UFR GLOSSARY is here.

FORMATION NOTES: Minnesota was mostly an under-center or shotgun 3-wide with a WR jetting across.

Their 4th down formation was Unbalanced; the guy at the bottom of the line is a TE/eligible receiver.

And Michigan used a weird formation on 3rd & 7 with 3 DEs on the field and Harrell and a LB stacked behind the nose that I called 3-1 stack.

They also split a DE wide on their 5-2s odd formations that I called 5-2 split—the nose is still over the center.

SUBSTITUTION NOTES: There were 40 snaps before Tuttle Time in this one. Graham led the DTs in snaps, playing DT or nose depending on whom he was with. Grant got 14, Jenkins 25, Goode 14, and Benny 16. The DEs were the same except Cameron Brandt got in a bunch after the four starters, signifying he's moved ahead of Kechaun Bennett, who played on the last drive. LB was Colson until Tuttle Time and a split of Hausmann and Barrett. Keon Sabb cycled in with the safeties and got a few snaps in a 3-safety look with Paige at slot. McBurrows returned as the backup nickel. Wallace came off the field for the 5-2 sets and Sainristil shifted outside. Amorion Walker and DJ Waller were the deep backup time CBs, with a few snaps from Keshaun Harris before that, but none of the other CBs played.

[After THE JUMP: Stretch practice.]

Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O25	1st	10	Gun Wk F-Fly	5-2-4	5-2 Odd	1 off	Play-Action	1	PA Flat	Paige	Inc	-0.70
Off-TE motions across from the slot pre-snap, then the X crosses the other way and gets picked up by Paige(+.5). This is trying to hit the Y behind the LBs but Barrett(+1, cov+2) picked him up after only biting a little on PA. McGregor(+1, PR+1) flies up and Kaliakmanis has to turf it because nobody's open. RPS+1.
O25	2nd	10	Gun TTE	5-2-4	5-2 Over	2 off	PRO	n/a	H-Out/IZ	Johnson	INT	-7.19
Minnesota wants to hit the flat in Cov3 that Michigan's been leaving open. Kaliakmanis sees the out get outside of Paige playing what looks like a curl/flat zone and never sees Johnson(+2, cov+3) coming down off the Z's fly route to pick it off and run down the sideline. Graham gets a +1 block on the RB that doesn't go in his scoring but goes to WJ scoring. RPS+3 a safety was getting over WJ's guy so this was bait. Also an OL was four yards downfield blocking Colson so I think this was an RPO.
Drive Notes: Defensive Touchdown. 7-0. 14 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O25	1st	10	Ace Str	4-2-5	Nk Even	1.5 off	Run		Stretch	Jenkins	7	0.60
Minn sees M's even front and checks to this, which hits the wide gap between the DTs, RPS-1. Jenkins(-1) gets moved by the LG, Graham(-.5) got moved too but was taking on a double. Barrett(tackling-1) takes on the C and gets free of him which is a +1 save, but then he gives up an extra 2-3 by whiffing on the tackle. Jenkins comes off to get it down.
O32	2nd	3	Ace Str H-Fly	4-2-5	Nk Even	1.5 fld	Run		Split Stretch	Colson	14(-5)	-0.96
Minn shifts late and slot goes in motion before RB is set (Hat-2) which is what brings this back but it's only a little relevant to the play. Jenkins gets scooped by a dart technique from the LT and LG but that seems like a huge ask and the LG has to stay engaged by stopping and sticking his butt out to make this happen. Graham(+1) does better with his and the C has to release inside of him. He gets a one-handed swing at the RB but the lane is too big and M has too much material committed to the backside edge (RPS-2). Colson(-1, tackling-1) has a shot to bring it down because of Graham's work but whiffs his tackle. Paige(+.5) arrives and slams it down before things get too out of hand. Neck Sharpies.
O27	2nd	8	Gun TTE	5-2-4	5-2 Odd	1 off	RPO		Split Flow Belly Give	Benny	5	-0.04
Barrett goes with the TE from this side flaring out and Paige is playing the QB which means D-Mo(-1) needs to step up and force a decision faster because Benny(-1) and Grant(+1) are taking on a very long double during this very long mesh. Those guy as my scores indicate; Colson(+.5) squeezes in to stop momentum and let Moore tackle. Thought this was RPS at first because they're 4v3 vs the pass but if Moore fires when the RB gets near him there's plenty of time for Paige to get Kaliakmanis down.
O32	3rd	3	Gun Str Y-Cross	4-2-5	Nk Eagle AA	1 bdy	Pass	3	Drag	Benny	Inc	-0.51
Screw dropping DEs--M drops two DTs(!) right into this drag. Four M plays are around intended target. Three-man rush gives him an escape but vs Grant and others so he turfs it. RPS+3, cov+3, Benny(+2) even drives on this and knocks it down.
Drive Notes: Punt. 7-0. 12 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O25	1st	10	Gun Wk Y-Fly	4-2-5	Nk Split	1 off	Play-Action	5	Throwaway	Colson	Inc	-0.70
Run blitz by Colson(+2, PR+3) is meant to stop the OZs but he's under control and moves Kaliakmanis off his spot. Grant(+1) sheds the C and fires upfield and this is about to be sack city so QB throws it at absolutely nobody. Refs-3 ignore grounding.
O25	2nd	10	Ace Wk H-Fly	4-2-5	Nk Even	2 press	Run		Split Stretch	Benny	12	1.73
Split motion widens Stewart so there's a big backside gap where both Colson and Stewart are babysitting (RPS-1). Benny(+1) gets a shove on the LG as he releases which puts him off balance and puts Benny across the LT who's 2 yards in the backfield but he needs someone there to clean up. Think Colson(-1) is playing pass way too long and Hausmann(-1) buries himself in the gap that Benny got to. Benny tries to fight back but LT has his arm hooked (Refs-1). Q-Jo(+1) sees what's going on and re-gaps to help Colson get this down short of the 1st down. Sabb(-1) arrives late and gets bowled over as they rugby scrum a few more yards.
O37	1st	10	Ace Str H-Fly	4-2-5	Nk Under	2 fld	Run		Split Stretch	Grant	14	1.29
Back to the well. This time at least Michigan has Stewart crashing inside when he sees the TE coming, which means Colson is exchanging outside and the DL on the frontside need to force this back to Stewart. They do not. Benny(-1) gets scooped by the LT and LG because Colson(-1) never activates even when the gap is decided, and Grant(-1) lets the RG inside of him and gets washed way outside. Huge hole with the C not having to block anybody so he heads downfield and picks off Sainristil(-1) who's sitting on a slant. Q-Jo(+.5) arrives and doesn't miss.
M49	1st	10	Ace Wk H-Fly	4-2-5	Nk Even	1 fld	Run		Split Stretch	Colson	8	0.82
It works a 3rd time in a row. This time Harrell(-2) guesses it's PA and ignores the TE coming across. That removes the edge and allows the TE to pull around tight to the line (Hat+2 to that guy's awareness), and pick off Colson(-2) who is unaware of what's happening him until way too late. Graham(+1) had his double in the backfield, fights back, and gets a little yanked (Refs-1) but he's got a club on that hand so doubtful he's making the play anyways. Hausmann(+.5) hops around the releasing C and initiates a tackle.
M41	2nd	2	Ace Str H-Fly	4-2-5	Nk Even	1 fld	Play-Action	2	PA Flat	Hausmann	0	-1.10
Now comes the PA and Michigan is all over it (RPS+1) with Harrell(+1, PR+1) shooting up at Kaliakmanis and Hausmann(+2) flaring backside as the TE releases to the flat. He's there on the catch and hits the TE 2 yards in the backfield. Refs-3 mark it back at the LOS.
M41	3rd	2	Gun 1x3 F-In	4-2-5	Nk Even	1 fld	Pass	4	Mesh	Hausmann	5	1.03
Goode(+2, PR+2) gets a hand to the face and throws it off to shoot into the backfield. Harrell spun off the RT and if this is a different DT it's a sack, and if Harrell doesn't undo his win by giving up the edge it's probably a sack as well, but as it is Kaliakmanis can run away from Goode and get it to a late-releasing RB.
M36	1st	10	Ace Str H-Fly	4-2-5	Nk Over	2 off	Run		Split Stretch	Graham	-4	-1.50
They run it again and this time Graham(+3) is upfield like Mo Hurst and swallows the RB on the handoff, soaking up the TE's cross. Also Michigan had a run blitz with Barrett on the backside that was supposed to capture this play if the C is able to run out Graham like he's supposed to. RPS+1, not needed.
M40	2nd	14	Gun TTE RB	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 off	PRO	n/a	H Curl/IZ	Paige	Inc	-1.02
Sick of it, M blitzes at this, which should be an RPS minus except Paige(+2) is right up in his face and there's no way to get the ball around him. I still have to give Colson(-1) a minus for never even looking at the guy sitting free in his zone or noticing that the QB has it. Probably deserve -2. This is scary to watch a junior LB this committed to a run on 2nd & 14.
M40	3rd	14	Gun 3x1	4-2-5	Okie Zero	0 off	Pass	3	Scramble	Colson	5	0.17
TE is yelling at his QB that there's no deep safety then steps forward right before the snap, lucky not to have an illegal procedure, but there's 1 second to go and they have to snap. Everyone's running hitches and they're all well-covered (cov+2). Stewart(+1, PR+1) gets hooked by the RT (Refs-2) and tries to sell it but no flag's coming. Kaliakmanis sufficiently spooked, Harrell(+.5)'s on contain, forces him outside where M has both ILBs and Kaliakmanis slides down at the sideline after a yard.
