Upon Further Review 2012: Defense vs Air Force
Formation Notes: Oh, the humanity.
This is an I-form. Sweet. Air Force started out motioning the outside WR into the gap between the two backs, FWIW.
This was called "near 3-wide unbalanced" because I think NCAA calls formations with RB alignments like that "near" and "far". Yes, large sections of my nomenclature are lifted from EA Sports. It is the closest thing to a lingua franca we have for footballing jargon. Note the covered-up slot WR. That's the unbalanced bit. You discovered this in the Picture Pages.
This is "flexbone big," which means there's a TE on the line. Just flexbone means the two wingbacks and two WRs.
This was "near half-flex."
As for Michigan, they spend most of the game in a 4-4 with a three-deep shell. They would shift the line towards the field side. I called it "under" even when it was technically "over" because Michigan aligns to field and Air Force doesn't really have a declared formation strength because of all the motion they do.
Substitution notes: The humanity continues. Michigan started Roh-Campbell-Black-Beyer on the line, rotating in Clark, Heitzman, Pipkins, and Brink extensively. Ojemudia also got time, mostly after Beyer went out with his "knee strain."
At linebacker, Ryan got the most playing time; he was spotted by Cam Gordon on a couple drives. Michigan started with Demens-Morgan, then started rotating in Bolden and Ross. Demens did not appear in the second half; the final AF drive in their base offense featured Ross and Bolden both on the field simultaneously.
In the secondary, Gordon, Kovacs, and Floyd took every snap. Avery started out as the other corner and was replaced by Taylor midway through the second. Gordon moved down to the nickelback spot and Jarrod Wilson came in when Air Force was stuck in passing downs, which was rarely.
Show? Show.
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
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O25 | 1 | 10 | I-Form 3-wide tight | 4-3 even | Run | N/A | Triple option | Floyd | 12 | ||||||||||
Wingback motions to backfield before snap, creating Maryland I. I am going to be guessing a lot here. Dive doesn't get it; QB and RB head out with the wingback as a lead blocker. Gordon(-1) motions inside of the tight WR on the AF motion and looks in the backfield, getting sealed away by the WR easily. Floyd(-2) doesn't know what he's looking at for way too long; Gordon's getting plowed for steps before he finally commits to a run fill. He ends up trying to dodge a cut block eight yards downfield; I'm guessing he probably needs to be turning this inside at the numbers five yards further up. RB gets the corner. Morgan had good pursuit and Kovacs makes a good tackle at the sticks, FWIW. | |||||||||||||||||||
O37 | 1 | 10 | Near 3-wide unbalanced | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Counter dive | Black | 4 | ||||||||||
AF did this a lot: line up the slot on the LOS. This should scream run at that slot defender. Here they motion towards that and hand it off on the backside, aiming for the hole between NT Campbell and 5-tech Roh. Campbell(-1) gets blown up by a downblock; Black(+0.5) blasts a G trying to pull across his face. This prevents the G from getting out on Demens, but then Black gets confused and starts chasing the QB. FB blasts into the G, who is now blasting Demens, and can fall forward for a few yards. | |||||||||||||||||||
O41 | 2 | 6 | Flexbone Big | 4-3 over | Run | N/A | FB power | Beyer | 4 + 10 Pen | ||||||||||
Power == pulling guard. This is not a true option as the QB is not looking at anything but the FB as he gives. Beyer(-1) is unblocked for a moment, thinks he has to get down on the dive back(?--I thought M used DEs for the QB) and then gets nailed by the guard. He's sealed inside, FB bounces out. Morgan(+1) is getting blocked, sheds to the outside, and tackles. He's just catching the guy because of the blocker and everyone falls backwards. RPS -1; this took a pretty good play from Morgan to not hit the first down. Campbell(-1) gets a flag for tackling an AF lineman [BWS] trying to get to the second level. | |||||||||||||||||||
M45 | 1 | 10 | N/A | N/A | Penalty | N/A | False start | N/A | -5 | ||||||||||
Freedom. | |||||||||||||||||||
50 | 1 | 15 | I-Form 3-wide unbalanced | 4-3 even | Run | N/A | Speed option | Gordon | -1 | ||||||||||
