Neck Sharpies: Reading Your Tight End Open Comment Count

Seth

In January I drew up two running plays from Harbaugh's masterful 1st quarter drive against Florida. In both plays Michigan found room to run despite the Gators scheming to attack inside runs, either by blitzing a linebacker or putting DTs in both "A" gaps (the gaps between the center and his guards).

Michigan also used its passing game to attack that defensive strategy, and true to Harbaugh, they did it with tight ends. Let's see how.

The setup:

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Rudock will call a play three plays in the huddle and pick one at the line. At that point Harbaugh quarterbacks will often decide where the ball is going by subtle things the defense does with its alignment. You can't trust a defense to attack the way they show, but they do betray some things. Apologies if this sounds like Dora (I work from home with a toddler, okay?!?) but can you spot what the defense is aligning for?

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1. That DT isn't in a standard 3-tech position. Both DTs are in a 2i, i.e. lined up on a guard's shoulder. Again, Florida is srsly about taking away those inside runs.

2. The LBs are squeezed in, more evidence that they're selling out against interior runs, which isn't so bad of an idea given Michigan's got Houma and Smith—two runners who do most of their damage going north-south—in the backfield. Guessing who's got what gap isn't easy since the MLB doesn't seem to have one. On the other hand the SAM I'm pointing at here isn't really in position to defend a quick-releasing TE. Meaning the safety to that side is engaged either in a zone or man coverage over there (i.e. not free to roam). Good to know.

3. The ends are both playing 6i, off their respective tight ends' inside shoulders. This suggests some defensive backs have edge responsibility, with the MLB a free hitter. This is suggesting a 9-man front. Perhaps those ends are expected to engage and delay the release of their tight ends, but it's doubtful either would have more than flat coverage against the TEs on a pass play; if those tight ends do release downfield those same edge defenders hangout out on the wings become pass defenders.

Considering the things Michigan wants to do with its offense, this seems pretty sound. Is it accurate though?

[After the jump: there's always a crack]

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What's Michigan Thinking?

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The routes are right out of Beating Zone 101: a "flood" or "levels" play that would stretch the zones of the 1st and 2nd levels to cover three guys. If you do catch zone at the very least you should get a dumpoff to the fullback in the flat.

But the play-action is its real beauty. They'll fake a wham run by doubling both DTs, have the FB slip the backside DE instead of whamming him, then block that backside guy with the RB.

Magnusson (78) is blocking down on a DT several gaps away from him. With Williams (84) releasing there's nobody blocking that DE. He gets upfield like a good boy but this "nobody is blocking me?" scenario is fishy. Is there a trap coming? Or a wham? He tries to engage the fullback, the most likely place one of those surprising blocks would come from, but Houma is gonna go right by him. Now he's watching the handoff and forming up to tackle Smith it's a handoff. By the time he knows it's not, Smith has an angle to cutblock him down.

The blocking's done its job, with a Smith-for-a-DL tradeoff that now means there's two blockers for either dangerous DT, and Cole on the last guy. If Michigan catches Florida in a zone Rudock need only read high-to-low to find the open man.

If they don't get zone, the outlet is the backside tight end: Butt, running a drag route through the teeth of the linebackers' coverage. Notably, Butt got an excellent release, shooting into the linebackers (as if he was blocking down) before the DE lined up on that shoulder can either delay him or get into Cole.

(We don't talk much about a receiver's release but this is a big deal, especially when running West Coast stuff where the QB's footwork and the receivers' routes are all tied together by timing. In this case it would create even more space between Butt and the CB responsible for him).

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What's Florida Thinking?

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Nothing fancy. The wider gaps are covered by the MLB and the WLB, and the DL are going to attack the "A" and "C" gaps aggressively. The SS and SAM both widened a bit as Houma (the fullback) had a short motion out. When Houma splits out to the flat the SAM follows him.

