Again, sorry this was late. I've been called in for an election recount tomorrow so Purdue might have to wait until next week.

Substitution Notes: Will Johnson started and had the most snaps of the three corners, with Green getting only a couple of drives in place of each. Paige and Moten split one safety spot evenly. Barrett was a constant at LB with Colson coming out for Rolder one drive before garbage time and Mullings got a couple of plays. Morris came out after the first drive and Jenkins picked up some time at DE along with McGregor, Upshaw, D.Moore, and then Okie late. DT was the usual though Grant got 3 snaps and Benny got in for a couple of drives. Q-Jo and Goode got in late.

Formation Notes: OSU spent most of the day with their TE split wide. I used "Flex" if he was in the slot and "4w" if he was outside. "RB" means the RB is on the TE's side, which is a thing they were doing all day. The other thing they were doing was max spread, with WRs outside of both numbers and the slot where an outside guy would normally go.

They also put the slot receiver at RB depth, which I noted as High H.

Also remember that a position in parentheses means that player is covered, and a hyphen means motion. So the above was Gun Trips RB (Z) High H-Orbit—fortunately it never got more jargon-y than that.

On the Michigan side, nothing special except they experimented with having their ends set up inside the formation, which I denoted as "Tight" because I don't think the coach term "soft edge" should apply. This got gashed for a couple of runs and went back in the scrap heap. Note both DEs relative to the RT and TE.

[After THE JUMP: This is the charting that never ends.]

Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O19	1st	10	Offset Wk RB	4-2-5	Nk Even	1 press	PRO	n/a	Hitch/IZ	Johnson	Inc	-0.53
OSU thinks they have a tendency scouted and a blitz coming. Instead Johnson(+2, cov+2) presses the face off his WR and the front is all playing run. Stroud chucks it OOB uncatchably.
O19	2nd	10	Gun 4w	4-2-5	Nk Split	1 bdy	Pass	4	TE HItch	Barrett	9	0.53
M in Cov3 (RPS-1, cov-1) and the TE is split way wide so WJ points Barrett(-1) at this. He's a beat late to respond and Stover can shove his way close to the 1st before they get him OOB. Out too quick for pressure but nobody was close.
O28	3rd	1	Offset Wk RB Z-In	4-2-5	Nk Over	1 off	Run		Duo	Colson	6	1.10
Jenkins(+1) gets his DL in the backfield which cuts off one of the two lanes this can press. Morris(-1) set up too far outside so the C gap isn't squeezed and the RB can run past an arm by Smith. Want Colson(-0.5) to attack more aggressively when Jenkins makes his choice easy.
O34	1st	10	Gun Wk RB H-Cross	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 off	Penalty		False Start	n/a	(-5)	-1.04
Oops.
O29	1st	15	Gun Trips RB (Z) High H-Orbit	4-2-5	Nk Under	2 off	Run		Veer	Moore	18	2.28
Slot lines up at RB depth at the hash then motions and they hand off to him with the RB lead blocking. Colson(-2) gets stuck behind the C and tries to go inside of him. Barrett(+1) gets playside of the RT who grabs both sides of his helmet. Think that's legal if it's not to the face, and also sorta Spaceballs. There's room to run around because Harrell(-1) got thoroughly ejected from the edge by a TE. Turner(+0.5) found the RB and funnels to Moore(-2, tackling-3) who overruns and turns 7-yard gain into close to the 1st. Then Moten(-1) whiffs as well but forces back to Jenkins(+1) who caught up and prevented this from becoming a 71-yard touchdown.
O47	1st	10	Offset Quads RB (Y)	4-2-5	Nk Wide	1 off	RPO		Stretch/Bubble	Barrett	3	-0.41
This time the RT's helmet grab on Harrell isn't legal, Refs-1 miss a hands to the face at least that's probably a facemask. Jenkins(+2) cuts off the outside by planting his G upfield then shoves that guy to cut off the open lane behind him. Smith(+0.5) beat the RG and the C released onto nobody so this cuts back to Barrett(-0.5) who has a stuff but Trayanum fights through him and Colson for 2 extra.
50	2nd	7	Offset Wk RB	4-2-5	Nk Under	2 off	Pass	4	Pick Out	Sainristil	6	0.36
Tempo(19) catches M changing (3 DTs in nickel, Jenkins at DE), not set. Sainristil(-0.5, cov-0.5) isn't in terrible position, Stroud (Hat+1) puts it in the perfect spot for Egbuka to catch and get a foot down.
M44	3rd	1	Gun 4w	4-2-5	Nk Split	1 off	Pass	6	Hitch	Turner	19	1.44
Tempo(23). Both LBs blitz, Jenkins(+1, PR+1) runs through a RB and Stroud has to chuck at a well-covered Marvin Harrison. I mean Turner(+1, cov+1) is right where the ball is going and Harrison has to lean back and one-hand this. Hat+3.
M25	1st	10	Gun Wk Y-Cross	4-2-5	Nk Even	1 fld	RPO		Flash/ZR IZ	Barrett	7	0.33
Looks scary for a second as Graham(-0.5) has Jackson climbing on his back and Smith(-2) gets sealed after crossing the RG (Enokk Vimahi, hadn't scouted him, but helluva play by that guy!). Barrett(+2) fixes by whipping inside of the C and tackling but not before Trayanum has a head of steam and can fall forward another 4 yards.
M18	2nd	3	Offset Trips RB (Z) H-Jet	4-2-5	Nk Split	1 off	Run		ZR Power H	Johnson	12	0.32
Scripted run at the split gap and Graham(-1) gets comboed down to Colson, which was made hard by the split alignment. Barrett pops the puller to force a bounce outside. There, Harrell(-2) loses the edge while trying to squeeze it, and Johnson has to deal with the Jet WR because both Moore and Moten are still hanging out backside. One of them was supposed to go with the motion, or else the LBs were supposed to move over. RPS-2 the way M is aligned makes this easy and there's no safety close enough to help.
M6	1st	Goal	Gun Trips	4-2-5	Nk Under	0 press	Run		ZR Stretch	Upshaw	1	-0.39
Tempo(25). M gets a quick change and OSU hurries to run a play, probably should not have. Upshaw(+2) powers through a TE all the way to the RB and Moore(+1) shot under the H to collect the RB.
M5	2nd	Goal	Gun Wk RB Y-In	4-2-5	Nk Under	1 press	Play-Action	n/a	TE Pick	Johnson	1	-0.26
OSU runs the pick play the legal (IE behind the LOS) way. Moten gets blocked but Johnson(+2) replaces, sets up, and gets a leg. Has a TFL but it's CB vs TE so it falls forward 2 yards. Upshaw(-0.5) falls down trying to help prevent this.
M4	3rd	Goal	Gun 4w Trips	4-2-5	Nk Over	1 bdy	Pass	4	Slant	Sainristil	4	2.65
This is on Colson(-2, cov-2) who needs to chip Egbuka and gets nothing on him. Sainristil is in coverage but was set up inside so I don't put this on him. Nobody else is remotely open and Morris was beating the RT around so there's a good chance of a sack if the LB gets that chip.
Drive Notes: Touchdown. 0-7. 10 min 1st Q. Not a great start.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O45	1st	10	Gun Wk RB	4-2-5	Nk Over	2 off	PRO	n/a	Bubble/Duo	Turner	17(+15)	1.09
Catch M playing off (RPS-1, cov-1) and hit a screen that should get 5-6 yards but Turner(-1) misses a tackle. Colson(-1) does too, but reaches back and gets the helmet strongly enough that a ref on other side of this figures it must have been a facemask.
M40	1st	10	Gun Wk RB	4-2-5	Nk Even	2 fld	Run		Stretch	Colson	8	0.64
McGregor(+1) two-sides this edge and should be rewarded with a TFL except Colson(-2), whom Smith(+1) kept clean to get to this, inexplicably holds up and lets the back out. Sainristil(+1) gets off a block to hold this short of a 1st down.
M32	2nd	2	Gun 4w Stacks	4-2-5	Nk Split	1 press	Pass	4	Comeback	Turner	7	-0.15
Tempo(20). Turner(push) is playing a little bit off but the WR has to come way back and jump for this. PR-1 as this took a few beats to get to and Stroud had acres. I want to Hat Paris Johnson for his protection here.
M25	1st	10	Pistol Twins	5-2-4	5-2 Odd	1 off	Play-Action		PA Scramble	Johnson	5	0.08
Nobody gets their way here. OSU wants to set up a TE screen but Harrell(+1, cov+3) is all over it (RPS+2). Smith(-0.5) and Jenkins(-1) both start working back anyways--I have sympathy but at this point Jenkins just needs to pressure Stroud. Rolder(-1) also flies out there, and that leaves just Upshaw(-1, PR-3) with an RB within 10 yards of the QB. Stroud scrambles around but everyone is covered, Upshaw loses contain, and Stroud gets five yards and a hard shoulder from Johnson(+1).
M20	2nd	5	Offset TTE (F)	5-2-4	5-2 Split	2 press	RPO		Counter GT/Bubble	Rolder	2	-0.26
OSU covers a TE for no reason, run tip. Big gap as Harrell(-1) gets bopped and the pulling LT literally tackles Rolder (Refs-1), who got to the hole but also spilled instead of funneling. Jenkins(+1) shucks the TE who just stops blocking him (Hat-1) and gets a shoestring tackle in.
M18	3rd	3	Ace TTE F-Cross	5-2-4	5-2 Odd	1 off	Run		Lead Stretch	Smith	3	0.33
Harrell(+1) sets a strong edge this time, shoving the TE back so the RB runs into him. Smith(+1) fights across and discards the C, who gets Mazi's arm as he falls and holds him back just enough to get the conversion (rubbin's racin). Moore(+1) blasts the FB and is there squeeze it shut. Williams (Hat+1) is somehow able to keep his feet and fall backwards 20.5 yards, which is enough for the 1st. Good player.
M15	1st	10	Pistol FB H-Zipper	5-2-4	Nk Over	1 off	Play-Action	n/a	H Whip	Harrell	1	-0.25
You tried to edge Jaylen Harrell(+2) uh it did not work out for you. They run zipper motion with the slot and Harrell doesn't panic, setting an edge at the LOS inside the numbers and ripping around the FB trying to kick him to force X.Johnson into Barrett(+0.5) and Paige(+0.5).
M14	2nd	9	Offset Wk RB	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 off	Run		ZR Counter GT	Graham	0	-0.34
Don't love Upshaw's edge but M has it dead to rights with Colson(+1) blasting the lead blocker and Moore(+1) gunning down. Bonus Graham(+2) sluices off his downblock just to time to beat Moore to the crunch.
M14	3rd	9	Gun Str RB	4-2-5	RC Uset	2 press	Pass	3	H Whip	Sainristil	Inc	-0.44
Tempo(29). The idea is to snap immediately and fade to Harrison but Johnson(+1) is on top of it with Paige around to help. Stroud comes down to a whip route vs Sainristil(+2, cov+3) as Morris(+1, PR+1) is squeezing his way through Paris Johnson. Sainristil jumps the route and has an 86-yard pick six if it's accurate; it's well overthrown. EO1Q
Drive Notes: FG(32). 3-10. 1 min 1st Q. Bend don't break
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O30	1st	10	Gun Trips RB	4-2-5	Nk Over	2 off	PRO	n/a	TE Flat/Stretch	Johnson	6	0.37
Read is on Okie, M is playing off (RPS-1) but Johnson(+1) gets there quickly for a solid tackle. Kind of a gamble play since there's a good chance this gets deflected by the guy being read. Okie missed by inches.
O36	2nd	4	Offset Wk Twins	4-2-5	Nk Even	2 off	Run		Split Zone	Smith	4	0.56
The Miyan Williams Experience. Smith(+1) destroys this blocking, swimming through a double to contact Williams a yard in the backfield. Okie(+1) also whips the LT and gets in. Williams (Hat+2) powers through them both and Jenkins(+0.5) who stood up his double to get the 1st, partly because Barrett gets in there and tries to strip instead of stop, which isn't a terrible idea.
O40	1st	10	Gun Wk	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 off	Pass	5	Rollout	Green	7	0.70
Tempo(30). Weird low-upside play off tempo and M has it covered with Sainristil(+1, PR+1) blitzing under the RB to force Stroud to bail backwards. Only two guys to throw to, one is doubled, the other Green(-2, cov-1) allowed to run upfield. Stroud makes a great throw on the run to him for a decent gain. RPS+2 this was the maximum this play could get.
O47	2nd	3	Gun Str 4w	4-2-5	Nk Even	2 off	PRO	n/a	Bubble/Stretch	Moore	11	0.76
Colson is blitzing so there's no mesh point. Sainristil(+2) sets an edge so perfect Egbuka bumps into it, setting up Moore(-2, tackling-2) for a TFL that he whiffs entirely. Paige(+1) got across the field to hold it down from there.
M42	1st	10	Offset Wk Y-cross	4-2-5	Nk Even	2 off	Pass	4	TE Flat	Moore	-3	-1.57
Tempo(27). Long time in the pocket and the rush gets nowhere (PR-2) as Okie throws a shoe getting worked by Paris Johnson and #70 does a solid job on Smith, and D-Mo hops back off his rush when he sees the RB release. Stroud doesn't like any of his options after all this (cov+4) and goes to his TE three yards behind the LOS who gets blown up authoritively by Moore(+2). RPS+2 even with no pressure Stroud ends up throwing a loss.
