Staying tuned. [Patrick Barron]

Upon Further Review 2023: Defense vs MSU Comment Count

Seth October 27th, 2023 at 9:00 AM

UFR GLOSSARY is here.

FORMATION NOTES: Bone!

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Michigan's front is what I call "Split" which is not to be confused with "Split!" where the NT is on the other side of the center, or "Splits" where both DEs are well wide of the DTs. MSU also had some super-wide Walt Bell Memorial splits. If you see "Bell" in the nomenclature it means the WRs are all beyond the numbers. It signifies a team has given up all hope of offense and has hired or is ready to hire Walt Bell.

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SUBSTITUTION NOTES: The usual rotation with an increase in backup cornerbacks and McBurrows in the "competitive" portion of the game, with Amorion Walker in for a good third of the game and plenty of DJ Waller. German Green was only on for the last two plays/drives. Jimmy Rolder returned from injury and was the fourth LB. Keon Sabb was limited to just 7 snaps as Rod Moore played most of the game; Zeke Berry returned for late snaps.

[After THE JUMP: Having their number isn't the same as having their signs.]

Ln Dn Dst OForm DPack Front Hi Type Rush Play Player Yds EPA
O25 1st 10 Gun Str 4-2-5 Nk Over 2 fld Run   Inside Zone Barrett 2 -0.35
This almost looks like a run blitz but it's Barrett(+2) reacting immediately to the center stepping downfield. That cuts off the backside and forces into where Jenkins(+2) shoved his RG two yards back and has a monster TFL if the RG doesn't grab his shoulderpad and yank him back (Refs-2). There's a pause Jenkins uses to go to a knee and get an arm on Carter's thigh, which halts his progress and allows Colson to come help clean up.
O27 2nd 8 Pistol Wk 4-2-5 Nk Over 2 off Run   ZR Counter Lead McGregor -2 -0.70
Tempo(32). The play where the FB starts with split action then reverses course to be the lead blocker on power. McGregor(+2) gets Houser to give it then crashes into the RB as he's getting his handoff. Paige is nearby because M was rolling him down to replace McGregor's crash so a keep was also a TFL: RPS+2.
O25 3rd 10 Gun Str 4-2-5 Nk Split! 2 press Pass 4.5 RB Dumpoff Barrett 17 2.57
McGregor(+1) gets by the LT and a late blitz from Colson(+1, PR+2) forces a quick dump down to the RB at the LOS that Barrett(-2, tackling-2) should have down but he gets stiffarmed. Everyone else is downfield in man so Carter can run for the first and change.
O42 1st 10 Gun 2x2 4-2-5 3-4 Odd 1 off Pass 4 H Smoke Paige 2 -0.53
Amoeba. This is basically a screen where the H runs back to where the Z started. Houser (Hat-1) never takes his eyes off it then his throw is ominously slow, which gives Paige(+1, tackling+1) all the time he needs to come down and spin the WR down. RPS-1, this was a short throw under soft coverage that got nothing because the QB's arm sucks.
O44 2nd 8 Gun Wk Y-Cross 4-2-5 Nk Over 2 fld Pass 4 Bootleg D.Moore 3(-10) -1.79
Look-back at a side with one WR is supposed to trick the DE into an inside rush but D-Mo(+2, PR+2) isn't fooled, gets playside of the TE assigned to him, and has a sack if that guy doesn't hold him (it's called). Houser's spooked anyways and dumps it to his RB in the flat that Colson(+1, cov+1) picks up immediately.
O34 2nd 18 Gun Str RB 4-2-5 Nk Split 2 fld Run   RB Draw Grant 3 -0.13
Grant(+2) sees it right away, crosses the C, and halts Carter with one arm. Barrett(+1) activates and squeezes this against the back of the LG.
O37 3rd 15 Gun 2x2 4-2-5 Nk Over 2 off Pass 4 Z Curl Johnson 13 1.02
Loop by Stewart(+1, PR+1) goes through the RB and it's time to get rid of it early. Johnson(tackling+1, cov-1) is playing this deep, allows the catch and has such long arms a stiffarm doesn't phase him as he runs the WR OOB thee yards short of the sticks. That should be enough to force punt, but Refs-1 give MSU a free yard to make it 4th & 2 instead of 3, which brings up a conversion opportunity.
50 4th 2 Offset Str H-Jet 4-2-5 5-1 Odd 1.5 off Run   ZR Belly Jenkins 1 -4.08
MSU doesn't adjust to M's late shift to a 5-man front and Jenkins(+1, RPS+2) is able to shoot the A gap as Graham twists behind him while a Sainristil blitz forces a give. This cuts off the frontside and forces it back to Colson(+1) who stands up the RB. Barrett(+0.5) arrives with force and McGregor(+0.5) spins off a block to officially end forward progress. They all stand there waiting for a whistle and then 4 seconds later the pile falls forward. Forward progress ruled, Sparties Spart about it.
Drive Notes: Turnover on Downs. 7-0. 4 min 1st Q.
Ln Dn Dst OForm DPack Front Hi Type Rush Play Player Yds EPA
O25 1st 10 Bone F-In 5-2-4 4-3 Split 1.5 fld Run   Counter Lead Stewart 0 -0.70
RG pulls into Stewart(+2) and gets shouldered to the ground. Graham(+1) stood up the LT who's got a giant handful of shoulderpad to prevent him from joining the carnage as an unblocked D-Mo(+0.5) arrives from the backside. Hausmann(+0.5) had a solid pop on the FB in the hole so this was going nowhere even if the puller made his block.
O25 2nd 10 Pistol Str 4-2-5 Nk Split 2 fld Pass 4 Snag Waller Inc -0.35
Bull rush by Stewart(+1, PR+1) is getting there but this is a quick timing throw that catches Waller(-1, cov-1) playing off in m2m. Grant(+2) says nuh-uh and bats it down.
O25 3rd 10 Gun Wk H-Fly 4-2-5 Nk Even 1.5 bdy Pass 4 F Rub Out Wallace Inc -0.16
Sainristil travels with the slot to give Houser a m2m pre-snap read, which is what this play is designed to defeat. Announcers even point to TE Maliq Carr (whom the stadium announcer kept calling Berger). They're running crossers underneath with the motion receiver meant to rub off Barrett(+1, cov+3) who reacts too quickly and gets over the route. Paige(-1) doesn't see Sainristil tracking his crosser and runs into him, but that's okay because the MSU receivers (Hat-1) also bump into each other. Also because Stewart(+1, PR+1) had a clean beat of the LT who yanks him back before he can sack (Refs-1). ALSO Wallace (RPS+2) comes off the #1 WR because the man look was a trap to get them to throw underneath, but he waits for the ball instead of stepping in front of it, which allows the TE to get his hands on it first and turns Minter's pick-six into a punt. EO1Q for defense.
Drive Notes: Punt. 14-0. 1 min 1st Q.
Ln Dn Dst OForm DPack Front Hi Type Rush Play Player Yds EPA
O25 1st 10 Bone F-Cross 5-2-4 5-2 Odd 1.5 bdy Play-action 5 PA Fly Waller Inc -0.70
Jenkins(+2, PR+2) spies the high hat (IE the QB kept it), throws off the RT and flies up so Houser has to chuck it away or take a sack. He puts up a duck that Waller(+2, cov+3) could pick off if it's remotely accurate but it's short. Sabb(+1) was on top of the WR too.
