terrible by Ortmann(-2), who attempts to block down on Odrick and actually loses the guy to the outside, which bully for Odrick but Christ. Forcier, meanwhile, gives a brief look to one side of the field, which is open, then comes to the covered bits(?). I'm not sure I understand. Maybe that was just a decoy and if given some time he'd find Mathews hand-wavingly open on the other side of the field. He doesn't have time. (TA, 0, protection 0/2, Ortmann)
M3 3 15 Shotgun Trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Penalty Delay -- -1
Eh.
M3 3 15 Shotgun Trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Yakety Sax -- -3
Blerg
Drive Notes: Safety, 7-12, 4 min 2nd Q. At least we've perfected the take-a-delay-penalty play when backed up on our goal line. I'm not even joking.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M33 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone counter dive Minor 3
The backside DE gets momentarily delayed by the OT to that side, but it's not really a block, it's just an OL moving through and getting in the way a bit. It's Koger who's supposed to provide that block; the DE is ready for it and crashing inside so that there's no hole between himself and the DT. Meanwhile, Hull is watching for the TE pull and avoids the stretch block, popping Minor in the hole. The thing should end there for no gain but Minor spins out of the tackle and grinds for a few. Penn State clearly prepared for this . First time Michigan's run it this game.
M36 2 7 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Scramble Forcier -1
Forcier gets good protection and has Mathews open on a hitch on one side of the field. Instead of coming off his first read, which is Koger on a seam, he starts running around, eventually getting chopped down for no gain. (BR, 0, protection 2/2)
M35 3 8 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Seam Koger Inc
Penn State running with this, basically, but Koger is faster than Hull and Forcier finds the tiny window he's got between the LB and safety, hitting Koger in the hands. Koger's already dropped the ball by the time the safety closes to hit. Hearing footsteps or whatever, but this is a straight drop. 1 if he gets the ball knocked loose by the safety, but a 3 since it's already gone. (DO, 3, protection 2/2)
Drive Notes: Punt, 7-19, 3 min 2nd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
O39 1 10 Shotgun Trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Bubble screen Roundtree Inc
Forcier throws it high and Roundtree drops it; the poor throw doomed it anyway. (IN, 2, screen)
O39 2 10 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Skinny post Mathews 18
Slot out draws a safety up and provides a small window Forcier uses, threading it above a linebacker and in front of pretty decent coverage from Penn State, hitting Mathews as he slides to the turf to dig it out. (CA+, 2, protection 2/2)
O21 1 10 Shotgun Trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read veer Minor 7
DE crashes inside so Minor hits it up outside of him; Bowman and Hull do read it eventually and manage to grab Minor by the legs, slowing him and dragging him to the turf after 7.
O14 2 3 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read stretch Minor 7
Here Minor makes the cut Brown failed to on the last drive, feeling the playside DT attempt to come around the center and fail. When that happens he immediately knows to slam directly upfield, which he does for the first down before getting double teamed and taken down.
O7 1 G Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read stretch Minor 5
Playside DT isn't as eager to get sealed this time but he does end up on the wrong side of a reach block. PSU DTs love to get upfield and with them it seems to be boom or bust. Minor runs past him but with the space constricted he runs into problems. Ortmann(-1) didn't get a cut on the backside DT, so Minor can't cut behind the downfield block of Huyge. Still a good gain, though the time remaining makes this somewhat questionable. Refs stop the clock for some reason.
O2 2 G Shotgun Trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Yakety Sax -- -4
Forcier just fumbles the snap. This is on him.
O6 3 G Whatevs 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Spike -- --
Argh.
Drive Notes: FG(23), 10-19, EOH.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M28 1 10 Shotgun 2-back 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Pass Slant Mathews Inc
Had it open, but the unblocked backside DE reads it and leaps in the air to bat it down. Good play; I think Michigan is expecting him to crash, which would open up a lane here. (BA, 0, protection NA)
M28 2 10 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Swing Brown Inc
Swing pass is too far in front of Brown. I wonder if this is Forcier's fault or Brown's. (IN, 1, protection N/A)
M28 3 10 Shotgun empty 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Sack -- -6
Not Forcier's fault at all; a DE is coming around Dorrestein(-1), forcing him to scramble up in the pocket, where a stunt from Crawford gets him past Moosman(-1) and Schilling(-1), resulting in a sack. No protection. (PR, 0, protection 0/3)
Drive Notes: Punt, 10-25, 12 min 2nd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M17 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read inside Minor 0
Robinson in. Penn State slanting away from where a stretch would go and into this play , which naturally opens up the area where a stretch would go. Minor's angle is right upfield, though, and he bounces into the traffic. When he tries to bounce out a couple of guys grab him by the jersey and haul him down.
M17 2 10 Shotgun Trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run QB lead draw Robinson 6
No real creases but still fairly effective as the MLB is taking the momentum of both Robinson and an OL a couple yards downfield, so the pile keeps moving until it's six yards downfield, whereupon Robinson fumbles.
Drive Notes: Fumble, 10-25, 8 min 3rd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M39 1 10 Shotgun empty 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Hitch Koger Inc
Straight dropped. Would have been six-ish. (CA, 3, protection 1/1)
M39 2 10 Shotgun empty 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Improv Brown 20 (Pen -10)
Odrick gets penetration but a double from Schilling and Moosman sees Moosman shove Odrick as he engages with Schilling, at which point Odrick falls to the ground; Schilling goes with him. This is flagged, which is ridiculous. Forcier move up in the pocket, cuts back against the grain when a DE starts to close him down, breaks the pocket, and floats a perfect pass to Brown as Brown nears the sideline. Caught, first down, wiped out. (DO, 2, protection 1/2, Schilling -1)
M29 2 20 Shotgun empty 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run QB draw Forcier 12
PSU stunting, which eventually sees a crease open up between the DT twist; Forcier reads it and smartly cuts up, using his block from Brown well and picking up most of it afterwards.
M41 3 8 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Rollout corner Odoms Inc
This is covered and should not be thrown, and inaccurate anyway. Michigan's just leaving two receivers to the backside on these plays, not even bringing them across on a crossing route or something, so Forcier's got basically one option on this play. Given the situation it's not a terrible decision, but it's not a good one, either. (BR, 0, protection 1/1)
Drive Notes: Punt, 10-32, 6 min 3rd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
O24 1 10 Shotgun 2-back 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone counter dive Brown 7
Variation on this play with the C and backside G doubling the backside DT and blowing him out of the hole; this is different than they did it before because DEs have adjusted to the play. Frontside DT shoots upfield and there's a crease for Brown.
O17 2 3 Shotgun 2-back 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read stretch Brown -3
Huyge(-1) and Moosman(-1) totally fail to reach Ogbu despite a momentary double, and Ogbu shoots directly into the play. This is the cardinal thing you cannot do on a stretch. Brown's in a bunch of trouble, forced outside; when he tries to cut back a PSU LB rakes the ball free and PSU falls on it. Yay.
Drive Notes: Fumble, 10-32, 4 min 3rd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M28 1 10 Shotgun 2-back 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Pass Rollout hitch Roundtree Inc
LB flowing out on the deep outside hitch to Mathews, so Forcier attempts to come inside to Roundtree, who's sort of open but doesn't have great separation. Forcier turfs it anyway. (IN, 0, protection NA)
M28 2 10 Shotgun empty 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Jailbreak screen Mathews 9
PSU dropping into deep zones and Michigan catches them (RPS +1) with a play they haven't shown yet today. Schilling gets a good block on Lee, who's come in in semi-garbage time, and Mathews can run up for near first-down yardage. (CA, 3, screen)
M37 3 1 Ace 3-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Power O Minor 2
Penn State does a pretty good job of fighting this off, with Odrick fighting playside of a down-block and double. He ends up falling and a blitzing Bowman can't quite get to Minor before he leaps over the mess for a first down.
M39 1 10 Shotgun empty 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Wheel Shaw 12
Jeez, Forcier should probably not throw this since the zone coverage PSU is in has one of their corners against Shaw on a wheel route—basically your route loses—and the corner's in great position. Forcier threads the needle, though, putting the pass in the only spot it can go, and Shaw hauls it in with a sideline one-foot grab. Results-based (DO, 1, protection 2/2)
O49 1 10 Shotgun empty 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass TE cross Webb Inc
Forcier stands in and finds Webb wide open—underneath zone guy fell. He hits him. Not a great throw but an okay one, with it hitting Webb in the midsection only a little behind him; drop. (CA, 3, protection 2/2)
O49 2 10 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Improv Webb Inc
Serious protection bust or something because the playside DE comes free on this play and Shaw runs past him, though he's carrying out a fake. I think the line slid the protection the wrong way. As a result, Forcier has to scramble around immediately. He actually finds Webb for what looks like it will be a decent gain (assuming Webb catches the damn ball), but a linebacker bats it down. (PR, 0, protection 0/2, team)
O49 3 10 Shotgun empty 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Seam Shaw Inc
This is double-covered and could be intercepted; very poor decision. (BR, 0, protection 2/2) Maybe had a little hitch to Roundtree for 5-8, which would have set up a fourth and makeable.
Drive Notes: Punt, 10-32, 1 min 3rd Q. Penn State goes on an epic drive with aid from a bad roughing the punter penalty and when M gets it back its 35-10 with five minutes left. PSU backups and prevent D make the last drive more deceiving than anything and I won't chart it.

In my copy of the game I replaced all of Michigan's drives with copies of the first one.

Dude, I bet we win that game.

Yeah, by lots. It's awesome.

Sweet. I bet this is a clever way to get me to address the vast dropoff from a slick 11-play touchdown drive to whatever the rest of the day was.

No, it is the literal truth. I do not wish to discuss the rest of the day at all.

Ah so.

