Picture Pages: Not Quite Packaged Hitch
This space has seen epic amounts of bitching about Michigan's failure to check into easy plays that would get some yards and pressure a defense to the edge, but at least once in the Indiana game they did that in a fashion that still kind of baffles me. Michigan's driving to take a 21-7 lead and finds themselves with first and ten on the IU 24.
Michigan comes out in a shotgun with three wide; Indiana goes with the same response they did all day: two deep safeties and a hybrid space LB shaded over the slot.
To everyone on Michigan's offense other than Jeremy Gallon and Devin Gardner, this is going to be an inside zone. Gallon and Gardner are going to run a pop pass hitch, because they are spooky.
So. Presnap, Gardner starts scoping out the boundary corner. A lot of teams will blitz that guy to combat spread looks; Michigan's seen it frequently and hasn't had an answer. This is one, but I'm kind of at a loss to tell you how Michigan read it. Whatever Gardner's reading here is subtle.
He's making some sort of hand motion to Gallon here.
On the snap, Gardner takes a momentary glance back at that corner. This is an instant, and the guy hasn't had the time to indicate he's coming. He's not focused on Gallon, but a glance this quick could miss something there.
Gardner fakes a handoff; line run blocks, with Lewan getting a couple yards downfield eventually.
The CB now commits to his blitz; Gardner pops up and hits the open Gallon for a few yards.
Except Gallon is good, man, and Indiana's safety gets shook, turning seven yards into 17.
Video
Items of Interest
Pop pass FTW. For a team that seems to be allergic to quick presnap reads for its quarterback this is some advanced stuff. If the corner tips his blitz here that's a tendency I can't pick up; Michigan must have seen something in their prep, or Gardner just feels it. I looked at this a dozen times trying to figure out the exact thing that tipped Gardner and still bupkis. There was a time during my odyssey that I thought it was just a called play, but no, that hand motion Gardner makes before the snap (not the one for the snap, the little indicator to Gallon) seems like a one-to-one check.
Either way, this is a response to the corner blitzes that earlier in the year would wreck Michigan's rudimentary spread running game, which is good to see. Point Borges. It's also a short quick throw that gets an athletic guy in space, which pays off with ten extra yards.
Crouching Gallon, Hidden Yards. Man is Gallon good at this method of getting yards after the catch. He's built low to the ground and has a knack for taking a hit when he's bent low, which gets him under the defender and allows him to spin to keep his feet. The middle frame of the triptych above is the Hypothetical Gallon Statue in my mind: he's just dusted a defender and is sneaking his way for YAC.
This is not quite a packaged play. Everyone on the college football internet just thinks whatever Smart Football thinks, so a favorite topic these days are "packaged plays," which are run plays paired with a quick hot read the QB takes if a particular player (usually an OLB) crashes to the run. A lot of these end up looking like those PA spread passes up the seam. These plays feature an offense that runs a run play and a quarterback and WR who are given the option to abort.
Here Michigan aborts a run play, but it appears the call is made presnap, not post-snap. So not quite packaged. A close relative, certainly.
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:19 PM ^
Brian,
what does the safety do? The corner may not be tipping it, but if the safety begins to move down or roll over, it may have tipped Gardner off. Your second screen shot is too close to see that. Is that possible?
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:19 PM ^
But it's easier not to when you CB blitz from the boundary. That's what Indiana does, and because of the lack of room on that side the safety doesn't need to tip the blitz by rolling over the CB. In the video you see the safety pretty much lined up over an invisible TE to the boundary. His eyes are in the backfield and feet pretty much straight ahead. So I don't think the safety is tipping much. My guess is it's the DE.
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:17 PM ^
My assumption: The read isn't the corner at all. The read is the DE closest to Gallon. Pre-snap that DE is pretty tight to the OT, which is hinting that he will not be responsible for leverage because Fitz can probably beat him to the edge and he's relatively easy to scoop. He's essentially in a position to make it difficult for the OT to complete his blocking assignment on an inverted veer. Post snap: if the DE crashes inside it's either a CB blitz or a twist with the LB. Gallon's job is to read which it is and to attack the void. The check from Gardner is to make sure they are on the same page pre-snap, but my guess is that this is play has up to three potential routes for Gallon: square in, hitch, fade; depending on the defensive rotation. The check narrows the options to two.
