2021 UM at Penn State Clifford Scrambles
Hi- I rewatched last year's game and took notes on every successful scramble by Clifford.
- Hutchinson moved like a child to other side of pocket near left tackle (yes I was shocked), PSU blocker's hands are outside shoulder pads- no edge where Hutchinson's Clifford picks up first down
- Designed run Michigan right tackle is held and wrestled to ground leaving huge gap between him and Hutchinson who was 4 yards upfield- 14 yards
- Ojabo rushes 9 yards deep leaving big window between and our RG who is double teamed QB picks up 6
- Rushed 3, Mazi is tripped (should be flag IMHO) going through line Clifford picks up 5 & first down
- Weird blitz by Ross where he puts his head down and hits the left tackle rather than heading at the quarterback- our other LB buries himself for no reason leaving the right side open Clifford picks up 20
- Michigan right edge rushes 9 yards deep - Clifford picks up 5
I think 2 or 3 of 6 of Cliffords successful scrambles were due to holding. On the others we just need our DE's to not rush further than about 6 yards deep.
Other items of note: Michigan was close on 2 interceptions that they didn't get
U of M knocked the ball loose 3 times without recovering any of them
Blitzing from Clifford's blind side was very effective
October 12th, 2022 at 10:44 AM ^
My bold prediction is that Clifford will not finish this game. A big key to this game is how many hits they get on him.
October 12th, 2022 at 10:50 AM ^
I think this is where we see if the edge potential of Morris, Okie, Harrell, McGregor, Moore, etc. is the real deal or not. 5+ sacks and we're for real.
October 12th, 2022 at 11:11 AM ^
Depending on their scheme, even a bunch of pressures is just fine.
October 12th, 2022 at 11:18 AM ^
Just as long as no one moves...
like a child to other side of pocket
October 12th, 2022 at 1:01 PM ^
What does OP's "like a child" statement mean in this context?
October 12th, 2022 at 1:36 PM ^
He is saying Hutchinson got moved and lost the rep badly albeit possibly with uncalled holding.
It happens from time to time even to the top players.
October 12th, 2022 at 2:23 PM ^
Part of the problem with playing on the line. A single mis-step and you're going to look silly no matter how good you are.
October 12th, 2022 at 3:13 PM ^
The "got moved" is different than I read OP's "moved like a child". "Got moved" makes sense to me. I thought he was saying Hutch moved by choice (perhaps pre-snap) and didn't understand.
October 12th, 2022 at 11:25 AM ^
5 is A LOT of sacks in one game man. I'd say 3 sacks with some good pressure throughout and we can stop worrying about the pass rush.
October 12th, 2022 at 12:28 PM ^
We're worrying about the pass rush?
October 12th, 2022 at 12:32 PM ^
Yes but mostly because they are still untested. Maryland was able to hold them off for most of the game and the other OL they've faced have been suspect at best.
October 12th, 2022 at 10:51 AM ^
Careful for what you wish for. Penn State's QB situation is similar to last years Michigan's QB room. Clifford (Cade) is holding off the highly recruited 5 star freshman Allar (JJ).
Now, putting a true freshman into a big road game will certainly make the game very interesting swinging from crazy good plays to really poor ones....
With that being stated, I would not be too scared to have the true freshman having to come in and make plays in a huge road game.....
October 12th, 2022 at 11:25 AM ^
Nah, we'd be good. I'm pretty sure that nowhere in Michigan's history does it suggest we've had a really bad time defending backup QBs. Especially not anytime recently!
/s
I know we're not playing OSU, but if the backup QB comes in that's usually when I get more worried than I ought to. I still have bad memories of watching Dwayne Haskins dropping dimes on third and forever that allowed OSU to not only convert, but watching two Michigan players run into each other and injure themselves in the process. I remember watching JT Barrett go down in 2014, and then Cardale Jones comes in and OSU just freaking runs away with it at that point.
