Upon Further Review 2013: Offense vs Iowa Comment Count

Brian

Corn-Field

Nobody is going to read this but I'm trying to get numbers for Gardner and the WRs and the OL for the last couple Big Ten games for the preview. Everything is after the jump.

[After the JUMP: a  big table.]

Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M25 1 10 Shotgun 4-wide 1 0 4 4-3 split Pass Fade Gallon Inc (Pen +15)
Magnuson, at LG, whipped by an Iowa DT and allows pressure up the middle off a spin move; Gardner chucks a fade while getting hit. It is at a very well covered Gallon and hits the DB in the back. Dodgy PI follows. (BA, 0, protection 0/2, Mags -2, Refs +2)
M40 1 10 Ace 3-wide 1 1 3 4-3 over Run Inside zone Toussaint 5
Bubble fake to IZ. Glasgow stalemates NT but can't do much more than that as he gets no help from the RG. He is pushed in the backfield so -0.5. Toussaint(+1) cuts back and finds a crease as Mags(+1) has banged the other DT inside while Lewan(+1) and Butt(+1) take the LB and backside end, respectively.
M45 2 5 Shotgun twin twin TE 1 2 2 4-3 over Pass Rollout circle Gallon Inc
Well covered and probably only getting a couple yards if complete; airmailed. (IN, 0, protection 1/1)
M45 3 5 Pistol trips inner stack 1 0 4 Nickel even Run Speed option pitch Kerridge 3
Blitz off the corner forces an early pitch. Kalis ends up tripping on the DE's feet and had little chance to get to the MLB anyway, and then Kerridge isn't outrunning that guy to the corner. Kerridge(+1) actually does well to force Morris to miss the tackle and turns a loss into three. RPS -2. Blitz worked and Kerridge in space woo.
Drive Notes: Punt, 0-0, 13 min 1st Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M20 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 4-3 even Run End around Gallon 9
Kalis(-1) pulls, way too much bend, does not get out and ends up getting cut off when a charging LB is taken out by Chesson(+1). Lewan(+1) picked off the backside LB and Kerridge(+0.5) walls off the outside guy; Gallon in space against the safety, almost jukes him but gets tackled from behind. Kalis should have been harassing him. RPS +2; this had a big crease for what could have been a big play.
M29 3 1 I-Form 2 1 2 4-3 under Run Iso Green -2
M eats a blitz right up the gut as LB comes around outside gap untouched to TFL. RPS -2.
M27 3 3 Pistol 2TE 1 2 2 4-3 under Run Speed option keeper Gardner 0
Playside S is blitzing at this presnap as LBs move to it as well. Since it's to the short side it's doomed if it goes outside. Gardner tries to improvise by reversing field and gets tracked down, which I guess is better than going outside but this is a zone so since Kalis(+1) cut the backside tackle to the ground if Gardner(-2) puts his foot in the ground and goes straight upfield he has a first down and is actually one on one with the safety for a big gain. But he's not well coached about what to do here and ends up reversing field for no gain.
Drive Notes: Punt, 7-0, 7 min 1st Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M23 1 10 I-Form 2 1 2 4-3 under Pass Fade Funchess Inc
Oh man, Gardner has like 40 yards here but Funchess just drops it. It's in his hands and somehow it no longer is. This is just a straight up basic fade, no trickery or anything; Gardner places it perfectly. Good protection. (DO, 3, protection 2/2)
M23 2 10 Ace twins twin TE 1 2 2 4-3 over Pass Bubble screen Funchess Inc
And then a bubble that's turfed. Cumong man. (IN, 0, protection N/A)
M23 3 10 Shotgun trips 1 0 4 3-3-5 nickel Pass Screen Toussaint -2
Screen against a three man rush with a spy booking for Toussaint as soon as he sees him release. RPS -2. (CA, 3, screen)
Drive Notes: Punt, 7-7, 3 min 1st Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M36 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 4-3 under Pass Swing Toussaint 5
This is a bit odd, with Magnuson pulling like it's a power play. Suck the LBs up? I guess. Works reasonably well but Butt(-1) whiffs on MLB despite getting set up with a good angle. Chesson(-0.5) knocked back and Toussaint(+1) has to make a sharp cut to get decent yardage. RPS +1; coulda should got more here. (CA, 3, screen)
M41 2 5 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 4-3 even Run Power O Toussaint 2
And then they run the power right after. Playside LB reads and fills so hard it makes me think blitz but that's not very Iowa. Looking for this? Either way he's in the backfield, meeting Magnuson two yards behind the LOS. Magnuson catches him as well as you can expect and this is bad news, but Kalis(+2) pancaked Carl Davis so Toussaint has a cutback. He takes it, and then if he goes back outside he actually has a nice gain. Instead he runs into a LB. RPS -1.
