FORMATION NOTES: In general Bama was so multiple that I had a hard time deciphering whether something was a 4-3 with a standup end or a 3-4 with a SAM; they would go with a 5-1, they would shift constantly. Surely the thickest playbooks in college football went head to head in this game.

I called this weird thing 30 nickel slide SAM:

You've got your line shifted to the run strength, you've got a standup end in a SAM spot, and you've got your LBs shifted to run strength. This is Bama's "please run at Justin Eboigbe" formation.

SUBSTITUTION NOTES: Johnson, Wilson, Barner, and Loveland all got at least two-thirds of Michigan's snaps. Corum wasn't far behind. Morris, Edwards, Morgan, and Bredeson had 10-20; Mullings and Orji had cameos.

[After the JUMP: retired that so and so]

Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M25	1	10	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel over	6	Pass	Rollout comeback	Johnson	Inc
Near disaster on the first snap as JJ doesn’t dump it to Wilson on a short out even after Johnson makes contact with his defender. This should be an easy, quick 5-6 yards to get M going but JJ holds onto the ball forever and when he tries one of his trademark late sideline throws it’s intercepted precisely because Wilson is open. M beyond fortunate to get the ball back because Downs elevated from OOB. (BRX, 0, protection N/A, JJ -3)
M25	2	10	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	5-1 under	6	Pass	Flash screen RPO	Morgan	2
This isn’t horrible tactically as the Loveland motion doesn’t draw a defender so they’re nominally 3 v 2, but it’s to the boundary so when the end peels back after the initial run action Morgan feels he should cut outside. Loveland(-0.5) gets shoved back a bit and can't control his guy; Wilson(-1) just catches a guy and gives a lot of ground; nowhere to go. (CA, 3, screen, JJ push)
M27	3	8	Gun 4-wide	1	2	2	Exotic	5	Pass	TE hitch	Barner	Inc
Just a three man rush as Bama spies and wants their elite DEs to get home. They don’t, but JJ locks in on Barner running a route way short of the sticks that is very covered; PBU. The specialized receiving TE in motion has chucked his defender and is open at the sticks. (BR, 0, protection 1/1, JJ -1)
Drive Notes: Punt, 0-0, 14 min 1st Q. Nervy.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M25	1	10	Gun trips TE U	1	1	3	4-3 even SAM	7	Run	Counter G	Corum	6
Empty to start, then a bunch with a TE to the same side, then jet motion from Morgan. This peels out a guy lined up in a SAM spot as D rotates. Counter step from Corum on the snap then attack the spot where a guy just dropped out. M gets a false step from the LBs; Keegan(+1) able to climb over a guy shooting past Barnhart to get to the spot and seal in playside LB. Kind of want Barner(+0.5) to step around and seal his guy but he does enough for a play headed outside. Trente never has a real shot at the other LB, who reads it faster than his colleague. Corum pops it outside for six. RPS +1.
M31	2	4	Ace TTB	1	2	2	30 nickel slide SAM	7	Run	Counter Pitch	Corum	21
Tight bunch to the boundary with Johnson split wide. Bama reacts with a formation that I don’t know how to summarize in three words. 3 man line slid to the run strength and then other guys also slid to run strength will suffice. M motions Bredeson across the formation, causing a safety to shoot down into the box. Stretch zone look on the snap with a Corum counter step and then he goes the other way as JJ pitches it to him. Henderson(+0.5) seals in the edge, though that was always likely. Johnson(+1) has eyes on the S and cracks him; Bredeson(+1) crunches the CB. Playside LB does about as well as he can here but it’s not enough. Keegan passes him up; Corum(+1) is fast. RPS +2.
O48	1	10	Pistol 3-wide tight	1	2	2	5-1 under	6.5	Pass	Waggle deep cross	Johnson	Inc
Split zone look with Wilson into the flat. Wilson gets covered but both Barner and Johnson are open to the interior. Not sure which one JJ is going for but I assume Johnson; ball is batted down. (BA, 0, protection N/A, JJ push). Open guys but dudes in JJ’s face to bat it down, RPS push.
O48	2	10	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel under	6.5	Pass	RPO TE flat screen	Loveland	2
Loveland motions from boundary to flat presnap. Looks like JJ is reading the slot CB, who comes, so he pulls and flings it. This could be ok even though the LB is in man on Loveland but Wilson(-1) just gets crushed back by the DB into Loveland’s legs. Loveland(+0.5) does well to evade tackles and get something out of it. I am sort of cross about continually using Wilson as a critical blocker against Bama but this is a lateral advantage for Loveland and this is RPS push. (CA, 3, screen, JJ +0.5, RPO+). Refs(-1) short M a yard.
O46	3	8	Gun empty	1	2	2	Dime even	5	Run	QB crack sweep	McCarthy	7
Mullings(+2) motions in from a flanker spot and puts the playside end on his ass. Jones(+0.5) pulls around this and kicks out a DB; Barner(+0.5) gets another one, stalling him out. Keegan and Nugent(+0.5) both jet to the second level; Nugent decides he has to stop for a linebacker and is probably right, leaving a safety one on one with JJ. JJ is able to dodge his tackle and fall forward but not break it entirely. RPS +1.
O39	4	1	Gun TTB tight	1	2	2	4-3 under	8	Run	Dive	Corum	4
Do you have enough guys on the LOS? No. Game over. Keegan(+0.5) and Henderson(+0.5) blow up the POA DT, game over. Loveland(+1) does a really nice job to shoot inside a LB as well. RPS +1.
O35	1	10	Gun twins	1	2	2	4-3 over	7.5	Run	Power GT	Corum	2
Very close to a big play as Keegan(+1) wins one on one with a DT; Henderson wants to chip but doesn't have to and climbs; LB tries to shoot outside but I think that’s a loss for him. Jones(+1) obliterates the other LB; Barnhart(-2) meets Bama’s admittedly very good anchor and gets demolished; he goes backwards and dude is able to tackle Corum for a minimal gain.
O33	2	8	Pistol TTB	1	1	3	4-3 over	7	Pass	Improv	Mullings	17
Morgan sort of false starts his motion across the formation but I guess that’s legal? It does tip Bama off and there’s communication on the back end; Morgan then goes and I think M’s chance at deception is gone. Pistol PA with Barnhart(-1) pulling across to be the tackle; not enough bite from Bama. Barnhart gets bulled back into JJ; JJ is able to escape and looks like he’s going to run but when Mullings’s guy falls down he chucks it to him; nice catch by Mullings falling OOB. (CA+, 2, protection ½, JJ +1) Morgan was going to be wide open on a post in the endzone.
O14	1	10	Ace TTB TE	1	2	2	4-3 under	8.5	Run	Jet sweep	Morgan	6
This is all Morgan and Barner; Bama defends this well. They’ve got a safety shooting down at this. Should be dead. Morgan(+1) threatens vertical enough to get the safety to bite and is quick enough to make it matter. Barner(+2) fights off a DB and when that guy disengage he clobbers that S, giving Morgan room for a decent gain on the sideline. RPS -1.
O8	2	4	Gun TTB	1	2	2	4-3 under	7	Pass	RB mesh traffic	Corum	8
Ultra mesh from M with all three eligibles to the field running across the formation,. Playside LB is looking up mesh routes to chuck them. Backside LB is helplessly pointing at Corum, who counter-stepped to start and got a false step out of him. Corum is wide open; Johnson trailing him is wide open. JJ feathers it in. (CA, 3, protection, JJ +0.5, RPS +3)