If its a backup QB, especially a very talented 5 star backup QB, then I'm going to be very concerned about it.
October 12th, 2022 at 2:28 PM ^
I don't think either of Barrett's injuries (2014 and '17) affected the outcome. We were already down in the '14 game at the time of the injury. In '17 we were ahead, but OSU had woken up after falling behind 14-0 and had the ball, down 20-14. The bigger problem that day was on the other side of the ball - John O'Korn couldn't hit open receivers on a regular basis.
October 12th, 2022 at 11:08 AM ^
Okie needs a ton of run. Dude's athletic enough to hunt down Clifford.
October 12th, 2022 at 3:37 PM ^
Cannot wait to see what Minter's plans are. Okie seems the perfect fit. I'm looking forward to Amoeba with Cruelty.
October 12th, 2022 at 11:12 AM ^
My bolder prediction is that if Clifford is knocked out early enough, their backup will have more success than Clifford would have. Allar is their JJ (5 star waiting to get more experience before getting thrown into the fire).
He looked better than Clifford did when I saw him inserted in the Purdue game, and I have to imagine another 5 weeks of proactive and learning the playbook have continued to benefit him.
My personal preference in passing situations would be to squeeze Clifford in the pocket and limit his runs by sending 4 and keeping a spy on him. Make him throw the ball away when no one is open and get the ball back and make plays on the offensive side of the ball.
October 12th, 2022 at 11:21 AM ^
Clifford has to be dead to be out. Guy fearlessly balls like Devin Gardner. But watching him limp around like the end of last year's game would be fulfilling.
October 12th, 2022 at 11:31 AM ^
Clifford is tough as nails. But last year he was definitely feeling it by the end of the game.
I have some sympathy for the guy. Coaches are using him up. I hope that Penn State pays for his arthritis medication for the rest of his life.
October 12th, 2022 at 11:57 AM ^
Par for the course for James Franklin. Did the same thing to Hackenberg in 2014/2015 and McSorley as well. McSorley was credited with 473 rushing attempts in his career (I'm assuming sacks are folded into that number).
Franklin's inability to protect his QB's with even decent OL play while able to pull in very good defensive and skill players will always be a mystery to me.
October 12th, 2022 at 11:37 AM ^
This. Entirely. Sean Clifford is easily my favorite opponent ever. He put up decent numbers last year and damn near beat us despite getting obliterated on every play. It was painful just watching him sit on the bench.
October 12th, 2022 at 12:37 PM ^
Totally agree. My favorite non-Michigan player in the B1G.
October 12th, 2022 at 12:54 PM ^
Not mine. My favorite non-Michigan player is whichever Sparty just missed a tackle. So, a hefty list.
October 12th, 2022 at 12:07 PM ^
Allar had a couple of nice throws against Purdue but quickly reverted back to looking like a freshman QB.
October 12th, 2022 at 12:34 PM ^
Exactly. I would expect Allar to make a couple of crazy throws but turn around and throw the next one right at Turner or take a -25 yard sack cause he thinks he is still in HS....
October 12th, 2022 at 2:32 PM ^
My bolder prediction is that if Clifford is knocked out early enough, their backup will have more success than Clifford would have. Allar is their JJ (5 star waiting to get more experience before getting thrown into the fire).
But would you have wanted JJ in there in crunch time on the road last season?
Allar's thrown 19 passes on the year. In the Purdue game, he was 2-4 for 26 yards.
October 12th, 2022 at 12:32 PM ^
I'd honestly rather have Clifford stay in this game. Allar scares me
October 12th, 2022 at 1:09 PM ^
Is that because he has starrrz or is it something you saw in the 19 passes he’s had a PSU?
October 12th, 2022 at 2:03 PM ^
No it's because he's just,"scary!"
October 12th, 2022 at 10:45 AM ^
If the DL follows the advice below, they’ll be fine re: Clifford runs. 
