The Vincent Smith TD
There is so much to digest...but one of the memories I will take from this game will be the Vincent Smith touchdown. From a coaching standpoint, it was such a great play. So well executed. Also Musberger mentions that it was a play that had been worked on in practice...says something about our OC's guts to come back to the screen.
We obviously ran a sloppy screen that was picked earlier in the game. To go back to it, late in the game was pure confidence in our teams ability to execute. Great setup rolling Denard out hard right. Caught Notre Dame with their pants down.
Also, let's not forget about Roundtree's pancake block that sealed the deal so Smith could get to the edge. I'm sure this play is going to get broken down, but the ability of Roundtree to stay in the game and free the corner open on a great receiver block says a lot about the kid.
I love this team. They battled till the end and never gave up. Hail.
September 11th, 2011 at 1:36 AM ^
Hail!
September 11th, 2011 at 1:36 AM ^
there was some horrible ND coverage and tackling that sealed the deal on that play - that one, perhaps over all others, will have ND fans cursing tomorrow in their sobriety.
also don't forget: South Bend is in Indiana. Where Payton Manning is out indefinitely. Double Whammy this weekend. Woot.
September 11th, 2011 at 2:27 AM ^
natives would be Bears fans, not Colts fans.
September 11th, 2011 at 5:05 AM ^
Not bad tackling, he just juked that guy
September 11th, 2011 at 10:19 AM ^
Yeah, but the "horrible coverage" is how the play was set up. Borges took advantage of ND's fear of Denard with a brilliantly executed screen. In a way, though, I have to agree with your inference that the coverage was above and beyond what the play should have produced.
It sorta reminded me of the "everybody go right and I'll take the ball left" plays you draw up on the sandlot when you are a kid. They usually don't work, but this one did.
September 11th, 2011 at 1:39 AM ^
Great play-call and execution all-around on that TD.
GO BLUE!!!
September 11th, 2011 at 1:41 AM ^
Beautifully designed and executed play... Vincent juked that ND player out of his jock and made a great run on it and his blockers were there. Highlight film quality stuff.
The screen to Mccolgan for the first down was another thing of beauty... a well designed screen is so fun to watch.
September 11th, 2011 at 1:51 AM ^
It's a good thing he's so shifty, because all three of the blocking linemen ran right by the first tackler and Vincent had to dodge him in the open field just to make it to the line of scrimmage.
September 11th, 2011 at 5:24 AM ^
great rps +2 or +3 call but you're right about those linemen. We had like 5 guys to block 3 defenders, and two of the linemen just whiffed. I think it was roundtree that made that play by sustaining his block.
September 11th, 2011 at 1:40 AM ^
It was a perfect play call with perfect execution by Denard and the offense. Denard threw a terrible ball on the screen in the first half and payed for it. He got it right the second time around. On a side note, Borges obviously didn't call a very good game in the first half. Sure, some of the blame should be put on Denard for that, but Borges was calling too many downfield passes IMO. Borges adjusted in the second half and played more to Denard's strengths.
September 11th, 2011 at 1:43 AM ^
well Denard wasnt hitting those throws in the first half and at least one was dropped...it was a matter of execution rather than scheme, at least in my humble opinion... for example that one play where Denard rolled towards the ND sideline, pulled up and tried to hit I think it was Hemingway cutting over the middle... shoulda been a big gainer... but D couldnt make that throw... to his credit he threw much better in the second half
September 11th, 2011 at 1:43 AM ^
well Denard wasnt hitting those throws in the first half and at least one was dropped...it was a matter of execution rather than scheme, at least in my humble opinion... for example that one play where Denard rolled towards the ND sideline, pulled up and tried to hit I think it was Hemingway cutting over the middle... shoulda been a big gainer... but D couldnt make that throw... to his credit he threw much better in the second half
September 11th, 2011 at 3:07 AM ^
i was at the game and the throw was perfect. Hemingway completely screwed up that route. he totally redeemed himself later but that play was on him.
September 11th, 2011 at 4:32 AM ^
you may be right...it did look like he didnt cut the route off sharply enough...good call
September 11th, 2011 at 1:41 AM ^
I was glad to see him get the chance to make a play. I think his toughness brings a lot to this team.
September 11th, 2011 at 1:42 AM ^
a lot of people around here give him a bad wrap or don't give him much love but the guy is just a total football player. He isnt the biggest or the fastest but he is always rock soild.
September 11th, 2011 at 7:49 PM ^
All he does is hang onto the ball and gain positive yardage.
