PERSONAL NOTE: This is going to be short. Had some of the ol' norovirus this week. Do not recommend. Also… this game was a nothing.

FORMATION NOTES: BGSU did not blitzball their linebackers, preferring to read and react. They did perpetually stick their safeties inside of ten yards, and sometimes inside of five:

Like everyone else on the schedule they used a lot of 404 tite; they also rotated between various 4-3 looks.

SUBSTITUTION NOTES: The usual on the OL until they pulled Hinton on the third drive of the second half—the second real one since #2 started on the BGSU 2—for Henderson, flipping Barnhart to RT. Wilson and Johnson were almost omnipresent at WR; Morris only got nine snaps. No other WR got in before garbage time.

At TE, Loveland and Barner both got slightly more than half the snaps; Bredeson got a little over a dozen; Hibner got in for four. Corum and Edwards split snaps about down the middle, with a handful of two RB snaps.

[After THE JUMP: less UFR than usual]

Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M23	1	10	Offset I tight	1	2	2	4-3 even	8	Run	Counter	Corum	54
Keegan(+0.5) and Loveland(+0.5) pull and get kickouts. Hinton(+1) and Zinter(+1) clobber playside DT and Hinton climbs to a linebacker. Barner(+1) wipes another LB. Free hitter in the box freezes on counter action, RPS +1. Johnson takes off after the safety and Wilson hunts a CB; neither actually makes contact but Wilson(+0.5) does pass up a guy darting past him; they are in the way enough to make the DBs try to dance around them. Corum(+2) doesn’t have to do much until he gets to the last guy, a corner who he gives the WOOP to. Kind of think he gets a few more here if he doesn’t keep checking the pursuit.
O23	1	10	Gun 3-wide	2	1*	2	404 tite	7	Run	Reverse	Edwards	11
This doesn’t really look right, as Barnhart passes up a DE and looks for something to do and never does; Nugent then engages that DE but ineffectually; he is able to flow out; McCarthy(+0.5) is in the way as a failsafe. Zinter(-1) releases and has a linebacker cut off and then decides he can leave him; he cannot. Johnson is again shooting for the safety but the CB going with him starts either blocking or jamming him so he has no shot to get to his target. Edwards does have enough room to the corner to pick up a first down. RPS +2, first down with no positive blocks except from the QB.
O12	1	10	Pistol trips FB	1	1	3	Nickel under	6.5	Run	Arc read keeper	McCarthy	8
Arc sucks in the DE just enough because Wilson(+1) gets a moving kickout on the overhang corner. Bredeson(+2) finds a safety and pancakes him in the open field, dude. This is a TD except for a really nice play from the BGSU LB, who does not suck up into the middle on duo action and is able to track down McCarthy. RPS +1, ZR+.
O4	2	2	Pistol trips	1	2	2	4-3 under	8	Run	Split zone	Corum	4
I mean Corum has his choice here, BGSU does not set an edge at all and he can still stroll in up the gut. Barner(+2) gets a one one one DE block that drives his guy off the LOS and eventually into the endzone. Zinter(+1) gets something similar but less emphatic; Hinton(+0.5) chips a little on that guy and then gets to a LB; Nugent(+0.5) and Keegan(+0.5) handle a couple of dudes backside.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 7-0, 10 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
O43	1	10	Gun trips	1	2	2	Nickel even	6	Pass	Hitch	Johnson	13
Quick hitch to the field against bail coverage is out and there before the flat defender can react and results in excellent YAC. (CA, 3, protection 1/1, JJ +0.5, RPS +1)
O30	1	10	Ace 3-wide	1	2	2	404 tite	7.5	Run	Zone stretch	Corum	1