Drive Notes: FG(54). 10-3. 3 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O12	1st	10	Ace Str H-Fly	4-2-5	Nk Even	2 off	Run		Stretch	Colson	?(-6)	-0.45
No TE cross--he's just going to flare out his side. M slants and adds a Nk to the edge (RPS+1) which shocks blockers but we're crediting Graham(+1) and McGregor(+1) for getting upfield of those guys so quickly. C keeps an arm around Graham and tries to trip him, but the defeated LG (#75) narcs out his teammate by shoving Graham in the back to turn this into a tackle. Think the block on McGregor that announcers want flagged was clean. Colson(+.5) flies up, misses the tackle but only because the RB jumped into his out OL, which allows Jenkins(+.5) time to flow. EO1Q.
O6	1st	16	Gun TTE Z-Fly	5-2-4	5-2 Odd	1 off	Pass	4	Hitch	Sainristil	Inc	-0.13
Grant(+1, PR+1) climbs through the pocket to force this out off-platform. Announcers think where he put it was why Sainristil(+2, cov+2) was able to break it up, but wherever this ball is going he's breaking on it and has a shot to pick it off and here at least it's a bit shielded by the WR.
O6	2nd	16	Ace Wk H-Fly	4-2-5	Nk Over	2 off	Run		Power	Johnson	2	-0.04
Harrell(+1) shoulders in the lead guard. He gets turned but it's in the backfield so the RB's path has to go a little upfield and the scoop the got on Jenkins(-1) and Colson(-1) can't be used. McGregor(+1) shed a hinge and added backside pursuit. Sainristil(+1) gets outside a TE who hooks him a little, which could draw a flag since it's material to the play (Refs-1) but more importantly spills it to Johnson(+1), who shoots up and gets the RB's feet before he can turn a corner.
O8	3rd	14	Gun 2x2 F-In	4-2-5	Nk Over	2 off	Run		Split Stretch	Jenkins	2	-0.02
Colson shows a blitz but it's just a slant with Jenkins(+1) flying upfield to set an edge and Graham(+3) shoving the RG all the way into the RB's path deep in the backfield. Harrell(-1) gets locked out and turned inside by the RT who stayed at the LOS, and the RB (Hat+1) is able to hop to other side of his RG into the space that provided. Barrett(+1) took on a TE and made sure that's just a two-yard fall.
Drive Notes: Punt. 10-3. 14 min 2nd Q.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O35	1st	10	Ace Str H-Fly	4-2-5	Nk Over	1 off	Play-Action	n/a	PA Flat	Hausmann	-1	-1.18
The rollout opposite stretch again gets blown up as Hausmann(+1, cov+2) knows a WR behind the LOS is fair game and pops him back until he's 8 yards behind the LOS. He does let him escape but not a lot he can do since he's got to contain the QB too, but Sainristil(+.5) and Sabb(+.5) have plenty of time to set up a yard in the backfield and make the tackle.
O34	2nd	11	Gun Wk RB H-Fly	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 fld	RPO		Split Flow Counter Give	Stewart	-1	-0.60
Slant and Barrett comes down for a 5-man front (RPS+1) that gets two guys coming off the edge they're trying to power. He gets taken down by but far inside and this spooks the RB to get so low that Goode(+1) gets a mitt on him by burrowing upfield, and then before the RB can try to bounce outside (where Johnson(+.5) has come down), Stewart(+2) blasts through the G he came inside to stuff.
O33	3rd	12	Gun Str Y-Fly	4-2-5	Nk Eagle A	1 off	Pass	4	Sack	Stewart	-7	-0.34
Stewart(+2, PR+3) puts the LT on skates all the way to Kali, who can't move because D-Mo(+2) put the RT on skates a little lower.\
Drive Notes: Punt. 17-3. 8 min 2nd Q.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O25	1st	10	Ace Str H-Fly	4-2-5	Nk Split	1.5 fld	Play-Action	3	RB Dumpoff	Sainristil	13	1.12
PA does soak up LB level (RPS-1) but no throw until McGregor(+1, PR+1) flies up and forces a dump to the RB that Sainristil(-2, cov-1, tackling-1) is playing super soft and can't make the tackle on.
O38	1st	10	Gun Str H-Fly	4-2-5	Nk Over	1 off	PRO	2	Sack/IZ	Graham	-1	-1.09
Slant gets Graham(+3) into the backfield with the LT on the ground. The LG goes 5 yards downfield at Colson so any pass should be extremely illegal but who knows with a modern crew. Doesn't matter bc Graham flies up like a death squirrel, flings the RB by him, and jumps on Kali's back. Knee is down a yard+ in the backfield but they spot it at the LOS robbing him of the stat.
O38	2nd	10	Ace Str	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 fld	Run		Belly	Hausmann	7	0.51
Just a quick-hitter on the backside. Harrell(-1) gets moved on his kick to create space. Jenkins is slanting a gap over (RPS-1) who gets upfield but to the wrong side of the play, which give them a quick releasing LG is able to lock out Colson(-.5). Hausmann(-1, tackling) pops the RG and either gets pushed back by the shoulder or a hand to the face. He recovers and should have it after 4 yards but whiffs the tackle. Paige(+1) got down and took on a cracking WR then cleaned up, Wallace(-.5) was a beat late to replace.
O45	3rd	3	Gun 3x1 RB	4-2-5	5-1 Split	2 fld	Run		ZR Stretch	McGregor	2	-0.57
Slant for a 5-1 front. Jenkins(+1) puts his OL in the backfield and most definitely gets an extended hands to the face (Refs-1). This forces a cutback to where McGregor(+1) has crossed the LT. Colson(+.5) helps him clean up. Barrett was waiting behind this for a spill the whole time.
O47	4th	1	Gun Unbal TTE	5-2-4	Goal	0 press	Run		Dive	Colson	5	2.42
Tackle over. Grant(+1) stands up his blocker to give Colson(-.5) a chance but he doesn't hit this with any conviction. LG comes off Jenkins to pop him and the RB bowls that guy over for the 1st and a few more.
M48	1st	10	Ace Str H-Fly	4-2-5	Nk Under	2 off	Run		Split Stretch	Jenkins	-1	-1.31
NBC drum goes berserk play, which is unfortunate because this play is Chaos enough without a giant Peacock blocking the screen. M brings Sainristil and Hausmann for a 6-1 front, and because Graham(+1) does it again, shooting into the backfield and cutting off the TE momentarily before the C escorts him out of there. Nobody blocked Jenkins but the TE recovers and turns him out. RB has to spin to get clear, and Harrell(+2) uses that to flow and tackle for loss. RPS+2, Michigan more or less delivered an unblocked DT to the mesh point
M49	2nd	11	Gun 3x1	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 fld	Run		ZR Stretch	Colson	8	0.79
1:55, 1 TO. Time starting to be a factor. M gives them a split gap and they attack it again. Graham(-.5) moved by a double and Colson(-1) allows himself to get trapped inside by the LG who was occupied enough for this not to happen. Hole extra big McGregor(-1) got stood up by the who then gets his hand stuck in Braiden's shoulderpad while turning him out, which c'mon Refs-2.
M41	3rd	3	Offset Wk	4-2-5	5-1 Under	2 press	Run		Belly	Moore	1	-0.89
1:11. Rod Moore(+2, tackling+1) flies down into the gap they're trying to quick hit, gets into the RB's legs, and twists him down to rob him of YAC. Welcome back fren. Fleck runs the clock down to 1 and takes a timeout.
M40	4th	2	Gun Twins	4-2-5	5-2 Split	2 press	Run		Belly	Harrell	5	2.12
0:22, 0 TO. M has their nickel personnel out so Paige is one of the guys getting crushed, RPS-1, but understandable because if they get it they might try to throw it immediately after. Grant(+2) almost makes this stop by hopping into the backfield over a cut block. Harrell(-1) was looking over at the sideline right before the play so he's late to react and a little too careful to force the give. Press this a bit more and they have it, but once they don't he makes the solid tackle to keep them from more.