O25 2nd 10 Gun Wk 4-2-5 Nk Splits 2 off RPO   SZ/Slants Benny 6 0.17
The formation is a setup for a backside run blitz for a five-man front as Q-Jo rolls down but Colson(-1) tips the blitz and MSU makes a change that converts the RT to a chip on him that drives him back. This has a cascading effect as Hausmann(-2) hops backside to fill a gap that Q-Jo has under control and McGregor(+0.5) shouldered small enough to get the RB to cut frontside. There Benny(+1) went in the wrong gap but then fixes it and makes the tackle, which earns him full points but yeesh. He halts Carter but is now getting tackled from behind by the LG (Refs-1) and falls off as Carter stumbles forwards for a decent gain. Harrell(-0.5) is tied up with the LT and can't help. Johnson(+0.5) gets in there to end it.
O31 3rd 4 Gun 3x1 F-In 4-2-5 5-1 Odd 1 press Pass 4 Slot Fade Sainristil Inc -0.44
Lone LB comes, both edges drop. MSU running the all-PI offense, Sainristil(+2, cov+2) is in the WR's chest, turns his head around, and the ball hits his helmet.
Drive Notes: Punt. 21-0. 9 min 2nd Q.
Ln Dn Dst OForm DPack Front Hi Type Rush Play Player Yds EPA
O18 1st 10 Gun Ace Tight 5-2-4 5-2 Odd 2 off Pass 4 Quick Out Walker Inc -0.51
M has a delayed blitz on that's irrelevant because this is supposed to be out immediately under soft coverage, except Houser (Hat-1) puts no zip on it. This means Walker(+2, cov+2) has time for an INT but he's already got his arms in position to PBU a normal speed pass and just knocks it down. Moore can't believe it.
O18 2nd 10 Bone Y-Cross 5-2-4 5-2 Under 1.5 bdy Run   Pitch Sweep Colson 3 -0.10
The first star goes to Jenkins(+1) who gets across the LG and travels him behind the LOS out to the numbers where Stewart(-1) got kicked to cut off the gap this is meant to attack. Colson(+2) flies in past the C who had a free release on him and tackles from behind.
O21 3rd 7 Gun 3x1 4-2-5 Okie Zero 2 off Pass 5 Throwaway Wallace Inc -0.18
M rolls Barrett and Q-Jo down late to create a zero look and two guys drop from the side with all the DL so the RB has to block both (RPS+2). Somehow he does(!) as Barrett(-1) is set up to thunk him and the RB switches to tackling Q-Jo instead. Barrett falls, helped by the LG getting lucky by swinging his arm behind him and finding Barrett's. That takes care of the free rusher but doesn't take care of Graham(+2) and D-Mo(+1, PR+3) who beat a C/RG double the and RT clean. Houser has to throw this away at a comeback that Wallace(+1, cov+1) has covered at the LOS.
Drive Notes: Punt. 21-0. 7 min 2nd Q.
Ln Dn Dst OForm DPack Front Hi Type Rush Play Player Yds EPA
O25 1st 10 Gun 2x2 4-2-5 Nk Over 2 fld Run   QB Draw Colson 6 0.33
Grant might have this but gets his collar yanked (Refs-1) which is just enough room for Houser to sneak by. Colson(+1) takes on a block from the RB and tackles. RPS-2, since both DEs bought the pass look and flew upfield, and M was playing five in the box.
O31 2nd 4 Gun Wk H-Fly 4-2-5 Nk Under 2 bdy Pass 5 RB Flat Barrett 7 0.79
Both WRs are at the numbers which should be a screen tell. Amoeba drops a guy into the curl but that means Sainristil(+1, PR+1) is coming on a blitz. He forms up and affects the pass but not enough. Barrett(-1, cov-1) is slow getting out on the RB in the flat and Colson blitzed with the rest of the guys playing man (RPS-1) so it's a footrace that gives up the 1st and change.
O38 1st 10 Gun 2x2 4-2-5 Nk Split 1 fld Pass 4 Slant Barrett Inc -1.09
Tempo(30). McGregor(+2, PR+1) is around the LT quickly but the ball is out immediately to an H slant that Sainristil(+2, cov+3) is dominating. WR bangs into him and falls down sparting for a call but the ref is busy ducking as the ball goes right to Barrett(+2) who read the QB's eyes and has the ball go off his fingertips. Colson was under this as well in Cov 1 so RPS+1.
O38 2nd 10 Gun 2x2 4-2-5 Nk Split 2 fld Pass 4 H Drag Colson 2 -0.45
RT is set up way off the LOS (Ref-1). I think MSU is expecting man on the right with the CB down but it's zone (RPS+2) and their man beater just walks both guys into it. Pocket is clean with 6v4 though McGregor(+0.5) is starting to beat the LT so Houser dumps it to a drag that Colson(+1, cov+2) tackles on immediately.
O40 3rd 8 Gun Wk H-Fly 4-2-5 Nk Split! 1 press Pass 4 Sack Stewart -9 -0.83
Same thing as last 3rd down. Motion reveals the man1 look is actually zone but protection is set the wrong way as D-Mo(+1, cov+2) drops into the lane of the rub/out they were trying to run. Barrett(+1) and Stewart(+1, PR+3) are stunting, RB picks up Barrett who pops the RT and Stewart is free to sack. RPS+2, Houser had no idea what he was looking at and protection was set the wrong way.
Drive Notes: Punt. 28-0. 1 min 2nd Q. EoH for defense.
Ln Dn Dst OForm DPack Front Hi Type Rush Play Player Yds EPA
O25 1st 10 Pistol Str 4-2-5 Nk Over 2 fld Run   Inside Zone Paige 5 0.09
McGregor(+1) sets an okay edge and gets across the TE to get a hand on the RB and slow him. Paige(-1) and Sainristil(-1) seem to be expecting pass and are hanging out 5 yards downfield to either side of a WR who can't block both until the back crosses the LOS and they move up to get him.
O30 2nd 5 Pistol Wk Tight 4-2-5 404 Tite 2 off Run   Midline Read Graham -4 -1.09
Tempo(26). Michigan is ready with a twist blitz that shoots Barrett into the LG (who wraps his arms around the LB and pancakes him). While the LT is checking Graham(+2), Colson(+1) shoots the gap and sets up on the RB. Houser pulls and Graham swallows him. Harrell was also unblocked on the edge and Paige was in the area. RPS+2 this was dead even if Graham never existed. But he does.
O26 3rd 9 Gun 2x2 4-2-5 335 Odd 1 bdy Pass 6 Y Hook Moore 11 2.02
Six-man rush is picked up (PR-2). The LT is beat by Graham(+1) but it doesn't have to last long as Carr stops under Moore(-1, cov-1) who gets chucked after following a slant that hooks for the first down.
O37 1st 10 Gun 2x2 4-2-5 Nk Over 1 off Pass 4 Hitch Johnson 8 1.04
Tempo(33). Harrell(+1, PR+1) has the LT beat inside. McGregor gets hauled down by the RT but it's not clear if he did that to himself. Johnson(-1, cov-1) is playing a little loose under this and the throw is short. He gets a raking attempt but it's caught for a good gain.
O45 2nd 2 Gun Wk 4-2-5 Nk Split 2 off Run   Split Zone Hausmann 10 0.54
Before this: M forces an MSU timeout with change shenanigans. Now this: Jenkins(+1) gets up inside the LG. I don't know what Hausmann(-3) is doing because the C falls down (Hat-2) and he doesn't use the opening to go for the ball, or get in his lane, or anything. Nickel blitz and Benny(+0.5) pushing the RG back cuts off the backside so this is a TFL on a platter that Hausmann turns down while waiting for the C to stand back up and block him out of his lane. RPS+2 for this and making them burn a TO.