This is either Barner or Hinton, as the OLB outside of Barner shoots inside on the snap; Barner passes him up and Hinton is busy comboing through a DT. I think it’s Barner(-2) since DT moves left at the snap and Hinton probably has to hit him to deal with him. That OLB is upfield in a flash into Bredeson(+1), who does some heroic work to prevent a TFL. Corum has to cut back. Barnhart(+1) got a good cut on the backside end, so there is room; I think Corum(-0.5) makes a mistake but seeing the chasers and cutting away from them, directly into a DT. 3-4 was available here.
O29	2	9	Gun 2-back twins	2	1	2	4-3 even	7.5	Run	Power GT	Edwards	10
Nice to see improvement here; MLB does not commit to the power so the give is correct here even if the backside end is uncomfortably close to making the chasedown play after being unblocked. ZR+, JJ +1. Barner(+1) stalemates and eventually pancakes a LB; Keegan(+0.5) and Barnhart(+0.5) get kickouts. Hinton(+0.5) gets enough on the end, not a lot of movement. Zinter gets a virtually free second level block because of the ZR. Edwards(+1) is patient and then his explosion gets him by the DE.
O19	1	10	Gun 2TE tight	1	2	2	4-3 under	7	Pass	Out	Wilson	9
Out against off coverage is a hair low but not quite in MA territory. (CA, 2, protection 2/2, JJ +0.5)
O10	2	1	I-Form Big	1	3	1	4-3 under	8.5	Run	Counter	Edwards	1
Reasonably well blocked but this falls prey to a DT twist. M will run A-gap targeted counters like this where the puller is aiming for a guy already engaged and the force player gets wasted; here Zinter(+0.5) comes over and pops a guy Hibner is checking. Bredeson(+0.5) stalemates a LB charging; Barnhart(+0.5) climbs to the second level and gets a block, albeit one that the guy is able to shed after a bit. Keegan(+0.5) controls the guy slanting away but Nugent doesn’t really have a prayer of stopping the twist. RPS -2.
O9	1	G	Wildcat 3TE	1	3	1	4-3 under	9	Run	QB iso	Edwards	4
McCarthy motions out to WR. Bredeson(+0.5) pulls across the formation and attacks between the other two TEs, getting a second level block; Barner(+0.5) gets a yard of movement on his guy but does let him spin off the block; Hibner(+1) gets two yards of movement on the force guy who is not being force and Edwards(-0.5) should bounce this for an easy TD. Just a -0.5 because the interior looked good until Hinton(-1) did not get a second level block and that LB can pop Edwards.
O5	2	G	Gun TTB	1	2	2	4-3 under	9	Pass	Cross	Wilson	INT
Well: Barnhart(-2) beat around the corner at eight yards and McCarthy has to let this go or be sacked. Also, I do feel like the Barner Ran His Route Too Deep theory has more viability after I looked at this a bunch. Route- for Barner. There is a world where you can see a TD here where the defender is another yard or two away and the ball is a yard or two higher. But results-based charting. (INX, 0, protection 0/2, JJ -2)
Drive Notes: Interception, 7-0, 4 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M37	1	10	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	4-3 over	8	Run	Power	Edwards	2
Woof; Keegan(-2) pulls and really wants to hit the guy Hinton(+2) is blocking down on. Hinton removes the guy from the play but Keegan continues trying to hit him and there’s an unblocked LB as a result.
M39	2	8	Gun trips	1	2	2	Nickel under	6	Pass	Improv	Johnson	8
Four man rush; protection decent except Nugent is getting bulled back a bit. JJ doesn’t really have anyone, it appears, until Edwards releases; he would be a good checkdown. JJ breaks the pocket and finds Johnson at the sticks. (CA+, 3, protection 2/2, JJ +1)
M47	1	10	Ace TTE	1	2	2	4-3 over	7.5	Run	IZ counter	Corum	9
This handoff is to the weakside here and it kind of feels like the Edwards run that busted outside last week. Corum(+1) threatens out there and then cuts in as there is a stunt on that gets a DE upfield. The feint draws a LB; Nugent(+1) picks up the stunter. Barnhart(+1) and Keegan(+0.5) double and drive a DE downfield; Barner(+1) drives his guy and stays attached against various moves. Johnson is looking for the S and can’t get to him but with the huge variety of places this play could get to I don’t blame him.