They motion a guy to the field and run to it. He goes for Kovacs. FB goes for Demens. Morgan(+1) forces the pitch and then pursues well; Gordon(+1) gets the edge on the WR and should force it back inside the numbers but seems to get held and falls; no call. Getz is at the sideline and has to delay to get around the falling Gordon; he falls at the LOS. Morgan was there for a minimal gain even if he keeps his feet. | |||||||||||||||||||
O49 | 2 | 16 | Ace 4-wide | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | QB draw | Ryan | 7 | ||||||||||
Acceptable given situation. Demens(-0.5) reacts quickly enough to get past a blocker and force a bounce but ends up falling; Ryan(+0.5) forces it back and trips the QB. Demens not being on his feet gives up some extra yardage. Morgan was pursuing and helps finish. | |||||||||||||||||||
M44 | 3 | 9 | Ace 3-wide | Nickel under | Pass | 4 | Scramble | Demens | 9 | ||||||||||
Dietz comes off first read as Avery(+1, cover +1) gets depth to carry a seam to the safety. Morgan(+1, cover +1) is on the other slant and the outside guys are covered; Demens(-1, cover -1) is nowhere near the RB release, which could go for the first; Dietz doesn't bother to throw it and takes off; Black(-0.5) and Ryan(-0.5) can't make shoestring tackles(-1), and Demens's late reaction gives Dietz a first down. | |||||||||||||||||||
M35 | 1 | 10 | Flexbone | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Triple option | Kovacs | 1 | ||||||||||
Washington(+0.5) gets nice push, and there's nothing on the dive, so a pull. Ryan is sitting on the edge and takes the QB. Kovacs(+1, tackling +1) was not blocked on this play and so does what Kovacs does when you don't block him, which is plaster the ballcarrier. | |||||||||||||||||||
M34 | 2 | 9 | Flexbone | 4-3 under | Pass | 4 | Drag | N/A | 6 | ||||||||||
This is ludicrously bad refereeing. Two Air Force OL release downfield on a pass play. One of them cut-blocks Demens! By the time Dietz releases the ball these two guys are six yards downfield. Anyway. Beyer(-1) gets cut by an RB and allows Dietz outside, where he calmly hits a little drag that Ryan is in meh coverage on. Pressure -1, Refs -2. | |||||||||||||||||||
M28 | 3 | 3 | Offset I-Form | 4-3 over | Penalty | N/A | Offsides | Washington | 5 | ||||||||||
Washington(-1) | |||||||||||||||||||
M23 | 1 | 10 | Near 3-wide unbalanced | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Speed option | Kovacs | 3 | ||||||||||
AF motion man moves back and then starts moving towards the LOS pre-snap, no call. He ends up falling to the ground, possibly on purpose, as he blocks Demens along with another Falcon. Ryan on the edge with QB; Dietz fakes keeping it and draws him, in then pitches late. Kovacs is a bit late on this one, but it's a three yard gain so call it a push. | |||||||||||||||||||
M20 | 2 | 7 | I-Form 3-wide | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Iso | Roh | 2 | ||||||||||
Campbell(+1) gets under his guy and pushes him back, which forces the RB to alter his flight path in the backfield a bit. Probably needed a little better angle but this was still good. Roh(-1) got blown out, though, so when RB alters path there's still a hole. Demens avoids one block only to eat the FB; Morgan(+0.5) and Ryan(+0.5) close to tackle in the hole. Call it a push for the LBs. | |||||||||||||||||||
M18 | 3 | 5 | Flexbone | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Counter option | Ryan | -1 | ||||||||||
Roh(+1) does not get faked out by the dive action and is there to force a quick pitch; Ryan(+2) is on the edge one on one and makes the open-field TFL(+1) | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Missed FG(36), 0-0, 9 min 1st Q | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
O25 | 1 | 10 | Flexbone | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Triple option | N/A | -1 | ||||||||||
Gordon rolled down with three deep across the top. AF fumbles the dive exchange. | |||||||||||||||||||
O24 | 2 | 11 | I-Form 3-wide | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Triple option | Morgan | -1 | ||||||||||