M35	1st	10	Clock	--11	n/a		Spike		Spike	n/a	Inc	-0.69
0:13. They spike it.
M35	2nd	10	Ace Wk F-Fly	4-2-5	4-3 Over	2 off	Pass	4	Fade	Sainristil	35	3.63
0:06. Three safeties with Paige at Nk and Sainristil at CB, FWIW. Graham(+1, PR+1) gets an RB and throws him down to supply the pressure so this is launched off a back foot and perfect (Hat+3). On the podcast I said this was on Sabb(-1) not getting enough depth and Brian doesn't think he should get there, but he's turns his hips very late and is close to doubling Paige's zone when the WR gets to his level, there are no other threats here, and the one thing he can't give up is a TD. Sainristil(-1, cov-1) is closer to the sideline than I remembered and a step behind. He gets a diving gets a rake at a ball the WR has to lay out for, so this requires an excellent catch and very vertical throw to complete so that -1 is pretty harsh.
Drive Notes: Touchdown. 24-10. EoH. Also end of passing yards for Minnesota.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O26	1st	10	Gun TTE	5-2-4	5-2 Split	2 fld	Run		ZR Belly	Grant	3	-0.31
M shoots Jenkins outside the blockdown (RPS+1) which forces this frontside. Grant(+.5) has his double stood up, Colson(-.5) gets an OT and instead of shooting by him he's trying to stay clean in case he has to clean up a spill which is the safe thing I guess but bleeds a couple of yards in his gap.
O29	2nd	7	Gun Twins RB	5-2-4	5-2 Odd	1 off	Play-Action	5	Bat	McGregor	Inc	-0.59
McGregor(+2, PR+1) gets a TE and shoves him near enough the QB he can get a paw on the ball. This was max pro with 2 receivers in the route and I can't tell if any of them were open.
O29	3rd	7	Gun 2x2	4-2-5	3-1 Stack	1.5 fld	Pass	4	Scramble	D.Moore	1	-0.24
Harrell(+2) stunts with D-Mo(+1, PR+2) and Jaylen takes out two blockers so Moore can come inside. McGregor got high and is trying unsuccessfully to draw a flag but Kaliakmanis sees this and bails, fortunate for him because the two guys Harrell went through forgot him. D-Mo is able to come through the RB to track the QB down a yard past the LOS with Colson(+.5) coming up to make sure it won't be more.
Drive Notes: Punt. 24-10. 13 min 3rd Q.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O25	1st	10	Gun TTE H-Fly		5-2 Split	1 off	RPO		Stretch/Hitch	Benny	6	0.33
This one is just Benny(-2) getting run a few yards downfield without detaching at the cutback. D-Mo(+.5) shucks a hinge TE to close it down with Moore who was read by the RPO.
O31	2nd	4	Gun TTE H-Fly	5-2-4	5-2 Split	1 off	Play-Action	4	Throwaway	D.Moore	Inc(-10)	-1.35
D-Mo(+1, PR+2) drives a TE into the pocket at the same time Grant(+1) has pushed the C into Kali's face. The TE grabs D-Mo to prevent the sack and he goes down, drawing the flag. Jenkins(+.5) pursuit to the sideline means Kaliakmanis has to just throw it away now.
O21	2nd	14	Gun Trips	4-2-5	Nk Even	1 off	Pass	4	Slant	Sainristil	Inc	-0.18
Benny(+1, PR+2) is swimming through three guys and getting a hand up and D-Mo(+1) is powering the LT into the QB like last play so this has to get out early to a WR who may have gotten leverage on Sainristil by crossing him, but he has to fall to try to catch this after and it's 5 yards on 2nd & 14: push. I can't tell if Benny touched it but he definitely took away the angle.
O21	3rd	14	Gun 3x1	4-2-5	3-1 Stack	1.5 off	Pass	4	Sack	Graham	-8	-0.12
Harrell(+2) sneaks in again to the right of Graham but instead of the LT/LG this time he slams into the C, drawing the LG too, then spins through. Graham(+3, PR+3) stunts around this, accelerates past the recovering LG and RB, gets shoved, and uses that to jump on top of Kaliakmanis. Then he rows the boat.
Drive Notes: Punt. 31-10. 7 min 3rd Q. Next drive it's 38-10 so gonna hear some backup names called.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O22	1st	10	Ace	5-2-4	5-2 Under	2 fld	Run		Inside Zone	Brandt	3	-0.26
Brandt(-.5) gets moved a bit by a T who then oddly releases to the 2nd level to get Hausmann. This should be a freebie but Harrell(+.5) is out at the hash with a TE blocking stretch to create a gap. Clever trick but closed down if Brandt doesn't whiff his tackle. RPS is off. Tackling is off.
O25	2nd	7	Ace	5-2-4	5-2 Odd	2 off	Run		Stretch	Barrett	0	-0.48
Here's how this goes when the LBs attack it. Brandt(-1) is pushed down by a double that Barrett(+2) and Hausmann(+2) both get around to fly up and stuff this. Either probably gets it done himself.
O25	3rd	7	Gun Wk RB	4-2-5	5-1 Split	2 fld	Pass	4	Pick Six	Sabb	INT	-6.96
This is a three-man route but Jenkins(+1, PR+1) is singled and is clean by #71 the guy everyone seems to be getting their points on. Pocket collapsing Kaliakmanis throws this at a comeback that Wallace(+1) has covered. Sabb(+3, cov+3) skies to pick it off, and then there's nobody in front of him. Hat-2 this is really bad.
Drive Notes: Defensive Touchdown. 45-10. 1 min 3rd Q.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O25	1st	10	Gun Str	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 fld	Run		ZR Stretch	Graham	1	-0.59
This time they're trying to combo through Grant(-1) who gives up ground but D-Mo(+1) crossing a TE to fill in, McBurrows is pursuing from the backside, and oh yeah Graham(+2) puts poor #71 in the backfield, sets up outside, crosses inside, and swallows the RB.
O26	2nd	9	Offset TTE RB	5-2-4	5-2 Over	2 fld	RPO		Stretch/Hitch	Graham	1	-0.34
Why would you run at this guy again? D-Mo(+1) slips inside the TE with a couple of steps before the snap. Graham(+2) rips #71 down WITH ONE ARM and climbs on the RB's back. #77 tries to get into it with Will Johnson after, but they let it go.
O27	3rd	8	Gun Str Y-Fly	4-2-5	5-1 Odd	2 press	Pass	5	Fly	Q.Johnson	Inc	-0.22
This has to launch because Stewart(+2, PR+2) beat the RT and is on a sack trajectory. It's over the head of a TE on the sideline that Q-Jo(+1, cov+1) had well-covered. EO3Q.
Drive Notes: Punt. 45-10. 1 min 3Q. No more starters after this.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O25	1st	10	Gun Ace	5-2-4	5-2 Split	1 off	Run		ZR Stretch	Goode	5	0.09
Hausmann(+1) slips through and gets the C to peel off (smart play by that guy) but this now has to cut back to whatever's next, which is Goode(-1) in the gap but waving at the RB. Hood(+.5) got an immediate release from the LT, got off, and helped hold it down.
O30	2nd	5	Ace	5-2-4	5-2 Split	2 fld	Run		Stretch	Brandt	6	0.84
Brandt(-2) gets a ride down to Hood. Hillman(+.5) flies down productively, missing the tackle, but forcing the RB to stop and jitter around him so Goode(+.5) can flow down and stop it.
O36	1st	10	Gun Ace	5-2-4	5-2 Split	1 off	Run		ZR Stretch	Benny	4	-0.16
Benny(-1) gets moved by #75 but detaches and makes the tackle once D-Mo(+1) shucks a TE to set a hard edge.
O40	2nd	6	Gun TTE	5-2-4	5-2 Odd	1 off	RPO		Stretch/Hitch	Goode	1	-0.82
Brandt(-2) is ejected so bad the RG peels back to see if he can do something about Hood(+1) who snuck in to set up in the cutback lane. Stewart(+1) is doing good work on the edge so he and Goode(+1) who's across the C, can fill in for Brandt.
O41	3rd	5	Gun 3x1 RB	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 fld	Run		ZR Stretch	Benny	-1	-0.76
Benny(+2) is sick of the losses. He gets #75 at RG and chucks him by. Stewart(+1) has stalemated the RT and Goode(+.5) has dragged the RG across to fill in the gap from a C who released to the LB level so there's nowhere to go but into Benny's arms.
Drive Notes: Punt. 52-10. 6 min 4th Q. Last drive is all Jordan Nubin runs vs the deep bench. Charting ends.

