yes plz
Upon Further Review: Offense vs Eastern Michigan
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Formation notes: I usually don't try to determine what personnel the opponent has on the field because it's nearly impossible and the TV announcer men never tell you. So EMU may have just run the same sets of folks out there the whole game, I don't know. I do know that I dubbed this the "nickel" look:
The guy over the slot receiver there is in man. This would normally leave only six in the box but EMU would walk a safety up, as you can see. The "base 4-3" is basically this with the linebackers slid over and EMU in a two-deep shell. Why would Ron English do this against a high powered spread run offense? I don't know. Ask Armanti Edwards YES I'M STILL A LITTLE BITTER.
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | TE | RB | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M49 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 4-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone read stretch | Brown | 30 | |
| This basically never happened last year no matter how much Michigan tried: this is an outside zone that gets outside the tackle. When that happens it's nice play by the tackle in question, so +1 for Huyge. Also excellent work by Molk(+1) to seal the playside DT—reach block—and Koger(+1) to crush the OLB to the playside. Brown has huge space, darts into the secondary, and is on his way to six points when a diving safety manages to trip him up from behind. | ||||||||||||
| O21 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 4-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 4-3 | Pass | Bubble screen | Odoms | Inc | |
| With EMU not directly over the slots this is open, though there's a chance a crappy block by the outside WR ends this play near the LOS. We never find out, though, as Forcier throws it way high. (IN, 0, screen) | ||||||||||||
| O21 | 2 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back | 0 | 2 | 3 | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone read stretch | Brown | 4 | |
| Ortmann(-1) fails to cut the backside DT and the playside guy is slanting really hard; Molk eventually does get a seal but it's too late for there to be a crease. The hard slant opened up a cutback lane and Schilling(+1) cut the MLB to ribbons, so Brown's got a lane he takes. The backside DT tackles from behind. | ||||||||||||
| O17 | 3 | 6 | Shotgun empty | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 4-3 | Run | QB draw | Forcier | -3 | |
| Eastern waiting for it, blitzing right into it. Forcier can't make the blitzer miss and loses three. Their rock, our scissors. | ||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: FG(37), 3-0, 10 min 1st Q. | ||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | TE | RB | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | |
| M40 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun trips | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone read inside | Brown | 6 | |
| Maybe? This could just be a quick read; I'm not great at differentiating inside and outside zone plays. Anyway, the backside DT gets playside of Ortmann but it doesn't matter much because EMU is not running a scrape exchange and the DE, pulled upfield, leaves a big cutback lane for Brown. He takes it, slashing upfield and into a couple of linebackers for a good gain. Help here from experts and laity requested. | ||||||||||||
| M46 | 2 | 4 | Shotgun empty | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 4-3 | Pass | Bubble screen | Grady(19) | 3 | |
| Hard-charging EMU corner forces Grady to cut it up inside of Webb, who does a good job blocking the guy. Grady's got a choice between slamming it upfield for a first down and not much more or trying to pop it outside for lots. He picks the latter and gets taken down; mistake on his part. (CA, 3, screen) | ||||||||||||
| M49 | 3 | 1 | I-Form covered twins | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 4-3 | Run | Off tackle (Down G) | Brown | 14 | |
| Oooh, look, a pulling guard. This is our version of that EMU play, I believe. EMU's playing this pretty soft, with both safeties relatively far back and the linebackers off the LOS. They are trying to slant inside and Michigan catches them with an off tackle play. Huyge(+2) gets an excellent downfield block and Webb(+1) seals away the slanting DL, leaving Grady and Schilling on the edge against one EMU player; Grady(+1) takes him out. Brown makes a quick cut upfield into lots of space. Huyge's block is really excellent. | ||||||||||||
| O37 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 4-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone read stretch | Minor | 13 | |
| Michigan again gets outside the tackle, so give Ortmann +1 and another +1 for Molk, who sealed his guy on a reach. Second level blocks from Schilling and Ferrara are good; Huyge manages to push his guy past Minor as the trio comes together a few yards downfield and Minor runs through the traffic for another first down. First time I've seen Michigan get outside the tackles consistently in the RR era. | ||||||||||||
| O24 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun trips | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone read inside | Minor | 5 | |
| Virtual replay of the earlier Brown run where EMU slants hard to the playside, leaving a cutback lane because they're not scraping. | ||||||||||||
| O19 | 2 | 5 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone read inside | Minor | 3 | |
| Here Molk(-1) gets blown back into the backfield as the playside DT gets an outstanding jump. Minor's forced to cut up way inside of where he wants to go, and the timing of the play is blown up. Only reason this isn't a bigger loss is that Michigan down-blocked with Ferrara and pulled Huyge around him to get to the second level, so there was no pursuing backside DT this time. Shows some faith in Huyge to expect him to be agile enough to make this block. | ||||||||||||
| O16 | 3 | 2 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 4-3 | Pass | Rollout hitch | Grady(19) | 11 | |
| Zone read fake with Schilling pulling out to provide some pass protection on Forcier's rollout. He delays the backside DE, giving Forcier time to zip an accurate bullet to Grady for eight or so plus a little YAC. (CA+, 3, protection 1/1) | ||||||||||||
| O5 | 1 | G | Shotgun 2-back | 0 | 2 | 3 | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone read stretch | Brown | -4 | |
| On Forcier, I think, as the EMU DE sells out on the stretch, as does the rest of the defense. A keeper has Forcier 1-on-1 with a linebacker and is either a touchdown or close to it. EMI has thrown eight guys at this and it's pretty well blown up; if I had to finger one blocker I think it's Ferrara(-1), who got blown back and allowed the backside pursuit to be relevant when Brown tried to cut back | ||||||||||||
| O9 | 2 | G | Ace 4-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 4-3 | Run | Off tackle | Brown | 9 | |
| Michigan might have gotten away with one as Huyge moves what looks like a fraction early. He downblocks the DT, blowing him off the ball (head start probably helped); the unblocked DE gets confused by a Grady end-around fake, opening up a lane for Brown that he runs straight up into, getting chopped down just as he crosses the goal line. | ||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Touchdown, 10-3, 2 min 1st Q. | ||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | TE | RB | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | |
| M31 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back | 0 | 2 | 3 | Base 4-3 | Pass | PA Corner | Odoms | 26 | |
| Michigan's trying to take advantage of the EMU linebacker on Odoms and running routes on him as he's in man coverage. This coverage is actually pretty good but Forcier lays it in there and Odoms makes a tough catch along the sideline. Excellent execution except maybe on the route. Odoms should be more open than this. (DO, 2, protection 1/1) | ||||||||||||
| O43 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 4-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone read keeper | Forcier | 2 | |
| EMU shows cover one, so there are seven in the box. Forcier reads the crashing DE and pulls it and Huyge's out to block the WLB. Forcier doesn't read that aspect of the play and takes it too far outside. Slicing upfield immediately would have gotten him into the secondary one-on-one with a single safety; instead his outside angle allows the WLB to come around Huyge and tackle for little gain. | ||||||||||||
| O41 | 2 | 8 | ??? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Pass | Hitch? | Hemingway | 7 | |
| Miss this entire play for a replay of the last one. Here's a guess from memory: (CA, 3, protection 1/1) | ||||||||||||
| O34 | 3 | 1 | Ace | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4-3 under | Run | Inside zone | Shaw | 22 | |
| Poor job by Ferrara(-1) of sealing his guy to the outside; he just gets beat, which means the hole Schilling(+1) blew open by crushing the other DT is not open. Shaw(+2) cuts back into an unblocked safety, then makes him look stupid. Damn that kid is fast. Steps out, barely, or this is a touchdown. | ||||||||||||
| O12 | 1 | 10 | Ace | 2 | 1 | 2 | Base 4-3 | Run | Inside zone | Shaw | 7 | |
| Extremely aggressive by EMU, with nine guys in the box. A similar result to the last play except with all the guys jamming the LOS the lack of creases is understandable. Shaw again goes backside, picking up good blocks from Ortmann and one of the TEs—can't make out who—before the ninth guy, unblocked on the backside, tracks him down from behind. | ||||||||||||
| O5 | 2 | 3 | I-Form covered twins | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 under | Run | Down G | Shaw | 5 | |
| Same play as the earlier I-form, with Schilling pulling around as everyone else blocks down. EMU SLB must be in man on Koger or something because he runs himself a couple steps inside when Koger blocks down, which just about takes him out of the play. Koger and Huyge crush the playside DE; Grady(+1) blasts the SLB, taking another linebacker out with him, and Schilling picks off a filling safety; Shaw into the endzone. | ||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Touchdown, 17-10, 9 min 2nd Q. | ||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | TE | RB | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | |
| M10 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone counter dive | Brown | 90 | |
| You know this play, as it's been discussed in Picture Pages. Michigan runs it again, with Webb(+1) kicking out the DE, Schilling(+1) pancaking the DT, Ortmann and Molk(+1 each) getting solid second-level blocks on the EMU LBs. One EMU safety is charging to the line on a scrape exchange with the DE and the other one heads outside a bit in anticipation of a stretch. Maybe the latter guy recovers against Brandon Minor, but not against Brown. Woop. Gone. | ||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Touchdown, 24-10, 7 min 2nd Q. OH NOES THE TIME OF POSSESSION. Robinson gets the next drive. | ||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | TE | RB | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | |
| M13 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel | Pass | Throwback screen | Mathews | Inc | |
| Great playcall that drags nine EMU defenders to Robinson's side and is one Schilling block on a safety from being six points. Robinson's throw is way outside and high though; instead of leading Mathews back inside where the corner can get walled off by Ortmann he throws a pass that's too high to catch and too outside for the corner to get blocked. (IN, 1, screen) | ||||||||||||
| M13 | 2 | 10 | Shotgun 4-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel | Run | QB draw | Robinson | 11 | |
| EMU has adjusted and is now dedicating a player to the slot receiver and walking up a safety. Robinson reaction? Also why the hell couldn't English figure this out against Armanti Edwards? One thing English hasn't figured out: aggression. All three LBs sit back and wait for the play to come to them; easy double for Schilling and Molk gets the playside DT out of the picture and Shaw(+1) pops the MLB, springing Robinson into the secondary. Robinson impressively drives for an extra three or so yards. BONUS: WMU replay sees color guy compliment Robinson for—no foolies—having the “headiness to pick the ball up.” | ||||||||||||
| M24 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 4-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel | Run | Zone read stretch | Shaw | -1 | |
| Mplk(-1) driven back by the DT and Ortmann(-1) also gives ground, forcing Shaw to cut it up into a linebacker who Schilling can't block because the players in the backfield have robbed him of his angle. | ||||||||||||
| M23 | 2 | 11 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel | Pass | Rollout corner | Odoms | Inc | |
| Man coverage on the receivers; Odoms gives a good shimmy to the inside, getting the corner to turn his hips and breaking himself open outside. Robinson lays it in excellently; Odoms bobbles it and on replay the play comes back. (CA+, 3, protection 1/1) Ugh. On replay, this is a dodgy overturn. It looks like Odoms secures the ball and still has a foot down. CONSPIRACY | ||||||||||||
| M23 | 3 | 11 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel | Pass | Post | Odoms | Int | |
| Live I thought this was a horrible decision; it's not. Odoms is two steps inside the defender and a step past him with no deep safety. If this ball is on the money it's a touchdown, but it's way short, undercut, and intercepted. (IN, 0, protection 2/2) | ||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Interception, 24-10, 4 min 2nd Q. Well... if you want to look at the bright side, if Robinson ever completes a pass it'll go for huge yardage because the defense is freaking out about him. | ||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | TE | RB | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | |
| M31 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel | Pass | PA TE flat | -- | -9 | |
| Ends in a sack as EMU is shooting a safety towards the line of scrimmage to cover the TE (was he the contain on a scrape?) and he's covered despite the man coverage that would normally see him burst open. Playside LB is charging hard, forcing Forcier to hold up and attempt to reverse field. He's surrounded and sacked. Interesting note: Brown was wide open on a wheel finishing his route here. Wonder if we see that added where Forcier pulls up on the rollout and hits that on a throwback. Forcier(-2) fumbles, BTW. (TA, 0, protection N/A) | ||||||||||||