O46	2	1	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel even	6.5	Run	Split zone	Corum	8
Keegan and Nugent(+0.5 each) post up a DT; Nugent looks at a LB and when he doesn’t attack a gap he sticks with the DT; Zinter(+1) adapts to a late switch and kicks a DT shooting upfield. Corum(+1) sees this and hits the gap; Wilson(+1) stalemates and then pancakes a DB. Barnhart(+0.5) climbed to the second level and got a guy.
O38	1	10	Gun 2-back twins	2	1	2	4-3 over	8	Pass	Post	Johnson	INT
Flare motion from Edwards; PA. BGSU LB blitzes. Corum(-1) tries to cut him but mostly misses and JJ’s plant leg might get hit on the throw. Hinton’s pass pro also questionable. JJ throws it to Johnson, who did not run his route to definitively cut across the DB and gets punished. I still think JJ should be able to see the hip tilt from the BGSU DB and come off Johnson and hit Wilson, but this is a shared issue. (BRX, 0, protection ½, JJ -2, Johnson route -)
Drive Notes: Interception, 7-6, 8 min 2nd Q
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M33	1	10	Pistol FB	1	2	2	4-3 under	9	Run	Counter	Corum	6
Playside OLB goes on a YOLO blitz and beats Zinter around the corner… because he misses the tackle on Corum(+0.5). Corum does have to run through an ankle tackle. Barnhart(+0.5) blocks down on a guy slanting away. Bredeson(+0.5) delivers a blow to a LB. Barner(+0.5) does the same. Keegan(+0.5) does a job on the DT; follows him downfield.
M39	2	4	Ace TTB	1	2	2	4-3 under	8.5	Run	Duo	Corum	3
Another stunt sort of gets home as all the blocking is ok. Loveland(+0.5) fires in the guy diving inside of him. Barner(+0.5) chips and moves a DE and then leaves for a LB. He has to do this; but also this allows the DE they’ve hit to loop around and grab Corum. Wilson(+0.5) got a solid edge block. I guess this isn’t an RPS because M got to third and one but the reason the blocking didn’t result in yards was the stunt.
M42	3	1	Gun 2TE tight	1	2	2	4-3 even	7	Run	Dive	Corum	3
Just four guys on the line and that’s never going to work. RPS +1.
M45	1	10	Ace TTE	1	2	2	404 tite	8.5	Pass	PA TE cross up	Loveland	12
PA; Loveland first runs across the formation before turning it up. He’s got a couple steps on the LB and is in front of the LB; JJ fires in a dart. (CA, 2, protection 2/2, JJ +1)
M33	1	10	Pistol 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel over	6.5	Pass	PA post	Wilson	33
BGSU has safeties at eight yards and is punished; they sort of have a slot guy over Wilson but it doesn’t matter. The PA affects nothing here; the safeties are always dropping with no run conflict. Doesn’t matter. Wilson(route+) gets in man against a S, sells a corner, breaks to the post no help, dead. DOA. Dead. Dead. DOA. (DO, 3, protection 2/2, JJ +1)
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 14-6, 4 min 2nd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M45	1	10	Gun 4-wide	1	1	3	Nickel even	6.5	Run	Split zone	Edwards	3
Twist from BGSU; Zinter(+1) reads it and fires the slanting DE way inside. Hinton(-2) also reads it but it looks like his leg hits Zinter’s and as he’s trying to redirect he falls over. Twist DT is able to grab Edwards as a result. Looked like 7-8 otherwise.
M48	2	7	Gun 4-wide	1	1	3	Exotic	6.5	Pass	Fly	Morris	Inc
This isn’t a stop and go or anything fancy; Morris just runs right by the coverage. Both relevant BGSU players appear to suck up on a short route to Loveland. JJ has a clean pocket and just misses; Morris lays out but can only get a hand on it. (IN, 1, protection 2/2, JJ -1)