M45 1st 10 Ace TTE H-Fly 4-2-5 4-3 Over 2 off Penalty   False Start n/a (-5) -1.07
Oops. Hat-1.
50 1st 15 Gun Wk 4-2-5 5-1 Odd 1 off RPO   SZ/Slants D.Moore 0 -1.05
Never play the Sicilian Iocane game with the Dread Pirate Roberts. M shifts from an over to 5-1, MSU flips their RB, nobody sees that they're also bringing the Nk for a six-man front. TE has nobody to kick out because D-Mo(+1) is already inside wrapping up. RPS+3.
50 2nd 15 Gun 2x2 4-2-5 Okie 1 1 bdy Pass 4 WR dumpoff Johnson 5(-5) -0.87
LG ventures five yards downfield so that he's impacting Colson(+1, cov+1) as he backs into the slant they're trying to hit. Line is alerted, flag comes, M mosh rushes because this should be a run play now. Dumpdown under Paige(+1) at the 45 is negated.
O45 2nd 20 Pistol Str 4-2-5 Nk Split 2 off Run   Stretch Hausmann 6 0.18
Graham(+1) sheds the LG and closes in from the backside as McGregor(+0.5) sets a solid edge well inside the hash. Grant(+0.5) can't quite work back to delay him but does route Carter into Hausmann(-2, tackling-1) who hesitates then gets burrowed through for four yards before Johnson sticks his back in there.
M49 3rd 14 Gun Wk RB 4-2-5 Nk Split! 1.5 off Pass 4 RB Dumpoff Colson 7 0.39
Grant(-1) screws up his stunt with Harrell--I think he's supposed to club the LG so JH can sneak around behind the C. Graham(+2, PR+1) throws back the RT and RG leaves him so on a short timer now and Houser has to dump it to an RB that Colson(+1, cov+1) wrangles down immediately.
M42 4th 7 Gun 2x2 4-2-5 5-1 Odd 1 bdy Pass 5.5 Pick Six Sainristil INT -8.08
Twist with Colson(+1) and Graham(+2, PR+2) gets our now very definitely cyan RG blocking everyone who's got it better than us. Pocket collapsing, Houser panics and lobs it in the direction of the pick they were trying to set up. Sainristil(+2, cov+2) sees it, collects it, and doesn't run out of bounds...probably? Replay+1. RT resets the Days Since a Spartan Football Player Assaulted Anybody counter to 0, gets tossed.
Drive Notes: Defensive Touchdown. 35-0. 9 min 3rd Q. Commence backups hour.
Ln Dn Dst OForm DPack Front Hi Type Rush Play Player Yds EPA
O15 1st 10 Gun Wk RB 4-2-5 Nk Even 1.5 off Run   ZR Stretch Insert Goode 2 -0.22
They leave a hinge on the guy they're reading so it's not much of a read. D-Mo(+1) steps high and Goode(+1) throws the new RG by him to create a wall on the edge. RB slams up into Cam for what he can get.
O17 2nd 8 Pistol Str 4-2-5 Nk Split 1.5 fld Pass 4 Drag McBurrows 7 0.22
New RT moves, which gets a reaction from the now-majority M fans but not a flag, and gets a couple of M players to relax just as they snap it. This works out to the advantage of Jenkins(+1, PR+1) as the RG wastes his initial step and gets crossed up. Stewart(+1) is well around the RT too but Houser can just get it out to a drag that McBurrows(-1, cov-1) is a little late getting out on, probably because he thought a sack was in progress. Catch is made at the LOS, rest is YAC in space. Refs-1 inexplicably give him a whole extra yard to set up 3rd & 1 instead of 2.
O24 3rd 1 Ace Twins F-In 6-2-3 Goal 0 press Run   Pitch Sweep Harrell -3 -0.60
Your plan is to edge Jaylen Harrell(+1)? That's…bold. He smells out the fake dive and sets an edge to force the RB back to Paige(+0.5) who whiffs productively, because now the RB's momentum is all sideways towards Harrell and Hausmann(+2) has made his way over and Barrett(+0.5) has flown in from the backside. Hausmann mirrors the RB then explodes into him to end the drive.
Drive Notes: Punt. 35-0. 8 min 3rd Q. Finally Brian can have a turn in the 2nd half. Which is like 3 plays, 30 yards of MSU roughing penalties, and we're right back on the field again folks!
Ln Dn Dst OForm DPack Front Hi Type Rush Play Player Yds EPA
O25 1st 10 Gun Wk RB 4-2-5 Nk Over 2 off Pass 4 H Slant McBurrows Inc -0.70
Perfectly played by McBurrows(+2, cov+2) after giving Houser a blitz read by stepping inward. RPS is off but this alignment puts the Nk right in the way of this throw. JM lets the WR cross and gives the ball nowhere to go. You can also hear us screaming for Jaden in the background. Fans know.
O25 2nd 10 Pistol Wk H-Fly 4-2-5 4-3 Over 2 off Pass 4 RB Flat Colson 8 0.48
The rare, Pure Iowa 4-3/Cov2 look. Harrell(+1, PR+1) beats the LT, Goode seemed to be coming through then gets hugged from behind by the C and tries to spin out of it so there's room to get this out to a RB that Colson(-1, cov-1) is playing a bit too high over.
O33 3rd 2 Gun Str 4-2-5 Nk Splits 1 fld Run   ZR IZ Jenkins 1 -0.50
Jenkins(+1) creates this stuff by two-gapping the C. Goode(+1) also put his T in the backfield. Colson(+1) finishes it by walking past the releasing LG to stuff the gap that Jenkins used to be in. Kind of surprised that they chose to…
Drive Notes: Punt. 42-0. 5 min 3rd Q. Tuttle Time.
Ln Dn Dst OForm DPack Front Hi Type Rush Play Player Yds EPA
O31 1st 10 Ace TTE Tight 5-2-4 5-3 Over 1 off Run   End Around D.Moore 10 0.95
Before this, MSU flips the strength and M does the same. Okay. Looks like a crack sweep then goes the other way. D-Mo(-1, tackling-1) bends it back and has a TFL but can't get the guy down. That let the blocker to Hausmann(-1) who overran instead of engaging with the TE and setting an edge, and now there's trouble. Graham(+1) does an incredible job to get all the way out here and make a tackling attempt that doesn't get the WR down but does force him wider where Hausmann can get another shot. Harris(-0.5) comes down with a shot to hold it short of the sticks but bounces off.
O41 1st 10 Pistol Wk H-Fly 4-2-5 4-3 Even 2 off Run   ZR Counter Lead Colson 4 -0.17
Nk (McB) travels with the H which creates a check with the CB (Walker). D-Mo(+0.5) sets up high again to create a hard edge and a decent lane for Colson(+2) to fly up into. He pops the FB and initiates the tackle. Very linebacker man.
O45 2nd 6 Pistol Wk 4-2-5 Nk Over 1 press Pass 4 Sack D.Moore -5 -1.88
Michigan could probably man up against these guys all day. Nobody open (cov+1), D-Mo(+3, PR+3) discards the RT so quickly and thoroughly Houser only has time to protect himself and the ball.
O40 3rd 11 Gun 2x2 4-2-5 Nk Over 2 press Pass 4 TE Seam Colson 21 3.57
Tempo(32). Miss the start of this, and M isn't very set up either. It pains me greatly to say it but Colson(-1, cov-2) is the one covering grass. Not giving him all the negatives because nobody was lined up over the TE. M has three guys deep and Paige(-2, tackling-1) bailed early so he's taking the blame for that. He also whiffs his tackle to turn this into MSU's biggest play of the day. RPS is off--I'm not grading Minter for playing a 3-deep shell up 42-0 with 17 minutes left.
