TTB: Snapshots of first offensive play against Wisconsin
People seem to be pretty interested in breakdowns of Michigan's offense these days, so I posted this yesterday on TTB. It's a look at Michigan's first play from scrimmage against Wisconsin, which turned into a big play to Ronnie Bell, but only after a bit of a scramble drill.
Like I said in the post, I apologize if it seems hurried. I had to throw it together pretty quickly.
September 27th, 2019 at 12:00 PM ^
Great content. Now I'm sad again.
September 27th, 2019 at 12:07 PM ^
Me too, I’m very much a novice on play calling/analyzing and I appreciate the write up.
Very much hope the confusion starts to thin out!
September 27th, 2019 at 12:32 PM ^
If he throws the ball before Tarik comes out of his break, its a 7 yd completion, but he hesitates.
September 27th, 2019 at 1:07 PM ^
With all of that open field to his left. Wouldn't common sense tell the QB to read from left to right in this situation? He could have had Nico or Bell had he got the ball out of his hands faster. Plus the ZC has a lot of grass in front of him as well. Why does Shea predetermine that the best option is to throw to the short side of the field where there are 4 defenders and 2 WR?
September 27th, 2019 at 1:13 PM ^
Yikes. That's a pretty dangerous throw trying to throw it through the apex linebacker. You're asking for a pick six with that mindset.
September 27th, 2019 at 1:25 PM ^
Nico would def be the safer option.
September 27th, 2019 at 5:46 PM ^
This is the exact type of play I made a post about a while back as a way to get the ball to our backs in space.
The swing pass would be wide open . Nico and Bell would clear out that whole side by just running their routes.
The LB would be in the conflict of whether to stay in and help on Bell's slant of try to cover the swing pass and then tackle a shifty back like Turner in space.
September 27th, 2019 at 12:10 PM ^
What a nice gain. I don't recall exactly but I'm sure the rest of the game went as well.
September 27th, 2019 at 12:28 PM ^
Well... my memory's not what it used to be, but I'm pretty sure the entire earth was destroyed.
September 27th, 2019 at 12:50 PM ^
On a scale from "Michigan won the football game" to "The entire earth was destroyed", the truth is closer to Michigan winning... but not by much.
September 28th, 2019 at 12:46 PM ^
I changed channels after the second quarter to watch breaking news on the Johnstown Flood....
September 27th, 2019 at 12:12 PM ^
On one hand maybe UM should pair back the RPO stuff until they have a better handle on it, on the other hand it seems like the alternative is reverting back to something more similar to last year's offense which as this stage would most likely be even more disastrous. Just gotta ride it out and hope the playcalling and qb play improve I suppose.
September 27th, 2019 at 2:11 PM ^
I am going to just drink beer until I can see clearly again.
September 27th, 2019 at 4:44 PM ^
Also part of the problem is Wisconsin had no interest in stopping the run. Wisconsin sold out to stop the UM passing game knowing Michigan couldn’t run the ball.
September 27th, 2019 at 12:24 PM ^
Magnus, how do coaches teach QBs to read coverage? Patterson seems accurate when his primary target is open, but he can't seem to decipher which WR is open and which is not. Is this an innate ability or can it be improved?
September 27th, 2019 at 12:33 PM ^
But that is the point, QB does not have to read anything. The system is designed so that QB almost does not have to think, since the coaches can read the defense and change the call at the line with the signage. This is why so many high schools and colleges run this system because it does not require great QB play.
September 27th, 2019 at 1:10 PM ^
The system is designed so that QB almost does not have to think, since the coaches can read the defense and change the call at the line with the signage.
My question is about recognizing which WR is open and which is covered once the play begins...like how do you train your eyes to recognize coverage live in the play, not pre-snap. How do you get your QB to be able to find the open guy more often and quicker instead of throwing it into coverage or starring down your primary target.
September 27th, 2019 at 2:11 PM ^
Again, you don't necessarily have to. You design plays that favor a certain pattern (1st read) or the side. Once you see how the defense lines up, you call the play that incorporates the first read where the defense is the weakest. If that first read is covered because the defense disguised their stuff, or are running something exotic, then fine. You just have to look for (usually) a single key. If you cannot recognize that you do not deserve to be a QB. But that is not what is happening here.
Either you have a QB who is great at reading the defense and trust him to make the call, or if he is having problems with that, you compensate that by making the call for him at the line. They made a call at the line and it is clear that they have no clue what they are looking at.
September 27th, 2019 at 2:24 PM ^
Different systems have different keys.
Personally, our program has pre-snap keys to tell the QB which way to go. He counts numbers or checks leverage of certain defenders. There are different route combinations on either side, typically one to beat a 2-high coverage and one to beat a 1-high coverage. The pre-snap read tells the QB which way to go, frontside or backside.
For example, if you're trying to throw an out route to the frontside but the defender has outside leverage, you switch your read to the backside.
