Upon Further Review 2012: Offense vs Alabama
Formation notes: Just the usual array of stuff. Mostly shotgun, etc.:
Nothing really jumped out.
Substitution notes: OL was steady until Lewan went out with a thankfully minor injury, at which point it went from Lewan-Barnum-Mealer-Omameh-Schofield to Schofield-Barnum-Mealer-Burzynski-Omameh. At TE, Moore went out early and it was mostly Kwiatkowski with Williams appearing in two-TE sets. Funchess got in very late.
WR starters were Roundtree, Gallon, Gardner. Jeremy Jackson and Dileo were the next most-frequent participants; Jerald Robinson got a little run. At RB, Smith and Rawls and only them. Only Hopkins at FB.
Show? Show.
[Note: I forgot about my RUN+/- separation, but got them for the run chart. I'm probably going to dump the extra confirmation since it's useless.]
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M22 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back | 2 | 0 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Pass | Deep slant | Gardner | Inc | |||||||||||||||
| Safety walks up on slot and Bama shows seven man front. Michigan goes play action at Gardner, who runs a deep slant after being given inside leverage. I think this is a crappy route that does not get the requisite separation because he just kind of drifts inside instead of cuts. Throw is accurate, Milliner makes a great play to break it up. (CA+, 0, protection 1/1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M22 | 2 | 10 | Shotgun trips TE | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel even | Pass | Flare | Smith | 9 | |||||||||||||||
| Gallon motions into a trips. Moore releases downfield, holding the corner in a little bit, Denard reads it and hits Smith on a little flare. Smith runs through an ankle tackle and nears the first down; gets a crappy spot. (CA, 3, protection 1/1, RPS +1, would like to RPS +half this but let's not get crazy) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M31 | 3 | 1 | I-Form Big | 2 | 1 | 2 | ??? | Run | Iso | Smith | 3 | |||||||||||||||
| Lewan(+0.5) and Kwiatkowksi(+0.5) combine to kick out the OLB; Barnum(+0.5) just does handle the playside DE, and Hopkins(+0.5) gets enough on his lead block to give Smith a gap. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RUN+: Lewan, Kwiatkowski, Hopkins, Barnum(0.5 all) | RUN-: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M34 | 1 | 10 | I-Form 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel even | Pass | Slant | Roundtree | Inc | |||||||||||||||
| Safety rolls up. Michigan repeats their first play with the same result. Milliner is all over Roundtree (in a legal way) and breaks it up. (CA, 0, protection 1/1). If this is in front of Roundtree more maybe there's a shot, but that's an NFL window. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M34 | 2 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back TE | 2 | 1 | 2 | Nickel even | Run | Inverted veer | Smith | -1 | |||||||||||||||
| Eight in the box with the safety rolled up; this is unbalanced so TE cannot go downfield. Michigan pulls Barnum and uses Hopkins as a lead blocker. Playside DE is inside of Hopkins, so if this is a read it's a give, but then why block the guy? (Because he blocked you.) Denard gives and Smith heads outside, but there's a free guy on the edge and he shuts it down. RPS -1. This is not the blocking's fault, it's Alabama defeating the play. Picture-paged. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M33 | 3 | 11 | Shotgun trips stack | 1 | 0 | 4 | Nickel even | Pass | Scramble | Robinson | 8 (Pen -15) | |||||||||||||||
| Alabama rushes three; Lewan(-3) gets beat one on one, ripping off the DE's helmet in the process for a 15-yard penalty. (PR, N/A, protection 0/3, Lewan -3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M18 | 3 | 26 | Shotgun trips tight bunch | 1 | 0 | 4 | Nickel even | Pass | Rollout corner | Roundtree | Inc | |||||||||||||||
| Borges actually gets Roundtree open at the sticks, but they let the backside guy go and he pressures Denard, who doesn't really have time to set and step into it. Ball sails. (IN, 0, protection ½, team -1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 0-0, 11 min 1st Q. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | |||||||||||||||
| M29 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back | 2 | 0 | 3 | Nickel even | Run | Inverted veer | Rawls | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| Alabama sends the corner down and plunges the DE inside. Denard reads that the DE is diving down and hands off. Corner nails Rawls. RPS -2. Also picture-paged. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RUN+: N/A | RUN-: N/A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M29 | 2 | 10 | Shogun 2-back tight | 2 | 0 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Pass | PA corner | Gallon | Inc | |||||||||||||||
| Corner pulls up on the short route, opening up a corner for about 15 yards. Denard misses; again, some token pressure on the edge seems to have spooked him. Just overthrew it. (IN, 1, protection 1/1) If Gallon was 6'2 he's got a good shot at this. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M29 | 3 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back | 2 | 0 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Penalty | 12 men | -- | 5 | |||||||||||||||
| yoooo deeeed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M34 | 3 | 5 | Shotgun trips | 1 | 0 | 4 | Nickel even | Pass | Fly | Gardner | Inc | |||||||||||||||
| Gardner gets a step but takes a weird gallop as he does so and drifts a step or so inside. Denard's throw is pretty good but Gardner's not getting there fast enough. He leaps and gets a hand on it, but that's it. (MA, 1, protection 2/2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 0-7, 6 min 1st Q. Yay 30 yard throw on third and medium. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | |||||||||||||||
| M24 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun trips | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3-4 nickel | Pass | Bubble screen | Gallon | 8 | |||||||||||||||
| Almost ceases being there on the snap as the LB to that side backs out closer to Gallon. Still not enough as Jackson(+1) hacks down the LB out there and Gallon(+1) turns it up quickly enough to burst past the LB despite being a yard or so inside the numbers. (CA, 3, screen) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RUN+: Gallon, Jackson | RUN-: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M32 | 2 | 2 | Shotgun 2-back | 2 | 0 | 3 | Nickel even | Run | Iso | Smith | 1 | |||||||||||||||
| Mealer(-1) leaves his block too early and Barnum can't keep the guy outside; he does okay. Omameh gets stalemated by the other DT, Schofield same, the end result is a big pile of dudes a yard past the LOS. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M33 | 3 | 1 | I-Form Big | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4-4 under | Run | Iso | Rawls | 2 | |||||||||||||||
| Barnum(+1) takes a DT who's trying to slant and buries him. Lewan(+0.5) prevents the guy he's got from coming under him, creating a crease. Two guys are coming up that crease; Hopkins(+0.5) submarines one and Rawls falls forward for the first. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M35 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4-3 even | Run | Sprint counter | Rawls | -2 (Pen -10) | |||||||||||||||