The MLB will see his gap threatened when Magnusson (78) blocks down on the guy over Kalis (67), and when his man blocks a guy, the MLB is already in his gap. Way too committed to drop into a zone now, the MLB attacks Rudock. Quarterbacks on their butts don't make throws.

But then linebackers who don't drop into coverage don't get to help in coverage. By responding to Magnusson's block-down and getting into his gap, his man—Smith—is getting a two-for-one, since the DE is blocked and the MLB is way too shallow to bother a shallow route.

Ultimately this springs Butt, since the CB with him in man has to pick through everybody (including the umpire) to keep up.

Video:

Slow-Motion:

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Things:

1. De'Veon Smith's progression as a blocker from 2014 to 2015 was vast. He did an excellent job against a difficult defender. That he can do that consistently is what allows Michigan to call the blocking as they did, selling a run fake with Magnusson's downblock. That he, and that Michigan's running game emerged as threats against base defenses like this, and that just last play he ran for 8 yards so giving up 4 here would mean a 1st down, helped convince the MLB commit to run defense (and then a delayed blitz).

2. Butt would be Rudock's fourth read if you're teaching a typical flood play with a TE drag route. However Rudock spotted the alignment of the safeties and the front, and therefore knew before the snap that he was likely to get Butt coming open underneath Williams. Harbaugh quarterbacks are taught to make lots of rather complicated pre-snap reads so that once the ball is snapped they don't have to think about much. Once the ball is snapped, Rudock can check to see if there's a bust on Chesson, catching the CB in man coverage and confirming his suspicions in the process. From there he can look at Butt crossing right in front of him and wait till he's clear of the WLB's zone.

Here is a quarterback finally getting confident, and an offense churning along against an excellent defense because of it.

3. Tight ends are cool, especially one with A+ receiver skills like Jake Butt. A spread zealot will look at the vast unused space to the field side, but having tight ends creates matchup problems by creating extra gaps with capable blockers. Here you've got Butt crashing through the linebackers' bubbles and big A.J. Williams trundling downfield. If those smaller defenders don't leap out of their way they could end up blocked very far from a place they could be of use.

Comments

Seth

February 17th, 2016 at 12:10 PM ^

Thank you. You can download the song (and others) here:

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These are my best friends; I lived with them and ran their merch table and went to all the shows planning to write a book about them one day. I also helped write lyrics (the song American History XXX, about various historical witch-hunts, has a lot of my lines in it.

Warships--the track I used on the video--was the best song live. My favorites are Ophelia (which is swimming with Shakespearan allusions as it tells the story of an old lady committing suicide), and Homeric Epic Exit Number Six, and not just because I played on it.

schreibee

February 17th, 2016 at 1:43 PM ^

Y'know the thing I've noticed about "actual football content"?

If this post was about any random HS player who had (possible) interest in Michigan - or was decommitting from elsewhere, and should we get in on him? - this post would have over 100 comments already.

I know this blog is the best, with the best content and generally the most informed and erudite readers, but even here people seem to think the actual game is recruiting, and trying to win that is the actual point of the entire endeavor!

So I thank Brian, Seth, Ace et al for putting content like this out which helps those of not already named Space Coyote see one single play and glean from it entire galaxies!

 

MN Go Blue

February 17th, 2016 at 3:48 PM ^

With a recruit it is easy for every fan to have an opinion and the tidal wave begins.  When I see an article like this I usually have very little to add.  A casual fan can't talk to the same extent about the finer points of football execution.   I love these types of articles, but I think there are far fewer people on the site that can contribute to a conversation about the breakdown of a play due to less knowledge about the subject.  

OC Alum91

February 17th, 2016 at 10:12 AM ^

1. The slow mo replay is great feature--helps one follow the play

2. Can't wait to see what O'Korn will do with the offense. Like Rudock, he is experienced, which I think will really help when he is tasked with recognizing which of 3 plays will work. I'm guessing the experienced quarterback with game experience has the distinct advantage, especially in Harbaugh's system.

schreibee

February 17th, 2016 at 1:12 PM ^

Here's one thing to be prepared for - at least early on - O'Korn will see Butt running free for an easy 1st down, but want to hold the ball a split sec longer to see if he can throw over the top to Chesson.