| M22 | 2 | 19 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel | Run | Zone counter dive | Brown | 14 | |
| Same play as the touchdown; this one is a great example of the scrape backer running himself out of the play and giving the tailback huge room. Safety takes a better angle this time and prevents another touchdown. | ||||||||||||
| M36 | 3 | 5 | Shotgun empty | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel | Pass | Hitch | Webb | 4 | |
| Either Webb's got to run this past the sticks or Forcier has to look at the guy on a hitch right next to him who's open for two more yards and a first down. (CA, 3, protection 1/1) | ||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 24-17, 1 min 2nd Q. | ||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | TE | RB | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | |
| M25 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel | Pass | Slant | Stonum | 10 | |
| Our zone-read-bubble-fake-to-slant play, which gets Stonum open for a nice gain. Good timing, good catch. (CA, 3, protection 1/1) | ||||||||||||
| M35 | 1 | 10 | I-Form 3-wide | 0 | 2 | 3 | Nickel | Run | Zone counter dive | Brown | 7 | |
| This is a modified form of the dive play that Brown took for 90 earlier with Grady(+1) functioning as the H-back and an end-around threat from Grady(er...) supposed to hold any potential scraper outside. This is M beating the EMU coaches, as the playside EMU DT is slanting away from the hole and gets blasted downfield by Schilling(+1). Good downfield blocks from Molk and Ortmann help; good safety fill holds this down somewhat. | ||||||||||||
| M42 | 2 | 3 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone read stretch | Brown | 3 | |
| Seven guys in the box and a blitzing corner—aggressive run D—to the stretch side. Molk(+1) manages to get his reach block on the playside DT; Brown has a hole to shoot up into but I think he's trying to take it outside the tackle, which has been closed off by the CB blitz, and he's a little late hitting it, allowing the crashing DE to tackle from behind. Momentum takes them forward and to the first down. | ||||||||||||
| M45 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 4-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 4-3 | Pass | Tunnel screen | Mathews | Inc | |
| Excellent play by the DE to the playside to avoid a cut from Huyge(-1) and leap in the passing lane, forcing Forcier to throw it high and uncatchable. Poor downfield block from Koger would have seen this blown up anyway. I'm filing this as a TA since it could have gone a lot worse and I'm giving Forcier the benefit of the doubt. (TA, 0, protection 0/1, Huyge) | ||||||||||||
| M45 | 2 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel | Pass | Fly | Stonum | Inc | |
| Great protection; Forcier loads up and tosses it to Stonum, who does have a step on his guy. Forcier leaves it short. I'm grabbing this just so people can maybe talk about Stonum's adjustment to this. I think it's poor. He misjudges the ball and doesn't slow up enough and turn, which would probably have led to the DB running him over and a PI call. Mike Floyd catches this, right? (MA, 1, protection 3/3) | ||||||||||||
| M45 | 3 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 4-3 | Pass | Sack | -- | ||
| EMU gets a delayed, looping blitz and drops into an effective zone on the short side, where Forcier's first read is. Neither the slant nor the wheel is open, so Forcier hesitates, at which point the blitzer is on him. Time to take the sack, and he does. (TA, 0, protection 1/3, team -2) | ||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 24-17, 13 min 2nd Q. | ||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | TE | RB | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | |
| M47 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back | 0 | 2 | 3 | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone read stretch | Shaw | -1 | |
| Molk(-1) gets blown back and into the running lane, forcing a cutback into the crashing DE and no gain. Bubble was open, FWIW. | ||||||||||||
| M46 | 2 | 11 | Shotgun 2-back | 0 | 2 | 3 | Nickel | Run | Zone read keeper | Forcier | 3 | |
| Forcier pulls it out and runs into the scraping WLB near the LOS. He heads outside and manages to pick up a few. | ||||||||||||
| M49 | 3 | 8 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel | Pass | Seam | Webb | Inc | |
| Weird camera angle so I can't tell you much. Webb gets hit between the numbers, though, for easy first down yardage, and drops it. (CA+, 3, protection 2/2) | ||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 24-17, 10 min 3rd Q. | ||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | TE | RB | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | |
| M40 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back Twins | 1 | 2 | 2 | Base 4-3 | Run | Inside zone | Brown | 4 | |
| This is something different, with Michigan shooting the FB backside but apparently intending this to go more up the center, possibly into the A gap between C and G on the strongside. Schilling and Ortmann are doubling the backside DT but can get him to the ground and he dives over Schilling to tackle Brown; Brown could have taken this outside, maybe, but wasn't expecting the DT. | ||||||||||||
| M44 | 2 | 6 | Shotgun 2-back Twins | 1 | 2 | 2 | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone read stretch | Brown | 3 | |
| Koger pushed too far back to take it outside; Molk gets a seal and Huyge/Ferrara scoop the playside DE; so Brown's got a crease. Lot of guys in a small area, though, and Huyge(-1) actually gets blown back on his attempt to block a LB downfield, so not much room. | ||||||||||||
| M47 | 3 | 3 | Shotgun 4-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel | Pass | Scramble | Forcier | 20 | |
| Excellent protection gives Forcier some time and then a lane to step up into when he can't find anyone open downfield. With EMU in man Forcier recognizes the tons of space and just takes off. (TA, NA, protection 2/2) | ||||||||||||
| O33 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 4-3 | Pass | Bubble screen | Odoms | 7 | |
| Been wondering why they haven't gone to this a little more when EMU shows it's open. Here they do and Forcier takes the simple play. (CA, 3, screen) Good block from Stonum. | ||||||||||||
| O26 | 2 | 3 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel | Run | Zone counter dive | Shaw | 18 | |
| Man, we're just gashing people on this all the time. Wonder how it will hold up during Big Ten play. Pretty much the same thing: TE pulls and blows out the crashing DE, line downblocks, and the scrape backer pulls himself out of position. Shaw zips into the secondary and puts a sick, sick move on the safety that doesn't result in a touchdown because the safety reaches out and manages to get a desperate handful of jersey. Robbed of a TD. I like that Shaw tries to juke these guys; seems like Brown and Minor just run into 'em. | ||||||||||||
| O8 | 1 | G | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel | Run | Zone read stretch | Shaw | 0 | |
