Hidden Yards For The Win
Or: Hail Zoltan and his other brother Darryl.
Let's ease some of Mr. Hinton's burden for Michigan's inevitable appearance in "Life on the Margins" after winning a game in which they were outgained by almost 100 yards and finished –1 in turnover margin.
Here's a big chunk of that yardage differential:
# | Player | No | Yds | Average | Ret Yds | Net Avg |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
41 | Zoltan Mesko | 7 | 337 | 48.1 | 11 | 46.6 |
12 | Chris Hagerup | 6 | 222 | 37 | 6 | 36 |
And here's another big chunk:
Team | KO Ret | Avg Start |
---|---|---|
Indiana | 6 | 30.3 |
Michigan | 8 | 35.9 |
Despite the minus in turnover differential, Michigan's average starting field position in the game was their 35.6. Indiana's was the 32.9*. The net there: 2.7 yards * 15 drives per team = 40.5 yards. Michigan's special teams eliminated a minus one in turnover differential and 40% of Indiana's yard advantage. And that doesn't take into account Zoltan pinning Indiana at their own two, causing them to chuck away a possession with run-run-pass-punt.
Even all that would still have been a loss but for the defense's ability to stiffen in the redzone. The D forced five field goal attempts, one of which was missed. The skin of their teeth, in charts.
(I suppose Michigan's last drive, which started on the Indiana 30 after the Warren interception, could be discounted since Michigan wasn't attempting to score, but then you're just having the special teams performance explain away a –2 in turnover margin, which is equally impressive.)
September 27th, 2009 at 1:30 PM ^
Stonum is playing like a difference maker in the kick return game. The importance of this cannot be overstated.
September 27th, 2009 at 3:30 PM ^
As we've seen, special teams and field position are a VERY important part to this game. It's about time that we found a good kick returner. I'll take getting the ball at our 30yd line over our 10yd line every time and Stonum is doing that for us right now.
September 27th, 2009 at 6:55 PM ^
Special teams has been outstanding this year. Any ideas why almost every punt return has resulted in a fair catch? Are we still a little afraid of botched punt returns just like those that plagued us all last year?
September 27th, 2009 at 7:46 PM ^
Maybe. But I think there are two other factors: one, if the kicks are short that makes it hard to return; two, I've noticed that Michigan for the first time in years is aggressively going after the punt - which I think is awesome, but that also means less blockers to impede the progress of the gunners.
September 28th, 2009 at 12:07 PM ^
sending two guys leaping up the middle behind the D-line on most FG attempts, which Michigan hasn't done since the days of Tripp Welborne and Vada Murray.
September 27th, 2009 at 7:42 PM ^
Hell, Stonum was routinely getting it out to the 40 vs Indiana. I kept waiting for him to break one all the way; he came close on a couple IIRC.
September 27th, 2009 at 1:35 PM ^
The pieces for this team are coming together quite with the exception of parts of the defense. Hopefully a capable replacement for Zoltan is found so we don't have to take a huge hit in that department next year.
September 27th, 2009 at 3:39 PM ^
but they kept it together... I really think they deserve a lot of credit for keeping Indiana out of the endzone while our offense was struggling... hopefully they will build on those stops.
September 27th, 2009 at 1:39 PM ^
Don't forget about the -30, or whatever, yards that were due to all those poor snaps. ARGH! I know snapping the ball is harder than it seems. But even still, how hard could it be? Put the ball in your QB's hands when he asks for it, not in his feet 2 seconds early.
September 27th, 2009 at 2:30 PM ^
I've seen way worse when a new center is pushed into duty with one week notice and those weren't offenses as complex as ours either. Plus the guy is coming back from a dislocated shoulder and he had to be taking serious pain every time he made contact. The snaps will get better with time, give Moosman a break.
September 27th, 2009 at 3:14 PM ^
two of the bad snaps weren't even really on Moosman. If center is coached to snap the ball when the defense jumps offsides (and it seems clear that he has been) then the QB needs to be aware of this possibility. Neither Tate nor Denard was expecting the early snap when it came.
Now granted, they didn't get the offsides call the second time, which basically resulted in a killed drive. Perhaps Moosman needs to be a little less trigger-happy on possible offsides plays. But I put part of this on either QB coaching or having young QBs who already have too much to think about -- I think the center is doing what he's been asked to do.
It was hard to tell on TV, but I think the last bad snap to Denard wasn't really that bad either -- it looked like it hit Denard in the shoulder, which granted is not perfect but should still be catchable for the QB.
None of which takes away from the massive contribution bad snaps made to lost yards on the margin - I'd estimate this number at -40 to -50 yards and two immediately stalled drives.
September 27th, 2009 at 6:11 PM ^
I doubt the center is coached to snap the ball to get an offsides call, especially in the shotgun, as the QB is checking with the sideline for the final read and not looking for an early snap.