For instance, say the safety toward Gallon starts walking straight up field. That rules out a CB blitz because he can't make up the ground and also indicates that he's probably filling the LB void, so Gallon will run a fade.
Safety stays back then Gallon reads the CB. If the CB crosses his face he runs a hitch (that initially looks like a fade as to not tip the play), if the CB doesn't, he runs a slant/quick square in to the void. But the key to this whole thing is noting that the DE isn't in a position to leverage this play. Whether the CB is actually blitzing or just setting the edge doesn't much matter, the goal of the route is just to find open grass, because pre-snap it's tipped that someone on that side will be responsible for setting that edge.
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:20 PM ^
Good catch on the DE.
But this throw happens so fast, with Gardner starting the play facing left, that there is no time for a read--Gardner had to know exactly where the ball was going at the snap. In my opinion. So I don't think Gallon has a read here.
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:30 PM ^
The read is the whole of the DE, CB, and safety pre-snap. From my reply to you below.
"One of the advantages of running routes compared to the extended hand off (which Gardner didn't read correctly earlier in the year) is that even if the defense does something to catch him off guard, this is just a quick back shoulder fade to Gallon. From the corner's pre-snap position, the CB will have to turn away from DG on Gallon's fade look, so that little back shoulder play should be open regardless. That may actually be the read. CB is tight and shaded inside. DE is lined a little inside. Safety is playing off and inside."
Quick back shoulder fade for 7 yards should be fairly easy work and they know they can run it because Indiana is up to something pre-snap to stop that inverted veer action. I would guess that before this Indiana ran a similar defense to stop the inverted veer. At some point Borges probably told the offense that this is their adjustment for that look, to check at the line, and run it. Because you see the LB and CB both flowing outside the OT and the backside LB trying to fill where DG would take an inverted veer.
October 23rd, 2013 at 2:36 PM ^
October 23rd, 2013 at 3:00 PM ^
Or I assume you mean inverted veer, but there isn't blocking for that. The blocking is for a read zone look. But, yes, I think if the pass isn't open then Gardner just follows his blocking after he makes the determination to throw it.
October 23rd, 2013 at 3:23 PM ^
October 23rd, 2013 at 4:24 PM ^
Another query: Could the RB be giving a verbal signal to Gardner (since he's right next to him) that the CB is blitzing? Like this perhaps: Gardner reads as you've said it before, and the hand signal is for Fitz as well, who keeps his eye on the CB. CB blitzes, Fitz calls out a signal, Gardner pulls and throws to Gallon. Could that be part of the equation or is the check to Gallon entirely determined pre-snap?
October 23rd, 2013 at 5:17 PM ^
Typically you don't want your RB making a read for your QB. Verbal calls in that situation are also difficult with mouth guards and lots of noise going on around you. It also seems much riskier for the person without the ball to be making the read; seems like that would result in bad things to happen when the guy with the ball can't really anticipate one way or another.
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:19 PM ^
With how fast Gardner throws this, it looks like there is no second option. If that corner bails, this is a pick-six.
Which suggests that the corner was blitzing the moment the run action appeared and Borges called a counter to that, because I don't think Gardner has time to read this after the snap. On the other hand, Fitz transitions into a pass-block stance immediately after the mesh, and it appears the two receivers to the left are running routes, so perhaps this is a quick dart that Devin can abort if he sees the corner sitting back.
But knowing how this season has gone, my guess is that this is something Borges prepared and gave Gardner with no second options. So Indiana must have been really consistent with the run blitz.
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:25 PM ^
Yes, the explanation would be that in this situation, Indiana has a strong tendency to blitz the corner rather than the linebacker. And you are right about how fast he throws this. There cannot be a read after the snap.
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:26 PM ^
Once near the end of the first half and then on the pop pass in OT (though that looks more like a designed play from what I can remember, but the first one did not).
Fitz adjusting to pass pro is likely just a natural thing, regardless if it's a package play, a pre-snap read, or a designed play. Don't receive the ball, be prepared to block. As far as the backside receivers, they'll attempt to run off their corners and likely try to get to a safety if they can if this is a run, so I'm not sure you can see much from their motion.