| Ortmann(-1) lets his guy way upfield and forces a cutback; Huyge couldn't do anything to impede the backside DT and he and the backside DT converge to tackle. | ||||||||||||
| O8 | 2 | G | I-Form 3-wide | 2 | 0 | 3 | Nickel | Penalty | False start | Schilling | Pen -5 | |
| Multiple guys move, actually. | ||||||||||||
| O13 | 2 | G | Shotgun 2-back | 2 | 0 | 3 | Nickel | Run | Reverse | Odoms | 13 | |
| Odoms comes across the formation as M shows a speed option look. He gets the pitch. Backside guys are the DE, who is crashing and just gone, the WLB, who Savoy(+1) crushes, and two members of the secondary that Ortmann and Grady take care of. Odoms sets up his blocks well and cruises into the endzone. | ||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Touchdown, 31-17, 4 min 3rd Q. | ||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | TE | RB | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | |
| O21 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel | Pass | PA rollout | -- | Inc | |
| Zone read fake an a rollout on which Forcier is contained and needs to get rid of the ball. He's got a little out for at least four and maybe more if Grady(19) can beat the guy in man on him, but instead of throwing it he starts running around, eventually getting crushed as he attempts to throw it way. Filing this as a mild bad read. (BR, 0, protection NA) | ||||||||||||
| O21 | 2 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone counter dive | Brown | 8 | |
| Robinson in. Ferrara(+1) blasts the DT down the line, Webb(+1) again pops the crashing DL, and the linebackers 1) follow Webb in man, 2) attempt to scrape on Robinson, and 3) shuffle anticipating a stretch. Brown into the secondary; quick safety fill. | ||||||||||||
| O13 | 3 | 2 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 4-3 | Run | QB draw | Robinson | 13 | |
| Not sure if this is improvisation or misdirection as Brown shoots up towards the right side of the line, which draws some linebackers from that side but the hole opens up on the left; Robinson sees it and jets, moving too fast to be seen or caught. Good blocks from Molk(+1) and Schilling(+1) to open the crease. | ||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Touchdown, 38-17, 3 min 3rd Q. | ||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | TE | RB | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | |
| M5 | 1 | 10 | Ace twins | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4-3 under | Run | Inside zone | Shaw | 5 | |
| Good read from Shaw as the backside DT slants too heavily and the DE to that side is sealed away; he hits it up. He should probably try to go between the linebackers, who both have blockers on them, but heads outside and is chopped down by CB pursuit. | ||||||||||||
| M10 | 2 | 5 | Ace | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4-3 under | Run | Inside zone | Shaw | -2 | |
| Nowhere to go as both Schilling(-1) and Ferrara get banged back and Koger(-1) slips. Shaw runs into Schilling's back and goes down. | ||||||||||||
| M12 | 3 | 7 | Shotgun 2-back | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 under | Run | Pass | Fly | Mathews | |
| Safe either get the first down or punt stuff. Borderline interference, way way worse than the Cissoko one, but not called. (CA, 0, protection 2/2). Actually, yeah, this is totally interference as the CB is riding Mathews to the sideline. | ||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 38-17, 8 min 4th Q. | ||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | TE | RB | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | |
| O46 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 4-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone stretch | Smith | 10 | |
| DL again slants into the backfield, leaving Smith nowhere to go. Smith should get crushed by the backside DE but zips around him and to the outside where Robinson gets a block on an OLB and springs Smith for a good gain. | ||||||||||||
| O36 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 4-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 4-3 | Run | QB draw | Robinson | 36 | |
| Weeeee. Double on the NT drives him back and blitzing linebackers attempt to fill both holes; Smith(+1) gets a pad-popping block on one and Robinson shoots into the secondary, where he is not caught because obviously. | ||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Touchdown, 47-17, 7 min 4th Q. All backups for the rest of the game so charting stops here. Robinson's bomb is filed IN 0 and is at Roundtree. Here's Cox's run, though. | ||||||||||||
We kind of sucked, couldn't complete a forward pass, and still put up 45 points on an opponent. Woo spread 'n' shred?
Woo spread 'n' shred. The last time Michigan rushed for that many yards was the 2003 Houston game that preceded the 38-0 shellacking of Ty Willingham and ND that saw the student section chant "Houston's better" at the Irish, which latter point I bring up for no reason whatsoever. Remember this?
Before the Ohio State game I mentioned a remarkable statistic: in this year of safeties living in the box and injuries and a makeshift offensive line and just all-around disaster on offense, Michigan actually had a higher yards per carry than they did the year before.
!!!
It was close, though, and Ohio State stomped that. Michigan finished the year averaging 3.91 YPC. 2007 beat that out by six hundredths of a yard. Okay, that's still pretty remarkable. Here's a pop quiz: where does that YPC rank over the past eight years?
# Year YPC 1 2006 4.27 2 2003 4.25 3 2007 3.97 4 2008 3.91 5 2005 3.89 6 2004 3.83 7 2002 3.82 8 2001 3.59 Fourth! Above average!
Through three games, Michigan is obliterating every mark on that list by more than a full two yards. They're currently cranking out 6.39 YPC. Yes, two of those games were against MAC opponents and the third was against the nation's #74 rush defense, one that would rank considerably worse if they were going by YPC, etc etc etc. And yes that number is going to come down precipitously as Michigan churns through Big Ten play.
But the question here isn't "will this be Michigan's best rushing offense of the decade?" It's "by how much will this be Michigan's best rushing offense of the decade?" Here's another handy—
Chart?
—chart I put together for Hail To the Victors 2008 comparing the rushing offenses of West Virginia, Northwestern, and Michigan over the same timespan:
| Year | West Virginia | Northwestern | Michigan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YPC | Nat'l Rank | YPC | Nat'l Rank | YPC | Nat'l Rank | |
| 2001 | 4.19 | 36th | 4.1 | 45th | 3.59 | 78th |
| 2002 | 5.16 | 8th | 4.31 | 39th | 3.82 | 66th |
| 2003 | 4.6 | 19th | 4.65 | 18th | 4.25 | 44th |
| 2004 | 5.14 | 9th | 4.64 | 26th | 3.83 | 68th |
| 2005 | 5.23 | 11th | 5.03 | 14th | 3.89 | 57th |
| 2006 | 6.68 | 1st | 4.04 | 52nd | 4.27 | 42nd |
| 2007 | 6.15 | 1st | 3.61 | 85th | 3.97 | 61st |
Northwestern ran the exact same offense Rodriguez did and crushed Michigan in YPC every year until Randy Walker's untimely death and Northwestern's ensuing descent into disarray. Four of Northwestern's seven marks on this list would be Michigan's best rushing year in the 21st century, and they never had the luxury of playing their own generally-horrible defense. Leap. This is it. The leap.