M43 3 3 Shotgun double stacks 1 1 3 Nickel under Pass Out Jackson Inc
Batted at the line. One of those things. Worth noting that Toussaint(-1) attacked a LB as Lewan let the DE go because they ran a really basic slide protection. (BA, 0, protection ½, Toussaint -1)
Drive Notes: Punt, 7-7, 14 min 2nd Q. Countess INT sets up next drive.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
O28 1 10 I-Form twins 2 1 2 4-3 over Run Bubble draw Green 9
Fake bubble. Iowa with two deep and the slot guy on the opposite hash so they have a seven man box, and they successfully exploit it. Kerridge(+1) stands up a blitzing LB; Green(+0.5) cuts back off of him. Magnuson(+0.5) and Glasgow(+1) double one DT and handle him as Glasgow extends to a LB and harasses. RPS +1.
O19 2 1 I-Form twins 2 1 2 4-3 under Run Bubble IZ Green 3
Fake bubble. Iowa more aggressive with an extra guy in the box and what looks like straight man on Funchess. LB thundering down on this action again; Kerridge(+0.5) stands him up well but doesn't get quite the motion he did on the previous play. Green(+0.5) must cut back, and does. Double on the NT gets him down the line; Kalis(+0.5) shoves him past where he wants to go and Schofield(+1) gets depth and seals a DE, providing a first down crease.
O16 1 10 Shotgun 2-back 2 0 3 4-3 under Run Inverted veer Gardner 5
Playside DE plays this well, inducing a keep and then crashing down on it, making contact at about two yards. Gardner runs through for a couple more, but if that DE takes one wrong step this is a nice gain. Schofield(+1) had blasted the DT inside for Kalis(+0.5) to pancake and then got out on a linebacker nicely. Mags pulls and goes to a LB that Gallon is cracking down on from the other side, effectively doubling him. I don't know if that's right or not, because on the one hand, double, on the other, he needs to be hit from both sides to give you both sides of this play.
O11 2 5 I-Form twins 2 1 2 4-4 over Run Iso Green 1
TE covered. LBs hammering down hard; Kalis(-0.5) can't get any movement on Davis despite Glasgow giving the right amount of help and going to the second level; Magnuson(-1) controlled by other DT, who comes off to tackle near the LOS.
O10 3 4 Shotgun trips tight bunch 1 0 4 4-3 over Pass Scramble Gardner 8
Four man rush basically stoned, though Magnuson has a slightly hard time of it. Gardner(+1) cannot find anyone open, goes through a couple reads, and then takes off, getting a block from Green(+0.5) on the edge and getting down to the one. (SCR, N/A, protection 3/3)
O2 1 G Goal line 2 3 0 Goal line Run Down G Green -4 (Pen +1)
Bosch in as sixth OL at LG; pulls around Lewan and Schofield as M goes tackle over. OLB is heading right for him on snap, making contact way in the backfield; Bosch(-1) does a bad job with it and gives more ground, but that's tough. Green(-2) tries to bounce it out and that's the wrong call when he can burrow back to the LOS. M bailed out by irrelevant offsides call.
O1 1 G Goal line 2 3 0 Goal line Run Iso Green 0
Wad of bodies man. Bosch, Glasgow, and Kalis can't get any push on the Iowa DL. Minus half points.
O1 2 G Goal line 2 3 0 Goal line Pass Rollout TE drag Williams 2
Iowa has this blanketed. Gardner is on the edge with Tanner Smith, who just hates Michigan quarterbacks more than anyone ever. Gardner stiffarms him to the ground, then pulls up and finds a suddenly open Williams for a TD. Bad. Ass. (CA+, 3, protection 1/1). Kind of want to RPS -1 this.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 14-7, 8 min 2nd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M41 1 10 Ace 3-wide 1 1 3 Nickel over Run Bubble IZ Green 2
Glasgow(-1) beaten by the NT, Trinca-Pasat. This is compounded by a blitz from the LB into the weak side of the line, where the play goes, and a LB cheating over the top to clean up. So no room despite a nice open box. This is cheating to a play. IIRC, Michigan never has anything to punish this cheat. RPS -1. Reason Glasgow had this happen was the LB move.
M43 2 8 I-Form twins 2 1 2 4-3 under Pass Screen Toussaint 14
ISO PA to a screen that works very well. Both ILBs suck up and then panic as Kerridge shoots past them. This opens up a lot of space with two M OL and just one Iowa LB in it. Magnuson(-1) whiffs in space on that LB; Toussaint(+1) does a good job to bounce back outside after he's started to commit upfield because he expects Magnuson to kick the LB. Throw is too hard and high, so a tougher catch than it should be. (MA, 2, protection N/A, RPS +2).
O43 1 10 Ace trips stack 1 1 3 4-3 even slide Pass Comeback screen] Funchess Inc