M39 1st 10 Gun 2x2 Bell 4-2-5 Nk Split 1.5 press Play-action n/a WR Screen Harris -2 -1.22
Tempo(33). M not lined up, doesn't matter, as MSU goes full IU except Carr (Hat-2) is like "I ain't blocking that" and Harris(+1, tackling+1) is like That's a Freebie.
M41 2nd 12 Pistol Str 4-2-5 Nk Under 2 off Run   Dart McGregor -3 -1.63
This is dart on the backside but M slants at it and nobody gets blocked. RT sees McGregor(+2) go inside of him and falls to his knees. Goode(+1) splits the LG and C. M also RPS'd this (it's off) with a Nk blitz and McBurrows(+0.5) sets up perfectly.
M44 3rd 15 Gun 2x2 4-2-5 Dime Eagle 2 press Pass 4 Hitch Harris Inc -0.69
A good ol' fashioned dime with Barrett over the flexed TE. They play Man2 on it, McGregor(+1, PR+1) beats the RT and the ball is out at a hitch that Harris's guy isn't looking at. Harbaugh sparts for a grounding. Not charted. EO3Q for defense.
Drive Notes: Punt. 42-0. <1 min 3rd Q. This was the drive that finally broke the very nice Spartans sitting in front of me. Turning metrics off for backup hour.
Ln Dn Dst OForm DPack Front Hi Type Rush Play Player Yds EPA
O22 1st 10 Ace Z-fly 5-2-4 5-2 Over 2 off Penalty   False Start n/a (-5) -0.39
Oops. Hat-1.
Drive Notes:
Ln Dn Dst OForm DPack Front Hi Type Rush Play Player Yds EPA
O17 1st 15 Bone Y-Cross 5-2-4 5-2 Over 2 bdy Run   Pitch Sweep Rolder 1 -0.23
McGregor(-1) is trying to two-gap the edge and gets knocked down by the kickout. Intended gap has Colson(+2) shooting past a released OL to push this outside. Rolder(+1) creates a new edge, holding off the TE then collecting at the LOS.
O18 2nd 14 Gun Wk 4-2-5 Nk Split 2 off Pass 4* Hitch McBurrows Inc -0.15
I think McGregor(+2) took away a pick six from McBurrows(+1) who gets at least a point for reading Leavitt's eyes and breaking towards the flat. Braiden bats it down instead.
O18 3rd 14 Gun Str 4-2-5 Nk Even 1 fld Pass 4* Scramble Harrell 14(+15) 3.20
Harrell(-2) wants a sack too badly and gets run out and way around the QB (PR-1). Benny(-1) is the new edge after this and isn't fast enough to run with Leavitt. Colson(-0.5) is responsible with his coverage, sticking like glue to the RB, but turning his head and not coming off until it's close to the sticks. Leavitt runs OOB 2 yards short of the first and then Waller(-2) comes in out of control, tries to stop, and clips Leavitt with his knee, which is an automatic penalty/1st down.
O47 1st 10 Pistol Wk Y-Cross 4-2-5 Nk Split 2 off Play-action n/a Bootleg Harris 6 0.37
Right side starts way early (Refs-2). Brandt(-1) doesn't play this like Moore earlier and there's lots of open ground to roll to but not much to throw to. He goes to a WR on the sideline and puts him on his knees. Harris was nearby. Cov-push.
M47 2nd 4 Gun Wk 4-2-5 Nk Even 2 off Pass 4* Fade Walker Inc -1.20
Tempo(30). Pierce(+2) puts the LT on skates (yes it's their starter) and into the QB as he's trying to release a 1-on-1 bomb downfield that Walker(+2) has dominated.
M47 3rd 4 Gun Str RB 4-2-5 Nk Over 2 fld Run   RB Draw McBurrows 8 1.79
Amoeba. DTs fly upfield, would RPS this if it was on. Hausmann(-1) should funnel to Guy next to him but forgets he's the other LB in this scenario and funnels to Rolder(-1) who got blasted by a TE and isn't the free man in this scenario. McBurrows(+1) cuts off his blitz and reroutes to hold this down before it can break big.
M39 1st 10 Pistol Ace 4-2-5 Nk Over 1.5 off Pass 4* Sack Goode 0 -0.81
Tempo(32). Leavitt (Hat-1) bails almost immediately, Goode(+1) and Pierce(+1) collapse and bring him down at the 40 for a sack. Refs-1 spot it back at the 39, robbing Pierce of his first collegiate sack.
M39 2nd 10 Gun Str RB 4-2-5 Nk Over 2 off Run   Inside Zone Goode 3 -0.35
Goode(-1) has the RG deep in the backfield but doesn't notice Carter go by him. Hausmann(+0.5) pinches the gap closed so that the C bumps Carter and robs him of some of his momentum. That's all Waller(+0.5) needs to get in there and end it. Nice CB play in run support. He doesn't complete the tackle but Guy(+0.5) can come off his block and jump on the RB's back.
M36 3rd 7 Gun 2x2 4-2-5 Nk Even A 1 off Pass 4* Hitch Waller 7 1.52
Tempo(33). Drop a DE and bring Hausmann but nobody gets home and QB can step into a throw under Waller(-1) to convert.
M29 1st 10 Gun Wk RB 4-2-5 Nk Split 2 off RPO   Dart/Slant McBurrows -2 -0.81
Atteberry(-1) allows blockers outside of him without bending the direction of the RB and Brandt(-1) gets washed upfield so this has legs, at least until McBurrows(+2) flies up past a half-assing slot (Hat-1) to stick for a loss.
M31 2nd 12 Gun 2x2 4-2-5 Nk Over 1 off Pass 4* Curl Moore 5 0.05
Normally 5 yards is push coverage but Moore(+1) is breaking on this immediately and on the TE's back as he catches it on the ground, meaning anything that doesn't result in 3rd & 7 results in 3rd & 12.
M26 3rd 7 Gun Wk RB 4-2-5 Nk Split! 1 fld Pass 5* Sack Guy -8 -2.48
TJ Guy(+2) around the LT from a wide-9 and eats QB. Moore was coming too was why there's no escape, which is an RPS.
M34 4th 15 Gun 2x2 4-2-5 Nk Even 2 off Pass 4.5* TE Dig Hausmann 14 -1.58
This is right at the sticks and would have had a measurement in normal cases. Hausmann(+1) made it as hard as he could and if the ball isn't too low to convert it's in his PBU radius.
Drive Notes: Turnover on Downs. 42-0. 5 min 4th Q. We came this far let's chart the last two drives shall we?
Ln Dn Dst OForm DPack Front Hi Type Rush Play Player Yds EPA
O26 1st 10 Gun Wk RB Y-Cross 4-2-5 404 Tite 2 fld Pass 4* Tip Drill McBurrows INT -5.09
This is open under Berry(-1)'s loose coverage because the nickel took a blitz step instead of getting in the WR's way on his release. Works out as the WR tips the ball back to the guy his team assaulted last year. McBurrows(+1) sees where it's going and hops back to makes the catch and run it OOB to set up the Orji drive.
Drive Notes: Interception. 42-0. 3 min 4th Q.
Ln Dn Dst OForm DPack Front Hi Type Rush Play Player Yds EPA
O25 1st 10 Pistol Str 4-2-5 Nk Even 2 off Run   Stretch German 0 -0.92
Atteberry(-1) moved back, Brandt(+1) moves his guy into the backfield to bend the back outside. McBurrows(+1) is on the edge but gets held (Refs-1). After years of special teams, the twin brother of the other guy MSU assaulted last year, 6th year senior German Green(+2) comes off his deep drop, races upfield, and sticks this for no gain.
Drive Notes: Game Over. 49-0. Thanks for coming.