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 7-7, 4 min 1st Q. I need a cigarette.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M19	1	10	Pistol FB 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel over	6	Run	Counter GT	Corum	3
Morris motions across to the field presnap, triggering a slot blitz from Bama and a safety rotation. M runs an unusual variant of counter with Loveland in the backfield arcing out to the backside, which holds the DE in case of a keep. Backside LB held there too for a moment, should be enough for Trente to get to him but Trente gets blocked trying to release by the playside end. He adapts to this reasonably well, but there’s a stalemate at the LOS and the end still has outside position. Keegan(+0.5) comes around to clean this up, hitting the DE. This allows the LB to scrape over. Henderson(+0.5) got a kick. RPS -1; slot blitz allowed DE to do unexpected thing and gets LB to Corum at two yards.
M22	2	7	Gun empty	1	1	3	Nickel over	5.5	Pass	Out	Morgan	8
Motion Edwards to flanker to the field with Morgan and Wilson underneath; Edwards runs deep while M goes double outs with the slots. LB picks up Wilson but the S can’t get out of his backpedal to stop Morgan. (CA, 3, protection 1/1, JJ +0.5)
M30	1	10	Gun 2-back TE	1	2	2	4-3 over	8	Run	Lead G	Edwards	8
Motion from four wide pistol into this, then orbit motion Wilson. Barner(+1) turns in the playside end; Nugent(+1) out in a flash to cut off the backside LB. Barnhart(+1) seals in playside LB. Mullings(+1) gets a giant kick; Edwards has a lane but it’s filled by a corner; Edwards(+0.5) puts his shoulder down for 3 YAC.
M38	2	2	Gun TTB	1	2	2	4-3 even SAM	7	Run	Counter	Mullings	7 (Pen -9)
A more traditional counter and one that meets stiff resistance. Barnhart(-0.5) again gives ground on his kickout, squeezing the hole considerably. Barner(+1) picks through this and gets contact on a LB. Henderson(+1) is on a double with Keegan and is able to battle the DT after Keegan chips and leaves; DT gets skinny and tries to shoot the gap but Henderson stays attached and moves him a critical yard. Mullings(+1) doesn’t really have a gap until he runs over Barner, runs past a guy Nugent(+1) has put a yard downfield and gets a last push from Trente(+0.5), who did a good job cutting off a relevant backside player, for a solid gain. This is the play that Bredeson gets hit with a much-discussed PF on. This site says grow up, Kyle, refs -3. Bredeson(+1).
M29	2	11	Gun empty	1	1	3	Nickel slide weak	6	Run	QB draw	McCarthy	2
Just a three man rush but Bama pinches their line and as Keegan releases Henderson has to deal with a guy lined up inside of him. Keegan(+1) can’t chip Henderson’s guy because he’s blasting Nugent’s; Henderson(-0.5) can’t really do much with the Bama anchor. RPS -1 probably should have checked out of this given the DL.
M31	3	9	Gun trips	1	1	3	5-1 under	6.5	Pass	Slant	Morgan	8
Six man rush picked up. I wish JJ had a little more faith in the OL here because looks like Johnson is going to break open on a Y cross that will convert. Instead he zips in a slant to a very well covered Morgan; Morgan makes the tough catch and breaks a tackle but the guy covering Johnson is able to finish the play. (DO, 2, protection 3/3, JJ +1, ding one for read)
Drive Notes: Punt, 7-7, 14 min 2nd Q. Surprised they did not go.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M30	1	10	Gun empty trips TE	1	2	2	Base 3-4	8	Run	QB counter	Orji	4
Orji in, obvs. Mullings lined up solo to boundary, orbit motion, fake flare screen. Should have thrown the screen, as they’ve got two defenders and three blockers out there. LBs unconcerned with threat, focused entirely on Orji running. Playside DE just kind of sticks there against Henderson(-1) and Keegan(-0.5) so neither guy can get out; ideally Henderson chips and releases to the MLB. Barnhart(+1) does a good job to fire in the end diving inside and escorting him out of the hole. Barner(+0.5) does enough on the playside LB and Orji is able to fall forward on the tackle. Not actually RPS as a CB had backed out on the motion and this was even in the box; M just had to spend two guys on a DT.
M34	2	6	Pistol TTE	1	2	2	Nickel over	6	Pass	PA corner	Johnson	Inc
Bama formation screams slot blitz and slot blitzes, M points it out and easily picks it up. CJ(route+) gets pure man from Arnold and breaks off his fly route at 20 yards; he’s open; JJ airmails it. (IN, 0, protection 2/2, JJ -1)
M34	3	6	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Exotic	6	Pass	Rollout out	Wilson	Inc
Not a huge fan of this call as it’s Wilson as more or less the only option, and Wilson doesn’t win against Downs. You could make a case this is interference but I don’t think it’s worth a flag. (CA, 0, protection N/A, Wilson route -, RPS -1)
Drive Notes: Punt, 7-7, 11 min 2nd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M17	1	10	Gun TTB	1	2	2	4-3 under	7	Run	Inside zone	Corum	8
Motion in from trips wide to beefy set, flip Corum’s side, IZ. Key block here is Loveland(+2) moving Moore, the Bama nickel who is miscast badly as a SAM on this play. Trente goes to second level immediately so Barner(+0.5) gets a DT and while he can’t do a whole lot with him, he does stay attached and let Corum set his block up by threatening the interior before a quick cut outside. Trente(+0.5) gets to his second level block and maintains it even after the Corum cut ruins his angle. Corum(+0.5) is able to grind through arm tackles for YAC. RPS +1.
M25	2	2	Gun trips TE U	1	1	3	4-3 over	7	Run	Power	Corum	4
Trips to the field and I guess two of them are on the LOS but it’s iffy, refs +1. Barner pulls across the formation and M runs power over there. Near disaster as the playside end dives inside Barner(-1) and nearly TFLs, but Barner avoids the -2 because this was an extreme play by the DE and he misses the tackle as a result; meanwhile Barner goes and is useful downfield. Unfortunately Trente(-1) whiffs on his second level block and that guy is able to close down as Corum(+1) runs up the back of Barner and Keegan(+1), who obliterated a second level player.
M29	1	10	Pistol twins U	1	2	2	4-3 even	7.5	Run	Power	Corum	2
Both TEs in wing positions and both WRs on the LOS. Corum moves to pistol right before the snap. They run power at the big anchor; Barner acts like he’s going to engage and then lets him go; Barnhart(-2) again gets blasted on contact and anchor disengages to tackle solo. Barner(+0.5) kicked his guy out; Loveland(+1) pulled and hammered his dude inside so if Barner gets the first guy this has a nice lane. Keegan(+1) gets a solo block on a DT with a Henderson(-1) whiff on the second level.
M31	2	8	Gun TTB 1		1	3	4-3 under7	7	Pass	PA TE cross	Loveland	11
Morgan motions into the backfield opposite Edwards and then goes in flare motion to the field. Fake pitch to Edwards with Barnhart pulling draws the LB level in and JJ finds Loveland in the vacated space behind. I’m not going to ding JJ for throwing to an open guy but kind of wish Roman was the first read here. (CA, 3, protection 2/2, JJ +1, RPS +1)