What is your opinion of game one? Do you think it counts? I just heard Colin Cowherd go on a ten-minute rant about how he "doesn't want to hear" that game one of the World Series "doesn't mean anything."

Really?

Yes. Your opinion? I have to admit, Cowherd made a strong case that the first game of the World Series is not a crazy exhibition that has no effect on the outcome.

Um. David Molk's injury obviously had something to do with it. And then it was just a lot of Michigan incompetence. Subsequent drive ends:

  • Kelvin Grady is wide open for first down, Forcier throws it a little low, Grady drops it.
  • Penn State stuffs a run, nearly intercepts a bad pass, and gets pressure on Forcier.
  • Ortmann decides not to block Josh Hull, who sacks Forcier. Protection bust on third and three.
  • Koger drop followed by Robinson INT.
  • Yakety sax safety.
  • Koger drops seam.
  • Forcier fumbles snap, spikes ball.
  • Batted pass, inaccurate swing, three guys screw up in protection and get Forcier killed.
  • Robinson fumble
  • Terrible holding call, 12 yard QB draw, throw into double coverage.
  • Brown fumble
  • Drop, bad protection, throw into double coverage.

Penn State had a lot to do with all of this; teams do not exist in a vacuum and having guys covered and whatnot is a thing secondaries other than Michigan do from time to time. But, man: drop, drop, drop, fumble, fumble, fumble, vomit. This is a pattern that's been going on for a while now. There are some talent problems with the offense, but a lot of it is just playing poorly. Bad coaching, bad luck, young kids, you take your pick as to the reason. The ideas behind Michigan's offense still seem good; the execution is lacking.

I mean, all the pressure is on the Yankees, he said. He said the Phillies aren't afraid.

Yes, the bubble screen did make a triumphant return, albeit briefly. Having Odoms dinged up on the first drive didn't help matters, either. Rodriguez is clearly skeptical of Kelvin Grady's ability to catch the ball—with good reason—and the bubbles they attempted subsequent to the first one didn't do that well, with Roundtree getting overthrown on one. It was part of a day on which the quarterbacks were bad, but not as bad as you might think, but to discuss that I'll need some—

I find his ability to condescend while expressing opinions that are either moronic or obvious fascinating.

Charts.

(Hennechart legend; MA is "marginal", screen results are in parens.)

TATE FORCIER

Opponent DO CA MA IN BR TA BA PR
Western Michigan 2 14 1 2 1 2 - 3
Notre Dame 5 20 (6) 2 4 3 3 - 4
Eastern Michigan 1 8 (2) 1 1 (1) 1 4 (1) - -
Indiana 3 13 (3) 1 (1) 2 5 3 - 2
Michigan State 5 19 (3) 2 4 3 3 - 5
Iowa 1 8(1) 1 3 (2) 2 3 2 2
Delaware State - 2 (1) - - - - - -
Penn State 3 9 (3) - 4 (2) 4 2 1 1

DENARD ROBINSON

Opponent DO CA MA IN BR TA BA PR
Western Michigan - 1 1 1 2 - - -
Eastern Michigan - 1 1 (1) 2 (1) - - - -
Indiana - 1 1 (1) - - - - -
Michigan State - - - - - 2 - -
Iowa 1 2 - - 1 1 - -
Delaware State - 2 2 - - - - -
Penn State - - 1 - 1 1 - -

Robinson is throwing too many interceptions and fumbling too much to play consistently, except the other quarterback isn't doing that hot because he's also a freshman. Things should get better against Illinois and Purdue; Penn State has a bear of a defense and it's understandable Michigan's kid QBs would struggle.

Forcier would tag on some meaningless completions and an even more meaningless interception on Michigan's final drive, but garbage time doesn't get counted. This week's downfield success rate is 9 / 18 = 50%, which is bad. It's not nearly as bad as Forcier's final numbers, though, and there's a major reason why:

This Game Totals
Player 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3
Hemingway - - - - 3 - 1/2 7/7
Mathews 1 - 1/1 2/2 8 1/4 2/3 9/9
Stonum 1 - - - 3 1/3 3/4 10/10
Savoy - - - - 2 - 1/2 4/4
Odoms 1 - - 3/3 5 1/3 4/6 16/17
Grady-19 1 - 0/1 - 2 - 2/3 9/12
Roundtree 2 - 0/1 - 5 - 1/4 -
Stokes - - - - - - 1/1 1/1
Koger - - 0/1 0/2 - 3/4 3/5 6/9
Webb - - - 0/1 1 - - 3/5
Minor - - - - - - - 1/1
Brown - 0/1 1/1 - - 1/4 2/2 5/6
Shaw - 1/1 - - - 1/1 0/1 -
Smith - - - - - - - -
Grady-24 - - - - - - - 1/1

Obviously an ugly day, with three flat drops and three more passes that could have been catches (could have been critical first downs) not getting reeled in. Koger's great start came to a clunky halt with and 0/3 day, and no one really helped out except for the running backs. Forcier's day wasn't good, but it wasn't as bad as the numbers suggest.

Also, will someone throw Roundtree an easy ball, please? When he's not triple-covered by Deion Sanders, Charles Woodson, and Champ Bailey, kthx.

And the protection metric:

PROTECTION: 19/32, Ortmann –4, Moosman –3, Schilling –2, Dorrestein –2, Team –2.

Another extremely shaky performance from the offensive line. Molk re-injuring himself has something to do with it, but Huyge—the guy who came in for Molk—isn't anywhere on this list. Michigan's been severely restricted from a downfield passing game because the receivers aren't threats in and of themselves and the line can't pass block consistently enough to give them time to get open, or Forcier time to throw. I think they've been pretty decent in the run game; as pass defenders they're very poor.

A couple weeks ago he ranted about how baseball wouldn't put a little spiderweb on the bases for Spiderman 3, made fun of baseball for being old fashioned, lauded the NFL for participating in this thing where everyone wears pink stuff for breast cancer awareness, said that's why the NFL is so much more popular—it's forward thinking!—and never once mentioned that one act was blatantly commercial and the other was for charity.

Yeah… super.

SOMETHING IS TERRIBLE.

Many things to choose from on this day but tight ends and Denard Robinson stood out as the items that damaged Michigan's chances the most.

SOMETHING IS FANTASTIC.

Brandon Minor needs the ball more.

ILLINOIS annoying pause TERRIBLE AWFUL I THINK THAT'S TOTALLY FAIR?

Illinois has a terrible run defense so Michigan should be able to plow them over despite the Molk injury and the issues Michigan's had so far against high level defenses. Illinois is emphatically not a high-level defense. Penn State rushed for almost 340 yards against them. Michigan should be able to move the ball effectively by putting it in the hands of Minor and Brown, using the passing game as a sidelight to keep people honest.

As for the future, the turnovers have to stop. It's one thing for Robinson to throw an interception every four throws or whatever, but he can't fumble it, too. Both senior tailbacks have coughed up critical fumbles in the last two real games, and while I don't think turnovers are that predictable, they're not totally random. Turnovers cost Michigan the Iowa game and prevented the Penn State game from being competitive; the lurking danger is that Michigan will end the Illinois or Purdue game seriously in the hole in TO margin and therefore on the scoreboard. Just Lloydball it when you can the rest of the year, I guess.

Upon Further Review: Defense vs Penn State

By Brian — October 28th, 2009 at 2:04 PM — 68 comments
Filed under:

Personnel notes: As noted Monday, Michigan had an actual substitution package: on passing downs Williams would be replaced by Cissoko. For obvious reasons, that's unlikely to continue down the road. The rest of it was as usual, with the line rotating regularly and no one else coming out ever. One exception: late in the game Obi Ezeh was yanked twice, first for a play and then for the rest of a drive, in favor of Fitzgerald. Each time he got to the sidelines an exasperated Jay Hopson tried to explain something to him.

Formation notes. My lingo is probably all screwed up now but Michigan did this a lot:

zone pre snap

I called this "4-4 under" but here I think this one is an over shift—the line is actually moved towards the TE side of the formation—and that Michigan was not playing this based on where Penn State was but where the ball was. Steve notes that Michigan shifted the line to "field"—the wide side—over 80% of the time in the first half. So under-over is not really the distinction. Michigan is lining up shifted to the wide side of the field with both the LBs and line, relying on the idea that Graham will obliterate Poti so badly that Penn State won't even try to run that direction. This was basically correct.

This eight-man front with Warren playing off allows Michigan to play man or zone with Warren part of your two-deep. This is an obvious response to Iowa's third and 24 conversion: freak out and try to get away with Warren as a part-time safety. This formation was the one in which all the ARGH long handoffs occurred. Burgeoning Wolverine Star picture-paged one of these happening and Steve noted it too: the responsibility on the long handoffs is Williams's, and he kept getting chewed out for the screwups here. On the play linked above Williams looks into the backfield instead of hauling ass for the receiver, but on later plays he just hauls ass and doesn't get there. Maybe this works if you're Taylor Mays, but Mike Williams was evidently incapable of pulling off this assignment. Steve blames Williams; as you'll see below I just think this is unworkable with the personnel Michigan has and go all RPS* –1 on Robinson.

Play ID note: a helpful high school coach illuminated the difference between the "Power O" and the "Down G"; on Power O a backside guard pulls around, usually into a hole between a kickout block from a tackle or TE and the interior down block. On Down G a playside guard pulls around and the play goes further outside, with the guy who's kicking out on a Power O down-blocking instead.

On with show.

*(Rock, Paper, Scissors.)

Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
O37 1 10 Ace 4-wide 4-3 over Pass PA deep hitch Warren 14
Michigan actually shifted to the strength of the formation here. [ed: as noted above, it will become clear why only later.] PSU goes play action, sucking two guys (Mouton and Williams) up into Quarless, but it doesn't really matter since they're going to this comeback route against Warren, which is open(cover -1); immediate tackle afterwards. TE was wide open, too, with Ezeh trailing ineffectually (cover –1).
M49 1 10 Ace 4-wide 4-3 under Run Inside zone Williams 41
Michigan shows a true two-deep, not the border-field alignment. Martin is doubled and shoved back on a play that's clearly designed to go inside, but he splits the double team(+1) after they push him back a couple yards, causing Royster to shift his tactics. Mouton(-1) has gotten way too far inside and given up a huge cutback lane that should never be there; Williams(-3) comes up way, way too far inside, losing “leverage” on the ball—i.e. letting the dude outside of him—and turning eight yards into 41. It is possible that Graham(-1) had the responsibility here on the outside and it wasn't Mouton's screwup on the first level.
M8 1 G I-Form 4-4 under Run Iso(?) Mouton -2
Apparently a straight ahead, man-blocked run designed to go right off tackle. Graham(+1) blows through his blocker, forcing Royster outside; Mouton(+1) has shot into the hole and takes on the fullback two yards in the backfield, tumbling over him and tackling inadvertently; Ezeh(+1) avoided an OL and zooms up to make sure there's no way Royster can keep going if he keeps his feet.
M10 2 G Shotgun 3-wide 4-3 under split Pass Corner Brown 10
Michigan shows one deep safety and runs man coverage; this is the sort of thing that Clark was talking about when he said M didn't disguise coverages. No late shifts or anything, so this is really obvious that Brown is not going to be able to cover(-1) Zug on this, given his inside leverage on the guy. He's inside of the player, has no support, and is just going to lose this matchup no matter who he is. Very poor from Robinson(RPS -1).
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 7-7, 9 min 1st Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
O35 1 10 Ace 3-wide 4-4 under Pass PA Out Brown 17
Again going to the slot receiver, who is in man coverage against Kovacs(-2, cover -2). Kovacs just bails and bails and has no chance of coming up on this. Kovacs as a deep safety is just not going to work in this sort of coverage, but it's pick your poison. Ezeh(-0.5) could have helped but got sucked up by the play action. Martin(+1) had busted past his guy and clobbered Clark as he threw (pressure +1).
M48 1 10 Ace Twins Twin TE 4-3 under Run Inside zone Graham 5
Graham(+1) slants inside the TE, beating both blocks and forcing a cutback behind; Mouton's run himself out of the play but that's understandable; Williams(-1) fills late despite having no responsibilities deep because both TEs are clearly blocking Graham, turning this cutback from zero into four.
M43 2 5 I-Form 4-3 under Pass Scramble Ezeh 9
Zone blitz sees Roh drop off as Ezeh and Brown come and Graham/Martin stunt around. This is sufficiently confusing to the OL that both guys get through, basically, but Ezeh(-1) has failed to get to the correct side of his blocker and thus does not maintain his rush lane, opening up an avenue for Clark to escape what would otherwise be a sure sack. I mean, Ezeh is clearly setting up to go around the other way as Graham stunts free behind him and then he just loses his mind, attempting to go up the same hole Graham does. Fail. Just fail. I've got this set up for a Picture Pages tomorrow.
M34 1 10 I-Form Twins 4-4 under Run Power O Mouton 7
This is never going to be an I-form, with the two RBs lined up right next to each other. Michigan doesn't read it and when Royster motions out, Ezeh(?!?!) follows him instead of Brown, the obvious choice, after significant confusion. Van Bergen(-0.5) gets downblocked, opening up a hole. Brown is trying to take on a pulling guard and can't do much other than get blocked; Mouton(-0.5) failed to read the play until it was a bit too late and ends up making contact five yards downfield with a guy in his face; the pile falls the wrong way. Michigan got beat by the playcall here, fooled into sucking Ezeh out into space against Royster instead of sending Brown, the logical guy, out there. (RPS -1)
M27 2 3 Ace Twins Twin TE 4-3 under Run Down G Mouton 4
Downblock on Graham(-1) by a tight end ends up pancaking him; Mouton(-1) accepts a block from Quarless and can't do anything to prevent this play from hitting it up for the first down.
M23 1 10 Ace 4-3 under Run Inside zone Graham -2
Graham(+2) slants right by Quarless on the snap, exploding into the backfield and crushing Royster without assistance from anyone else. RVB(+1) also beat his guy and was there to vaguely assist on the tackle.
M25 2 12 Shotgun 3-wide 4-4 under Pass Jailbreak screen Warren 8
Royster motions out for an empty backfield. Well executed by Penn State, but Warren is playing ten yards off and wandering back at the snap, which means he meets Moye 6 yards downfield and gets bashed; the first instance of M just giving PSU yards at the snap. (Cover -1) Not sure if Warren or Williams deserves a ding here. –0.5 for both.
M17 3 4 Ace 3-wide Nickel even Pass Fade Warren Inc
Michigan sends both MLBs up the middle and don't get there; Michigan tips this, I think, with the position of the safeties, so Clark knows he has this over Warren, in press coverage. Moye has a step and the size to go over Warren if this is accurate, but Clark overthrows it. I won't cover -1 this, because it was okay. I thought about RPS -1 here, too.
Drive Notes: Field goal(34), 7-10, 3 min 1st Q. Penn State's kicker has an enormous head.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
O37 1 10 I-Form 4-4 under Pass Long handoff Warren 8
I don't know if this is Warren's fault or not, which I'll explain later. [ed: or earlier, as the case may be.] In any case, Warren's playing forever off (cover -1) and has no chance of holding this down. RPS -1. This was the first of these.
O45 2 2 Shotgun 4-wide 4-3 under Pass Bubble screen -- 8
Wide open from the start; don't know if Mouton has responsibility here or not but they've got bubbles on both sides and neither is really covered. (cover -1, RPS -1)
M47 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 4-4 under Pass PA Deep post Warren Inc
Play action zone read on which Clark keeps it, fakes the keeper, and then backs out to pass. Herron eventually looses himself after he realizes it's a pass and hits Clark as he throws; Clark had decent time. The eventual throw is into double coverage that Kovacs is in okay position on, but help from Warren(+1 cover +1) makes this covered; receiver falls of his own volition. Warren in a deep half here, you'll note, and in way better position to actually help on the play than Kovacs.
M47 2 10 Ace Twins Twin TE 4-3 under Pass Scramble -- 1
Clark looks for the bubble but the receiver is trying to block; busted play. Clark scrambles for a yard.
M46 3 9 Shotgun 3-wide 4-3 under split Pass Screen Van Bergen 1
Michigan shows and brings the DEATH BLITZ of seven guys, except RVB and Martin back out, with RVB(+2) making a fantastic play by reading the screen, darting past two blockers and seeing the third take a futile stab at blocking him, and tackling(+1) at the LOS. Warren was coming up and this would have remained short even without the tackle from RVB since he'd killed the blocking, but he didn't even chance it. (RPS +1)
Drive Notes: Punt, 7-10, 14 min 2nd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
O27 1 10 I-Form 4-4 under Pass Long handoff -- 8
I don't understand this. Warren is ten yards off, basically another safety, and Michigan expects to defend this by shooting Williams into the flat, which might work if Williams immediately runs out there, but he doesn't. (RPS -1, cover -1) Free yards. BWS picture-paged this.
O35 2 2 I-Form Twins 4-3 under Pass Fade Kovacs Inc
Royster motions out; this time it's zone so Warren moves out. Woolfolk(-1) jumps up on the little out route, which opens up a deeper fade route run by Moye. It's open(cover -1), but Moye falls down and the ball ends up hitting him in the foot.
O35 3 2 Ace 4-4 under Run End-around Mouton 11
TE pulls across the formation to act as a lead blocker; Williams is out there providing some contain but can do little but force the play inside. He does, where no one picks him up because Mouton(-2) sucked inside. It's bad when your linebackers' suckiness is part of the gameplan.
O46 1 10 Ace 4-wide 4-3 under Run Inside zone -- 4
Martin(-1) gets blown back by a double, allowing Royster to hit it up behind him; Ezeh(+0.5) reads the play and comes under the blocker attempting to get out on him, tackling with help from Mouton(+0.5) and making this an eh gain.
50 2 6 Ace 4-4 under Run Inside zone Graham -5
Michigan must have called the right thing to murder this play because Graham(+2, RPS +1) shoots into the backfield right by a PSU OL and Martin isn't far behind. Graham meets Royster four yards in the backfield; he escapes but Roh and Martin clean up.
O45 1 10 Ace 3-wide 4-3 under Pass Sack Roh -3
Roh(+2) is excellent on the stunt here, selling the outside move and then shooting inside with spectacular speed to dart through the gap Van Bergen(+1) makes. Roh is in on Clark and sacks him, albeit tenuously. If Clark escaped he was dead meat anyway with Martin closing in and linebackers close enough to prevent a long run. (Pressure +2.)
Drive Notes: Punt, 7-10, 9 min 2nd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
M40 1 10 Ace Twins 4-3 under Pass Waggle comeback Kovacs Inc
Again working on Kovacs(-1), who gives the receiver a ton of time and space (cover -1) as Clark gets the edge without anyone in the vicinity (pressure -1). Clark leaves the throw short and the receiver can't dig out a semi-tough catch (a 2, if you're wondering).
M40 2 10 I-Form 4-4 under Pass Long handoff -- 7
Here Williams takes off to the short side of the field immediately and still doesn't close it down; I don't know WTF this scheme is supposed to be but it just doesn't work. (Cover -1, RPS -1). This was also picture-paged by BWS.
M33 3 3 Shotgun 4-wide Nickel even Pass Circle -- Inc
Michigan rushes... two. This works, I guess, as the DTs drop off into the hitches(cover +1) and cause Clark to delay. The DEs are closing in, though Clark can just slip up in the pocket to buy more time and doesn't, causing a throw. It's a bit low and dropped as one of the hitches turns his route into a circle. Warren was drawing up to hit the receiver... maybe not a first down if completed. But maybe yes a first down. The third and final picture-paged play from BWS. (RPS +1)
Drive Notes: Punt(!!!), 7-10, 5 min 2nd Q. I know it worked. That does not make it right. Penn State sucked out.
O40 1 10 Ace 3-wide 4-4 under Pass TE Seam -- 60
This is just a straight release downfield with Ezeh in man against a guy he can't cover. There is no safety help, because Michigan is in this weird split package they'd run all game that gets people open short for long handoffs and open deep for easy touchdowns. Things and people to blame: Herron –2 for not getting a chuck on the TE. This is something Michigan's done all year and this is just a bust. Ezeh –1 for getting smoked on the coverage. And Kovacs –2 for not getting into his deep half despite not having another deep threat anywhere. (Cover -3)
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 7-19, 4 min 2nd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
O18 1 10 I-Form Twins 4-3 under Penalty False start -- -5
Royster motions out; Warren out there on him. Not that it matters.
M13 1 15 I-Form 4-4 under Run Down G Roh 1
Roh(+1) reads the pull and doesn't let the TE seal him, which forces the play outside; Ezeh(+1) blasts into the lead blockers, also forcing the play back inside; Royster's already tripping over Roh when Graham's pursuit engulfs him.
M14 2 14 I-Form 4-4 under Penalty False start -- -5
Oops.
M9 2 19 I-Form 4-4 under Run Delay Graham 2
Fake the long handoff then give it inside to Beachum; Graham(+1) has penetrated, shoving the OL back three yards and forcing Beachum to cut behind him, where a bunch of Michigan players, some drawn by the PA fake, converge.
M11 3 17 Ace 3-wide Nickel even Run Delay -- 4
Give up and punt.
Drive Notes: Punt, 7-19, 2 min 2nd Q. End of half, big kickoff return afterwards.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