M48	3	7	Gun trips bunch TE	1	1	3	Exotic	6	Pass	Sack	N/A	-13
Protection bust here as line sets right and Edwards goes right. Could be on Nugent; could be on Edwards. JJ tries to roll out and goes directly into a DE screaming upfield. (PR, N/A, protection 0/2, TEAM -2)
Drive Notes: Punt, 14-6, 1 min 2nd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M24	1	10	Pistol twins	1	2	2	404 tite	8.5	Run	Counter	Corum	2
Blocking fine; BGSU has three down lineman that slant away; Michigan has four OL blocking them. There is also an overhang corner who is not relevant to the play, but since they give back the blocker on the line there is still an unblocked guy in the box, who tackles. Blocking is fine; Hinton(+0.5) washes the DE down the line; Keegan(+0.5) gets a kickout; Barner(+0.5) gets a second level block, albeit one that gets shed. Bredeson(+0.5) also gets a kickout. RPS -2.
M26	2	8	Gun 2TE tight	1	2	2	4-3 even	7.5	Pass	Out	Loveland	2
Maaaan every BGSU player is within eight yards of the LOS and Michigan runs several dink routes that are all covered except maybe for Wilson. JJ apparently has a presnap read to get it to Loveland, who is immediately tackled. (CA, 3, protection 1/1, JJ push, RPS -1)
M28	3	6	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel even	6	Pass	Scramble	McCarthy	4
Morris(route-) is supposed to run a stick route to the field but weirdly chops his feet and doesn’t get in the route, then stumbles. JJ is in the motion of throwing to where he’s supposed to be and has to pull it down when he sees Morris is nowhere near being able to receive the ball. He tries to reset but Hinton’s guy spins off him and flushes him up. (Not charted, protection 2/2, JJ push)
Drive Notes: Punt, 14-6, 13 min 3rd Q
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
O2	1	G	Goal line	1	4	0	Goal line	10	Run	Down G	Corum	2
Bredeson(+1) leads it out and plows his guy into the endzone; Corum(+0.5) churns his legs on contact; Hibner(+0.5) gets enough of a downblock and Zinter(+0.5) gets a kickout.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 21-6, 12 min 3rd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
O26	1	10	Gun 2-back twins	2	1	2	4-3 even	8	Pass	Scramble	McCarthy	6 (Pen -10)
Henderson in. First play sees flare motion from Edwards and a fake block n go route from Wilson with a post from Johnson. Safety fights over the top of the Wilson route; window may be there but risky. JJ comes off of it and looks like he’s about to throw the post when a BGSU guy grabs at him and JJ flushes the pocket. Barner(-2) was beat around the corner and holds the dickens out of this guy. (SCR, N/A, protection 0/2, JJ +0.5)
O36	1	20	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	4-3 even	7	Pass	Fly	Morris	Inc
Fly route against press man; this is accurate enough that Morris has it donk off his hand; I think if he looks over his other shoulder he’s got a good shot at this. Coverage is very tight, not a whole lot of room to throw anything other than this ball. (CA, 1, protection 2/2, JJ +0.5)
O36	2	20	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	4-3 even	7	Pass	TE delay	Loveland	6
This meets some misfortune as the NT gets shoved back off of Nugent by Keegan just as JJ is throwing this; DT tips it. Loveland still catches it but the delay costs Michigan a chunk of YAC, 5-8 maybe. (MA, 3, protection 1/1)
O30	3	14	Gun 4-wide	1	1	3	Exotic	7	Run	Split zone	Edwards	6
Give up and field goal. Nugent(+1) controls and fires his man downfield with an assist from Zinter(+1) who also finds a second level block and drives his guy. Keegan(-1) gets an initial block but then gets shed and his guy collapses to tackle.
Drive Notes: FG(42), 24-6, 10 min 3rd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M39	1	10	Ace twin TE	1	2*	2	404 tite	7	Run	Duo	Corum	8