| One high with a seventh guy in the box. They run the sprint counter from last year (what is it a counter to, though?). Lewan pulls. Schofield(-1) gets chucked by the DE as Lewan nears; Lewan is now running directly into Schofield. Rawls(-2) still has an opportunity to just go straight upfield for a few yards. Instead he tries to bounce it, which works about as well as you might expect. Refs get Lewan for holding, which I don't see, and miss an obvious facemask on Rawls. Refs -3. Hoke said something about this being a BS call on Lewan, FWIW. BWS picture-paged. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M25 | 1 | 20 | I-Form twins | 2 | 1 | 2 | Base 3-4 | Pass | PA corner | Gardner | Inc | |||||||||||||||
| Bama does not care that we are running PA from the I. They're all over all three guys. Denard throws it at Gardner and does get it over the corner. It's also over Gardner. Could be IN but Robinson had no better options. (CA, 0, protection 2/2) Also, watch Gardner's route. He holds up. If he runs through the route this is a potential DO. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M25 | 2 | 20 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel even | Pass | PA fly | Roundtree | Int | |||||||||||||||
| Milliner chucks Roundtree OOB and intercepts. It's hard to tell but it certainly looks like this happened after the ball was released. Either way, this is a frustrating playcall. Second and twenty with Roundtree matched up against their best corner, let's have guys with free runs at Denard and see what happens. (BR, 0, protection N/A, RPS -1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Interception, 0-14, 2 min 1st Q. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | |||||||||||||||
| M26 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun trips TE | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Pass | Bubble screen | Gallon | 9 | |||||||||||||||
| Robinson actually double clutches this, which is bad, but it still works as the WRs come through. Roundtree(+1) puts a safety on the ground. Gardner does likewise, and then Roundtree gets another block that Gallon(+1) runs behind for good yardage. (CA, 3, screen) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RUN+: Roundtree, Gardner, Gallon | RUN-: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M35 | 2 | 1 | Shotgun 2-back | 2 | 0 | 3 | Nickel even | Pass | PA slant | Gallon | Inc | |||||||||||||||
| This one's actually open. Not sure if Gallon is more of a threat or it's just because this is not Milliner. Robinson misses somewhat, but this is catchable. Gallon doesn't catch it. (CA, 2, protection 1/1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M35 | 3 | 1 | Shotgun 2TE | 1 | 2 | 2 | Base 3-4 | Run | Speed option | Robinson | 3 | |||||||||||||||
| Smith flares out for a pitch but Denard is just running this one from the word go. Blocking is okay on the frontside except for Williams(-1), who gets beat. Schofield(+0.5) just manages to delay the backside pursuit and Denard(+1) hits a very small gap to convert. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M38 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back | 2 | 0 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Run | Iso | Smith | 2 | |||||||||||||||
| Running at the backside. There is a S containing Denard so he hands, but not sure this is really a read. Bubble open, but again these are not reads. Omameh(-1) lets his guy spin back to the hole. Schofield(-1) does as well. Hopkins blocks one LB; the other is there to help tackle. Possible that Smith could have cut to a backside hole if Schofield doesn't lose his block. RUN-: Schofield, Omameh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M40 | 2 | 8 | I-form twins | 2 | 1 | 2 | Base 3-4 | Run | Power off tackle | Smith | -2 | |||||||||||||||
| Schofield(-2) loses his guy on the backside of the play and he tackles. That's the easy stuff. Barnum(-1) loses his guy on a double, too, despite blocking down. I do like Hopkins(+1) blocking the stuffing out of a guy, may have gotten the edge. BWS picture-paged. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RUN+: Hopkins | RUN-: Schofield(3), Barnum | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M38 | 3 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel even | Pass | Fly | J. Robinson | Inc | |||||||||||||||
| It's third down so we throw it 30 yards. Alabama blitzes, sending six. Michigan picks it up. Robinson panics and chucks a back-foot throw when just scrambling out of the pocket probably puts him in epic space against man coverage. J. Robinson is blanketed, DB knocks it away. Pass was actually right on the money, but the coverage was superb. (CA, 0, protection 3/3) Where's the dig route? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 0-21, 13 min 2nd Q | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | |||||||||||||||
| M5 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun trips | 1 | 0 | 4 | Nickel even | Run | Inside zone | Smith | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| Bubble wide open, no threat of Denard, OL cannot get any push, Smith runs up the backs of his guys for nothing. Barnum(-1) pushed back. Smith(-1) could have run behind the double but did not. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M5 | 2 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 0 | 4 | Base 3-4 | Pass | Out | Jackson | 4 (Pen +5) | |||||||||||||||
| Late move to a seven man front. Safety comes down on Jackson, Denard throws the out accurately, instant tackle. Alabama offsides. (CA, 3, protection 1/1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M10 | 2 | 5 | Shotgun trips | 1 | 0 | 4 | Base 4-3 | Run | Inside zone | Smith | 2 | |||||||||||||||
| AAAAARGH. Anyway: hole almost forms. Barnum manages to get his body across the backside DT, but only with his back; that guy comes around. Omameh(-0.5) and Mealer(-0.5) can't kick the other DT and the narrow path is closed down by the guy coming around Barnum. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M12 | 3 | 3 | Shotgun trips | 1 | 0 | 4 | Nickel even | Pass | Flare | Smith | 2 | |||||||||||||||
| Denard makes a somewhat bad read on the LB and should go to Kwiatkowski underneath as the LB bugs out for the flat. He had a window. This is still complete and has a shot at the first so I won't BR it, but he could have done better. (CA, 3, protection 1/1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 0-24, 7 min 2nd Q | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | |||||||||||||||
| M2 | 1 | 10 | I-Form | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4-3 under | Pass | PA fly | Gardner | Inc | |||||||||||||||
| Plenty of time for Robinson as Michigan goes with just three guys in the route. Denard tries it deep to Gardner, who's covered again, but he has no other options. Pass is a tiny bit short but 40 yards downfield. Gardner has it in his hands; Milliner punches it out. (CA+, 1, protection 3/3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M2 | 2 | 10 | I-Form | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4-3 under | Run | Power off tackle | Rawls | 1 | |||||||||||||||
| Williams tears through Omameh(-2) and is right in the hole. Barnum ends up going outside of the Hopkins block as the playside LB comes in to spill power outside. Rawls goes inside. Barnum is not a factor on the LB, who tackles at the LOS. Not sure if this is a Rawls problem or a Barnum problem. I get why both of them did that. I'm guessing Rawls, but tenuous. RUN-: Omameh(2), Rawls | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M3 | 3 | 9 | Shotgun trips stack | 1 | 0 | 4 | Nickel even | Pass | Post | Gardner | Int | |||||||||||||||
