Great under-appreciated plays you caught on re-watch
Not sure if this has come up elsewhere (I didn't see it in Brian's sterling game summary, and it wasn't highlighted during the broadcast), but on Milroe's first OT run that went for ~15 yards, Rod Moore made what may have been the tackle of the day.
In the open field, with literally no one else standing between Milroe and the end zone, Moore tracked him and brought him down immediately (after not biting on the action that moved every other defender out of Milroe's path). Rod, amazing job man.
Any other un-sung plays that deserve a shout-out?
January 3rd, 2024 at 1:53 PM ^
That's all I've been thinking about too: the Rod Moore tackle. Without it, tie game, and who knows what happens next.
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:17 PM ^
I think the JJ 1 handed catch from Donovan was a huge play. Not only was it very athletic, but it saved the offense from a turnover or major loss.
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:23 PM ^
Stewart pushing Lathum back into Milroe causing QB to trip on the last play.
EDIT: https://twitter.com/terphimself/status/1742278274976297467?s=46&t=rFMZVlii9XmhFdxP_Csljg
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:26 PM ^
I must have missed that play
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:55 PM ^
I know, it's shocking that play hasn't been shown anywhere.
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:49 PM ^
I agree. People, even Brian, talk about Milroe tripping over his own lineman. The actual fact is, if 250LB Stewart doesn't push 300+LB Latham into the backfield Milroe might break through.
Addendum, if the pulling guard, who blocked exactly nobody, had stayed home to create a bigger gap.....
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:52 PM ^
There was a wall of humanity between Latham and the end zone. Not a chance Milroe was getting in after the low snap.
January 4th, 2024 at 12:59 AM ^
I honestly don’t think the snap had much effect on the play.
Milroe looked like the moment was too big. He didn’t keep his eyes up.
His only chance was to slide off to the left and hope Mikey didn’t close him out.
The line held.
January 3rd, 2024 at 3:14 PM ^
Not sure if you're serious, but I believe Milroe was supposed to follow him but instead ran right up the middle. If he moves left, there is a much greater than nonzero chance he scores.
January 3rd, 2024 at 3:41 PM ^
If he goes left there is a chance but Mikey is breathing down his neck. Couldve been a fabulous race to the endzone.
January 3rd, 2024 at 6:35 PM ^
Actually, Mike initially ran straight upfield on the snap. It's possible he could have backtracked, but that's the main reason why I said "...greater than a nonzero chance."
January 3rd, 2024 at 7:03 PM ^
Stewart did not simply push Latham he drove and launched that 6'6" 360 pounder into Milroe-which sent Milroe sumersaulting. Stewart effectively made that tackle. The responses here diminishing what happened are stunning. It does not matter what else took place to compromise the play; the fact is that Stewart drove a nail into that coffin.
January 3rd, 2024 at 8:23 PM ^
It does not matter what else took place to compromise the play; the fact is that Stewart drove a nail into that coffin
Why? Because YOU say so? A good snap and Milroe following the pulling guard to the left gives him a CHANCE to score. Panicking and running straight ahead - not so much!
January 3rd, 2024 at 10:09 PM ^
Who is diminishing Stewart's play? It was incredible. It also might have been irrelevant if Milroe had taken a different path. I'm not sure why you can't understand that both can be true.
January 4th, 2024 at 1:02 AM ^
JC Lathem was the #1 ranked tackle coming out of high school and ranked the #3 tackle in the draft. What Josiah did was epic.
January 3rd, 2024 at 3:00 PM ^
I still don’t understand why Milroe didn’t bounce left and follow his pulling guard. He could’ve walked in as Sainristil came too far upfield to contain.
January 3rd, 2024 at 7:23 PM ^
I heard (Klatt I think) saying that was the intention. First had to sell straight up before bouncing out.
Either Milroe tripped and couldn't bounce or was sold on just taking it himself.
And the WR thought a bubble screen was possible and was quite upset after the game. So possibly a run pass option even.
Saban said Rees wanted ball in hands of Milroe on a sneak, thought that was the right thing to do.
Overall confusion. Possibly some options. Credit Michigan for blowing it up while keeping decent one on one coverage outside.