I am concerned about the thing that worked.

Of course you are. I did a Neck Sharpies on it because for the second straight week there was a thing the opponent had working. Takeaways:

• Michigan's plan vs the run is to have their DEs set the edges and have the DTs cover everything between so the linebackers can sit back and play receiving targets.
• Minnesota used multiple motions with WRs and TEs to stretch out those edges.
• It was too much space for the DTs to deal with.
• The linebackers weren't reacting even after the handoff.

A lot of plays got clipped for that. Let's look at one:

Michigan is playing two safeties back and having every player in the front take an offensive player so there's no possibility of giving up an edge. Minnesota runs a wide receiver, a quarterback, and a tight end out the back side of the formation, and this draws the backside end, the nickel, and one of the ILBs, leaving one ILB and two DTs to handle four blockers and an RB. There are two guys doubling Jenkins and two doubling Graham here:

Graham has Colson behind him, but he's not engaging because there's only one of him. How the hell are they supposed to stop it? No joke: Mason Graham doing some heroic shit. He almost does.

This was not an isolated incident. Benny's actually done a good job to throw #65 here out of the scheme, because Colson isn't actually participating in it—he's totally obsessed with the tight end running away from the ball.

At the moment of truth Colson isn't even on screen. Yes, I dinged him for that—by this point he ought to be aware that the RB has the ball and his services are needed inside. But…I get it? With these rollouts it's not easy to see if the QB still has the ball, and if you're being coached to react to the tight end wherever he goes, and he goes outside, where are you supposed to be? The only way this gets defended is if Benny can mirror the RB's cut backside, get back across the OL, and get his hands on the ballcarrier. I know they both wear #26 but that seems like a big ask.

In previous circumstances Michigan was able to get away with this stuff because they constrict the width of the front. By the time the RB picks a gap usually a DT has destroyed a blocker so thoroughly that the RB had to cut into a wall of butts. By spreading out Michigan's front, they created too much space for even Jenkins, Graham, and Grant, let alone Benny and Goode, to cover all by themselves.

Did they counter off of this or just run stretch all game?

Well the problem with trying to counter something your opponent is leaving is they're covering the counters. You could tell Michigan was sitting on the pass by what happened whenever Minnesota ran a play-action pass.

We've got a guy rushing the QB. We've got guys over the top. We've got guys waiting for your rollouts to intercept or force them out of bounds. Minnesota's most successful play-action play all night went for zero yards, and that only because the refs spotted them the difference on a two-yard loss.

The other counters didn't work either. Michigan of today uses Belly—the play where you wash out the line and run straight down the backside—as a counter to dive on short yardage. But stretch teams (remember Rich Rod) love it because it catches the offense trying to slant their tackles to the frontside and get a head start on outside zone. Michigan's babysitting of the backside edge made Belly only minimally successful, and then because Michigan was having four guys shooting out at the three involved in an RPO.

Michigan did finally decide to come up on one of these RPOs and left a guy open; Paige managed to knock it down at the line of scrimmage. I still dinged Colson for this coverage:

#25 the lower LB

But that was an aberration.

Sitting back on the pass wasn't the only issue in Michigan's zone defense, unfortunately. Four out of the five Minnesota linemen actually look pretty good at run-blocking. Last week we went virtually all game without a successful block on Kris Jenkins. In this game it was happening.

#94 the DT on the bottom

I hope #75 is a dude because he was regularly successful against Michigan in ways that no offensive lineman we've faced this year has been. They also got really smart play from their center Nathan Boe and good run-locking from their top-150 Notre Dame transfer Quinn Carroll at RT, and good play all around from LT Aireontae Ersery. Their last spot was a mess and the DTs were having their usual at the expense of #71 (Martes Lewis) and #65 (true freshman Greg Johnson). Hopefully this means that Minnesota has some good run blockers, versus meaning Michigan's just been facing spectacularly bad ones until now.