Motion to Maryland I. Man, they have this as again Gordon(-1) get sealed inside way too easily but Dietz does not make Morgan(+2) commit; he shoots out on the edge and makes a TFL in space (tackling +1). Floyd(-1) ended up on his face five yards downfield; if Morgan is forced to take the QB this could have been a big gain. | |||||||||||||||||||
O23 | 3 | 12 | Ace trips | Nickel even | Pass | 4 | Corner | Taylor | 15 | ||||||||||
Taylor(-1, cover -1) does not get enough depth on his drop; he's seven yards downfield, sucked up on third and twelve when a corner route is going on behind him. He recovers well but the ball is a foot over his hand and AF's big leapy guy can bring it in in front of an immediate tackle from Kovacs. C. Gordon(+0.5, pressure +1) was in the QB's feet as he throws; without this being open a likely scramble and three and out. | |||||||||||||||||||
O38 | 1 | 10 | Flexbone 3-wide | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Outside pitch. | Floyd | 9 | ||||||||||
No back; guy comes in motion and gets a quick pitch to the outside. C. Gordon(-1) gets crushed inside by a WR and ends up going upfield of him, which never works. This knocks a pursuing Roh out of the play as well. Downfield, Demens avoids one cut block only to take a second block as he's still trying to find his balance. Floyd(-2) again ends up on his face eight yards downfield. Morgan flows about as fast is as reasonably possible and manages to make contact from the side a ways downfield. Floyd needs to get on his horse as soon as he sees that WR crack down on the LB. | |||||||||||||||||||
O47 | 2 | 1 | Flexbone Big | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Triple option | Washington | 1 | ||||||||||
Dive. Washington(+1) actually does a good job of getting under his guy and pushing him back into the runner but he's got no help since Roh gave ground to a double. That's tough. | |||||||||||||||||||
O48 | 1 | 10 | Near half-flex | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Triple option | Floyd | 11 | ||||||||||
Kovacs again is supposed to have the pitchman; this time the WR releases downfield a bit, then cracks down on him. Floyd(-1) doesn't read this until it's way too late. RPS -1. | |||||||||||||||||||
M41 | 1 | 10 | Flexbone big | 4-4 under | Pass | N/A | PA waggle drag | Gordon | 18 | ||||||||||
This looks like a flood play but really there's just one WR this ever goes to. The guy who took Avery deep on a fly route is blocking the whole way. This is part structure(RPS -2), part Gordon(-1, cover -1) sucking way up. Fundamentally he was screwed, though, covering one of two guys. | |||||||||||||||||||
M23 | 1 | 10 | Flexbone | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | FB dive | Campbell | 4 | ||||||||||
Campbell(-1) gets cut to the ground and the immediate release of the guard is not punished. Demens doesn't do great here but I'm not sure what he can do. It'll be interesting to see what, if anything, the freshmen are doing better. | |||||||||||||||||||
M19 | 2 | 6 | Flexbone | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | FB dive | Campbell | 5 | ||||||||||
Same thing. When your NT is just falling to the ground on the FB dive that goes right behind him the linebackers cannot do anything about it, because they are getting insta-OL in their junk. Campbell -1. Brink(-1) also blown back. | |||||||||||||||||||
M14 | 3 | 1 | Flexbone Big | Goal line | Penalty | N/A | False start | -- | -5 | ||||||||||
Service. | |||||||||||||||||||
M19 | 3 | 6 | Near half-flex | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Triple option | Taylor | 7 | ||||||||||
Same thing: Block Kovacs, exploit crappy corner support. This time it's Taylor(-1) who gives up the corner. | |||||||||||||||||||
M12 | 1 | 10 | Flexbone | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Counter dive | Washington | 8 | ||||||||||
Washington(-2) gets blown down the line; Roh(-1) is easily locked out by the LT. Big hole. Demens reads the play and tries to get to it but he's basically screwed. He gets blocked by a guy with a great angle. Morgan(-2) ran himself way out of the play and it's only a superior play from Kovacs(+2, tackling +2) to avoid a block and make a diving ankle tackle that prevents this from being six points. | |||||||||||||||||||
M4 | 2 | 2 | Flexbone | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | FB dive | Roh | 1 | ||||||||||