M42	1	10	Ace TTB	1	2	2	4-3 over	7	Pass	Throwback corner	Wilson	20
The absurd bailout from JJ here. Pitch to Edwards, who pulls up to throw. Johnson runs a deep crosser to Edwards’s side of the field that Bama goes with; Wilson slips out from the playside and is wide open. The throwback from Edwards is very bad, though. JJ has to spear it with one hand, then flip around and chuck a ball off his back foot as he’s getting lit up. This is, naturally, perfectly accurate. Edwards throw to JJ: IN, 1, Edwards -1. JJ throw to Wilson: DO+, 3, JJ +3. RPS +1?
O38	1	10	Ace 3TE	1	3	1	4-3 under	7.5	Run	Stretch G	Corum	0
Stretch backside, pull Barnhart frontside. Barner(-1) gets driven back significantly, forcing Corum wide. Bredeson(+0.5) gets a kick. Bredeson’s motion triggers a safety blitz that Barnhart(-1) does not see or pick up; he goes to the linebackers on the inside that Loveland hit; I cannot tell if Loveland is going to fall off too fast or if he did enough because the safety crunches Corum at the LOS. RPS -1.
O38	2	10	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel under	6.5	Run	Power	Edwards	0
Better tactically but Jones(-2) gets crushed backwards by a DT. He ends up two yards in the backfield; Loveland has to abort his pull and duck inside of this; ditto Edwards. If Michigan can clear this and get to the outside it looks good. As is, Edwards gets stood up.
O38	3	10	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel over	6	Pass	Cross	Morris	38
M gets a matchup here as both LBs get sucked into coverage they cannot execute. Bama spends a safety robbing a dig route that never comes and Bama’s pattern match gets Morris on a LB. Meanwhile Edwards shoots out of the backfield and is equally wide open. JJ puts it on Morris, who shocks everyone but not only dusting the LB but outrunning the Bama S to the endzone. (CA, 3, protection 2/2, JJ +1, Morris +1 for jets.) RPS +2, Bama S covering no one based on dig expectation.
Drive Notes: Touchdown(XP fiasco), 13-7, 4 min 2nd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M13	1	10	Pistol twins	1	2	2	4-3 over	6	Run	Duo	Corum	0
This looks like a light box but on Wilson’s motion the slot rotates back and both safeties come so this is really 8 guys in the run front. Wilson comes across and arcs out and a keep looks like a good idea here but I don’t think it’s live. Barnhart(-1) makes a gesture towards chipping the NT but barely makes contact; Nugent(-1) loses control of him and dude fights to the hole. Corum cuts to the other side of this but Nugent’s given ground and Corum bangs into Nugent; then he eats one of those safeties. RPS -1.
M13	2	10	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	5-1 under	6	Run	Crack sweep	Edwards	1
Keegan(-2) gets a guy shooting inside of him on a quick pitch to the edge and turns upfield to get him; he does, but that guy is gone and if he makes this play terrific. Result is that MLB is unblocked and can chase this down quickly since it’s to the boundary. Henderson(-1) also misses his block so Edwards has two guys; Loveland(+1) got a moving block on a DB to create some space. Peyton O’Leary(+1) is supposed to crack the DE but DE tries to climb over him and O’Leary puts him like seven yards downfield.
M14	3	9	Gun trips	1	1	3	Dime even	5	Pass	Improv	Johnson	12
LB threatens up the gut, backs out like he’s dropping into coverage, and then blitzes around the left edge. This gets through as Edwards releases into the route and Henderson takes an edge diving inside; chalking this up to TEAM. JJ peels out and finds CJ for an incredible conversion. (DO, 1, protection 0/2, TEAM -2, JJ +2)
M26	1	10	Gun trips TE U	1	1	3	30 under slide	6.5	Run	Power	Corum	3
Morgan across the formation; weird front from Bama. M runs away from the front’s strength, or would have if Bama didn’t shift the moment before the snap. This was going off tackle but now it goes inside. Keegan(+0.5) deals with a DT thanks to a chip from Henderson(+1), who then climbs to a LB. Barner suddenly has the anchor and stalemates him; Barnhart gets vertical inside of this and doesn’t have anyone to hit so annoys the guy Barner is blocking. Corum clearly gets four here but is given 3, refs -1.
M29	2	7	Gun trips TE U	1	1	3	Nickel over	6.5	Pass	PA RB fly	N/A	-2
The Orji trick-ish play where he fakes a run and tries to go to Mullings. Bama is prepped for this; they don’t bother to cover Morgan, who is covered in the slot; they also have a S at seven yards who is taking Mullings all the way. This needs a more aggressive run posture to work. Orji doesn’t have it but instead of dumping the ball OOB he runs out for an unnecessary sack. (BR, N/A, protection N/A, RPS -2)
M27	3	9	Gun trips	1	1	3	Exotic	6	Pass	Cross	Morris	7
M motions Morris into a bunch set and he gets to be already at full speed on his crosser at the snap. Morris(route+) feints and gets a step on his defender; he will convert, but JJ leaves it behind him and takes him off his feet. Henderson(-2) beat mostly clean around the corner and this may impact the throw; I think it’s out by the time JJ takes contact, FWIW. M fortunate not to get a hold(refs +2). (MA, 2, protection 0/2, JJ -0.5)
Drive Notes: Punt, 13-10, 6 min 3rd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M11	1	10	Gun trips	1	2	2	Nickel under	6	Pass	Hitch	Barner	Inc
The second time JJ has looked up a very covered Barner. Barner is clearly interfered with before the ball arrives, no call, PBU. Still do not like this decision; CJ has blasted through press coverage and is open on a slant. (BR, 0, protection 2/2, JJ -1)
M11	2	10	Gun TTB	1	2	2	4-3 even	7	Run	Power	Edwards	2
You’ve got O’Leary and Clemons out there on second and ten; woof. Doesn’t really matter; this time it’s Keegan(-2) who pulls to the anchor and gets beat. Anchor extends off of Keegan and disengages to tackle; stuff jammed up in there but I think otherwise this play works; Trente(+1) has a heavy chip and climbs to the LB; Barnhart(+0.5) seals the Trente chip; Barner(+1) hammers a S.
M13	3	8	Gun trips	1	1	3	5-1 under	6	Pass	Slant	Morgan	Inc
Aaaargh, wide open for a conversion and possibly more if Morgan can do a Morgan thing. Ball goes right through his hands. Six man pressure picked up. (CA, 3, protection 3/3, JJ +1)
Drive Notes: Punt, 13-10, 4 min 3rd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M25	1	10	Gun 2-back TE	1	2	2	4-3 over	7	Run	Lead G	Corum	1
Orbit motion form Morris, pull Keegan to the frontside. Henderson(-1) bulled back one on one; I really think Barner(-1) needs to chip here or at least help; end squeezes down on Keegan but that block is ungradeable because Corum has to bounce outside because Henderson’s getting put on his butt and the DE pops off to tackle.
M26	2	9	Ace 3TE	1	3*	1	4-3 under	9	Pass	PA Corner?	Loveland	Inc
PA, max pro with a flood to the right side of the field. For some reason this protection has Bredeson dipping inside of Jones, so instead of a LB who eventually backs out he gets the 290 pound anchor. He gets crushed back into the pocket and JJ gets hit on the throw. Charging half of this to Henderson, who helped Keegan instead of Bredeson. (PR, 0, protection 0/2, Henderson -1, Bredeson -1)