Hideously timed blitz from Iowa sees six guys to the LOS as M goes PA and then throws a quick screen to Funchess. Funchess drops an easy throw; Butt(-2) had absolutely whiffed an easy block to destroy the play anyway. Woo! (CA, 3, screen, RPS +2)
O43 2 10 I-Form Big 2 2 1 4-4 under Run Inside zone Toussaint -1
At least it's not big-formation second and long play action? That's the ticket. Kalis(-1) gives a ton of ground, narrowing the hole here and allowing Davis to grab at jersey as the RB passes; Schofield(-1) gets beat as badly or worse and his guy tackles.
O44 3 11 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Okie one Pass Dig Gallon Inc
Iowa sends six guys; Kerridge(-1) blows the pickup as he misIDs the blitzer but does recover to get a shove on him after Gardner steps up past him; pocket good otherwise. Gardner has to throw and goes for Gallon just past the sticks; King has fantastic coverage and gets a PBU. Understand the desire to throw and the target, just good play by Gardner beat by great play by King. (CA, 0, protection 2/3)
Drive Notes: Punt, 14-7, 4 min 2nd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
O47 1 10 Ace twins twin TE 1 2 2 4-3 over Pass Fly Funchess Inc
Max-pro plus deep bomb. Have some sympathy for Gardner here as Funchess does get bumped on his route but give a man a chance, don't throw it a few yards long. (IN, 0, protection 2/2)
O47 2 10 Shotgun trips 1 0 4 4-3 over Run Draw Toussaint 0
Kalis(-2) gets eaten up by a spin move and Toussaint(+0.5) has to dodge a guy as he takes a handoff. Glasgow(-0.5) loses the LB but I think his angle got destroyed by the Kalis pwnage. Funchess(+0.5) had a good extended block.
O47 3 10 Shotgun trips inner stack 1 0 4 3-3-5 nickel Pass In Gallon 14
Six man rush and pure man behind it. Line juuuust holds but does. Kerridge does a good job to delay a DL and then come around to find the blitzing LB. Gallon gets free after feinting deep and Gardner steps into a narrow pocket and delivers it on the numbers. (DO, 3, protection 3/3)
O33 1 10 Ace twins twin TE 1 2 2 4-3 over Pass Scramble Gardner 5
Max pro deep shot PA. Ton of time, no one open. He eventually takes off for a decent gain. (SCR, N/A, protection 2/2)
O28 2 5 Shotgun trips inner stack 1 1 3 4-3 under Pass Drag Gallon 12
Well, finally, man. Toussaint cuts a blitzing LB who's coming free up the middle. Dude hits the ground, leaving Gardner enough time to find Gallon on a drag route that Iowa has apparently busted on in zone. Pitch, catch, first down. (CA, 3, protection 3/3)
O16 1 10 I-Form 3-wide tight 2 1 2 4-3 under Pass Scramble Gardner 7
Token PA, good coverage, nobody open, Gardner takes off for a decent gain. (SCR, N/A, protection 2/2)
O9 2 3 Pistol 3-wide 1 1 3 4-4 over Run Speed option pitch Toussaint 5
Looks like press with no deep safeties. M checks to pistol. This means speed option because it always means speed option. Gardner(+1) again has a cut up opportunity that he doesn't take, but this time he draws the playside guy in and pitches. LB can't get over to stop a first down. RPS +1. Schofield(+1) did a good job on the relevant end.
O4 1 G Shotgun trips TE 1 1 3 4-3 press zero Penalty Illegal Snap Glasgow -5
I can't see a penalty on replay but bad angle. They announce 67, Kalis, but illegal snap has to be on the center Glasgow(-1) I imagine.
O9 1 G Shotgun trips 1 1 3 4-3 press zero Pass Hitch Gallon Inc
Timing route with bad timing, Gardner is looking the whole way and there is a window in which he can get it in there but he looks at it to long, ball is still in his hands as Gallon breaks, and the LB breaks it up. This is interference, I guess, but it's not getting called. (MA, 0, protection 2/2, Refs -1)
O9 2 G Shotgun trips 1 1 3 Nickel even Pass Scramble Gardner 0
He really has nothing here and is unfortunate not to get at least a few yards. (TA, N/A, protection 2/2)
O9 3 G Shotgun trips inner stack 1 0 4 6-1 split Pass Hitch Gallon 9
A near replay of the first down play except there's a GOT DAMN DEVIN FUNCHESS running the LB off so when Gallon breaks back there's no one to prevent him from making the catch. (CA, 3, protection 2/2, RPS +1)
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 21-7, 40 second 2nd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M43 1 10 I-Form twins 2 1 2 4-3 over Run Bubble draw Green 4
Blocking on this iffy at best with Magnuson(-0.5) getting driven backwards off the snap and not much motion elsewhere. Schofield(+1) bashes an end way inside though and Kerridge(+1) seals a linebacker to the inside, allowing Green(+0.5) the corner, which is open because the bubble threat held the slot LB outside.