With the Mike bearing down on him I'm not sure he'd have had that extra half tic, so then he might try to elude him. Might work, might not, but the sure 1st down would be sacrificed to the desire for a home run.

Early on I'm saying. It's hard to remember after many of Rudock's late season games, but well into the season we were all like, "Whoa! This dude can't throw!" We won't be saying that with O'Korn. His superior physical gifts will make him take some chances Rudock simply wouldn't.

Then again, how different is 2015 if a) he hits Jehu with the bomb(s) vs Utah, and b) Perry doesn't slip down on the pick-6? Maybe Jake plays like late-season Rudock all season!

And maybe then we're far enough ahead of msu where the Blaketastrophe doesn't even matter!

I like revisioning things sometimes...

Space Coyote

February 17th, 2016 at 10:33 AM ^

If you're wondering the read that Rudock makes to get to Butt more quickly:

two-high safety: play flat route to corner route (high/low on the flat defender)

one-high safety: play flat route to drag route (in/out curl defender or beat man coverage)

To better differentiate the two coverage types, my guess is Rudock is simply reading the CB. If he runs with the WR or releases, then any two-high coverage (Cover 4) is essentially turning into a single high look based on coverage principles. So you can cheat a bit with the read without having to actually diagnos what the safeties are doing; this allows Rudock to get into his reads much quicker once turning from his run fake.

The Go route is what is called an Alert. It's not a typical part of the progression, it's either called in the huddle in certain situations in an effort to get a big play, or it's a throw that's made because the defense has a bust. Rudock will peek in that direction to see if he's wide open, and if not, immediately move off of him.

Salinger

February 17th, 2016 at 10:50 AM ^

Great information, both from Seth and Space Coyote. My question then is how much of this is Michigan eating Florida's lunch vs. breakdown on D by the Gators?



It sounds like this was Michigan getting inside Florida's head and feasting off their over aggressive tendencies but I'm just a novice when it comes to real film breakdown.

Space Coyote

February 17th, 2016 at 11:05 AM ^

And really any WCO. Seth talks about sprad coaches looking at all that space to the field and be sick because Harbaugh isn't using it, but this play is doing exactly that.

The vast majority of Harbaugh's run game is between the tackles, so he uses pass concepts like this to flood the space outside of the hash marks. While he doesn't space the whole play on one given play, he threatens all the space on the field with the play options that he has. So you get a defense that is attacking the run, particularly the interior run, and then you flood a zone where they are down defenders because they are trying to regain the numbers advantage on the inside.

So to answer your question... both. It's Michigan's base offense, it's eating Florida's lunch for their adjustments, but any defense should technically be able to defend anything, and in this case, Florida's defender gets caught with his eyes in the backfield (because Michigan is eating their lunch) and Butt busts wide open.

Kevin13

February 17th, 2016 at 11:16 AM ^

on his first read being the CB. On this play it looks like the defense is in a cover 2 man under. The CB takes the man down the sideline and Butt has an option route off the LB who is covering him. Once Jake sees the CB running downfield he looks for the TE option which is wide open.

Space Coyote

February 17th, 2016 at 11:21 AM ^

Assuming it's a quick drop, you're going to read if the CB is playing flat footed/forward or if he's retreating. If he's retreating, you can typically flood the underneath coverage before the defense can react (because it's a quick hitting play, in Cover 4, the OLB can't play both and the run quickly enough), if he's flat footed, you can potentially hit over the top (Cover 2 or Cover 6).

So that's a fairly standard read for this circumstance because the CBs technique essentially betrays the defense's coverage on any quick hitting throw.

