best wishes
Upon Further Review: Offense vs Purdue
Filed under:
I didn't even feel tempted to put offense in sarcastic quote marks!
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M20 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone read dive | Minor | 2 |
| Another of those gap-blocked plays with a puller; this time it's the LT Ortmann. Ferrara(-1) gets shoved back into the path of the pull, which delays Ortmann and allows the linebacker to approach the LOS and tackle relatively unfettered. I don't understand what Moundros is doing on this play; he's lined up as the other FB and goes outside to take on the DE that Ortmann left to pull. Shouldn't he just shoot up into the hole? | ||||||||
| M22 | 2 | 8 | I-Form 3-wide | Base 4-3 | Pass | Scramble | Threet | 5 |
| I have to think Odoms runs the wrong route here, because this is a rollout pass on which he runs a circle route to the other side of the field. So there's one guy deep covered and Moundros covered short without anyone between them. Threet has some room and scrambles for a few. (TA, 0, protection NA) | ||||||||
| M27 | 3 | 3 | Shotgun 4-wide | Base 4-3 | Pass | Hitch | Rogers | Inc |
| Threet wings this wide on what's about an eight-yard hitch. I wouldn't be surprised if Rogers didn't run the route precisely enough, though. This might not be his fault. (IN, 0, protection 1/1) | ||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 0-0, 13 min 1st Q. | ||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards |
| O45 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone read stretch | Minor | 45 |
| Key to the play is Schilling's excellent cut block on the backside DT. With the frontside DT crashing hard to the playside, Minor has a major opening between the two. McAvoy (at RG)(+1) gets an excellent cut on one LB; Ferrara comes off the frontside double to block the other LB; Purdue's safety has run himself too far to the stretch side and is in no position to clean up. Touchdown. | ||||||||
| Drive Notes: Touchdown, 7-0, 12 min 1st Q. Martavious Odoms returns the ensuing punt for a touchdown. | ||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards |
| M25 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back | Base 4-3 | Run | Triple option pitch | Shaw | 12 (Pen -3) |
| Corner lined up over Odoms blitzes and crashes down on the dive fake as the linebacker to the playside keeps contain on Threet; Threet pitches. Savoy clocks the safety who came up on Odoms, opening up the outside; Shaw heads for a first down; Odoms(-1) gets called for holding. Pretty dumb penalty. | ||||||||
| M22 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back | Base 4-3 | Pass | Wheel | Shaw | Inc |
| Same triple option play action; this time Threet hangs in the pocket. Ortmann(-1) is beaten to the outside by the DE and should probably get called for holding, so Threet has to get rid of the ball. He fails to read the linebacker and chucks it to Shaw, currently exiting the backfield; the linebacker has a pick-six and drops it. Threet could have lofted it over the LB and Shaw would have had twenty or so. (BR, 0, protection 1/2, Ortmann -1) | ||||||||
| M22 | 2 | 13 | Shotgun trips | Base 4-3 | Penalty | False Start | Molk | -5 |
| I think Molk is back in, and actually I wonder if the starting lineups the BTN gave were wrong, with the only change on the line being Ferrara for McAvoy. Anyway, Molk(-1) fails to snap the ball, causing the entire rest of the line to jump. | ||||||||
| M17 | 2 | 18 | Shotgun trips | Base 4-3 | Pass | Bubble screen | Clemons | -2 |
| Koger(-1) completely whiffs his block, blowing the play up. (CA, 3, screen) | ||||||||
| M15 | 3 | 20 | Shotgun diamond | Base 4-3 | Run | QB draw | Threet | 5 |
| Four receivers bunched in a diamond formation to one side; we saw this from time to time under Carr but not from the shotgun. Threet fakes a screen and runs a QB draw, getting tracked down by the DE after a few yards. | ||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 14-7, 4 min 1st Q. Well, that was a comedown. Purdue punts, Odoms fumbles it, and Purdue punches it in again. Cissoko gets a good return. | ||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards |
| O42 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back trips | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone read stretch | Minor | 3 |
| Our covered receiver formation. The playside DT slants playside, removing the gap Michigan usually attacks, and an attempted scoop by Moosman and Schilling doesn't seal the backside DT. Schilling does push the guy backwards a bit, giving Minor the opportunity to cut it back; the backside DE comes down to tackle. This was "bad scoop" this morning. | ||||||||