M45	2nd	13	Pistol Wk Y-Cross	4-2-5	404 Tite	2 off	Run		Lead Stretch	Sainristil	8	0.73
We need to talk about Tite. M shows an LB blitz and they change up to a perfect playcall vs M's soft edge. Graham is looping to contain as Upshaw drops, so only Benny(+1) provides any pursuit from the DL; he gets on horse though. The LT and LG scoop McGregor(-1) which isn't hard because his slant was inside the LG anyways but he can't let himself get done like this. Rolder(-2) lined up too far inside and not only lets the crossing TE pass him but allows the LT to get down on him; burrowing just allows Johnson to shove him down by back of his head. It's now down to Sainristil(+2) vs a TE and the RB. Sweetness sets up outside then hops inside and pulls the rug out from Miyan. Incredible job to hold this to just 8. RPS-1.
M37	3rd	5	Pistol 4w	4-2-5	5-2 Splits	1 press	Run		Counter GT	Graham	3	-0.38
Graham(+2) stunts again and this time they catch the power run it defeats, since he's now playside of the downblocks as the LT (Paris Johnson Jr., whom we're now calling PJ2) arrives with Barrett(+1) also loose behind. Graham discards PJ2 who has to hold to stay relevant (Refs-1) while Barrett initiates stuff procedures. Graham isn't content with that so he violently twists and spins towards the RB. PJ2 has no choice but to follow his arm as he's spun to the ground and Graham jumps on the RB. That was cool.
M34	4th	2	I-Heavy	5-2-4	5-3 Under	1 press	Play-Action	n/a	TE Leak	Harrell	Inc	-4.15
They have the slot receiver playing TE-F on the backside which may be a pass tip? They fake split stretch that way and want to leak the backside TE out with the FB replacing as the hinge. Harrell(+2, cov+1) isn't buying it. He stays attached as Stover tries to shuck him. Q-Jo is coming over from the other hash so Stroud has to put this on a line instead of laying it in and giving his TE a chance to battle for it. It's as accurate as it can be to keep it away from the defender, but would be a tip-back catch, and the millisecond Stover gets his hand on it Harrell starts tackling and Stover can't bring it in. Hell yeah! This is what a Harrell is for!
Drive Notes: Turnover on downs. 3-10. 11 min 2nd Q. Mattered at least as much as the Sainristil PBU.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O22	1st	10	Gun 4w	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 off	Pass	6	Snag	Barrett	16	1.32
Start in a tight look then go to spread and catch M with a blitz on. OSU is prepared for this; blitz is picked up except Sainristil is so far away he doesn't need to be (PR-1), and Stroud calmly puts it into a snag between zones. RPS-2.
O38	1st	10	Gun 4w	4-2-5	Nk Under	2 bdy	Pass	5	Slant	Turner	Inc	-1.09
Again they go super spread. Smith(+0.5) and Jenkins(+0.5, PR+1) both stunt and beat blocks so Stroud has to move up and fire over Upshaw(-1, cov-2) who doesn't get enough depth to help Turner(-1), who's beat by a step. Throw is perfect, Harrison drops his first of the year. RPS+1 this should have had a DE dropping into it but Upshaw got eyes for the RB occupying Colson.
O38	2nd	10	Offset Wk RB	4-2-5	Nk Split	1 off	RPO		Belly	Harrell	5	0.06
Harrell(+1) has a tough job to two-gap this as Jenkins(-1) gets washed out and Barrett uses himself up early. His help is supposed to be Moten, who sensed a crackblock and hit the WR but wound up gapped without Green replacing. Harrell gives up some yards on the TE blocking him to two-gap and stop this after a fair gain. Not going to RPS this because 3rd and 5 is a win.
O43	3rd	5	Gun 4w H-In	4-2-5	Nk Wide	1 off	Pass	4	H Out	Moten	Inc	-0.73
Smith(+1) and Jenkins(+1) both discard their Gs and immediately pressure (PR+2). Stroud has to throw off his back foot and throw away from good coverage from Moten(+1, cov+1) and can't do both.
Drive Notes: Punt. 3-10. 9 min 2nd Q. Look: a four and out! CJ scores quickly so D is right back on the field.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O30	1st	10	Gun Trips	4-2-5	Nk Tight	2 off	Run		Dart	Smith	24	2.15
Graham(-1) gets scooped by PJ2 and that's always bad news, but he doesn't get sealed. Smith(-1) does get sealed, fighting across only just too late to get a hand on the back. Colson was funneling off the C who pulled around Smith where Barrett(-1) is supposed to be but he goes under instead of cutting their losses and gets shoved down. Moten was coming down the backside so he can only pursue. Moore(+1) fights through Egbuka's block to hold this down.
M46	1st	10	Gun Trips	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 off	Play-Action	4	Slot Fade	Sainristil	18	0.78
Tempo(30). Smith(+1, PR+1) push-pulls his way past the C but gets hung up on Jenkins(+0.5) who was coming through the same gap vs his guard. Unlucky to have two wins cancel each other out but this does get Stroud throwing off his back foot. It's an absolute dime that Harrison(Hat+3) brings despite Sainristil(+1, cov+1) actually tipping it as it arrives.
M28	1st	10	Gun Str RB	4-2-5	Nk Even	2 bdy	Run		Toss Sweep	Barrett	4	-0.04
M gets set late which might help because a WR can only give Sainristil(-1) a little pop on his way to the LBs. That's enough to get Sainristil off-balanced and kicked well wide, but also gives Barrett(+0.5) time to get around the crack. Contacts at 1 yard, Trayanum runs through him for 3 more.
M24	2nd	6	Gun Wk Twins	4-2-5	Nk Even	1 press	Penalty		False Start	n/a	(-5)	-0.60
Oops.
M29	2nd	11	Gun 4w RB Y-In	4-2-5	Nk Even	1 bdy	Pass	4	Slant	Moore	Inc	-0.75
Amoeba brings Sainristil, Harrell drops over the RB. Teach tape for defending a slant from Cover 2 as Moore(+2, cov+2) sets up and breaks, separating Egbuka from the ball and nearly intercepting, then no-no fingers. RPS+2 Stroud thought he had Cov1 and was baited into a near INT. Day calls a timeout, possibly to get a targeting review but it's clean.
M29	3rd	11	Gun 4w Z-In	4-2-5	Nk Wide	2 off	Pass	4	Comeback	Harrell	Inc	-0.98
Proof of concept for Amoeba. Show 2LB blitz, Colson loops, Barrett(+1) drops right into the snag to Harrison that Stroud is staring down (RPS+2). Smith(+1) fights through a chip to pressure off the edge and Stroud fires at a Egbuka but Harrell(+2, cov+3) shoved him off his route and ball sails over his head.
Drive Notes: FG(47). 10-13. 5 min 2nd Q. M scores (CJ wide open) in one play so defense right back on the field again.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O21	1st	10	Offset TTE	5-2-4	5-2 Under	2 fld	PRO	n/a	Hitch/OZ	Turner	15	1.18
Catch Turner(-2, cov-2) playing way off and bailing. Shoulders turned to run as Stroud's throwing so not an RPS thing. He also gets run over for extra.
O36	1st	10	Offset Wk Twins	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 off	Run		Power	Okie	7	0.71
Okie(-3) and Benny go in the same gap and by how everyone else steps it's pretty clear Okie's at fault. That sucks because Graham(+1) and Benny(+1) both discarded their OL so this is was a monster TFL rendered moot, and now M has no edge. Barrett(+0.5) does well to pop the puller and tackle with help from Paige(+0.5) coming through a WR and Johnson.
O43	2nd	3	Gun Wk RB H-Orbit	4-2-5	Nk Over	2 bdy	Play-Action	4	PA Comeback	Johnson	15	1.14
Oh man, Okie(-2, PR-2) thinks he's coming inside PJ2 and then gets donkeyed across the formation. Stroud doesn't have whatever read he's looking at but all the time in the world now to stop his rollout and find Fleming coming back under Johnson(-2, tackling-2) who's in tough covering that long but needed to do more than shove Fleming into the ball. He gets away briefly but WJ gets him OOB.
M42	1st	10	Gun Wk RB	4-2-5	Nk Splits	2 off	Pass	6	Fly	Green	42	3.24
Tempo(22). The one time M decides to zero blitz. Safety is coming from way high so there's plenty of time with Barrett(-1)'s rush wiped out by the RB so bad he crashes into Smith(+1) who was the only guy to beat his block. Stroud launches a dime to Harrison vs Green(+1, cov+1) who's in perfect coverage until Harrison gets away with a little voodoo OPI that his dad was so good at. They never call that sort of thing. NFL play by OSU there.
Drive Notes: Touchdown. 17-20. 3 min 2nd Q. Rough drive for my Okie Should Start take. Also M elects to punt on 4th and 1 here so once again no break.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O20	1st	10	Gun Wk RB	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 fld	PRO	n/a	Bubble/IZ	Sainristil	Inc	-0.56
I think Stroud got a pre-snap read bc he's rips it out at the mesh and fires but PJ2 is 4 yards downfield so it's definitely an RPO. Ball's dropped (Hat-2).
O20	2nd	10	Gun Wk Twins	4-2-5	404 Tite	2 off	Run		Power	Smith	6	0.14
Stunt works (RPS+1) as Smith(+1, tackling-1) whips his OL and sets up in the backfield after Jenkins(-1) gets washed out by PJ2. Mazi's got a TFL if Harrell(-1) isn't bonked to give Trayanum some room. Colson slips around two OL who turned upfield to clean up but the RB falls for a good gain.
O26	3rd	4	Gun 4w	4-2-5	Nk 5-1	1 press	Pass	5	Slant	McGregor	Inc	-0.34
Jesse Minter RPS+3 has this bitch cooooold. McGregor(+2, cov+3) has a sim pressure and drops right into the slant they're trying to pick open. Turner(+1) also beat the TE's attempt to grab him on his way and was there to PBU if McG doesn't pop it over them. Stroud threw it high or this is a Pick Six. So cold.
Drive Notes: Punt. 17-20. 1 min 2nd Q. Next drive is a just kneeldown. Also 47 charted plays in a half is enough.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O32	1st	10	Gun Trips	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 off	Run		Dart	Graham	3	-0.38
Jenkins(+1) at DE and sets a hard edge. Trayanum is going to run into him for a TFL but stops and falls forward for 3 yards.
O35	2nd	7	Gun 4w RB	4-2-5	Nk Split	1 fld	Pass	4	Slant	Sainristil	7	1.34
Sainristil(push) gives a little cushion but is contacting on the catch here. Harrison catches while shielding and falls for the 1st. RPS-1 don't think this defensible from this setup.
O42	1st	10	Gun Str 4 RB	4-2-5	Nk Split	1 off	RPO		Stretch/Slant	Barrett	8	0.99
McGregor(+1) sets a good edge and gets held quite clearly by Jones (Refs-2) to prevent him from tackling. Barrett(push, tackling-1) beat a T to the gap but then gets bulldozed by Trayanum. First egregious call all game I think.
50	2nd	2	Gun TTB	4-2-5	4-3 Over	1 off	RPO		Stretch/Bubble	McGregor	-1	-1.59
No zone read and McGregor(+3, tackling+1) doesn't respect one as M has Colson hanging back just in case (RPS+1) so McG can just grab the RB and chuck him down for a loss. Couldn't get away because Jenkins(+1) set a high edge inside and Smith(+1) whipped his blocker.