M47 2 6 Ace 3-wide 1 1 3 4-3 under split Run Bubble IZ Green 1
Iowa gets this play down because of the unblocked guy on the backside, who is not checking Gardner. This is the kind of play from a DE that the zone read prevents. Iowa stunts its DTs, which complicates matters for the line; Magnuson does read it and adjust to wall off before anyone can shoot into the backfield, and the rest of the line has done okay. Schofield(+0.5) has put the backside DE downfield and farther inside than he should be but it doesn't matter because the unblocked backside guy is tearing down at Green. M can go with a waggle here, as this is the second or third time Iowa has ignored contain on Gardner. RPS -1.
M48 3 5 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 Nickel even Pass Fade Funchess Inc
Toussaint(-1) blows a blitz pickup and ends up standing around; Schofield sees the problem developing and tries to get out on a DT looping around, but that guy still gets into Gardner and forces an awkward back-foot throw to Funchess, who is well covered on a fade route. He had better options here, but this was under duress. Ball ends up well short and inside. I guess this is IN, but I sympathize. (IN, 0, protection ½, Toussaint -1)
Drive Notes: Punt, 21-14, 12 min 3rd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M19 1 10 Ace twins twin TE 1 2 2 4-3 even Pass PA Dig Gallon Inc
Max pro PA; looking for Gallon on about a 20 yard dig. This throw is a bit high and Gallon has to jump for it but with a LB dropping under the route this is where it needs to be; Gallon gets his hands on it but an Iowa DB swipes it out from behind. Good play from him, not much you can do except get more separation here, and that's not something UFRs are tracking. (DO, 1, protection 2/2)
M19 2 10 Shotgun empty 1 1 3 4-3 even Pass Circle Funchess Inc
Hits him right in the hands and is dropped on what would have been near first down yardage. (CA, 3, protection 2/2) Iowa LB did hit him right after but that ball was already dropped before the hit.
M19 3 10 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Okie two Pass Throwaway N/A Inc
Toussaint(-2) again ends up checking a guy Michigan is blocking through the entirety of this play, allowing a totally unfettered stunter through the line. Gardner dodges him to buy time, still has no one, and chucks it away. It is unbelievable that this is a senior tailback and he has no idea what to do here. (PR, N/A, protection 0/2, Toussaint -2)
Drive Notes: Punt, 21-14, 9 min 3rd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M6 1 10 I-Form twins 2 1 2 4-3 over Pass Bubble screen Funchess 2
Iowa blitzes off the corner, bringing a safety down. Gallon(+0.5) does get over to make contact on the S and then Funchess(-2) makes a bad decision to dodge inside of him when he's now one on one on the edge with a corner and is likely to get five as long as he can fall forward. He ends up getting only a couple. (CA, 3, protection N/A)
M8 2 8 I-Form 2 1 2 4-3 under Run Iso Toussaint 4
Weakside iso with no gap on the frontside as Mags(-1) gets no push on Trinca-Pasat and then Pasat rips to the hole; LB takes on FB in the backfield. But M does get some yards as Toussaint cuts back and a Glasgow(+0.5) and Kalis(+0.5) double gets Davis out of there and Schofield(+0.5) gets some motion on the backside DE; Williams(+0.5) also kept his guy out of the play. Push for Toussaint as he may have done better if he went inside Schofield.
M12 3 4 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Okie one Pass Hitch Gallon Inc
This looks like a bad route by Gallon, who just kind of turns around without separation. If he comes back to the ball a step or two it's right there and the DB isn't on his back. I've never judged routes and can't start 11 games in, but this IN is a harsh one. (IN, 0, protection 2/2)
Drive Notes: Punt, 21-14, 6 min 3rd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M19 1 10 I-Form 2 1 2 4-3 under Run Reverse Funchess 10
Maybe M saw something with Iowa's lack of contain here because this is way open. Backside LB is gone on Toussaint; backside DE slides way inside. Kerridge(+0.5) gets the easy block on the DE and the corner is open. Lewan(+0.5) has to change his mind about his block when Kalis(-1) does not step around his DT and he starts flowing down the line; he gets enough of a piece to push him upfield. Glasgow(+1) shows good agility to get out on a corner; Gardner(-2) is running downfield as a lead blocker and never identifies his guy, the backside safety... if he gets even a tiny piece of that guy Funchess may score. RPS +3. Probably should have been a TD.
