The UFR Glossary.

Substitution Notes: Penn State spent most of the day with multiple TEs on the field but used them primarily as receivers. Michigan was answering with nickel personnel. DT snaps were ~90% Smith, 60% Jenkins, 40% Graham, 25% Benny and a few appearances of Grant but not Goode. Edge saw more Okie than Harrell and lots more Upshaw and Moore, with McGregor not playing till the last drive. LB was Colson/Barrett with Mullings in on a couple of 2nd half passing downs and Rolder playing late. Will Johnson got more snaps when Green got hurt but he returned; Turner was omnipresent. Sainristil came off for an extra DL sometimes. Safety was mostly Paige and Moore but Moten came in as a dimeback and Quinten Johnson got a couple of drives that I assume would have gone to Caden Kolesar.

Formation Notes: I treated flexed TEs as WRs since PSU did as much, but noted the personnel. PSU had a screen formation they ran off their first (non goal line) first down (which was in the 2nd half) that I called Gun Trips WIDE.

Also we've taken to calling all passing down weird formations "Exotic" but this one came out twice (both key downs) and was dubbed SUPERKINGKONGMEGAMEGA Split until I shortened it to SUPER for table purposes.

On with the show.

[After THE JUMP: A short show]

Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O25	1st	10	Ace TTB	5-2-4	5-2 Odd	2 fld	Run		Dive	Smith	1	-0.59
Smith(+2) swims through one double, forcing a bounce. Jenkins(+1) took on another to keep his LB clean. That's Colson(+1, tackling+1) whom Parker Washington (Hat-1) passed up to get a CB. All converge at the LOS.
O26	2nd	9	Empty Trips	4-2-5	Nk Over	1 bdy	Pass	4	In	Turner	8	0.56
M changes (DL for Moten at Nk) PSU does not. Barrett is wide to the boundary with the RB. Turner(-0.5) in push coverage with Colson(-1, tackling-1) inside delayed by taking away the TE. They arrive in time for a 4- or 5-yarder but Colson misses the tackle and Turner's going for a strip so PW rumbles to near 1st down.
O34	3rd	1	Ace Heavy	5-2-4	Goal	1 pres	Run		Duo	Jenkins	-1	-0.80
Lots of pointing by the secondary again. M baits a run into this gap then pinches both DTs at it (RPS+2). Jenkins(+2) also gets low and slips through a double. Graham(+0.5) also in the backfield. Singleton has to bounce outside where Morris(+1, tackling+1) cleans up 2 yards deep.
Drive Notes: Punt. 3-0. 8 min 1st Q. The 1997 is honored.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O28	1st	10	Offset Twins U-In	5-2-4	404 Tite	2 off	Run		Counter Trey	Colson	3	-0.33
Third TE is flexed then motions in and kicks Harrell(-1) for a big gap. Jenkins(+1) shrinks it by getting to the RT's playside shoulder but Colson(+2) wins this by waiting for the first puller to come through the gap then shooting up past the second one to stick.
O31	2nd	7	Offset Trips RB-Flare	4-2-5	Nk Under	2 off	RPO		QB Power/Flare Screen	Harrell	-2	-0.81
PSU clears out the box with a flare screen RPO to run QB power and M is slanting right at it (RPS+2), with Smith(+1) letting wasted blockers who think they're doubling him go by so he can blast the puller. Harrell(+2, tackling+1) cleverly sets up his T before diving inside, where he gets Clifford's leg, and brings him down solo.
O29	3rd	9	Gun Wk RB	4-2-5	Exotic	2 bdy	Pass	4	Whip	Green	2(+3)	0.54
Morris(-1) offsides--broadcast clock is a bit slow; fans were mad bc Morris goes when it hits 1 second and PSU manages to snap it at like 0.1 but it's the correct call. Also the LT (Fashanu) stonewalls him. Max pro has doubles for everyone else (PR-1) but Clifford has just 3 routes to read (cov+2). Green(+1, tackling+1) in Cover 2 (RPS+1) reads it, and slams this down after a gain of 1.
O34	3rd	4	Gun Wk Demi Z-In	4-2-5	4-3 Under	1 off	Pass	6	Sack	Paige	Inc	-0.51
M shows blitz from Colson off edge, he drops into the read, they Double-A blitz Barrett(+1) through the RB and Paige untouched (RPS+2) to either side of the C who's occupied with Smith. Clifford chucks it.
Drive Notes: Punt. 6-0. EO1Q. PSU has 9 yards of offense, M has 11 minutes of
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O25	1st	10	Empty F-Fly	4-2-5	Nk Over	1 off	Pass	4	Digs	Green	Inc	-0.70
D-Mo(-1, Refs+1) is in the neutral zone, gets away with it, doesn't matter since he's stunting and nobody gets near Clifford (PR-1) but PSU is running a read with a screen to the other side so Clifford has to throw when Washington compes open under Green(+1, cov+1) who's close enough to harass if it's accurate. It's high. Hat-1.
O25	2nd	10	Gun 4w Trips	4-2-5	Nk Under	2 fld	Pass	4	TE Curl	Moore	9	0.68
M blitzes Colson off the right while D-Mo(+1) crashes inside and gets through. Clifford (Hat+1) has to fire this hard and immediately to his TE under Moore(-1, tackling-1)--he hits when the ball arrives then gets dragged a couple because he's small.
O34	3rd	1	Gun Str	4-2-5	4-3 Over	1 press	RPO		Split Flow	Barrett	62	4.41
M has a scrape on so Okie is correct to take the RB. Barrett(-1, tackling-1) is supposed to take the QB who is supposed to go outside. The LT (Hat+2) goes off-script when he sees Paige go for the TE, turns around, and gets just enough shove on Barrett that Clifford pull his legs out from Barrett's arms. Great awareness play by that guy. Benny(-0.5) and Colson(-1) 100% bought handoff and erase themselves. Moore(-3) got nosy and gets run by. Turner(+2) is all the way at the sideline and tracks this down short of the goal. (Benny gets tackled but he's as much as part of that as the LG so good non-call IMO).
M4	1st	Goal	Offset Str	5-2-4	4-3 Under	1 press	Run		Counter Trey	Smith	2	-0.38
Playside double on Smith(+1) that he holds up to then gets around the RB's waist and won't let go until help swarms.