M26	3	9	Gun trips	1	1	3	Nickel even	6	Pass	RB flat	Edwards	Inc
The Edwards/Morris flats play that got M a touchdown on long yardage in the first half comes back; Bama is sitting on the Morris route. Henderson(-2) beat clean by Turner, who flushes JJ. He finds Edwards, which isn’t going to convert but Edwards drops it anyway. (MA, 3, protection 0/2)
Drive Notes: Punt, 13-17, 13 min 4th Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M49	1	10	Gun TTB	1	2	2	4-3 even SAM	7	Pass	Flat	Wilson	20
Wilson runs across the formation, Bama does a lot of pointing and then they neglect to cover Wilson in the flat. Easy pitch and catch he can turn up for a first down. This isn’t really RPS? (CA, 3, protection 0/2, TEAM -2, JJ +0.5); motion caused a flip on the Bama front and M’s protection busts as a stunt gets around the edge; Henderson has no help and can’t leave.
O31	1	10	Gun trips TE	1	2	2	5-1 over	6.5	Pass	Bubble screen	Johnson	0
Tempo, M gets the play off with 27 on the clock. Heavy run action right, bubble the other way. Loveland(-2) sees a safety shooting down and then decides not to get him; play probably isn’t getting a ton but guy on Loveland is in man and dropping so much better to block the S. (CA, 3, screen)
O31	2	10	Ace TTB	1	2	2	5-1 over	6	Pass	Yakety Flicker	N/A	-7
Attempted flea flicker that eats a blitz; Corum sees it and is like oh no, so he hurries the pitch and leaves it short so he can get a block in. He does get his block in but JJ has to just fall on it. I don't know what to do with this, RPS-wise. If Corum gets this back to McCarthy he's got an open receiver for a chunk. But the blitz makes it very hard for him to get it back. Also Trente Jones maybe should have come off this earlier? (Not charted, N/A, protection 1/2, Jones –1)
O38	3	17	Gun empty	1	1	3	Dime even	5	Pass	Tunnel screen	Morgan	7
A mutually agreed up on 7 yards so M can kick a long FG. (CA, 3, screen)
Drive Notes: Missed FG(49), 13-17, 10 min 4th Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M25	1	10	Gun TTB	1	2	2	30 under slide	7	Run	IZ off tackle	Corum	5
Uh, this doesn’t really look like outside zone with the blocking but the back’s path is really wide from the start; I assume this is an IZ/Duo counter that is going off tackle all the way. Henderson(+1) is able to step around Turner and while he gets shed doesn’t matter, he’s done his job. Bama drops a safety to six yards on the snap and he’s in the area as soon as Corum breaks outside; Corum(+1) is able to jitter him to a standstill and get an okay gain. Loveland(+0.5) got a block on McKinstry that helped. RPS… push?
M30	2	5	Gun TTB 1	1	2	2	30 under slide	7	Run	Crack sweep	Corum	3
Argh, very close. M again motions Wilson across and runs an off tackle item to the boundary. This time Loveland blocks down on Turner and Henderson pulls around him. Loveland(-1) pins his guy inside; Keegan(+1) steps around his guy; Henderson(-1) makes a bad decision to stop and help as Turner again tries to shoot the gap upfield; Turner bangs into Keegan and isn’t going to make this play. Corum on the edge against unblocked CB; CB makes tackle. Downs had wasted himself; RPS +2. If Henderson gets a block this is six.
M33	3	2	Gun TTE	1	2	2*	4-3 over	9	Pass	Waggle TE corner	Barner	Inc
Orji in at WR. M motions him in and fakes a pitch to him while JJ rolls out. This play is designed to look like a regular waggle with guys in the flat and going to the corner and get to Barner; it’s great design, but Barner gets whacked by a DT trying to get out and that slows him down; he’s still got two yards on the guy covering him, who’s in panic recovery mode. The other thing is that a Bama defender is able to read that JJ came off the flat guy, stop, and bat the ball in the air. Friggin’ Saban, man. (BA, 0, protection N/A, RPS +1) Loveland route- for not going hard to the sideline.
M33	4	2	Gun TTB	1	2	2	4-3 under	8	Pass	RB flat	Corum	36 (Pen -19)
M motions into a bunch and flips Corum, which they did earlier. This time instead of a run Corum zips into the flat. Bama busts, or M plays on their tendency to look up crossers on critical conversion downs. Both LBs to the inside try to take away mesh, Corum is beyond open for a conversion and more; Wilson(-2) commits the world’s most obvious block in the back at the end of the run. (CA, 3, protection 1/1, JJ +0.5, RPS +3)
50	1	10	Gun empty	1	2	2	Nickel over	6	Run	Bash QB counter	McCarthy	16
Corum in motion and takes a jet sweep fake as JJ goes the other way. Corum takes a LB away so a CB gets added to the run front and the box is even because QB run. Trente(+1) turns in Bama’s monster anchor. Keegan(+1) kicks a DE; Henderson(+1) finds and clobbers the MLB. Loveland(+0.5) gets a second level block; JJ(+1) scoots through the hole and is fast. Kind of unbelievable there is not a 15 yard flag for a late hit on this(refs -2)
O34	1	10	Pistol TTB	1	1	3	Nickel even	7	Pass	PA Y cross	Wilson	29
This time it’s Morris across the formation, PA to Corum with a Barnhart pull. Seven man protection against a four man rush, so time. Wilson gets open by using Johnson’s route, which is bracketed; Moore has to go around that and there’s space. JJ finds him… LB tips the ball. Wilson skies for it, bringing it in just in front of the grasping safety, and then turns it upfield for an incredible in-play swing. (CA?, 1, protection 2/2, JJ +1 I guess)
O5	1	G	Gun trip TE	1	3	1	Goal line	10	Run	Duo	Corum	1
Corum(-1) misses the hole as Jones(+2) gets bulled back initially but then just tosses his guy to the ground. I think Corum sees that in his peripheral vision and thinks that gap’s done but he’s staring at Bama players in front of him; the rule of friendly butts should see him try to cut behind Nugent(+0.5), who has control of a DT with help from Barnhart(+0.5) and thre looks like 2-3 yards off the backside.
O4	2	G	Gun 3-wide tight	1	1	3	4-3 over	9	Pass	PA flat	Wilson	4
Wilson across the formation again, M runs a stretch action the other way and nobody on Bama picks up Wilson. (CA, 3, protection N/A, JJ +0.5, RPS +1)
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 20-20, 1:30 4th Q. Two kneeldowns are not charted.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
O25	1	10	Ace TTE	1	2	2	6-2 under	8.5	Run	Power	Corum	8
Semaj in motion to the playside and flares out to block the corner. Loveland(+1) and Barner(+1) both have guys on the LOS attacking them; both TEs control their guys and get a yard of depth; Corum(+2) goes vertical before zipping to the outside, delaying the LB pursuit, and then jukes outside for a second, setting up the Morgan block and allowing Keegan(+1) to blow up a safety; LB overruns Corum and he’s able to turn five into eight.
O176	2	2	Pistol 3TE	1	3	1	4-3 under	8.5	Run	Power	Corum	17
Loveland(-1) gets Turner and gets fired back a dangerous step, making this difficult for Barnhart(+2) to get around, but he is able to clear the block and get vertical on the safety. Bredeson(+2) gets a moving kickout that’s probably not a +2 but he’s getting +2. Corum(+3) feints inside for a step, drawing a LB and Turner, then teleports over a gap, and it is all over but the shouting and arm tackles.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 27-20, defense wins game.

