Mattison's Defense: Martin = Ngata
So I was working on a Diary version of this when all of a sudden it went boom. Instead I'm going to do the quick version here. Mods, if you want to bump it. If not, understood.
Pretty much, rewatching the spring game, I noticed that Mike Martin was lining up all over the place. There's been some concern on the board that Martin is playing the NT/1-tech position rather than the 3-tech which will be BWC or Q-Wash. My contention is that while as a base MM will be a NT, he's going to get chances to showcase his great athletic ability.
In this "Michigan Video" we see Martin line up as the Nose/1Tech often. But he moves around. At 2:29 for example he's standing up behind Roh.
In this "Ravens Video" you'll see Ngata lined up at Nose, 1Tech, 3 Tech, 5 Tech, and in a 2 point stance:
It's my contention that Mattison inteds to use Martin the same way he used Ngata. He's not going to be your typical space-eating NT, he's going to be moved all over the field, create mismatches, and even drop into coverage at times - like for his spring practice Pick-6.
I pulled a lot more specific examples of them lining up the same in the 2 videos, but you get the idea.
Embed Troubles, links here:
Ravens: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwIJilOjufg
Michigan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg5KlAwA-sA&feature=related
Michigan Video:
Raven's Video:
Have you tried selecting the "old embed code" in YouTube? That's worked for me.
That's how I got it to work in the comments. The new code didn't work in either the OP or the Reply. I didn't try the old code in the OP since the videos were already posted
It should work in the OP too, I'm glad to know it's still available.
What defense did Mattison run as the Raven's DC? Did he just roll with the 3-4 installed by Rex Ryan, implement his 4-3 Under, or some hybrid?
Multiple fronts but the 4-3 was the base package. Under or over based on down and distance.
His first year as DC he ran what he called the "Raven Package" where he pretty much combined the 3-4 and 4-3 under into one. The down linemen were in a strong 5, strong 1, and a weak three. He had Suggs in a weak 5 tech and he would play from either a two or three point stance depending on the situation. They also brought their Sam backer up to the line.
That is what he showed us prior to his first season and the next season he came back to the clinic and said that he ran a lot of it, with a lot of success. I think that after his first season he felt a lot more comfortable and put in more of his own 4-3 stuff. Either way the 3-4 and 4-3 under are very similar. With the number of LB's that we have been going after it's not out of the question that we could see some 3-4 type looks in the future.
Mattison = Best. Hire. Ever.
Wait until the end of the Western game before you go that far.
At least the first defensive snap
Greg Robinson's defense held Western to 7 points. I'm waiting much longer until I claim Mattison the best hire ever.
But he's been pretty damn good so far.
He's got his work cut out for him if he's going to be a better hire than Yost. I would gladly reconsider if he doesn't give up a point in year one, and doesn't lose a game until year five.
will be understanding--and winning--the rivalries with Yale and the University of Chicago.
Don't they have as many Big Ten FB Championships as MSU?
This sort of analysis makes me exceptionally happy after the last few years. Competent, simply competent D coordinator is a step up from last year; with Mattison we seem to be getting more than that so far.
Greg Mattison, FTW.
Also, he happens to be a pretty stellar recruiter. I think I have the beginnings of a healthy man-crush on Greg Mattison.
If you want to learn more about it, WTKA Michigan Insider talked about this a lot. Ira Weintraub is a Baltimore fan so he went into great detail about this. Wish I remembered when they talked about it, but I think it was right after the spring game.