(Sorry for the double whammy, I've been working on these for a couple weeks and now they're done.)

Part two of the double feature. This should be a little more positive than the defense UFR, if only because the offense doesn’t consist of Martin, Roh, and RVB, then true freshman, walk-ons, and duct tape. I planned to get all philosophical about the defense, and ended up talking about coaching change and scheme. Why? Because I just love watching Michigan football. I watched the 2009 Michigan/Illinois game on Big Ten Classics before the season started. I told my wife “I must be crazy, because I know they’re going to lose this game and I’m watching anyway.” So call me crazy, but I want to watch this group of kids work their butts off and do crazy stuff on offense and hopefully win some games.

Onto the festivities.

. LN DN Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards . M27 1 10 Shotgun 1-back 1 0 3 4-3 Run Midline Shaw 2 . Nearside Slot/TE pulls into the formation, but no one gets a hole. Pile falls forward for 2.                       . M29 2 8 Shotgun 1-back 1 0 3 4-3 Run QB Sweep Robinson 7 . Good blocking by the right side of the line to give Denard enough of a crease to get close to the first down. Lewan, Koger +1 for being downfield.                       . M36 3 1 Shotgun 1-back 1 0 3 4-3 Run QB Sweep Robinson 2 . Miss the start of the play,looks similar to the last play.                       . M38 1 10 Shotgun 2-back 2 1 2 4-3 Run Zone read Smith 0 . What do you call a zone read sweep? Somebody missed a block on one of the D-linemen. More guys than blockers, I guess.                       . M38 2 10 Shotgun 2-back 2 1 2 4-3 Run Off-tackle Robinson 12 . OSU showing blitz by MLB, nobody to mesh with, so it's a designed keep. Denard jukes a couple guys, gotta be a mistake by Shaw to just follow the play (-1)                       . M50 1 10 Shotgun 2-back 2 1 2 4-3 Run Zone Smith 1 . This zone sweep thing is new. They must be trying to exploit something on the left side of the OSU line. Hasn't worked yet.                       . OSU49 2 9 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 2 4-3 Run QB Sweep Robinson 5 . Almost got through the gap. Sure is nice to be able to say "only gained 5."                       . OSU44 3 4 Shotgun H-back 0 2 3 3-4 Penalty     -5 . Ah yes, "offensive encroachment." Stokes is maybe lined up offsides, but it's really close.                       . OSU49 3 5 Shotgun H-back 0 2 3 3-4 Pass Slant Rountree 18 . Denard gets plenty of time to pump and find Roundtree on the money. DO, 1                       . OSU31 1 10 Shotgun H-back 0 2 3 3-4 Run QB keep Robinson 1

. Denard beats Webb to the hole-area, causing a traffic jam. Shilling (-1) may have lost his block.                       . OSU29 2 9 Shotgun H-back 0 2 3 3-4 Run QB Zone Robinson 2 . Koger and Lewan talk after the play, somebody messed up. Denard was going to cut off-tackle, but didn't get to it. Koger (-1)                       . OSU28 3 8 Shotgun 1-back 1 0 4 3-4 Pass Rollout slant Rountree 0 . Denard rolls out, overthrows Roundtree MA. Remember thinking "Roundtree will make up for it." Protection +1                       . OSU28 4 8 Shotgun 4-wide 0 1 4 3-4 Pass Slant Koger 0 . Throw a little high to Koger CA, still hits him in the hands. Gonna be one of those days.                       . Drive result: TOD, 0-0, 9:08 1st Q                       .                         . LN DN Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards . M18 1 10 Shotgun 2-back 2 1 2 4-3 Run Midline read Smith -4 . Possible bad read by Denard as the DE is crashing pretty hard. Crackback penalty declined.                       . M14 2 14 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 3-4 Run Delay QB draw Robinson 5 . Denard drops back, but takes off down field. Never got up to warp speed, just looking for an opening.                       . M19 3 9 Shotgun 5 wide 0 0 5 3-4 Pass Stop Grady 11 . Looked like 4 verticals, Grady pulls up at the marker. DO, 1                       . M30 1 10 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 3-4 Pass Draw fake swing Roundtree 0 . By the way, most of what I call 3-4 is more like 3 and a half. OSU has 4 on the line, but only 3 with hands down. Pass is CA, Roundtree drops it.                       . M30 2 10 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 3-4 Pass Stop Roundtree 7 . Denard zings one into Roundtree. DO, 1 short pass.

