Run/Pass % by Formation

Submitted by Victors5 on

Since a lot of comments on here are about how predictable our offense is, I decided to take a look at run/pass % by formation for all of our games. I kept the formations simple and just used Ace, I-form, Pistol, Shotgun, and Tackle Over (Tackle over is usually out of I-form or Ace, but deserves its own category.) I got the stats from the UConn game from a diary that Ron Utah did, everything else I looked up myself from Brian's UFR's.

Here are the charts game by game

Central Michigan

Shotgun - 3 run, 16 pass, 84% pass

Pistol - 1 run, 1 pass, 50% 

I-form - 23 run, 3 pass, 88% run

Ace - 11 run, 9 pass, 55% run

Notre Dame

Shotgun - 5 run, 18 pass, 78% pass

Pistol - 9 run, 4 pass, 69% run

I-form - 14 run, 2 pass, 88% run

Ace - 6 run, 17 pass, 74% pass

Akron

Shotgun - 4 run, 15 pass, 79% pass

Pistol - 3 run, 3 pass, 50%

I-form - 14 run, 4 pass, 78% run

Ace - 8 run, 11 pass, 58% pass

UConn 

 

Shotgun - 9 run, 22 pass, 71% pas

Pistol - 3 run, 1 pass, 75% run

I Form - 8 run, 3 passes, 72% run

Ace - 12 runs, 7 passes, 63% run

Minnesota

 

Shotgun - 2 run (both by DG), 13 passes, 87% pass

Pistol - No Plays
I Form - 5 runs, 2 passes, 71% run
Ace - 2 runs, 4 passes, 67% pass
Tackle Over - 21 run, 2 pass, 91% run
 
Penn State
Shotgun - 9 run, 24 pass, 73% pass
Pistol - 6 run, 2 pass, 75% run
I Form - 11 run, 1 pass, 92% run
Ace - 11 run, 10 pass, 52% run
Tackle Over - 8 run, 3 pass, 73 % run
 
Totals
Shotgun - 32 run, 108 pass, 77% pass
Pistol - 22 run, 12 pass, 65% run
I Form - 75 run, 15 pass, 83% run
Ace - 50 run, 58 pass, 54% pass
Tackle Over - 29 run, 5 pass, 85 % run
 
Personally I think we tip our hand way too much in Shotgun, I Form, and Tackle Over. One other thing i noticed, is there is not much variety in our shotgun and pistol run game. In shotgun its usually QB draw, or inverted veer with DG keeping it. In Pistol it is usually inside zone or belly read.
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Indiana Blue

October 17th, 2013 at 10:37 PM ^

he didn't include total yards, or yards per play per formation as another category.  Besides we all know now that Borges' new strategy is to throw the players under the bus.  They can't "execute" ... 

Actually, I really believe that Borges throwing the players under the bus may force Hoke's hand on this.  Brady stands behind his players 100% and he has defended his players multiple times in "tough" situations by stating that the coaches must do a better job getting them ready and he NEVER berates them.

I think Borges is breaking Hoke's first commandment with his comments, and this is probably more of a sin than being a offensive coordinator disaster.  God I hope so ....

Go Blue!

Joined: 09/19/2010

MGoPoints: 5677

michgoblue

October 17th, 2013 at 11:12 PM ^

I think hat you are come lately misunderstanding what Borges said. Saying that the players need to execute better is NOT throwing pales under he bus. He didn't isolate a single specific player or level a single insult. All that he said is that if we don't execute, we don't win. If he said something like "our interior line is just bad, those guys really played like shit" I could understand this complaint, but he did no such thing.

Joined: 11/16/2009

MGoPoints: 32134

Indiana Blue

October 17th, 2013 at 11:22 PM ^

is that I have never heard Coach Hoke make a comment about execution without also adding that the coaches need to also execute / do a better job coaching.  My impression was that Borges never indicated that he wished he had done some things differently, or would reconsider his approach given the facts that this team is current unable to run consistently.  

The goal is to be competative on the field.  I doubt anyone believes Penn State matched our level of skilled players, yet the offense play calling failed to capitalize on Michigan's obvious advantage of our receivers vs. their secondary.  Three passing TD's, one DG run and a defensive score ... yet when we needed to move the ball, well no reason to open that again ...

I just do not believe Borges is being honest in his assessment and I still believe this is unbecoming a coach under Brady's leadership.

Go Blue!

Joined: 09/19/2010

MGoPoints: 5677

AriGold

October 18th, 2013 at 9:31 AM ^

keep on apologizing for Borges...i mean fuck it, lets make Borges head coach and hire GERG to run the 3-3-5 and then I really want to hear all your bullshit excuses as to why its on the players lack of execution instead of the BLATANTLY obivious HORRIBLE playcalling on the offensive side of the ball...I only say this because I have read a lot of your other threads where you claim to also "blame" Borges, buy you always somehow blame the players when it is clearly on Borges...so if Borges were head coach, then who would you blame when things continue to go like dog shit???