M29 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 4-3 over Run Jet sweep Gallon -4
And then they give the RPS right back as M runs a jet sweep into a blitz designed for it. LB on the corner is headed right upfield at the snap; Reynolds(-1) is in a huge mismatch and loses it badly. Playside end is headed straight upfield as well, forcing a bounce from Gallon, which gives the rest of the D ample time to rally. Glasgow(-1) failed to ID a stunt and Davis got through, removing even the unlikely possibility that Gallon would hammer this upfield behind a pulling Magnuson. RPS -2.
M25 2 14 Shotgun empty 1 0 4 4-3 even Pass Hitch Gallon 7
Five yard hitch executed here, though it is a bit high. Meh. (CA, 3, protection 1/1) Michigan gets a couple YAC as an Iowa LB messes up.
M32 3 7 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 4-3 even Pass Sack N/A -13
This botched blitz pick up is on Lewan(-3), who ends up blocking the playside end even as he moves obviously into Magnuson's zone, allowing a linebacker a free run. (PR, N/A, protection 0/3)
Drive Notes: Punt, 21-14, 1 min 3rd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M42 1 10 Shotgun trips TE 1 1 3 4-3 over Pass PA scramble Gardner -4
Extremely weak IZ fake from the gun does not draw anyone in, Gardner can't find anyone and starts rolling, eventually scrambling for a couple, but he gets knocked back by a safety and the refs make a very questionable decision to put him back six yards instead of giving him forward progress. (TA, N/A, protection 2/2)
M38 2 14 Shotgun trips TE 1 1 3 4-3 over Pass TE out Funchess Inc
No one IDs MLB, MLB blitzes unmolested, Gardner hit as he throws, has to throw so fast that Funchess gets hit in the back because he hasn't come out of his route yet. Glasgow(-1) and Kalis(-1) fail to pick up the NT slanting past them and pick up the LB. (PR, 0, protection 0/2)
M38 3 14 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 4-3 even Pass Dig? ? Inc
M almost picks up a double A blitz but Kerridge(-1) only gets a piece of one LB, who gets up and hits Gardner as he throws after Gardner does not like his first read. This decision to throw looks like a bad idea but it's impossible to tell since Gardner got nailed as he tried it. (PR, N/A, protection ½, Kerridge -1)
Drive Notes: Punt, 21-21, 11 min 3rd Q.
Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards
M30 1 10 Shotgun 4-wide 1 1 3 4-3 even Run Inside zone read Green 4
Stalemates across the line and not particularly impressive blocking but they have a hat for a hat and a numerical advantage, so when the read fake holds the DE outside Green can get a few.
M34 2 6 Ace 1 2 2 4-3 under Run Tackle power Green -2
A tackle pull that sees Mags(-2) immediately beat by a DT, who gets into the backfield, and then Green(-2) runs a completely different play than is blocked. TFL. If he runs the play he may even get a couple yards before an unblocked safety contacts him near the LOS.
M32 3 8 Shotgun trips tight bunch 1 0 4 Okie one Pass Delayed slant Jackson 18
Funchess and Chesson run off the initial defenders and the guy trying to check Jackson slips, it appears, so the short catch and YAC is there for the first down. Meanwhile Lewan(-1) was beat one on one for pressure on Gardner(CA, 3, protection ½) RPS push because this is more a turf gift than anything.
50 1 10 Shotgun 2-back 2 0 3 4-3 under Run Inverted veer keeper Gardner -1
Gardner(-3) inexplicably keeps despite Iowa having no contain guy. DE who is way way too tight on the inside makes the tackle after the keep.
M49 2 11 I-Form twins 2 1 2 4-3 over Pass Screen Toussaint 13
Kerridge again tears out of the backfield straight upfield, taking one LB with him and then taking out another as he tries to pivot and slips to the ground. M then gets the minimum possible yards as Glasgow(-1) blocks the same guy Kalis does and that guy tackles Toussaint anyway. (CA, 3, protection N/A, RPS +2)
O38 1 10 Shotgun trips 1 0 4 4-3 under Run Inside zone Toussaint -1
Iowa shows double A gap blitz but five seconds on clock so it's happening anyway. Glasgow has to take one LB and does, other guy runs free behind him to make an uncontested TFL as Kalis has no one he can even possibly block. RPS -1; Michigan stuck in bad play with no possibility to change it.
O39 2 11 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 4-3 over Run QB draw Gardner 10
Opens up rather wide as Lewan(+1) shoves a DE five yards upfield and Magnuson survives. Gardner(-3) is nearing first down yardage when the ball is stripped and recovered by Iowa.
Drive Notes: Fumble, 21-24, 2 min 4th Q. Iowa kills the remaining time.