October 12th, 2022 at 10:54 AM ^
And force him to pass not run.
October 12th, 2022 at 10:47 AM ^
"Hutchinson moved like a child to other side of pocket near left tackle (yes I was shocked)"
What's with the random shot at Hutchinson?
October 12th, 2022 at 10:51 AM ^
A certain rival’s message board is full of Hutchinson negative hot takes…he’s already a bust, he’s too small, his arms are too short, liability on the field, made his bones in a couple games and was average the rest of the year, yadda yadda.
October 12th, 2022 at 11:27 AM ^
Guessing it's the same place that the Will Anderson Talking Points Gazette was suddenly conjured three days before the Heisman Ceremony
October 12th, 2022 at 11:08 AM ^
Hey I love Hutchinson- Was shocked when I saw how much he was moved on that play- Here is the clip- https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxlxUmJqOr7ic95YuJebSunYPUSvenjvfN
October 12th, 2022 at 11:13 AM ^
Mazi Smith was successfully blocked one play last week! Panic!
October 12th, 2022 at 11:14 AM ^
It would seem almost impossible to say he was "moved like a child" without having some kind of dislike or resentment toward him.
October 12th, 2022 at 11:24 AM ^
He had a bad angle. It sometimes happens. Even for the best.
October 12th, 2022 at 10:50 AM ^
This game last year was pivotal. It wasn't easy. It was won in the last minute of the game. This Saturday will be no different. I expect both teams to bring it.
October 12th, 2022 at 10:50 AM ^
Clifford has always played well against Michigan. I think we should not underestimate him or the freshman running back.
October 12th, 2022 at 11:01 AM ^
Michigan's ends shoot like missiles toward the QB and can be taken out of the play behind the pocket. This is fine if you have reliable proven linebackers with good closing speed. The linebackers seem to be the weakness of this defense. This is a bit of a troubling dynamic going into this one.
October 12th, 2022 at 11:02 AM ^
The reason Tua jr didn't get a lot of rushing yards against us, i believe, is because we were focusing on containing him. Did we give up a bunch of sack opportunities to keep his rushing yards down? Possibly... if that is the case, that bodes very well for this game as well. Although, as stated above, getting a couple solid hits on the Big Red dog early, getting him a little shaken, can be huge for us. We win the turnover game as well.....
Michigan 34 knitting lions 17
Onward
Go Blue.
October 12th, 2022 at 11:07 AM ^
Taulia is Tua's son?
/s
October 12th, 2022 at 11:26 AM ^
The bigger question is, does Taulia get the belt like Tua did, or still does?
October 12th, 2022 at 11:15 AM ^
Yes. The Maryland game. I would be completely fine with that kind of approach. Make them use 15 plays to score or kick field goals.
October 12th, 2022 at 11:04 AM ^
It is a put off when you put down people like Hutch. You want a conversation. Be objective.
October 12th, 2022 at 11:15 AM ^
This is how the UFR described Hutchinson getting locked inside-
Hutchinson goes inside and gets put in an arm lock. Are you allowed to...? Smith can't replace because he's getting 100% held-
October 12th, 2022 at 2:03 PM ^
Is this the same play you describe above as “Hutchinson moved like a child to other side of pocket near left tackle (yes I was shocked), PSU blocker's hands are outside shoulder pads- no edge where Hutchinson's Clifford picks up first down”. It almost seems as if you are watching a different game.
October 12th, 2022 at 11:16 AM ^
Penn State's young RBs, Singleton and Allen, like to take the ball outside when the interior is gummed up. I expect Mazi and Jenkins to have the interior gummed up all game long. As for Clifford, he's always been a PITA with his legs. He's not fast but patient and tricky and is going to get his yards and he's going to get hit a lot.
Go Blue!
October 12th, 2022 at 11:32 AM ^
It's amazing how he keeps getting up. Tip of the hat to that level of toughness.