M43 1 10 I-Form Twins 4-3 under Pass Corner Williams 31
I don't understand this coverage that gets Warren sucked up, covering no one in what appears to be man zero coverage. Quarless beats it easily to the outside, Clark finds him, and it's a big gain. (Cover -2, RPS -1).
M12 1 10 Ace Twins Twin TE 4-4 under Run Inside zone Williams 0
Williams sent on a blitz that gets him through totally unblocked as Quarless, who motioned to one side, comes back to block the other. Royster runs right into him and this could be a four-yard loss, but Williams can't wrap up and Royster bounces to the original LOS. (RPS +1)
M12 2 10 Shotgun empty 4-3 under split Run QB draw Graham 2
Mouton blitzing from the outside so Graham(+1) has a rush lane more inside of that; he reads the draw, beats the tackle to the inside, and tackles just as Clark reaches the line.
M10 3 8 Shotgun 3-wide Nickel even Pass Corner -- 10
Michigan brings the safeties up to the line, showing a blitz well before the snap; Clark checks and Michigan does not check in response. Zug just runs a rounded out in the endzone that Clark knows will be there. Brown, lined up inside, can't get there, and Clark hits him as Michigan blitzes seven (cover -2, RPS -2). Same play as the earlier TD.
M3 2pt G Shotgun empty Nickel even Pass Slant Banks Inc
A zone blitz from Michigan sees both DTs drop into coverage again, which cuts off Clark's first read on the slant (cover +1). Blitz is about to get home so Clark chucks it anyway to a covered(+1) Moye; Woolfolk(+1) there.
Drive Notes: Touchdown(2pt failed) 7-25, 12 min 3rd Q. Clark was right about the coverages. It's clear he knows exactly what Michigan is going to run before the snap and Michigan's personnel can't make up for it. All Zug has to do is run a really easy route against a guy lined up inside of him and woop touchdown.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
O25 1 10 Ace 3-wide 4-4 under Run Inside zone Graham 13
Starts off in Penn State's fake I-form with Royster motioning out, Ezeh goes with him. Failure (RPS -1). Graham(-2) runs himself upfield and out of the play when Williams is blitzing, which means two guys are just running past the backside and there's a huge cutback lane.
O38 1 10 I-Form 4-3 over Pass Dumpoff -- Inc
Clark has some time but not a ton before Graham and Martin get past blockers and start converging; with options downfield covered(+1) he comes to a checkdown; ball is dropped by the FB.
O38 2 10 Ace 3-wide 4-4 under Pass Slant Ezeh 23
Fake I-form, again Ezeh(RPS -1) attempts to go out and cover. His coverage is terrible(-2), as you might expect, as he gives Royster so much room he's not there to tackle on the catch, and then he misses a tackle(-1, Ezeh -1); Kovacs(-1, tackle -1) then misses another one.
M39 1 10 Ace Twins Twin TE 4-3 over Pass Bubble screen Woolfolk Inc
Pass ends up dropped but Woolfolk(+1) had beaten his blocker cleanly and was probably going to tackle this for a minimal gain(cover +1).
M39 2 10 Ace 4-3 under Run Inside zone Ezeh 2
Ezeh(+1) shoots into the backfield—blitzing—and gets in on Beachum; he misses the tackle(-1), turning a loss into a decent gain.
M39 3 8 Shotgun 3-wide 4-3 under Pass Sack Graham -8
Graham is lined up way, way outside of even the TE. TE releases, Graham(+3) bursts past the tackle's feeble attempt to block him, and sacks Clark with some help from Van Bergen. (Pressure +2)
Drive Notes: Punt, 7-25, 9 min 3rd Q.This is the dangerous play that should not happen.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
M22 1 10 Ace Twins 4-4 under Run Down G Brown 5
Center and playside guard pull around as PSU downblocks RVB and creases the line. Mouton(+1) does a good job of getting to one of the lead blockers and closing down the space but Brown(-1) is hesitant, perhaps expecting the TE to release—although he waits way too long after it's clear he won't—and provides a crease outside of Mouton, away from the pursuing Ezeh. Ezeh does continue to flow down the line and tackles(+1) well.
M17 2 5 I-Form 4-4 under Pass Post Warren 17
Warren(-1) in man coverage against Moye. He turns his hips upfield in anticipation of a fade, does it way too early, and leaves this wide open(-2) for a touchdown.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 10-32, 7 min 3rd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
O25 1 10 I-Form 4-3 under Run Zone stretch Ezeh 6
Banks(-1) gets sealed on this play but the LBs are both flowing down hill very quickly, which means Mouton(+1) doesn't get blocked by the first OL and absorbs the G releasing into the second level. He does a pretty decent job of avoiding the block and being a pest. Ezeh(-1), totally unblocked, sets up outside and lets Royster crease the two LBs. (Tackling -1)
O31 2 4 Ace 3-wide 4-3 under Run Power O Heininger 1
Heininger(+2)(!) is slanting on this play and gets right past the backside tackle into the gap that the pulling guard has vacated. He slants right into Royster and tackles(+1) despite having an OT on his back. Another outside blitz from Williams plus a DE, this time Roh, getting too far upfield, would have given Royster plenty of room had Heininger not made this play.
O32 3 3 Ace 3-wide Nickel under Pass Fade Warren Inc
Warren(+1) in excellent coverage(+1) so Penn State tries to throw it to the back shoulder of the WR, which is tough, especially when Moye's kind of clunky. Pass is well short and inside and incomplete. Six rushers on this play forced an early throw; Michigan fortunate PSU wasn't looking at a freakin' wide open Quarless on a little hitch.
Drive Notes: Punt, 10-32, 5 min 3rd Q. Graham(+3) blocks a punt.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
O20 1 10 Ace Twin TE 4-4 under Run Inside zone Sagesse 7
Coupled with an end-around fake; DL does a decent job but Sagesse(-0.5) spins only half way, allowing Royster to hit it up in a small crease; Ezeh(-0.5) and Mouton(-0.5) passively accept blocks and aren't much help except as traffic cones.
O27 2 3 Ace 3-wide 4-4 under Run Power O Graham -2
Fake I-form; this time Mouton goes out on Royster. Finally. Ezeh has been yanked for Fitzgerald. Graham(+2) blasts into the backfield like a shot, dominating Poti and actually getting into a guard pulling away from him; he then attempts to tackle Royster with two guys draped on him. Can't quite do it but Brown is unblocked in the hole and happy to clean up.
O25 3 5 I-Form 4-3 under Pass Screen Mouton 2
Jebus, Graham(+1) is actually a guy they're trying to block and he still almost kills Clark on a screen. Michigan has made the DTs passive, so they're in position to absorb blockers; Mouton(+1), in a short zone, reads the play and forces it back into Martin. (RPS +1, cover +1)
Drive Notes: Punt, 10-32, 2 min 3rd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
O20 1 10 Ace Twins Twin TE 4-4 under Pass Waggle deep post Kovacs Inc
Play action rollout on which Roh(+1, pressure +1) gets to the outside on, forcing Clark to pull up and threatening to sack. Clark decides to bomb it deep into double coverage(+1), with Kovacs(+1) in better position to bring this in than the receiver.
O20 2 10 I-Form Twins 4-4 under Run Zone stretch(?) Van Bergen 8
I don't recognize this blocking scheme. It appears the playside OT and C get to block players lined up away from them, which is like the opposite of a reach block, and get their guys. Graham avoids a cut on the backside and should kill any cutback but for Van Bergen(-1) getting seriously owned by the LG. Brown(-1) accepts a block, delaying everyone, and Mouton(-1) overruns the play, opening up a cutback lane for Royster. Graham(+0.5) does recover to tackle from behind.
O28 3 2 Ace Twin TE 4-4 under Run Inside zone Graham 2
Graham(+1) again beats his blocker well to the inside and would crush this play if he wasn't tackled by the LT. Very frustrating. As it is, there's a couple guys on the ground where doom would have been otherwise and Royster manages to burrow through it and a couple other guys for a first down.
O30 1 10 I-Form Twins 4-3 under Run Down G Williams 5
Graham(+1) beats a blocker and is into the backfield, forcing Beachum to delay as he passes. Mouton(-0.5) ends up cut by the fullback and passed by; Williams(-1) whiffs a tackle(-1) and turns two into five.
O35 2 5 Ace Twins Twin TE 4-4 under Run Inside zone Van Bergen 11
Michigan really selling out on the front side of the play; Van Bergen(-1) is chopped to the ground and opens up a cutback lane. Ezeh(-1) has run himself out of the play after Brown went to cover the TE in motion, and is so out of position he can't even tackle after a gain. Beachum falls before Kovacs can attempt a tackle.
O46 1 10 I-Form 4-4 under Pass Long handoff Warren 3
Warren(+1, tackling +1).
O49 2 7 Ace 4-wide 4-3 under split Run Delay Roh 6
Not exactly sure who or what to blame here. Martin takes a scoop from the C and the backside G so I think this is supposed to go in a gap between Martin and Graham; Martin and Fitzgerald do a good job of closing that hole off, so it's Roh(-1) who fails to close down the backside gap, and Martin(-0.5) who gives a little too much ground, allowing Beachum to plow forward for near first-down yardage.
M45 3 1 I-Form 4-4 under Run Naked boot -- 12
Williams(-2) loses contain like whoah and there's no one else on third and short.. (RPS -1)
M33 1 10 Ace 4-4 under Run Delay Sagesse 15 (Pen -10)
Sagesse(-1) runs upfield and ends up getting pancaked by a momentary double as the C hurls him to the ground. This draws a shaky holding call from the umpire that erases a big gain. Mouton was in the area but Ezeh(-1) ran himself out of position again, and gets yanked, again.
M43 1 20 Ace 3-wide 4-4 under Pass TE drag Williams Inc
Underneath receivers run the “mesh” play that TT likes so much and Michigan has had big problems with so far this year; here Williams(+1) stays home on the one crossing route and is in position to break up and sort of kind of nearly intercept (cover +1)
M43 2 20 Ace 4-4 under Run Delay Heininger 4
Looks like there's a crease of sorts but Royster delays, hitting it, possibly because Heininger(+1) has shoved the RT back and then come inside, getting he hell held out of him but at least making the hole look closed off. When Mouton hops outside (OMG contain!), Royster darts back in and because of the hold can pick for a few yards.
M39 3 16 Ace 3-wide Nickel even Pass Throwaway -- Inc
Clark has plenty of time (pressure -1) but first and second options are open (cover +2) and a brief scramble results in Clark just chucking the ball OOB to avoid a sack.
Drive Notes: Punt, but a roughing call, 10-32, 9 min 4th Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
M29 1 10 I-Form 4-4 under Run Zone stretch Martin 4
Good job by all three playside DL, as Graham(+0.5) does pretty well against a double, Martin(+0.5) gets playside of his guy and beats him, and RVB avoids a cut and flows down the line. Williams blitzed, taking out the FB. He fights inside and gets a hit on Royster that should stop him and does; RVB(-0.5) then overruns it and allows Royster to spin behind—great play by him—and turn nothing into something.
M25 2 6 Ace Twins Twin TE 4-4 under Run Delay Martin 5
Mouton does an excellent job to read the play, shoot past the guys doubling Martin(-1), who gets blown too far off the ball, and shoot past the pulling TE into the backfield, but he then overruns the play. So no plus as Royster's not that delayed. Williams(-0.5) stumbles coming to the line, preventing him from hitting Royster with force, and Martin can't stand up to him, allowing Royster to fall forward.
M20 3 1 I-Form Big 4-4 under Run QB sneak -- 1
They get it.
M19 1 10 Ace Twin TE 4-4 under Run Delay Warren 3
TE motion ends up with Michigan over-shifted to the strong side of the formation. Herron(-1) runs upfield against what's likely to be a run play, opening up a cutback lane when Ezeh(+0.5) fills a small gap between RVB and Martin smartly. Warren(+1, tackling +1) comes up very well to tackle after a minimal gain, partially because Beachum makes a rookie mistake and tries to cut it outside instead of just slamming into a CB trying to tackle him.
M16 2 7 I-Form 4-4 even Run Delay Graham -1
Ezeh blitzes, absorbing the center and getting playside of him, forcing a cutback. Graham(+1) stunts directly into that, tackling for a minimal gain(+1, RPS +1).
M17 3 8 Ace Twin TE 4-4 under split Run Zone stretch -- 6
PSU clearly doesn't care, and okay whatever now it's FG time.
Drive Notes: Field goal(28), 10-35, 5 min 4th Q. End of charting.