But they fixed it right?

Michigan tried various things with their fronts—though not twists—to help out their DTs without fully helping their DTs. One way was to put the LB in an LB/QB conflict on the backside so the DE could crash, helping out the LB by getting in the TE crosser's way. This might have worked if both DTs can just hold up—note Stewart (#5) flying in from the left side. This didn't really change the math—Stewart gets blocked by the TE—but it should in theory make Colson's job easier because a cutback would go right into Stewart.

You still have Hausmann widening out like a nickel against that wide receiver on the far left, and Sainristil sitting back on the slant behind him.

Later Michigan finally acquiesced and started bringing down a safety, which didn't fix all the issues (there are a couple of obvious ones there) but did allow them to add a linebacker to the front while still keeping one behind the line. This was the old 5-1 gambit they tried two years ago until Kenneth Walker III proved too good to be left with just a linebacker.

They also, one time, but only because Minnesota didn't have a single passing yard in the second half and the game was virtually over, allowed the linebackers to just go play the run. Here's Michigan's stretch defense when not trying like hell

I seem to remember stretch being blown up another way?

Oh right, we also sent in Agent MurderGlasgow.

Sending Mason "OMG" Graham upfield like that cut off the tight end's blitz and halved the surface area Michigan had to cover. Minnesota managed to push him along like you're supposed to on another stretch attempt but it stopped the play's motion and ruined the way the Gophers were taking particular advantage of Michigan's DTs. Another time he did this the center just tackled him, picking up a flag.

That goes back to why Michigan was playing this way; they have a defensive tackle who's on track to be a 1st rounder, and he isn't even the defensive tackle who's the best player on the field.

Is this where you show me some impossible score on like 20 snaps?

You remembered the chart!

I remember there are defensive lineman scores and one or two things that occasionally happened behind them.

That is a reasonable description of The Chart.

Defensive Line
Player	Snaps	+	-	T	Notes
Kris Jenkins	25	4	2	+2	Got pushed off his spot on stretch.
Mason Graham	28	21	1	+20	Heisman 2024.
Kenneth Grant	14	7.5	2	+5.5	When he decided to stop moving was impactful.
Cam Goode	14	5	1	+4	Capable, nice piece.
Rayshaun Benny	16	6	5	+1	Similar day to Jenkins: got moved off his spot, shed some.
Jaylen Harrell	35	9	5	+4	Interior pass rush moments offset some bonking.
Braiden McGregor	28	7	1	+6	Our new PFF argument: bats passes, pushes, gets held.
Derrick Moore	24	8.5	1	+7.5	Coming into stardom.
Josaiah Stewart	19	9	0	+9	Thought he was their most effective DE of the day.
Cameron Brandt	12	0	5.5	-5.5	Welcome freshman.
TOTAL	239	77	18	+59	Brandt not counted in the total. Graham is.
Linebacker
Player	Snaps	+	-	T	Notes
Junior Colson	40	4	9.5	-5.5	Didn't know what he was looking at, or told to stay away?
Michael Barrett	25	4	0	+4	Letting others do the work until late.
Ernest Hausmann	29	6.5	2	+4.5	More willing to stick his nose in.
Jaydon Hood	11	1.5	0	+1.5	Saw you again.
TOTAL	111	18	11.5	+6.5	Stay back, the DL have to handle this themselves.
Secondary
Player	Snaps	+	-	T	Notes
Rod Moore	33	2	0	+2	Got one stick, babysat a lot of RPOs.
Makari Paige	31	4	0	+4	Was doing this with 0.5s on leaky stretch plays.
Quinten Johnson	18	2.5	0	+2.5	One good coverage, one good tackle, one good day.
Keon Sabb	18	3.5	2	+1.5	One touchdown for, one against.
Brandyn Hillman	10	0.5	0	+0.5	Flew up to almost make a stop. Future player.
Mike Sainristil	38	3.5	4	-0.5	Not his game, not gonna linebacker much.
Will Johnson	44	3.5	0	+3.5	One touchdown for, one edge stick, left alone after.
Josh Wallace	34	1	0.5	+0.5	Out there, not really tested.
Keshaun Harris	3	0	0	-	DNC
Ja'Den McBurrows	5	0	0	-	DNC
Amorion Walker	11	0	0	-	DNC
Jyaire Hill	0	0	0	-	DNP
DJ Waller Jr.	11	0	0	-	DNC
TOTAL	267	20.5	6.5	+14	62 interception return yards vs 52 passing yards.
Metrics
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Pressure	27	0	27/16	No clean pockets all day. None.
Coverage	18	2	+16	Actually it was 51 yards so this is a coverage Rutger.
Tackling	1	3	-2	Some uncharted whiffs late.
RPS	14	7	+7	One thing that worked for them, if M tried it worked.
Hat Tip	6	4	+2	Good throw and catch. Might be legit run blockers save 71.

OMG.

Yes he is. However many events you remember from Graham in this game—his first back after breaking his hand and still wearing a gigantic club—you are not remembering enough of them. I showed you the destruction of the stretch zones. There was also the time he shoved his blocker at the running back.

#55 the DT under the hash mark

Remember that Graham? That was pretty awesome.

You know what else was awesome? When you were kind of on the end of the line on a stretch, and this guy was trying to block you, and you had a cast on, and you still push-pulled him to the ground and made the tackle like he wasn't even there.

So cool?. Also, do you remember that time you were at tackle and you dodged two blockers, danced around a running back then jumped on the quarterback's back like a rabid squirrel? Remember? That was so cool.

Man THIS guy. So amazing. I can't believe I'm talking to you. Like you're the guy who like accelerated past all of these guys, got a shot from the side that should have made you fall down but you managed to like use that as momentum to fall on the quarterback trying to escape?