Hey, I'm just going to make this as quick as possible since I'm just trying to get numbers for the season preview at this point. Numbers:

Devin Gardner 2012

Opponent DO CA MA IN BR TA BA PR SCR DSR
Minnesota 3 7(1) 4 2(1) 2* 2 - 3 4 72%
Northwestern 4 16(2) 2 1 3* 2(1) 2(1) 2 5 79%
Iowa 3 16(4) - 2(1) 2 1 - 1 4 83%
Ohio State 3 11(1) 2 5* 2 1 - 3 2 65%
South Carolina 4 16(2) 2 8 3 4 - 2 2 57%

Devin Gardner 2013

Opponent DO CA MA IN BR TA BA PR SCR DSR
Central Michigan 2 10(1)+ 1 1 2* - - 1 3 82%
Notre Dame 7+ 16(1)++ 4(1) 2 3* - 1 4 4 82%
Akron 3 14(2) - 5 3** 2 1 3 1 59%
UConn 2 13(1) 1 5*+ - 1 - 5 5 76%
Minnesota 4+ 7(1) 4 1 - - - 1 2 92%
Penn State 7+ 12(2) - 5+ 2** 3 1 4 4 66%
Indiana 5 18(3) 1 1 3 3 - - 5 78%
Michigan State 1 15(2) 1 5 4* 6 - 4 1 50%
Nebraska - 17(1) 1 4(1) 2* 5 - 6 - 62%
Northwestern 5 21(6) 3 5 6***** 1 2(1) 6 4 65%
Iowa 3 12(5)+ 2(1) 5(1) - 2 2 4 3 68%

Shane Morris

Opponent DO CA MA IN BR TA BA PR SCR DSR
Central Michigan - 4 - 1 1* 1 - - - N/A

Gardner recovered from a game in which he only did not throw an interception because Northwestern players are covered in mucus and failure to not have anything that was a truly bad idea—at least not one that didn't occur because someone was straight-up murdering him. His accuracy probably wasn't even as bad as those INs suggest, as on a couple of them it seemed like his wide receivers let him down with their routes. UFR has never tried to evaluate routes and is not likely to start, but just keep it in mind.

The screens remained way up from earlier in the season: seven attempts following seven in the Northwestern game after Michigan had tried a maximum of three in any previous game. This trend continued through the rest of the year. The only question is why did it take them so long?

Gardner did hurt Michigan on the ground significantly on plays that should have worked. He kept on this inverted veer:

That of course goes back to the chicken and egg conversation about whether Michigan has to run so much stuff because they're bad at everything or whether they're bad at everything because they have to run so much stuff. But there's not even a whisper of a dude on the edge there and the give is the move.

And when Gardner is running, he runs like a QB. This is a major difference between him and Denard, as seen during this failed speed option on which the line actually created a big ol' gap in the middle of the line that a tailback would have hit hard:

Not a huge surprise since Michigan has not emphasized that kind of thing with Gardner.

Run chart:

Offensive Line
Player + - Total Notes
Lewan 3.5 - 3.5 Did have a pretty awful play in pass protection.
Magnuson 1.5 5.5 -4 Freshman, this is Carl Davis. Have fun.
Glasgow 2.5 5.5 -3 Major comedown after whipping NW.
Kalis 4.5 6 -1.5 This qualifies as good?
Schofield 5 1 4 Will probably become third round draft pick.
Williams 0.5 - 0.5 Eh.
Paskorz - - 0 DNP
Butt 1 3 -2  
Bosch - 1.5 -1.5 A few goal line plays only.
Burzynski - - - DNP
TOTAL 18.5 22.5 %45 In retrospect this DT/interior OL matchup was only going one way.
Backs
Player + - T Notes
Gardner 2 10 -8 Bad reads and a game-losing fumble.
Morris - - - DNP
Toussaint 3.5 - 3.5 Pretty good on those screens.
Green 2 4 -2 Caused TFL by running wrong play
Smith - - - DNC
Hayes - - - DNC
Rawls - - - DNP
Houma - - - Seemed confused.
Kerridge 4.5 1 3.5 Good game, quasi third-down back.
TOTAL 12 14 -2 QB major issue.
Receiver
Player + - T Notes
Gallon 0.5 - 0.5  
Jackson - - -  
Chesson 1 0.5 0.5  
Reynolds - 1 -1  
Dileo - - -  
Norfleet - - -  
Funchess 0.5 2 -1.5 Went wrong way on bubble.
TOTAL 2 3.5 -1.5 Eh.
Metrics
Player + - T Notes
Protection 38 12 76% Toussaint 4, Lewan 3, Magnuson 2, Kerridge/Glasgow/Kalis 1
RPS 15 13 2 Yeah: warn't his fault, except in holistic ways.

Receivers?

[Passes are rated by how tough they are to catch. 0 == impossible. 1 == wow he caught that, 2 == moderate difficulty, 3 == routine. The 0/X in all passes marked zero is implied.]

Player 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3
Gallon 5 0/1   4/4   33 3/6 10/13 54/59
Jackson       1/1   3 0/1   7/7
Reynolds           2 0/1 1/1 2/2
Chesson           4 1/3 1/3 10/11
Dileo           4 1/2 1/2 7/8
Norfleet           1     3/3
York                  
Funchess 4     1/4   20 3/6 5/7 34/39
Butt           1 1/3 0/1 10/10
Williams       1/1   1     1/1
                   
Toussaint     1/1 3/3   1   1/1 10/10
Hayes                 2/2
Green           1      
Smith                  
Kerridge               1/1 2/2
Houma                 1/1

[Note: box score has 6 Gallon catches, not 4, because a couple of his end-around runs were touch passes forward.]