M2	2nd	Goal	Gun Bone	5-2-4	Goal	n/a	Pass	n/a	Fade	Turner	Inc	-0.48
Didn't know they throw these still. Turner(+2, cov+2) dominates the route, hops higher to screen the WR who lol wants a flag because PSU.
M2	3rd	Goal	Gun Str H-Orbit	4-2-5	Goal	1 press	Run		QB Lead	Sainristil	1	-0.24
Okie(+1) splits a TE/T and they have to tackle him from behind to prevent a TFL (refs-1). Paige(-1) hits the RB and gets put in the endzone. Sainristil(+2, tackling+1) flies down from 1-high across this whole formation to stop this a yard short.
M1	4th	Goal	Gun Heavy Unbal	5-2-4	Goal	n/a	Run		ZR Down G	Paige	1	2.74
PSU goes unbalanced (covered T on right side) and M is guessing at the other side. Moore(-0.5) and Paige(-0.5) wiped out by TEs, Turner has the pulling G. Morris is crashing hard on the RB, takes one extra step before laying out, and just can't get to him in time. Not negging that; RB accelerated out of certain doom: Hat+1.
Drive Notes: Touchdown 13-7. 6 min 2nd Q. Next drive is just a kneeldown and not charted.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O20	1st	10	Offset 2TE	5-2-4	5-2 Odd	2 fld	PRO	n/a	Split Flow	Barrett	Inc	-0.56
M blitzing Turner and scraping Morris/Barrett (RPS+2, cov+2) which has this dead to rights. Clifford has Turner in his face, thinks he's got a drag route
O20	2nd	10	Gun 4w Trips RB-Flare	4-2-5	5-1 Odd	1 fld	Pass	3	Throwaway	Harrell	Inc	-0.26
M being pretty conservative on a 3-man rush that brings Jenkins around. LT captures him outside in the pads in a way that's holding in any other conference (refs-1). Grab means no more threat but it's enough to get Clifford rolling. Nothing there (cov+3, RPS+2) and Harrell(+1) is now shooting up so Clifford runs to the sideline and chucks it while hopping OOB, somehow avoiding stepping on the line.
O20	3rd	10	Gun Str	4-2-5	Exotic	0 press	Pass	4	Sit	Moore	16	2.06
Annoying that RT can line up this far in the backfield and M got flagged for the Bredeson thing. Also annoying that Smith(+1, PR+1) discards the center and Clifford (Hat+2) can escape that, and put the ball over Okie coming off a stunt and about to sack, and that it just goes over the fingertips of Sainristil who's leaping over the TE he's covering, and that Moore(-1, cov-1) was playing 7 yards off this dig route so the WR can find a spot to sit. Also Colson(-1) I guess because you should be babysitting the 1st down not standing in grass then biting on a dump-down that's 4th and 5 if completed.
O36	1st	10	Gun Trips WIDE	4-2-5	Nk fOver	1 bdy	PRO	n/a	Flash Screen/IZ	Sainristil	Inc	-1.04
Tempo(?--Fox doesn't have a playclock but these are all 30+). First time PSU gets a 1st down that's not on the goal line (2nd overall) so this was planned. They tempo to an IU-style flash screen. Sainristil(+2, cov+2) is flying at it and doesn't stop until he's between the TE and WR blocking it, putting them in the path of the ball and causing an incomplete. We just played Indiana, Frames!
O36	2nd	10	Offset Dbl Stacks	4-2-5	Nk Over	1 press	Pass	4	Fly	Turner	48	3.62
The Perfect Pass. Turner(+1, cov+1) is in perfect phase, has the WR's arm until the last second, is looking back, and gets his hand over the WR's shoulder as the ball's coming in. Clifford just drops into the bucket (Hat+3). Also the RT is SUPER in the backfield and this should have been called back (refs-1) because it contributes to the clean pocket (PR-1).
M16	1st	10	Gun Trips WIDE	4-2-5	Nk ???	2 press	RPO		IZ/Flash Screen	Benny	2	-0.12
Tempo(?). Come back to this late but it's the same RPO screen with a give this time. Benny(+2) has been moved but comes through his double to initiate the stop after 1 yard. Smith(+0.5) put a guy in the backfield and helps tackle.
M14	2nd	8	Offset Str Z-Fly	4-2-5	404 Tite	2 fld	Run		Split Duo	Morris	4	-0.09
Copycats are running double arc against US? Okie induces a give, Benny(+1) sheds a downblock on the backside and starts pursuing to force the RB to the edge but M can't pay it off because Smith(-1) got moved by his double and Colson(-1) hops to the backside of that like Clifford still has it. Fortunately not that relevant as Morris(+1) sheds a double, 2-gapping the LT in the process, and Sainristil(+0.5) hops around a WR trying to kick him to slam this down at the 10.
M10	3rd	4	Gun 4w Trips	4-2-5	Nk Over	2 press	Pass	4	Fade	Turner	Inc	-0.37
In honor of 1997 they run the back-corner fade, but to a 5-10 guy. Turner(+2, cov+2) runs it for him, dead drive.
Drive Notes: FG(27). 16-17. 13 min 3rd Q. Game has reached its maximum annoyance level.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O25	1st	10	Gun Heavy	5-2-4	5-2 Odd	2 bdy	Play-Action	n/a	PA Comeback	Green	8	0.91
Camera is only showing the feet but I saw it live and it was a just a blatant pushoff after Green(+1, tackling+1, cov+1) is in this WR's hip. Green hurts his shoulder but does return later.
O33	2nd	2	Offset 2TE	5-2-4	5-2 Odd	2 off	Run		Counter Trey	Colson	6	0.31
Cumong PSU has just 4 guys on the LOS here and the RG moves (refs-2). LT gets a lot of movement on Jenkins(-1) and Colson(-0.5) is a bit light on popping the lead blocker after Harrell(+1) set him up with a good hard edge. Safeties playing off so this can rumble a bit.
O39	1st	10	Gun Trips WIDE	5-2-4	404 Tite	1 off	Pass	4	Fake Screen	Barrett	Inc	-1.11
Tempo(?). Barrett(-2, refs+2) is slamming down on the screen, realizes it's the fake, then grabs the TE's waist and gets away with a clear PI. Pass goes right into Turner's chest but he drops it.
O39	2nd	10	Gun Trips RB-Flare	5-2-4	Nk Over	2 off	Pass	4	Scramble	Morris	2	-0.47
