Vastardis, Hutchinson make PFF Team of the Week

Submitted by Ezekiels Creatures on September 5th, 2021 at 10:43 PM

 

Vastardis had the highest PFF run blocking grade of Michigan linemen. Details are behind a paywall.

 

 

 

 

Panther72

September 6th, 2021 at 1:35 PM ^

NW has some speed however they are a few players short for any hope for wide speed on D.

MS has a legit fast RB and some beef on both sides of the ball but they have corners who are slow. However Thorne has an accurate arm and sees the field well. 

I think State will be a middle tier team and NW near the bottom. That doesn't mean they won't play well when our guys come to town.

LeCheezus

September 5th, 2021 at 11:39 PM ^

Dawand Jones, another miss as Drevno hung around long enough to nerf OL recruiting in the 2018 class.  Jarrett Patterson starting for ND at center, and Emil Ekiyor starting for some team named Alabama being the other two.

Ezekiels Creatures

September 6th, 2021 at 2:09 AM ^

 

It's a new animal. Used to be the nickel. This article talks about it. I know it's an NFL article. But it applies.

 

Up until the past few seasons, the term “nickelback” was most often used to describe a specialist or “sub-package” player—a backup third cornerback or safety who only came into the game on, say, third-and-long or other obvious passing situations—to match up with faster pass catchers downfield. Now, slot cornerbacks are no longer just a given team’s fifth-best defensive back—they’re a distinct and crucial position of their own. And the traits required to play that role are not the same as that of an outside corner.

 

For one, the crossing pattern needs the slot DB to keep up with it.

 

“Your footwork, your hips, your change-of-direction speed: all that stuff needs to mesh to play inside because you have so much more area to cover,” said Matt Bowen, a former NFL safety who now writes for ESPN and coaches defensive backs at the high school level. “If you get beat on a crossing route in the NFL, you’re not going to catch up. You’re not. It’s not going to happen.”

Just ask new Texans slot corner Aaron Colvin, who got beat by Niners slot receiver Trent Taylor for a touchdown in last week’s preseason matchup. Often all it takes is one false step.

....must rely on play recognition and elite quickness to stick with receivers.

....Done right, it’s a thing of beauty.

....he’s flexible enough to flip his hips and explosive enough to close the gap and break up the pass.

https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2018/8/21/17762720/nfl-premium-position-slot-cornerback

 

It seems Domani Jackson, with his really quick closing speed, would be one.

 

JamieH

September 6th, 2021 at 2:27 AM ^

That's actually great news that anyone on our o-line graded out as best in the country.   Encouraging that it maybe it wasn't just a "playing a MAC team" mirage.

MaizeBlueA2

September 6th, 2021 at 8:10 AM ^

In a lot of ways, I think it was.

There were some great blocks, but a lot of that felt like just being bigger and stronger.

Then late in the first half they were just gassed and we leaned on them all the way down the field. 

I'm sure Washington has bigger, stronger guys that will provide a much better test.

I saw enough last Saturday to make me feel good about our OL and the weaker B1G teams though. 

MaizeBlueA2

September 6th, 2021 at 8:07 AM ^

Filiaga also graded out REALLY well.

I'm wondering if they sit Zinter another game or 2 and let him heal up 100%.

Or maybe they move Filiaga back to LG and play him over Keegan.