September 27th, 2009 at 8:31 PM ^
To my non-football coaching mind, it seems like the defense could take advantage of that. All they need to do is jump across the line when the QB and everyone else looks over to the sideline, causing the center to snap early and, as we saw, cause a fumble/loss of yards.
September 27th, 2009 at 11:43 PM ^
Interesting point, but I think the fact that it happened at least twice yesterday shows Moosman probably did it on purpose. The center will also have to know what play they're checking too, so they may just tell him don't snap on offsides if the final play call isn't in.
September 27th, 2009 at 1:39 PM ^
How many yards rushing did we lose on the plethora of bad snaps? 50-60?
September 27th, 2009 at 1:56 PM ^
223 yards gained, 73 lost. I would guess 50-60 came from the bad snaps.
September 27th, 2009 at 1:46 PM ^
Was that interception a gift or correct call?
September 27th, 2009 at 2:01 PM ^
No question Warren had the ball first and last. See the great cell phone(!) pics at http://www.maizenbrew.com/
September 27th, 2009 at 4:11 PM ^
I like to think of it this way. Warren had the strength and presence of mind to wrestle the ball away as they fell to the ground. That's what made it possible for the refs to make the initial INT ruling. If the Indiana receiver had instead made a great play like Warren did, then they would have gotten the initial ruling, and it still would not have been overturned, and they would have been rewarded accordingly.
September 27th, 2009 at 5:05 PM ^
Question about the dual possession rule: Are the refs looking for who catches the ball first, or who has possession as a knee hits the ground? It looks like Warren catches it, but it's pretty ambiguous when they go down in the pile.
September 28th, 2009 at 8:30 AM ^
The maizenbrew photos don't really clear up a thing IMO. As the rule has been explained to me, as long as both players have their hands on the ball, it is a tie, and any tie goes to the offense and is not subject to interpretation. What happens after a knee goes down is irrelevant. All, the shots I've seen either show the IU players hands in the ball, or are inconclusive at best. We got lucky because that field ruling is not subject to being overturned. I think we would have stopped them in any case, but IMO it was a bad call.
September 27th, 2009 at 10:42 PM ^
The video evidence was inconclusive. I say who cares Michigan didn't make the call. UM got hosed on the PI against EMU. Unfortunately you win some in this game and you lose some. I hope Michigan is lucky more often than our opponents. I want good play from our guys too. Some gift come because Michigan is Michigan. It may not be fair, but that is apart of the mystique.
I'm not a Michael Jordan fan, but he got some really great calls go his way. The Cowboys, Packers, Patriots, Lakers, Celtics, UNC, UCLA, Duke etc. get some great calls. Hoosier Football isn't going to get those calls. Now Hoosier Basketball is another thing all together.
September 27th, 2009 at 2:31 PM ^
Again, your insightful analysis proves definitive.
Also, Jeebus thanks for the link to the RCMB message board (http://www.spartantailgate.com/forums/msu-red-cedar-message-board/40236…). That was like watching an episode of that Britney Spears reality show or Cops... you know its a train wreck, but you just can't turn away.
September 27th, 2009 at 3:12 PM ^
That message board thread is like watching an IM chat by the E. Lansing LARPers taking a break while one of their mothers makes grilled cheese sammiches on white bread with the crust cut off.
Here's secret webcam screengrab of the STG crew as they round up after their early supper:
September 27th, 2009 at 7:31 PM ^
Thank you. That was funny has heck. You can almost feel the pain as Forcier delivers and sends them spinning.
September 27th, 2009 at 2:37 PM ^
As in Aqua Teen Hunger Force's easter bunny?
September 27th, 2009 at 3:15 PM ^
Pretty sure that was a Newhart reference. Don't watch ATHF, so I don't know if it happens to be referencing the same.
September 27th, 2009 at 5:03 PM ^
Sounds like a references to Bloodhound Gang's "Right Turn Clyde":
http://www.lyricsondemand.com/b/bloodhoundganglyrics/turnclydelyrics.ht…
September 27th, 2009 at 5:23 PM ^
are references to Newhart.
September 27th, 2009 at 5:41 PM ^
Oh. Well, my knowledge of 2000s pop culture >> my knowledge of 1980s pop culture.
September 27th, 2009 at 4:45 PM ^
The Defense did a good job holding Indiana to those 4 field goals.
But, guess what, without this year's offense this game would have ended like too many did last year. We scored over 29 points only once last year (and that was a loss to Purdue).
September 27th, 2009 at 5:26 PM ^
did any one else notice the crotch grab by Van Bergen on IU's receiver as he and Warren battled for the ball? perhaps this also played a role in Warren ending up holding the ball?
September 27th, 2009 at 6:46 PM ^
Any news on Forcier and his shoulder? I heard he was in a sling. Just precautionary?
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