| Denard throws it directly at a linebacker underneath the route. (BRX, 0, protection 2/2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Defensive TD, 0-31, 4 min 2nd Q | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | |||||||||||||||
| M25 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back | 2 | 0 | 3 | Nickel even | Run | Inside zone | Rawls | 3 | |||||||||||||||
| Okay crease but only okay. Omameh(+0.5) gets decent push on the nose, Mealer gets out to the LB, Barnum is eh on the other DT, and Rawls can fit in this gap until the LB sheds Mealer in a tight space. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M28 | 2 | 7 | Shotgun 2TE | 2 | 1 | 2 | Base 3-4 | Pass | PA stop and go | Gallon | 71 | |||||||||||||||
| Max pro again and Alabama is containing, so plenty of time. Denard can load up and fire deep to Gallon, who's the first M receiver to have an inch of separation all night. Denard hits Gallon right in stride at the 20; Gallon gets to the goal line before he can get tracked down. (DO, 2, protection 3/3), RPS +1. Why aren't we throwing at this corner instead of Milliner? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| O1 | 1 | G | Goal line | 2 | 2 | 1 | Goal line | Penalty | Illegal sub | -- | -5 | |||||||||||||||
| O6 | 1 | G | Shotgun 2TE | 1 | 2 | 2 | Goal line | Run | QB power | Robinson | 6 | |||||||||||||||
| Schofield(-2) gets beat by the backside DT as Omameh pulls.This guy gets into Omameh in the backfield and destroys his pull. LB in the hole now gets cut by Smith. Denard his headed outside where there is contain, which gets the Alabama DE to pull upfield. Denard(+2) changes direction in a flash, heading straight upfield. Omameh(+1) gets to the hole now and picks through Smith, blocking the guy he just cut. He blows the LB off the ball; Barnum(+1) does the same, and Denard can burrow behind those guys to fall into the endzone. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RUN+: Robinson(2), Barnum, Omameh | RUN-: Schofield | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Touchdown, 7-31, 2 min 2nd Q | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | |||||||||||||||
| M22 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun trips | 1 | 0 | 4 | Nickel even | Run | Inverted veer | Smith | 3 | |||||||||||||||
| Same stuff minus Hopkins. DE comes down, Denard hands off, Smith ends up on the edge against an unblocked guy as Dileo comes down on a linebacker and Jackson flares out on one of the three guys in M2M to the trips side. That leaves another guy, who tackles with help from that DE peeling back. RPS -1. No run plus minus, as there were no relevant blocks. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M25 | 2 | 7 | Ace 3-wide | 2 | 1 | 2 | Base 3-4 | Penalty | False start | Lewan | -5 | |||||||||||||||
| Der. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M20 | 2 | 12 | Shogun 2-back | 2 | 0 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Pass | PA quick seam | Dileo | 20 | |||||||||||||||
| Not sure if this is an iffy pass or an attempt to keep it away from the defender but knowing Denard it's probably the former. An easier catch would probably not have resulted in anything bad. Dileo spins 360 degrees, grabbing the ball halfway through, and keeps his feet for a nice gain past the Bama secondary. This a borderline 1 or 2; I'll give the one for keeping his feet. (MA, 1, protection 1/1, RPS +1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M40 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel even | Run | QB sweep | Robinson | 2 | |||||||||||||||
| Mealer and Omameh both pull. Kwiatkowski(+0.5) seals the playside end. Barnum(-1) gets out but his attempted cut is not effective; that LB gets up and gets outside, hitting near the LOS. Smith just ran into the secondary; would prefer it if he helped out here. At least this time we're asking them to beat a block. A great play by the LB here; if Smith had doubled down on this Denard is getting some yards. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M42 | 2 | 8 | Shotgun 2-back | 2 | 0 | 3 | Nickel even | Pass | Flare | Gallon | Inc | |||||||||||||||
| Michigan brings Gallon across the formation and then fakes a stretch(!) into the boundary(!) that fools the backside LB. Denard has Gallon wide open for quite a few yards and misses. (IN, 0, protection N/A, RPS +1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M42 | 3 | 8 | Shotgun trips stack TE | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel even | Pass | Scramble | Robinson | 5 | |||||||||||||||
| Michigan rolls to the field, right into a safety blitz. Smith can only chop one of them; other guy is right in Denard's face, forcing a scramble that doesn't get there. (PR, N/A, protection N/A, RPS -1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 7-31, 12 min 3rd Q | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | |||||||||||||||
| M35 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun trips | 1 | 0 | 4 | Nickel even | Run | Zone stretch | Rawls | 5 | |||||||||||||||
| Bubble is open as they've got two safeties back, but M runs. It's a stretch into the boundary, which is a little odd. Rawls(-1) misses the cutback lane behind the backside tackle that would have gotten him going NS against a DE trying to contain Robinson and only coming back later. He ends up bouncing off Omameh and going around to the outside, which somehow works. Lewan(+1) bludgeoned the DE there and Gardner(+1) spent a long time fending off a corner. Lucky, lucky. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M40 | 2 | 5 | Shotgun trips | 1 | 0 | 4 | Base 3-4 | Pass | Scramble | Robinson | 5 | |||||||||||||||
| Denard is looking at Jackson on a little slant at the sticks and decides against it... I think if he throws it on time it gets there but hard to tell. Instead he decides to take off and run for stuff. (SCR, N/A, protection 2/2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M45 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 4-wide | 1 | 0 | 4 | Nickel even | Run | QB inside zone | Robinson | 9 | |||||||||||||||
| Alabama slants under the line and blows up the blocking. Mealer(-1) is left in a heap, Lewan(-1) also falls to the ground as his guy gets inside of him, and Barnum(-1) releases to the second level without checking. Alabama's guys fall, too, which gives Denard(+3) an opportunity. He hops, then hops again outside; Schofield(+0.5) does a decent job maintaining his block and this gives Denard the edge. Once he's out there he uses a dodgy block from Gardner to get outside and jets for near first-down yardage. Standard bitching about lack of Denard. Musberger finally gets to tell us Usain Bolt story with 6 minutes left in the third quarter. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RUN+: Denard(3) | RUN-: Lewan, Mealer, Barnum | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| O46 | 2 | 1 | Shotgun 2-back | 2 | 0 | 3 | Nickel even | Run | Inside zone | Smith | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| Odd blocking here as AJ Williams goes backside into the gap just inside Lewan; Bama NT two-gaps on Barnum(-1) and when Smith picks the hole to the frontside comes off to tackle. Crappy read by Smith? I don't know. Don't know why you send a guy to the second level and not help on Williams here. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| O46 | 2 | 1 | Shotgun 2TE | 1 | 2 | 2 | Base 3-4 | Pass | Speed option | Rawls | -2 | |||||||||||||||