This took so long that I don't remember this game.

Liar!

Fine. I do remember it.

Now you can luxuriate in it. I want to start with the chart that has the RPS in it.

Offensive Line
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Henderson	5.5	5.5	0	Survived.
Keegan	9.5	4.5	+5	Got whacked by Bama SDE once for –2, otherwise excellent.
Nugent	3	1	+2	Came, won title, never got graded in UFR.
Barnhart	5	6.5	-1.5	Bama SDE again, but capped career.
Jones	6.5	3	+3.5	NFL tackle idled on bench much of season.
Hinton				DNP
Crippen				DNP
El-Hadi				DNP
Persi				DNP
Bredeson	4.5		+4.5	Coming back!
Barner	8.5	3	+5.5	Best blocking TE I've ever charted.
Loveland	7	4.5	+2.5	Also +0.5 run. I'll take this.
Beetham				DNP
Mullings	3		+3	Decleated a guy on a crack block.
TOTAL	52.5	28	65%	Story of the season was that the OL was B+ and the TEs were A+.
Backs
Player	+	-	T	Notes
McCarthy	1		1	Did a run.
Orji				DNC
Tuttle				DNP
Corum	8.5	1	+7.5	Iconic, part 2.
Edwards	0.5		+0.5	Hopefully he gets it going in the title game.
Mullings	1		+1	One carry, one point.
Hall				DNP
TOTAL	11	1	+10	Corum was Corum when Michigan needed it.
Receivers
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Johnson	1		+1	Crack on early Corum chunk.
Wilson		4	-4	Man has many skills. Blocking emphatically not one of them.
Morris
Clemons				DNP
Morgan	1		+1	Maximized jet opportunity.
O'Leary	1		+1	O'Leary's going to have one clip in next year's preview and it's against Bama.
TOTAL	3	4	-1	I mean.
Metrics
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Protection	21	12	63%	Henderson –5, Barnhart –1, Bredeson –1, Jones –1, TEAM –4.
RPS	20	8	+12	RETIRED NICK SABAN

This was a gameplan game. Probably the gameplan game, given the stakes and who it was against.

In the game preview I said "I choose to believe this will be a gameplan to remember" and it was. Michigan's failings in this game were largely personnel related; the lull in the middle of the game was riddled with dropped passes, slightly errant throws, and frustrating (non) penalties. Michigan's first drive was a three-and-out on which McCarthy made a couple of nervy errors.

The second drive started out with an RPS +1 counter and then unleased this:

21 yards based on two blocks with terrific angles. An ensuing third and eight sees Michigan dial up JJ's legs to set up fourth and short, and then this is how Alabama aligns to stop wedge?

Bama did have a good plan for base Michigan runs, as we'll discuss, but you have a total of three hand-in-dirt DL on fourth and one? Michigan substituted before this play, so it's not like they got locked on the field by tempo. This is an obvious blowout presnap and it was indeed Michigan's easiest fourth down conversion of the year (until the fourth quarter, anyway).

Michigan also screwed with Bama's coverages extensively, starting on this drive. There were open Michigan players all over the field. The completion to Mullings that got Michigan in the redzone was improvisation from JJ after Barnhart gave up a bull rush, but watch Semaj Morgan's route:

WR #82 in motion

You can see the pointing on the Bama back end, and you  can see extreme concern about Michigan dig routes. That will be highly relevant on the Morris touchdown; here Bama drops into cover 3 and the free safety looks up the Johnson dig; Wilson is crossing into the left third of the field so that corner can't  go with Morgan; if JJ can hang in the pocket this is going to be a wide open post throw for six. Nobody on the right side of the screen is thinking about Semaj Morgan at all:

Morgan knows it, too. After JJ bugs out he is literally hopping mad.

Michigan used Morgan on an end-around for six yards on the next play—more of a jimmies-and-joes play as Morgan maximized his opportunity—and then the capper: RB mesh traffic.

I follow a coach named Dan Casey on twitter who has been posting about RB mesh traffic in the low redzone literally all year and (mentally) pointed at this play like the Leonardo DiCaprio meme as it was happening.

Doesn't get much better than two wide open guys for a touchdown, and on the broadcast angle you can tell that the mesh "routes" are barely routes at all; this is Michigan selling out on a coverage they think they will get, and they get it.

The futile point gets me every time.

All right, one touchdown, ah ah ah. More!

Before we get to that, I would like to pour one out for Michigan's third drive, which was about to have first and ten on the minus 45 before Kyle intervened with the penalty on Bredeson. I will go to my grave thinking that call is hot garbage. The ball is live and guys can get up off the ground. Bredeson did not lead with the crown—and they didn't bother to even review for targeting—and he is making a football play.

Michigan got it to fourth and one again after a slant to Morgan came up just short, and I was surprised they didn't go for it again even if it was on their own 39. Anyway.

Two touchdown ah ah ah!

The Morris drive featured Bama striking back in the RPS department a couple times after Michigan picked up a couple of first downs. One of them was on this excellent play action that used Morgan and Edwards as decoys to suck in the LB level before running Wilson and Loveland into the wide open spaces behind:

This, too, could have been huge. Wilson is wide open on the post:

It is a mark of Not Knowing Ball to show a bunch of screenshots of open guys and go WHY U NO THROW. Here Loveland is the first read and open, so you're never getting to Wilson. I post it only to note that Michigan had guys running wide open all day.