Fake flare to verts, M is deep and over it (RPS+1). As this is unfolding Smith(+1, tackling-1, PR+2) dusts the C and gets to Clifford who dodges the tackle. Morris(+1) is waiting at the LOS to contain, pushes OOB after a 2-yard gain that was spiritually a sack.
O41	3rd	8	Gun Str	4-2-5	Nk Under	2 fld	Pass	4	Dig	Moore	16	3.08
Same play they used to convert before but Johnson(-1, cov-2) is 2 steps behind. Moore(-1) is too late to help inside but arrives to hit just after the catch.
M43	1st	10	Offset Dbl Stacks	4-2-5	Nk Over	1 off	RPO		ZR/Flash Screen	Jenkins	3(+2)	0.97
Tempo(?) catches M changing (RPS-1). Jenkins(+2) blasts the LG and dives inside and Okie(+0.5) redirected well after inducing the give but Graham(-1) was not set and got moved by his double. PSU takes the penalty yards.
M38	1st	5	Pistol Heavy	5-2-4	5-2 Odd	2 off	Play-Action	n/a	Waggle Throwaway	Morris	Inc	-0.87
Morris(+2, PR+2) stays outside the intended TE's hip then shoots up with hands up to take away any throw to that guy. Clifford has to chuck OOB. Cov+1, RPS+1.
M38	2nd	5	Gun Str Bunch	4-2-5	Nk Over	1 off	Run		Counter Trey	Jenkins	1	-0.74
Harrell(+1) pops the edge, Jenkins(+1) beats a double to keep Barrett(+0.5) clean to go hit the lead blocker at the LOS. Pile forms at 1 yard.
M37	3rd	4	Gun 4w Z-Orbit	4-2-5	Nk Split	1 fld	Pass	4	Bubble Fake Flat Screen	Colson	10(-25)	-2.80
M in man and doesn't switch when Colson gets blocked by the TE (RPS-2) and RT, who blasts him down by the arm not back, so legal block even though it felt not. Except the true fr RB runs past the LOS (Hat-2), making those blocks illegal after all.
O48	3rd	19	Gun 4w Trips	4-2-5	Exotic	2 off	Pass	5	Scramble	Johnson	13	1.28
Clifford spends all this time getting his blocking set up and they still leave Mullings(-3, RPS+2) unblocked. He has a direct line to Clifford as Morris goes outside then…runs himself outside of Morris. Never in all my years. Given new life, Clifford takes off. Okie(+1) is contain, induces a cut off to his side of his blocker and gets held (refs-2) to give Clifford the edge. Moten(-1) gives chase and gets stiffarmed. Johnson(+2) arrives for a thundershot at the sideline. WJ is about to taunt but a wise assistant(+3) runs up and hugs him out of there before anyone can notice.
M39	4th	6	Gun Wk H-Fly	4-2-5	Exotic	2 fld	Pass	5	H Corner	Sainristil	Inc	-3.63
First attempt at this is a TO as they can't get lined up (Big House+1). Five-man pressure is picked up (PR-2) and Clifford can step into a difficult throw. Sainristil(+2, cov+2) is on an island, gets one step in front of Washington, and that's enough to make this a very tough diving catch--Sainristil's helmet is in the way of Washington getting his arms out and the ball goes through his hands.
Drive Notes: Turnover on Downs. 24-17. 7 min 3rd Q. Corum's long TD is the next play so we're right back on the field. Micah Pollard's KO coverage means we're at the PSU 13.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O13	1st	10	Gun 4w Trips	4-2-5	Nk Split	1 fld	Run		ZR Duo	Okie	3	-0.17
Play-long doubles wipe out Benny(-0.5) and Graham(-1), the latter less productively. Okie(+1) forces the give read then shuffles and tackles. Barrett(+1) used his free play to get a head in there and force it back that way. B Colson(-0.5) was watching a flexed TE and didn't react to the give until the play was over.
O16	2nd	7	Gun 4w Trips	4-2-5	Nk Even	2 off	Pass	4	Tunnel Screen	D.Moore	15	1.26
M giving a quarters look and PSU takes a screen that should be dead to rights (RPS+2) as M bails to Cov3 with D-Mo(-2, tackling-2) dropping into this. He has Graham(+1) coming over to force and a good edge from Sainristil(-0.5) and just sets up inside instead of going to get the guy. Moore(+1) picks his way through traffic to hold it down.
O31	1st	10	Gun 4w Trips	4-2-5	Nk Over	1 fld	Pass	4	Dig	Turner	Inc	-0.89
Tempo. No pressure at all (PR-2) as D-Mo(-1) gets stuck trying to spin on the LT and then tries to draw a flag that would have been technically correct and horribly unfair. Also unfair is a blatant push-off by the WR to get some separation on Turner. Ball is too low and guy's unable to dig it out. Wash? Wash.
O31	2nd	10	Gun 12 Twins	4-2-5	Nk Over	1 fld	Play-Action	4	PA Snag	Morris	Inc	-0.49
They have Sainristil(+1, cov+1) between a snag but seems inn position to PBU. Doesn't matter because Morris(+2, PR+1) followed Clifford way outside and batted this down. It does not then go off two helmets and into a LB's hands.
O31	3rd	10	Gun Wk	4-2-5	Nk SUPER	1 press	Pass	5.5	Sack	Moten	-2	-0.29
It's a five-man pressure with Mullings in as a spy. Four are stonewalled by their blocks but Moten(+2, PR+2) gets the C and the RB, knives through both to move Clifford off his platform. The C thinks he held and throws up his hands to show they're clean, which avoids a flag but also releases a feral Moten where innocent Sean Cliffords are playing. Here Upshaw(+0.5) being responsible as hell comes into play because instead of pawing he stays outside as Moten cleans up, with Mullings and Okie joining. Replay shows Turner had fallen behind a dig route that Clifford was eyeing.
Drive Notes: Punt. 31-17. 6 min 3rd Q. End of day for Sean Clifford. Gus says there's plenty of time left which: true there's 21 minutes of football to be played. It's also not true because they get the ball back 10 minutes later down 3 scores, and only have 2 drives left.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O25	1st	10	Gun Trips	4-2-5	Nk Over	2 off	Run		Duo	Smith	4	-0.11
Jenkins(+1) fights through his double, Smith(+0.5) stood his up, Colson(-2) has a clean shot to get into the backfield and stuff this but waits and waits on Smith's back until Morris can climb back. Sigh.