| Bama has everyone within a few yards of the LOS; Sunseri is deepest at eight. Michigan orbits Rawls and runs a speed option; they block it well enough but Sunseri is tearing like a bat out of hell for Rawls and plants him two yards in the backfield. Ingram Rawls is not. RPS -1; this probably gets the first down except for no deep safeties. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| O48 | 4 | 3 | Shotgun 2TE | 1 | 2 | 2 | Base 3-4 | Run | Broken play | Robinson | 2 | |||||||||||||||
| Robinson(-1) fumbles the snap, picks it up, and starts running around on a broken play. He gets tripped up, reaches for the first down, and doesn't quite make it. Overturn is correct. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Turnover on downs, 7-31, 4 min 3rd Q | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | |||||||||||||||
| M14 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel even | Run | Sprint counter | Smith | 1 | |||||||||||||||
| Schofield(-2) gets destroyed by the LB he's assigned to. That guy comes through the block and tackles Smith. Otherwise this is okay, though it's not fooling anyone. Since M never runs any plays that look like this but are not the counter, the counter action does not work. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M15 | 2 | 9 | Shotgun trips stack | 1 | 0 | 4 | Nickel even | Pass | Screen | Smith | Inc (Pen +15) | |||||||||||||||
| Blitzing LB is straight up the middle too fast. Denard is hit as he throws and the ball is behind Smith. (PR, 0, protection 0/1, RPS -1) M gets bailed out by the LB getting a hit on Denard's head. Very marginal call. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M30 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 2TE twins | 1 | 2 | 2 | Base 3-4 | Pass | PA fly | Gardner | Inc | |||||||||||||||
| Fake inside zone with Barnum pulling to the backside, which they don't do. Three guys go out, two going deep another sort of deep. No one is really open. Denard chucks it deep at Gardner, who has a shot at it before being tripped by the safety. They throw a flag, and then pick it up. [fumes] This was a fifty yard throw that beat bracketed coverage and was a yard inside the edge of the field. (DO, 0, protection 2/2). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M30 | 2 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back | 2 | 0 | 3 | Nickel even | Run | Zone stretch | Smith | 22 | |||||||||||||||
| Omameh(-1) can't get a cut or any control on the backside DT so Smith(+3) can't really find anything on the cutback despite Barnum(+1) and Mealer(+1) blowing the frontside guy almost to the sideline. That guy eventually splits the two and comes up on Smith, who miraculously hops outside and shoestrings the sideline for 22. Lewan(+0.5) and Hopkins(+0.5) had a hand in it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| O48 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun trips TE | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Run | QB power | Robinson | 4 | |||||||||||||||
| Alabama tips a huge blitz from the field with six guys at the line and no one within the two outside receivers except one guy eight yards downfield. Michigan runs at the boundary again. Kwiatkowski(-2) whiffs on the playside DE entirely, allowing him outside. He runs into Barnum, cuts off Smith, and forces Denard to cut up. Denard is into that hole before Omameh can get there, unblocked guys, tackle. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| O44 | 2 | 6 | Ace twins | 2 | 1 | 2 | Base 4-3 | Pass | PA Fly | Gardner | 44 | |||||||||||||||
| No pressure; Milliner looks back, gets his legs tangled up with Gardner, and goes down. Denard hits Gardner in stride for the TD. (DO, 2, protection 2/2.) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Touchdown, 14-34, EO3Q. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | |||||||||||||||
| M8 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back | 2 | 0 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Run | Iso | Smith | -1 | |||||||||||||||
| Nickel rolls down. I think this is an iso but it's hard to tell since the blocking gets blown up so hardcore. Mealer(-1) loses his guy into the gap Hopkins is attacking, and Barnum(-1) is stood up at the LOS. Smith goes away from the gap Hopkins did because there is no gap and unblocked guys tackle. RUN-: Mealer, Barnum | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M7 | 2 | 11 | I-Form twins | 2 | 1 | 2 | Base 3-4 | Pass | PA corner | Gallon | 19 | |||||||||||||||
| Unbalanced, Michigan goes PA, no one is buying it. Schofield(-1) is beaten but does manage to maintain contact and shove the guy who beat him past Denard, who sidesteps, sets up, and threads a dart to Gallon 20 yards downfield. Same throw he made to Gardner earlier except the WR didn't misjudge it. Tough play all around. (DO, 2, protection ½, Schofield -1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M26 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back | 2 | 0 | 3 | Nickel even | Run | Iso | Smith | 2 | |||||||||||||||
| They try the other side of the line. Omameh(-0.5) does better with his guy but can't really control him; Schofield(-1) cannot kick the DE. Those two guys converge to tackle as Smith passes the LOS. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M28 | 2 | 8 | I-Form | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4-3 under | Pass | PA fly | Roundtree | Inc | |||||||||||||||
| Everyone is bracketed, Denard chucks it deep to Roundtree, overthrown by five yards, almost intercepted. (BR, 0, protection 2/2, RPS -1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M28 | 3 | 8 | Shotgun 4-wide | 1 | 0 | 4 | Nickel even | Pass | Deep hitch | Gardner | Inc | |||||||||||||||
| Ugh, Musberger calls M and Alabama two of the great brands in college football. Shoot me. Mealer(-1) gets over aggressive on a stunt and a rusher slides through right up the middle. Smith takes him out, Denard gets squirrelly and chucks one over Gardner's head. (IN, 0, protection ½, Mealer -1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 14-34, 10 min 4th Q | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | DForm | Type | Play | Player | Yards | |||||||||||||||
| M35 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun trips | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel even | Pass | Rollout hitch | Roundtree | 5 | |||||||||||||||
| Short pitch and catch. (CA, 3, protection 1/1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M40 | 2 | 5 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel even | Pass | Slant | Roundtree | 7 | |||||||||||||||
| Milliner turns for three-deep and the slant opens up. Now just trying to bleed yards. (CA, 3, protection 1/1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M47 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel even | Pass | TE out | Kwiatkowski | 6 | |||||||||||||||
| Again open underneath as Alabama is playing off. (CA, 3, protection 1/1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| O47 | 2 | 4 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel even | Run | QB draw | Robinson | 1 | |||||||||||||||
| Omameh(-1) and Mealer(-1) fail to combo the NT at all. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| O48 | 3 | 3 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel even | Pass | Sack | -- | -6 | |||||||||||||||
| Schofield(-2) smoked; Burzynski(-2) fails to read a stunt and two guys converge on Robinson. (PR, N/A, protection 0/4, Burzynski -2, Schofield -2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 14-41, 4 min 4th Q. Final snap is a Bellomy INT and not charted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
YAAARGHFALARGH FALARGH FALRAGH
Which kind of YAAARGH FALARGH is this now?