O49	3rd	3	Gun Wk Y-Cross	4-2-5	5-2 Split	1 press	Run		Pitch Sweep	Sainristil	0	-1.02
I guess they're expecting Sainristil(+2) to be locked on Harrison and give up the edge; it doesn't work out for them, also because Colson(+2) arrested the TE, got outside of him, and chased this all the way to the sideline so there was no up to turn when Sainristil started tackling.
Drive Notes: Punt. 24-20. 10 min 3rd Q. This was a 4th and 3 at midfield, by the way.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
M48	1st	10	Offset Ace	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 press	Pass	4	RB Out	Colson	23(-25)	-3.58
Jenkins(+2) beats the LG and is going for the sack, gets held, flag comes out. Colson(-2, cov-2) is covering grass and can't get out there, then overruns or purposely funnels to Paige(-1, tackling-2) who whiffs. Comes back on the hold and then after the play TE Gee Scott headbutts Moore (Hat-2, literally). Look like somebody shoooook.
O27	1st	35	Gun Ace	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 bdy	Run		Pitch Sweep	Smith	3	-0.04
Dodgy as D-Mo(+1) gets upfield but sets up and does force inside so he got away with it. Smith(+1) crosses his G and shuts it down.
O30	2nd	32	Gun Str 4w	4-2-5	Nk Wide	2 off	Pass	3	Snag	Harrell	13	0.32
Tempo(33). Jenkins(+1, PR+1) gets in through a double and forces Stroud to move. He's still looking at a snag to Harrison that stays open between four(!) guys as Harrell dropped to grass but they're allowed to be giving up a few yards here.
O43	3rd	19	Gun Str 4w	4-2-5	RC Uset	3 off	Pass	3	RB Dumpoff	Sainristil	14	1.22
Tempo(32). M plays super soft and gives up enough that they're in 4th and go for it so RPS-1. EO3Q.
Drive Notes: Punt. 24-20. 6 min 3rd Q. Stroud argues to go for it. Then punt team false starts.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O25	1st	10	Gun Wk RB Twins	4-2-5	4-3 Even	2 bdy	Play-Action	4	RB Dumpoff	Barrett	1	-0.59
Stroud has forever, with no pressure (PR-2, Cov+3) and nobody open on what I guess are vertical routes. Stroud goes to his RB in the flat and Barrett(+2, tackling+1) slams him down at the LOS. Smith wants a hold because his shoulderpad's grabbed all play but the C lets go as Smith breaks loose and they usually let that go.
O26	2nd	9	Gun Wk RB	4-2-5	Nk Wide A	2 off	Pass	4	Comeback	Turner	6	0.20
M shows blitz, OSU goes to max pro, M brings 4v7. Stroud doesn't like his high-low and Jenkins(+1, PR+1) comes through to chase him out of the pocket with McGregor(+1) shooting up off the edge to force a tough throw that Fleming (Hat+2) brings in on the sideline. NFL throw...should Turner(-1) be more aggressive with all the help? A little.
O32	3rd	3	Empty 5w H-Orbit	4-2-5	RC Exotic	3 press	Pass	3	Flare Screen	McGregor	Inc	-0.51
Tempo(34). And Woody Hayes is pounding on the gates of hell as OSU's in empty, M in a pass rush set like it's 3rd & 13 not 3 with McGregor(+2, cov+2, RPS+3) flying upfield and knocking away the flare they know is coming. Alllmost bats it into his own hands for six.
Drive Notes: Punt. 31-20. 11 min 4th Q. This is a playoff team?
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O39	1st	10	Gun Str RB	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 fld	RPO		Duo/Hitches	Jenkins	2	-0.52
Maybe missed a read to the bottom. Jenkins(+2) stands up the double the RB's reading, he and Barrett(+0.5) take him down. Smith(+0.5) ripped past his blocker to help prevent YAC.
O41	2nd	8	Gun Wk 4w	4-2-5	Nk Splt	2 fld	Pass	4	Dig	Moore	Inc	-1.05
Smith(+1, PR+1) rips his way in after a beat so Stroud throws before noticing Moore(+2, cov+2) who is tracking and breaks in front of Harrison, drops the INT. Stroud and OSU fans Spart So Hard I'm loving it he beat your guy to the ball you Sparts!
O41	3rd	8	Gun 4w	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 off	Pass	4	H Post	Sainristil	44	3.87
How they getchya. Sainristil(-2, cov-2) has inside leverage but lets Egbuka run deep of him. RPS-1 this is Cov 2 but they have Moore(-1) doubling over Harrison to remove the safety help over the top. Fortunately Sainristil gets him down before it's a TD.
M15	1st	10	Gun Wk	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 fld	Pass	4.5	Throwaway	Colson	Inc	-0.32
Tempo(28). Again 7-man protection meets 4-man rush, though this time Colson adds late. M takes away Stroud's first read, a high-low to the field, and then he wants a fade that Johnson(+1, cov+3) is dominating, and then Colson(+1) sneaks around into the backfield and is about to sack so Stroud chucks it into he stands. I hate that throwing 8 yards short is grounding but 30 yards high isn't. RPS+2.
M15	2nd	10	Gun Wk RB	4-2-5	Nk Over	2 press	Run		Counter GT	Barrett	6	0.11
They check into this. McGregor(+1) sets a great edge, Colson(-0.5) doesn’t do as well with the puller, going outside him and getting sealed next to McG when he should be gumming up the works. Smith is a beat late to work across his downblock, Barrett(+0.5) fights through a T's downblock to hold it down. RPS-1 one safety is deep all play and Moten rolled is checking the QB.
M9	3rd	4	Offset I F-cross	4-2-5	4-3 Split	1 press	Play-Action	4	TE Drag	Sainristil	Inc	-0.35
Drive Notes: FG(27). 31-23. 7 min 4th Q. M scores in 1 play to make it 38-23 so the rest of this is garbage time, end char…JUST KIDDING, but negatives off for passivity as long as it burns clock.
Just close your eyes you can see it now. Jenkins(+1, PR+1) beats the LG so Stroud has to throw this off his back foot and lays it in perfectly (Hat+2) to Stover. Johnson(-1) was supposed to pick him up but lets him cross as he's passing off the crossing WR. Sainristil(+3) has to cross the entire formation, trails by 3 yards when this is thrown, and arrives to punch it out just as Stover's catching it. Play of the year!
Drive Notes: FG(27). 31-23. 7 min 4th Q. M scores in 1 play to make it 38-23 so the rest of this is garbage time, end char…JUST KIDDING, but negatives off for passivity as long as it burns clock.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O25	1st	10	Gun Str	4-2-5	Nk Splits	2 off	Pass	4	RB Flat	Turner	5	0.09
Xavier Johnson, who's usually the slot, at RB. It's a high-low to the field vs Cov2. D-Mo(+0.5, PR+1) and Graham(+0.5) get bull-rushes to force a throw off-platform that takes X-Jo back. Turner(+1, cov+1) tackles immediately.
O30	2nd	5	Gun Wk RB Twins	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 off	Pass	4	Mesh	Moore	11	1.32
Tempo(27). M in a soft Cov4 shell so not enough guys to cover intermediate routes. Not gonna RPS because it's all about bleeding clock now.
O41	1st	10	Gun Wk Flex	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 off	Pass	4	RB Flat	Sainristil	7	0.70
Tempo(28). Benny(+0.5) and D-Mo(+0.5, PR+1) are closing in to speed up Stroud who dumps to his "RB" in the flat. Sainristil(push, cov+1, tackling-1) plays his zone perfectly but misses the tackle. Johnson(+0.5) stands X-Jo up so a crew can bring him down inbounds and kill off 6% of the game's remaining clock.
O48	2nd	3	Gun Str RB	4-2-5	404 Tite	2 off	RPO		IZ/Hooks	Benny	6	0.42
They forget to block Benny(-1, tackling-2, RPS+1) who gets into the backfield for free but whiffs. Dangerous for a moment because M has no edge with Sainristil the guy read, but Paige(+1) flies down to catch the spill.
M46	1st	10	Gun Wk Flex	4-2-5	Nk Even	2 off	Pass	4	H Curl	Sainristil	6	0.31
Tempo(27). Quick throw under soft but Sainristil(+1, cov+1, tackling+1) PBUs anything short of a perfect throw (Hat+1). Refs-1 give Egbuka 2 yards of progress even though he was the one spinning back to try to break a tackle.
M40	2nd	4	Gun Wk 4w	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 off	Pass	4	Quick Hitch	Johnson	12	0.47
Don't mind playing soft here but Johnson(-1, tackling-1) is so far off he whiffs the tackle so 6 yards is doubled and the WR gets OOB.
M28	1st	10	Gun Str Demi	4-2-5	404 Tite	2 off	Pass	5	Quick Hitch	Johnson	12	0.20
Jenkins(+1, PR+1) is through up the gut and almost bats this down but that's the only way M can stop this. There's such a thing as too soft Johnson(-1, cov-1) though he does get him down inbounds after an easy 1st down.
M16	1st	10	Gun 4w Stacks	4-2-5	Nk Split	1 press	Pass	4.5	Skinny Post	Sainristil	Inc	-0.33
Tempo(25). Smith(+1, PR+1) is coming through with Rolder who activated late so Stroud guns to Egbuka. Sainristil(+2) had outside leverage but crosses and PBUs. Lol OSU fans spart for a phantom PI.
M16	2nd	10	Gun Wk RB	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 fld	Pass	3	Improv	Turner	Inc	-0.38
M shows blitz, sends three vs a 7-man protection. McGregor(-1) gets too low and pancaked but Smith(+2, PR+1) is through two guys on a loop and chases Stroud out of the pocket after he gets one look at a fade M dropped into (RPS+2). Might be able to fit it into Egbuka in a spot between Moten(-1) and Turner(-1) but WR overruns it (Hat-1).
M16	3rd	10	Gun Str	4-2-5	Nk Even	2 fld	Pass	4	Improv	Benny	INT	-3.87
More Amoeba, M shows double-A gap blitzers then backs out WDE and WLB and stunts. Graham(+1, PR+2) fights through a double, putting the C on the ground and forcing Stroud to bail. Benny(+2) has contain, breaks away from the LT, and is in the process of sacking when Stroud tries to underhand it to his RB, who tips it into the arms of Upshaw(+2) for a backbreaker. Also cov+2 there was nobody to throw to.
Drive Notes: Interception. 38-23. 4 min 4th Q. Michigan goes 92 yards in 1 minute so OSU gets the ball back down 22 with 3:20 to go.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O25	1st	10	Gun 4w Trips	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 fld	Pass	4	Curl	Mullings	11	0.93
I'm not knocking soft coverage but Mullings(-1, cov-1) lets a WR cross behind him then stops moving.
O36	1st	10	Gun Wk Flex	4-2-5	Nk Even	2 off	Pass	4	Hitch	Johnson	9	1.38
Tempo(31). Johnson(+0.5, and Barrett(+0.5), tackling+1) corral Harrison inbounds and short of the sticks, which kills about 20 seconds.
O45	2nd	1	Gun Wk Flex	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 off	Pass	4	Sack	Okie	-8	-2.95
Tempo(27). Okie(+3, PR+3) spins through PJ2 and sacks, spinning Stroud so hard he fumbles. Upshaw(+1) picks it up and should be rumbling to the house but Refs-3 blow it dead, then decide after the fact that they ruled him down by forward progress to cancel the review.
O37	3rd	9	Gun Wk RB	4-2-5	RC Even	2 off	Pass	4	TE Seam	Rolder	INT	-4.04
There's a small window over Rolder(push) and a better TE. Instead it bounces off Stover's hands to Paige(+2) and we're no longer mad about the last thing.
Drive Notes: Interception. 45-23. 1 min 4th Q. Michigan kneels it out.