January 3rd, 2024 at 7:53 PM ^
As Klatt pointed out Mike took away the potential rollout pass to the flat with the blitz. But I think the low snap made the QB panic and abandon that option for diving into the inpenatrable wall.
January 4th, 2024 at 7:43 AM ^
I'm sure Klatt is right; they weren't running Milroe into the teeth of the defense, they were trying to tie up the D in the middle and then bounce him. Latham falling prevented the move. No more, no less.
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:34 PM ^
My answer as well. A lot of mortal DBs miss that tackle
January 3rd, 2024 at 1:54 PM ^
I liked the 16 times their center snapped the ball at the QB’s feet
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:17 PM ^
honestly, I know Brian & Co were talking about this coming into the game but.....how is that not something they fixed? I thought for sure that was going to be one of those "of course they fixed that for our game" issues we IDd ahead of time only to see it never materialize. But there he was just snapping the ball all over the place.
Of course I would too if the law offices of Graham and Grant were coming a callin'
January 3rd, 2024 at 4:40 PM ^
I can't help but wonder how bad Bama's backup centers must be for that young man to be their best option.
Woof.
January 3rd, 2024 at 1:56 PM ^
Does a good play to cover up a bad play count?
Because if Thaw does ANYTHING different after that muffed punt, the game was over.
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:02 PM ^
Thaw sure fucked up, but his recovery and ability to get blown up and not fumble saved the game. Happy for the kid it all worked out a-ok!
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:14 PM ^
It's an incredible play in the game, especially when you consider the one and only reason Thaw was back there was to safely/securely catch the ball and not F* it up. We saw what happened.
Then his ability to NOT panic in the situation and at least secure the ball before it went into the end zone saved the game. He went from choke to hero within a matter of 2 seconds.
January 3rd, 2024 at 7:50 PM ^
I think i read it actually would've been a touchback if he'd dived on it in the endzone.
January 3rd, 2024 at 8:26 PM ^
It never reached the end zone. So he couldn't dive on it in the end zone. And if HE - and not the punt itself is ruled as the reason it made the end zone... Lord help us! It will make "trouble with the snap" seem like happy days!
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:10 PM ^
I actually think this play isn't being talked about enough. Thaw had 1 shot to grab that ball perfectly and stay out of the end zone. If he doesn't the game is over.
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:28 PM ^
While also being bulldozed over -- it was incredible he held onto the ball. I was jumping and screaming during Live game, but watching replay I watched this play quite a few times and each time waiting for him to fumble it.
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:20 PM ^
That's kinda like having the wherewithal to snip the shrapnel bomb tripwire *you* walked into yourself, but yes.
Moreover, I 100% trust our coaches and Thaw to grow from that almost disaster, in a "great work, never fkn do that again" kind of way.
January 3rd, 2024 at 3:44 PM ^
Im ok with Roman Wilson returning every punt we field for the rest of his Michigan career. It was cute fellas but wtf?
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:50 PM ^
Also on the shotgun play on first down, Blake runs into the line behind the LOS and has to bounce to lunge forward to get the yard.
January 3rd, 2024 at 3:05 PM ^
Does anyone actually know if Thaw muffed it and then gained control (recovered it) in the endzone, is that a safety or touchback? I tried to google rulebook stuff but didn't come up with anything. If it's similar to the NFL, it appears the ball is dead in the endzone after a muff and would be a touchback, FYI, Patriots bizarre muffed punt, explained: Interpreting NFL rulebook that prevented a safety vs. Steelers | Sporting News
Now if he gained control like he did at the 1 and then fumbled into the endzone, that seems like it would have been a TD and not a safety. Anyway, glad we don't necessarily need to know.
January 3rd, 2024 at 3:12 PM ^
I've been walking around saying with certainty that it would be a safety. I guess I wouldn't bet my life on it. But, that's a safety.
If it would be a touchback, then it would be advantageous (but risky) to intentionally muff a punt back into the end zone and recover it there. Instead of being pinned you'd be on the 20.
January 3rd, 2024 at 3:54 PM ^
Muffed isnt possession so its a live ball and once we landed on it in the endzone its a touchback. If people started intentionally muffing into touchbacks im sure they would change the rules but nobody is risking giving up a TD for better field position.