There are multiple kinds of YAAARGH FALARGH?
Yes. There is the YAAARGH FALARGH that YAAARGHs about Denard getting about two carries in the first half and FALARGHs about the idea that fate has consigned us an offensive coordinator who can make delightful minute adjustments in a West Coast passing offense and a quarterback who can't run them that. Then there is the YAAARGH FALARGH that YAAARGHs about the idea that Rich Rodriguez might have some good ideas when it comes to offense and FALARGHs whenever this here guy points out that Borges is not an invincible superman.
Didn't Rich Rodriguez almost get West Virginia to a national title game?
Yeah.
And put up 48 against Oklahoma and 38 against Georgia in BCS games?
Yeah.
The former then.
An excellent choice.
BUT SIR I WOULD LIKE YOU TO PROVIDE AN IRRITATING DISCLAIMER FIRST
Like, oh my God. Alabama does that to everyone. It is virtually impossible to tell how Michigan will do against an earthly defense when this is basically the best defense since M 1997 minus some important guys and the guys replacing the important guys are dudes like DeMarcus Milliner, who is insane. Insaaaaaaaaaaane.
What happened Saturday may not have any bearing at all on what happens the rest of the year.
Okay, good UFR, let's go home.
Not so fast.
But I want to go home. You have no idea.
There are things to learn! Expectations to tweak!
I would rather not.
Scriven away, Bartleby, this is happening.
Not saying it.
CHART CHART CHART CHART CHART CHART CHART
[A reminder about what this means can be found in the UFR FAQ. Note that screens behind the LOS are in parens, so in the first half of 2011 Denard threw 66 balls labeled catchable, 54 downfield and 12 screens. The DSR metric is Dead On and Catchable balls divided by all throws not marked Marginal, Pressure, or Scramble.]
| Opponent | DO | CA | MA | IN | BR | TA | BA | PR | SCR | DSR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 through MSU | 13 | 66(12) | 11(1) | 34(1) | 17 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 4 | 55% |
| 2011 after MSU | 9 | 77(9) | 7 | 17 | 9 | 6(1) | 5(2) | 9 | 5 | 69% |
| Alabama | 4 | 15(2) | 1 | 4 | 3 | - | - | 3(1) | 1 | 71% |
Yeah.
lol wut
I know. A couple caveats: three of those CAs were late when Milliner had lost interest and a fourth was borderline on a slant that took Gallon off his feet (but was still very catchable), and one of the BRs was of course the BRX—the X stands for XTREME—on the pick six. On the other hand, I marked the Dileo seam an MA because it was behind the guy when you can make a case that he was keeping it away from the defender, and now I feel guilty for asserting that "knowing Denard" it had to be inaccurate. Blame on the first interception can be split between Denard, Borges (no other options), Roundtree, and possibly the refs. Call it a push.
In terms of accuracy, Denard had a good day. Maybe very good. Those first two slants are in the receiver's chest. The problem was that Milliner was also in said chests.
That kid is nasty, and Michigan's wide receivers could not get separation from him unless he fell down. Maybe there was a square foot in which the ball could be caught without Milliner making a play on it… maybe. I doubt it.
Sometimes when it looked like Denard missed, it was his receiver blowing the play. This deep corner looked like an overthrow live, but the replay shows that 1) ain't nobody open, really, and 2) despite that if Gardner does not first slow up and then misjudge the ball once it's in the air this is probably a fantastic completion:
Later in the game, Gallon would run the route correctly for a twenty-yard completion. Even when Denard chucked a back foot throw to Jerald Robinson thirty yards downfield on third and ten, it was right on the money. It was broken up by Milliner, of course, and I'm leery of him trying that again, but we're a results-based charting service.
And then you've got a couple of perfect deep completions plus a third that would have been if not for the Alabama safety coming over and tripping Gardner. He plain missed about as often as McCarron. The difference was in the defenses and the wideouts.
This was actually encouraging. Possibly really encouraging. I know, I know.
But the horrible horrible interceptions!
Yeah, we got the three NOOOO Denard throws: the two picks and a chuck-and-pray to a bracketed Roundtree that was five yards to long and almost intercepted. You'd like for Denard to find someone else, but on at least two of those there was no one else open. So then you'd like him to throw it away or RUN FOR THE LOVE OF GOD JUST RUN, but we're stuck with it, I guess.
This is a situation that, like all situations, may improve when you're not playing Alabama. Various YPAs from veteran QBs against Alabama the last couple years:
- Tyler Wilson, Arkansas: 5.3
- Clint Moseley, Auburn: 3.4
- Ryan Mallett, Arkansas: 9.4
- John Brantley, Florida: 6.5
- Kirk Cousins, MSU: 7.5
- Denard Robinson, M: 7.7
If Michigan's receivers were capable of getting separation—or Michigan had manufactured some with play action Denard—things would have been fine. If Robinson's accuracy continues against mortal defenses he'll have outstanding numbers and Borges will get a gold star.
What about Gardner?
Well, first, the receiverchart. I'll leave the season numbers blank because obviously.
[Passers are rated by catchability:
- 0: uncatchable
- 1: very tough
- 2: moderately tough
- 3: routine
The 0/X in all passes marked zero is implied.]
| Player | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gardner | 4 | 0/2 | 1/1 | ||||||
| Roundtree | 2 | 0/1 | 2/2 | ||||||
| Gallon | 1 | 0/1 | 2/3 | 1/1 | |||||
| J. Robinson | 1 | ||||||||
| Dileo | 1/1 | ||||||||
| Jackson | 1/1 | ||||||||
| Darboh | |||||||||
| Chesson | |||||||||
| Kwiatkowski | 1/1 | ||||||||
| Moore | |||||||||
| Funchess | |||||||||
| Williams | |||||||||
| Toussaint | |||||||||
| Smith | 2/2 | ||||||||
| Rawls |
So there's obviously a huge difference between the accuracy credited Denard above and the catch rankings above. Part of that is Milliner and other guys always covering everything. Part of that that I didn't adjust for crappy routes. This is supposed to be a hands measure. I can only hand-wave at the routes.
Anyway, a routine day in limited opportunities. Hands were fine, separation was not.
And Gardner?
Obviously looked very, very raw. The corner route above is evidence enough of that, and on the touchdown I don't think the 360-degree spin-around is a standard move. His routes suck, but he's a 6'4" guy who can leap out of the gym. We'll see how good that speed is against mortal teams. He should get better day by day; Michigan really needs him.