There are other ways to do it, and sometimes you're locked into a playside read, such as on a sprintout concept.
September 27th, 2019 at 1:00 PM ^
Speaking from my bit of experience; it’s a combination of things. Pre snap is very important, especially in a “quick hitting”, tempo type offense. I would be willing to be he has difficulty coming off of his initial read, when the defense switches or the receiver is jammed. In this offense he expected to read pre snap, have a good understanding of what the defense is giving him (primary read, secondary, bail out, etc). To better address your question, I think he is holding onto his initial read too long, scanning for his second read (which may be covered, window for the timing on that throw may be closed, etc) and then either not using his bailout or the pocket collapses, etc.
Example: Shotgun two split wide, 1rb 1TE Let’s say the initial read is for one of the receivers on a short route (QB is using three step drop, hitch, throw as receiver is coming out of break), receiver 2 is being used to run other defensive backs off of receiver one, or clear for a RB release into the flat underneath - which is designed to occur within a few seconds of the primary read. If the QB stays on receiver one for too long, the defense has time to recognize the bailout, and the QB is forced to improvise (with the pocket breaking down and “nobody open”)
My apologies if this didn’t come out right, I’m terrible at multitasking.
September 27th, 2019 at 1:14 PM ^
I think you explained well what you meant. So, my question is what do coaches do to get QBs to be able to speed up that decision making process? How do you work on this? Haskins was phenomenal at it, but he was from the first time I ever saw him play against us in 2017 and Patterson has always struggled. So, how does a coach get him to improve his processing speed of live plays to find the right WR quicker?
September 27th, 2019 at 1:23 PM ^
Sorry, I reread your initial post and realized I shit job of actually answering you. -_-
My guess is they are working on making quick decisions, simplifying how many reads he needs to make, and hoping that he gains some confidence. A lot of Shea’s issues, if I had to guess, are related to not wanting to make more mistakes. It’s ok to not take huge gambles, but quarterbacking is a calculated game of chances. You have to be willing to trust your receiver to break like you’ve practiced; to trust your RB to release into the flat for you dump it off; your line to make the right pickups, etc.
I’m sure they are trying to nail down some simple reads, get him and the offense in rhythm and go from there.
Going through progressions can absolutely be taught. Reverting back to bad habits (locking into one receiver, etc) can also occur easily too.
September 27th, 2019 at 1:10 PM ^
Reading defenses can absolutely be improved. I've improved at reading defenses over the years. (I'm still not an expert.) It's all about experience and understanding what defenses are trying to do. That's why guys like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning can be successful late in their careers, because even when they lose arm strength, athleticism, etc., they can still read defenses and get the ball where it needs to go.
Two things are very difficult to improve as a QB:
1. Accuracy
2. Arm strength
If you're inaccurate (Denard Robinson, for example) or have a weak arm (Russell Bellomy), you're going to struggle and there's not much you can do about it.
P.S. Before you jump on me about Denard Robinson, he wasn't the most inaccurate QB ever, but he was very inconsistent throwing the ball. A lot of his short completions (bubbles, hitches) were good enough to be caught but not thrown well enough to keep receivers on their feet and lead them to open space.
September 27th, 2019 at 1:20 PM ^
Reading defenses can absolutely be improved. It's all about experience and understanding what defenses are trying to do.
Does this point to a lack of time studying film and defenses from Shea's part or is it more of a lack of coaching from the QB coach and or o-coordinator? I know Manning was legendary in his mental preparation and I'd assume Brady is in that same boat.
September 27th, 2019 at 1:25 PM ^
I mean...both? Neither? It's really hard to say what the exact reason is that something is going wrong.
I don't think Patterson understands the whole play's concept. Whether that's a coaching thing or a player thing or a combination, I don't know.
September 27th, 2019 at 2:14 PM ^
My opinion, shea seems to wana look at his first read regardless how defense lines up, if that's not there hes screwed, so he will bug out of pocket to soon, and he also does not throw the ball soon enough, he needs to throw the receiver open instead he waits for the receiver to actually get open and by that time its too late and the defender has time to catch up. But essentially it all comes down to coaching, he has not improved in his time, all these issues are the same as last year. so he spent to much time golfing and coaches didn't coach enough
September 27th, 2019 at 7:05 PM ^
He can read greens very well
September 27th, 2019 at 12:30 PM ^
I think this was more depressing than all the other threads this week. My mood is...
September 27th, 2019 at 2:20 PM ^
I tell my kids that this is what I'm going to do to their house when they grow up and move out.
September 27th, 2019 at 12:31 PM ^
It just seems like Gattis is in way over his head. He may be a fine recruiter and a great WR coach, but he is not ready to be a coordinator. Why bother with sideline checks, if you can read something this basic?
September 27th, 2019 at 12:33 PM ^
im more interested in your analysis of the next play and the actions before it
September 27th, 2019 at 12:47 PM ^
This is absolutely DAMNING of the offensive staff. What is it? Is it Gattis? Just overall systemic failure by the coaching staff? I did not see this level of incompetency coming...
September 27th, 2019 at 1:02 PM ^
OK, now let's recap the Brooklyn Dagger play.
September 27th, 2019 at 1:04 PM ^
If Shea did what this clown suggests it would of been a pick 6 from the safety. It is not Cover 2 or 4 at all. This is what happens when a clown who knows nothing writes on football. He doesn't even get the front right.
Sorry guys this is how bad info gets spread and then people start to point to it.
September 27th, 2019 at 1:12 PM ^
These seem like tough words in a verbal assault without anything to back them up. Can you explain why Magnus is so wrong by telling everyone the 'correct' way to interpret the play?
September 27th, 2019 at 1:15 PM ^
You're a clown. It's a good analysis of some options on the play. Magnus actually is a coach. I don't necessarily think that Shea should have predicted everything the d was going to do, but your criticism is flat out stupid.
September 27th, 2019 at 1:28 PM ^
LOL. I said the ball should be thrown to Nico Collins on the backside slant. There is no way the safety - who carries Bell across the field - is making a pick six on Collins's slant.
The front might not be entirely correct. I can't tell if the DTs are in a 3 or a 4i. It's hard to gauge 6" or 12" from the sideline angle.
September 27th, 2019 at 2:59 PM ^
I mean you said “would of” so are you a good source of knowledge? I think not.
September 27th, 2019 at 8:04 PM ^
Be kind. At least he didn't type "woodiv". How hard is it to remember to type "would've"?
September 28th, 2019 at 5:41 AM ^
And it appears he thinks cover 2 or 4 is a 'front' lol.
September 27th, 2019 at 1:33 PM ^
I really don't know who to blame this on. It's really an easy pre snap read that the back has a very high probability of being open, especially with Michigan's poor utilization of them in pass plays. The back is swinging out to the QB left which is a great option and a reason to keep the play on. You look right, keeping the players keyed there, count your 2 seconds than turn and flip it to the back for an easy 5+ yd gain, he makes a man miss and it's a large gain. Or as Magnus noted with your presnap read you look left initially instead of right, who are outnumbered. if you know your QB can't/won't do that than change the play.
September 27th, 2019 at 1:37 PM ^
Great stuff here. Am I correct in thinking attacking the area given by defenses Michigan will be able to utilize the speed in space concept by keeping Defenses honest, which is something the offensive is simply not doing for whatever reason ?
thanks
September 27th, 2019 at 1:42 PM ^
Yes. I mean, the idea is to spread teams laterally and vertically. If you make Wisconsin honor the wide side of the field (toward the bottom of the screen where Collins and Bell are), then you open up running lanes. If teams start biting up on slants and swing routes, then you can throw sluggos and switch verts and third level RPOs. If you just try to force the ball into the boundary where the defense has 3 over 2, then Wisconsin doesn't have to make any adjustments or do anything that makes them uncomfortable.
September 27th, 2019 at 3:48 PM ^
Do you think our formations are designed to stretching the field, but Shea is simply not reading the field correctly? It just seems to me that shea is not comfortable reading the defenses and locks in on the primary and bails when not available almost like he doesn’t have a contingency plan.
September 27th, 2019 at 1:53 PM ^
Thanks, I hate it.
(Thank you for breaking down the play, I just hate what it means)
September 27th, 2019 at 2:27 PM ^
they were all offensive
September 27th, 2019 at 2:48 PM ^
Assignment football and some bad breaks.
September 27th, 2019 at 3:08 PM ^
My read on it is basically the same as it always has been regarding Shea (this could just be my confirmation bias kicking in). He is a one read, then scramble around with head up, qb. He can still spot open guys because he is decent at keeping his eyes downfield, but it rarely seems to be in the context of the play call. It’s just backyard ball.
I hate that I think this next thought, because it’s reading way too much into a throw away comment, but I can’t help but feel shea really hasn’t put the time in to become a better qb. He’s relied on his natural talent and improvisation skills and hasn’t developed from those.
September 27th, 2019 at 5:14 PM ^
You're pretty close to spot-on. I can't speak to his level of preparation, but in my post below I summed it up with Shea. He doesn't go through his progressions well, so we need to get the ball out of his hand quickly. This don't mean he can't be a good QB, but we just have to adjust on offense to better match his strengths.
September 27th, 2019 at 4:19 PM ^
I remember one of Gattis early interviews. He said he thought Patterson spent a little too much time on golf course this summer and not enough time in playbook. I am paraphrasing a little. Point is, Patterson seems overwhelmed, like he does not understand the playbook. Is it coaching? Is it player? Likely both....unfortunately, we are starting to see why the offense was so conservative last year.