derrick green truck stick activated

FORMATION NOTES: Northwestern stuck to a 4-3 virtually the entire game, with pretty predictable rules as to how they would line up.

When Michigan aligned its strength to the short side of the field and had twins, NW would slide the LBs and play an even front. They would slide the LBs to the twins and shift their line to the strength of the formation when M aligned with their strength to the field.

When Michigan presented Ace, they would play a 4-3 under.

The primary exception to this was the redzone, where Northwestern played their safeties as extra LBs.

Five yards off the LOS and coming on the snap is why those two Derrick Green carries from around the ten ended up losing yards. The first one was actually blocked quite well.

Note that the way NW aligned consistently invited the bubble fake run game, as their corners played off and the slot LB had to respect the bubble. With a safety over the top those two guys removed three players from the box and left Michigan with seven on seven blocking opportunities without having to use the threat of Gardner's legs. It will still work if teams play Michigan like this; if they don't Michigan will have to find something else.

SUBSTITUTION NOTES: QB, WR, and the OL were all as you would expect. Dileo seemed to return full strength in this one and this meant Jackson was removed. Paskorz got some early PT but it was Williams most of the way as inline blocky guy. The line remained Lewan/Bosch/Glasgow/Magnuson/Schofield save for some goal line plays on which Kalis game in at RG and weird stuff happened otherwise, like wing TE Taylor Lewan.

Running back was of course an overhaul, with Derrick Green getting the bulk of the work, De'Veon Smith becoming a 30% second, and Justice Hayes acting as a third down back sometimes. Joe Kerridge also got a few snaps as a running back in the shotgun on passes.

[After THE JUMP: wherein we seem relatively happy with nine points in regulation.]

@MGoShoe @AceAnbender @mgoblog Is that GIF entitled "Pyhhric Victories in Run Support"?

— Bry Mac (@Bry_Mac) August 5, 2013

26 days until a Central Michigan safety discovers exactly what a "pyrrhic victory in run support" means. Presumably, BiSB will regret not using spellcheck much sooner than that.

[EDIT: As pointed out in the comments, the poor soul being steamrolled is not some random high school freshman, but 2013 3.5-star Virginia signee Malcolm Cook. Cook is listed at 6'1" (measurement presumably taken before the above) and 194 pounds. Lawd.]