Sigh. Here we go again.

This bores you?

What? No, I was scrolling through Twitter. You'll never believe what th…

Stop. Stop it right now. Put that thing away and look at this defense. This was perhaps the most perfect performance we've ever seen from this year's nearly perfect team. Against an in-state rival that was making gurgly noises about the health and safety of *their* players because their players assaulted two guys last year. And do you know what they did?

Whupped their asses and celebrated on their field?

Close. They whupped their asses and celebrated EACH OTHER on their field. Drives:

  • Five three-and-outs.
  • A 6-and-out and a 7-and-out.
  • A 7-play, 26-yard drive that ends on downs at midfield.
  • A 9-play, 33-yard drive that ends with a pick-six.
  • Garbage time 58-yard drive that ends on downs at the M44, and an interception and a TFL to end the game.

This feels like it happened months ago.

And with their own fans. I swear we caused a false start on one play. Not that it was needed because we can name positive Michigan State offensive events when a starter was on the field in this the same way we name JJ McCarthy incompletes every week on the podcast.

And you are going to do this.

  1. Michael Barrett misses a tackle he usually makes in his sleep that would have been 4th & 9.
  2. Johnson plays soft on a 3rd & 15, to bring up a 4th&3 that becomes a 4th & 2/go-for-it opportunity from a bad spot. (M stuffs the 4th down attempt).
  3. Sainristil can't bat down a throw to the flat that Barrett's late to because he thought the QB wasn't going to get the pass off.
  4. MSU picks up a 6-man pressure and Rod Moore loses a shoving match with Maliq Carr to give up a 3rd & 9.
  5. An 8-yard gain on 1st down under Johnson playing soft coverage that he still nearly raked out.
  6. Hausmann is confused by a guard falling down and gives up a 10-yard run on the ensuing 2nd & 2.

You did this.

They did this. They did it with the starters in and the backups in, and finished with one of the guys assaulted and the twin brother of the other one making plays. And they're all in the chart this week.

Defensive Line
Player Snaps + - T Notes
Kris Jenkins 22 9 0 +9 I'm not clipping his +2s because they're too regular.
Mason Graham 25 12 0 +12 Clobberatin'.
Kenneth Grant 22 4.5 1 +3.5 Blitzes meant he had to sit at the LOS more.
Cam Goode 17 4 1 +3 Quietly is becoming an effective player.
Rayshaun Benny 21 1.5 1 +0.5 Still prone to go to wrong gap, still able to fix it.
Trey Pierce 8 3 0 +3 Might have a player here. Give him back his half sack!
Reece Atteberry 6 0 2 -2 I can see you're new here.
Jaylen Harrell 29 3 2.5 +0.5 Set edge, not a lot of success rushing it.
Braiden McGregor 27 13 1 +12 Graham-level dominant again. Should we, uh, notice?
Derrick Moore 21 10 1 +9 Making upperclassman plays now.
Josaiah Stewart 20 7 1 +6 Played way over his size.
Cameron Brandt 14 1 2 -1 Very very freshman.
TJ Guy 12 2.5 0 +2.5 That was a sack.
TOTAL 244 70.5 12.5 +58 A little mad at Alex for not cyaning *anyone* on MSU's line.
Linebacker
Player Snaps + - T Notes
Junior Colson 45 16 3.5 +12.5 Development: Most of these +s were for doing LB things.
Michael Barrett 33 8 4 +4 Got to blitz a lot more. Couple missed tackles.
Ernest Hausmann 24 4 9 -5 Some inexplicable things he usually doesn't do.
Jimmy Rolder 15 1 1 - Reclaimed his spot. Welcome back!
TOTAL 120 30 18.5 +11.5 The weird thing is Colson had a day when the others didn't.
Secondary
Player Snaps + - T Notes
Rod Moore 43 1 1 - Got a little bit closer to Rod Moore.
Makari Paige 33 2.5 4 -1.5 Missed tackles, used in interesting ways.
Keon Sabb 7 1 0 +1 Was over the one Waller was under.
Quinten Johnson 23 0 0 - Got to blitz once and still wound up perfectly boring.
Zeke Berry 12 0 1 -1 Played, which is a good start.
Brandyn Hillman 0 0 0 - DNP
Mike Sainristil 29 7 1 +6 Back to form, but look at Ja'Den!
Will Johnson 35 0.5 1 -0.5 Bring a book.
Josh Wallace 32 1 0 +1 Had a pick six lined up, wasn't thrown at again.
Keshaun Harris 15 1 0.5 +0.5 The floor.
Ja'Den McBurrows 27 8.5 1 +7.5 "Stay tuned." --Mike Sainristil
Amorion Walker 23 4 0 +4 Those arms deserve interceptions.
Jyaire Hill 0 0 0 - DNP
DJ Waller Jr. 13 2.5 4 -1.5 A lot of run, not a lot of new information.
German Green 2 2 0 +2 Stayed for it.
TOTAL 296 31 13.5 +17.5 Nickels were involved, nobody else got to do anything.
Metrics
Player + - T Notes
Pressure 27 3 24/27 Got the ball out of there ASAP.
Coverage 26 9 +17 MSU pass game is atrocious; they leaned on it anyways.
Tackling 3 5 -2 Nate Carter hat tips go here.
RPS 20 4 +16 Didn't even have their signs.
Hat Tip 0 11 -11 Other than Carter, Spartans are pretty bad.