The next play was the most insane play of JJ McCarthy's Michigan career:

There's nothing to say about that except "golly." Well, one thing: the Lions ran a version of this in the playoffs, with a much less disastrous throwback. It didn't work because everyone was covered deep, and here is a weird thing about the evolution of Michigan's College Crappe trick plays: they always had outs. Flea flickers went from attempts to get guys wide open for touchdowns to attempts to get chunk plays underneath the guys double-covered.

Bama bows up here, getting an RPS –1 on first down and then clobbering Trente Jones on second down. Third and ten for Dig Route University. Bama dials up a coverage that spends four guys on the outside WRs with a safety sitting on a Roman Wilson dig. Dig never comes:

Instead you've got the Bama LBs, who are not great in coverage, trying to match up against a WR and Donovan Edwards. In a word: no. Edwards is actually more screamingly wide open, but again you don't get to read 2 when read 1 is open. See again the key point where Herbstreit is going back and forth: as Morris breaks across the LB's face there is a moment of hesitation where he thinks he should peel off and let the other LB pick it up; only after a beat does he start chasing Morris in earnest. The Alabama LB level—and I'm including the nickel in this—was in hell all game.

The dig lookup also turns this from a first down into a touchdown, as Key has to pivot back to square and get his bearings on what's going on before turning to chase Morris. Iowa's never doing this because they will keep eyes on the QB; here Bama more or less takes a safety off the field because they're expecting a dig.

But they did nothing on offense for forever?

This period was a series of two three-and-outs and two first-down-and-outs starting with Michigan's first drive of the second half. The first one ends when Orji goes out of bounds for a loss of two on his trick play and then JJ throws it behind a wide open Morris to prevent him from turning upfield and converting.

The second is the slant that goes right through Morgan's hands:

The fourth was the flea-flicker fumble:

Only the third did not have a clear opportunity for Michigan to convert with a relatively simple play from Michigan players.

Now, there is a theme in these clips: long yardage. Michigan's ground game did nothing over this period, racking up lots of minuses for the OL. Here is the complaint.

I see. Federally mandated complaint time has arrived.

There was one glaring issue with Michigan's plan: Justin Eboigbe. I didn't want to spell his last name over and over again in the chart so I just called him "anchor," but he's in there over and over again. When I am constantly referencing an opposing player in the chart they're either Lathan Ransom or whooping some ass. Eboigbe was no Lathan Ransom. Bama's defense seemed like it was designed to induce runs at him by shifting away from Eboigbe's side and adding a SAM to the LOS. It was often a 30 front with a standup LB in a SAM spot, which I'm not sure I've seen before.

Michigan duly ran at Eboigbe, and Eboigbe simply no-sold Michigan's pulling guards. This was usually Karsen Barnhart:

RG #52 pulling

This happened a ton.

RG #52 pulling

Michigan would get a power run blocked up, and then Eboigbe would blow it up and make the tackle himself. I have not seen an opposing player do this once in the past two years. Our dude did it over and over.

Now, you may be thinking that this is more a Barnhart thing than an Eboigbe thing since this space has repeatedly pigeonholed Barnhart as a light, mobile guy without much power, but he did it to Keegan once, too:

pulling G #77

Keegan is Keegan. Also Barnhart was a fifth-year senior who appears to be draftable. Dude was just a monster, and Michigan did not account for that much of the day. To be fair to the coaching staff, I'm not sure how you predict that a DE is going to whoop pulling guards so comprehensively that you can't run the stuff Bama is asking you to run. On most of these plays Eboigbe was the difference between two yards and a billion. On the first one linked in this section Corum has a lane directly up the gut with no one in it except Eboigbe:

Justin Eboigbe, YOU are a Los Angeles Charger.

The other issue I was a bit crabby about was Michigan asking Roman Wilson to be a blocker. Wilson has many assets but he just doesn't have the bulk to hold up as a blocker, particularly against a secondary that came into this game with outstanding PFF run defense grades. The McCarthy third and long run on Michigan's first TD drive had to be third and long because Wilson got delivered directly into Loveland:

If that's Bredeson out there Loveland is going to have a crease and a solid gain… as long as Bredeson being out there doesn't tip the linebacker, admittedly. Wilson had another –1 on a screen and picked up a –2 for the block in the back that shaved 19 yards off the Corum fourth-down conversion. One of the reason Michigan avoided screens was that Wilson couldn't block anyone. I love the guy, he's going to be a fantastic NFL player. Can't block.

I would like a play by play breakdown of the drive that saved Michigan's season.

Okey-dokey.

Play one: first and ten from the 25. Michigan runs a duo counter that isn't outside zone; you don't see the line flowing like they do on OZ. Corum's path is indicative of an outside run all the way, and Henderson's trying to get around the end. He does; end flows upfield. Unfortunately, Bama has dropped one of their safeties to about six yards before the snap:

Bama S moving up on snap

Instead of hitting the jets on a relatively clear edge, Corum has to jitter a bit; he still picks up five. RPS push.

Second and five now. Agonizingly close to a huge play as M again attacks outside to the boundary. Loveland hops outside of Turner and seals him in; Turner is able to jet upfield. This isn't going to get it done; Turner bashes into Keegan. Corum will clear this. But Henderson sees the flash of white and stops. Add Henderson blocking McKinstry into this screenshot:

Corum's going to clear the traffic at the LOS and Michigan has guys for the last two men because Downs shot uselessly into the middle of the field.

If things had turned out differently this would be a play that haunted me forever once I charted it. Corum picks up three; third and two.

Moore goes into his bag on third down, bringing Orji on the field to threaten a jet sweep and rolling McCarthy into the flat. Bama sees this coming because it's just a bog standard waggle rollout on third and short, but this is not a bog standard waggle rollout. Michigan wants the flashy Orji thing to draw eyes to the backside, and it does. Key loses his eyes on Barner; Barner gets bashed by a Bama DL as he tries to get into his route and he's still got a couple yards of separation.

JJ has to slow up more quickly than he wants because the playside end (Eboigbe again) is containing him. He slows up and takes his eyes to the Barner sneak attack. Also, Loveland takes his route vertical to the sticks instead of hammering to the sideline as fast as possible. The combination of those two events gives a Bama defender just enough time to slow up and get a finger on the ball.

This got filed as an RPS+1 because the Bama end containing McCarthy did help nerf the play but Barner had ill fortune here and this is still open for a chunk; hat tip to the Bama defender.

Then it's fourth and two, and we have to go back to the first half for a minute. On the first play of Michigan's Morris TD drive, they motion in a wide bunch to a tight one and flip Corum from one side of McCarthy to the other. Malachi Moore, the Bama nickel, is badly miscast as a SAM linebacker and Colston Loveland dominates him on an easy eight yard gain:

Bama DB motioning in to stand up at top of line

On the fourth and two Michigan is again in that tight bunch and again flips Corum to the other side of McCarthy to create a 4x1 passing strength. We get another Fateful Point from the Bama LBs:

He wants to pass Corum off, so he can take Barner. He does this. Logically this means Downs, at apex, will get Loveland and Moore will banjo onto Corum; the corner has Wilson going deep. Moore does not do this. Moore initially fires towards the LOS, then panics and starts grabbing at Loveland; no one goes with Corum.