| O39 | 2 | 7 | Shotgun 3-wide | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone read stretch | Minor | 17 |
| Exact some thing from the previous play out of a different formation; this time Moosman(+1) blasts the backside DT back and when he disengages Schilling(+1) cuts him to the ground, opening up a major hole. This was "good scoop" this morning. | ||||||||
| O22 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 4-wide | Base 4-3 | Pass | Bubble screen | Odoms | 6 |
| No one lined up over Odoms; they're begging for this and get it. Savoy's cut block is only marginally effective and Odoms has to spin past that guy and into the waiting arms of a safety flying up to meet him. (CA, 3, screen) | ||||||||
| O16 | 2 | 4 | Shotgun 2-back | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone read dive | Minor | 1 |
| Slightly different scheme here with Ferrara just cutting the DT and Ortmann pulling around him into the gap to block the LB. Ortmann can't get out there fast enough, causing Minor to try to bounce it to the frontside, where the DE peels back to tackle. Threet should consider keeping it here. | ||||||||
| O15 | 3 | 3 | Shotgun 4-wide | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone read stretch | Shaw | 7 |
| Same play as the last one; this time Ortmann(+1) does get out on the LB and clobber him, opening up a lane for Shaw; Threet again needs to think about keeping to delay backside pursuit. | ||||||||
| O8 | 1 | G | Ace | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone stretch | Shaw | -6 |
| This is not blocked well and should be a no gain or a yard or two as Shaw cuts it up... except he doesn't, instead running up and around to the outside of the penetrating DE and losing six yards. | ||||||||
| O14 | 2 | G | Shotgun 2-back | Base 4-3 | Pass | Rollout – Out | Odoms | 3 |
| The play where we fake the zone stretch and run a rollout to the backside; I think the Purdue linebacker on this actually decides to cut-block Moundros in a desperate attempt to prevent him from getting to the flat. Is that legal? Moundros is behind the LOS. In any case, Threet throws an out to Odoms that's well covered; he throws it crappily, forcing Odoms to slide down to catch it. In doing so he prevents Odoms from getting lit up, as Purdue was in a zone and ready to deliver one of those “I hope he ain't dead” hits. (MA, 2, protection NA) | ||||||||
| O11 | 3 | G | Shotgun 2-back | Nickel | Run | Slant | Savoy | 11 |
| Purdue sends seven(!) and Michigan picks it up as well as they can, getting a great pickup from Minor(+1) on the guy up the middle. Threet stands in and throws a slant to Savoy for the touchdown. (DO, 3, protection 3/3) | ||||||||
| Drive Notes: Touchdown, 21-14, 12 min 2nd Q. | ||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards |
| M31 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back | Base 4-3 | Pass | Scramble? | Threet | 4 |
| Threet pulls up like he's going to throw the bubble screen, then takes off for a few yards. I don't know if this was called or what, so I'm not charting it. | ||||||||
| M35 | 2 | 6 | Shotgun 3-wide | Base 4-3 | Pass | ISQD | Minor | 7 |
| The Rabid Wolverine or whatever with Minor as the QB. They run the QB sweep they've used with actual QBs; Purdue again strings it out but leaves a cutback lane as Ferrara sort of gets in the way of the DT who's trying to go around him the wrong way and Ortmann(+1) gets just enough of a cut on the backside LB to delay him and open up a crease. | ||||||||
| M42 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone read stretch | Minor | 0 |
| Hard to tell what's going on because BTN again fails to show us the snap, but either Moosman or Molk slipped to the ground or tried to cut a guy and this did not work, leaving a big Purdue guy unblocked in the middle of the line. Minor tries to bounce it outside... not so much. | ||||||||
| M42 | 2 | 10 | Shotgun 4-wide | Base 4-3 | Pass | In | Koger | Inc |
| The one-hopper fielded by Koger... on replay I'm pretty sure a DE brushed this with his arm and can detect a change in trajectory, so this isn't as goofy a pass as it looked. Good protection. (BA, 0, protection 2/2) | ||||||||
| M42 | 3 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | Nickel | Pass | Flag | Mathews | Inc |
| Threet throws it late, IMO, which means he's got to throw it well inside of Mathews to keep it away from the safety. Mathews attempts a difficult spinning catch and can't dig it out. It was there for a moment. (MA, 1, protection 2/2) | ||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 21-14, 7 min 2nd Q. | ||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards |
| M49 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back | Base 4-3 | Pass | PA Fly | Stonum | 51 |
| Threet gives the bubble screen pump fake and then goes deep to Stonum for a touchdown. Complete, yes, but this was way short and required Stonum to run through the tackle of a safety; an accurate pass makes this an easy six. Still, I'll be kind. (CA, 2, protection 2/2) | ||||||||
| Drive Notes: Touchdown, 28-14, 5 min 2nd Q. Next drive starts with 28 seconds left in the half. | ||||||||
| M43 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun trips | Nickel | Run | Zone read stretch | Minor | 1 |
| The backside DT leaps over an attempted cut from Ferrara—came in too low—and induces Minor to miss his cut, which was the gaping hole up the middle of the field that he still had despite the DT, IMO. Slowed by the pop outside, the DT tracks him down. | ||||||||
| M44 | 2 | 9 | Shotgun empty | Nickel | Pass | Sack | -- | |
| Schilling(-1) beaten around the outside and the DE bats the ball out of Threet's hands as he attempts to throw (PR, 0, Schilling 0/2). Fumble is recovered by M; Michigan says that's enough. | ||||||||
| Drive Notes: EOH, 28-21. | ||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards |
| M14 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone read dive | Minor | 21 |
| This is a counter to the zone with Moundros shooting backside to block the normally unblocked DE; the idea is for the play to go between the tackle and Moundros; this it does. Purdue bites, running the LB and the DT to where the stretch would go; Moundros cuts the DE and Minor runs through an arm tackle into the secondary. This would also work as a keeper, wouldn't it? | ||||||||
| M35 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone read stretch | Minor | 2 |
| Playside DT beats Molk's attempted reach block as he gets little/no help from Ferrara; Minor cuts back and is set upon by the backside defensive end, crashing down after maintaining contain on the QB. | ||||||||
| M37 | 2 | 8 | Shotgun 2-back | Base 4-3 | Pass | PA Post | Rogers | Inc |
| Moundros is blocking on this one, so Michigan's trying to go deep. Good block from him, plenty of time for Threet to set and throw... a duck that's yards away from a couple of receivers covered by three guys. IN or BR? (IN, 0, protection 1/1) | ||||||||
| M37 | 3 | 8 | Shotgun 4-wide | Nickel | Pass | Flare Screen | Minor | Inc |
| Looks like M has Purdue here for at least several yards and maybe the first down; Threet chucks it hard and low and Minor drops it. (IN, 2, screen) | ||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 28-28, 9 min 3rd Q. | ||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards |
| M1 | 1 | 10 | Ace | Base 4-3 | Run | Dive | Minor | 1 |
| I really don't understand not having Moundros as a lead blocker; as it is the DT lined up inside Ferrara slants past him and Minor has to cut behind him; he's fortunate to get a yard. | ||||||||
| M2 | 2 | 9 | I-Form 3-wide | Base 4-3 | Run | Dive | Minor | 3 |
| I think this is another missed cut by Minor, as it's similar to the dive that went for 21 earlier with Moundros cutting the backside DE to the ground; Minor should cut up hard between the DE and the OL but instead bounces it, where a safety tackles. | ||||||||
| M5 | 3 | 6 | Shotgun 2-back | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone read stretch | Minor | -1 |
| Backside DT owns Moosman and is into the backfield immediately, screwing up the play. | ||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 28-28, 4 min 3rd Q. Purdue scores; another excellent KO return, this from Odoms, sets up the next drive. | ||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards |
| O42 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | Base 4-3 | Run | ISQD | Minor | 0 |
| Minor the QB; same play as earlier with the QB sweep going on; Purdue all over this one, Schilling(-1) discarded and thrown to the ground; Minor lucky to get back to the LOS. | ||||||||
| O42 | 2 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone read counter | Minor | 9 |
| We ran this play earlier with Moundros chopping the backside DE as the backside DT flies to the other side of the field, expecting a stretch. Purdue's linebacker—the same one who screwed up in Picture Pages earlier today—takes a much better angle on this one, forcing Minor into the other linebacker, who makes a shoe-string tackle to prevent Minor from hitting the secondary. | ||||||||
| O33 | 3 | 1 | I-form twins | Base 4-3 | Run | Pitch sweep | Minor | 10 |