I do think you are correct in a way though. The design of the pop could be: if the CB isn't retreating, Gallon runs to open space and Gardner can see that. If CB quickly retreats, run the football.
One of the advantages of running routes compared to the extended hand off (which Gardner didn't read correctly earlier in the year) is that even if the defense does something to catch him off guard, this is just a quick back shoulder fade to Gallon. From the corner's pre-snap position, the CB will have to turn away from DG on Gallon's fade look, so that little back shoulder play should be open regardless. That may actually be the read. CB is tight and shaded inside. DE is lined a little inside. Safety is playing off.
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:39 PM ^
This has to be a sight read. If it wasn't, then Lewan wouldn't have released upfield the way he did. Technically he could get a flag for going downfield since the ball wasn't caught behind the line of scrimmage.
And Coyote makes a good point. The DE looks like the man to read. Because if the end is snuck inside on the tackle, that makes it way too easy for Gardner to get the edge on him.
EDIT: And looking again, I think that Gardner signals to Gallon to look for the hitch route because he thinks the corner may be blitzing. On the video, right after the snap he snaps his head to the right to look at the corner real quick to check him. Since the corner is crashing on the zone read, abort and throw the hitch.
EDITEDIT:On second thought, this has to be a presnap sight read... With the corner being the only man not tipping the play. The safety does take a few lateral steps towards Gallon presnap and Gardner is looking over there.
Whatever happened or whoever Gardner and Gallon read, the play is promising. It looks like they have the ability to check into a short pass play if the defense is going to give them a free play.
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:31 PM ^
Blind guess from a former player of sports, but maybe DGand JG have had a few convos about a "If I do this then you do this" type of thing in the face of whatever the coach says to do "If I do this then you do this."
I know I have done it and it doesn't make you any friends with the coach, but if it works he doesn't get THAT mad. It has to work though.
Also we only did this when we had a coach (whoended up being a great ) in his first year and was going to cost us a state title (our first) had we not done something, anything to get us back in the game.
Again, blind guess from anonymous board poster, but it looks a little like something of that nature with how quick the signal was from DG and how the line ran the complete wrong blocking for that type of play, etc.
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:37 PM ^
This is a case of the players doing something unbeknownst of Borges.
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:51 PM ^
If any of my coaches ever did what Borges did last week. I would have a players only meeting. Just sayin'
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:40 PM ^
Brian is correct in that this is absolutely not a package play, because you can't read it real time within the design of the play. A package play would have something like the slot receiver running a hitch route. Then if Indiana ran a scrape exchange, rather than keep the ball on the QB read, DG would keep and then throw the hitch to the slot over top of the exchange defender. Package plays are really just extensions on options. Technically the bubble attacked to the read option is a packaged play. This is pretty clearly a check or read outside the design of the play.
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:45 PM ^
Good thing we didn't called for illegal man down field. Lewan is trying to get to a backer when Devin hits Gallon 7 or 8 yards down field.
The tip could be the safety playing outside our Right OT which puts him in better position to cover Gallon, or it could be the stance and alignment of the corner. It had to be something the coaches spotted on film.
On a related note, let's just hope you didn't give Staee our secret hand gesture. j/k
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:46 PM ^
Seems like, maybe perhaps, there is more going on with this offense than the bashing last week.
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:50 PM ^
The fact that our offense can do these things and put up 63 points with record yardage (level of competition caveats apply) makes things WORSE for Borges, not better. Now I don't want him fired, I just want to hit him with a sledgehammer.
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:51 PM ^
Are you suggesting that pounding Fitz into the line 27 times was just to set up Indiana?
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:59 PM ^
Not just you or the person above you, but the person you're replying to again. The coversation, argument, whatever, is beyond annoying by now, from both sides.
October 23rd, 2013 at 2:02 PM ^
Have a pineapple covered slice of pizza and chillax. It's gonna be alright.
October 23rd, 2013 at 2:05 PM ^
This has repeat flame war written all over it. Some people just like unzipping and starting shit. Let's move on for the sake of blog quality.
October 23rd, 2013 at 2:15 PM ^
And that's all I have to say about that.