Roh(+1) gets under his guy and pushes him into the running lane. This forces a cutback into Ryan(+0.5) and Demens(+0.5), who tackle for no YAC. Washington(-1) had gotten blown up, FWIW. | |||||||||||||||||||
M3 | 3 | 1 | Flexbone 3-wide | Goal line | Run | N/A | Outside pitch. | Avery | -1 | ||||||||||
AF blows this as the WR to the playside is headhunting Ryan, who's on the LOS and moving upfield at the snap this means he takes a bad angle that 1) immediately tips Avery that this is a run and 2) picks off the flex guy assigned to him. Avery(+1) moves up, forms up, and makes contact two yards behind the LOS. Ryan(+1) flattens the guy assigned to him and flows out to make sure there is no funny business. RPS+1. Putting Ryan on the line made AF go all crazy. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: FG(22), 7-3, 3 min 1st Q | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
O10 | 1 | 10 | Flexbone unbalanced | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | FB dive | Bolden | 3 | ||||||||||
Bolden(+0.5) in. He does do better than Demens on this dive, hitting the guard about a yard from the LOS. He loses the battle a bit but does hit the FB directly before falling over backwards. He saves Michigan a yard over Demens, so here's a half-point. | |||||||||||||||||||
O13 | 2 | 7 | Ace 4-wide unbalanced | 4-3 even | Penalty | N/A | False start | -- | -5 | ||||||||||
Service this time. | |||||||||||||||||||
O8 | 2 | 12 | Ace twins | 4-3 under | Pass | N/A | Waggle out | Floyd | 6 | ||||||||||
I think. He's the CB on this side and he is not even in the frame as this completion is made. Hard to tell if it's a good idea because they had to go deep or not. Still... suspicious. Floyd -1, cover -1. Fortunate AF does not execute better here, they could have turned this upfield at the sideline for first down yardage easy. Beyer(-0.5) gave up the corner, FWIW. Pressure -1. | |||||||||||||||||||
O14 | 3 | 6 | Flexbone tight | 4-3 under | Pass | N/A | Scramble | Ryan | 4 | ||||||||||
They fake that effective quick pitch and shoot three WRs the opposite way. Taylor(+1), Bolden(+1), and Ryan(+1), cover these guys... it's dodgy for the former two but they are enough to dissuade a throw, and then they attack at the right moment to prevent Dietz from running for the first. (Cover +3). Taylor came up late, leaving the deeper guy to Gordon and preventing AF from going over the top of these LBs. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Punt, 7-3, 12 min 2nd Q | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
O25 | 1 | 10 | Ace 3-wide | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Counter dive | Bolden | 4 | ||||||||||
Bolden is staring right at this and gets no blocker so he just runs right up in the hole, making contact after a yard. That contact is won by the FB, who pushes Bolden over backwards. Clark comes to help finish. A push; Bolden could have done better here but did not screw up an easy play. | |||||||||||||||||||
O29 | 2 | 6 | Near half-flex | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Triple option | Roh | -2 | ||||||||||
Roh(+1) shoves the LT inside and releases into the QB, who has to pitch early. CGordon(+1) is the guy on the edge here and makes a nice open field TFL. AF RT stumbled here, making this easier for Roh. | |||||||||||||||||||
O27 | 3 | 8 | Ace trips | Nickel even | Pass | 5 | Throwaway | Black | Inc | ||||||||||
Blitz sends Avery and Bolden with Gordon backing out; Black(+1) stunts around and gets through as the RG blocks air. Roh(+1) is coming up the edge as Black chases Dietz out of the pocket and he's all like F this I'm outie. This was a jailbreak [BWS]. (Pressure +3, RPS +2) | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Punt, 14-3, 6 min 2nd Q | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
O45 | 1 | 10 | Flexbone | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Counter power | Demens | 3 | ||||||||||
RT is pulling inside of the G here. Ojemudia almost tracks this down from behind but can't quite get there. Black(+0.5) constricts the hole, causing the RT to stumble. Demens(+0.5) is there for a tackle near the LOS. | |||||||||||||||||||
O48 | 2 | 7 | Flexbone | 4-4 under | Pass | 4 | PA throwaway | Roh | Inc | ||||||||||
Fake pitch into a fake option to the other side and then into a pass attempt. Avery(+1, cover +1) isn't biting on that stuff and the deep route is not immediately open. Roh(+1, pressure +1) then chucks the LT and gets pressure—probably gets held—forcing a throwaway. | |||||||||||||||||||