Huge gap off the left side as DE slants left and no one fills, but safeties are at eight so there’s a guy charging and Bredeson(-1) gets shed by his kickout. Corum(+1) cuts back inside. He’s got a lane there because Henderson(+1) comboed through that DE with Keegan(+0.5) and then found a second level block on a charging LB. Jones(+0.5) finds another second level block, as does Zinter(+0.5). Johnson charges for the safety; CB is able to realize this and replace as Corum’s cutback ruins Jones’s blocking angle and allows some guys to converge.
M47	2	2	I-Form	1	2*	2	4-3 even	7	Run	Power	Corum	3
Not much of a gap here as Jones(-0.5) gets stood up at the LOS and Henderson gets a guy slanting into him. Stalemate breaks with the arrival of Zinter(+0.5), who bangs into Jones’s guy and gives Corum(+0.5) a crack to burrow into. He’s able to drive out some YAC.
50	1	10	Ace twin TE	1	2*	2	4-3 under	7.5	Pass	Flea flicker	Johnson	50
Well.. again this ball should go to Wilson, who is running away from a cover 3 corner while Johnson is running into one. BGSU safety does bite in the middle of the field, so… throw it in the middle of the field. Instead JJ throws a ball that is completely accurate… and Johnson has to play defense on it. The football gods bless those who run flea-flickers, though, and Johnson comes up with it somehow. (BRX, 1, protection 2/2, JJ -3)
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 31-6, 6 min 3rd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M37	1	10	Pistol 3-wide	1	1	3	4-3 even SAM	7	Run	Duo	Edwards	8
Just Keegan(+1) and Zinter(+1) straight up whipping their guys. Barner(+0.5) does a decent job on his; Nugent and Henderson don’t really have anything to do at the LOS so they wait a bit and then go get second level blocks.
M45	2	2	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Exotic	6	Run	Power	Edwards	5
LBs drop out from LOS to LB depth on snap so they’re not firing upfield; Keegan(+0.5) gets a kick and Zinter(+1) blows in a DL slanting away for the gap. Second level is very confused; Barner(-1) checks back on the guy Keegan is kicking before releasing and never gets a block. RPS +1.
50	1	10	Pistol FB	1	2	2	4-3 even SAM	7	Run	QB power	Orji	3
Orji. Flare motion from Mullings. Henderson(-1) fired back a little and Zinter bumps into this as he tries to pull. This DT penetration makes interior lanes unappealing and Orji has to take it outside; Zinter is late because of the bump; Bredeson(+0.5) gets a hit in and Orji gets tackled by a couple free hitters.
O47	2	7	Gun TTE	1	2	2	404 tite	8.5	Run	Zone stretch	Orji	8
Slant from the DL with LBs flowing hard; Nugent(+1) turns in and seals a DL. Henderson(+0.5) gets no one immediately, then chips the guy Keegan(+0.5) dealing with; he gets to the second level. Barner(+1) gets a driving block and stays attached on a violent shed attempt; Orji(+1) is patient enough to see that block develop and hit it outside once the edge is gone, but he should hammer it up inside of Loveland to finish this play.
O39	1	10	Ace 3-wide	1	1	3	4-3 under	7	Run	Jet sweep	Morgan	5
An actual jet sweep this time with Morgan clearing the unblocked end. Barner(+0.5) gets a good kickout. Barnhart(+0.5) hits the playside LB; safety comes charging from eight yards depth and blasts Morgan(+1) at the LOS; Morgan somehow runs through this tackle. RPS -2.
O34	2	5	Gun TTE	1	2	2	4-3 over	6.5	Pass	Improv	Loveland	INT
BGSU sends six; nobody stays in to block. Probably an Edwards issue. JJ gets flushed and hurls a ball across his body as he’s nearing the sideline, which goes over Loveland and into the arms of the DB. I don’t really have a problem with the attempt here. (INX, 0, protection 0/2, Edwards -2, JJ -2)
Drive Notes: Interception, 31-6, 1 min 3rd Q. A Denegal-led three and out is the only drive remaining.