Joined: 02/28/2013

MGoPoints: 732

c1s2m0466

October 17th, 2013 at 9:19 PM ^

and an MGoBlogger. Other Head Coaches and Defensive Coordinators know not what you speak of. Remember, it is all in the "nuances" of Borges' offense.

Joined: 10/15/2011

MGoPoints: 530

Victors5

October 17th, 2013 at 11:45 PM ^

I dont know the information for other teams, but I can tell you this. If I am playing against Michigan and they come out in I Form or Tackle Over I am adjusting personel accordingly (ex. PSU loading up on DT's.) I would also have some sort of check (moving a safety into the box) to help me better defend against the run. If they come out in Shotgun, i will have some sort of check to help defend the pass.

I would also tell my players if they come out in I form, LB's play more aggressive its probably run. Or if they come out in Shotgun, DL pass rush hard.

There are many more things you can do, when you know the likelyhood of something happening is higher than 75%.

Joined: 10/06/2010

MGoPoints: 418

LSAClassOf2000

October 17th, 2013 at 9:28 PM ^

Some additional analysis so we can get an idea of how tightly controlled the game would be based on the OP's data:

FORMATION RUN PASS RUN (AVG.) PASS (AVG.) STD. DEV. (RUN) STD. DEV. (PASS)
Shotgun 32 108 5 18 2.75 3.64
Pistol 22 12 4 2 3.04 1.53
I-Formation 75 15 13 3 5.68 0.69
Ace 50 58 8 10 3.50 4.85
Tackle Over 29 5 5 1 7.80 1.21
TOTAL 208 198        

One thing that definitely would stand out, based on this, is that the passing game is very tightly controlled as a matter of formation when compared to the run game. Granted, strength of conclusion warnings apply here. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130501

LSAClassOf2000

October 17th, 2013 at 10:47 PM ^

Right, but if data is accurate, then I believe that you can definitely see behaviors and tendencies in the distribution at this point, or at least to a certain extent. Again, strength of conclusion, sample size, etc..., but the distribution bears out the tight control of Devin's passing and the wide and varied (and even insistent) approach to the running game (relative statistical success in net rushing regardless). Even for shotgun, for example, the deviations aren't too far apart (or at least not as much as one might expect), which might be a representation of the oft-discussed offensive line issues. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130501

MonkeyMan

October 17th, 2013 at 9:55 PM ^

This confirms my suspicion that Brady Hole intends to out-execute opponents on predicable plays than create a more UNpredictable offense. This takes away the main advantage of the offense. Top tier coaches are generally very intelligent and maximize all their tools.

Joined: 10/13/2013

MGoPoints: 1753

MonkeyMan

October 17th, 2013 at 10:00 PM ^

Perhaps DG should be put in the offense RR recuited him for. Maybe RR knew his limitations and planned to run him extenively with short, wide open, passing options created on the run- this seems the best way to exploit DG's skills and minimize his weaknesses- he is not Payton Manning.

Joined: 10/13/2013

MGoPoints: 1753

Galapula

October 18th, 2013 at 7:40 AM ^

Our offense was the most productive in the modern era under RR so I'm not blowing smoke. That said, we are stuck with this direction so we've got to get the most out of it which we obviously aren't doing right now. Pro-style can still be devastating but with Devin and our talent on the line we need to cater our philosophy (or the very least react to the results on the field in-game).

Joined: 12/04/2009

MGoPoints: 3118

MichiganStudent

October 17th, 2013 at 10:31 PM ^

Thank you for your efforts. This had to take a bit of time and I appreciate it.

I hate that we tip our hand so much. It's pathetic. I know the goal of this staff is to be a power running team but being unpredictable can mask many deficiencies.

Joined: 08/27/2008

MGoPoints: 7223

MGoBlue24

October 17th, 2013 at 11:35 PM ^

There is no doubt that defensive coaches scout opposing team tendencies, but it makes all kinds of sense to audit your own offense so you don't display tendencies - we have got to mix it up out there, or suffer the consequences.

Joined: 08/22/2013

MGoPoints: 12900

IPFW_Wolverines

October 18th, 2013 at 4:06 AM ^

Interesting, I was just being told earlier today in another thread how crazy I was for thinking the offense is too predictable when it comes to run or pass.

I'm sure I will look on here later and see a thread explaining why it is a great thing to be this predictable.

Joined: 10/03/2010

MGoPoints: 2581