O29	2nd	6	Gun Wk	4-2-5	Nk Split	1 fld	Pass	4	Zip	Turner	8	1.14
Turner(-1, cov-1) gets caught behind the zip route, no help inside because Barrett is following the RB to the flat and Colson(-0.5) is sitting back.
O37	1st	10	Gun 4w	4-2-5	Nk Split	1 bdy	Pass	4	Snag	Green	Inc(+11)	1.04
Tempo. Green is set up inside to reroute the WR, the guy runs into him, and Green disengages when the pass is thrown, at which point the WR has had his route run for him and gives up. Pass comes low and Green can't dig it out. Pathetic PI flag comes out. Not grading this.
O48	1st	10	Gun Str	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 fld	Penalty		False Start	n/a	(-5)	-1.21
C is a second late on the snap at which point everyone's moved.
O43	1st	15	Gun Str	4-2-5	Nk Under	1 press	Pass	4	Fade	Green	Inc	-0.96
Nobody can get near Allar (PR-1) but nobody is open (cov+3) so he chucks it at a guy with Green(+2) running his route for him. It's underthrown but Green isn't looking back.
O43	2nd	15	Gun 4w Trips	4-2-5	Nk Split	1 off	Pass	4	Throwaway	Harrell	Inc	-0.62
Tempo. Trips to the boundary but Harrell(+1, PR+2) gets through instantly and chases away from that side (RPS+1). Allar throws it at nobody.
O43	3rd	15	Gun Wk	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 fld	Pass	5	Scramble	Okie	4	-0.07
Okie(+2, PR+2) gets around the LT and gets uber held (Refs-3, not all for this one). Upshaw(+1) pushed the RT back and Mullings(-1, tackling-1, RPS+2) is coming delayed and has a sack on a platter but Allar dodges him. Upshaw has another go now, gets yanked back by his shoulderpad so Allar can escape. Smith(+1) tracks him down a few yards past the LOS.
O47	4th	11	Gun 4w	4-2-5	Nk SUPER	2 off	Pass	4	RB Angle	Colson	Inc	-3.52
Pressure time. Morris(+1) gets enough movement vs a double to take away any step-up. Okie(+0.5) put the LT deep and in so he can't do anything when Upshaw(+1) arrives from a looong loop (RPS+1). Allar has to throw at the RB release that Colson(+2, cov+3) has blanketed. Replay shows everyone else was too. Because PSU was running verts. Frames?
Drive Notes: Turnover on Downs. 34-17. 9 min 4th Q. Score-reffing and a bunch of nada. Next drive it's 41-17 with mixed starters and backups but we're light and it's a bye and final scores matter for posterity so let's finish.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O25	1st	10	Gun Str	4-2-5	Nk Under	1 fld	Run		Counter Trey	Benny	6	0.33
Benny(-2) blown out by a double but Colson(+1) hops around it to impact the lead blocker and tackle as the RB goes by; he can fall for 5 because that's where Benny's put.
O31	2nd	4	Offset Str	4-2-5	Nk Under	1 press	RPO		ZR/TE Screen	Rolder	9	0.99
Tempo. Want Upshaw(-0.5) to give a tougher read. Benny(-0.5) got put inside and Rolder(-0.5) got an immediately releasing LT he could only try to stay disengaged from but that's better than Mullings(-1) who buried himself in the C. Other way around guys.
O40	1st	10	Gun 2RB	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 fld	Play-Action	4	Hitch	Green	9	1.34
PA with no mesh to throw under Green(-1, cov-1) at 10 yards--not bigger because it's play soft hour. Rolder(+0.5) comes late and has an impressive pop on an OL that nobody saw coming.
O49	2nd	1	Gun Str RB	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 fld	Pass	5	RB Wheel	Mullings	Inc	-1.40
Illegal formation with Z way off but so D-Mo also lines up in the NZ, whatever. PA gets loads of time on a 12-yard dropback. Glad this -3 worthy biff by Mullings(-2, cov-2) doesn't change the score. He sucks down at bare minimum PA, sees the RB leaving and instead of following he spot drops to grass. RB drops it.
O49	3rd	1	Gun 4w Trips	4-2-5	Nk Over	1 fld	Pass	4	Curl	Turner	9	1.52
Trips to the boundary, throw under soft coverage to the field. Not negging a 5-yard hitch under 4 minutes sorry.
M42	1st	10	Gun 4w Trips	4-2-5	404 Tite	1 bdy	Pass	4	Fake Flash	Smith	1	-0.70
Pressure provided by Jenkins(+2, PR+2) who's through the RG and Okie(+0.5) who got the RT deep and shed as Allar is forced back into him. Allar dumps to an unguarded RB bc M is playing the clock, but Smith(+1) gets over and tackles at the LOS anyways.
M41	2nd	9	Gun 4w Wk	4-2-5	Nk Under	2 bdy	Pass	4	Improv	Turner	Inc	-1.04
Tempo. M not fully set but Okie(+2, PR+2) pushes through the RT and flushes Allar from the pocket. Smith(-1, tackling-1) pursues, can't get him down. Allar chucks a prayer at a super covered WR who can't even look back for the ball because of Turner(+2, cov+2).
M41	3rd	9	Gun 12 Twins	4-2-5	Nk Splits	2 off	Pass	4	Sack	Barrett	-7	-1.88
Michael Barrett(+2, PR+3) is good at blitzing. He goes through the RB and over Allar, finding a calf and hanging on while Upshaw(+1) comes through to clean up.
M48	4th	16	Gun 4w Trips	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 off	Pass	4	Sack	Benny	0(+5)	0.56
Clipped for Benny(+2, PR+3, tackling)'s push-pull move on the RG which is a completed tackle away from a +3 sack. He jumps on Allar's back though so Allar can hop forward to the LOS. Comes back because Upshaw(-1) was lined up in the neutral zone, though TBF he's a yard off the RT.
M43	4th	11	Gun Wk	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 off	Pass	4	Dig	Moten	10	-2.22
Graham(+1, PR+1) providing the pressure this time off a stunt with Benny(+1) who got his hand up and might have messed with its accuracy. WR has to dig it out near the sticks. Refs want to award a 1st down, fans all saw it land short and want justice. Measurement: short. Moten(push) was the guy nearest and might have had a hit if it wasn't.
Drive Notes: Turnover on Downs. 41-17. 2 minutes 4th Q. EoG for defense.