Ryan Day's gameplan was so…

Are you going to say soft?

Indiana.

Omigod.

Like…the receiver splits, the screens…

…, putting your tailback to the strong side and treating your tight end like a wide receiver so you don't have to deal with the defender assigned to him. This is what Walt Bell's running in Bloomington.

But I don't get it. Indiana does that because they have a left tackle from Directional Texas A&M&T; Ohio State has Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones.

I don't know man.

Did those five-star receivers block any better than their pro-bound tackles?

Uh, no.

I don't get it.

I think Alex Drain did. Ohio State's gameplan was to throw screens while they waited for Michigan to get clever with pressures and bomb them downfield. Michigan's plan was to sit back and get Ryan Day into 3rd & anything because to Ryan Day they're all passing downs. Ryan Day complied, and Michigan did not.

Minter's primary mission was to take away Stroud's first read. He mostly did this with Sim Pressures, bringing a guy up to the line like he's going to blitz then dropping him back into coverage. Here's a 3rd & 11 where Michigan's showing six guys around the line of scrimmage. Watch #23, Michael Barrett, as he comes down that bottom hash, and watch Stroud's head:

See? He drops right into that first read. Stroud comes off of it but by then Harrell's had time to drop under the other guy. The pass rush is still nowhere close, but that's all you need to get Stroud off his game. He's an Ohio State guy. Everything's supposed to be right there for him. The pressure finally breaks down—Mazi Smith coming all the way around—and Stroud chucks it away. Then the WR turns to the ref like "Make something up, man!"

Note too in the above example that OSU's receivers are spread out to the numbers. That too was very Walt Bell, but you can also see its purpose in how wide Harrell is setting up. Michigan wants that guy to be a DE/OLB who threatens to come off the edge or back into coverage. At this point they might as well be using a safety however since he's too far to complete an edge rush before the quarterback's had time for a few good reads, but if he gets any closer to the box he can't be of much help to coverage in the flat.

This was most of the day. Ohio State would spread out the length of the field. Michigan would show pressure pre-snap, Ohio State would get in a seven-man protection, and then it'd be three receivers trying to get open against seven guys while Stroud's anxiety level ratcheted upwards.

You're watching the play on the right side

This worked because Stroud *HATES IT* when you take away his first read, and because it's not actually that hard to give him false cues that make him pick the wrong read. Lets' go back up to that sim pressure, which kind of looked like a Don Brown thing pre-snap. You've got Barrett walking down under the hash, Harrell cheating inside and not facing the receivers, Paige lower than Moore and inching down. If you're trained to spot coverages pre-snap you would think this is going to materialize into Cover 1 with a five-man pressure, like so…

…and you figure you've got an easy throw under this. What really happens is Barrett drops underneath the route you think you have, Harrell drops into the flat, and Michigan has four guys playing zone over the top. A real NFL quarterback would realize he's been duped into reading a side with four guys where he thought there would be two and find the space underneath on the other side. But Stroud doesn't like it when you take away his first read. He stares in disbelief as the backside opportunity closes.

…and just keeps staring. Sometimes he just short-circuited and dumped it off to the flat, even his blockers had the pressure so locked up they had literally undressed Michigan's primary rusher:

IE Eyabi Okie, #18 DE at the bottom, lost his shoe

I think Ohio State was mega-prepared for Jesse Minter to bring pressure. They figured he didn't want his defensive backs exposed to the 5-star receivers, that we'd be afraid of CJ Stroud given too much time to pick apart a zone, that Michigan knew their pass rush had no chance against two excellent tackles, especially minus Mike Morris. And you can tell because the second Michigan did bring one of those blitzes we cooked up they were ready to stop it and put the ball right into the soft spot. This is the throw Stroud was looking for in the example we just drew up:

One of the few other times Michigan actually brought the pressure they kept warning about, Stroud immediately noted the lack of safety help over Marvin Harrison Jr. and lofted one up the sideline for him to run under. Never mind that Gemon Green had a nine-yard cushion to start with.

Another part of this was Michigan correctly identified an issue with Stroud that we noticed last year in the scouting as well: He prefers not to run. Michigan could send just three guys, see one of them get buried immediately, and his instincts are still to pass against the eight guys dropping instead of taking a shot.

When Michigan's Stroud Has Cooties gameplan met Stroud's Must Find Somebody to Throw To directive the result was absurdity. Here's a screen that Harrell has well-covered, yet both DTs decide to bail just in case. Michigan's left with just Taylor Upshaw, but he's staying attached to a running back. Neither team knows what to do. Michigan's not going to let anybody get open. Stroud has no interest in running it. Finally he decides he doesn't have a choice and glides out for five yards.

Late in the game Michigan finally overcame their reticence to approach Stroud in the pocket, but even literally being in the process of getting sacked could deter this man from trying to get the ball to a receiver.

Program values, man.

 

I noticed that seldom was that receiver named Marvin Harrison Jr.

The few Michigan-like beings at Eleven Warriors are all upset that Day tried to spread the ball around—the kind of thing he does against Rutgers to keep everyone happy—instead of throwing to the best player on the field. There's something to that. Even when Michigan had good coverage on Harrison it often didn't matter. Sainristil actually got his hand on this one first.

And then the touchdown…Not only was that a dime, but Harrison got a push-off to create separation that was so subtle even I would have wondered if the refs were conspiring against Ohio State if they'd called it:

Harrison also caught a 3rd & 1 for 19 yards one-handed through perfect coverage (and a little DPI) from DJ Turner. After that he had the One Big Play and The One Catch and was otherwise invisible. "Otherwise invisible" is still 7 catches on 10 targets for 120 yards and a 42-yard touchdown, so let's not kid ourselves. Harrison was sick, and I don't mean sick as in my excuse for this article coming out a week late or Ohio State's excuse for MGoBlog being back in the UFR'ing Ohio State games business. Another 13 targets were split between Xavier Johnson and Cade Stover that averaged 2 yards per target. Emeka Egbuka had fifteen targets at 8.3 YPT, and that's helped immensely by the 44-yarder they hit late.

By now if you haven't heard Spencer's rant at Ohio State for not throwing it at their best player more often, you're failing at being an online college football fan. That's okay, I've got you covered:

Is he right?

About Marvin Harrison Jr.? Sorta. Michigan went to great lengths for most of this game to take Harrison away, and Ryan Day's pro-style scheme teaches its quarterbacks to look to the side with numbers. For the most part, pro passing is about having weapons all over the field, recognizing the opponent's concepts, and throwing to where that gives up leverage (NFL teams with one really great receiver spend insane amounts of practice time scheming ways to get him the ball). Michigan's overreaction to Harrison created openings for the other guys. Egubka's 44-yarder, for example, was open over the top because Rod Moore was almost at the numbers when the ball was released.