Okay, woo spread 'n' shred is stipulated. But how, exactly, is Michigan doing this?
I've beaten one aspect into the ground over the first month of the season: Michigan has devised a suite of highly effective counters to the scrape exchange that exploit the opponent's over-reaction to the frontside and backside of the play to gash defenses not quite right up the middle but slightly to the left or right of the middle.
The other bits are an extension of what was happening at the tail end of last year, when Michigan's run game went from abysmal against Not Notre Dame to above average. The line learned their assignments better and stopped being such a sieve. Brandon Minor RAGED his way into the starting lineup and blasted through tackles instead of meekly submitting to them. The quarterbacks… uh… were the quarterbacks. So this year you've got a pair of senior tailbacks and and improved, non-gimpy version of Mike Shaw. You've got a line of veterans, though Molk's injury will provide some drag over the next 4-6 weeks. And you've got a pair of quarterbacks who either add to the YPC themselves (Robinson) or force opposing defenses to stop selling out against the run (Forcier). A reminder: over the second half of last year Michigan's rushing offense was about 30th nationally. The leap up to third is a fluke of scheduling and fortune, but once it settles down in the 10-20 range it's likely to stay there.
Surely you have more charts?
Charts, but they're not very useful since all the offensive charts focus on the passing game.
(Hennechart again; MA is "marginal", screen results are in parens.)
TATE FORCIER
| Opponent | DO | CA | MA | IN | BR | TA | BA | PR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Michigan | 2 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | - | 3 |
| Notre Dame | 5 | 20 (6) | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | - | 4 |
| Eastern Michigan | 1 | 8 (2) | 1 | 1 (1) | 1 | 4 (1) | - | - |
DENARD ROBINSON
| Opponent | DO | CA | MA | IN | BR | TA | BA | PR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Michigan | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | - | - | - |
| Eastern Michigan | - | 1 | 1 (1) | 2 (1) | - | - | - | - |
Forcier was just 7 of 13 for 68 yards but his chart isn't too bad. Our Downfield Success Rate is 7 / 11 = 64%, which is about on par with what he's been doing so far, and one of those TAs (throwaways) was actually a 20-yard scramble. Forcier did zing a screen high, though.
Robinson… well. I don't actually think he made any bad decisions, he just made bad throws. On both of his interceptions he had guys running open downfield and left the ball way, way short. And he did mess up a tunnel screen throw that would have been vast yardage if he'd gotten it right. And the did lay a pretty pass in to Martavious Odoms only to see Odoms juggle it and (eventually) drop it. But I am searching for a bunch of excuses for an 0/4 2 INT day.
Receiverchart:
| This Game | Totals | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Hemingway | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4/4 | |
| Mathews | 2 | 0/1 | - | 1/1 | 4 | 1/4 | 1/1 | 6/6 | |
| Stonum | - | 0/1 | - | 1/1 | 1 | 0//1 | 1/2 | 4/4 | |
| Savoy | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | 0/1 | 2/2 | |
| Odoms | 2 | - | 1/1 | 1/2 | 3 | 1/1 | 1/1 | 5/6 | |
| Grady-19 | - | - | - | 2/2 | 2 | - | 1/1 | 5/6 | |
| Roundtree | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | |
| Rogers | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Koger | - | - | - | - | - | 1/1 | 1/1 | 5/5 | |
| Webb | - | - | - | 1/2 | 1 | - | - | 1/2 | |
| Minor | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Brown | - | - | - | - | - | 1/2 | 1/1 | 3/3 | |
| Shaw | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0/1 | - | |
| Smith | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Moundros | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
This was a less than great day from the receivers, as in limited opportunities two balls got filed as straight drops: the corner route to Odoms that was overturned on review (I still think he actually caught it but it's really close and result-based charting) and the seam to Webb that hit him between the numbers.
Also, let's talk about Darryl Stonum, deep threat. I mentioned this in the play minutiae most of you don't read so let me replicate it here:
Okay, Forcier left this short and Stonum had a step or step and a half on a guy that can't press him. But from above:
I'm grabbing this just so people can maybe talk about Stonum's adjustment to this. I think it's poor. He misjudges the ball and doesn't slow up enough and turn, which would probably have led to the DB running him over and a PI call. Mike Floyd [or Braylon Edwards] catches this, right?
Even if there's no catch, Stonum should at least give himself an opportunity to get both hands on it. And then there's this from the Notre Dame game:
Stonum is running a fly down the sideline with a guy sort of in tow and plenty of room to the sideline and Forcier gets it to him. Stonum turns inside and ends up doing a 360 on a ball that was perfectly placed to the outside. He turns a very catchable ball into a circus attempt. It was open.
Unfortunately, I didn't get a clip of this; it was worse than the above. Stonum's got speed to burn and a great frame, so what's preventing him from being Michael Floyd is the stuff you see above. Floyd is huge, great at adjusting to a ball in flight, and brilliant at using his body as an asset. Same with Braylon Edwards. Mario Manningham was probably the best I'd ever seen at it; he was as good as those guys without having their height. Stonum doesn't have it, at least not yet. I don't know if that's talent or coaching or a combination of both. Junior Hemingway seems pretty good at it. Could just be a thing you've got or you don't. If Steve Breaston had it he would have won the Heisman.
Anyway, that's why I think Stonum is behind where you'd expect he'd be given his recruiting profile.
Offensive line whatnot?
The most useless protection metric ever:
PROTECTION METRIC: 17/20, Huyge –1, Team –2.
Nothing to see here.
Heroes?
Pick a tailback, any tailback, and an offensive lineman, any offensive lineman.
Goats?
Well, you know… made of dilithium and all but Denard Robinson did throw two interceptions.
What does it mean for Indiana and the future?
The Hoosier's run defense is currently #15 nationally but it's hard to tell how legit that is when the opening opponents are Eastern Kentucky, Western Michigan, and Akron. Given that we're talking about Indiana, the answer is probably "not particularly legit." Michigan wants to continue the pounding ground game against the Hoosiers without showing more of their hand, and you'd imagine they'll be able to. Not to the tune of 10 YPC or even the 7.6 Michigan got outside of the third-longest run in Michigan history, but 5-6-7 in a game where Michigan hopes to spend the second half running out the clock would be fine.