January 3rd, 2024 at 5:10 PM ^
Shoot. Aside from having spread misinformation, I'm also mad because now I wish Thaw had recovered the ball in the end zone, and then watch everyone lose their minds thinking it's a safety only to have Michigan get the ball on the 20 and then go and win it on a walk-off FG in regulation.
But I guess it turned out okay.
January 3rd, 2024 at 5:48 PM ^
It depends on the refs judgement on whether the ball went into the end zone from the momentum of the kick. Rather not leave that call to refs judgement.
January 3rd, 2024 at 8:52 PM ^
A kick is a kick UNTIL IT IS POSSESSED. If he truly muffed the punt (never had possession), it is still a kick and the "impetus" for the ball going into the end zone would be the kick--hence a touchback.
But if he gains possession (however fleetingly, two hands/two feet) then he has put the ball in the end zone and it's a safety.
As the play unfolded, he did gain possession but outside the end zone. Therefore forward progress means no safety and Michigan gets the ball where he first possessed it.
January 3rd, 2024 at 3:06 PM ^
I don't understand why we even had someone(thaw) back there. I also don't understand why he tried to catch it on the 3 yard line. Why not let it bounce into the end zone? Even if they downed it at the one it was better than taking a chance on the muffed punt imho.
January 3rd, 2024 at 4:03 PM ^
That was his first mistake. The punt returner should never fair catch at the five yard line.
January 3rd, 2024 at 3:06 PM ^
I don’t understand why these punt returners are catching or (worse yet) fair catching punts inside the 10 or even the 5 yard line. I’ve seen this countless times this entire bowl season.
Are they not being coached? Let the damn thing go! How could you end up with any worse result than fair catching a ball at the 5 yard line?
January 3rd, 2024 at 5:50 PM ^
How could you end up with any worse result than fair catching a ball at the 5 yard line?
Ball could bounce dead ( or be downed at the 1). But, yeah inside the 5 definitely let it go.
January 3rd, 2024 at 8:11 PM ^
Rule of thumb is typically heals on the ten, if it's over your head, let it go. That was definitely a no-no.
Glad it turned out ok, but that was one play I wondered how mentally prepared we were. Last drive demonstrated this team's true grit.
January 3rd, 2024 at 3:36 PM ^
Herbstreit pointed that out, too. Bad mistake, but great recovery by Thaw. He didn't panic, he didn't freeze, he didn't give up on the play. He picked up the ball, made sure he secured it, and braced himself for the hit from the 'Bama defender. That's exactly what you do in that situation.
It also speaks to the quality of coaching (notwithstanding the forgettable overall performance by the special teams). Great coaches don't coach their players to be afraid to make mistakes. They coach players on how to limit mistakes and how to react and respond when they do make mistakes.
January 3rd, 2024 at 3:53 PM ^
I was telling my son how tough a spot it was for Thaw. Of course it's still his responsibility to secure the catch but he was sitting all game out at least since half time. That was a high pressure situation and I wasn't surprised he fumbled.
Tough spot as a coach to decide between a guy who's dropped 2 punts and a guy who's been sitting most of the game.
January 3rd, 2024 at 5:56 PM ^
I have nightmares that it went the other way.
January 3rd, 2024 at 1:58 PM ^
I thought that play was a TD for sure.
One play I appreciate from both sides was Bama’s third and goal in OT. There is nothing Burton wouldn’t have done to score, and nothing Wallace wouldn’t have done to prevent it. Warriors in that moment. Literally. Hope Burton is ok.
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:33 PM ^
I felt like the play by Graham on 2nd and goal set the tone for what was about to transpire. He absolutely obliterated that play before it ever had a chance. Turning second and goal from the nine into 3rd and goal from the 14 changed the entire complexion of overtime.
January 3rd, 2024 at 3:10 PM ^
Yes. And while subsequent things might not have been handled the same, but if Graham hadn’t stuffed that play so badly, Wallace’s catch on the next play would have been in the end zone rather than the 3 yard line. Game is tied instead of the 4th and goal.