It's impossible to say for sure what was going on in Moore's head but the most likely explanation is that his lizard brain remembered this sequence of events leading to Loveland whooping on him in the first half and his first thought is to set the edge as a run defender. (Look at the Bama line here, shifted heavily to the run strength, Moore is force.) When Loveland releases every bit of knowledge he has about the Bama defensive structure flees his mind and he is now in Oh Shit mode. The result:

This is a mistake—a cosmic one. But it's an induced mistake. Michigan nets 17 after the Wilson block in the back.

Now Michigan is at midfield and it's JJ time. Michigan pulls out QB bash counter, playing on the fact that when Michigan has motioned across the formation in this game the Alabama safeties have swapped responsibilities. The Corum motion causes the safeties to look at each other, communicating, and the playside S is drifting backwards and to his right, away from the play, well after the snap.

The rest of it is Michigan's blockers batting 1.000. Jones authoritatively turns in Eboigbe; Keegan clobbers Turner; Henderson pulls from tackle and gets the LB; Loveland reads that he's got nothing inside and turns to block Arnold. Bang.

The next play barely needs introduction as it is burned into all your minds. Michigan runs a seven-man protection and gets Wilson open for a chunk as Moore has to run around a bracketed Johnson post. Everything's going great until the ball is tipped at the LOS:

The tip ends up working in Michigan's favor, as without it Moore is likely to tackle Wilson just after the catch, setting Michigan up at the 17 or 18. Moore sees the trajectory of the ball and flips to INT mode, so when Wilson plucks it out of the air he flies by, and Wilson is able to juke Downs to set Michigan up at the five.

Again, the consistency with which Michigan was able to free up their receivers against two first round NFL corners was incredible. Other than the Johnson comeback route that McCarthy threw to Tacopants, all of this was schemed. Wilson was very open:

If we're worried about coaching turnover we can be secure in the fact that I have a dollar that much of this came from Kirk Campbell.

Anyway. First and goal is a rare Corum minus as he doesn't follow the wall of friendly butts. It looks like he's spooked by Jones giving ground initially…

…but Jones pancakes his man…

…and the cutback is there. Corum is already committed to straight ahead, even though that doesn't look promising.

One yard, second and goal.

Second and goal is just running Wilson across the formation as Bama asks LB Jihaad Campbell to cover him. Walk-in.

Tie game.

/smokes entire pack of cigarettes at once

ok, sure

But what does it MEAN

Michigan was four quarters deep in the Rose Bowl, had a must-have drive, and schematically obliterated Nick Saban. Two of their plays were RPS pushes: the five yard run to start the drive and the first and goal. Everything else was a plus. The second play of the drive was set up to be massive if Henderson doesn't stop; play three they had Barner and only a Bama fingertip intervened. The fourth down was a wide open 36 yards; the JJ run was even numbers in the box with no safety help; the Wilson throw was open; the Wilson TD was blindingly open.

Again, as I mentioned above: keeping the non-Harbaugh bits of this offensive braintrust is very good for Michigan's future.

And overtime?

Overtime was about two things: tight end blocking and Blake Corum. On the first play Loveland and Barner hammer in Moore and Lawson, respectively. After that it's just Corum maximizing what he can get.

Then, the capper. The broadcast angle is the Karsen Barnhart angle. You can see that Loveland's been bulled back and that Barnhart is able to clear that block and then get vertical in hurry.

That's his one shining moment.

The endzone angle is the Corum angle… and the Bredeson angle. The jump cut. The uselessness of arm tackles. Meanwhile, Bredeson latches onto a DB and after the initial contact his legs start going. If the whistle never blew Max Bredeson would still be plowing that guy. They'd be halfway to San Francisco.

I dinged Loveland for his block because he gave considerable ground but that's Dallas Turner and he managed to do enough.

Much has been said about the way this game came together canonizing it as maybe the best game in Michigan lore, and it doesn't get much better than 25 yards largely from TE blocking and Blake Corum. This year's line was not a Joe Moore award kind of line. Zinter and Keegan were great but the rest of the guys were fine-to-good. The run production went off a cliff, in part because Corum wasn't 2022 Corum. But what rescued it was Max Bredeson and AJ Barner being #1 and #2 in blocking TEs in the history of UFR. Loveland wasn't on their level, but in this game his +2 block against Malachi Moore was the main reason Blake Corum was wide open on fourth and two.

It is entirely understandable that Jim Harbaugh pulled the Costanza after this season. It's not about the championship. It's about the TE room. AJ Barner, YOU are a Los Angeles Charger.

This has to be a record for the longest a UFR has gone without mentioning the QB.

Ah, yes. Personnel. McCarthy was not out of his mind like he was in a few games this year, but after early jitters he settled in and turned in a good performance:

JJ MCCARTHY

	Good				Neutral			Bad					Ovr			Reads
Game	DO	CA	SCR		PR	MA		BA	TA	IN	BR		DSR	GRADE!		RPOs	ZRs
East Carolina	6+	14(2)++++				5				2			91%	+20		0/0	0/0
UNLV	2	15++	1		1	1				1			95%	+12.5		0/0	1/3
Bowling Green	1	6+	1		1	1				3**	2**		61%	-3		0/0	2/2
Rutgers	3	13++(1)	3		1				1	3	1		79%	+12		0/0	3/4
Nebraska	3+	10+	1		1	1				1			94%	+13		0/1	3/3
Minnesota	1	11+(2)			1	1				3			80%	+8.5		2/2	3/3
Indiana	2	11+++(1)	2		2	3			1				94%	+15		0/0	3/4
MSU	5+	15(1)	1			2			1*	3			87%	+13		0/1	1/1
Purdue	6	18++(2)			2	8				4			86%	+21		0/0	0/0
Penn State		4+(2)	1		3						1		83%	+2.5		0/0	3/5
Maryland	1	13			3	4				1	5**		70%	-3		0/0	0/2
OSU	2++	12+++(3)	2		1	2				1	1		89%	+12.5		0/0	0/0
Iowa																0/0	0/0
Alabama	3+	11+(4)			1	2		2		1	3*		70%	+7.5		1/1	0/0
Washington																0/0	0/0

(Run +/- is in the other chart; the above is solely a passing/decisions grade.)

McCarthy started out as shaky as possible, nearly throwing an interception on a play veritably designed to get him an easy, short completion to ease him into the game. And the easy, short completion was open:

Wilson's defender gets picked and there's plenty of space to take the quick five-to-eight yards. The separation between Wilson and his defender is the reason it's nearly intercepted. Just baffling: it's a two-read play and one read is open.