We did get further indication that Denard Robinson is not a suitable replacement for Tate Forcier at the moment, though I figure at this point he's got to be above Sheridan just because I've seen him move.
John Ferrara did pretty well in his first start of the year, though it was against weak competition. The dropoff from the starting line to the Molk-free line might not be too severe. (Though I am pumped to hear Rodriguez describe Molk as not only one of the team's best linemen but "one of the team's best players" when discussing his injury. I lived in moderate fear that the insider reports about Khoury pushing Molk were anywhere near accurate, which would have been a black eye given the David Molk Hype Machine that lives in my keyboard. Then I am not pumped because Molk is out for a month.)
Farther down the road, Michigan looks in excellent shape next year at tailback, where all three backups performed well. Shaw was especially impressive; you could tell that all the stuff about being slowed by a sports hernia was no BS. Guy looked Brown fast. Maybe even faster. Smith and Cox had impressive runs as well, and Fitzgerald Toussaint's highlight tape from high school is a 0.8 McGuffie.
September 24th, 2009 at 2:23 PM | 
Ground Game
Ground Game
September 24th, 2009 at 2:26 PM |
Ahh, another afternoon shot
Ahh, another afternoon shot
on SFW football porn.
My favorite time of year.
September 24th, 2009 at 2:26 PM |
People don't read the play-by-play?
People don't read the play-by-play?
They're crazy, man.
September 24th, 2009 at 4:53 PM |
Agreed!!!
Agreed!!!
The play-by-play is the greatest thing ever. EVER!!!
Seriously, there is no more useful post by any blogger out there than Brian's UFR play-by-play. Every casual/slightly-to-moderately-obsessed fan of other teams must be insanely jealous they don't have someone doing this for them.
September 24th, 2009 at 6:02 PM |
Word
Word
I read every one of them, and look forward to it from when game time expires.
not just "douchey" MGoBlog user, but now TRUSTED MGoBlog user
September 24th, 2009 at 2:29 PM |
Tacopants
Tacopants
Yeah, it was a shame to see Tacopants return. Too many passes to him in this game.
Life should not be a journey to the grave to arrive safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What A Ride!" HST
September 24th, 2009 at 2:32 PM |
Take this with an entire salt
Take this with an entire salt
Take this with an entire salt shaker, because I heard it through an abbreviated grapevine, but someone said that the wind, while not particularly noticable in the stands, was affecting throws on the field. This doesn't excuse Denard from throwing a ball short, if you've got wind coming at you, you throw it harder, but might give more evidence that the reads were ok. He saw an open guy, knew he could make a throw of that distance, and then got caught with his pants down because of the wind. Still a mistake, but it seems his mental game is improving.
September 24th, 2009 at 2:39 PM |
If Tate stays healthy
If Tate stays healthy
Denard will be fine with what he will be asked to do if Tate stays healthy. Denard will get into trouble if he is asked to take 95% of snaps in any one game. He is perfect change of pace QB right now with his blazing speed and throwing a pass every 8 or so runs.
September 24th, 2009 at 11:00 PM |
In further breaking "wind news"...
In further breaking "wind news"...
Michigan Stadium announces today that bean burritos will be handed out free of charge to the student section throughout the rest of the season during key defensive series...
Add Note: -6?! If Nick Sheridan could toss bombs as well as I write them, he may've been a viable QB. Really? -6...and I thought that was pretty clever, too. Sorry, guys ;(
E to the S Go Blue, Class of '04
September 24th, 2009 at 3:56 PM |
Wind Was There
Wind Was There
Remember that a couple of times the ball blew off the tee before kickoffs?
But, wasn't DRob's second INT with the wind and still under thrown?
Life should not be a journey to the grave to arrive safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What A Ride!" HST
September 25th, 2009 at 10:50 AM |
Didn't Shoelace get hit just
Didn't Shoelace get hit just
Didn't Shoelace get hit just as he released that 2nd pick, so he couldn't follow through?
Michigan Resurgent? Michigan Resurgent!
The beatings will continue until the uniforms improve!
September 24th, 2009 at 6:04 PM |
IDK
IDK
The flag was barely even moving during the National Anthem. Maybe.
not just "douchey" MGoBlog user, but now TRUSTED MGoBlog user
September 24th, 2009 at 9:48 PM |
Did anyone notice how the
Did anyone notice how the
Did anyone notice how the wind changed directions during halftime? I also noticed some decent ~15 mph gusts towards the end.
/is sailor
September 24th, 2009 at 2:46 PM |
Glorious
Glorious
This is the first time I actually got to read all this while at work! It is actually better that way- who knew? Once again Brian- thank you for all the work you do- gives my life meaning
Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'
September 24th, 2009 at 2:49 PM |
That's sad.
That's sad.
That's sad.
IMHE
September 24th, 2009 at 3:56 PM |
You asked for help...
You asked for help...
You asked for help...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6WElAUe-uU
Maybe? This could just be a quick read; I'm not great at differentiating inside and outside zone plays. Anyway, the backside DT gets playside of Ortmann but it doesn't matter much because EMU is not running a scrape exchange and the DE, pulled upfield, leaves a big cutback lane for Brown. He takes it, slashing upfield and into a couple of linebackers for a good gain. Help here from experts and laity requested.
Just an initial guess here from confirmed laity:
It seems this was a basic zone run play between the Strongside DT and DE, called because EMU was cheating to the weakside.
Huyge let the DE take himself out of the play, and Molk (tackle +1?) has pancaked the strongside DT. This means there's a gaping crease if Brown can get to it, with everyone blocked for 20 yards.
But Ortmann (-1)'s guy, rather than allowing him to get playside, has escorted him down the line in a kind of tango. This cuts off the entrance to the otherwise gaping hole, and Brown cuts behind the two dancing partners (thanks to the weakside DE's contain taking himself out of reach), until the returning linebackers meet him there.
The reason this could have been a big gainer is we had two blockers in the 2nd level. Schilling has already sharked the strongside linebacker, while Ferrara is zeroing in on a safety.
This was Ortmann's block away from six.
