trente jones

[Patrick Barron]

FORMATION NOTES: In general Bama was so multiple that I had a hard time deciphering whether something was a 4-3 with a standup end or a 3-4 with a SAM; they would go with a 5-1, they would shift constantly. Surely the thickest playbooks in college football went head to head in this game.

I called this weird thing 30 nickel slide SAM:

image

You've got your line shifted to the run strength, you've got a standup end in a SAM spot, and you've got your LBs shifted to run strength. This is Bama's "please run at Justin Eboigbe" formation.

SUBSTITUTION NOTES: Johnson, Wilson, Barner, and Loveland all got at least two-thirds of Michigan's snaps. Corum wasn't far behind. Morris, Edwards, Morgan, and Bredeson had 10-20; Mullings and Orji had cameos.

[After the JUMP: retired that so and so]

[Bryan Fuller]

OFFENSE

Bang, bang. Donovan Edwards put up two 40 yard touchdowns on Michigan's first two drives, and they were more or less the same thing: duo that sucks in Washington defenders followed by Edwards being insanely explosive. Number one:

There was an undercurrent of sardonic amusement amongst the twitterati after this one because it felt like Edwards missed the hole and only got to it by luck after making a mistake, but this is only a touchdown because Edwards initially presses the A gap. That action sucks in three different defenders and when Edwards changes direction, it's over. This is all I want from Donovan Edwards: change direction. If he does that he wins because no one is as explosive as he is.

Number two is all of the gaps (all of the gaps):

That's two TEs, a bonus OL, and Cornelius Johnson. If Zak Zinter was healthy I guarantee you Cornelius Johnson would not be on the field.

Washington does not know what the hell to do with this. They've clearly prepped for the Big Big Boys; all 11 defenders are within six yards of the LOS. But they do not see this and scout team only gets you so far. Edwards again presses a gap he is not going in. The LB level bites on the initial action, and when Edwards cuts back there's nothing but daylight.

image

There's a fair chance that Edwards scores even if the backside linebacker doesn't fling himself into the line, because that is a truck lane.

These two runs combine with the Penn State explosive to indicate a path forward for Edwards at Michigan if he does decide to return. Yeah, run at a friendly butt. Then do something else. Touchdown. Hooray.

[After THE JUMP: more stuff]

NOTE: The tracks on my copy got misaligned so I had to rebuild this episode. If you downloaded it before 11AM on Friday you should go back and download it again. If you can't tell what version you have, the latest version has a lens flare in the upper-left of the cover.

No Brian today.

Things Discussed:

  • A Michigan Family reunion. If you've never been to a Rose Bowl, make sure you do the next one.
  • Michigan won on the lines. Trente Jones was excellent. Karsen Barnhart made the block of the game. When they had to go for 4th & 1 they moved them; when it was 4th & 2 for the game Alabama had to sell out.
  • Michigan used a ton of motion to create lots of openings.
  • Coaching: Alabama coaches were good; Michigan coaches were that much better. Two wide open throws to Corum. Saban ran into a buzzsaw.
  • Special Teams: Yips.
  • Talking about the last play: Did Sainristil get too high? Maybe. But Moore had it dead to rights even if they run it right.
  • Trente Jones: How important was it to the team that he came back. That he approached things like he did.
  • Harbaugh? Gonna have a fight on their hands. Gotta fight to keep this culture.
  • Washington preview.

[Hit the JUMP for the player, and video and stuff]

i can't feel my face 

Beat Georgia Alabama

yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaw

after all that

not the most heartening lead-in 

whompin' 

i like it when a quarterback is shooting lasers out of his eyes, it's neat 

got some

we're going through all the juicy rumors on offense this August 

smooth landing