#19 the safety to the right

Contrast this with Moore's reaction when they ran Harrison in the slot against similar coverage:

#19 the safety on the bottom hash

And there was another cost to leaving a safety on top of Harrison Jr. all day.

It felt like their running game was Mr. Plowing us.

Precisely. Michigan's front came in for pretty good scores, but OSU still rushed for 5.7 YPC on 26 called runs or RPO handoffs. We've talked all year on offense about opponents throwing free hitters into Michigan's line. Michigan's approach to Ohio State was the opposite: to stop their runs somebody had to beat a block, because the safeties were in no position to come down and assist.

Take a look at this 2nd & 10 in the 4th quarter. OSU checked into this from the sideline. It's their Counter play that pulls the backside guard and tackle. Michigan got their fit right and it was still six yards. Why? Watch Rod Moore on the bottom hash again:

Power plays are a little hard to see live so here's a drawing.

Click if the boxes are too small to read.

Michigan has Moten (the safety on the top) watching for a Stroud keeper and Moore staying out over the side with Harrison on it until long after the handoff. OSU therefore has a hat for every player in the box. Even with McGregor squeezing the hole shut and Colson hitting the puller in the gap there's a crack for Trayanum to get through until/unless one of Mazi Smith or Michael Barrett can get off their downblocks.

Smith is a fraction of a second too late, Barrett does but is stopped and Trayanum has a full head of steam, and the physics of that result in a few extra yards.

This could have been a Problem, and I imagine it will be if Ohio State and Michigan get past their respective Playoff foes. Chip Trayanum and Miyan Williams routinely got 2 or 3 extra yards after contact. Even when the Wolverines had a guy meeting the back at one or two yards; the thing is that guy wasn't big enough to get off his block and stop the Train. Here's Harrell trying it:

#32 DE on the bottom

So if Ohio State was able to run it down our throats why didn't they on 3rd downs?

I don't know!

If I was one of those rare Ohio State people with functional nasal respiratory systems I would be exhaling words in all caps. All of us are Urban Meyer survivors, and vividly remember the J.T. Barrett times when an Ohio State 3rd & 6 meant they could run for 4 yards then run for another 4 yards on 4th & 2. Even Barrett's successors would keep it a few times—especially for Michigan—to maintain The Threat. And yet how many times did he run it in this one? So few that Michigan stopped worrying about a keeper on 2nd & 2.

Now, Michigan didn't trust this AT ALL. You'll note an example earlier where Moten was hanging backside with his eyes on Stroud, and even in this example Junior Colson is hanging out about five yards deep in case of a keeper.

On the other hand it was uncanny how anti-pass Michigan was able to play against Ohio State in 3rd & short situations. Note the down and distance as Michigan drops its edge defender into a passing lane:

That was one of several times in this game Ohio State was lucky not to give up a pick-six, if you're counting which team benefited the most from surviving big breaks. Here's another, and again, note the down and the distance!!!

How dead is Michigan right there if Stroud's on a QB draw? They didn't run him once. How you can be the head coach of Ohio State and so afraid to run the ball that Michigan is dialing up multiple pick-six opportunities on 3rd & short is unfathomable to me.

But you have a theory.

I think Ryan Day's just an NFL guy at heart and trusts his passing game to get him over the line more than his running game. Let's go over the sequence of 3rd and 4th downs in running distance in this game. I put runs in blue, passes in red:

• 3rd & 1 (14:20 1st Q) at O28: Run Duo with Miyan Williams for 6 yards.
• 3rd & 1 (12:40 1st Q) at M44: Deep hitch to Marvin Harrison Jr. who one-arms it on the sideline in tight coverage.
• 3rd & 3 (3:02 1st Q) at M18: Lead stretch with Williams, contacted at 1, falls forward for the rest.
• 3rd & 5 (12:12 2nd Q) at M37: Counter GT, M stunts and hits Williams after 1, falls forward for two more.
• Ensuing 4th and 2 at M34: PA leak to the TE over Jaylen Harrell that's well-thrown, well-defended, not caught.
• 3rd & 5 (9:10 2nd Q) at O43: Quick out to the slot, DTs get pressure to create a bad throw. (Punt)
• 3rd & 4 (1:25 2nd Q) at O26: Slant to Fleming, M has McGregor dropping into it off sim pressure, pick-six if accurate. (Punt)
• 3rd & 3 (9:37 3rd Q) at 49: Pitch sweep off counter action, Sainristil and Colson run it down for no gain. (Punt)
• 3rd & 3 (11:46 4th Q) at O32: Flare screen, M has McGregor flying upfield, almost another pick-six. (Punt)
• 3rd & 4 (7:28 4th Q) at M9: PA drag to the TE, Sainristil breaks it up.

Every one of us has biases, and without conscious effort to identify those biases and reason through them, they tend to color how we see different events. So when one of their backs meets two tacklers at one yard on 3rd and 3 then manages to squirm around for an extra two yards, in my run-addled mind that says "Oh man, even when we have one of these stopped at a yard they're gonna get three!" But to a pass-biased mind, that same event says "Oh man, they stopped that at a yard and I was lucky to get three." That happened to them twice at the end of the 1st quarter and early in the 2nd. After that the only run they called was a pitch outside that had worked for them earlier.

This play same play minus the pitch part nearly nailed Michigan for all the yards on a 2nd & 13 earlier in the game. When that happened however Michigan was misaligned, trying to get into a 404 Tite but without the crucial middle linebacker flaring outside the tight end to act as the force player.

Compare the two setups and it's not hard to see why one of them got edged and the other had defenders all the way to the sideline.

The second one was, not coincidentally, one of the few times Michigan put a 7th guy in the box. Paige not only got wide of the motion TE but soaked up a crack block from the slot receiver, freeing Sainristil to attack the ball on one side while Colson, who was lined up outside the formation from the beginning, chased inside-out.

I think the ease with which Michigan adjusted to what Ohio State was doing on the ground spooked Day into putting away his running game and going back to the things he knows best: spreading out your star receivers to create obvious matchups and throwing to the one that's most advantageous.

You said Michigan adjusted to what Ohio State was doing on the ground?

Well you had to know they would have a July Drive. I can't tell you what Urban Meyer gave them or what Wilson's input was, but they had some clever running attacks prepared. Getting their slot Xavier Johnson in space was a good idea. Rod Moore has to come down from his two-high safety position and overruns this, then Moten missed as well.

I don't know what Michigan's adjustment to this was because the only other time Ohio State aligned the H-receiver like that was to set up a screen going the other way and Michigan had already figured out that's the counter to it:

The other idea Ohio State prepared for Michigan was to use their own tricks against them. This is a simple power run that pulls the backside guard and a receiver that gets both LBs and Harrell jumping into the same gap:

I think one of the LBs is supposed to shuffle over with the motion so that's just some kind of bust.

OSU's main rushing attack was still Stretch, which didn't get super-fancy. But they did download Bret Bielema's power run to the short side, pulling the guard and tackle, leaving the TE to hinge the backside. Most power teams will prefer to run to a side with a tight end because one of the most crucial blocks is the playside edge getting down to the linebacker level. Ohio State has super-athletic, NFL-bound tackles, however, so asking Dawand Jones to skip out into space and make that block wasn't asking too much.

Michigan knows power, though, and by the second time OSU showed it Michigan stunting the DTs around their downblocks.

Watch McGregor (#17) and Graham (#55), the top two guys with their hands down

But even with that RPS win, sometimes Trayanum was so good it didn't matter.

 

It says something about something that Michigan wanted this guy who was all-Pac 12 for Arizona State for their mooseback role and Ohio State had him (not playing) at linebacker all year until they brought him out for this. It says more however that Michigan couldn't play Mike Morris in this game, faced the second- and third-best running backs they've seen all season, and their front seven still came out in the positive.

Am I going to like the chart?

You're probably going to like the chart.

CHART!!!!!!!!