October 23rd, 2013 at 3:02 PM ^
Give Al credit when credit is due (in moderation). Give Al criticism when criticism is due (in moderation). Last week was not in moderation and was basically MGoMob. The guy is dealing with a QB that has wave amplitudes much greater than Dennard did and I am betting is calling plays to try and hedge/accomodate what he sees constantly at practice or anticipating what the issue of the game may be.
Is every poster here now starting a career as a guest analyst for some other posters' new blog?
October 23rd, 2013 at 5:12 PM ^
Well said. It's beyond annoying. I get pissed when my wife keeps bringing up crap from the past. This is reaching that level.
October 23rd, 2013 at 2:10 PM ^
"He's built low to the ground"
No he's not! He's, uh, 5' 9"!
October 23rd, 2013 at 2:31 PM ^
Correction: He's 5'8" but he plays like he's 5'9".
October 23rd, 2013 at 2:31 PM ^
I'll throw my 2-cents in here: To me this is how the defense lines up as a whole. They line up showing a cover-2 zone with all the DB's eyes in the backfield. This would mean that the safety to the boundary side has help agianst Gallon. Since the offense has lined up isolating the boundary (no TE or slot), that would mean that the boundary corner should be in man-coverage. He cheats up, showing man-press, except that his eyes are still in the backfield instead of on the receiver he would normally be jamming. I think this is what tips off Gardner that the CB is trying to be sneaky by showing a check to press with safety help but he's still looking in the backfield. That's just my guess though since I don't have any football experience outside of intramurals and Madden.
October 23rd, 2013 at 2:44 PM ^
It is Cover 2 and corner has help over top with the safety. However, as a C2 corner, you typically try to force an INSIDE release from the WR so the safety doesn't have as far to go to cover the deep outside route. The corner in the picture is lined up inside Gallon. That's why I think his alignment is the tip.
October 23rd, 2013 at 2:46 PM ^
That is true as well and I hadn't thought of it that way.
October 23rd, 2013 at 3:14 PM ^
I'm not an analyst like it appears everyone else here is, so I'm not going to even try to really analyze what went on here except to suggest that perhaps this was a call from the sideline that Gardner could make not just if that corner looked like he was blitizing but if the rest of the defense seemed poised to flow against the supposed run. I mean, the LB at the top started to flow toward that side of the formation at the snap as well, leaving Jackson(?) open for a similar completion had Gardner looked that way. The hand signal may have simply been Gardner telling Gallon he was going that direction, but I could definitely have seen a similar pass being thrown at the top as well.
That all said, this feels like Borges partially responding to tendencies he is seeing (which is good) and IU being so bad on defense that they tip their behavior so obviously that anyone could counter them. I mean, I know people are saying that the corner wasn't giving away his intent at the snap, but this is still an outfit that left Jeremy Gallon 20 yards open after he had recorded 300 yards on the day. Me thinks there might be a lot of problems on that defense that were exploited, one of which might be tipping plays. Now, if Borges and co. pull this type of nuanced response against MSU or Iowa, then count me in as a believer.
October 23rd, 2013 at 10:01 PM ^
I think that this was a pass from the start. How Lewan got from the LT position to assist in blocking for Gallon is beyond my understanding but he must have been anticipating a quick pass from the start of the play.
October 24th, 2013 at 1:22 PM ^
October 24th, 2013 at 9:00 AM ^
October 24th, 2013 at 10:27 AM ^
Do people honestly think Gardner and Gallon are going rogue because they think they know how to run a better offense than Borges? Is that what some people seriously implying/saying? Good gravy man.
October 24th, 2013 at 11:56 AM ^
What's with the reality-based insights? It's so much more fun to imagine that real-life football is like something out of a Hollywood B-movie plot.
The correct answer is, "Yes, yes, I'm sure that Gallon and Gardner decided to ignore the coaches and ran their own play. And Hoke looked at them afterward on the sideline, rolled his eyes, and said, 'You guys!' and Borges gave them each a noogie after the game."
October 24th, 2013 at 1:51 PM ^
I think it's probably the only way this could have played out. Good point. The noogie was what sealed it for me, because I could see Borges totally doing something like that. Also, it ends with them doing the jump circle high five thing, which doesn't quite look right because Borges and Hoke aren't known for their high flying ups.
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