I kinda don't know what else to say about +20 on 28 snaps. Like…

He is awesome. PFF has him their #2 DT this year. He should be an All-American. The shield has been deployed.

The other DTs…weren't OMG?

Kris Jenkins is #16 to PFF and Kenneth Grant is #22, but this was a new test for those guys. Jenkins picked up three negatives by getting moved on a couple of early stretch plays then getting scooped on a power run a little later. But that was it for his negatives—he climbed back to positive over the rest of the game, and those early negatives might have been a little bit harsh because he was trying to close down a lot of space. But getting moved is getting moved, and #75 moved him.

#94 the DT on the bottom hash

That counts as surprising this year. We'll see if it was coming up against a good o-lineman or playing really bad ones up until now.

My Grant score was less of a surprise. He's a true sophomore who isn't OMG, and a couple of times he wasn't quite ready for the sideways pounding they were giving him. He more than made up for it by holding up to extended doubles, shedding blockers, hopping over cut-blocks, and generally being disrupting as hell. I actually managed to let him have a +2 without clipping. You've made it sir. Next time you start there's a star on thars as well.

Goode also got an unclipped +2 (it was later in the game, okay?) to go with a positive day of being in the right spot. The one minus he still had the right idea but wasn't quick or lengthy enough to wrangle down the RB as he went by. Valuable player they've got there from a guy who transferred not to play last year and stuck around anyways.

I thought you said Benny was going to be good at stretch, specifically.

This was disappointing. One of the stretches that Michigan actually had a gameplan gained 6 yards because the OL ran Benny several yards downfield. That was his only –2, but he was the most likely DT to not win those 4-on-3 situations they shouldn't have been put in. The scout on Benny was always his feet and length should make him a terror on any team that wants to run zone, inside or out. This was the first time we got to test that theory and he just wasn't strong enough yet, a fact that was evident on the play linked above when he and Grant got extended doubles and Benny gave way.

#26 the DT on top

To the good (and bad) the feet and speed were definitely part of the show. This stretch play looked like it was his fault because it goes out his back and he winds up a few yards downfield besides.

#26 the DT on the bottom

But one that's a (hook &) hold preventing Benny from working back, and two those feet really do get him from hash to hash while only giving up a yard on 2nd & 10. If he got any kind of linebacker help on a gap that wasn't his, this is 3rd & 7. Proof of concept at least.

Meanwhile Benny was getting himself back into the positive whenever he got a shot at #71.

#26 the DT on the bottom

He and Grant also got to drop into coverage. So they're putting things on his plate.

Are we dropping DTs now because the Edges can't cover slants?

There was only one slant and it fell incomplete, possibly because Benny batted it at the line of scrimmage.

Speaking of guys who bat things at the line of scrimmage,

McGregor got another knockdown and was a regular menace on the edge, but he's not the edge I want to talk about this week.

Harrell? You've already converted me.

No, he set up one of the OMG sacks and got regular pressure on weird stuff, but Harrell got bonked a few times on those stretches. He doesn't give up the edge, but he's never going to have the oomph of the other guys, and still gets caught trying to go off-script without enough big plays to show for it…for now.

Not enough oomph? You must mean Derrick Moore then. He's got oomph. Is it star time?

It probably is after another solid day of Mike Morris-like oomphing that seemed less opponent-variant than the other DL. But Moore's best pass rush of this game was beat by the guy who really popped.

Josiah Stewart!

That is a very good bull rush on a tackle we thought was very good. And it came one play after Stewart came in side then exploded vertically to blow up this Power run.

#5 the DE on the top

Michigan also turned to Stewart for his speed when they needed somebody scraping in from the edge to shrink the surface area of stretch runs. He almost had a sack on the Kaliakmanis throw down the sideline by beating the RT (who's not a great pass protector) and was a consistent contributor after the starters left.

We're still not to the part of the schedule where Stewart was expected to be needed (Games 11 and 12), but in this on he was Michigan's best and most consistent edge in all phases, and never came remotely close to getting edged besides. He's got another year and was transitioning from slimming down to play a twisty JACK role against Sun Belt competition to a Big Ten program that runs a lot of complicated stuff. The strength he showed in this one matched the Danna profile.

You mentioned dinging Colson a few times. Should I even ask?

So here's our most disappointing development. The Colson numbers this year have been very positive and very untrustworthy because he was rarely being asked to be doing anything that involved reading or instincts. If this game had just been his work as a five lineman coming off the edge, cleaning up tackles, or converting a run blitz to quarterback mayhem we would have gotten another positive day.

But it wasn't that. It was Stretch Day, and Colson was routinely coming in for negatives for overplaying the pass long after the handoff. I think the coaches asked him to be responsive to tight ends when they came in motion because they didn't want to get nailed in the flats on play-action, but at a certain point main you gotta forget all that and go help out your tackles.

#25 the LB on the top

#25 the LB on the top

Linebacking is hard, and grading linebacking is hard, but great linebacking involves figuring out what the offense is trying to do to you and going after it. We've seen Barrett do this and Hausmann is pretty decent at it. The indecision from Colson reminded me too much of the true freshman I kept excusing who didn't know what the play was and often looked foolish for waiting in the wrong spot to find out. Like if you know Paige is blitzing here, and you're a 3rd year starter, you should have an idea that they're probably going to throw the pass option of the RPO and be somewhere that can threaten it.

#25 the LB on the bottom

Or maybe they wanted to induce a pull and get Paige a free sack, I dunno. Sometimes the mysteries of football are opaque on rewatches, linebacker the most so. I want to believe. He is a great tackler, though.

The other two linebackers didn't get to do much other than sit behind two DTs trying to cover a mile of stretch zone surface and try to deter the best gap that forms. When they got to attack they did so.

both LBs

Regarding Hausmann, I did enjoy the fact he knew you're allowed to bang into a receiver in the backfield.

He had a couple of issues on the stretches but his were from too aggressively burying himself in a gap to give up another.

Were there any other guys on the LB level who stood out to you?

I liked exactly one thing from Jaydon Hood again, and Cristian Boivin got to lay into someone late, is that what you mean?