September 11th, 2011 at 1:42 AM ^
Watching it live I felt like he did it without a block... still, a great play call
September 11th, 2011 at 1:50 AM ^
He did it with a badass block by Roundtree.
September 11th, 2011 at 7:05 AM ^
Smith made him miss, and had a big gain. Then he read Roundtree's beautiful block and that sprung him for the endzone.
September 11th, 2011 at 1:45 AM ^
I have been one of the loudest critics of SMith getting significant carries.
I have been proven wrong.
Smith stepped up big time. Also, notice that Denard got much better in the run game when Smith was in the game (as opposed to Shaw or Hopkins). Even when Smith didn't get it done in terms of rushing yards, he is an amazing blocker and picks up the blitxz really nicely. I was far less impressed with Shaw or HOpkins (who likes running into piles).
September 11th, 2011 at 2:14 AM ^
Check the tape on the blitz pickups and lead blocking for Denard. Kid was exactly what you'd want back there as a QB.
"5'6"? Fuck you, pay me. Too slight? Fuck you, pay me. Not boss enough to be feature back? Fuck you, pay me."
September 11th, 2011 at 1:55 PM ^
I haven't seen anything out of Smith that makes me think he should be getting more carries. I don't know why catching a screen pass makes him a more viable tailback.
Last night he was used as a third down back/receiver out of the backfield. He can play that role perfectly. But he's not a feature back.
September 11th, 2011 at 1:45 AM ^
Vincent Smith is like Mike Hart except fast! (at least on that play)
September 11th, 2011 at 1:47 AM ^
turned it from a nice play into a TD.
September 11th, 2011 at 1:50 AM ^
Thought they had him at the line of scrimmage but he squeezed between two tacklers. From then he sidestepped a diving player and got his block. Wonderful run by Smith. Need to get guys like that involved in plays like that.
Thought we did well not to let Teo utterly dominate the game. We often had him moving the wrong way or looking at the wrong guy. He still played well but not taking over.
September 11th, 2011 at 1:57 AM ^
Smith yet again proved to be the back the comes through at crunch-time, as both a runner and a blocker. I don't know what the hell happened to Shaw. Nobody explained why he played so sparingly.
September 11th, 2011 at 2:03 AM ^
That was a ballsy call to make but it was perfect. That whole defense was going to follow Denard there.
It ended up being not that well blocked from the linemen but Smith had a wonderful run and the reciever there had a great block (I think it was Roundtree?)
September 11th, 2011 at 2:35 AM ^
September 11th, 2011 at 2:37 AM ^
Idea why he wasn't playing over Hopkins earlier.
September 11th, 2011 at 6:47 AM ^
Manball?
September 11th, 2011 at 2:44 AM ^
Excellent play call at the perfect time, and a great job of blocking by all those involved. Smith will never be an every down back, but he has the perfect skill set of a great 3rd-down/scat back.
September 11th, 2011 at 2:53 AM ^
whatever whatever.
there is happy then there is me right now.
September 11th, 2011 at 4:39 AM ^
Absolutely the best offensive call of the game, IMHO.
September 11th, 2011 at 7:35 AM ^
Had V. Smith been 5-8/5-9 he would not have been able to squeeze between those tacklers or get past the outstrectched hand of Roy's soon to be pancaked defenders. I think our effort just trumped ND's on that play. Awesome call though especially after the first epic fail of a screen where Denard thought he was throwing the ball to Tim Hardaway Jr instead of our 5"6 180lb package of heart and effort
September 11th, 2011 at 9:38 AM ^
Smith showed the type of elusiveness we expected to see after his freshman year. He'll never be an every-down back, but those are the types of plays nobody else on the roster has shown an ability to make, and one of the more scintilating runs I can remember in recent UM history.
September 11th, 2011 at 10:58 AM ^
Agreed. I hope they play him a little more. Not for power runs, but whenever we need a back in space.
September 11th, 2011 at 9:58 AM ^
To call this play was great, but what really sets this up is Denard. With Borges calling so many rollouts with him, it set up the screen perfectly. Hats off to Vince, breaking those tackles was HUGE!
September 11th, 2011 at 11:02 AM ^
In addition to DR rolling out, the line blocked down if I remember correctly which also had the Defense fighting to get to DR...it all sold the play to the right. Loved it, this, after wanting to shoot Borges at halftime. :)
September 11th, 2011 at 1:44 PM ^
Was terrible on that play (with the exception of Tree's block), I couldn't believe he picked his way into the endzone from 20 yards out.
September 11th, 2011 at 3:01 PM ^
It was well-executed by Smith and Denard. The OL actually stunk on that play. Lewan flat-out whiffed on his guy. Whatever, we scored.