A +20/-4 in RPS. I feel like I need to make a signs joke here.

I think Jesse Minter was personally affronted that people thought his sign-stealer was the reason his defense has been playing like this. Or personally affronted at MSU for the general and specific rivalry/MSU things. Or because this was Game 8 and he had a bye coming up and it was time to stretch their legs a little.

Anyway it was a rock-paper-scissors slaughter. One that deserves to be placed among the great outcoaching jobs in the history of our charting.

And you are going to do this.

I have the database so I might as well.

  • +18: Minnesota 2017 (+22/-4) and Penn State 2022 (+21/-3)
  • +16: Michigan State 2023 (+20/-4), Indiana 2021(+22/-6)
  • +15: Iowa 2022 (+19/-4), TCU 2023 (+26/-11)

You did this.

So this doesn't quite reach the level of first-year PJ Fleck deciding not to block Khaleke Hudson, or when they unloaded on Frames after six weeks of cupcakes last year. By total, it is on the level of "IU has a freshman WR playing QB and they only taught him one play," and slightly better than a typical game against Brian Ferentz.

So they still had their signs?

Longtime readers of UFR shouldn't need this told to them, but this stuff is often less about playcalls and more about giving the offense confusing signals to get them to make the wrong adjustments to their playcalls. Most of it wasn't all that difficult; more in the realm of playground misdirection—"You know what this fist is? Do you? It's a decoy!"—than a battle of wits over Princess Buttercup. Take this blitz that I outlined in this week's Matt & Seth show:

The alignment with all of the DL to the right gets MSU to set the protection to the right, then Michigan overloads the left with Barrett and Quinten Johnson.

image

They ran it again on the opposite side later and Stewart got a sack.

Michigan also went out of its way to disguise coverages, which was devastating to the simplistic checks that Katin Houser commands at the moment. Here they played man inside with a switch zone on the outside that nearly set up a pick.

 

When Sainristil travels with the slot receiver it's supposed to be a tip that the defense is in man coverage. MSU's passing offense has sight read checks based on this—a lot of offenses do—and sure enough they run a man-beating pattern. What they don't see until it's too late is Wallace coming off his man to nearly pick off the out route. The clue was the safety to his side getting on top of the WR that Wallace was with.

Michigan also used a lot more zone out of man alignments and vice versa this game. Here Wallace (#12 on the top) is down in a bump look, and Moore is a few yards lower than Sabb, which is often a subtle tell that Michigan plans to roll Moore down and play Cover 3 with a press corner on that side. Either they created that tell on purpose or they self-scouted it, but here they drop into a Cover 2 and Houser is dumbfounded by it.

These prepared tricks were all over the run game as well. Michigan was using a lot more late line shifts than usual. Here's a simple shift from their typical 4-2 nickel to a 5-1 odd front. I guess they figured the jet motion would catch the defense slanting with it, but all it did was leave two unblocked guys on the backside edge they meant to attack. Better MSU coaches would have called a timeout when they saw Sainristil wasn't traveling with the jet receiver.

MSU reacted by getting lined up more quickly and making checks, but Michigan was well prepared for this reaction, using their late shift antics to disguise a nickel blitz.

MSU's initial call is meant to attack their over formation, but they flip to a Tite front which gets MSU to flip the RB in response, and then while they're watching Colson casually stroll down to the edge nobody sees Sainristil coming in, which would have tipped off a slant to the (offense's) left and scrape exchange on their right which allows Derrick Moore to crash on this unopposed.

Sneaky sneaky.

Some of that RPS number was also purely on the Spartan coaching staff. I am laughing a little because this was a play that Harbaugh reintroduced to the college ranks in the mid-aughts and I would totally believe the MSU coaches thought it would be great to beat Michigan with their own stuff. What they didn't account for was Michigan was stacking the box against them.

Most of the credit there is to McGregor for guessing Houser wasn't going to be much of a keep threat, but then you look back and Makari Paige is slamming down, and you realize they actually had Paige checking the quarterback and McGregor's job was only to make the read hard before attacking the RB. You might say "Perfect Playcall" but it was more like giving MSU one look that influenced their playcall, then changing the look.

So this was about MSU being limited because they suck.

It's a mix; Michigan State was limited, which made them easier to manipulate. But they were also treated like a rival that needed to be embarrassed, and Michigan came in with a gameplan that was a lot more opponent-focused and tricksome than their previous seven outings.

How much do I trust that Junior Colson score?

Colson's play this game was an unprecedentedly encouraging development. We've seen him have good games this year, but those were largely contextual: the defensive line was dominating and he had to just clean up, or race a guy to the flats. His scores in this game were more about anticipating when the opponent meant to release a lineman on him and making the quick decision to shoot the gap.

#25, the linebacker on the top

That's some good linebackin'. Often Colson was tasked with covering a wide backside lane because the edges were playing kickouts high, and Colson was shooting those decisively. He also got stickier in coverage and dropped into a couple of first reads instead of spot-dropping to cut off a lot of MSU's underneath game. The sum was an excellent day of mostly +1 events. He didn't have to do a lot of deep coverage, but the quick (and correct) thinking looked like a guy who'd turned the corner. We'll see where this goes.

Are you sure it was #25 and not #23?

Barrett had the missed tackle and got to blitz more. The weird thing about this game was how much Hausmann struggled. He's normally been the more decisive player, but there were a couple of incidents when he was staring at the wrong gap trying to figure out his place in all of this.

#15 the LB on the bottom

That's a roll play where Colson is blitzing the backside and has a safety rolling down to be the new WLB. Hausmann is so focused on that backside gap forming however that he abandons the one that his DL kept clean for him, and the back can still squeeze out a decent gain.

That was at least a little understandable—he forgot he had help on this play and Colson got blasted down. This other one was a Jonas Mouton-esque What are you doing?

#15 the LB on the bottom

I guess practicing against Michigan's offense you're just not used to guards falling down for no reason in front of you. A Spartan would have known what to do.

These were bad, but mostly out of character—hanging around babysitting gaps that aren't his have been the issue more often than not when Hausmann picks up a negative. He also picked up enough of his usual face-in-gap +1s to mitigate the negatives, and none of these were particularly long plays. He also played a key role in the stuffed crack sweep on 4th & 2.

I'm working on a pet theory here that he's actually just not used to capable defensive tackles after a year with the Huskers.

Lastly in linebacking, welcome back Jimmy Rolder.

#30 the top LB

This was mostly another Colson example though.

Lastly? So you're saying their nickel isn't a linebacker?

Are you trying to get me to admit I'm underrating Mike Sainristil again?

Are you stealing my signs?

I think Mr. Sainristil would like you to talk about Ja'Den McBurrows. His interception was…interesting?

This is a split coverage, and McBurrows is in the slot playing under both of the routes that Green and Berry are atop of. He steps towards the RB and that opens up the hook, and is then just in the right place at the right time. I'm not gonna minus him for that. Also it was deserved after Braiden McGregor batted down a pass that it looked like McBurrows was breaking on for a pick-six.

That was one of several good plays in coverage that I picked up. He has leverage on this slant but how many players start running instead of playing the ball here?

