Inside the Playbook: Michigan's Use of FBs and Addition of Gaps
I've been quite busy lately and haven't been able to post as much as I'd typically like to, either here or at my own blog. But I had some free time last night and saw something in last week's game that I've wanted to touch on for years, as it is one of my favorite ideas in football, and one of the main reasons I love Harbaugh's offense so much.
It just so happened that Brian's Offensive UFR really helped expedite the process by pulling the clips I would have had to on my own; so you not only can love the UFR in its own right, but also because it helps me produce content that I otherwise wouldn't have time to make in many cases. So yay UFR.
Anyway, it was important to give the reader a basic understanding of defensive gaps. This is the A-gap (between Center and OG), B-gap (OG and OT), C gap (OT and TE), D gap (TE and Flanker), E-gap (outside flanker) and sometimes all the way out to F-gap (outside outer most WR). Then I wanted to explain how pulling OL and FBs inserted into the LOS impact how the defense sees gaps, and how it makes it difficult for defenses to defend these ideas. So I did that here.
Harbaugh has always utilized these concepts, all of them, from spreading the field, utilizing bunch and trips formations, multiple backs, even the "Emery" formation (which is something I don't think gets used enough, that or it's varients I think are extremely effective ways of getting power in space and forcing DBs to be ILBs on the edge) are all about manipulating the defense's ability to be gap sound. In this post, I looked specifically how Harbaugh utilizes multiple FBs to not only add additional gaps, but also take away defensive keys. This, of course, forces defenses to think, which causes them to delay, which causes them to get popped in the chin and driven off the ball. So it's a great concept that I wanted to highlight.
October 2nd, 2015 at 9:51 AM ^
October 2nd, 2015 at 9:56 AM ^
Dawkins - the complete guide to being an idiot on the internet
October 2nd, 2015 at 10:01 AM ^
Really, really think you're reading into that wrong. Unless this guy is a known troll, I assumed the picture was supposed to be Dawkins not Space Coyote. Also it's just apt and funny and doesn't have to be taken as a shot at SC. Also if you're viewing it that seriously you could call it a compliment since SC boils it down to terms a "Complete Idiot" would understand, just like those kinds of books try to do.
October 2nd, 2015 at 10:03 AM ^
And usually I'm pretty good at finding insults in things that aren't necessarily insults (I think it's a coaching thing; something Dantonio has obviously mastered), but I could be wrong.
October 2nd, 2015 at 10:21 AM ^
You were correct. It was a self-dig, i.e., implying that your post was way over my head.
October 2nd, 2015 at 10:56 AM ^
I'm still trying to figure out the 12 man front, was somebody borrowed from the 10 man front?
October 2nd, 2015 at 4:07 PM ^
Are you referring to the letters? Those are designating gaps, not defensive players. If not, I don't get your joke.
October 2nd, 2015 at 8:56 PM ^
A "Brian's Guide to the Basics" myself. Or something like that. Or one of those books like in the picture, at least.
October 2nd, 2015 at 10:05 AM ^
Thumbs up. I thought it was funny, but I guess a sense of humor is not allowed on the Internets.
October 2nd, 2015 at 10:29 AM ^
Well sometimes it is, and sometimes it isn't.It depends on whether mgrowold is grounded and not allowed out of his room at any given moment.
October 2nd, 2015 at 10:37 AM ^
October 2nd, 2015 at 10:06 AM ^
I'm pretty sure he meant it the way I implied. As a shot at SC.
October 2nd, 2015 at 10:20 AM ^
Ah, yeah I missed that. Still this seems pretty mild.
Edit: having re-read the discussion of people arguing about weather I'm just not going to make any judgments
October 2nd, 2015 at 10:30 AM ^
This. I read the OP and it made me feel like I needed to borrow that book from Henry Winkler. There's a handful of douchey basement-dwelling posters here who try to wage an internet tough guy war an every turn though, and they use fake internet points (negs or whatever) as their ammo. It's pretty funny.
October 2nd, 2015 at 12:24 PM ^
to resort to insults and name calling Their names change as they never stay for long. This is in stark contrast to their prevalence at most sports forums. Perhaps that's due to those fake internet points, perhaps the philosophy of the mods, maybe people just tend to conform to the tenor of the discussions. Probably it's a combination of all three. Whatever the reason, the civility of the discussions is a major part of MGoBlog's image.
October 2nd, 2015 at 1:03 PM ^
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October 2nd, 2015 at 3:27 PM ^
well I say screw all you assholes! /s
October 2nd, 2015 at 12:31 PM ^
October 2nd, 2015 at 12:58 PM ^
Borges had a guy run for 300 yards last week, the all-time record at the school, and in the same game his QB was 20-23 for 252...all in a game they weren't even favored to win.
Is it possible SC was right and Borges wasn't the problem?
October 2nd, 2015 at 1:56 PM ^
October 2nd, 2015 at 8:12 PM ^
October 2nd, 2015 at 9:56 AM ^
October 2nd, 2015 at 10:01 AM ^
He never was a good defensive coach in the NBA, not sure this would help him.
Plus, I've written a ton about Dantonio's defense, so that's out there anyway (plus, all these guys already know everything I'm talking about and more).
October 2nd, 2015 at 10:07 AM ^
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October 2nd, 2015 at 12:30 PM ^
October 2nd, 2015 at 1:01 PM ^
...and Stoudamire won't know what to do.
October 2nd, 2015 at 12:50 PM ^
For 3!
October 2nd, 2015 at 10:02 AM ^
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October 2nd, 2015 at 10:13 AM ^
Michigan is going to have to keep improving, they aren't there yet. Need to get stronger up front, need to develop a couple more wrinkles, and need to get better at a few plays in particular (specifically, the T-Lead play and the counter, they need to block those better).