That was nice.

You're not going to nitpick? Exaggerate? Even mention that Michigan was losing in the 3rd quarter?

Should I? They held Penn State's offense to ten points, most of those generated by two plays.

It's just the defense has been this good for 1.5 seasons now and you're usually really good at focusing on big visceral things and negative trends until I can get you to calm down and see the big picture with a drive chart.

I bet I can name them all.

Okay name them all.

In order? Two three-and-outs.

That's one quarter.

The one where Clifford got loose.

The touchdown.

The one where Clifford dropped one over Turner.

The field goal.

The one with a 3rd and 19 then 4th and 6.

Three more to go.

Derrick Moore misses the tunnel screen, Moten sacks.

"Plenty of time left."

Two Drew Allar drives that fart around killing time before dying on 4th and long.

That's it. You just described the whole game.

I watched the game. Also no offense but I'm a little more interested in Brian's offensive review this week than your 30 plays or whatever.

Actually it was 58. They converted some 3rd downs late, remember?

Now who's being negative?

I'm just not used to sanguinity from Michigan fans. Usually by this point I'm throwing out a graph of accumulated EPA to show an overmatched opponent was unable to generate anything consistently.

You're going to say they scored off a few low-percentage events, right?

Uh, yeah.

And you want to talk about them.

I do, because I think the story's been that these were random, isolated events when the story was really Sean Clifford being boss. Let's start by going back to one play before the Clifford breakout.

Michigan brings a surprise pressure from Colson and Derrick Moore isn't picked up. Clifford spotted it, knew where his escape hatch was, and fired it so quickly the coverage couldn't get there.

I would say 90% of college QBs are eating a sack here, and 90% of the remainder are getting this broken up. The TE also did well to catch it on alert then fight for extra yardage. Tip the hat.

The next play is the Clifford run. Again, Minter has the right playcall on, running a scrape exchange on the zone read. Okie is supposed to dive on the running back, and Barrett is supposed to have the quarterback.

I remember this run blitz. I was very excited about this run blitz when we hired Don Brown.

All-22 Clip of the same play. Coach Brown had a great gameplan that night versus Notre Dame. pic.twitter.com/CBtEAdaJPa

— James Light (@JamesALight) August 23, 2016

Here it's that left tackle, Fashanu, who prevents PSU from getting Notre Damed. He's stepping down but notices there's nobody replacing, reaching an arm back to get just enough of Barrett to prevent the LB from immediately shooting up into Clifford mid-mesh.

Even then the play is still in Michigan's favor here.

There is still plenty of culpability to go around. Barrett needs to make this tackle. Colson needs to realize where the ball is (he's still fighting to get at the RB who's squished between Smith and Okie by this point). And Rod Moore *really* needs to stay back where the big gap is, not start peeking down when he thinks the RB has it too. Part of me also wants to blame the coaches for these guys practicing against gives too often, but Michigan had a playcall to beat a zone read and got a zone read.

(Also the right guard is lucky he didn't get this wiped out for an immaterial hold, because Big Ten refs are pretty consistent about flagging take-downs.)

Finally here's how close Morris got to ending the 4th and 1.

Also paging unblocked safety still in the endzone Makari Paige to the backfield please (not the first time that's happened).

Given the rest of the game, the odds of all three of those hitting goes on the pile of variance. This is a fair distillation of the state of Michigan-Penn State. PSU can recruit some legitimate dudes who will make great plays here and there just like Michigan, but in every other fundamental aspect of football it's a blowout.

How?

Honestly, I thought Minter had them scouted to death. Here's how Penn State's first drive ended. Pause at the beginning if it autoplays so you can appreciate how much space Michigan is offering between the DTs, with only Michael Barrett five yards deep. PSU takes the bait, both DTs pinch into gaps to either side of the RG, and there's nowhere to go even before Jenkins beats the guy's block to force Singleton backwards en route to his preordained doom with Morris.

Here's Penn State at the end of their 2nd drive. Not only does Minter have a blitz that overloads the protection and gets a free rusher, but he's got a linebacker dropping directly into the outlet pass that looked like the manniest man coverage that ever Don Browned a man.

Often when PSU was getting yards it was in spite of Michigan having the right call on, like the 2nd & 7 when Derrick Moore didn't realize he had Graham coming to help on a tunnel screen, or Kalel Mullings was given a free lane to the quarterback that he exited for no reason. They had three-man rushes into max pro, scraped zone reads, got safeties into the backfield unblocked, and numbers to their tempo screens. When Franklin wanted to throw deep on 2nd & 10, Michigan had guys on top of every route and multiple defenders checking a scramble.

The one time I issued an RPS-2 for a PSU playcall that outsmarted Michigan, PSU screwed it up by having the RB the screen was set for run past the line of scrimmage, rendering blocks offensive pass interference and resulting in 3rd and 19.