That is a clean PBU after playing both sides of the route. Maybe less repeatable was his TFL when Carter was trying to edge him.

#18 in the slot

Beating a blocker to make a TFL is at least a +2 in our grading, but the WR supposed to be blocking him looked like his mind was more on his transfer papers than this game. Overall he looked like a reasonable bet to step in for Sainristil if needed, agile, quick, confident, and a solid tackler. A dollar says his extended playing time in this game was tunnel-related, but in true 2023 Michigan fashion he turned it into an opportunity to project as the heir to Sainristil. As the man says, stay tuned.

Rating another nickel higher than Sainristil for exploits against late-stage MSU IS underrating Sainristil.

Fair enough. This PBU caused the most loser program in sports to lose their minds, but it was a clean breakup all the way.

This PBU caused our second-softest rivals to lose their minds, but it too was a clean breakup all the way.

"He wasn't even looking back!" yelled the few Spartans who'd hung on until 10 minutes left in the 2nd quarter. None of them stayed for the pick-six, which was a gift from Mason Graham.

We saw a lot of backup cornerbacks. Did you like any of them?

Amorion Walker was the third guy this game and for the first time looked like he's back on track to be a useful piece this season.

#1 on the top

The ball takes some time to get there indeed, but Walker is just as surprised at how weak Houser's arm is as anybody and isn't approaching to pick it off because of it. Meaning a well-thrown ball is also probably incomplete here. And then there's the "Could we have used him against MSU in 2020?" test and yes:

Good development for their highest-ceiling guy. As for the cornerback who can touch the most ceilings, DJ Waller was in position for a pick on a ball that was badly overthrown, but a bit behind on one that Grant batted down. He also broke Michigan's penalty-free day by accidentally clipping Houser out of bounds. The fact that he's playing probably says more about how they see him than the play at this point.

Safeties?

Nothing got to them, really.

It seems a lot of your linebacker and defensive back takes are "the DL is too good."

This isn't news.

Neither is the FBI investigating Weiss but I saw it in a headline.

Well I'm burying the DL performances in the bottom of these articles because nobody needs to be told they have seven guys who are between pretty and spectacularly good, and also Goode, Benny, and possibly some young guys who'd be at least functional Big Ten players on a less stacked roster.

At least they've gone from making the plays themselves to setting them up. Here's Kris Jenkins traveling all the way out to the intended run gap on a guy who was lined up outside of him and probably supposed to pin him back at the hash mark.

#94 on the bottom hash

Here's Graham blowing past two blockers to create a desperation throw on 4th & 7 that Sainristil takes back to the bank.

Here's Graham doing the same thing he did to Minnesota's quarterback when they tried to zone read him and forgot he can hop outside like a linebacker.

I didn't even clip him beating the left tackle around the edge like he's Aidan Hutchinson because by that point the left tackle looked like he wanted to get into a hot shower and a hot portal. But I will assert that Graham should be Michigan's Heisman candidate next year unless one of those eligible for the draft decides to return. Maybe also then. Remember Hutchinson was basically where Derrick Moore is right now at this point in his career. Graham is only going up.

Speaking of Derrick Moore.

Only going up. Bootlegs are supposed to be defensive end killers because it gets them wanting to crash inside, and then even if they don't they have to worry about the tight end blocking them turning into a receiver. Moore plays all of those possibilities here as well as any senior I can remember.

#8 DE on the bottom

That and he's also Michigan's most effective mano-a-mano pass-rusher.

DE on the top

That's the RT they put in after their starter reset the Days Since We Assaulted Michigan counter back to zero, but it's the fourth or fifth time in these eight games that we've had to put a competition qualifier on a pass rush that looked like it would have worked on Ohio State in 2021.

The thing that isn't opponent-dependent is Moore's coverage, which got better this week. He's the DE on the bottom here, looked up and carried the slot as far as he needed to, and was coming off that to crash on the RB before he got somewhere to threaten the first down. I've seen linebackers do worse.

Moore is great. Moore would have a star on my chart now if he was starting.

He's not starting however because Braiden McGregor is playing even better, and it's time we bring him to the fore. Nope, he isn't Aidan Hutchinson. But a poorer man's Bill Gates is still one rich sonovabitch, and McGregor has been one of the most consistent reasons for Michigan's consistently great defense. I'm not always clipping them because he wins a pass rush on a ball that's out in a second or he bats one down. Or I do clip it because Michigan baited their opponent into a bad call, and you can't tell because he's blowing it up the old fashioned way. This play has Makari Paige coming down to wreck the QB if he keeps it, but they might have just left him to help in coverage.

The poor safeties aren't getting to do anything because McGregor is occupying their tight ends or forcing the ballcarrier into less intended gaps. In this one he reached through a tight end to slow the RB in another gap, and four pressures. It didn't look like he did anything to warrant right tackle Spencer Brown punching him in the head then targeting him when he was on the ground, but I could see why a dude with jelly arms making you the reason your passing game can't go more than five yards downfield would be annoying.

The other guy grading out very well at edge this week was Josiah Stewart. We didn't learn much else except it's still hilarious when your smallest D-lineman is bullying dudes.

#5 DE on the top

I could watch it all day.

Did they try to edge Jaylen Harrell this week?

Yes they did.

How did it work out for them?

A turnover on downs.

Harrell still gets the most snaps of anyone on the line because he's so trustworthy, but he wasn't very effective outside of the One Very Good Thing He Does Very Well. He was still in late and went sack-hunting to allow the game's only successful scramble. I don't blame him for it.

What did you see from the deep bench?

TJ Guy got a sack against the backup RT.

But the guy who was standing out was Trey Pierce. I was all about this guy in his recruiting writeup and suggested he might be able to pass Cam Goode this year. That was underrating Cam Goode, but Pierce definitely looks like a find.

#95 DT above the hash

It also appears like they stole his and Goode's sack.

MSU went tempo here (yes, they were going tempo down 42 in the 4th quarter—something something dignity) and the TV guys didn't get the placement of the line of scrimmage right. That means they were off by 1 yard, not 2, when they put this back on the 40 yard line and credited it as a tackle for no gain. That might have been meant as a draw, but if you get a draw down in the backfield that should count as a sack. Also, stop giving free yards to Michigan opponents; why is this always a thing this year?

Redshirt updates? Amorion Walker's up to 4 games now so he can't play again until the postseason if he's redshirting. Jimmy Rolder played his first game.

Heroes?

Minter, Graham, McGregor, Colson, Jenkins, Derrick Moore, Sainristil, and Ja'Den McBurrows.

Maybe Not So Heroic?

Ernest Hausmann, the person who hired the 3rd party vendor who took a Hitler quiz question from a Youtuber without permission or attribution.

What does it mean for Purdue and Beyond?

OMG. Start the Heisman campaign now.

We underrate McGregor because he dominates bad competition. Makes them look foolish is what he does.

Derrick Moore is a veteran now. Rest of this season and all of next and he's a 1st or 2nd rounder.

Junior Colson: Linebacker who Linebacks. Cleared the bar. Do it twice in a row and I'll start to doubt the midseason take.