MSU's D matches up really well with Michigan's offense. They are still strong up front, their base naturally brings 9 into the box, and they play against a fairly similar offense throughout the whole off season. They are also still a strong run defense in the way that they generate a lot of failed runs (they give up some chunk plays, but they shut down the offense on a high percentage of plays). But they can take advantage of some of MSU's weaknesses. Obviously in the pass game a bit, but the counter and T-Lead can really attack some of the weaknesses of LBs playing in space and safeties taking poor angles down into the box.
So Michigan's ability to continue to improve and adding things will be key. I haven't watched much Northwestern this year, I know they shutdown Stanford, which really surprised me given their strengths/weaknesses from last year. So that could be interesting. But MSU will be a real challange; I like the rate at which Michigan is improving, I thought they had a decent shot coming into the year (MSU still clearly favored, but Michigan had a chance), and I think their chances are improving, but right now I still think MSU has better odds. Michigan isn't where they need to be yet, but they are improving at a nice clip.
October 2nd, 2015 at 1:09 PM ^
October 2nd, 2015 at 1:26 PM ^
As far as film study is concerned, and in-depth with both teams.
One thing is for sure though, they'll need to get outside the tackle box at times. That means they need to continue to develop the T-Lead and the Counter plays and execute those better. The "screen" you saw to Green, which is essentially a run play with the ball is caught behind the LOS and blocking set up immediately, is another play I wouldn't be surprised to see more of. Possibly some QB option game, either read or actual option at times. A few more draws to try to pick on the OLBs and safeties in the run/pass conflict their defense presents them with.
October 2nd, 2015 at 3:11 PM ^
October 2nd, 2015 at 4:08 PM ^
MSU are super aggressive, so I think judicious use of counters and edge plays that utilize WR blocks should help.
One of the many issues I felt we had against MSU during the 2014 game was that Funchess in particular wasn't good at blocking. The other was that the OL wasn't good at blocking anything but inside zone and the occasional power O, and even then they weren't that good. Still a work in progress, but this year our WRs are really good at blocking and our OL is much improved--both on base plays and changeups. So I think we can attack the edge better than we were able to last year, and should be able to take advantage of MSU's aggressiveness at times.
Will that translate to a W? Less sure. I think they are beatable this year--it's our best chance since 2012, clearly.
October 2nd, 2015 at 8:19 PM ^
October 2nd, 2015 at 9:25 PM ^
October 2nd, 2015 at 10:35 AM ^
One of my favorite plays from BYU was when we went Power I with the power back to the short side, ran double iso weak and inside zone blocked on the back (TE) side. So, to the defenders on the TE side, it looked like inside zone with backside fill from the FB. Not only does the extra FB add gaps, there aren't pursuing LBs behind the play to take them away. Just sick.
One caveat: the "extra gaps" concept is not a given--the defense can eliminate this idea by having good DL not get pushed and LBs take on FB blocks at or behind the LOS, making the back go laterally instead of cutting into an open gap.
October 2nd, 2015 at 10:41 AM ^
That's something I pointed out at the end of the first article. If the FB doesn't beat the LB to the spot, then the defense simply forms a wall at the point of attack. FBs have to be mean, they have to be fast, they have to get out of their stance and attack; otherwise the play will be dead before it even begins.
Luckily, Michigan has had pretty good FB play so far (and BYU's ILB struggled a bit in this game reading and reacting).
October 2nd, 2015 at 11:17 AM ^
Please hire Space Coyote as a full time employee.
That is all.
October 2nd, 2015 at 11:30 AM ^
You had me at "One", I got lost at "Of", and after that it was all downhill. Am I safe to translate both your post and Space Coyote's OP as "Harbaugh good. Harbaugh very good."? (I love reading this stuff, but I'm a tennis coach who loves watching football, so if there are more than two players involved on any given side I'm swimming in deep water.)
October 2nd, 2015 at 11:41 AM ^
October 2nd, 2015 at 11:52 AM ^
October 2nd, 2015 at 11:52 AM ^
Thanks SC! Just spent the last 40 minutes on your site. While my retention may only be about 8%, it was a fantastic learning experience nonetheless. I can't wait to confuse the shit out of my dad when we talk after the Maryland game.
October 2nd, 2015 at 12:01 PM ^
that SC already has a job.
Question to SC: I see your conservative opinion of the MSU D against the M offense and of course as all M fans its just hard to temper my excitement over this years sparty game. What do you think about the Mich D against the sparty offense matchup? Sparty put up 31 points against Oregon but the duck defense gave up 42 points to Eastern Washington, 28 points to Georgia state both FCS teams I believe, not to mention giving up 62 points to Utah. I know these kinds of comparisons sometimes don't translate due to matchups etc but the stats on Oregons defense seems to indicate that the Sparty offense is not particularly overpowering. This matchup seems to favor Michigan. What do you think?
October 2nd, 2015 at 12:51 PM ^
If I had to guess, I'd guess it's a low scoring game. Michigan has a DL that makes running the ball difficult (MSU currently is fairly inconsistent running the ball) and the guys on the outside that make you have to be accurate in the pass game.
MSU's offense on the whole has been really inconsistent so far this year. They've flashed being really, really good though when things click. And if they recover from some of their injuries, then it's a dangerous offense. The thing about MSU is they have a lot of options to go to. Several backs that can run, several concepts the OL can block (and a very experienced group), a QB that can make all the throws. If something isn't working, they can try something else. That makes them difficult to defend for 4 quarters.
Again, I think it'll be a low scoring game, but I don't think Michigan can completely shut them down. Michigan will have to score some points of their own to win. They can, no doubt about that, but it isn't a given. Both defenses match up well right now, IMO.
October 2nd, 2015 at 12:26 PM ^