Comments

michgoblue

August 24th, 2014 at 5:26 PM ^

While it sounds cliche, it does seem like a few of those big negatives were just plain old lack of execution, mostly by DG. Since it was still his first year as a starter, that's to be expected, but we can hopefully see a big step forward this year, despite a new OC. Also, if we can even see an I criminal move forward on the OL, we may be in for a strong upside surprise for our offense.



2.

Reader71

August 24th, 2014 at 6:10 PM ^

Surprise.

We complain when our sub packages telegraph plays. We complain when we run plays that run 100% against tendency. The common thread? We complain when the plays don't work. If they work, just a nice round of applause and we're on the the next down, ready to complain.

I hope Nussmeier is the one OC in history who makes everyone happy, all the time.

Space Coyote

August 24th, 2014 at 6:36 PM ^

This was actually a run check by DG. The FB was in there to pass protect but DG was still allowed the freedom to check to speed option based on his run keys, in this case being allowed to break tendency.

If you remember correctly, Northwestern picked up 10+ for a first down my audibling to a speed option to their FB just the week prior. It caught the D, which I believe was in a Cover 1 blitz out of position with no one accounting for the pitch man. Difference here is that while DG correctly identified numbers no one (a WR) didn't get out on the two high safety coming down to fill the alley. You run to boundary to attempt to mitigate that (if no WR that way he should be rotating more to trips, otherwise likely aligned to get down late) but at the end of the day no one accounted for him and he made the play. Obviously if a true RB is in there it's one on one in space with a safety. But it was a run check and breaking tendency.

Space Coyote

August 24th, 2014 at 7:47 PM ^

All the speed option run checks were into the boundary. People complained about that, but that's typically where you want to run it as per described above. Gardner did make some other run checks as well, to Iso or IZ (likely just changing the side the run was going), but did so much less so (probably was only allowed to check out of plays that couldn't be successful, rather than check to a side with more favorable numbers).

Gulogulo37

August 24th, 2014 at 8:53 PM ^

Well, yeah. It was kind of his job to get the offense to work.

I think I'm actually a very level-headed fan, though I don't know my X's and O's, and I want coaches to get a fair shake. I wasn't calling for Borges' head most of the year and even thought the 27 for 27 thing was overblown. Having said that, from how things went and some of the comments we've heard from players and opposing teams, it seems we can pretty well say he was trying to do too much. He probably saw he had some major personnel problems, and instead of finding something that would get them to be below average, he tinkered with everything he could and ran every play he could think of in an attempt to get something to stick, so the offense was just plain bad instead.

dragonchild

August 25th, 2014 at 12:06 PM ^

First off, if you think dosleches' comment was worthy of derison then I suggest you read some YouTube comments to get some perspective on real complaining looks like.  The comment was downright tame.

Second, this is a false choice of the first order.  Hypothetically speaking, the only two viable options in football are to use players in such narrow roles that the DC can predict the play purely on sub packages, or go against tendency so hard you ask a player to execute a play they're not even physically capable of?  It's disingenuous to the point of offensive because you're using a logical fallacy to smear the entire MGoBlog community.

MGoBlog has been a strong advocate of constriant theory from the get-go but you have to pretend that doesn't even exist just to be a smartass.

steve sharik

August 24th, 2014 at 7:47 PM ^

  • The DE he's reading doesn't close on Lewan, so I don't fault him for keeping.
  • We use the WR to crack on the playside LB, who Kalis would be pulling to block in normal power, so should Kalis be kicking out the DE? If this was the scheme, there wasn't a read for Gardner to make, and Kalis had a huge MA.  Moreover, if Kalis gets that kickout and Gallon doesn't make a horrible crack on the backer, it's a huge gain.
  • I can't tell what Kalis is trying to do here, and I'm not sure he knows.  He pulls really deep, and when guys do that it's usually b/c they're assigned to block the backside fast-flow ILB.  You get deep so you can see what he's doing.  You peel back if he runs a backside crease or pull up through the hole if he scrapes over the top.
  • But, Kalis's eyes are on the DE the whole way.  Perhaps Funk coached him up to pull deeper b/c their DE was going so far upfield. Then again, he rips through the DE and doesn't attempt to block him (maybe get a chip).  Just awful by Kalis no matter how you look at it.  I don't understand going so deep if you're trying to bypass a DE in order to get to 2nd and/or 3rd level.
  • Also, if you want a DE to have to commit to the outside run, why are we running this into the god damned boundary?
  • I would give Kalis a minus on this, either for MA or for poop-tastic technique.  I'd also give Borges a RPS -1 simply for running this to the boundary.
  • Where I might fault Gardner is for shuffling on the mesh, taking him two yards toward the DE.  If he stays planted on the mesh and pulls, he's on the hash and that DE can't get to him.  Unless, of course, he was coached to shuffle on the mesh, and then it's RPS -1 b/c Borges doesn't understand spread option concepts.

