pass rush

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Substitution Notes: DT was 80% Smith + Jenkins, 40% Graham, 15% Grant, and the reason that adds up to >100% is lots of 5-2. Between that and Morris being out Harrell was on the field almost every snap until Okie replaced him in the 4th quarter. The distribution between Okie (27 snaps), Upshaw (26, including a handful at DT), D.Moore (22) and McGregor (22) felt even on non-situational downs. Linebacker was Barrett and Colson most of the time but Rolder got a drive and Mullings got two, coming in late when Colson got dinged. Paige only got two drives at safety—all at the expense of Moten—while R.Moore was a fixture. Sainristil came off only for 5-2s. Will Johnson got the most snaps of any CB, with almost as many for Turner and half as many for Green.

Formation Notes: Illinois used a lot of them but you've been watching Michigan since 2015 so you already know them all. Reminder that a hyphen is motion and a parenthetical means the position is covered.

[After THE JUMP: How to take it one game at two times.]

Substitution Notes: DT rotation featured lots of Graham in the 5-2, and plenty of Benny and Grant rotation even in the 1st Q. DE was Morris and a mix of (in order of snaps) Harrell, Upshaw, Okie, and a drive each for D.Moore and McGregor. LB was Colson and Barrett exclusively until garbage time. Will Johnson got starter snaps at CB with Turner, with Green rotating in for both. Safety was Moore and Moten, who gave up a couple of drives to Quinten Johnson. Here's the roster for the last drive for depth chart purposes: DL Grant, Benny, Rooks, Juice, and Guy. LBs Rolder and Velazquez except one snap for Mi.Pollard. CBs Ger.Green and Kechaun Harris. Perry (probably technically the nickel since it was 5-2 personnel) and Q-Jo at safety.

Formation Notes: Reminder that  a parenthetical in an offensive formation is a player covered, and a hyphen is motion. They often motioned WRs to backfield spots so I noted those with the player and then the position he motioned to, examples: "H-F" (slot receiver motions to fullback) or "Z-R" (flanker motions to running back). They also tried a lot of unbalanced formations. I used "TO" for tackle-over, which is when they flip a tackle and a TE, e.g. this is "Pistol FB TO".

Note the guy at the bottom of the formation is a TE and eligible receiver. I called Michigan's reply "46 Bear" but purists point out a Bear front means the nose and both guards are covered so this doesn't count. To me three DL to one side, three LBs to another and a safety (Moore on the top hash) at linebacker level like he's Doug "46" Plank is a 46 Bear.

[After THE JUMP: The shortest show yet.]

“The more you tighten your grip, Governor Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers.”  –Princess Leia

It is one of the easiest ways to sound like a knowledgeable football watcher: The pass rush is closing in. The receivers are all covered. Then suddenly the quarterback is running through air. “Contain!” you yell with appropriate obviousness to the people who obviously aren’t paying attention. “You must keep contain!”

CONTAIN

Contain is a concept put in every play design, a plan to be understood before every snap, and a mantra to keep in mind. “Contain” isn’t limited to pass rush; in fact it’s exactly what a Force Player is doing on any given run. Coaches don’t use this term so often—rather you’ll hear them talk about “lane integrity” or “leverage”.

GAP/LANE INTEGRITY

Before the snap, every play is a running play, because that’s where the ball is. No matter the defense, the defenders will have gap responsibilities, sometimes more than one.

GAPS: Are usually labeled A to whatever. Brown doesn’t go beyond D (which he defines as off a tight end’s butt). The A gaps are between the center and the guards. B gaps are between the guards and tackles. C gaps are between the tackles and whatever tight ends or backfield material exists.

[Hit THE JUMP to solve the mystery]