Defensive Line
Player	Snaps	+	-	T	Notes
Mazi Smith	61	14	3	+11	Michigan's most constant source of pressure.
Kris Jenkins	57	17	3	+14	Why they didn't want to run. Played lots of DE too.
Mason Graham	27	6	2	+4	Played agnry.
Rayshaun Benny	13	4	1	+3	Upshaw's interception was gonna be Benny's sack.
Kenneth Grant	3	0	0	-	DNC
Michael Morris	0	1	1	-	DNP
Jaylen Harrell	61	9	5	+4	My apologies, King.
Eyabi Okie	16	4	5	-1	Got a donkey ride, deserved a fumble on his late sack.
Taylor Upshaw	24	5	2	+3	Upshaw line is now "clinched a win in Columbus."
Derrick Moore	17	1	0	+1	See very good things.
Braiden McGregor	27	11	2	+9	Stepped up.
TOTAL	307	72	24	+48	OSU can't compete with Michigan's talent up front.
Linebacker
Player	Snaps	+	-	T	Notes
Junior Colson	61	4	9	-5	Four big miscues, two big plays.
Michael Barrett	77	7	3	+4	Was locked in, got rolled over by big backs.
Kalel Mullings	2	0	1	-1	See you on the other side of the war.
Jimmy Rolder	16	0	3	-3	Soon as he learns Tite he's serviceable.
TOTAL	156	11	16	-5	A lot of their +'s got lost in man coverage.
Secondary
Player	Snaps	+	-	T	Notes
DJ Turner	70	3.5	6	-2.5	Played off coverage a little too off.
Mike Sainristil	71	17	3.5	+13.5	This is a MONSTER score for a DB.
Will Johnson	73	9	5	+4	Arrived. Was M's best outside cornerback.
Gemon Green	13	1	2	-1	Passed by Will Johnson.
Rod Moore	74	10	5	+5	Ha ha they didn't want you.
Makari Paige	41	5	1	+4	Boring until he was needed to save us.
RJ Moten	40	1	2	-1	Mostly unnoticed.
Quinten Johnson	2	0	0	-	DNC
TOTAL	384	46.5	24.5	+22	More like Marvin Harrison Who-nior amirite?
Metrics
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Pressure	21	11	24%	Let Stroud sit in the pocket, bull-rushed passing downs.
Coverage	33	15.5	+17.5	Sold the farm for it.
Tackling	4	15	-11	Trayanum/Miyan trucked some guys, X-Jo made whiffs.
RPS	24	12	+12	Property of the Baltimore Ravens NFL Club LLC
Hat Tip	15	6	+9	My god that TD pass to Harrison.

You are making a face.

This is my face.

No, that is your face when you think you've found one of those times when it's appropriate to brag you were smart about a thing without coming off like an arrogant-ass Michigan know-it-all.

Okay, but did I knot say Michigan's going to win this game because their defensive tackles are going to win their battles?

I forget. A lot of people said things about this game.

I think I should get some credit for this.

I think you should give the credit to Mazi Smith, Kris Jenkins, and No It Doesn't Get Old Saying He's a True Freshman Mason Graham.

I think you're right. Just like…people…said before the game, the key to getting pressure on Stroud was to get the tackles through, and Mazi Smith was doing that.

#58 the top DT

Late in the game there was less fear of rushing reprisals and Smith turned it up a notch. Here he is on a three-man rush, coming through a double-team to flush Stroud out of the pocket. If McGregor doesn't get pancaked it might have been a monster sack.

I was capturing wins by #58 all game in addition to his as-always brilliant work against the run. One of the keys to getting Day uncomfortable with his running game was Smith constantly winning blocks. Any one of those could have resulted in a TFL if another thing had gone right, even without safety help.

Graham didn't get to play as much but when he got in he played ANGRY. He too was putting Stroud on the wrong foot, and his persistence against a triple-team was what gave Rayshaun Benny a sack opportunity that became the Upshaw INT.

Graham was also part of Michigan's answer to Ohio State's power running game. This is an RPS win but it also takes a lot of agility and balance to work your way across a run stunt with blockers looking to catch you and more coming that you're going to be responsible for. Graham's attack is teach tape for the kids:

And Kris Jenkins was just as good as Smith. Braiden McGregor managed to whip this one down from behind but one of the reasons he catches up to the back is because Jenkins has set up a wall that Trayanum runs into.

#94 the top DT

I just realized that I did that thing I do again where I didn't clip any of Jenkins's +2 events because they're so common. He drew the crucial holding on the 1st & 10 that turned a 23-yard gain into 1st & 35 (not clipped). He stood up a double on a Duo that Dallan Hayden ran for only two yards, getting him pulled for Trayanum (no video in my library). He also shoved a guard deep into the backfield to cut off a stretch run on OSU's first drive (no video). And like Smith, Jenkins was routinely pushing the pocket to turn Stroud's boredom into off-platform throws. I did clip one of those:

#94 the top DT with all the space to his right

I bet that is a crazy high heroic score for a defensive back!

Yes, Sainristil's day was up there in the Jabrill Peppers zone. Except Peppers never did that in The Game.

Show me the Sainristil play again.

We just embedded it but okay.

I mean the play he made in the redzone on 3rd down!

Happy to. This is a whip route when OSU is going tempo and he's got to recover from coming too far inside. Not only does he do that; Sainristil managed to jump the route, and has an 82-yard pick-six if the throw is accurate.

No, the one where he saved a touchdown!

We just showed that one too. It's the one where Rolder didn't adjust to the TE motion from a Tite front and Sainristil had to come through a block to get Trayanum down after just 8 yards, bringing up a 3rd & 5 that led to the turnover on downs.

... The pass he broke up in the endzone, Seth.

This one?

I see what you are doing and I appreciate it.

Sweetness, Frozone, Nope…whatever you want to call him I remember writing up his Hello post six times over a summer because everyone knew he was a flip from Virginia Tech and we just needed him to announce. I remember getting both barrels of hate mail from the 3-star mafia who hated every Don Brown New Englander from some high school that sounds like the name of a law firm. I remember him breaking multiple tackles against Notre Dame after the rain and the Irish had pissed themselves out, and breaking open on a fade in East Lansing that should have been the winning score, and bringing in the 4th down slant and all sorts of things. I turned down an offer by Alex Drain to write up a "Sainristil Returns" post when Sainristil announced he's coming back next year because we'd just put up a bunch of articles.

I'm trying to keep my biases in check here, telling myself that little kids don't all go outside and recreate football plays from this game after they see them like we did. Keeping him off the cover of HTTV is going to be a step too far. Not after the platonic ideal of a PBU.

Here's the replay:

Legend.

Sticking with the cornerbacks, another legend has begun?

Will Johnson started, played more than any other cornerback, and came out the best of them. Brian can talk about Arriving with the picks in the Big Ten Championship game because Arriving means doing a game-changing thing and then doing it again. Arriving for coaches however is when they stick you on Marvin Harrison Jr. with no safety help on the first play of the game and a Woodson-v-Boston ensues because Harrison can't get off the line of scrimmage.

Often the reason Stroud's first read wasn't available was Michigan is selling out to put guys under it. The reason his second read wasn't there either was "Johnson is running it for him." The play on the right is off tempo right after the long pass to Egbuka. Stroud wants the outside but Michigan's got numbers over there. He looks to the left where there should be an outlet under soft coverage, motions his receiver to bail deep, and the guy can't because Johnson's right there. Throwaway.

The same fade was Stroud's first read on the whip route that Sainristil defeated above and Johnson stayed on top of it despite a double move.

The other guy who had one of his best games was Rod Moore. One of the things I liked about his film out of high school was he had the greatest potential for generating interceptions of any Michigan safety recruits in a long time. We got to see what the Ohio coaches were talking about as Moore jumped routes twice. This one to Egbuka was set up since Michigan was stacking three defenders over the slot, blitzing Sainristil and leaving Paige high so Moore was free to play in-breaking routes with aggression.

The other almost interception was reading Harrison Jr.'s intentions, then timing and accelerating into his break.

There's a version of this game where Stroud has six picks. This one wasn't that different than Johnson's 2nd interception in the championship.

What about the rest of the secondary?

Turner came in for some knocks for playing too soft. Readers last week were getting on me about giving the cornerbacks negatives for Michigan being in soft coverage, but:

1. How you align is relative to how much space you need to recover, so if that is "lots" that's kind of what we're measuring with these metrics anyways.
2. I issue a "push" if you're lined up 10 yards off in zone and give up ~5 yards to a quick throw underneath. I issue a minus if you're still bailing when the guy cuts off his route and give up 8-10 yards before you can even tackle.

There were too many instances of that for Turner in this game. I also go easy on corners on incompletions even if a better throw or play by the receiver could have converted so if you think he's being done dirty for playing off Harrison on 1st & 10, he only got a –1 for being out of position when this happened.

Green had his time significantly cut into by Johnson but was the guy out there for the long Harrison touchdown. I gave Green a +1 for his coverage, since he was step-for-step until Harrison Jr. got away with a brilliant example of never-called OPI to create the separation.

Moten and Paige switched off drives equally but I thought it was another clear advantage for Paige. Neither got to do a ton because they were often the guys tasked with staying over receivers and forcing Stroud into uncomfortable checkdowns. Paige had the game-ending interception but that kind of came right to him. A couple of times he managed to fly down from on high to hold down run play or screen, and he was often the guy arriving late to finish a play someone else already got the credit for. He's a good, boring safety. Jamar Adams and Jarrod Wilson should invite him to listen to classical music and play chess sometime.