| Unbalanced formation with Koger covered up; Michigan shuffles Moundros just before the snap and he(+1) clocks the blitzing corner. That blitz also means the DE to that side has slanted inside, removing him from the play, and Koger takes out the LB to that side; the corner is wide open. | ||||||||
| O23 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone read stretch | Shaw | 3 |
| Rare instance in which the playside DT doesn't slant hard to the playside, probably because he assumes Minor will get the ball and he is going playside. This opens up a pretty sizable gap between Ortmann and Molk; unfortunately, Ferrara's second-level block on the LB is weak and Minor doesn't attempt to pick off the OLB and that slows Shaw as he reaches the mess. | ||||||||
| O20 | 2 | 7 | Shotgun 3-wide | Base 4-3 | Run | Triple option pitch | Clemons | 7 |
| Dive fake into an option with slot receiver Clemons the pitchman. The DE sells out on Minor (like he's been doing all day) and Ortmann gets a downfield block on the LB to that side. Threet gets past the LOS and decides to pitch too early, which just redirects the safety to Clemons. Probably would have been better off keeping. | ||||||||
| O13 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone read stretch | Minor | 13 |
| See, they're slanting playside again, which makes Molk's job really tough; he can't pull it off and is basically escorting the DT to Minor. Minor runs through the tackle, though, and Moundros and Ferrara have gotten second-level blocks good enough to spring him for the touchdown. | ||||||||
| Drive Notes: Touchdown, 35-35, 12 min 4th Q. | ||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards |
| M28 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back | Base 4-3 | Penalty | False Start | Ferrara | -5 |
| woo | ||||||||
| M23 | 1 | 15 | Shotgun 2-back | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone read counter | Minor | 8 |
| Moundros into the backside DE again and Minor through the line; a safety is rolled up the LOS and manages to shoulder-block him down after a moderate gain. He breaks this iffy tackle and he runs a long way. | ||||||||
| M31 | 2 | 8 | Shotgun 3-wide | Base 4-3 | Pass | Bubble screen | Shaw | Inc |
| Shaw in the slot and Purdue blitzes the corner to that side; Threet throws it high and hard and Shaw can't haul it in. Opportunity missed. (IN, 1, screen) | ||||||||
| M31 | 3 | 8 | Shotgun 4-wide | Base 4-3 | Pass | Hitch | Stonum | Inc |
| Good protection; Threet throws it low and inside; Stonum can't make a diving grab. (IN, 1, protection 2/2) | ||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 35-35, 7 min 4th Q. | ||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards |
| M32 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | Base 4-3 | Pass | Bubble screen | Odoms | 13 |
| Hey, remember that Picture Pages from the Illinois game? In that game Illinois was jumping all over the bubble screens to the outside, but leaving the inside open. On this play Michigan exploits that tendency by having Odoms run a bubble-screen-like route but shorter; he comes to a full stop before the ball arrives; Purdue's shooting outside because that's what you do, and Odoms takes it directly upfield for good yardage. (CA, 3, screen) | ||||||||
| M45 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun trips | Base 4-3 | Pass | Bubble screen | Odoms | 4 |
| Exact same play to the other side of the field. (CA, 3, screen) | ||||||||
| M49 | 2 | 6 | Shotgun 2-back | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone read counter | Minor | 1 |
| Purdue is reacting to this play by having the unblocked DE shoot inside of Moundros before he can get out on him, which means Threet has to keep the ball. He doesn't, he hands it off, and Minor has nowhere to go. Threet keeps and he's into the secondary. | ||||||||
| 50 | 3 | 5 | Shotgun 4-wide | Nickel | Pass | Slant | Savoy | Inc |
| I have to believe this is batted. (BA, 0, protection 1/1) | ||||||||
| 50 | 4 | 5 | Shotgun trips | Nickel | Pass | Slant | Stonum | 10 |
| Tough, tough catch from Stonum here as he's getting bumped by the defensive back and falling as the ball arrives. (CA+, 2, protection 1/1) | ||||||||
| O40 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun trips | Nickel | Run | Zone read dive | Minor | 4 |
| Again: no one is respecting the Threet keeper at all. This is just a run directly at the gap between the backside DE and DT with no attempted block on the WLB; Molk's attempt to block the MLB doesn't go so well and Minor picks up a few. Again, Threet keeper = cash yards homie. | ||||||||
| O36 | 2 | 6 | Shotgun trips | Nickel | Pass | Sack | -- | -9 |