I wouldn't be surprised to see the freshmen as early as next week.
The run game.
Look away.
| Offensive Line | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | + | - | Total | Notes | |||||||||||||||
| Lewan | 2.5 | 1 | 1.5 | Above zero! | |||||||||||||||
| Barnum | 3.5 | 6 | -2.5 | Not above zero. | |||||||||||||||
| Mealer | 1 | 4.5 | -3.5 | Now a lot more worried about Molk transition after flip | |||||||||||||||
| Omameh | 1.5 | 7 | -5.5 | Blown up, but not a surprise | |||||||||||||||
| Schofield | 1 | 9 | -8 | woof | |||||||||||||||
| Kwiatkowski | 1 | 2 | -1 | Current nominal starter. | |||||||||||||||
| Moore | - | - | - | Injured early. | |||||||||||||||
| Williams | - | 1 | -1 | Hard to tell. | |||||||||||||||
| Funchess | - | - | - | One play. | |||||||||||||||
| TOTAL | 10.5 | 30.5 | 26% | All time worst. | |||||||||||||||
| Backs | |||||||||||||||||||
| Player | + | - | T | Notes | |||||||||||||||
| Robinson | 6 | 1 | 5 | I don't want to talk about it. | |||||||||||||||
| Bellomy | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
| Toussaint | - | - | - | DNP | |||||||||||||||
| Rawls | - | 4 | -4 | Pretty much Mark Ingram. | |||||||||||||||
| Smith | 3 | 1 | 2 | Basically the one sideline jaunt. | |||||||||||||||
| Hayes | - | - | - | DNP | |||||||||||||||
| Hopkins | 2.5 | - | 2.5 | Hard to judge since he rarely had a shot at going one on one | |||||||||||||||
| Kerridge | - | - | - | DNP | |||||||||||||||
| TOTAL | 11.5 | 6 | 5.5 | I don't want to talk about it. | |||||||||||||||
| Receivers | |||||||||||||||||||
| Player | + | - | T | Notes | |||||||||||||||
| Gardner | 1 | - | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Roundtree | 1 | - | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Gallon | 2 | - | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| Jackson | 1 | - | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Dileo | - | - | - | -- | |||||||||||||||
| J. Robinson | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
| Darboh | - | - | - | -- | |||||||||||||||
| TOTAL | 5 | - | 5 | omg bubble bubble bubble | |||||||||||||||
| Metrics | |||||||||||||||||||
| Player | + | - | T | Notes | |||||||||||||||
| Protection | 26 | 10 | 72% | Lewan –3, Team –2, Schofield –2, Mealer –1, Burzynski -2 | |||||||||||||||
| RPS | 4 | 9 | -5 | Not like it mattered but it didn't help. | |||||||||||||||
So that's the line getting annihilated and getting no plays from the runners save a couple from Denard. Let's not take any of this too seriously until next week.
Ugh, Rawls?
Yeah, for a north-south mooseback he had a case of the Shaws. Go upfield, young man.
Other running type things?
Fitz will obviously be a huge boost. Neither of the guys who got carries broke tackle one, both missed holes, neither juked guy one. I really, really want to reserve judgment on the offensive line until next week. They were straight-up destroyed; let's see what happens later in the season.
Borges said he didn't regret how little Denard ran, and that Alabama was doing stuff with its safeties that prevented Michigan from going with him.
I find that… unconvincing. For one, two of the three runs all night where someone made something despite the blocking being poor were from Denard:
(The other was Smith's 22-yarder.) For two, you can just call his number. There is nothing preventing you from doing that instead of handing off to Rawls or Smith. If you're going into the game thinking "don't get hurt!" why are you even playing it?
By the time Michigan was down a billion, okay, whatever, the next two quarters are an exhibition. If this happens in a critical Big Ten game that Michigan ends up losing, though, the torches and pitchforks will be out in force.
It's not about scheme!
That's the DeBord way to look at it. Players can get beat; so can coaches. Both played a factor in the loss. When you hand off and there's an unblocked guy waiting for you…
…the blocker isn't at fault. Because there isn't one. I'm not sure why Michigan thought they could get away with straight-up inverted veers against Saban nine months after they tore up OSU.
In a weird way, I'm actually encouraged about Borges long-term since his response to a defense that stacks the box is to throw at it. Once you get the receivers and the line and Morris in, that stuff is going to work, and we won't have to facepalm after yet another run into a stacked front on first and ten.
But it is about scheme, in addition to the players getting whipped. A failure that comprehensive touches everyone. E-fact.
Heroes?
Gallon. Maybe Denard? Sort of Denard.
Goats?
Even adjusting for level of competition the OL was very disappointing. While Lewan got off easiest in the run chart, he also got three penalties, two of them legit.
What does it mean for next week and the future?
God willing, nothing whatsoever.
A few things I'll be looking to confirm or disconfirm before Notre Dame:
- Is Denard way more accurate now?
- Will Denard be less interception-prone against humans?
- Is Schofield in trouble at tackle?
- Is Gardner a real actual receiver?
September 5th, 2012 at 6:15 PM ^
can do it.
September 6th, 2012 at 4:03 AM ^
You are just a dog in a manger.
September 5th, 2012 at 5:23 PM ^
I agree that Borges's rationale for running Denard (our only real chance of being competitive in that game) is bogus. He was very defensive in the press conference directing people to look at the stats on QBs trying to run on Alabama. But this is Denard. The reason he's being discussed as a potential heisman candidate is he is a special athlete. To sit him in the pocket and not exploit his best asset is a waste.
September 5th, 2012 at 6:14 PM ^
of being competetive in that game.
September 5th, 2012 at 7:59 PM ^
@BlueLobby,
You're obviously not understanding the concept of a progressive game plan -- not politically propressive obviously, but progressing from one focal point to the next. You can call it bogus all you like, but it is X's & O's 101 to pass to set up the run on a team intent upon stopping the run. If you think that Denard was going to have success running against Bama's base defense you're entitled to your opinion, but it defies conventional wisdom and practical experience. Denard is special, and he might have more success than someone else, but he's not THAT special -- and let's face facts, he's not a 220 lbs RB, and without him, our offense is pedestrian at best.
Sitting him the in pocket was not a waste of his best asset, it was an effort to SET UP his best asset for success, rather than failure. Why is that so hard to understand?