Moten missed a few tackles and could have been hit with a touchdown on the improv following the screen everybody covered instead of pressuring the quarterback. The one other target at his guy wasn't accurate but I gave him a positive for being there if it was.

I want to ask about defensive ends. Do you have any idea how much I spent on disaster survival gear on Amazon?

I think they let you return most of that.

Nope. I opened it all when Morris went out.

Ha, me too.

You owe Jaylen Harrell an apology.

I'm not going to apologize for making him a Cyan and advocating for Okie to start over him in The Game because this was actually all a big setup. Ryan Day reads MGoBlog, you see, so Jaylen and I concocted this whole Seth Hates Jaylen Harrell But Michigan Plays Him Anyway bit all year so they'd burn down after down going after Michigan's most versatile OLB.

And they totally bought it! CJ Stroud doesn't even look to see if Harrell's in coverage here because he's read on Upon Further Review all season that Harrell just drops to grass instead of getting over his receivers.

#32 on the bottom

Ohio State also had a play designed to take advantage of Harrell's speed, which I said wasn't good enough to be a linebacker, by trying to have a slot receiver in Zipper motion get outside. Harrell wasn't having it:

#32 DE on the top

And of course the coup de gras. Ryan Day, MGoBlog Reader, was absolutely convinced that Harrell was the weak spot he wanted to attack on 4th down. The plan here is to get the tight end blocking then sneaking out with Harrell none the wiser. Wide open tight end, easy catch, big long gain on 4th & short, everybody hails Ryan Day, Football Genius. Except if Day actually had read MGoBlog this year he'd know the one thing Harrell absolutely doesn't do is give up easy –2 mistakes. The tight end leaks out, Harrell goes with him, and even a perfect pass doesn't connect because the second the ball touches the TE's hands Harrell is tackling, adding a whole nother round of physics to the equation.

#32 DE on the bottom

Still, congrats to me for executing a flawless long play on Ohio State. I did not get owned by Jaylen Harrell. Please do not put in the newspaper that I got owned.

Like that time you said Braiden McGregor reminds you a little of Aidan Hutchinson?

That was literally everybody saying that, but I did say I think McGregor sets a Hutchinsonian edge than Harrell against power runs, and that was very true in this game. The six-yard run I mini-Neck Sharpied above was very different from the bonkings that Harrell usually takes. The back does find room to squeeze through inside, but it feels like Michigan has this stuffed up originally and that's because McGregor took away all the space the kickout block was supposed to create.

#17 the DE on the bottom

Here's another run where I thought the play was going to be dead because McGregor caved in the edge, although this time he's a little more responsible for allowing the back to squirm his way out of there.

#17 on the bottom

Add to that the two near pick-sixes that were set up by the playcall but still worth +2s, and then the way he crashed this party, which was one of just two times all game that OSU running backs didn't manage to tack on YAC…

...and you have the best day of McGregor's young career. Morris is probably NFL-bound, and I think McGregor has a good shot to be the guy who replaces him. Once again, his development was set back by his injury, and lower body strength seems to be the one thing keeping McGregor from consistency. His pass rushes in this game routinely ended up with him getting underneath the OT's pad but too extended and shoved down. Once McGregor can move a sled that will become a bull rush move instead of a pancake, and that should open up the world to him.

The next guy in was Taylor Upshaw. His pass rush was negligible by design—Michigan really didn't ask him to try to do more than contain Stroud in this game, which was a tactical gamble that highlights a weakness. Getting away with that however meant they got to use his other attributes. Upshaw destroyed a tight end on the goal line on OSU's first drive, which frightened Day off from the running game down there. And being there means being in a position to make a play that comes to you, whether it be a small thing or the penultimate dagger into the heart of Ohio.

Derrick Moore and Eyabi Okie got their rotations in, especially late, but were the odd men out. Okie got donkeyed about as bad as I've ever seen the first time he was called in to pass rush. But he got his revenge on Paris Johnson Jr. at the end, even if the refs stole the fumble that resulted from it.

Add a spring and fall camp to the season Okie just had to play cold and I think they might get to access the bulk of that 5-star hype.

Are we accessing the five-star hype for Junior Colson yet?

There was more down than up this time. The big Up was that pith he and Sainristil ran down together. Colson came inside at first then used his speed to recover, which is a thing other linebackers just don't get to do.

#25 lined up on the bottom edge

Michigan also used Colson's speed in coverage, often having him take Stover or even a receiver in quasi-man rather than spot-dropping, which has been a weakness. I think there are some hidden points that Colson contributed that got filed under "Coverage" because we were watching Stroud bouncing up and down impatiently in the pocket while Colson sat down underneath the route Stroud wanted off-screen. The rare times Colson was allowed to pass rush he got to use that speed to be a problem.

To the bad, there was the "facemask" I was sure they call even if you don't get the facemask until Purdue got away with a worse one, but that started because Colson overran his tackle attempt. There was also a Cam McGrone Special when Colson tried to go under his blocker on a veer. That too is a negative but a progression: he knows what's happening and is taking risks in hopes of a big play. There was also a little bit of indecisiveness. This is that play McGregor set a good edge. Mazi Smith also set up Colson for a kill shot by getting away with a little defensive holding on #70. Colson lets the guy escape instead.

#25 the lower LB

And I've been on about linebackers chipping on routes that go past them the last few weeks primarily because Colson didn't chip on Ohio State's first touchdown.

#25 the LB at the bottom of the 'K'

I know Sainristil is a Legend now, but he's got outside leverage on that receiver, who is crossing Colson's zone. Just sticking your hand behind you and waving at him isn't enough. Get in that guy's way and give him a chip! That's what you're doing there.

Beside him, Michael Barrett had another good game. He was by far the more actively involved linebacker, and seemed to feed on Michigan's momentum the way the senior leaders of old guy teams tell you they did when they speak at alumni clubs decades later. Barrett's going to be wearing a jacket and sitting on a stool with a microphone in Philadelphia one day, and someone's going to ask him about The Game in 2022, and he's going to say that first throw to the flat early he came in a little tentatively, but the next time they tried it on him he was just feeling it.

#23 the top LB, feeling it.

In his head he'll probably also remember meeting Trayanum or Williams at 1 yard and then going for a bit of a ride. That's life.

Speaking of life, signs of it from the linebacker depths?

Mullings…was good on offense. But Jimmy Rolder, despite a safety-esque score, seemed to hold up when he was out there. He still needs some instruction on the finer points. Coach Twitter was getting mad about Michigan's "soft edge" here like it was a humongous tactical error, but everyone here is running a standard 404 Tite with one exception: the middle linebacker isn't in the slot.

#30 the LB to the bottom

Rolder's allowed to set up there if he wants—the Tite has room for guys to move around and threaten different gaps. But once that play starts and Michigan's giving up their edge, Rolder has cannot let a tackle get outside of him. Once that TE motions across the formation, Rolder's got to stop pretending like he's anything but the force player. Getting stuck inside like that: bad. Rolder's other freshman moment was getting lost on that screen that the DTs both backtracked on. If Rolder takes the RB out of the backfield Upshaw is free to harass Stroud into at least a throwaway. If Rolder goes for the quarterback he could have had a monster payoff. It's a bit early however to expect a true freshman linebacker to trust his instincts going off-script on a broken play.

Heroes?

Mike "Sweetness, Frozone, Nope" Sainristil, Kris Jenkins, Mazi Smith, Mason Graham, Michael Barrett, Will Johnson, Rod Moore, Jesse Minter.

Maybe not so heroic?

Tackling.

What does it mean for Purdue TCU and Beyond?

Jesse Minter knows his own mind and that of his rivals. I can't tell you for absolute certain, but everything from this game says Ohio State was expecting the new kid to empty the (Ravens) playbook of every blitz under one-high to make up for a lack of natural pass rush.

Mike Sainristil gets a shield? Legendary performance, a play that will make highlight reels for a generation, and several more almost as good besides. I'll put him on watch and see what the Purdue score looks like, deal?

My scoring system might be doing LBs a disservice. Colson's score is the score—I don't mess with those to get the result I want, but I don't think the narrative matches the numbers there. Gotta chip.

I bet Will Johnson has a breakout game soon. The coaches already see it; the rest of us will get our chance.

Michigan is plain better at football than Ohio State. The thing about wasting an extra guy every down to take away Marvin Harrison Jr. is you can do that if you have the players to get away with it. OSU was lucky Stroud didn't have at least four interceptions in this game.

Ohio State could have done better. Ryan Day probably could have ridden his running game further than he did. If he gets another shot, however, odds are Michigan has Morris back.

I want to see the Sainristil play one last time. Here it is your moment of zen: