double a gap blitz

Previously in this series covering the 2010s: Favorite Blocks, QB-RB-WR, TE-FB-OL, Defensive Line, Linebacker, Secondary, Worst Calls, and Dumbest Plays so might as well do the flipside.

This post has a sponsor. Speaking of smart plays, if you’re lookin for a gift to celebrate dads or grads, Michigan Stadium Products makes stuff out of the original Michigan Stadium bench seats and Crisler Arena playing surface, like a pen with a COA signed by Cazzie Russell. MGoBlog readers enjoy a 10% discount on all purchases by using code DADGRAD20 through 6/15.

Take a closer look at the Victors Edition Stadium  pen, Stadium cuff links, Cazzie Edition Crisler pen, Crisler bottle opener (almost sold out!), and Michigan Stadium bracelet. Order in time for Father's Day and graduation gifts!

10. Martin and Van Bergen, Coaches at Large

2012 SUGAR BOWL

Football hmmm… [Eric Upchurch]

The press got word after the 2011 Ohio State game that senior DTs Ryan Van Bergen and Mike Martin had been given the green light by their coaches to make the line calls for each play, including when and how to stunt. That in itself wasn’t highly remarkable; the modern Michigan equivalent of RVB’s position, the Anchor, makes line calls for the defense today. The reason it goes down in the lore of these guys is they got so good at it.

They were also the two who lined up and dove into the A gaps to stop VT’s hurry-up 4th and 1 sneak, called the slant that got Frank Clark in to intercept a screen pass, and the slant that got Jake Ryan inside the tackle then chasing inside out on the ensuing rollouts. RVB was doing it on a broken foot too.

-Seth

[After THE JUMP: Glasgows be here]

Previously: The Offense, MSU's defense last year. MSU's defense in 2017

Resources: My charting, MSU game notes, MSU roster, CFBstats

Michigan State runs a…

Match quarters defense.

Yes, which…

I'm having deja vu. Did you copy this lede from last year's article?

You were going to say "which brings the corners down to play tight man off the snap while the safeties have to cover for aggressive linebackers, who are squeezed on the inside because the defensive line can play spread out."

Right and that funnels everything back into the murdertackles and the murderbacker and you get Bullough'd by whichever Bullough or Bullough-like object they have now--what's his name, Bachie.

So about that.

The Film: Illinois, because this was the only game they've played since...

Personnel: My diagram:

PDF Version, full-size version (or click on the image)

...star MLB Joe Bachie was suspended for the rest of the season for getting caught taking PEDs. To replace him they moved hybrid WLB Antjuan Simmons (+13/-5 vs the run, +0/-3 coverage) inside, and brought in sophomore HSP Noah Harvey (+12.5/-1, +0/-5 cov) for the hybrid role. Since smallish SAM Tyriq Thompson (+9/-2, +1/-3 cov) played that role some last year, there's a lot of hybrid DNA on the field now and it shows. MSU linebacker is a playmaker position and all of these guys made them, if in different ways. Simmons is a Khaleke-type athlete who can rocket into gaps but gets ejected if he meets a blocker. The SAM job of Tyriq Thompson, who earned a lot of his stars by making a couple of checks that got one of his teammates in free when Illinois audibled, operates more like our idea of an MLB now with Bachie out so Simmons can be more seek-and-destroy. That's all they get from Harvey, who surprised me with his high grade mostly from rocketing out into space against the WR screen game (and one near game-winning bat-down). Harvey is the LB who becomes a pure pass rusher on their dime package, whence he made me wonder a few times if that was Willekes.

Speaking of HSP DNA, that job previously belonged to the older brother of SS David Dowell (+2/-2, +4/-5 cov). Andrew is gone and David is now a solid strong safety except when he has to cover deep, since his mind is very run/short pass-oriented. FS Xavier Henderson (+4/-7, +3/-3 cov) is a work in progress who'll probably be a good one in a year or two.

Both safeties got big coverage dings for abandoning their posts when poor third CB and jam specialist Shakur Brown (+2/-1, +10/-6), just returned from an injury hiatus, got singled up with Josh Imatorbhebhe, the Illini's 5-star USC transfer, on such plays you remember as The Hail Mary That Didn't Have to Hail TD at the end of the half and 4th & 16. Brown splits time with both Boundary CB Josh Butler (+2/-3 cov), the dude who interfered on the 4th down, and Field CB Josiah Scott (+1/-1, +4/-1 cov), a rootin'-tootin' hard-hitting 2nd team all-B1G candidate. DB Tre Person (+0/-2, +3/-3 cov), whom you might remember from such plays as the long DPJ touchdown or the mansome Nico Collins catch last year, is now their nickel, still about 160, and still slow. Backup safeties Michael Dowell (+1/-1, -3 cov) and Jacob Slade (-2 cov) came in for the slot safety dime role, blitzing half the time.

The defensive line are the same guys since what, 2017? We'll just cover the three stars in the dangerman section. The younger brother Jacub Panasiuk (+2.5/-2.5), well you remember him trying to break Ruiz's knees last year and you're right: you hope the powers that be keep Michigan's players safe because MSU is the program that won't. His backup Drew Beesley didn't get much time but little brother comes off the field for a linebacker on passing downs. We did get a steady rotation of their next generation of DTs. Very large blue chip NT Naquan Jones (+2/-2) is a Bryan Mone type. Freshman DT Jacob Slade (+1/-5) didn't stand out to me until I tallied up his score and realized what little running game Illinois got came by washing Slade out with doubles.

[After THE JUMP: fam.]

SPONSOR NOTE: Reminder that Matt is hanging out at the Charity Tailgate at 327 East Hoover (if you were at the preseason MGoEvents this year and last it's the same place). There are food trucks, beer, televisions, a giant colorful bus, and it's right next to Revelli so the band will march past. Check it out.

When not tailgating Matt is also a person who will get you a mortgage right quick from the comfort of your own home. If you need one, he's the man, man.

FORMATION NOTES: Michigan ran an absolute ton of 2TE sets in this game, with fullbacks and third receivers barely making an appearance. MSU continued to be MSU, running a base 4-3 over on virtually all plays.

SUBSTITUTION NOTES: The usual at QB and on the OL, with Stueber getting the final mashing drive after JBB's injury scare. Higdon got the vast majority of RB snaps with Evans backing him up; Wilson got one snap.

Gentry and McKeon got most of the TE time, with Eubanks getting a fair number of 3 TE snaps and a few opportunities to replace the starters. Gentry and McKeon were out there almost the whole time.

Mason was again limited but able to get in a dozen or so snaps; Wangler had a couple cameos when Mason was at RB. Collins and DPJ got the bulk of outside WR snaps; Black got on the field briefly; Martin and Bell got their usual dozen or so snaps. Perry was the only slot.

[After THE JUMP: missed opportunities and a few taken ones]