Bama's defensive dominance is based around their ability to take away what their opponent wants to do, and make them do something they don't really want to do. I understand that many a Michigan fan would have liked to see if, in fact, they could take away Denard running before going to the pass. But, I think Borges thought he might be able to catch Bama of guard a little bit by breaking tendency, and more importantly, that Denard was ready to take that leap. Even if he thought Denard wasn't 100% ready to execute that game plan, Borges knows that going forward the meat of the Big 10 schedule is going to use the same scheme to try to stop Denard, and to be sucessful in the conference season, Denard MUST develop the skills to do so. What better team to test if your QB is ready for the scheme that is going to be used to stop him than the best defense you're going to face all year?
I thought that Denard played a lot better than it appeared, and that Borges actually had a good plan, and this UFR confirms my contentions.
September 5th, 2012 at 11:57 PM ^
Sten, please continue to eviscerate those who are whining that Borges should have had Denard run. They didn't believe that Denard could pass, so Bama stacked the box. The only way to open up running lanes for Denard et al was to complete enough passes that they would have to stop stacking the line.
The UFR indicates that Denard can, in fact, pass. The problem is our receiving corps. Stonum, Hemingway, Braylon, Treadwell, even Gardner after several games of seasoning, would have changed things massively. I believe that with a couple great receivers, Denard would have been successful at passing, Alabama would have been forced to abandon their initial defense, and Denard would have been able to run. Of course, that didn't happen.
However, I am very optimistic about the rest of the year. In fact, I'd like to see tons of passes against the weaker teams, to give both Denard and our receivers the game experience needed to beat ND, MSU, Nebraska, and Ohio.
September 6th, 2012 at 6:29 AM ^
September 6th, 2012 at 9:53 AM ^
September 6th, 2012 at 12:34 PM ^
Actually the UFR also indicates that Denard can, in fact, run.
Do you need the UFR to tell you that Denard can run? Fer fuck sake, every DC in the nation knows that Denard can run. That's the whole point with structuring a offensive scheme to counter the defensive scheme designed, first and formost, to stop Denard from running.
September 5th, 2012 at 5:24 PM ^
After watching the game a second time, I had a feeling Denard would come out in the UFR better than expected in terms of passing. Alabama's coverage, particularly Milliner's, was exceptional. They were just in our receiver's hip pockets all night long. Even the passes that hit the receiver's outstretched hands where you thought only they could catch it some how got batted away as the defender makes a miraculous recovery to close the gap last minute. If Denard can be this good against the rest of the schedule, I think it will be a very effective counter to stacking the box. Teams will either have to drop more into coverage or send pressure, neither of which is ideal against a pair of dangerous runners like Fitz (WOOOOO!!!) and Denard.
September 5th, 2012 at 5:25 PM ^
Please take notice that we have an offensive coordinator that absolutely loves to throw the deep ball.
September 5th, 2012 at 5:44 PM ^
For the love of god, Fearless Leader, please UFR the offensive snaps in the 2010 Alabama-Auburn game! I think you'll see why Borges didn't run Denard and why RR would have gotten his ass handed to him by the Alabama D.
September 5th, 2012 at 5:57 PM ^
Al Borges, who does not utilize Denard to his full potential, called a game wherein Michigan scored as many points against the #2 team in the country as the Rich Rodriguez-led team , who utilized Denard better, scored against the #15/#17 team in the country (2011 Gator Bowl).
September 5th, 2012 at 5:58 PM ^
I actually haven't watched any replay of any single play until now. I was dreading it. Denard's incomplete passes were closer than even my memory said they were. If that's what my memory said, MSU fan memories probably had those throws leaving the stadium.
September 5th, 2012 at 6:01 PM ^
I think the Junior Hemingway loss might hurt this team more than any other graduating senior not named Mike Martin.
In addition to improving his route running, Gardner's going to have to show an ability to go up and out-fight good, physical corners for the ball - all the way through the completion - before I feel confident in him in his new role. It's not his fault that he's not there yet, of course, and I don't have a problem with the position switch. The guy hasn't played WR in an awfully long time, though, and I'm stuck in "I'll believe it when I see it" mode with that whole thing.
September 5th, 2012 at 6:17 PM ^
rawness might make people long for the jump exploits of Jr., but I still think that long-term the graduation of Devin Monk at center is a more vital missing piece. He was a leader, and his skills were essential for the running and passing game.
September 5th, 2012 at 7:40 PM ^
September 5th, 2012 at 6:27 PM ^
It's a bummer that Devin Gardner had to play his first game at WR against Bama. Had he been allowed to ease into it, and Bama was our third game or so, after Air Force and UMass, he may have played really well. Now he has a little experience, has film of himself to watch and make corrections, and two games against lesser CBs before his next real test. Hopefully, by game four he's into a bit of a groove and can terrorize ND's weak CBs.
September 5th, 2012 at 6:35 PM ^
Agreed.
I think he'll end up being a huge part of the offense once the second half the season rolls around. He's got all the physical tools.
What will be interesting is if he has a big year....does that put the pressure on Morris to step in immediately to take advantage of Gardner's receiving prowess?
September 5th, 2012 at 6:50 PM ^
My opinion is that Gardner will be fine against any corner that isn't Miliner. There isn't a DB that we will face the rest of the year that is as polished and physical as he is. Gardner will have a great year at WR as he gains experience.
September 5th, 2012 at 6:07 PM ^
These things are a joke....Greg is far better at evaluating..Michigan will be fine...Bad game against a great team
September 5th, 2012 at 6:42 PM ^
I don't know what else to tell you. By Greg, I assume you mean Mattison. And well yeah...he's kind of a coach. Obviously he's going to be better at evaluating. That's why he gets, ya know, paid a lot of money to do it.
September 5th, 2012 at 6:08 PM ^
"Blame on the first interception can be split between Denard, Borges (no other options)"
Throwing the ball away is not an option? Even taking a sack is a better option then throwing it to a well covered Roundtree with safety help, who had zero chance to make a play on that ball even if he wasn't shoved out of bounds.
If I may make a suggestion, add "Throwing the ball away" in the UFR's and don't be afraid to give it a +1 when done properly and a -1 when it should have been the correct read. (maybe you already do this, and if you do, I think that INT would have been a perfect place to use it)
And the next game Denard doesn't play good, try to refrain from making a RR reference. It's tiresome.
September 5th, 2012 at 9:25 PM ^
Did you attend the Derek Zoolander Center For Kids Who Can't Read Good And Wanna Learn To Do Other Stuff Good Too?
September 5th, 2012 at 6:11 PM ^
the voices in your head. We'll try to keep it down.