(Blogger alias: "Misopogon") This team is under construction. We thank you for your patience.
September 24th, 2009 at 10:23 PM |
Yep
Yep
I came to the same conclusion. Also notice the read on the RDE and the bubble out by the slot receiver. Inside Zone Read.
September 24th, 2009 at 2:51 PM |
Robinson underthrown INT with 4 min left in 2q
Robinson underthrown INT with 4 min left in 2q
I think this pic DR threw is a good representation of where he is right now. He's seeing things, just has to figure out how to use his arm to get the ball where it needs to be. I'm sure he was so used to beating guys with his legs in HS, he never had to rely on his arm too much...
God help opposing defensive coordinators when he figures this out!
There is no more complete school anywhere.
September 24th, 2009 at 3:39 PM |
Late
Late
I thought Robinson's first int. was a late throw; if he throws it on time, it's likely a completion. This is a common occurence with young QBs. I recall Mallett's first start against ND, his throws were late all day, but the ND secondary was so terrible, they were still completed.
September 24th, 2009 at 3:51 PM |
Could be
Could be
His first pass to Grady in the WMU game was a rocket of the sort that suggests the problem isn't having arm strength, it's just knowing when touch is required and when to throw a rope. And I'll settle for "he's seeing things..." at this stage in his development. He clearly has the physical tools, so if the mental game is starting to come together, that's cause for excitement.
Also, anybody see Denard throw a block for Smith on the second-to-last charted play? Not that I think we want our QB blocking, per se, but if he can get in the way of or otherwise bother a linebacker just enough to make the LB a step slower, that step is all some of our backs need. Love the heart on this kid.
September 24th, 2009 at 4:50 PM |
DRob
DRob
I think I remember seeing a d-lineman getting in Denard's face as he was throwing, either causing him to not step into it as much or to not follow through. I thought at the time that's why he threw it short.
MIIIIIIIIICH
September 24th, 2009 at 6:06 PM |
Ironically
Ironically
The game is probably still moving really fast for him right now, as he gets more snaps, things will "slow down". No pun intended.
not just "douchey" MGoBlog user, but now TRUSTED MGoBlog user
September 24th, 2009 at 2:53 PM |
Stonum
Stonum
on the play you highlighted above Stonum doesn't fight back to the ball. he's got to fight through the defender on underthrown balls. got to be rodmanesque and will the ball into his hands. on the 360 turnaround play in the ND game he doesn't follow his coaching which is to snap your head around. some of it is awareness of body positioning with regard to ball flight/defender(s)/sideline: which are innate qualities; but some of it is trusting his coaches and the techniques their trying to instill.
"Play hard and with great effort"
September 24th, 2009 at 3:07 PM |
And for anyone who wants
And for anyone who wants
to see run blocking charts, Other Brian has his up:
http://genuinelysarcastic.blogspot.com/
Follow me on Twitter @gfraley05
September 24th, 2009 at 3:24 PM |
The Brown run play in question.
The Brown run play in question.
I watched this about ten times and from what I can tell it is a zone read. If you'll notice Forcier is staring at the backside DE who is up the field. He sees this and hands the ball off to Brown. If the DE and gone hard down the line he would have pulled the ball from carlos most likely. Further proof to this can be found in the wide receivers to the far side of the screen. The outside 2 block down field while the third runs the bubble option in case Tate had pulled the ball
September 24th, 2009 at 3:26 PM |
Stonum $0.02
Stonum $0.02
Breaston definitely struggled with this, obvs, but has really developed his ability to track down long throws in the NFL. I watched a few of his games last year and was very impressed with his improvement on adjusting to balls in the air (TWSS?). I'm hopeful Stonum will be able to master this with practice, as he definitely doesn't innately have the wherewithal to do it.
'Murica & Footbaw: That's what Michigan Does
September 24th, 2009 at 3:43 PM |
Note 2:
Note 2:
Mike Floyd [or Braylon Edwards] catches this, right?
Sophomore Braylon: unlikely. Braylon '02 pulls up right at the end, has the cornerback jump with him, and the ball falls off one arm (which can't get to the other arm b/c there's a defender in the way) incomplete, PBU.
Junior Braylon: likely. Braylon '03 goes into "okay, Johnny, time for our every-10-play end zone lob" mode, sees it's underthrown, and freaks out, coming back to the ball rather than adjusting to it, making the catch over his head and coming down.
Senior Braylon: Certainly. In fact, add a safety to the outside of that coverage and Braylon 2004 still hauls it in, drawing the flag for interference, and then spins around for another 5 yards on his way to having his name affixed to the word "-fest"
Which is exactly the point. I had a whole diary where I basically said if Cissoko doesn't have it* after his 2nd start as a true sophomore, he doesn't have it. I totally believe the opposite for receivers. Greatest receiver ever: Jerry Rice. Was Rice more talented than every receiver in history? No. Did anyone ever run a better route than Rice, or instinctively know how to make defensive backs give him an undeserved extra few inches to make a catch than Jerry Rice? No.
These are things learned only from playing top competition, knowing what inches you can get, and how to get them. You learn that by having the ball come your way. If Stonum is Breaston, then my complaint about Breaston for his whole career stands: throw him the ball -- he'll get better. Braylon actually started making a name for himself at this point in his career, but that was because 15-catch-per-game Walker was gone and the next option was Calvin Bell/Tyrece Butler. Braylon got the throws, and THEN got better at receiving them.
Stonum has a long way to go to be Braylon. But I disagree as to whether it's a "have or doesn't have." I think it's experience, and ability to translate that experience. Maybe Stonum can't translate. But he hasn't had the ball come his way enough yet to really know.
Whether you can trust such an obvious hypocrite (c'mon Misopomoron, can we make decisions about guys before the Big Ten season of their sophomore years or no?) I leave that to you guys.
Man I love Offensive UFR day!!!
* "It" means he's not Marlin or Charles or Ty, et al. That's it, in all entendres. There's still a whole realm of good-to-great cornerbacking before you get to what I mean by "it." There's also Todd Howard.
(Blogger alias: "Misopogon") This team is under construction. We thank you for your patience.
September 24th, 2009 at 3:39 PM |
Need more Shaw
Need more Shaw
I hate seeing Minor injured, but Shaw seemed to show great flashes of beauty during last year's ugly-fest. I'm excited to see him more this year behind an improved O-line. Rest Minor, run Brown, run Brown, run Shaw, and oh yeah, run dilithium.
