Anatomy of a Michigan offensive play.

Submitted by techyooper on

What I think I know.  The OC from the box makes the call.  RR has overide authority.  Play is relayed by Tate and JK to the field.  The team gets the call.  Team gets set.  Denard looks to sideline for a check and relays as necessary.  Questions from myself.

1.  Is only one play called or are multiple plays called based on defensive formation (I guess this would be more an option rather than multiple play calls) and is a follow on play called based on expected results of current play to increase tempo. 

2.  Does Calvin Magee intiate each play call?

Any input on the anatomy of a Michigan offensive play would be appreciated but not information that gives couch burners an advantage.

    

brewandbluesaturdays

October 6th, 2010 at 8:20 PM ^

After Disecting many plays I see that they all tend to have this uncanny ability to get into the endzone...

This is an interesting question and I have always been slightly curious as to how the system completely works. I think your hypotheses is pretty close to how it all goes down.

mgokev

October 6th, 2010 at 8:42 PM ^

I know that when Henne was the QB, multiple plays were called.  I can't remember where I read this, but the "normal" play was on unless the defense was lined up in a way that made them want to change the play.  This led to the Henne having to hold up his hands before the snap (often seen doing the number one sign) which would signal the the offense that play #1 is being checked to.  

Even in high school football, where the QB is given the responsibility to change plays at the line, multiple plays are called and the QB will decide which one of the two to select after seeing the defense line up.

The OC will typically call the plays from the box and it will be relayed to the QB.  

Marley Nowell

October 6th, 2010 at 9:00 PM ^

Calvin Magee has been an excellent playercaller this season.  Having Koger catch that TD when he has been blocking all game was great.  I can't wait to see the tricks we'll have for lil' brother.

 

GO BLUE!

SFBayAreaBlue

October 6th, 2010 at 11:53 PM ^

the formation is sent first, then once the eye in the sky sees the defense the coaches call any one of 50 different plays, which might also include a formation change whereby they can call one of 50 other plays.  This is the whole point of the "Jet" tempo so that there is enough time at the LOS to make adjustments and send in the plays.

I'm exaggerating, usually a formation will have 4-5 basic plays, but each one of those can have numerous tweeks and permuatations, which if you count, get pretty large. 

the_big_house 500th

October 7th, 2010 at 12:01 AM ^

against MSU this weekend. Denard does the amazing that is the truth but we can't rely on him alone to be our offense. Names like Hemmingway, Smith, Roundtree and Stonum have to be on their A game as well. This defense for MSU on the running game has not been good so Denard can exploit that weakness and destroy it. I'm worried though about our defensive pressure on Cousins because shutting him down is going to be key against State's offense.

Passing yards for State is ranked 39th while we are at 38th so odds are some big throwing will be seen in this game but we are 3rd in the nation in rushing so we should really do some major damage on MSU's defensive line.

Blazefire

October 7th, 2010 at 8:09 AM ^

something I didn't realize I was really wondering about until just now.

So, running the zone read, the QB has the responsibility to make a read on the defense as soon as the play begins and choose where to go with the ball. Usually, he can either hand it off to the RB, keep it himself, or keep it and throw to a WR or TE. I guess the question is this:

Is each Zone Read offensive play drawn up with multiple different "endings" based on the read? I mean, I know that the O line isn't really going to be able to change their blocks mid play, so how much decision making is actually going on there?

"Okay, so Denard, when you make the read, if you hand it off, he's going to hit the hole here, or there's a cutback lane here if that closes up. If you keep it, you can shoot for the edge, or look for this hole here assuming you made the proper read. If you keep it and you see the safeties coming up to contain the run, your receivers are here, here, and here, and this is the progression."

That seems like a whole MESS of stuff to do in the middle of a play. Is each play designed instead to have two options? I.E, either hand if off to the RB or the QB runs it, OR hand it off to the RB or the QB throws it, etc.

I'm not really sure how much "in play" decision making goes on in the Zone Read.