Aren't you Mr. Cranky Pants?

Well, maybe I am. Maybe I'm not. To determine that I think we need a—

Chart?

Chart.

Defensive Line
Player + - T Notes
Graham 21 4 17 At some point in the second half I emailed Dr. Saturday that Brandon Graham was an All-American and the rest of the defense hated me.
Heininger 3 - 3 …though this suggests that Penn State's RT spot is something of an issue.
Patterson - - - DNP.
Roh 4 1 3 Got a sack against the real side of the PSU D.
Herron - 3 -3 One of three culprits on the 60-yard TD.
Martin 2.5 2.5 0 Off day.
Van Bergen 4 3 1 Also not a great day.
Banks - - - Played less.
Sagesse - 1.5 -1.5 Meh.
Campbell - - - DNP.
TOTAL 34.5 14 20.5 Pretty mediocre day outside of Graham.
Linebacker
Player + - T Notes
Ezeh 4 7 -3 Iowa progress gives way to the disappointing usual.
Mouton 4.5 8.5 -4 Ugh.
Brown - 2 -2 Zug TDs not really his fault.
Fitzgerald - - - Didn't do much.
Leach - - - DNP.
TOTAL 8.5 17.5 -9 Run filling = very good. Pass defense = very bad.
Secondary
Player + - T Notes
Warren 4 2.5 1.5 Got burned on one TD.
Cissoko - - - Happy trails.
Floyd - - - DNP.
Turner - - - DNP.
Woolfolk 2 1 1 Eh.
Williams 1 5 -4 Plus more bad news if you think the long handoffs are on him.
Emilien - - - DNP
Kovacs 1 6 -5 Just can't play a deep half.
TOTAL 7 14.5 -6.5 It gets worse.
Metrics
Pressure 6 2 4 Even when PSU went deep Clark was about to get hammered when he threw most of those.
Coverage 13 23 -8 PSU exploited the safeties and the linebackers all day.
Tackling 5 5 0 First even tackling day; think that's bad.
RPS 6 13 -7 Robinson got pwned.

[A reminder: RPS is "rock, paper, scissors." Michigan gets a + when they call a play that makes it very easy for them to defend the opponent, like getting a free blitzer. They get a – when they call a play that makes it very difficult for them to defend the opponent, like showing a seven-man blitz and having Penn State get easy touchdowns twice.]

I guess I am pretty cranky.

Why are you such a grump? Iowa put up 30 points and 367 yards of offense to Penn State's 35 and 396 , and Michigan managed to escape that game with way better numbers.

I think it was that all the stuff Penn State was doing came so easy. The Zug touchdowns, the Quarless touchdown, all the long handoffs: all of those plays required nothing more than Penn State not screwing up with wide open receivers. To Clark's credit, he hit all those guys. He then laughed about the primitive defense that Michigan was running, and on review I totally agree: Michigan telegraphed their now-predictable third and long redzone blitzes and got killed. They showed the long handoff was there and got killed. They put Obi Ezeh in man coverage on the edge against Evan Royster and got killed.

That's what the big minus in RPS is there for: I think Robinson got owned by Penn State's offensive brain trust (which is Galen Hall, not Jaypa). This game was slightly reminiscent of the Purdue game a year ago where Michigan switched to a new system and got their brains beaten in by it.

Also, Penn State spent ten minutes of the fourth quarter trying to kill the clock and went on a death march of a drive. It got helped out by a bad penalty on the punter, Penn State successfully strangled the clock. The PSU numbers are basically three quarters of action.

Well, what do you suggest we do?

I don't know. I am sort of mad at Robinson for making it easy by not breaking tendencies with two weeks to prepare. But when you've got Kovacs as  your deep safety, what can you do? Kid's smart and can be an effective player in the box but obviously lacks the athleticism to be a deep safety in the Big Ten. This is not a surprise, he is a freshman walk-on. Michigan's not even rolling out third-option fifth-year senior walk-ons like Josh Hull and his Hullstache…

josh-hullstache-2

…we're rolling out first-option (IE: no one is injured) freshman walk-ons who are technically redshirt freshmen but didn't even get to be on the team last year because they had a knee injury and so are really just off-the-street hi-who-are-you-get-in-there-Cavanaugh-oops guys. Which makes for cute stories but not good defenses.

And he's obviously better than the other safety! Arrrrgh. I think I need to do me one of those "this is why we suck" lists that shows safety recruiting over the last five years.

Meanwhile, the linebackers remain a disaster and I still think it might be Hopson's fault. Those four spots on the defense are just killing Michigan. They can't cover TEs. They can't have sensible two-deep coverage. They regularly overrun plays on the ground that the DL has destroyed. Williams whiffs tackles and both safeties are totally unsuited for deep coverage to the point where Michigan is trying to use Warren as some sort of hybrid CB/S just so they can run two-deep without a guaranteed touchdown, just a high chance of touchdown.

I guess I suggest we wait and hope things are better next year because eight guys returning should make up for the loss of Graham.

Heroes?

Brandon Graham.

Goats?

The slightly poorer set of folks not named Graham: Greg Robinson, Mike Williams, Jordan Kovacs, and pick a linebacker.

What does it mean for Illinois and the rest of the season?