September 24th, 2009 at 3:47 PM |
And run Vincent Smith.
As
And run Vincent Smith.
As
And run Vincent Smith.
As much as I love Minor/Brown, I'm actually stoked for the reign of Shaw/Smith. It may be carryover from that Oklahoma drill we watched during Spring Football Porn Fest this year, but he really has impressed me a ton.
(Blogger alias: "Misopogon") This team is under construction. We thank you for your patience.
September 24th, 2009 at 3:42 PM |
RE: Shaw
RE: Shaw
I love Shaw's game, he's seemingly as fast as brown except with quite a bit more shiftiness once he reaches the 2nd level.
RB spot is in good hands for next year, although it remains to be seen if Cox can fill the hole left as the bruiser in short yardage.
September 24th, 2009 at 3:52 PM |
although it remains to be
although it remains to be
although it remains to be seen if Cox can fill the hole left as the bruiser in short yardage.
/giggle
/snort
/10 years old
September 24th, 2009 at 7:18 PM |
Shaw is faster
Shaw is faster
than Carlos Brown.
September 24th, 2009 at 4:01 PM |
EMU Defense Unsure
EMU Defense Unsure
Watching the game on the DVR and replaying in slow-mo, I was amazed at how many times the EMU defensive players took themselves out of the play because they went for the fake(s). Hopefully, this is because of the spread/option and not just that EMU was unsure.
Life should not be a journey to the grave to arrive safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What A Ride!" HST
September 24th, 2009 at 4:24 PM |
Even crazier than this is the
Even crazier than this is the
Even crazier than this is the number of times the MLB (the "scraper") took one or two steps toward the middle of the field and then ran to the hole vacated by the crashing backside DE, presumably in the hopes of saying "surprise!" and capturing Tate and then nailing coeds later.
Unfortunately for this hapless backer, Tate handed it off to Brown et al., who proceeded to run in the hole the MLB had just vacated. Take a look at Brown's 90-yarder and watch the MLB run himself right out of position.
This leads me to two conclusions: (1) if your defensive strategy is the LB equivalent of a jab step, then you are not reading and reacting, and you will get housed. (2) the genius of RR's offense is that the read plays look just like the called runs (in this case, what Brian is calling a "zone counter dive"). Brian or someone probably pointed this out already a million times, but I'm just starting to appreciate it.
Hee hee!
September 24th, 2009 at 4:22 PM |
Maybe it is just my
Maybe it is just my
Maybe it is just my excitement about this new-era Michigan offense, but it seems to me that the TV camera operators are getting faked out way more than ever in the past. When the spread n' shred is running on all cylinders, no one knows where the ball is, especially the defense.
September 24th, 2009 at 4:32 PM |
YPC; Stonum v. Hemingway/Floyd/Others
YPC; Stonum v. Hemingway/Floyd/Others
YPC: This is what is so exciting about RR's system. If you can get to 5 or 6 YPC, you are virtually unstoppable. You only need 10 yards for a first down and even I can do that math. Do the passing stats suffer? Yeah, sure, but who cares. Your getting a first down on average every two plays without Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison on your team. Can you say multiple national championships while everyone scrambles to catch up? I can.
Stonum: I've been at all the games and saw exactly what you saw. But we have a very small sample set of plays to base any conclusions on. I know you didn't come to any final conclusions -- you left the question open. But kids mature at different rates. They have different quality of coaching in HS. And, again, we are talking about a small number of plays this year. He might not be where Michael Floyd is right now, but who knows, he could be a year or two from now. And Floyd will be in the NFL. I am very excited about the idea of Hemingway and Stonum on the same field together. Oh, yeah, btw -- did you see that kickoff return?
"I didn't do it. Nobody saw me do it. You can't prove anything." B. Simpson
September 24th, 2009 at 4:58 PM |
Indiana Football 2009
Indiana Football 2009
"Not Particularily Legit"
It has a nice ring to it, but I'm sticking with the current slogan of "hey, it's football, it's fun and when we fall down by three scores we can always go to Nick's English Hut and play Sink the Bismark."
Either that or "Indiana Football, a necessary prologue to Indiana Basketball"
Both work.
Awesome UFR, by the way.
Help My Friend Allison Fight ALS
MSU/IU at the JCB
September 24th, 2009 at 10:41 PM |
One pointer
One pointer
Great UFR as always Brian, just one thing as a FYI.
On defense, the gaps are lettered. On offense, the gaps are numbered. It's a fairly simple system, the left side gets odd numbers, the right side gets even numbers. From the outside going in, the numbers get smaller until you reach a 1/0 depending to which side of the center you run to. The only tricky part is that the hole between the center and guard can be 2 different numbers.
So, to break it down...
9 TE 7 T 5 G3 1C0 2G 4 T 6 TE 8
September 25th, 2009 at 3:30 AM |
Carlos Brown's 6 yard gain
Carlos Brown's 6 yard gain
On Brown's run in the 2nd series which has a video (2 of 19) I couldn't help but wonder if Minor would have gotten 10 or more yards in that same situation. It seems as if as soon as Brown gets touch he immediately drops. Did anyone else notice that? Do you think Brown went down a little early or am I seeing things?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6WElAUe-uU&feature=player_embedded
T
September 25th, 2009 at 7:57 AM |
Stonum incompletion clip from ND game
Stonum incompletion clip from ND game
I grabbed the clip from the ND game that Brian refers to above, where Stonum turns the wrong way on a deep ball:
September 25th, 2009 at 9:42 AM |
Just FYI
Just FYI
"I mentioned this in the play minutiae most of you don't read so let me replicate it here:"
I read and enjoy the UFR play by play. At the risk of sounding creepy, I suspect I have read 95% of all the UFR content that has been posted at this or the previous mgoblog site. "Recently" (in my world this just means that it wasn't last year) at the WLA, someone linked the AppySt UFR so I skimmed that again. Just to, you know, torture myself.
I do skip the Marching Band stuff.
Give it to Wheatley!
First test against a Big Ten defense. I see another 300 yard performance from the ground game. No need to reveal anything new against IU.
"The world is an imperfect place, screws fall out all the time".