I guess we should have realized something with all the communication this week. Every time a tight end took two steps it initiated a flurry of pointing, far too much for simple coverage assignments.

Sometimes I didn't know when to give the number to the playcall or just preparing the player. It can't be the plan for Harrell to set up his blocker this well, but look at how Smith stepped down on his part of the slant and shoved OL by him to destroy the edge when PSU tried to clear out the box and run Clifford.

This isn't really sitting up in the box and guessing at playcalls. This is preparing your players for exactly what the other team does. If you won't look too foolish, stand and applaud Michigan's defensive staff.

If you want to say Penn State is badly coached man I'm not going to stop you.

I don't think we need to go that hard. The other context of this game was that Penn State's defense was getting mauled by a power running game. Penn State got two three-and-outs and the goofy TD drive, and that was the entire first half. The FRAMES jokes used to be about his game management specifically, but PSU went for it on 4th down when they should (4th and 6 on Michigan's 39) and had two (down multiple scores in the 4th Q). They used a timeout when his players couldn't get lined up on the 4th & 6, but that seemed like a miscommunication between the receivers, not confused coaches.

Didn't you say that 4th down playcall was a FRAMES on the podcast.

I was a bit iffy on the playcall because a corner in man adds variance (have to throw it well, tougher catch) in return for more yards that aren't as important as the conversion.

The argument for a fade or corner vs man there is the WR does have the outside to himself, and have to trust your best two offensive players enough to win those battles (that's like, MSU's entire offense this year). The argument against is anything back shoulder is by definition a low-percentage play. The argument for a FRAMES is why are you throwing at Mike Sainristil when he's a steely-eyed missile man?

My contention isn't that you should never throw a fade with good leverage on 4th and 6. It's that you shouldn't throw it when Mike Sainristil is covering the guy because Sainristil is a Dude. Look where he's got to fit this:

Sainristil's got a knee ahead of Parker Washington, whose only play at that point is to slow up to increase separation then make a dive for it. The reason Washington's hands are too late isn't because the receiver mistimed it, it's because that right arm was still coming up behind Sainristil's helmet when it needed to be under the football. Joel Klatt is on my side too:

Sainristil was awesome again by the way. The reason Michigan got an inch from a goal line stand above was Sainristil tracked the playcall PSU had prepared for a goal line situation against motion and across the formation (#0 going with the motion man).

Is that my prompt for "Did they try to edge Mike Sainristil this week?" so you can say they did and I go "Did it work"?

It is. They did, and it didn't (the play on the right):

This is right after Penn State's first 1st down that wasn't the Clifford run so this IU-style screen out of a super-spread was super scripted and launched with about 32 seconds on the playclock. Sainristil is still getting lined up, but he still got in there fast enough that the ball hits the guy supposed to be out front blocking. I know we've said it for 7 weeks but one more time for those in the back: THIS GUY WAS A RECEIVER LAST YEAR!

Uncanny.

What was his score then?

Oh so now you're interested in Upon Further Review things.

Actually I just like charts.

Well here you go then.

Defensive Line
Player	Snaps	+	-	T	Notes
Mazi Smith	47	9	2	+7	The perfect nose except he can't collect on sacks.
Kris Jenkins	31	10	1	+9	Thankfully PFF is a mess so the NFL doesn't know.
Mason Graham	23	2.5	2	+0.5	Met a new caliber of double, still got pressure.
Rayshaun Benny	15	6	3.5	+2.5	Gets moved then rips his way out of it.
Kenneth Grant	2	0	0	-	DNC
Michael Morris	38	8	1	+7	Another quality day, quality bat-down.
Jaylen Harrell	23	6	1	+5	Ojemudia-esque weapon vs zone reads.
Eyabi Okie	29	8.5	0	+8.5	It's real. Now a Spartan must die.
Derrick Moore	12	1	4	-3	Blew the tunnel screen, they don't call holds in the B10.
Taylor Upshaw	12	3.5	1.5	+2	Thought this was a bigger day when charting.
Braiden McGregor	5	0	0	-	In late, DNC.
TOTAL	237	54.5	16	+38.5	Team effort vs upgrade in competition.
Linebacker
Player	Snaps	+	-	T	Notes
Junior Colson	47	6	7.5	-1.5	Positives were more visible than the negatives this week.
Nikhai Hill-Green	0	0	0	-	DNP.
Michael Barrett	45	4.5	3	+1.5	He can blitz. PSU couldn't capitalize when he bought PA.
Kalel Mullings	9	0	7	-7	Oof.
Jimmy Rolder	4	0.5	0.5	-	Might be time to pass Mullings.
TOTAL	105	11	18	-7	The weird thing is how de-emphasized they were.
Secondary
Player	Snaps	+	-	T	Notes
DJ Turner	52	9	1.5	+7.5	Could have dinged him for a couple digs, didn't for the fade.
Mike Sainristil	41	7.5	0.5	+7	Dominant.
Gemon Green	31	5	1	+4	They did throw at him some actually.
Will Johnson	29	2	1	+1	One dig on him, delivered judgement.
Rod Moore	44	1	6.5	-5.5	A second late on 3rd and longs, -3 for the Clifford run.
Makari Paige	49	0	1.5	-1.5	Boring coverage, goal line needs more aggression.
RJ Moten	15	2	1	+1	One sack, on stiffarm
Quinten Johnson	13	0	0	-	Not charting is good boring work, sir.
TOTAL	274	26.5	13	+13.5	Soft cover late: not crime. Soft cover 3rd & long: is crime.
Metrics
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Pressure	23	8	+15	Not lofty, not terrible.
Coverage	27	7	+20	Frames tested Turner instead of the LBs.
Tackling	6	8	-2	Clifford's a slippery devil.
RPS	21	3	+18	James Franklin remains his program's biggest weakness.
Hat Tip	9	4	+5	The Clifford Experience

You didn't mark down Turner for the long pass?

No man. Look at this coverage and tell me if there's any way to complete that short of literally hitting a target the size of a bucket?

