Michigan Linebackers Exposed

Submitted by Brandon_L on

After reading some of the free PFF (Pro Football Focus) free college football content as I do every week and I highly recommend this site to anyone who really likes to read in depth analysis and they pointed out the obvious, 11 Missed tackles at the second level of the Michigan defense allowed the Iowa Offense to move the ball on the ground without every really needing to throw the ball on longer down and distances. 

Link to PFF 

Here are some of the stats from the link:

  • Lewis and Stribs allowed a combined 14 yds. This was a big A++
  • Michigans defense had 11 missed tackles in this game. Big F considering how well the hawkeyes tackled the entire game. 
  • Gedeon and Peppers were both subpar. 

Michigan was on skates at times on defense as you can see in my example below. Click link if video not available. 

Michigan was in base 4-3 or if you consider peppers a secondary player who was covering the slot during this play, we could say 4-2. Never the less it looks like Tyree Kinnell is lined up over the TE on the right side of the O-line and left side of the defense. Stribs is right behind Kinnell and this is the direction Iowa attacked. 

Peppers on the slot was a non-factor. The push of the Oline with perfect downhill man blocking and great second level blocking by the uncovered RG on Mike Mcray,  combined with the TE driving Taco to the inside gap while the FB sealed Kinnell at the edge, Wadley used speed and vision to attack Michigans defense. The play was made easier because Michigans defense was standing still waiting for the action instead of attacking downhill and forcing Wadley back inside.

 

 

This was not the only play Iowa attacked Michigans front 7 aggressively. Here is more evidence as Wadley runs over two players, Thomas and Hill. Michigan actually attacks downhill but Iowa's ability to block the linebackers attacking the gaps and Wadleys vision made it difficult for Michigans defense all night. 

https://media.profootballfocus.com/2016/11/LeShun-Truck.gif 

MGoBoard
Football

bronxblue

November 13th, 2016 at 1:25 PM ^

They had some bad plays, but again, Michigan held Iowa to under 100 yards in the second half and something like 4 first downs. for the game, they gave up 12 points. The lbs got beat a couple of times and tackling remains an issue in the open field, but man people just want to drag up 2015 as if it's happening again. If IU blitzes them for 500 yards, then we can talk. Hell, even 400.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171878

The Oracle

November 13th, 2016 at 2:39 PM ^

People who get upset with that loss to the point of trashing players and coaches, I believe, are so insecure that they let the fortunes of a team of college kids affect their view of their own self worth. The loss was painful for any fan, but most can recognize that games like that, as others have pointed out, happen to good teams every season. It's part of the nature of an emotional sport. As poorly as they played, they still almost won. The program is still miles ahead of where it was two years ago. With only one full Harbaugh recruiting class in the fold, the level of talent is still below that of Alabama and OSU, Michigan is still in a great spot in 2016, and in an even better position for the future.

Joined: 12/31/2014

MGoPoints: 4730

jvocke

November 13th, 2016 at 3:35 PM ^

... of the comment was that it wasn't meant as a literal comparison to the OSU result (i.e. where we gave up 40+ points vs. last night's 12), but a "red flag" of systemic issues where even when we knew the runs were coming (especially in the 2nd half), we couldn't stop it due to the aforementioned issues with missed tackles, etc.  Then again - I didn't write it, so I could be totally wrong, just throwing it out there that it might not just be a case of chicken little saying the sky is falling.

I will say this: neither of the next 2 teams are going to NOT attack the exposed weaknesses that we're all looking at in the mirror today.  It was after the Indiana game last year that I had grave doubts about our ability to hang with OSU.  I find myself questioning whether we're still in the same predicament a year later heading into the final stretch.

I've got full faith in our coaching staff - and there's nobody I'd rather have leading our team. But by the same token, I don't know that the sorts of issues we're seeing are the kinds of things that can get easily fixed in the last 2 weeks of the season.  Let's hope, "God willing and the creek don't rise".

Go Blue

Joined: 09/22/2008

MGoPoints: 94

bronxblue

November 13th, 2016 at 9:53 PM ^

Absolutely I expect IU and OSU to attack the linebackers, but teams have been trying to do that for a lot of the season, with mixed results.  And again, Iowa had less than 100 yards in the second half and punted or turned the ball over on all but their first and last drives, one helped immensely by the Hill fumble and the other the end of the game with that shaky facemask penalty.  Wadley being able to get consistent positive yards is an issue, but I don't think OSU or IU have quite that back unless you think Weber will turn it on, and I'm dubious.  And again, Iowa couldn't throw the ball to save their lives, so that feels like a victory.

Again, I recognize that the defense isn't all-world anymore, but it still held a team to about 3.4 yards per play in a game.  This time last year, Minnesota was burning them up and down the field.  

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171878

Jimmyisgod

November 13th, 2016 at 1:25 PM ^

Peppers is a great blitzes in the run or pass game, but when you run at him he gets exposed for his size a little. Not sure how well his LB game transfers at the next level. McCray had a bad game, but he's been really good this year and can really run sideline to sideline for a big guy. Gedeon is above average. Really, our DTs weren't all that great last night. There's some things to work on, just beat Ohio!

Joined: 01/24/2012

MGoPoints: 10342

Monocle Smile

November 13th, 2016 at 1:30 PM ^

They gave up yards, but only 12 points despite getting barely any rest and yet again had to deal with getting held without calls at times. The blame falls squarely on the offense.

Joined: 09/17/2009

MGoPoints: 23064

lhglrkwg

November 13th, 2016 at 1:50 PM ^

Iowa rushed for 164 yards at 3.3 YPC.