Jesse Minter had some things to get off his chest. Probably the maddest about the suggestion Conor Stalions is getting credited for the defense's alacrity. Stay mad Jesse.

Stay tuned. Ja'Den McBurrows showed some things. Ditto Amorion Walker and Trey Pierce.

Your Moment of Zen:

 

Comments

rainking

October 27th, 2023 at 9:05 AM ^

Great write up as usual Seth but you should have asked me and I could've saved you a ton of time: Upon Further Review, they suck and UM exposed them for the losers they are.   

matty blue

October 27th, 2023 at 9:26 AM ^

thank.  freaking.  god.

also - yes, minter wanted this one. he was SUPER fired up when we stuffed them on fourth to preserve the shutout.

i love love love having a great defense.

dragonchild

October 27th, 2023 at 10:29 AM ^

If only there was some way to prevent the opponent from communicating your pl--

Tempo(32).

. . . oh.  Wait, that was the second play of the game.  Must've worked th--

Paige is nearby because M was rolling him down to replace McGregor's crash so a keep was also a TFL: RPS+2.

. . . oh.

Maybe you just suck at football, boys.  Maybe spend less time on performative antics and headhunting and practice some more?

Tex_Ind_Blue

October 27th, 2023 at 1:30 PM ^

Now I am having questions about those Dantonio teams. Did they really practice or copy signals? The drop off in MSU defense (and offense) since Narduzzie left AND Michigan hired Harbaugh and Company, is mind-boggling. 

Teams should try to out-work, out-scheme, and out-execute the opponents, instead of playing it in the court of public opinion. The game is ultimately played on the field, for 60 minutes. 

PopeLando

October 27th, 2023 at 9:55 AM ^

I love the “so you want us to take you seriously?” aspect of this team.

These defensive UFRs, and the Neck Sharpies, give me serious appreciation for how difficult it is to play defense.

dragonchild

October 27th, 2023 at 10:39 AM ^

Mason Graham    25    12    0    +12    Clobberatin'.

Missed chance to say "clubberatin'".

P.S. Also, are we sure Hausmann and Colson didn't swap jerseys?

CLord

October 27th, 2023 at 10:39 AM ^

The quality of these write ups is incredible.  The humor as well.  The “assault clock reset” comment had me rolling.  Seth for Heisman.

MgofanNC

October 27th, 2023 at 10:41 AM ^

No truer statement here than the alter ego saying this game feels like a month ago. 

I was desperate for this on Wednesday... don't know how I made it this long without some good M news. Eternally indebted. 

pastor_of_muppets

October 27th, 2023 at 10:46 AM ^

When I watched this game unfold live I couldn't help but have thoughts about how this team is going to blast the ever-living fuck out of OSU at the end of November. Now that I've read this UFR I think it even more.

Go Blue!

mi93

October 27th, 2023 at 11:16 AM ^

All the Minter love (well earned, of course), but how about some love for Elston, doing what he did at ND for years, turning guys into dudes on the DL.

So glad to have you home, Coach.

stephenrjking

October 27th, 2023 at 11:35 AM ^

You want signs? Read this one.

My normal rubric is to wait quite a while before pronouncing a definitive judgment on something. I don't rush into stuff, but when I do, I go whole hog. Doesn't mean I get it right (I wanted Harbaugh fired!) but I don't just say stuff to say stuff.

So I'm not inclined to jump the gun and just say stuff that's pretty strong just because. I want to wait to see final results before making *really* significant pronouncements.

Or, I did. But I feel that, given the rush by some voices to try to pre-emptively take this team off of the field for the postseason over an issue that is real and problematic but far from the worst thing to hit college sports, things need to be stated clearly, the stakes need to be laid out, and people whom I used to respect like Stewart Mandel need their actions identified as what they are.

So here it is:

This is the best Michigan team I have seen in my life. This is the best Michigan team to take the field since, at minimum the Mad Magicians of Fritz Crisler.

And it is, by some margin, the best team in the country. Better than Georgia. Better than Oklahoma and Florida State and Washington. Better than Penn State and Ohio State.

I don't state things categorically much. I'll even get criticized for couching my statements in (what I consider to be reasonable) equivocation.

So note the lack of nuance here. Yes, I'm saying it earlier than I should, but the stakes must be laid out and understood. Someone who advocates that Michigan should not play in the postseason (and major national media voices have advocated this) is advocating for the best team in the country to not get a chance to win the national title.

Because this is the best team in the country. It has a complete defense, a dominant defense, and not just because the sign-stealing guy broke rules and crossed lines other sign-stealers do not.

It has a dominant offense with one of or *the* best QB in the country, the best RB room in the country, a still-great OL, the best TE combo in the country, and two other game-breaking WRs.

I've never seen a better Michigan team. And neither has anyone else.

Read my sign: This is the best team in the country. This team should win the national championship.

 

Jonesy

October 27th, 2023 at 5:08 PM ^

The only thing preventing me from fully joining you on this being the best Michigan team ever is that we really haven't played anybody. Yes we have clobbered the garbage like never before but every good year we clobber most of the garbage, what if the fact we haven't had an off game is just variance in our favor? I still think it's most likely true that this is the greatest Michigan team I've ever seen but I need to wait until at least the PSU game to be sure.

M-Dog

October 27th, 2023 at 8:45 PM ^

Bad teams have a way of making good teams look like great teams.

We've played mostly bad teams, and we look great.  It does not mean that we are not great, but we won't know for sure until a couple more weeks.  At least on offense, against Penn State.  Their defense is for real.  As far as our defense, we may not know until we play in a CFP game, Marvin Harrison aside.

It will all be revealed in a few weeks.  Stay tuned.

MGlobules

October 27th, 2023 at 11:39 AM ^

I think we need to add a new closing question, something like: What does this say about Stallions and stealing? Because at a granular level, it looks like to me, the reason that watching one another's films has long been tolerated is that it takes the chess game to another fun level. And there's no time to tell a defensive what every player on offense is going to do on the next play; that would be absurd. Seems to me it's more like, "Well, they've intro'd this or that play, and can do this or that off of it, likely on first/second/third downs, and this is they way to line up in anticipation." Which is kind of where Deion Sanders was going.

It's true that the rich may get richer from close analysis if they have smart veteran personnel, because execution is a thing, and plays off of plays off of plays are possible for really accomplished teams, etc. And I can see how Stalion's idea that you could turn this into even more of a science would have amused someone at Schembechler Hall. In short, though, there a crap ton of granular stuff that some really good commentator like Seth could instruct the public with instead of, "Derp, they're cheating and they know what everyone's going to do."

Part of the reason that the media is getting away with such a superficial alarmist take is that most fans don't have a clue about what they're watching anyway. As my daughter says every time she goes to an FSU football game and sits with the students.

 

Cromulent

October 27th, 2023 at 11:45 AM ^

That's not really a Flexbone formation. Flexbone doesn't have the B back at 7 yards. Depth can vary based on the speed of the back, but not 7 yards.

I think even the Ski-Gun doesn't put the B back that far.

Vasav

October 27th, 2023 at 12:07 PM ^

I'm just so happy that this is here and i read every damn word and watched every damn video and clicked every damn hyperlink.

Straight into my veins. This is amazing.