Michigan Linebackers Exposed
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 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.
November 14th, 2016 at 11:29 AM ^
It seems like we have a huge issue playing manball teams.
Wisconsin, Iowa were battles and MSU with some great tackling from their offensive line kept it close at the end. Spreadish teams we seem to have well in hand.
November 14th, 2016 at 11:52 AM ^
Understood linebackers are not the strength of this team. But I think we are over reacting a bit. Our defense gave up 12 points all on short fields because our offense could not sustain any drives and our special teams stunk. Two of those three drives began in FG range.
We lost this game because the offense collectively had the worse game of the season. Think of the second half. Iowa scores a FG after we turn it over in FG range. We get something like ten yards of offense for the entire third quarter. If we get either a single first down or a decent punt, we win.