New MGoBlue.com Spring Practice Report

Submitted by NOLA Wolverine on

New video out on the website, I'll provide the link at the end, which I'm sure someone will embed. The first half of that video is not very flattering for the defense at all, I'm not even sure what Avery was doing on that slant route. Hopefully we can openfield tackle a tiny bit come fall.

http://www.mgoblue.com/allaccess/?media=241567

BlueDragon

April 13th, 2011 at 11:33 AM ^

Oooh Ralph Lauren cologne ad!  Classy!

Snark aside:  So the defense clowned in this video.  Didn't the offense clown in last Saturday's scrimmage at the Big House?  It's just another data point in a series which started when Hoke became the new coach.

NOLA Wolverine

April 13th, 2011 at 11:43 AM ^

The mistakes made by the defense weren't the offense's doing. Avery might as well have not been there on that play. He didn't even pretend to try and hit or tackle the receiver. Then there's two occasions (#31 and #9) where player's feet go dead on contact. It's the same stuff that's become the norm for Michigan football. I really hope "manball" shows some results in the fall. 

Don

April 13th, 2011 at 12:46 PM ^

That's why they have spring practice.

Those who are assuming Mattison & Co. are going to turn this defense into a conference championship-caliber outfit in one season are setting up some pretty lofty expectations. If they're able to work that miracle, great, but I wouldn't be betting on it. If we get a defense that's overall average and occasionally good, that will represent tremendous progress by itself. Anything more is pure gravy.

Space Coyote

April 13th, 2011 at 8:48 PM ^

Play 1: Avery isn't in that bad of position.  May not have been full tackling, otherwise Kovacs would have killed someone.  Also notice a D-line shift right before the play, Martin slides to what appears to be a 5-tech.  Can't see much else.  Still like to see Denard put that ball a little further ahead of the receiver (front number rather than back number).

Play 2: Good push by the interior line.  Someone gets tripped up (#41) on the backside of the D, this is why a big play resulted.  He got pretty badly beat by the o-lineman.  Good sidestep in the hole to make a man miss too.

Play 3:  Great blitz pickup by V. Smith on the zone blitz.  The rest of the O-line seems to do a pretty good job forming a pocking (LT needs to keep width of the pocket however, but he appears to be facing a LB on a zone blitz, sometimes a difficult task).  DG does a good job stepping up in pocket and seeing a rushing lane and taking it.  Also looks like Will Campbell is in a zone drop this time.

Play 4:  Another solid blitz pickup by Smith.  Good quick read and throw by DG.  Actually not terrible coverage, I think DG just read it quickly before the defender could reach his zone (this is mostly a guess as you can't see where they are aligned pre-snap).

Play 5:  No push by the RT on Will Campbell forces the center and playside guard guard to add depth to their pulls.  It appears Martin also beats his man (backside guard) to the point of attack   Good persuit and I would think could contain as the play was forced back inside.

Play 6:  Can't really tell much. Campbell isn't ready at the snap.  The blocking at the point of attack seems bad.  The pulling O-lineman didn't seem to pick anyone up and players were allowed to get to the RBs feet.  Potentially good read by the defense though, and good stick to finish the play.

Play 7:  Need to be stronger on the roll side on the O-line to make it so DG doesn't have to take the awkward extra depth.  Meh coverage, better throw.

Play 8:  Campbell and Martin completely sealed leads to a great start to the run play.  Pulling guard gets his hat on a man opening up a lane for Smith, good vision, good run.  DE needs to not get sealed so far inside.