. M37 3 3 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 3-4 Run Delay QB draw Robinson 5 . Looks similar to the draw earlier, Denard drops back and maybe checks one receiver and takes off.                       . M42 1 10 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 3-4 Run Midline read Shaw   . Webb pulls, creating the lane inside for Shaw.Molk is like 7 yards down field, springing this for a big gain.                       . OSU19 1 10 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 3-4 Run Midline option Robinson 4(-10) . Same H-back look. Back goes outside, but the play goes inside the tackle. Hold on Schilling brings it back.                       . OSU29 1 20 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 3-4 Run Zone read Shaw 3 . Zone read look, but Koger pulls to Denard's side, leaving Shaw 1 on 4 with OSU LBs. Shaw runs out of bounds                       . OSU26 2 17 Shotgun 1-back 1 0 4 3-4 Pass Out Roundtree 0 . Sprint out, has Roundtree open, but through the hands CA, 0. Roy is officially having a bad day.                       . OSU26 3 17 Shotgun 1-back 1 0 4 3-4 Yakkity Sax       . Wow, didn't notice this the first time. Denard drops back and takes off. Grady was near-handwavingly open for the first. Fumbled at the end of the play. BR, 0                       . Drive result: Fumble, 0-0, 3:56 1st Q                       .                         . LN DN Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards . M22 1 10 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 3-4 Pass Fake Bubble slant Stonum 24 (-5) . I love Fake Bubble Slant. Hits Stonum in stride, DO 1. Illegal motion of Jackson brings it back (Gah!)                       . M17 1 15 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 3-4 Run QB sweep Robinson 0 . QB power sweep, can't make the corner. Blocking is decent, pursuit is good. Can't score on 'em all.                       . M17 2 15 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 3-4 Pass RB dump-off Shaw 0

. Time for Robinson to look around (protection +1), has Shaw open out of the backfield, but throws before Shaw is looking. MA, 0                       . M17 3 15 Shotgun 5 wide 0 0 5 3-4 Pass Post Stonum 0 . OSU rushes three, giving Denard time to look around. Has Stonum open, overthrown a little, still hit his hands on the dive. CA, 0                       . Drive result: Broekhuizen punts 18 yards. 0-3, 14:02 2nd Q.                       .                         . LN DN Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards . M20 1 10 Empty backfield 0 1 4 3-4 Run QB draw Robinson 6 . Denard cuts back and gets a good gain.                       . M26 2 4 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 3-4 Pass Bubble Roundtree 5 . Fake handoff Bubble, DO, 1, Roundtree gets the first. And there was much rejoicing.                       . M31 1 10 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 3-4 Run QB off tackle Robinson 5 . That funny sweep/slant thing again. It's like a QB keep Zone Read with Option.                       . M36 2 5 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 3-4 Run RB sweep Smith 11 . Looked like a designed handoff, Smith cuts inside for a good gain. Webb (+1) has a nice block on the outside to open the cutback.                       . M47 1 10 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 3-4 Run QB sweep Robinson 11 . OSU safety rolls up, doesn't matter as Denard runs right by him.                       . OSU42 1 10 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 3-4 Run Zone stretch? Smith 1 . Eh. Give Denard a play off to rest. Dorrestein loses his block to allow the tackle. Good blocking downfield otherwise. Could have gone bigger that it first looked.                       . OSU41 2 9 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 4-3 Pass Rollout TE out Koger 3 . Yay, somebody ran a different formation! Denard rolls out, hits Koger CA, 1 for a short gain.

. OSU39 3 6 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 3-4 Run Zone read Shaw 4 . Almost a shotgun offset-I look, as the RB and TE are on the same side of the formation. Shaw cuts back inside, tackled short                       . OSU34 4 2 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 3-4 Pass WR cross Stonum 12 . With everybody thinking run, Denard hits Stonum on the numbers DO, 1 and gets some YAC as well.                       . OSU22 1 10 ???         Run QB sweep Robinson 21 . Denard is made of dilithium. Gets the corner, cuts inside and almost flies into the endzone. Highlight reel! +1's for everyone for great blocks!                       . OSU1 1 G Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 4-4 Run Dive Shaw 1 . Shaw straight ahead for a TD.                       . Drive Result: Touchdown, MEEECHIGAN! 7-10 8:02 2nd Q Ensuing kickoff return for TD. Ouch, 7-17, 7:50 2nd Q                       .                         . LN DN Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards . M43 1 10 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 3-4 Run Draw Shaw 0 . Facemask penalty on the kickoff gives Michigan good field position. Not much push from the line.                       . M43 2 10 Shotgun 1-back 1 0 4 3-4 Pass Stop Stonum 18 . Little rollout from Denard freezed the defense, allowing Stonum to get open and do the "orbit step" for a few more CA, 1                       . OSU39 1 10 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 3-4 Run QB sweep Robinson 4 . QB sweep gets a few before Denard runs OOB.                       . OSU35 2 6 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 3-4 Run Zone read Smith -2 . Zone read to Smith, Omameh loses his block, allowing TFL. 4 guys make the tackle (blocking -1)                       . OSU37 3 8 Shotgun 1-back 1 0 4 3-4 Pass Flag Roundtree 0