| Purdue rushes five and gets there due to a protection screwup where Ortmann(-1) takes an outside guy; Threet had Minor on a flare route but was hesitant to throw it because of the near interception earlier in the game, IMO. He looked at it, it was open, I'm calling it (BR, 0, protection 0/2, Ortmann -1, Team -1) | ||||||||
| O45 | 3 | 15 | Shotgun 3-wide | 3-3-5 Nickel | Pass | Rollout – throwaway | -- | Inc (Pen +15) |
| Threet rolls out, finds no one, and chucks it OOB. Purdue then hits him helmet-to-helmet late, garnering a 15-yarder... and a loss to Minnesota since he can't play. (TA, 0, protection 2/2) | ||||||||
| O30 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back | 3-3-5 Nickel | Run | QB draw | Threet | 14 |
| Is this a busted play? It sort of looks like it with Threet holding the ball out to a RB who isn't there, but once he takes off there's plenty of room with Minor jetting off to clock a linebacker. I think this is actually the called play: the line blocks it like it's a zone stretch, Threet fakes handing off like it's a zone stretch, and by the time anyone notices Minor flying downfield it's too late. | ||||||||
| O16 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | Nickel | Run | Zone read stretch | Minor | 0 |
| Playside DT times the snap, I think, and shoots in between Ferrara and Molk; Minor needs to cut back immediately and does not. This leads to delay, bodies, etc. Minor does do a good job of getting back to the LOS. | ||||||||
| O16 | 2 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back | Nickel | Pass | Wheel | Shaw | Inc |
| Purdue sends eight(!!!) guys at the snap before backing off a couple of them into short zones, but not quick enough to get out and cover a wide open Shaw on a wheel route out of the backfield; easy touchdown if Threet doesn't wildly overthrow it. (IN, 0, protection 2/2) | ||||||||
| O16 | 3 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 3-2-6 Dime | Pass | Flag | Mathews | Inc |
| This is open; Threet overthrows it again. (IN, 0, protection 2/2) | ||||||||
| O16 | 4 | 10 | Shotgun empty | 3-2-6 Dime | Pass | Cross | Mathews | Inc (Pen +10) |
| Purdue sends six, with only five blockers Threet has to chuck it. He finds Mathews marginally open; ball knocked down; flag. (CA, 1, protection NA) On replay... bad call. Purdue got screwed. | ||||||||
| O8 | 1 | G | Shotgun 2-back | Base 4-3 | Run | Zone read stretch | Minor | 7 |
| Scoop block on the backside DT and this one's going right between the two of them. Decent hole but Schilling just gets pushed down the line enough to impact Minor as he cuts into the LOS. He bounces off, gets hit by a Purdue guy, and stumbles forward, bulling for extra yards. | ||||||||
| O1 | 2 | G | I-form twins | Goal line | Run | Iso | Minor | 0 |
| Schilling just sets up wrong on his guy, forcing Minor to leap early; he doesn't get there. | ||||||||
| O1 | 3 | G | I-form twins | Goal line | Run | Delay | Minor | 1 |
| Molk rides the playside DT out of the play and Moosman blocks his guy out of the hole, eventually falling, and the crease is enough for Minor to take into the endzone. | ||||||||
| Drive Notes: Touchdown, 42-42, 1 min 4th Q. | ||||||||
Woo 42 points what hey!
I don't know, man.
What? 42 points what hey.
Well, actually 35, and that's not shabby by any means, but that last one was a gift provided by one dumb Purdue defensive lineman and one bad pass interference call and I'm not sure they can keep up the pace of big plays. Plus, Michigan finally got some good kick returns and had favorable field position much of the day.
Man, you're a downer.
Well, check out the…
Chart?
Chart.
As always, the Threetsheridammit chart legend.
STEVEN THREET
| Opponent | DO | CA | MA | IN | BR | TA | BA | PR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | 1 | 11 | N/A | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Miami (NTM) | - | 6 | N/A | 4 | 1 | - | 2 | - |
| Notre Dame | 3 | 12 | N/A | 5 | 2 | 1 | - | - |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 15 | N/A | 9 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| Illinois | 3 | 18 | N/A | 7 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Toledo | 1 | 6 | N/A | 3 | 1 | 1 | - | - |
| Penn State | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | - | 2 |
| Michigan State | 4 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Purdue | 1 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
That is freakin' terrible, man. When IN = CA everything = DEATH. I really hope Threet's elbow is suppurating. Hope it's all green and oozing and revolting to look at. Because if he's totally healthy he's going in the wrong direction.