No I mean Mike Sainristil had to play some LB because of all the swapping of WRs and TEs and you didn't think to mention it.

Oh.

Which means YOU HAVE UNDERRATED MIKEY SAINRISTIL of the week.

Actually it was the announcers who underrated him by claiming the quarterback needed to put a pass that Sainristil almost intercepted further outside. The QB put it right on his guy's numbers and Sainristil climbed in there with a dive. If it went outside, Sainristil would have been doing the same thing outside. But yes, he had to do some linebackin' and managed to casually slip past this tight end while still forcing the ball outside to set up Johnson's second good play.

#0 the nickel on top who becomes a LB

Unfortunately I had some negatives for Sainristil in this game. That one RB dumpoff caught Sainristil playing it super deep, and I dinged him for sitting back on a slant during a run play after it was quite clear no slant was coming.

And I finally did decide that he bears some responsibility for the touchdown catch at the end of the half.

You said on the podcast you blame Sabb.

I blame Sabb too but my memory of the play when we were recording the podcast was that Sainristil forced the receiver a few yards inside from the sideline. In reality it was more like one yard. Also in my memory he was a yard behind on the throw then made up the difference to have a good shot at raking it out on the catch, like we all know he's capable of.

Um…like we all know he's capable of.

As for Sabb, Brian defended him because he wondered how the safety is supposed to get to this. My answer is you turn your hips and start running *before* the wide receiver is about level with you. I think Sabb found himself in a lot of space and started checking for interceptions coming across the formation instead of playing his zone. Whenever a deep pass goes inside the cornerback that should have a safety involved. The pass was so well arced that it might have beaten Sabb anyways. But it also could have been an interception if the safety is looking for it.

It was also a great catch, falling down with a cornerback trying to come over you on a ball falling mostly straight down. Hat tips all around. That—and getting the same basic running play to work three times in a row because Michigan isn't interested in defending it—are what it takes to score on this defense.

That reminds me; the defense actually outscored their opponent.

Right! Let's do the Sabb pick-six first because it was more straightforward. There's pressure, the score is already out of hand, and Kaliakmanis doesn't look to see if there's someone between him and a receiver.

Takeaways here are WOW THAT'S SOME UPS from our athletic young safety, and WOW HE SHOULDN'T HAVE THROWN THAT, which is also very true.

The Johnson one however was set up by the coverage. Before we show it, I want you to think back: what was the one thing that's been working pretty consistently against this Michigan defense since they went Ravens in 2021?

Zone stretch.

Before that.

Slants.

Before that.

Ohio State's receivers are just unreal.

Uh, after that.

Giving Gavin Wimsatt a ten-yard cushion on a million hitches so they can practice Cover 3.

That's the one.

At the time I said it's okay to leave this hole, which is a natural weakness of Cover 3, available because if the quarterback isn't checking for a switch to Cover 2 he's going to give up a Pick Six. If Wimsatt was accurate he might have.

The same thing happened with the Johnson Pick Six. It's the 2nd play of the game, Kaliakmanis has his scouting report, and sees a cornerback bailing in zone with a vertical route from the #1 receiver and another defender apparently in a curl-flat. If this is what you're looking at, and what you're expecting, you will think you've got Cover 3, and as soon as your target is clear of the curl-flat you've got a free first down. Instead Michigan has Rod Moore slide over the vertical route and Johnson snaps back down to a flat zone, which puts him right in the path of the hitch throw. Yoink!

I'll get into this more with Demorest on this week's show.

The other Minter Moment™ was dropping two DTs right into this drag route he knew was coming.

That's scouting your opponent and preparing something.

Anything else from the secondary?

Rod Moore is back to tackling good.

#9 the safety on the top by the 30

This is probably the Tackle of the Week if we want to start doing that to match the Block of the Week.

Update on redshirts?

DJ Waller and Trey Pierce have played in 5 or 6 games and aren't redshirting. Ditto sophomore LB Micah Pollard. Brooks Bahr, Aymeric Koumba, Breeon Ishmail, Semaj Bridgeman, Jason Hewlett, and Hayden Moore all seem to be taking redshirts. Jimmy Rolder is probably getting a medshirt this year since hasn't played yet (you can play in 4 games and the postseason and still keep the year so we may see him yet).

Guys we're keeping an eye on still: Jyaire Hill, Brandyn Hillman, and Cameron Brandt are at 4, so the next game they're in is a burned redshirt. Enow Etta and Cam Calhoun are at 2 games.

Refs?

Were very bad again, and all the bad went one way, which is becoming a trend with this crew. Let's hope we don't get them in a game that matters.

Heroes?

Mason "OMG" Graham. Josiah Stewart had his best game thus far at Michigan.

Maybe Not So Heroic?

Junior Colson returned to some of his bad confused ways.

What does it mean for Indiana and Beyond?

OMG. Thinking of two more years of finding things to say about this guy. Mo Hursting it.

Stretch is only a problem if you let it be. This was OSU practice, since they're the most Stretch team on the horizon, and I have to imagine they weren't that pass defense-crazy over Kaliakmanis.

All four ends might be stars. One good tackle and one that's been very good as a run blocker and they all graded out positively. Stewart had a great game. The others were themselves.

Hoping Minnesota OL are good not other opponent OLs bad. Indicators say yes since they were able to move the ball against everyone but Nebraska, and the Husker run defense was only ever cracked by Michigan. If OSU OL isn't as good as the Gophers this might work.

Halfway through the season I am struggling to find takes not about the DL because everything happens there. This isn't a bad thing per se.

Colson might have been coached to stay away from the run game? I'm admittedly searching for excuses. It's one badly scored game versus five good ones, and we still haven't really tested him in coverage so jury's still out.

Secondary still in Rounding Into Form mode. Trying different combos—this time with Paige at nickel—and got burned when the true sophomore forgot the time on the clock.

Gonna get ya. Next team might think twice about throwing a hitch as soon as they see Cover 3, because it might not be.

Your Moment of Zen: