tru wilson

This is a decennial series covering Michigan's last ten years that were. We could have made an all-2010s team and published it when everyone else did, but how MGoBlog would that be? This time we're doing this as a staff since one guy could forget. Previously: The aughts: ESPN Images, Michigan's offense, Michigan's defense, Worst Plays of The Decade Part 1, Worst Plays Part 2, Best Plays Part I, Best Plays Part II.

We figured the best way to lead off Of the Decade 2020 is with the guys carving out a path. Ten is a nice round number so we'll go with top ten blocks thrown from 2010-2019. These are ranked by gut because the only number you can put on something like this is on the UFR scale. Points are arbitrarily awarded for:

• Defenders removed
• Meanness of block(s)
• General Splattitude
• Significance of moment
• Deservedness of recipient

Let us ruminate.

--------------------------------------

10. EATING OUT

Dealer: Vincent Smith
Recipient: Troy Stoudermire
Scene of the Crime: First drive of 2012 Minnesota

We'll start with a shorty. Friend of the blog Vincent Smith was the best pass-blocking back at Michigan since Hart, and if we wanted to, this whole article could be #2 flipping blitzers. But then there was the time he got to split out wide and face a Minnesota cornerback. This is a thing spread teams do all the time to unbalance a defense and reveal their coverage, and usually means the back's job is done for the play.

Obviously Vincent was told his job is to bury the corner to clear space for a quick out to Kwiatkowski  He very much obliged:

CLONK-O-METER:

• Defenders removed: 1
• Impact: 0/5. There was no throw because—ah 2012—Mealer and Barnum screwed up a stunt, and had there been one it was going to be PI.
• Meanness: 4/5. That's a cornerback man.
• Splattitude: 3/5. I'm sure he remembers this. Probably felt it all game.
• Karma: 0/5. Stoudermire holds the Big Ten record for kickoff return yardage, which he achieved before he was granted a 6th year. He was the only Big Ten-caliber player in the Gophers' back seven, had an injury history, was one of my many inspired late Draftageddon picks, and seems to be a good dude. Planting him like that was a dick move. (Not sorry)

[After THE JUMP: Pads recommended.]

SPONSOR NOTE: Upon Further Review is sponsored by HomeSure Lending and Matt Demorest. Rates are the lowest they've been in three years so it can't hurt to check whether you can save money on a refinance. Or you could buy a house in Ann Arbor! Good luck with that!

Matt's relocated the bus to Pioneer this year, BTW, and invites everyone to stop by and say hi. There's beer. I mean, obviously. Matt. Matt and beer: a good pairing.

FORMATION NOTES: Not a whole lot to note on Michigan's end. Michigan is going legitimately four-wide a lot more often. This is still mostly passing downs but previously there was a tight end on the field all the time; now you have some snaps with 4 WRs.

As for Indiana, you'll have to forgive this week "D form" column, as IU did a ton of late shifting and incessantly blitzed off the corner after lining up in slightly odd ways.

Hint: slot is blitzing, because it is a down. I threw up my hands a bit as the Hoosiers explored new ways to not quite stop Michigan's offense.

SUBSTITUTION NOTES: Patterson the whole way, usual Haskins/Charbonnet split at RB with Wilson coming in from time to time, mostly late. OL the usual, with Hayes getting the last drive and some bonus OL snaps.

McKeon got ~every snap that wasn't four-wide; Eubanks got in for a bit fewer than half the snaps.  Usual Collins/Bell/Black/DPJ rotation at WR with Sainristil poking through as #5; Jackson and Johnson both got a handful of snaps. Ditto Mason.

[After THE JUMP: bombs away]

SPONSOR NOTE: Upon Further Review is sponsored by HomeSure Lending and Matt Demorest. Rates are the lowest they've been in three years so it can't hurt to check whether you can save money on a refinance. Or you could buy a house in Ann Arbor! Good luck with that!

Matt's relocated the bus to Pioneer this year, BTW, and invites everyone to stop by and say hi. There's beer. I mean, obviously. Matt. Matt and beer: a good pairing.

FORMATION NOTES: Not much of note other than the occasional pistol formation and one I-Form Big on the goal line. Michigan did have a wildcat snap inside the five as well. About 60% of snaps had 2 TEs; the large majority of the rest were 3 WR formations.

Illinois mostly had a slightly shaded odd front:

This resulted in Michigan running a bunch of trap plays that didn't feel like traps, but more about that later.

SUBSTITUTION NOTES: QB/OL the usual except McCaffrey came in for the last three drives and Hayes got the last two. The deep backups didn't get in at all. Odd.

Haskins and Charbonnet again split the RB snaps down the middle until Wilson got in late-ish; Mason got a few snaps as a FB/TE and Turner got in for one meaningful snap and a few late.

At TE McKeon took back the starting spot, logging a ton of snaps; Eubanks got all the 2TE snaps, of which there were many. All and Schoonmaker got some time, with All getting in for the last two drives. At WR the usual rotation between Black/DPJ/Collins on the outside and Bell/Sainristil in the slot, with Bell getting some outside WR snaps. Jackson and Johnson made cameos.

[After THE JUMP: mediations on a trap]