One caveat: I noticed a number of routes that seemed weird or wrong and some of Threet's issues probably have to do with a wide array of receivers, all of whom save the gimpy Greg Mathews are seeing their first extensive playing time.
Still, I'm losing faith in the ability of Threet to be a long term solution; if you asked me now who would be the starter in 2009 I would give the tentative nod to Tate Forcier.
Anyway, this is not a recipe for long term success against teams that aren't 2-6. Michigan's long drives contained almost no downfield passing, and with rare exceptions, didn't use the quarterback as a runner.
But MINOR RAGE was pretty good, eh?
Yeah, actually; as you saw this morning Michigan macheted its way to a productive day on the ground. I particularly like that new wrinkles keep getting added as the offense gains experience. This week we saw Mark Moundros shoot into the backside DE several times, which picked up good yardage every attempt but the last. There were also a few gap-blocked plays dressed up as zone stretches.
Ferrara did all right, I guess, and since McAvoy isn't going to be around when the team ceases operating at a level of suck I'd prefer to see him in the rest of the year. McAvoy is clearly Frey's least favorite starter—he's been replaced like four times now—and there's not much point in running him out there if you have younger, higher-potential options.
There's still the issue of whether Michigan can sustain this performance against teams better than Purdue (or… uh… Penn State?); I'd like to see the run game function for two consecutive games before I start raining praise on it.
One thing I noticed was Purdue putting a linebacker safety type over Odoms to cut down on the screens and whatever and then also leaving two safeties back. When you can man up on the outside and keep a cover-two, you've only got six guys in the box, and that had something to do with Michigan's success on the ground. Against teams more inclined to stack the box I expect they'll continue to struggle.
What about the other…?
Oh, yeah. PROTECTION METRIC: 20/25, Schilling –2, Ortmann –2, Team –1.
That might be generous, as I was handing out 1/1 and 2/2 on a lot of passes that were three-step drops. I am leery of both tackles these days, BTW, and wouldn't be surprised to see some sort of reconfiguration that sees Schilling slide inside to guard next year. At least they'll have some options other than "you appear to be healthy and were not a defensive tackle two weeks ago."
Receivers:
(remember: 0 is uncatchable, 1 is a circus catch, 2 is a somewhat difficult one, and 3 is a routine one)
| This Game | Totals | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Clemons | - | - | - | 1/1 | 3 | - | 1/3 | 8/8 | |
| Stonum | - | 0/1 | 2/2 | - | 4 | 0/4 | 5/5 | 6/7 | |
| Mathews | 2 | 0/2 | - | - | 9 | 2/8 | 4/6 | 14/15 | |
| Hemingway | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0/2 | 2/2 | - | |
| Odoms | - | - | 1/1 | 3/3 | 14 | 0/2 | 5/6 | 29/31 | |
| Babb | - | - | - | - | - | 0/1 | 1/1 | 1/1 | |
| Savoy | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1/2 | |
| Rogers | 2 | - | - | - | 2 | - | - | 2/3 | |
| Butler | - | - | - | - | 2 | 1/1 | 0/1 | 2/2 | |
| Koger | 1 | - | - | - | 4 | 0/1 | 2/2 | 3/4 | |
| McGuffie | - | - | - | - | 3 | - | 2/2 | 15/15 | |
| Brown | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 3/3 | |
| Shaw | 2 | 0/1 | - | - | 2 | 0/1 | - | 4/4 | |
| Minor | - | - | 0/1 | - | 3 | 0/2 | 1/3 | 4/4 | |
| Moundros | - | - | - | - | 3 | - | - | 1/1 | |
Mostly fine, with no routine drops. Not many opportunities.
Heroes?
Minor was excellent, running through tackles and fighting for yards. Odoms' contributions were mostly on special teams but deserve mention; I thought the interior line had a good day opening up the holes for Minor.
Goats?
Threet, man, was pretty ugly.
What does it mean for 2009?
If Ferrara can emerge into a potential contributor next year that gives the line another option, and at this point they need all the options they can get.
Minor will be the starting running back next year unless he cruising Ann Arbor with Carlos Brown, seeking out black cats and walking under ladders and breaking mirrors.
Threet increasingly looks like a guy who will struggle to keep his job next year.
Odoms!
November 6th, 2008 at 6:52 PM | 
Hola!