Well, Brandon Graham is going to do an awful lot to stop opposition offenses and he needs some help. Kovacs as a deep safety (oddly, in Michigan's system this is the "strong" safety) doesn't work, Williams as a deep safety doesn't work, Floyd as a cornerback doesn't work, Michigan has two Big Ten level secondary members and guys who might not start for a good MAC team elsewhere. There is no hope for that the rest of the season.

I've given up on the linebackers, and it sounds like the coaches are getting there, too. The line is actually pretty good, non-Graham off day against Penn State nonwithstanding.

Upon Further Review: Offense vs Delaware State

By Brian — October 22nd, 2009 at 2:15 PM — 25 comments
Filed under:

Personnel notes: Everyone gets in. One correction from Monday's game column: the second-string center in this game was Tim McAvoy, not Rocko Khoury.

Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
O45 1 10 Shotgun 2-back 2 0 3 Nickel Run Zone read stretch Shaw 2
Moosman(-1) beaten down the line, partially because Schilling didn't stay to help any; a cutback is not possible with the backside DE crashing down and Shaw ends up plowing into the guy Moosman is escorting down the line, falling forward for a couple.
O43 2 8 Shotgun 2-back 2 0 3 Nickel Pass Rollout hitch Mathews 14
Wide open to the point where this five yard hitch can get turned up for nine more. (CA, 3, protection 1/1)
O29 1 10 I-Form 3-wide 2 0 3 Base 4-4 Run Inside zone Shaw 2
Huyge(-1) driven back by the DSU DT right into the path of Shaw, who slows up as a result, actually impacting the DT a yard in the backfield. He cant make a one-armed tackle, though, and Shaw squirts outside where an unblocked linebacker grabs him by the feet.
O27 2 8 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Bubble screen Odoms 25
Extremely open with the DSU LB lined up a good two yards inside of Odoms and slow to react to the bubble. He watches the exchange, only getting out on Odoms when Forcier pulls up to throw, by which point it's way too late. Despite the CB forcing the play inside Odoms can zip between him and the LB all the way down to the 1. (CA, 3, screen)
O2 1 G I-Form Big 2 2 1 Goal line Run Iso Shaw 2
Yay we blew a I-AA team off the ball. Good YAC by Shaw, though.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 7-0, 12 min 1st Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M28 1 10 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run QB lead draw Robinson 7
This isn't that hard against a shifted line: kick the DE out, double the DT, shoot the RB at the linebacker right over the hole, and use Robinson's speed to pick up good yardage. Both guys blocking the playside DT peel off to attempt a block on a blitzing linebacker who's just running himself out of the play, allowing that guy to come off his block and tackle after 6-7.
M35 2 3 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone counter dive Shaw 8
Backside DE, who looks like a sixth grader, gets kicked out, one LB runs up for contain and the other gets blocked, and Shaw makes a sharp cut into the hole we all know and love. Linebackers do recover to hold it down a bit.
M43 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run QB zone stretch Robinson 20
This actually gets strung out pretty well by DSU, with the playside DE fighting off Ortmann's block and forcing Robinson wider than he'd like. By the time he cuts up there are three DSU guys in the area and apparently no room, but Robinson manages to squeeze through a hole that doesn't even appear to be there and breaks into the secondary.
O37 1 10 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Edge pitch Shaw 16
One deep safety and an outside corner playing ten yards off the line with an OLB over Grady-19. That guy makes the mistake of trying to go inside of Grady, giving up the edge, but this was to the wide side of the field and there was no support so even if he tries to fight through the Grady block he's probably not going to have much luck.
O21 1 10 Shotgun 2-back 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read stretch Smith 11
DSUs DTs are headed straight upfield. One is easily sealed by Schilling(+1) the other beats Moosman(-1), leaving that guy attempting to charge down Smith. He can't, and there's a bunch of room because a DE's been blown downfield and Grady kicked out the linebacker to that side. Smith can just run outside of the DT.
O10 1 G Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Power off tackle Robinson 4
Michigan doubles and down-blocks the playside DT, pulling Schilling around to act as a lead blocker as Smith heads outside. The double on the DT gets him blown off the ball but he eventually splits it, throwing Schilling to the ground and tackling Robinson after a moderate gain.
O6 2 G Shotgun 2-back TE 2 1 2 Base 4-3 Run Zone read stretch Smith 6
This one goes outside the tackle as a textbook scoop block from Dorrestein(+1) and Huyge(+1) seals the playside DE and gets Dorrestein out on the MLB. Both those guys get blocked, the OLB to the playside gets taken out by Grady, and it's a walk-in touchdown.
Drive Notes: Touchdown,14-0, 8 min 1st Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
O39 1 10 Shotgun trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Inside zone Shaw 11
DSU slanting into the play, driving Moosman and Ortmann back, getting playside of them and forcing a cutback. Ortmann does do a good job of sticking with the block and getting enough push to help with the cutback. The threat of Robinson holds one linebacker outside and he can't make a diving tackle from behind. Shaw spins through another tackle attempt and picks up good yardage.
O28 1 10 Shotgun trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run QB zone stretch Robinson 8
Excellent block by Moosman(+1) gets the playside DT sealed; Shaw sees the lane and cuts up inside to provide a block, which isn't great; Robinson hops behind it without losing much speed at all. He takes a hit from the DT, who's given up seven yards of field position, and the ball is raked free.
Drive Notes: Fumble, 21-0, 4 min 1st Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
O38 1 10 Shotgun 2-back 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Pass PA Deep Seam Grady 38
Play action fake sucks up the safety ridiculously and gives Grady huge room. Robinson finds him for the touchdown. The throw is short and if I hadn't seen Robinson leave a couple other balls like this short to poor effect I might give him credit for just making sure the ball is complete. I have, though, so I think he just underthrew it. It's not too bad, though, and it's a deep throw, so: (CA,3, protection 1/1)
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 28-0, 3 min 1st Q
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M13 1 10 Ace 1 2 2 Base 4-3 Run Zone stretch Smith 13
Playside DE steps inside, which allows Dorrestein to engage him and double with help from Huyge, blowing him way off the ball and giving Smith an easy lane to dart into. Webb kicks out another linebacker, turning it into first down yardage.
M26 1 10 Ace 1 2 2 Base 4-3 Run Zone stretch Smith 11
Moosman(+1) gets enough of the playside DT to provide a tough reach block; Smith darts up through a smallish crease between Moosman and Dorrestein. Webb and Huyge have second level blocks, leaving Smith one-on-one with a closing safety in a phonebooth; Smith lowers his shoulder and pops him, falling forward. Tough little guy.
M37 1 10 Shotgun 2TE Twins 1 2 2 Base 4-3 Run Inside zone Smith 8
This is where I think Smith has some top-end ability. The backside DSU DT has split a double and gotten playside of Dorrestein(-1), which should jam the play up. Smith just hops around the mess, hardly breaking stride or slowing, and manages to zip up through a hole before the unblocked backside DE can close it down. That change of direction is stellar.
M45 2 2 Ace 1 2 2 Base 4-3 Run Inside zone Smith 42
Virtual replay of the last play down to the backside DSU DT zipping inside and Smith smoothly cutting past it before the backside DE can react. This time a crushing downfield block by Webb(+1) has opened the corner and Smith is off to the races. He does not win the races. It's possible he's just tired. Look at this drive.
O17 1 10 Ace 1 2 2 Base 4-3 Penalty False start Schilling -5
Oops.
O22 1 15 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Rollout hitch Stonum 19
Corner to the side where the play is is headed for the parking lot, just amazingly far off the ball. Robinson's a tad late with the throw but it gets there and accurately; it's got some zip, too, allowing Stonum to turn it upfield in the cavernous space afforded and head for first and goal. (CA, 3, protection 1/1)
O3 1 G I-Form Twins 2 1 2 Base 4-3 Run Power off tackle Smith -1
Michigan breaks this bad boy out, as discussed yesterday, but to no effect because Smith does not get the playcall. He heads to the wrong side of Robinson, which makes for an awkward handoff, and runs right into the space the pulling guard vacated. Smith instantly pulled for Shaw.
O4 2 G I-Form 3-wide 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Pass Rollout cross Roundtree Inc
Great block by Grady on the edge to stone a blitzer as Michigan goes play action waggle. Robinson uses the time afforded by Grady to find Roundtree breaking open at the back of the endzone; the throw is a little behind and low, forcing Roundtree to go down and dig it out. Catchable, but unnecessarily difficult; Roundtree can't bring it in. (MA, 2, protection 2/2)
O4 3 G Shotgun trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run QB zone stretch Robinson 4
Robinson darts up in a crease between Dorrestein(+1) and lead blocker Shaw for a short touchdown. Rodriguez ticked at Shaw for something.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 35-0, 12 min 2nd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M40 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read stretch Grady 5
Schilling(-1) and Moosman(-1) fail to seal the playside DT on an attempted double, so Grady has little choice but to slam it up into him. They meet at the LOS, are joined by another Hornet, and Grady manages to grind forward for five yards.
M45 2 5 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run QB lead draw Robinson 9
Down-block double from Moosman and Huyge does get the playside DT blown out of this hole; Huyge(+1) then disconnects to take out one linebacker; Grady cracks the other. Robinson zips through the hole and ends up grinding a pile forward. Grady, okay, but man. When Robinson's doing that you've got issues.
O44 1 10 Ace 1 2 2 Base 4-3 Run Zone stretch Grady 9
Great cut block by Ortmann gets the backside DT to the ground and opens up a huge cutback lane as Koger blocks the WLB down the line and out of the hole and DSU flows too fast to the edge of the field. Grady cuts it behind, gets grabbed, and does his usual YAC thing.
O35 2 1 I-Form Twins 2 1 2 Base 4-3 Run Power off tackle Grady 7
Ortmann and Schilling down block and obliterate the playside DT; Koger kicks out the DE. Huyge pulls around but has no one to block because both DSU linebackers follow the FB outside. A filling safety brings Grady down.
O28 1 10 Ace 1 2 2 Base 4-3 Pass Waggle TE Post Webb 28
Play action fake again sucks up DSU almost wholly, leaving Webb in a sea of green wondering where everyone else is. He is Moeaki open. Robinson pulls up late and has a guy in his face, so the throw is harried and way way short. Coverage is so bad that it doesn't matter though. Robinson's problem on these is not seeing stuff fast enough, I think. (MA, 3, protection N/A)
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 42-0, 7 min 2nd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M17 1 10 I-Form 3-wide 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Run Iso Grady 26
Sheridan in. Okay: so. I've been half-assing it so far and now this is like 3/4ths assing it. Michigan runs a simple iso play that should be good for a few but for a corner shooting too far inside and letting Grady outside of the leverage, turning like four into a big play.
M43 1 10 I-Form 3-wide 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone stretch Moosman 6
Moosman(+1) seals away the playside DT and Schilling(+1) gets a very good second level block, springing Grady into the secondary. Quick fill from the safety and Grady's tendency to run right into filling safeties hold it down.
M49 2 4 I-Form 3-wide 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Run Iso Grady 5
Plowing ahead; decent filling from DSU holds it down, somewhat,
O46 1 10 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Hitch Stokes 9
Open, decent YAC. (CA, 3, protection 1/1)
O37 2 1 Shotgun trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Bubble screen Grady(19) 9
A crappy throw Grady has to dig out; Webb got beat to the outside here but Grady(+1) makes that guy miss and zips outside the interior pursuit for a good gain. (MA, 2, screen)
O28 1 10 Shotgun 2-back 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read stretch Smith 1
Huyge(-1) gets pushed into the backfield and basically defeated by the DSU DT, who's playing pretty well here. Smith can't run to the outside of him because the MLB has shot up through the gap developing between the playside guy and the DE, so he has to slow up, spinning through the MLB's arm tackle attempt and getting a yard out of nothing.
O27 2 9 Shotgun 2-back 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Pass PA deep hitch Savoy 20
Man, when Nick Sheridan surveys, finds nothing, starts rolling out, is pursued by a DE who can't catch him, and finds a wide open WR, you are not good. (CA+, 3, protection 1/1)
O7 1 G Shotgun 2-back 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read stretch Grady(24) 7
McColgan, the backup FB—where is Moundros?--whiffs on a blitzing LB, which gets him on on Grady; Grady makes him miss, then jukes another guy, then scores. See above about not good.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 49-0, 1 min 2nd Q. Last drive of half not charted. Shaw has a couple of nice runs. Charting stops here since the second team OL plays the entire second half. I'll chart certain plays of interest for the rest of the game.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M49 `1 10 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass PA TE cross Moore 16
Play action on which Brandon Moore just sort of drifts into a hole in the zone, making his first catch as a Wolverine. (CA, 3, protection 2/2)
O13 2 3 I-Form 3-wide 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Run Inside zone Smith 7
More top end savior faire from Smith; just grabbing this for the smooth cut again.
M8 1 10 I-Form 3-wide 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Run Outside zone Smith 15
Check the juke on the LB. Sweet.
M22 1 10 Shotgun trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read stretch Smith 35
McAvoy gets blown back but Smith makes the most of it, bouncing off the problems and zipping upfield thanks to a crushing block from Mealer.
M26 1 10 Ace 1 2 2 Base 4-3 Pass Hitch Stokes 10
CONESTRAVAGANZA I: Stokes runs a hitch route at the sticks that Cone finds, but he leaves it short and forces Stokes to dig it out. (MA, 2, protection 2/2) Called back because Stoke lined up on the LOS.
M22 2 16 Shotgun 2-back 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Pass Skinny post Savoy 19
CONESTRAVAGANZA II: straight dropback, Cone ZINGS it to a seriously covered Savoy over the outstretched arm of a linebacker. Dude is all over Savoy's back but he reels it in anyway. That's right: (DO, 2, protection 2/2)
M43 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 2 0 3 Base 4-3 Run Zone read stretch Cox 57
McAvoy gets a seal of sorts and Ferrara manages to get a charging linebacker, so there's a small crease that Cox explodes into, easily outrunning the DSU safety for a touchdown.
O49 1 10 Shotgun trips 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Bubble screen Reyes 4
CONE... okay he just throws a bubble. (CA, 3, screen)
O45 3 6 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Base 4-3 Pass Seam Reyes 39
CONESTRAVAGANZA III: Dang, man. Reyes runs a seam route past his LB cover guy, doesn't get much separation, and then Cone just drops it in as perfectly as you can. I'm not fudging this it all: (DO, 3, protection 2/2)