If you'd told me that those would be Iowa's stats I'd be wondering if we would win by 20 or 30. The defense more than did their part even if they didn't look perfect. The offense lost this game

Joined: 07/03/2008

MGoPoints: 87992

Night_King

November 13th, 2016 at 1:33 PM ^

When we play OSU: Peppers will 100% need to follow Curtis Samuel all over the field, which leaves Gedeon and McCray and the D line to try and slow down JT and Weber. We will need to keep JT in the pocket. I have confidence our d line can force the pocket to collapse against OSU's weak o line, but JT is bound to get loose a few times.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 03/02/2016

MGoPoints: 25672

turtleboy

November 13th, 2016 at 1:33 PM ^

Again: We only allowed 14 points, no problem. We. Only. Scored. 13. Points. We had the ball and the lead with 2 minutes to go and still couldn't get one fucking first down. Linebackers were the least of the reasons for that loss.

Joined: 04/22/2011

MGoPoints: 35130

Clarence Boddicker

November 13th, 2016 at 2:36 PM ^

Hell, the defense only allowed 12. The problem yesterday was the offense. The o-line got its collective asses beat, Speight misfired way too much on deep throws, the receivers (including Butt) had crucial 3rd down drops, the blocky guys missed too many blocks...

It was a bad loss, but it happens. As long as we beat IU and OSU, we're fine.

Joined: 05/27/2011

MGoPoints: 71558

Block_E

November 14th, 2016 at 1:14 PM ^

Rudock did seem rushed in there, but he's used to watching a horde of RBs run around the opponent's front seven.  Specifically, Peppers, McDoom were supposed to get their yardage outside the tackes by testing the edges.  Saw none of that Saturday.  Going to wait for UFR to see if I'm right about that.  

Joined: 11/01/2016

MGoPoints: 7

BuckNekked

November 13th, 2016 at 4:55 PM ^

Id add that the play callers never found a groove and maybe tried to get a bit too cute to what Clarence said and that would be pretty much how I saw things. Similar offensive game to last seasons OSU-MSU in that the losing team got away from what buttered their bread until that point.

Joined: 12/06/2013

MGoPoints: -1793

Perkis-Size Me

November 13th, 2016 at 2:10 PM ^

Amen. The defense did its job last night. The offense just couldn't get anything going and put the defense in really bad spots. Was almost like watching a Brady Hoke era game again.

But credit Iowa's defense. They made the tackles and got the stops. We didn't. They made our OL look like a bunch of chumps.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 11/30/2011

MGoPoints: 105914

allintime23

November 13th, 2016 at 1:41 PM ^

Michigan exposed, sometimes they can't score as much and sometimes their coaches like to play old school 1978 big ten football. The defense was fine. They gave up 12 points and less than 300 yards on the road with terrible officials.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 09/21/2009

MGoPoints: 15225

trustBlue

November 13th, 2016 at 1:42 PM ^

Don't we have snowflake threads for this? The entire defense, includingthe LBs, actually played better than they did last week against Maryland (watch the film).  

Wadley won a few 1 on 1 battles, but the defense still made a lot of great plays.

I assure you that this weeks UFR is going to be a helluva lot kinder the defense than it will be the OL, QB, WR play.

Joined: 04/14/2014

MGoPoints: 8217

Michifornia

November 13th, 2016 at 1:45 PM ^

I felt like Peppers was tired. On the punt return where he made some moves he looked gassed and I was surprised the announcers never said anything about he fact that he just exerted a lot of energy helping stop Iowa's offense. He is still human right? Right?
If for some reason he chose to stay...I can dream can't I?
Looking forward to the Indiana game.

GO BLUE!!!

Joined: 10/03/2013

MGoPoints: 13813

BLHoke

November 13th, 2016 at 2:04 PM ^

This rhetoric about the LBs is so overstated and overblown. Are the best group in the country or Big Ten? Probably not. But they are more than adequate, and pair that with our DL and secondary and that makes for one of the best defenses in the country.

Iowa score 5 points off of a safety and a fumble on special teams that gave them great field position. The TD was scored on 4th down, something they stop more often than not, and a decision KF makes against no other team than Michigan. Then the remaining 3 were a GW FG following poor play calling on our final possession, a line drive punt to set them up with great field position again, and a bogus PF penalty to gift them 15 yards.

The offense left a lot to be desired yesterday, and I'm hoping it was just an outlier... But the defense, even the LBs, were just fine. Teams gain yards and get 1st downs, the goal is to keep points at a minimum, which this unit does extremely well.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 08/17/2011

MGoPoints: 5018

StraightDave

November 13th, 2016 at 2:17 PM ^

Who is the best offense the UM defense went up against?  It seems like UM faced a lot of first year starters and backup QBs this year.  

Joined: 12/27/2009

MGoPoints: 4232

massblue

November 13th, 2016 at 2:25 PM ^

Our defense played well. What do you expect? To hold them to 10 yards of rushing.  Iowas had less than 100 yards of passing and 160 yards of rushing.  In any other game, we would have won by 20.  

Other other hand, offensive play calling was bad.  Some questionable pass plays were called on 2nd and 3rd downs when we needed 2-3 to get a first down.  Also, what happened to Isac?  He looked good on the TD.

Joined: 08/15/2009

MGoPoints: 10396

I dumped the Dope

November 13th, 2016 at 2:40 PM ^

they tend to trot a bunch of big dudes up to the line and try incessantly to blast you off the ball, traditional B1G style.  I'd add in Wisconsin but we seemed more prepared for them.

Seems like D. Brown needs a "heavy" package with less speed and more thump for just such occasions.   meaning: 3 biggest guys who can play linebackers and put running backs on their, well, backs, on the ground.

I agree with Peppers not being able to hold up to OL other than to juke them.

Joined: 09/22/2013

MGoPoints: 2342