DON'T

I mean I have to.

NO BAD BLOG BOY

wow

LOOK, I'M SORRY, I JUST

No, you have to look at it now.

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

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

Think about the choices in your life that have led to this moment.

Anyway, so: it wasn't just the interceptions but also the flea-flicker, which was thrown at the wrong guy, and the overthrow to Morris before the end of the half. Thirteen passes, five of them more or less disastrous. Burn the tape, it didn't happen, etc.

I do think that there are some mitigating factors on the first one. John Duerr thought that Barner's route was off, and so did Devin Gardner and Al Borges. Neither of the latter was exactly sure what should be different—welcome to my life—but that window should be there. So you can forgive McCarthy a sped-up decision that should be right. Maybe. What's definitely not right is where the ball is:

When you're targeting the back of the endzone from the five your throw needs to be up. It shouldn't be hitting a guy five yards deep in the endzone in the facemask. Windows are small and if your WR isn't catching it above his head you're exposing yourself to possibilities like this. Therefore I INX'd this but only made it a –2.

Interception #2 is similar, in that JJ made a mistake but I think in another situation it's fine. Seth was right on the podcast when he said that he felt like Johnson gave up on his route:

He has a CB playing inside leverage on him and it seems like he thinks "oh, this ball is going to Wilson." Wilson is running the same route and you can see him cut across the DB more definitively. Johnson should at least be in position to make this an incompletion. But also, Johnson is not open and Wilson is; no matter what the read order is on this play the ball should be going to Mr Meep Meep in acres of space against a safety.

McCarthy made an identical mistake on the flea-flicker. One of these WRs is running away from a cover 3 corner and past a run-conflicted safety; the other is running into a cover 3 corner. The throw is actually perfect.

It's just to the wrong guy.

The final Very Bad Thing:

I think this throw might have been influenced by McCarthy's previous one, which was the 33-yard TD to Roman Wilson. That was in the middle o the field, where it's easier to hit guys because of geometry. So throwing a rope is reasonable. Sideline ropes 30 yards downfield have less margin for error, and you have to put some air under it.

This concludes JJ McCarthy Makes You Feel Bad.

I feel bad. Help.

I mean?

And also?

It'll be fine?

I might have something to say.

Okay.

Doesn't it feel like McCarthy should more or less always be prioritizing Roman Wilson?

Well, Bolded Alter-Ego… I don't think you're wrong. Wilson is getting the easier matchups against safeties, and usually those safeties are going to be the ones that are affected by play action. He's a 4.3 guy, and while I think Cornelius Johnson is pretty good it seems like Wilson is always, always open.

Can I show you something that might feel better?

Ok. Yes. Ok.

Here is a chart.

Offensive Line
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Barnhart	4.5		+4.5	I mean ok.
Keegan	6.5	3	+3.5	One real bad play, otherwise Keegin' it.
Nugent	4		+4	Solid, did some grading.
Zinter	9	1	+8	In a slim number of snaps.
Hinton	4.5	3	+1.5	Inconsistent. But ok?
Jones	0.5	0.5	0	Eh
Henderson	1.5	1	+0.5	Too little data so I make big.
El-Hadi				DNC
Crippen				DNC
Bredeson	6.5	1	+5.5	Tenemos fullback.
Barner	9	3	+6	When not blocking stretch, a dude.
Loveland	1		+1	Proper distribution.
Hibner	1.5		+1.5	In some three TE sets.
Mullings				DNC
TOTAL	48.5	11.5	81%	Kablang.
Backs
Player	+	-	T	Notes
McCarthy	0.5		+0.5	A Scramble.
Orji	1		+1	They chanted his name.
Tuttle				DNP
Corum	6.5	0.5	+6	There you are, Peter, of the week.
Edwards	1	0.5	+0.5	Apparently did not take contact in fall, shows.
Mullings				DNC
Stokes				DNC
TOTAL	9	1	+8	Engines revving.
Receivers
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Johnson				DNC
Wilson	3		+3	Emphatic pancake(?!?) again?
Morris				DNC
Clemons				DNC
English				DNC
Moore				DNC
TOTAL	3		+3	Little better, still a problem.
Metrics
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Protection	20	9	69%	-2 TEAM, –2 Barnhart, –2 Edwards, –2 Barner, –1 Corum
RPS	7	7	+0	MEH