So, um, charts?

Charts!

(Hennechart legend; MA is "marginal", screen results are in parens.)

TATE FORCIER

Opponent DO CA MA IN BR TA BA PR
Western Michigan 2 14 1 2 1 2 - 3
Notre Dame 5 20 (6) 2 4 3 3 - 4
Eastern Michigan 1 8 (2) 1 1 (1) 1 4 (1) - -
Indiana 3 13 (3) 1 (1) 2 5 3 - 2
Michigan State 5 19 (3) 2 4 3 3 - 5
Iowa 1 8(1) 1 3 (2) 2 3 2 2
Delaware State - 2 (1) - - - - - -

DENARD ROBINSON

Opponent DO CA MA IN BR TA BA PR
Western Michigan - 1 1 1 2 - - -
Eastern Michigan - 1 1 (1) 2 (1) - - - -
Indiana - 1 1 (1) - - - - -
Michigan State - - - - - 2 - -
Iowa 1 2 - - 1 1 - -
Delaware State - 2 2 - - - - -

I'd love to see some Hennechart visualization of those babies.

Wait, why are you providing charts for this one but not the other one?

Offense has a number of defense-independent things. Did you throw the ball in the right place? To an open guy? Did said guy catch it? Etc. It's slightly useful to have the numbers. The defense numbers are not useful at all. 

Also, several readers threatened terrible things if I didn't provide this:

DAVID "FEBREZE" CONE, AKA CONER

Opponent DO CA MA IN BR TA BA PR
Delaware State 2 1 1 - - - - -

Dang, son, do work:

Receivers:

This Game Totals
Player 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3
Hemingway - - - - 3 - 1/2 7/7
Mathews - - - 1/1 7 1/4 1/2 7/7
Stonum - - - 1/1 2 1/3 3/4 10/10
Savoy - - 1/1 1/1 2 - 1/2 4/4
Odoms - - - 1/1 4 1/3 4/6 13/14
Grady-19 - - 1/1 1/1 2 - 2/2 9/12
Roundtree - - 0/1 - 3 - 1/3 -
Stokes - - 1/1 1/1 - - 1/1 1/1
Koger - - - - - 3/4 3/4 6/7
Webb - - - 1/1 1 - - 3/4
Minor - - - - - - - 1/1
Brown - - - - - 1/3 1/1 5/6
Shaw - - - - - - 0/1 -
Smith - - - - - - - -
Grady-24 - - - - - - - 1/1

Not exactly a hugely challenging game but they didn't screw up. Roundtree's incompletion was a borderline 1/2.

And a very teeny protection metric:

PROTECTION METRIC: 10/10.

As they say, nothing to see here.

Anything of note on this side of the ball?

Yeah, some stuff. It's a lot easier to pick out interesting plays against overmatched opponents when Michigan is running the ball lots. The good:

  • Vincent Smith showed top-end shiftiness and looks like he'll be a solid back. I compared him to Mike Hart on Monday, and think that remains a pretty good comparison. He's also got a little Noel Devine in him; the way he darts through crevices and effortlessly shifts around traffic is reminiscent of the WVU star. He appears to lack Devine's fifth—or eighth—gear, but he's delivered more pop to defenders in one game than Devine has in three years. He'll be something less than a star but he can be very productive.
  • Denard Robinson completed some passes yay.
  • And, of course: CONER.

The bad:

  • Robinson left both touchdown passes well short. Against other teams those may have been incompletions or worse. He also left a ball to Robinson well short, turning an easy touchdown into a drop. He didn't do much to dispel the idea of him as a one-trick pony. Pretty good trick, though.
  • I was a little bothered by how often Delaware State DTs, especially #95 Tyron Hurst, beat Michigan OL on stretch blocking, forcing those smooth backside cuts from Smith. Part of that could be Michigan being very predictable and DSU selling out to contain the stretch, but I didn't think the interior OL had a great day.

Heroes?

Everyone.

Goats?

Dude. 63 points, why ask that question?

I always ask it.

Yeah, well, maybe you need to re-evaluate your life some.

Don't go all sanctionious on me here. We've had enough of that for one week.

Fine, fine.

What does it mean for Penn State, and the future?

Not much other than the tailback position should be in good hands for the next few years.

Upon Further Review: Defense vs Delaware State

By Brian — October 22nd, 2009 at 10:45 AM — 53 comments
Filed under:

Personnel notes: Um, well, there were a lot of them. The most interesting things from my perspective: Sagesse reclaimed his spot as the backup NT, and Kovacs was the deep safety whenever Michigan went to eight-man fronts, which was frequently. Kenny Demens and Brandon Smith didn't even see the field, IIRC. And James Rogers moved to corner.