September 5th, 2012 at 6:13 PM ^
Michigan averaged 4.8 YPP against the best defense they'll face(probably by a significant amount in Bama). To put in perspective, that would have been the best number by a FBS opponent against Bama last year(boy does that Ga Southern game just look weird compared to the other ones) This is also actually a huge improvement over the putird 3.54 YPP averaged agianst Virginia Tech WITH Fitz in the lineup. Bottom Line, we're gonna be fine on offense, whether the front 7 can play better will determine if we can win the Big Ten(personally I think they will)
September 5th, 2012 at 6:43 PM ^
but it sort of paints over the fact that we had a 71 and 44 yd pass thrown in there as outliers. I'd be willing to bet that number drops a bit if you take those two plays out because it sure didn't feel like we were getting 4-5 yards each play
September 5th, 2012 at 7:01 PM ^
an average of 4.8 will go down if you take out the 71 and 44 from the data set? I'm guessing you passed math easily, didn't you
September 5th, 2012 at 6:15 PM ^
Definately suprising that Denard had a DSR of 71%. Also, going deep was really the only time Michigan got much of anything against that defense.
September 5th, 2012 at 6:57 PM ^
September 5th, 2012 at 6:33 PM ^
September 5th, 2012 at 7:38 PM ^
I don't think so. They only non starter that got in was probably Burzynski.
September 5th, 2012 at 6:40 PM ^
Sorry, neg away, but the Rawls jab is pretty dumb. You claim he has Shaw syndrome when he runs outside on a play designed to...run outside? Rawls had 6 freakin carries and he seriously did just about everything he could have on many of them. In no particular order, he 1) got hit immediately after being handed the ball behind the LOS and still bounced off to not lose yardage, 2) picked up a short yardage 1st down up the middle, 3) got facemasked on a horribly blocked outside run with nowhere to go, 4) bounced off a blocker, went outside, and picked up an improbable 4 yards, 5) put his head down and collided really hard with 2 defenders when he had no other option, and finally, 6) got drilled on an option play where he was destined to get drilled. I guarantee Ingram would have had no better success.
September 5th, 2012 at 6:53 PM ^
You also have an engineer grading players. It is what it is. People can focus their negs on this comment instead of yours.
Rawls will be fine. Fitz and Rawls as a one-two-punch will be the best in the B1G. Need Rawls's minor shoulder injury to heal up, which it should, and unleash these two boys against MSU!
September 5th, 2012 at 7:01 PM ^
Blame on the first interception can be split between Denard, Borges (no other options), Roundtree, and possibly the refs. Call it a push.
Yes, that's exactly what I'd call it.
September 5th, 2012 at 7:07 PM ^
and Dee Milliner made his death irrelevant. He appears to be good at the footballs.
September 5th, 2012 at 7:22 PM ^
This doesn't justify my trepidation whenever Denard starts looking to go deep, ergo I will simply write this UFR off as some nerdy failed computer engineer's, like, opinion, man. I mean, he critiques Borges criticises Brandon. He's a computer enginerd. Nope, no insight here.
Anyway, the DSR is encourging. I guess I'm just a beaten dog, or something. The picks though, ugh. Fine, he was trying to make a play to get us back in it. I look forward to less of those going forward.
Then again, were hoping that CB is the bulk of the gap between DSR and the completion rate. I suppose it's possible. God, I hope so.
September 5th, 2012 at 9:07 PM ^
no idea what you're on about here. And--seriously--do you want to offer up YOUR resume for our perusal?
In my view, this is the kind of thing people should be banned for.
September 5th, 2012 at 9:52 PM ^
September 5th, 2012 at 10:57 PM ^
I will not stand idly by and have my credibility on the internet, of all places, called into question.The nerve. If you must know, I have been a member of the premier sports blog in the history of history for not one, not two, but three--count 'em, three--years....and 7 weeks! In that time I have amassed nearly two thousand one hundred and seventy points on that blog. The valuableness of my opinion is beyond reproach. You are the one who should be banned. YOU!
Phew! I gotta tell ya. That is fun.
Relax, homie. It's just a shtick.
September 5th, 2012 at 7:21 PM ^
Thank you Brian, I don't feel so crazy now. Watching the game, I felt that most of Denard's throws were solid but that Alabama's coverage was just so excellent and our receivers were so mediocre that this was completely overshadowed. If he keeps playing like that and our receivers improve, I think he will top 60% completions when all is said and done.
September 6th, 2012 at 11:15 AM ^
While Denard graded out ok in the UFR, the issue has, and will continue to be how impactful his mistakes are. The 2 picks led to points (1 a pick 6). Just looking at the numbers is one thing. He can have a completion % under 50% but not turn the ball over, and thus not hurt the team. The problem is 1) Michigan does not count on Denard to "manage the game" so that is not very practical and 2) At least on Sat night, our defense was not stopping them anyways so replacing his ints with punts was not going to help much.
Most fans' collective hope was that he would cut down on interceptions, and be more accurate this year. I would say we got a mixed bag on that in game 1, but certainly reserve judgement until we have more data points.
September 5th, 2012 at 7:28 PM ^
Did any play?
If not, do you think Hoke is trying to redshirt all the Frosh linemen?
September 5th, 2012 at 7:41 PM ^
Not sure about all, but I'm sure he wants to redshirt some. The guy who is probably a lock to redshirt is Blake Bars. I didn't hear about him much in fall camp.
September 5th, 2012 at 7:34 PM ^
"Borges said he didn't regret how little Denard ran, and that Alabama was doing stuff with its safeties that prevented Michigan from going with him.
I find that… unconvincing. For one, two of the three runs all night where someone made something despite the blocking being poor were from Denard:"
Denard had to make super human efforts just to get 3,4,5 yards on the plays he ran. He was making someone miss in order not lose yards and then getting what he could. I don't believe doing more of this would have resulted in any big plays.
September 5th, 2012 at 8:13 PM ^
September 5th, 2012 at 9:14 PM ^
did I miss some major event? Why don't people screw off if they don't like it here, or if they can't stand the host?
This, sir, is indefensible claptrap:
"If Borges had gone all RR on everyone and sent Denard on QB power 35 times, Brian et. al. would be right here lambasting Borges as a sadistic, unimaginative, "win at all costs" OC with no eye on the long term success of the team."
Why running Denard would be "going all RR" in the first place is for you and your imagination to decide.
Note to fools: RR was the last coach. He ran the spread and that was the system that Denard was brought up in. Borges has tried to adapt it. THAT (huh! really?) is the reason why it's a legitimate topic of conversation. I REPEAT: HOW IT GOES WITH THIS DIFFICULT EXPERIMENT IS AND WILL REMAIN A LEGITIMATE TOPIC UNTIL DENARD LEAVES. Anyone not interested is--as ALWAYS--invited to busy themselves elsewhere if they don't care to discuss it. The internet is really good that way!
September 5th, 2012 at 10:16 PM ^
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