Drew Allar completed a zip route on him once and I knocked him half a tackling point for going for a strip and giving up some yards in the process. Balance that against how he played this fade:

There's your Frames: PSU threw another of these on 2nd down of the almost goal line stand, which I don't think I've seen since 1998. Tai Streets was literally in that endzone going "What are you doing?"

Remove the 48-yarder that wasn't Turner's fault and PSU averaged 3.4 YPA on 7 targets at Turner. Why throwing at him was 1/7th of their gameplan doesn't make much sense except throwing at Green six times didn't yield much better except when he stepped in front of a route, the WR ran into him and gave up on his route, Allar threw it at Green's knees, and the officials thought PSU looked so pathetic they made up a PI. I'm pretty much ready to throw a star on him, but with Jayden Reed up next I want to withhold it one more week.

The only route concept Penn State was having any success with was Levels, which has been a bugaboo all season because the help players inside are supposed to be linebackers. This time however it was often a safety who was late to come down when a receiver turned in.

That was a rough score for Moore

Yeah, after starting out strong (+12.5/-0.5) in the nonconference Rod's hit a sort of sophomore wall in the Big Ten. This one felt like an outlier, and most of that was the –3 for the Great Clifford Escape. It was also maximum harsh. The play to set up that 3rd and 1 was under Moore but his –1 here was for being small vs Brenton Strange, not for his coverage, which hitting a guy like that on the catch is about the most you can expect.

He was just late on this one too:

And again, that play is mostly a hat tip to Sean Clifford, who had to dodge pressure right up the gut and fit this over multiple hands when he's about to get lit up. Yes, Moore is playing soft. Minus one and move on. I wouldn't point it out if it wasn't a pattern.

Speaking of patterns…

This is still on Moore because the receiver is sitting there for long enough that he can't be left alone, but this was also another Colson issue. He dropped but didn't look up the dig entering his zone, convincing him he was free to come down on low TE who's already covered and short of the sticks. Again, this is hard and these are true sophomores.

The other safeties all hid except to come out for a blitz each. Paige got most of the snaps but Moten and Quinten Johnson were out there plenty without generating any negatives. I think we need a Boring Award to encourage more of this behavior. Winner gets a year's subscription to Curiosity Stream and $25 towards anything in 8-Bit Guy's online store.

Are all the pass rushers invited to compete? Because…

As suspected, Michigan's approach to Sean Clifford was whatever you do he is not to be allowed out of his box. Watch the clip I just embedded for Moore above but this time pay attention to the pass rushers. Okie is allowed to try the edge, taking a chip from the RB. Everyone else is just pushing the hold closed. I thought this was part of a pattern of respecting Clifford's legs. Okie was the only non-veteran to be playing most of the way, and that's a guy who's been in college football since 2019.

Part of this too was personnel. Penn State was rolling out 2 or 3 tight ends in order to get the 5-2 personnel on the field, since their TEs are more receivers than blockers. The result here is an all-290 pass rush made of Mazi Smith, Mason Graham, Mike Morris, and Kris Jenkins. But it followed the same pattern as the one before: one guy (Mazi) attacks, and the rest of the guys are setting a perimeter.

This led to one of the quasi-sacks where a PSU quarterback was run out of bounds after a short gain. The downside of this strategy was we rarely had someone available to clean up when one guy got pressure, and then Clifford managed to make something out of it before the walls collapsed.

The other problem with this strategy was often the one guy singled got Olu Fashanu, who should go to the NFL as soon as humanly possible. This is safety Makari Paige blitzing from a very wide angle and Fashanu's feet are able to stay in front the whole time.

Safety #7 vs the LT at the bottom of the formation

This next one has Morris tagged as the guy trying to get to the quarterback, and he never gets close.

Derrick Moore tried this guy, tried a spin move when the path high was completely cut off, got the spin move stopped, then resorted to trying to draw a flag when he ran out of other ideas. Fashanu was undefeated. Pro Football Focus probably gave him a 30.

When Clifford left the game they took off the fetters and edges were once again allowed to edge rush without fear of getting too far upfield. Benny's sack was erased by an offsides flag but you can feel the difference when a DT gets through on Allar versus how they were treating Clifford.

I also think playing Upshaw at edge a lot more in this game was part of the Clifford strategy. If that's the case, Michigan got the tradeoff they were looking for (see #91 above). Upshaw remains a very good and responsible passing downs DT (lined up at nose here).

The result was much like what we predicted in the preseason: edges hemming things in, DTs pushing the pocket closed, and the occasional stunt or weird blitz.

Morris was mostly on contain duty, but and got in another of his patented bats.

…and was the guy most likely to chase Clifford into and ended play. You recall Iowa getting their TE out in the flat all the time on bootlegs. Morris did too, and found the solution: put the TE inside, keep him there as you get into the flat, then take his throwing lane to the throwing man.

That doesn't mean Michigan eschewed blitzing. They just picked their spots. They saved a six-man pressure to get Makari Paige in unblocked to boot PSU off the field on their second drive.

…and then ran this weird five-man pressure with Mullings as a spy. PSU actually picked it up, but Moten made a play, convincing a Big Ten guard he was going to be flagged if he didn't allow it.

Watch #6, linked up on the top hash mark

The one time Clifford was actually allowed to roam free—the 3rd and 19 that Will Johnson crushed—should have been a thundersack. The issue here was Kalel Mullings leaving the lane they made for him.

#20, the LB at the bottom

I mean…dude.

Mullings whiffed again when they had Allar standing there for the taking.

#20 the LB on the upper hash mark

There's Mazi Smith not getting Sean Clifford down when he's got a guard on his hip, but this is just weird. Mullings ran at the RT's shoulder when Upshaw is planting that guy. Mullings was also the LB who bit on play-action to get Singleton wide open on that wheel he dropped.

After that they let Michael Barrett finish the game. He proceeded to finish the game, running through Nicholas Singleton and over Allar's back, which Upshaw then nearly broke.

And you're saving Colson for last because you don't want to talk about it?