On with the very boring show:

Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
O5 1 10 Ace 4-4 under Run Dive Mouton -1
No one gets out on linebackers, leaving Mouton(+1) free to hit it up in the intended hole; Graham(+1) zips around two blockers to meet the Delawarian in the backfield; Roh there too.
O4 2 11 Shotgun 2-back twins 4-4 under Run Zone read stretch Roh 0
Roh(+1) flows down the line into the path of the tailback; Martin(+1) avoids a cut block and flows down the line to tackle on the cutback
O4 3 11 Shotgun 2-back twins 4-4 under Pass Screen Martin Inc
Martin spying on it and there to tackle immediately if its caught, but it isn't. (Cover +1)
Drive Notes: Punt, 0-0, 14 min 1st Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
O29 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 4-4 under Run Inside zone Graham 0
Martin(+1) slants past a guard, causing a cutback; Graham(+1) has also sliced past his blocker and tackles(+1) for no gain.
O29 2 10 Shotgun 4-wide 4-3 under split Run Inside zone Mouton 3
Linebackers flanked outside of the DL here, which I've seen before and will now attempt to deliniate as you see above. Same play as the last one; Graham(+0.5) again gets playside of his guy, causing a cutback. Mouton was blitzing, sees the handoff, and closes down on the cutback to tackle.
O32 3 7 Shotgun trips bunch 4-3 under Pass Hitch -- Inc
Quick three step drop finds a guy open for a few yards; it's dropped. Probably not a first down even if reeled in.
Drive Notes: Punt, 7-0, 10 min 1st Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
O20 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 4-4 under Pass Throwaway Martin Inc
Martin(+1, pressure +1) zips past the G and gets instant pressure on the QB; he responds by chucking a long, covered (+1) out route well OOB.
O20 2 10 Shotgun trips 4-3 under Pass Screen Heininger Inc
Heininger(+1) reads it and hangs back in the throwing lane; the QB turfs it in response.
O20 3 10 Shotgun 4-wide stacks 4-3 under Pass Out Warren 5
Complete, but well short of the first down and with no chance of getting one.
Drive Notes: Blocked punt, defensive TD, 21-0, 7 min 1st Q. Here it is, you sick bastards.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
O10 1 10 Shotgun 4-wide stacks 4-3 under split Run Draw Ezeh -2
Timing on this is really poor; develops super slow. Sagesse takes a double, as does RVB, leaving Ezeh(+1) wide open to read the play, shoot through a big hole, and tackle with help from Sagesse in the backfield.
O8 2 12 Shotgun trips Base 3-3-5 Run Inside zone Van Bergen 1
RVB is left unblocked and Sagesse(+0.5) cuts off the frontside so he can read the QB and close down on the handoff no problem. (Tackling +1)
O9 3 11 Shotgun trips Base 3-3-5 Pass Out Woolfolk 10
Am I going to give a minus here? I think so, actually. Woolfolk(-1) is play way far off of this, which means that this ten-yard throw could get turned up for the first down if it was more accurate. It's a marginal throw, though, and it pulls the receiver off his feet as he brings it in. (Cover -1)
Drive Notes: Punt, 21-0, 5 min 1st Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
O19 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 4-3 under Pass RB flat Heininger Inc
Heininger(+1) bats it down. Williams(+1, cover +1) was going to crush this for little or no gain anyway.
O19 2 10 Shotgun trips Base 3-3-5 Pass Out Williams Inc
Three-man rush and a short drop so no pressure(-1); receiver is just open at the sticks but cannot come down in bounds; Williams in good not great zone coverage.
O19 3 10 Shotgun 4-wide stacks 4-3 under split Pass Scramble Graham 6
Graham's(-0.5) pass rush move is to the inside and doesn't work; Ezeh is blitzing up the same lane. This induces a scramble from the QB, an unnecessary one, and gives him a lane to run up into. Williams(+0.5) tracks him down and tackles(+1)
Drive Notes: Punt, 3 min 1st Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
O24 1 10 Shotgun 2TE 4-4 under Run Zone read stretch Fitzgerald -1
Starting to rotate already, and hey, Fitzgerald(+1) does well here, reading the play and zipping up in a small crease that forms as Banks(+1) gets playside of his guy and into the backfield. DSU's ponderous tailback has to kick it outside, where there's help; game over, man.
O23 2 11 Shotgun 4-wide stacks 4-3 under Pass Out Mouton 3 (+15 pen)
A nothing play that's covered(+1) well; tackle made by mouton but he grabs the facemask, giving DSU its first first down.
O41 1 10 Shotgun empty 2TE 4-3 under Pass Out Brown Inc
Brown(+1) bats the pass down on a blitz (pressure +1); illegal formation declined.
O41 2 10 Shotgun 4-wide stacks 4-4 under Pass Bubble screen Warren 1
Warren(+1) shoots past the lazy, inept block attempt from the DSU WR out there and tackles(+1).
O42 3 9 Shotgun empty Base 3-3-5 Pass Sack Graham -5
Three-man rush but Graham(+2) comes tearing around the corner to sack.
Drive Notes: Punt, 28-0, 1 min 1st Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
O10 1 10 Shotgun trips 4-3 under Run Inside zone Van Bergen -2
Possibly more of an RB messup than a great play as Sagesse got blown back by a double team and there seemed like some possibility they could get some yards here. RVB(+1) does beat a guy into the backfield, causing a cutback into Roh and doom.
O8 2 12 Shotgun trips 4-3 under Pass Angle Williams 7 + 15 pen
Williams(-1, cover -1) gets bumped by a releasing TE, which opens up a little angle route under it that he's not close enough to to close on before the guy can rack up some YAC. He then misses a tackle and picks up another facemask call.
O32 1 10 Shotgun 2TE 4-4 under Pass Hitch Ezeh 12 (pen -15)
Simple hitch for five or so gets turned into more because Ezeh(-1, cover -1) is late reading and arriving, overrunning the play and letting a DSU TE zip up for eight more. A legit chop block call on DSU brings it back; Sagesse got the brunt.
O17 1 25 Shotgun trips 4-3 under Pass Angle Leach Inc
Same angle route they ran just two play ago; it goes through the RB's hands. Leach was coming up and this looked like a minimal gain. (Cover +1)
O17 2 25 Shotgun 3-wide 4-3 under Penalty Delay of game -- -5
Baby seal, no!
O12 2 30 Shotgun trips 4-3 under Pass Out Woolfolk 5
Two guys there, small gain, okay. (Cover +1)
O17 3 25 Shotgun 3-wide Base 3-3-5 Run QB draw -- 7
Give up and punt.
Drive Notes: Punt, 42-0, 9 min 2nd Q
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
O44 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 4-3 under Run Zone counter dive Graham 3
They us it against us! Sort of! They actually block Graham and use the pulling h-back on Mouton; a crease opens up as Graham(-1) got caught outside. Kovacs, unblocked, fills after a few.
O47 2 7 Shotgun 3-wide 4-3 under split Pass Out Jones 6
Teric Jones in for Woolfolk, as Woolfolk has tweaked his ankle. Jones gets run off but does close to tackle immediately on the catch, so, hey, not terrible.
M47 3 1 Shotgun 3-wide 4-3 under Pass Sack Graham -5
Graham(+1) avoids a lame cut attempt and after the quick throw is covered(+1) comes in to crush the QB.
Drive Notes: Punt, 42-0, 5 min 2nd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
M23 1 10 Shotgun 4-wide stacks 3-3-5 Stack Pass Corner -- 19
QB has plenty of time (pressure -1) and manages to thread a needle between Jones and Williams, hitting his WR a moment before he heads OOB. Um... good job, Hornets?
M4 1 G Shotgun 3-wide 4-3 under Pass Throwaway -- Inc
Plenty of time (pressure -1) but no one open, so a roll. Still no one open, still no one. Throws it away. (Cover +2)
M4 2 G Shotgun trips 4-3 under Pass Hitch Leach Inc
Leach comes on a good delayed blitz (+1, pressure +1) that gets to the QB, who attempts to throw it but ends up turfing it because he was hit as he threw. Coverage(+1) was good so that was probably for the best.
M4 3 G Shotgun trips 4-3 under Pass Dumpoff -- 0
Strange cut blocking ends up with a billion people chasing the QB, who can't find anyone (cover +1) and eventually dumps it to the RB, who is swarmed.
Drive Notes: FG(21), 49-3, EO1H. Charting stops. Certain second-half plays of interest are below.
Ln Dn Ds O Form D Form Type Play Player Yards
O36 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 4-3 under Pass Hitch Jones 11
Representative of Jones' play; plays off, doesn't make plays on the ball does tackle after the catch. Obviously needs work.
O38 3 1 Shotgun 2TE 4-4 under Run Inside zone Fitzgerald 0
Hey, this is pretty good from Fitzgerald(+1), who recognizes the play, finds a hole in the line, shoots through it, and tackles. Taking that opportunity represents some progress.
O49 1 10 Shotgun 2TE 4-4 under Pass Stop & Go Jones 42
No to pick on the guy, but the story of the second half on D is DSU just going at Jones again and again. I'm surprised he wasn't given a redshirt.
O22 1 10 Shotgun trips 4-3 under Run Zone read stretch Campbell 21
Freshman and all that sure but man Campbell just doesn't know what he's doing here. I'm down on the guy. I'm sorry if that makes me pessimistic.
O44 2 9 Shotgun 2TE Twins 4-4 under Run Zone read stretch Banks -4
Banks(+2) cuts under his blocker and bursts into the backfield to tackle.

So… about that.

Yeah. About that.

Is there anything at all you can draw from this performance?

No.

Nothing?

Well… I guess Brandon Graham is still awesome. Teric Jones got torn up by DSU, which isn't a surprise since he's a true freshman who was a tailback in high school and never saw a snap on defense. I'm shocked he's not redshirting. And Will Campbell was a primary reason Michigan got gashed on a zone stretch play late. I totally understand why he's a goal-line only guy right now. I know he's a true freshman and all that but I'm starting to get concerned he will not live up to the considerable hype. That would score one for ESPN's scouting service, BTW.

Other than that… no. There is nothing. I guess we know that Justin Turner is definitively redshirting.

Chart?

No.

What do you mean, "no"?

Man, there's no point. I only did the first half and the backups were in by then. Here's your chart.

dsu-graph

Heroes?

Um. Everyone.

Goats?

I guess if you want to pick on the freshman corner or something you can.

What does it mean for Penn State and beyond?

Absolutely nothing.

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