. Trips right, rolls right, bounces off Roundtree's hands, CA, 0                       . OSU37 4 8 Shotgun 5 wilde 0 0 5 3-4 Pass Post Roundtree 0 . Denard rushed a little as Lewan loses his block, still hits Roundtree in the hands for another drop. Calling this MA, 0, since its slightly behind, but still. This receiver chart would be ugly.                       . Drive result: Turnover on downs, 7-17, 5:55 2nd Q                       .                         . LN DN Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards . Sorry, my video doesn't have the last 3 minutes of the half. Summary: Tate in, 2/2, 1 8 yard gain by Smith, 1 2 yard fumble by Smith                       .                         . LN DN Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards . M39 1 10 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 3-4 Pass Post Forcier 0 . Michigan's ball to start the second half, Tate in at QB. Stonum is open, but the ball is overthrown an picked. MA, 0                       . Drive result: Int, 7-24 14:47 3rd Q                       .                         . LN DN Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards . M31 1 10 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 3-4 Run Zone read Shaw 4 . Denard back in at QB. Hands off to Shaw, gets a few. H-back pulls across for a lead block. Good push by the O-line                       . M35 2 6 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 3-4 Pass Play action rollout scramble Robinson 4 . Denard fakes the handoff and rolls right, looking for someone open. Nobody open, so takes off and gets a couple before stepping OOB.                       . M39 3 2 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 3-4 Pass Draw fake slant Stonum 14 . Play action slant to Stonum for the first down. DO, 1.

. OSU45 1 10 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 3-4 Run Draw Shaw -2 . H-back and RB on the same side of the formation again, Koger looks like he doesn't block the DE, Lewan can't hold his block and this is stopped for a loss.                       . OSU47 2 12 Shotgun 1-back 1 1 3 3-4 Pass Go Stonum 0 . Same formation, Denard rolls right and throws to Stonum deep as he gets hit (protection -1). Ball is a little high and short (is that possible?), MA, 0.                       . OSU47 3 12 Shotgun 1-back 1 0 4 3-4 Pass Out Roundtree 0 . Denard rolls again, good time to look (protection +1), throws a little low to Roundtree CA, 0, but can't pull it in. Woulda, coulda, shoulda.                       . Drive result: punt down to the 2, 7-31, 10:30 3rd Q.                       .                         . LN DN Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards . M20 1 10 Shotgun 2-Back 2 0 3 3-4 Run Sweep Toussaint 2 . Handoff to Toussaint, runs into Schilling and brought down.                       . M22 2 8 Shotgun 2-Back 2 0 3 3-4 Yakkity Sax     -7 . Snap is dropped, Denard hit before he can get moving.                       . M15 3 15 Shotgun 5-wide 0 0 5 3-4 Pass Scramble Robinson 12 . Great job by Denard to avoid the first hit (Schilling -1), protection -1, Denard takes off and gets 12.                       . Drive result: punt, 7-34, 7:57 3rd Q

Mercy. Tate comes back in, manages one more good drive, but Michigan has 2 TODs and a punt.

So, big-picture, waxing philosophical stuff yet?

The first two drives Michigan rolled down the field. Michigan did stuff like this:

Dear OSU, you are about to get 0wn3d.

Everybody got somebody? Good.

Bye Michael! Let us know if there’s anyone out there.

Stiff arm? Stiff arm.

The only reason they didn’t get points was because of FG kicking (or lack thereof). Then a bad punt, and they still scored a TD. Then OSU returned a kick for a TD, Roundtree never got the butter off his gloves and Denard hurt his hand. They had to play a perfect game and didn’t. I still don’t care. If OSU and Wisconsin are road-graders, this team is fireworks. And I’d rather watch fireworks than road construction any day.

Speaking of fireworks, how about some dilithium?

Damn, I wish that had been the TD. I also wish ABC hadn’t missed the start of that play.

Final thoughts?

Honestly, no. Whatever I say will be spun into a constant “Fire the coach/keep the coach” argument, so I’ll just shut up. We saw some new plays, they moved the ball well against an established defense, lots of great individual effort, and lots of hope for next year. Yes, they stalled out in the second half, with an injured Denard or non-Superman Tate. Yes, Denard was 8/18 for 87 yards. Pick your stat, it wasn’t the greatest game of the year. I still say “Great job, kids” and proudly applaud my team for leaving it all on the field. Hail to the victors valiant, hail to the conquering heroes, hail, hail, to Michigan, the leaders and best!