Feeling a bit more chipper?

Run ball good?

Yes, run ball good. Michigan kicked things off with some good ol' counter, ripping off a 54-yarder:

Freeze the extra man in the box with the counter action, block everyone, hooray it's Blake Corum against a safety and that usually ends with the safety grasping for what's left of his sanity after a man became a rabbit and then became a man again. The blocking was consistently excellent; when things did not come off it was usually BGSU being +1 in the box or having their safeties within ten yards of the line of scrimmage. Michigan went back to counter on the first play of the second half; the blocking was the same result but the LB did not get frozen by the action. Result:

I'm not super concerned about Michigan not putting all their whiz-bang linebacker destruction devices on film against BGSU; I merely mention it because when you're playing these bodybag games with a restricted playbook sometimes you're just going to eat the extra hat at the LOS. The blocking is good.

Also helpful: stretch got shelved. I want to draw a contrast between the counter play and the one stretch Michigan ran before Orji got in briefly. The counter is a bunch of guys knowing what they should do and doing it; the stretch features either Barner or Hinton—I thought it was Barner—with an oops:

TE #89 inline to top

I think he thinks "stretch, anyone inside me is not my problem," because Hinton should pick him up; Hinton's got a DL slanting towards him and Zinter is likely boned unless he gets that chip. It just takes one guy.

This has been the consistent theme on stretch this year. Someone doesn't know what they should be doing against whatever game the defense is running, and it only takes one guy. Here Michigan gets a little bailed out by Max Bredeson giving that guy the business after he busts through the line, but even if Corum does maximize this on the backside it's 4-5 yards based on a cut block from Barnhart and Bredeson picking up a +1. This is no way to live when you can murderball your way downfield.

Wide receiver blocking was okay?

It was not particularly relevant. Let's go back to the counter:

WR #6 to bottom, WR #1 to top.

BGSU spent a lot of time showing press and bailing into cover three. Whether it was man or zone those corners did not have run responsibility, so Michigan WRs spent a lot of time running at the BGSU safeties. If the corner realizes what's happening and falls off, fine, he's trying to redirect and tackle Blake Corum. Also he is a cornerback.

So on the counter Johnson hauls for the deep S. Wilson tries to crack the guy lined up at five yards, realizes he can't, and then goes to annoy the cover 3 corner. This removed almost all chances for WRs to get a play crunched at the line of scrimmage. This isn't going to work against everyone—hello Indiana, corner blitz capital of the world—and judgment should be reserved. This is an ask again later situation. Nothing got worked out here.

Looks like some things got worked out, though?

Barner and Bredeson both got work done as run blockers. I charged Barner with the –2 on the stretch; other than that he was near flawless. Bredeson was excellent as well. He was authoritative on kickouts, moved guys as a lead blocker, and even got some tough open-field blocks. This is a pancake of a safety in space:

FB #44

This is our Block of the Week.

The next play Barner put a DE in the endzone:

TE #89 inline to top

This has been very consistent over the last two weeks. I have plenty of clips of Barner getting a yard of depth on a DE, controlling him. Then when the DE attempts to shed or flow, Barner stays attached and drives.

TE #89 inline to top

Dude is sticky. We'll see if it stands up against better competition. Early returns are good that Barner is going to be more than a TE who gets in the way. FWIW, Barner and Bredeson were in a dead heat with Zinter for top run block score this week on PFF. Keegan was a 72. We're watching this owlishly to see if these things continue to make sense.