Seth

February 17th, 2016 at 12:19 PM ^

I read it as a Cover 1 not man 2. Watch the CB to the field side. He cuts inside as soon as he sees Butt break his route in. Now watch the SS: he comes down to cover the seam, then takes Williams out. Meanwhile the WLB is sitting in a robber zone and won't abandon his running lane to chase Butt.

Sione's Flow

February 17th, 2016 at 11:34 AM ^

Just a question for those more in tune with officiating and play calling. Right before the snap Houma takes a couple of hops towards the sideline, could that be considered a false start?

Space Coyote

February 17th, 2016 at 11:41 AM ^

He's not simulating the start of the play (very sudden movement) and he's not moving forward, only laterally. So it's completely allowed.

In many I-Form systems, the FB getting out of his stance quickly and into his blocks is fundamental to the success of the play. That's why guys like Coach Carr (and many other coaches) have told FBs if they start leaning to the hole, just start taking a few lateral steps to prevent a false start.

More than that, it simply gives the offense a head start to the point of attack or edge that they otherwise wouldn't typically get, and it happens right before the snap to often times prevent the defense from adjusting to the added playside numbers.

Space Coyote

February 17th, 2016 at 1:35 PM ^

Cadence and repitition are parts of it. Voice inflection is a big part of it. Breaking tendencies is a big part of it (if you have a standard Hut HUTT... Hut, do Hut HUTT... Hut, Hut, particularly after audibles or checks). Then there are subtle movements by the QB and the Center. Henne was great at simulating the snap when he did checks, which got a lot of people to jump. I'm a bit more lenient with QB movement than center movement. This last season, a lot of centers got away with simulating the snap with head bobs and such, and to me, that's a bridge too far that needs to be addressed. But those are all parts of it, and centers don't get enough credit. 

DrewForBlue

February 17th, 2016 at 12:10 PM ^

Nope, not a false start.  Georgia Tech does this almost every play.  Not sure if it's the technique at this level, but a lot of defensive lineman are taught to watch the ball.  Any movement in the backfield or ends of the line should not cause a jump.

And I forget the game, but remember when Harbaugh went off on an official because the opposing center was simulating a snap before the ball was actually snapped?  He was jerking the ball and his body, but not snapping.  Someone will remember what game that was....

Maizerage11

February 17th, 2016 at 11:45 AM ^

I really enjoy posts like this.  I like learnign about the details of the game. I find it far more interesting then worrying about the SEC's "opinons", and guess what 17 year old kids are thinking.    Please keep them coming!

Mr. Yost

February 17th, 2016 at 12:08 PM ^

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CoachBP6

February 17th, 2016 at 12:30 PM ^

The Train route, the seam, the Hank route, and option routes are among my favorite ways to get good tight ends involved.

Best part about our TE Arsenal is each one offers a particular set of skills that Harbaugh will use masterfully to gut defenses in every way imaginable.

I can't wait to see how a defense goes about defending a package featuring Asiasi, Eubanks, and Bunting (or any combo of TE's) for that matter.




Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Space Coyote

February 17th, 2016 at 1:45 PM ^

A lot of playbooks have whichever side of the ball you're talking about on the bottom. So if you're discussing your offense, you're on the bottom, if you're discussing your defense, it's on the bottom.

I prefer the offense always on bottom because I find it easier to draw it up (this stems from when I was a kid, and I'd draw up an offensive play, then a defensive play to stop that play, then an offensive play to counter it, etc. etc.), but that's not the same for everyone. In fact, that's not normal outside of blogs, books, etc. Almost all actual football folk have whatever side of the ball you're on as the bottom.

Dick Lebeau's playbook (Steelers)

Nick Saban Playbook

michiganfanforlife

February 17th, 2016 at 3:51 PM ^

Love these play breakdowns. It is so exciting that we now have a schematic advantage as well as an influx of talent. This team will continue to improve and should be fun to watch this year. I can't wait to see it




Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

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