On the ensuing third down McCarthy throws a ball well short of the sticks to a very covered AJ Barner. Just watch Barner's route: there is no way he should even be on the radar this early:

Loveland, meanwhile, has blasted through an attempted chuck and is likely to convert if McCarthy gets him the ball. McCarthy would come back to this strange decision in the second-half lull:

This time it's Johnson who has powered through contact and is open to the top of the screen. I guess Bama must have changed something, because there's no way either of those passes was anything but a pre-snap read McCarthy didn't come off of once it turned out the read was Not Good.

Michigan was spooked and tried some screens and such, and then once McCarthy was breathing at a relatively normal rate they went back to him. Most of his good stuff is embedded above. This was not the JJ game, save for the insane double pass catch and throw. OSU was the JJ game.

Receivers?

	THIS WEEK					THIS YEAR
Player	Uncb	Circus	Tough	Routine		Uncb	Circus	Tough	Routine
Johnson	1	1/1		1/1		9	4/8	5/6	25/26
Wilson	1	1/1		3/3		4	2/6	4/5	35/35
Morris			1/1	1/1		1	0/4	2/3	7/8
Moore						3		1/1	2/2
Clemons						1			3/3
Morgan			1/1	3/4			1/2	1/2	17/20
O'Leary									1/1
Loveland				2/2		6	0/1	3/3	32/35
Barner	2					8	0/2	2/2	18/19
Bredeson									2/2
English									1/1
Klein									1/1
Corum				2/2		1	0/1		9/9
Edwards				0/1				2/4	17/18
Mullings			1/1					1/1	1/1
Hall
McCarthy		1/1					1/1

Routes: Johnson +, Wilson –, Loveland –, Morris +

Just one meaningful drop, that the third down coulda-shoulda conversion to Morgan. Edwards had another drop but he was going to be tackled well short of the sticks.

Let us pause to appreciate Michigan's wide receivers this year. Cornelius Johnson put up a highlight reel of him blocking after the Penn State game, but he was much more than that. I mean, when Cornelius Johnson roasts a first-round corner you gotta put it on him:

We're going to miss Johnson's ability to turn a scramble drill into a first down.

Wilson and Johnson combined for one routine drop and 9/11 on tough catches this season; Johnson was 4/8 on circus opportunities. I wonder what he would have looked like on vintage Texas Tech. He would not have won a title, but I think both guys will surprise in the NFL.

Also, yes, JJ makes the chart.

Are we done?

Almost.

/orders a very expensive glass of port

Yes, okay.

/savors

All right.

/continues savoring

I have some more stuff I could say.

Is it going to disrupt my savor?

Maybe one part of it, but despite virtually the whole offense heading to the NFL I have some things to say about 2024.

Oh. Fine.

For one: Kalel Mullings is a dude. Flat out. Our block of the week:

WR #20 motioning in from bottom

Our catch of the week (second place edition):

Our run of the week (… ok not really):

While this is not run of the week this is a pretty good summary of Mullings as a runner: great feet, slaloms through the gates, knocks over incidental tight ends in the way, ignores arm tackles, stays on his feet on initial contact, falls forward.

Mullings added another thumping block to his preview section later in the first half…

RB #20 lined up beneath JJ

…and has barely put a foot wrong all season. It seems like almost every run he's making at least a few yards himself. Amongst running  backs with at least 20 blocking snaps this season he was fourth nationally. If you add in TEs he drops all the way to #17. This is low sample size city, but look at that crack block. Just look at that.

Michigan's offseason has to be spent figuring out the best way to use Mullings and Edwards together. The versatility both of them provide is tremendous, and they are going to be Michigan's two best skill position players outside of Loveland. With Semaj in the mix, Michigan needs to hire the craziest single-wing high school coach in America as an analyst.

I am still savoring but you mentioned Morgan, and that triggered somewhat unpleasant feelings that I will soon go back to ignoring.

 

I mean, I hear you. The muff was horrendous; the drop was somehow worse. I grumbled in the stands about putting so much on a true freshman WR. Buuuuut. If you can do this to Bama…

…on a play that was definitively not an RPS plus, I'm intrigued. Michigan clearly went into this game hoping that increased use of Morgan would be an ace in the hole. It was not, because freshman. Next year feels like the breakout. He was one pass block away from a post touchdown where he was open by miles—yes, as long as he catches it—and Michigan had a month to look at Alabama and thought to themselves "Semaj would be good for this." Since this is the offensive braintrust that put Bama in hell, I say that's a pretty solid indicator of his future.

This single wing stuff is more of your "let's do Orji" next year projection. I feel… uncomfortable with that.

Okay. Yes. I think that approach has a lot of upside, but my concern with Orji is that until Michigan tried to look up Mullings in the second half, Michigan had not called a play where Orji touched the ball and anything but an Alex Orji run took place. His run in the first half had a screen attached to it and it seems pretty obvious that if the screen was live it should have been the move:

When Michigan was mixing in McCarthy when he was a freshman he was much more run-oriented than he was as a starter but he was nowhere near run-exclusive. I have no illusions that Orji could be in McCarthy's realm as a passer; he doesn't have to be.

He does have to have at least the Denard skillset. Michigan's deployment of him hints that he might not have that; I'd think that if he was close he would have gotten in for some garbage time in a season full of it, and gotten to display a fuller skillset. If you're rolling with Orji, the reads have to be real reads or it's not going to work. And this is not a coaching staff that has emphasized actual reads.

Also it would have been nice if Orji had the mindset to throw the ball away after Mullings was covered.

That lost two yards and Michigan ended up punting on fourth and two.

Heroes?

Jim Harbaugh, Sherrone Moore, and Kirk Campbell. Colston Loveland, for putting Malachi Moore in hell. Blake Corum, for being Blake Corum. Max Bredeson and AJ Barner. Trente Jones. Trevor Keegan. Kalel Mullings.

Maybe not so heroic?

They beat Alabama in the Rose Bowl, if I put anyone in this section I would rightfully die at the hands of the mob.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

I got a good feeling guys.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR 2024?

Hopefully this gameplan was assisted by Harbaugh and not created by him. About as perfect as a plan could be, if you assume that it was impossible to predict Eboigbe obliterating Michigan pulling guards.

Uh… not a whole lot else. Players who are back: Morris, Morgan, Loveland, Mullings, Edwards, Bredeson. It's going to be a lot different. That said…

Michigan should have a couple of very mobile blockers. Bredeson and Mullings were fantastic in space this year. They just decked guys.

Semaj Morgan is about to blow up. Michigan threw him a back shoulder fade in the redzone; they made him a big part of this gameplan; he feinted inside and then burst outside to maximize his jet sweep in a way I fantasize Donovan Edwards doing consistently. Yeah, he screwed up some. He's a true freshman slot receiver on a national championship team that Michigan thought needed to play.

Michigan doesn't have any WRs next year and it's fine. The most common personnel grouping is going to be Loveland/Edwards/Mullings/Morris/X. I love two of those players and like two of those players. X is often going to be Bredeson, who might be the best blocking TE in America next year. When it's not Bredeson it's going to be Morgan. These pieces can be molded into an offense that's a bitch to play against.