RPS was even. Problem?

No, this game was an exhibition, basically. I did have one tactical thing. I am increasingly intrigued by the two-headed giant package. Okay yes we can run a reverse off of it:

This is a small bonus, having your reverse go to Donovan Edwards. I'd hope they use Edwards in the slot as just your average slot receiver to make this look something other than the Calvin Bell memorial Look Ma The Reverse Formation; they undoubtedly will.

What perks the ears up more is something they returned to after McCarthy messed up a read last week. Putting one of the two backs in that flare motion and threatening the triple option is going to be brutal, especially if Michigan has some extra things up their sleeve. Here McCarthy reads a frozen linebacker and correctly gives it to Edwards, who uses the lane on the free second level block to pick up a nice gain:

BG LB on the 25 closer to bottom of screen

The only thing better than a linebacker moving in the wrong direction is a linebacker not moving at all. I want to see where this goes. Michigan does not need to have one guy block for the other because putting Corum or Edwards in motion to the flat is going to draw serious attention.

Henderson szn?

The way the tackles are working out continues to mystify. Hinton was fine, and he got pulled. I didn't see much that was egregious from Hinton. He's certainly improved from week one, and what issues I found were generally minor, like not quite getting a second level block:

RT #78

He did not lunge and fall over like last week, with one solitary exception towards the end of the first half:

RT #78

That was a –2 but also it looks like he trips over Zinter's legs so it's maybe just one of those things. But you'd better believe that if you're an OL and your butt hits the turf like that, the coaching staff notices. That may have been a precipitating factor for the substitution.

He occasionally offset that by donkeying a guy like last week. This play doesn't go anywhere because I think it's intended to go in the A gap—that play where a blocker "blocks down" on a DL and then the puller blasts him to create a gap away from where the linebackers are on a defense that's playing to spill power. But the reason is that Keegan doesn't adjust to the fact that Hinton crushed the guy:

RT #78

That's going to the safety if Keegan kicks the LB out.

Meanwhile Henderson did not have a ton of opportunity to establish himself as clearly superior. He had one nice combo block…

LT #73 inside of Trente Jones

…but gave that plus back by getting shot into the backfield on a power play:

LT #73

I'm assuming he starts this week since they put him in front of the media, but I've been wrong about what Michigan's going to do with guys at every opportunity so fade me.

Receivers?

Not as nice of a chart this week.

	THIS WEEK					THIS YEAR
Player	Uncb	Circus	Tough	Routine		Uncb	Circus	Tough	Routine
Johnson		1/1		2/2		2	1/1	2/2	10/10
Wilson	1		1/1	1/1		1	0/3	3/3	9/9
Morris		0/2					0/2		3/3
Moore						2		1/1	1/1
Clemons									1/1
Morgan
O'Leary
Loveland			1/1	2/2				1/1	7/7
Barner						1			1/1
Bredeson									1/1
Hibner
Beetham
Corum									4/4
Edwards									5/5
Mullings
Hall
Stokes

Routes: Wilson +, Johnson –, Morris –, Barner –.

These are two of the more consequential route minuses since UFR has been charting. On the bright side, Michigan does not have an incompletion on a routine or tough catch this year.

Heroes?

Pretty much everyone throwing a block. Corum.

Maybe not so heroic?

Well… yeah, JJ McCarthy.

What does it mean for Rutgers and beyond?

Nothing for JJ McCarthy. Memory hole it. Never happened.

Backstreet's back? Corum looks like he's about ready to crush heads. Moving away from stretch revitalized the ground game. Experimental preseason time is over.

I still don't get tackle stuff. I'd have played Henderson in game two like expected and probably wouldn't have pulled Hinton early in this one.

Barner and Bredeson could be the secret weapon. Have to see them against higher level competition but both guys did about as well as you can over the past two weeks.

Throw it to Wilson. He's open.