Hola!
November 6th, 2008 at 6:56 PM |
what does it mean 2009?
what does it mean 2009?
what, you've given up on the season already?
Harvard: The MICHIGAN of the East
We're not arrogant, we're just better.
November 6th, 2008 at 7:16 PM |
I would really like to know
I would really like to know
I would really like to know the extent of Threet's elbow injury. The fact that he's not keeping at ALL makes me think it's worse than had been let on. Because, honestly, you'd imagine RR would call a designed keeper off a zone read just to keep the defense honest. The fact that this doesn't happen seems to show that RR is ok with Threet not keeping and just kind of hoping that the DE stupidly respects Threet.
I mean, Threet underthrew guys. That's a giant red flag in my book. He is also throwing to James Rogers, who is James Rogers.
November 6th, 2008 at 7:17 PM |
Yeah - Threet was ten miles
Yeah - Threet was ten miles
Yeah - Threet was ten miles over everyone's head earlier. Now everything looks like a lolipop.
November 6th, 2008 at 7:44 PM |
09
09
I still say that Threet is the starter at the beginning of the 09 season, but w/ a short leash. Unless he shows significant improvement I think Forcier takes over for good in October.
November 6th, 2008 at 7:47 PM |
BTN
BTN
Lousy announcers? Or just a bad sampling?
"The difference between a man and a boy is, a boy wants to grow up to be a fireman, but a man wants to grow up to be a giant monster fireman."
- Jack Handey
November 7th, 2008 at 12:44 PM |
I kind of liked the
I kind of liked the
I kind of liked the announcers. They definitely had some bad moments, but I thought the color guy, I think it was Charles Davis, provided a lot of good insight and actually explained some of the more technical points of football fairly well.
November 6th, 2008 at 8:03 PM |
besides the wonky elbow - threet was also concussed*
besides the wonky elbow - threet was also concussed*
Would also splain alot.
Although this is a poor Purdue team, its defense has not been that horrible this year, but rather, it offense that has been so disappointing.
I think that the team is showing some offensinve improvement and will not even think about reading the UFR for the defense so that I can maintain some hope.
our package is our package, and it’s pretty big. - Greg Mattison, Bowl Practice Presser Tr. 12-13-11.
November 6th, 2008 at 8:27 PM |
I think the elbow is
I think the elbow is
I think the elbow is definitely worse than they are letting on, and the helmet-to-helmet probably affected the rest of that drive including missing an almost sure TD prior to the gift PI call. But it's still disconcerting to see him not really improving at all, whether it's due to the elbow or not, we really can't tell.
This was the second most points scored on Purdue's defense this year. Only Northwestern's offense put up more than 35.
November 7th, 2008 at 12:53 AM |
Tate!
Tate!
I'm going to watch Tate Forcier and Scripps Ranch High play Mira Mesa on Friday. Stay tuned for some details, though I'm not a talent scout or anything.
I'm gonna take two weeks off, and then quit.
November 7th, 2008 at 1:06 AM |
Eh...
Eh...
Threet is definitely banged up -- he was throwing decently (albeit to Tacopants fairly often) before and now he's now throwing rainbows like an 8-year old stuck at 3rd base for the first time. Who had expectations for this offense this year anyway? Sort of pleased the O-line is making some strides in the run game with no keeper threat and not much passing game. Of course, we have absolutely zero chance to win (or even be competitive) with Sheridan this week, but hopefully Threet is healthy enough to at least play the last two games.
Defensively, I am apoplectic. Nothing induces a string of profanities like watching this defense in 2nd and 3rd and long. They somehow manage to top (bottom?) their brutal performance each week. Makes 2005 seem like a sweet memory. Worst ... defense ... ever.
"In my judgment .... tremendous."
November 7th, 2008 at 10:15 AM |
Both
Both
OSU and PSU struggled to score on Purdue. OSU really had issues and looked bad (Pryor was still getting used to the offense). Kind of irrelevant since we cant stop anybody and PSU already rolled us. Despite's OSU loss to PSU I see no reason whey the wont either.
November 7th, 2008 at 11:05 AM |
If Tits Forcier
If Tits Forcier
manages to enroll in January, I guarantee he's our 2009 starter.
Go Blue
42 Points. There used to be a time where that was enough. *sigh*.
Finally get the left side of the boat bailed out, and then the right side starts sinking.
M'Dog