Au contraire mon ami, I was surprised when he came out the usual plus-a-bunch/minus-a-bunch scores. I didn't clip his –2, which was getting on the wrong side of a double and missed a TFL opportunity. That ended up being a 4-yard run. Colson also whiffed a tackle on Parker Washington, also got nosy on the Clifford run, covered some grass, got stuck behind Smith when PSU ran double-arc on another 4-yard run, and didn't attack as hard as he needed to a few times.

That was the bad. Now let's balance it against the good. Like how he waited until the blocker wasted himself and then shot through the gap to thunk the lead blocker and break the play, something I've never seen a Michigan opponent try in a year of charting Trey.

#25 the LB just above the bottom hash

He was instrumental in stopping another Counter Trey, and did a similar thing on this dive:

Bottom LB

And ultimately made sure PSU's last opportunity to climb back in this game had no chance to.

If there's a pattern, Colson seems more confident at the kind of stuff that Michigan runs, which Penn State ran more of than any opponent yet. It's probably not a stretch to guess that's because what Michigan runs is an outsized portion of the football he's seen.

I wasn't planning on doing a weird accent this week but you gave Okie a +8.5/-0.

I was a bit surprised myself, but we shouldn't be. Okie is the guy with the natural pass-rushing skills that actually translated. This game was mostly about pushing so he pushed that right tackle around.

#18 on the bottom

There were two of those pressure moments, but perhaps more encouraging was the value he brought in the run game. Remember how I said we have to see if he can defend a zone read before we consider him starter caliber? Well?

#18 on the bottom

That's a keep induced and a tackle, meaning he successfully both-sides'd the option.

Okie also added splitting blocks to his repertoire.

#18 stand-up edge on the top of the DL

That forced Clifford to take a deeper path while Sainristil caught up. Harrell started this game and played well, but Okie had more snaps. If he keeps this up against MSU he's taking the job, and getting the star.

And what of the guys keeping them clean?

Along with the corners, quite clearly the strength of the defense. Mazi Smith isn't grading out like a Hutchinson but he's still having a Mike Martin normal out there, in his way. His way is not very sportmanlike.

#58 the nose tackle.

Michigan's giant was regularly getting into the backfield once again, was fast enough to catch Allar on the holdfest play. But Mazi also added to the George Karlaftis Disease (can't be blocked, can't complete the sack) takes by blowing by the center and then the quarterback in quick order.

This happened multiple times.

Just getting back there is a useful enough skill, but if you want to nitpick there's your Mazi weakness. I also wanted to show this play again. We spent Neck Sharpies this week talking about how overreactions to JJ McCarthy's running ability opened up big plays for the running backs. The necessity of doubling Smith is what created this RPS win, when he ends up negating three of Clifford's blockers.

#58 the bottom DT

The first two, the LG and the LT, think they're doubling him down. Smith adroitly rips by them then sets up to rock back a pulling RG who was certain this of all plays would get him out of Mazi Duty. Even the LG gets nobody—with no Smith to blast at he stumbles towards Barrett, who can hop around the backside to replace Harrell's excellent slant.

The last guy I want to get to is consistently grading out as well or better than Smith. He doesn't eat as many doubles, but Kris Jenkins is eating his single-blocks alive. His one minus in this game was getting moved by Fashanu (go to the NFL!). If you scroll up to the first Mazi play, Jenkins is taking on a pair as well, and stalling them enough that the linebackers all get to add themselves to Mazi's mess. On Colson's Counter Trey murder the other side of the intended gap was shrinking thanks to #94 beating a blockdown to clean up after Colson nailed the pulling TE.

Lined up as the edge until Harrell comes down next to him

Jenkins exploded on the RG in the two times they made him the singled out pass-rusher, and did fine when called upon to act like a 4-3 DE when Harrell got pulled outside by spread tight end formations. Jenkins was also responsible for ending Penn State's first drive on 3rd and short. What's extra interesting about how he did that is I think it was baited.

Jenkins is the DT over the right tackle. We discussed the space between the tackles already, but look at how low Kris gets.

Save this for whenever somebody asks about pad level. That's pad level, Mr. Pullings. My god that's pad level.

Heroes?

Jesse Minter, Mazi Smith, Kris Jenkins, Mike Morris, Eyabi Okie, Mike Sainristil, DJ Turner, Gemon Green

Maybe not so heroic?

Kalel Mullings yeesh. Rod Moore learned the lesson Moten did last year.

What does it mean for Michigan State and beyond?

Minter is more into college crappe than his predecessor and nobody noticed. Last year this time I was saying Macdonald puts his players in positions to succeed more than he looks for really clever ways to genius plays to death. Minter is doing some unsound things that make his players look like geniuses. This was a defensive coordinating masterpiece…and nobody could tell until the tape. If only it wasn't against a guy Doug Nussmeier once out-gamed.

The NFL should take PSU left tackle Olu Fashanu away this winter. We'll keep Kris Jenkins in college. Shhhh.

Mikey Sainristil jerseys should be more popular. I'm too fat to pull it off but if you're wearing a zero and I see you I'm high-fiving you like a hero.

Eyabi Okie: starter. They may not technically make him the starter, but if he's getting the majority of snaps against a team using two and three tight ends we're there.

Michael Barrett: fine. PSU ran power, he slipped around it or didn't matter. He's also getting incrementally more comfortable at linebacker.

Gemon Green: star watch. They're not throwing at him enough to get a good read, which tells you something right there.

Are the safeties slipping? I'm probably making too much of the one play but Rod Moore is last year Rod Moore without the "for a true freshman" and that's disappointing. Moten's lost his job to Paige, who's playing well but I think that's more a Moten thing.

Do not anger Mr. Johnson. Also if you're going to murder people like that Will, have the courtesy not to stand over their graves please kthx.

Sean Clifford is boss. If throwing PB&Js in peoples' faces is a dealbreaker for you that's fine but I have loved watching this guy play despite the wreckage of his previous offensive lines, his feckless coach, and his one receiver a year.

Nothing but class from my QB @jjmccarthy09 🫡🥲🥹 pic.twitter.com/oANmMpaNDB

— Narrative Pushed. (@247RumorKing) October 18, 2022

Stay healthy.