Space Coyote

August 24th, 2014 at 7:59 PM ^

1. The DEs first step is to close the edge, essentially squeezing the hole DG would try to run through. From there here slowly tries to move toward the mesh. DG should have read the DE closing his gap and given.

2. The WR crack with the pulling OG is fairly standard for this play. OSU actually did it to significantly gash Michigan the next week. In fact, they typically ran it into the boundary. Link here. As I explained above, they are trying to mitigate some of the safety alley fill by running into the boundary.

3. Kalis is tasked with sealing first free off color back inside. Whether that's a guy shooting the gap as you describe, or reaching the second level, that's his job. DG is reading the DE still.

4. Why Kalis gets so deep I believe is because his footwork is sloppy (Michigan OL has been pulling too deep since Hoke's arrival, IMO) and then appears to miss-identify the DE. But, if Kalis believes that DE is squeezing inside, then he wants to get his pull outside of him. If Kalis and DG are reading the same thing, DG gives, Kalis shields the DE from Fitz and makes a 2nd level block.

5. Most QBs shuffle technique on the Power read mesh in order to make the DE commit. Because the angle is not as natural as a typical zone read, the QB is typically asked to shuffle toward the DE making the mesh nearer to the edge. This allows the RB can receive the handoff and reach the edge without the DE playing both, or force the DE to come up field and have the QB attack directly vertical instead of having to work diagonal to the play. Again, watch the clips of OSU doing the exact same thing in the link above.

Space Coyote

August 25th, 2014 at 8:31 AM ^

At which point his shoulders are pointed at the mesh point. Then he works vertical. He goes from outside Lewan to a position that is likely heads up on Lewan (if Lewan was still in his initial position). I guess agree to disagree, but I see a first step that takes him inside before working vertical.

I'm not meaning to lump on DG either. This is why you shuffle the mesh point toward the DE (to make the read easier), and this isn't an extremely clear read. With default being to pull, and Michigan likely not working a ton on elongating the mesh point to get a better read, DG didn't have a ton of benefit to make the correct read.

steve sharik

August 25th, 2014 at 7:50 PM ^

...I would hardly call that a squeeze.

If teams are going to play the inverted veer this way (with the DE shuffling toward the mesh), OCs need to add a no-read power lead.  Kick out the DE with the pulling guard, FB takes two steps toward the perimeter, then leads on the WILL, QB hands off to TB, who threatens the perimeter, then plants and cuts upfield, a la Wing T Buck Sweep.

 

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AC1997

August 24th, 2014 at 8:23 PM ^

In your tables at the end you show a +3.5 for both Lewan and Fitz without any negatives, but I think that's got to be wrong since I saw them both highlighted as negative multiple times.  It almost seems like Borges had a decent day here as he tried more screens, tried some reverses, countered a few things, etc.  It wasn't "good", but it showed signs of recognizing their weaknesses and trying to hide them.  Some Funchess drops and a Gardner fumble or maybe we steal this game. 

Space Coyote

August 24th, 2014 at 8:47 PM ^

He's likely gaining some depth so he can see any blitz coming from the backside and turn and seal them. But this is something that Michigan has been doing regularly (he at least goes straight down the line once he gains depth) and they have had trouble getting their OGs out to the second leve (and OTs on counter treys) since they made the change to Power O when Hoke took over.

Most teams are going to the shuffle step, but you watch OSU in the clip in the link I posted and they shoot right down the butt of the OL. That's how I was originally taught. But Michigan has been getting "too deep" the past three seasons to the point that I have to believe they are being taught it. And the only reason I know of to do that is for as described above, but when you can't get to the 2nd level it doesn't really do you much. 

Don

August 24th, 2014 at 11:45 PM ^

is that the only guy he really hits is his own teammate at the end of the play. Runs right into Kerridge like he wanted to. Bizarre.

ca_prophet

August 24th, 2014 at 11:53 PM ^

... as just as you were compelled to complete this, we are compelled to read it - however masochistic our obsession may be.  Thanks :)

As to the grading, it plays out like I remember it - we had some chances which we blew, and we ... wait for it ... didn't execute, even on some of our successful plays.

 

Roc Blue in the Lou

August 26th, 2014 at 12:34 AM ^

I was at that game, wearing everything i could find in the suitcase and still forced to mix my flask stash with HOT CHOCOLATE just to stay conscious!  Iowa's defense, IMO, got into Devin's head a bit as the game went on.  He grew more timid and failed to make good decisions in too many instances. Brian's UFR confirms what i believed i had witnessed at the time.  Actually, rather than avoid remembering this game, i believe this was a valuable learning experience for DG on the road in extremely adverse conditions.  However, this is also a prime example of how helpful it might have been to have had a QB coach on the sidelines...like we will have this Season.  I expect great things from Mr. Gardner in 2014.