O48 | 3 | 7 | Flexbone | Nickel even | Run | N/A | QB draw | Roh | 14 | ||||||||||
DTs split too much and give up a running lane; contain should be the name of the game here. Roh, Campbell -1. Now there's trouble as the LBs are pass dropping against blockers. Demens(-1) can't do anything; Morgan is trying to flow into the gap and may be able to make a tackle but one of the downfield blockers for Air Force literally tackles him, reaching out to grab his ankles. RPS -1. This opened up big. Just play it straight when they're in the bone, it's not like their passing game is forcing you into the nickel on third and seven. | |||||||||||||||||||
O34 | 1 | 10 | I-Form 3-wide | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Lead zone | Morgan | 3 | ||||||||||
Heitzman(-2) gets scooped really badly. Insta-second level means Demens has to fight off a cut block, which he does. Morgan(+1) beats up the blocker on the edge and Gordon(+1) shoots past his, forcing a cutback. Demens could be there but for the DL. Beyer(+0.5) is there, but giving ground; momentum carries Getz for a few yards. | |||||||||||||||||||
O31 | 2 | 7 | Flexbone | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Quick pitch | Ryan | 7 – 15 Pen | ||||||||||
Ryan(-2) chopped to the ground by a cut block, back goes outside of him, no chance for anyone else to do anything about it. Brink was pursuing and may have had a shot. Demens again ate a block from a guy releasing right away; he kept his feet; not sure if there's anything at all he can do to prevent himself from getting hit there. Kovacs(+0.5) beat a block to get to the edge and prevented this from breaking even bigger. At the end of this play, the AF guy who took out Ryan gets up and clearly talks smack to him. Good on you, flexback. AF gets a call for tripping as that OL who cut Demens puts his legs up when Morgan jumps over him. Not relevant to the play. | |||||||||||||||||||
O40 | 2 | 16 | Flexbone Big | Nickel even | Pass | 4 | Dumpoff | Floyd | 6 | ||||||||||
I think Floyd(-1) blows a coverage on the TE here as he is headed for the corner and Floyd turns around and chases him; Gordon(+1) has his back, dropping into that route and preventing it from being thrown. With both of those guys focused on a deeper route the swing underneath opens up for good yardage. | |||||||||||||||||||
O34 | 3 | 10 | Shotgun 4-wide | Nickel even | Run | N/A | Speed option | Kovacs | 11 | ||||||||||
RB moves simultaneously with snap; legal. They get out on the corner quick. Ryan is unblocked and optioned off. Morgan(-1) is slashed to the ground. He takes two with him as AF ends up doubling him. Three guys on the edge now: Avery, Kovacs, and Demens. Demens(+0.5) takes a good angle past the guy trying to cut him and is in the area ready for action about four yards downfield; Kovacs(-2) goes upfield of his blocker and loses leverage; Taylor(-1) is aggressive but puts himself right on the sideline and doesn't keep this hole small. Demens flows to tackle, but too late. | |||||||||||||||||||
O23 | 1 | 10 | Near half-flex twins | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Triple option | Ryan | 4 | ||||||||||
Roh shucks past a tackle and then eats a cut block. Demens also gets hit with a block right away, he stays on his feet but he's been shoved away from the POA. Ryan(+2) is alone on the edge with both guys and splits them such that Dietz turns it up and Ryan can tackle him. Washington was coming from behind but fell, Clark pursued from the other end to help tackle. I should probably find a minus on a four yard run but can't. I plead option. | |||||||||||||||||||
O19 | 2 | 6 | Offset I-Form | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | End around | Taylor | 12 | ||||||||||
Dive fake and then a handoff to that guy going in orbit motion. Ryan is looking in the backfied and gets lit up by a receiver cracking down on him. Taylor(-2) is way off despite this being in the redzone and comes up poorly, getting cut to the ground and allowing the back to leap over him. Demens was flowing as soon as he figured out where the ball was going; he can't get to the sideline. RPS -1... hard to figure out how M will defend this. | |||||||||||||||||||
O7 | 1 | G | Flexbone | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | FB dive | Campbell | 2 | ||||||||||
Campbell(+1) is falling over but in the running lane; RB falls over him. Demens(+0.5) is there to help stop his momentum as well. | |||||||||||||||||||
O5 | 2 | G | Flexbone | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Triple option | Refs | 5 | ||||||||||
This is the play where Arena league flex guy is hauling ass at the LOS before the snap and cuts Kovacs to the ground. Demens(-1) gets cut really badly here but once this goes outside Ryan there's no one to fill because Kovacs(-1) got blown up. Refs -2. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 14-10, 1 min 2nd Q. Hoke should have called a timeout once AF had second and goal with the clock running. | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
O12 | 1 | 10 | Near half-flex | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Triple option | Gordon | 14 + 10 pen | ||||||||||
So there's still no help on the edge as the flexback is running right at Kovacs(-1), who gets cut. Morgan(-1) also goes down. I don't think that's too much on Kovacs but on Michigan failing to adjust here. The CB has to respect the deep route being run by the WR, Gordon is on the edge, and he has support on the interior—he should take the pitch. Instead he takes QB, again corner is open, big gain. RPS -1. Campbell(-1) gets another holding call for tackling an AF OL, which is why Bolden is running free. Picture-paged. | |||||||||||||||||||
O36 | 1 | 10 | Near half-flex tight | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Counter power | Bolden | 6 | ||||||||||
RT pulls. A back shoots down onto Clark, cutting him off, and then the RB moves through the backside hole between the NT and Roh. Bolden eats the OL in the hole. Morgan(-1) is gone to the fake; Michigan is fortunate that Ryan(+0.5) reads it and comes down on the RB to tackle as he shoots through the gap. Bolden(+1) did force the RB into Ryan, whether it was intentional or not. Result-based charting. Big hole as Roh and Campbell(-1) got kicked. I get Roh since he's contain on the backside. Not so much Campbell, who ends up father away from the play than two guys lined up outside of him. | |||||||||||||||||||
O42 | 2 | 4 | Flexbone | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | FB dive | Bolden | 2 | ||||||||||
Straight ahead at the Roh/Campbell gap. Bolden hits it as fast as possible, they get a couple yards, everyone says that's how that has to go down, next snap. Bolden +0.5 I guess, for keeping this to two yards. | |||||||||||||||||||
O44 | 3 | 2 | Flexbone tight | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Counter dive | Bolden | 3 | ||||||||||
Again at the same gap, with the LT coming off of Roh to hit Bolden. Contact is made at a yard, but Roh is on the side and Bolden's getting hit so momentum pushes the pile over the line. Another push; this is just what happens unless someone MAKES PLAYS. | |||||||||||||||||||
O47 | 1 | 10 | Flexbone | 4-4 under | Pass | 4 | Out | Taylor | Inc | ||||||||||
Straight dropback! No pressure(-2), though I understand. AF WR does not sell his route and rounds it off, allowing Taylor(+2, cover +2) to break on the ball and break it up. | |||||||||||||||||||
O47 | 2 | 10 | Near half-flex tight | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Counter power | Washington | 7 | ||||||||||
Same play they just ran. Clark(+1) actually does a great job to get under the same block he just fell victim to. He comes through it and shoulders Getz, but he's literally shedding this block as he makes contact and can't use his arms. Brink(-1) fights way far upfield; they block Ryan. Washington(-1) is buried. Bolden hits the pulling T right at the LOS but there's just huge amounts of space to both sides of him. He sheds and tackles downfield. Morgan(-1) again misses the T pulling in front of his face. | |||||||||||||||||||
M46 | 3 | 3 | Near half-flex | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Quick pitch | Morgan | 11 | ||||||||||
Back goes in motion before the snap and they pitch it out; no adjustment from M before the snap. Gordon has to keep leverage and turn it in. He does. Clark(-1) doesn't adjust to the motion and goes upfield, no pursuit. Morgan(-1) starts moving about two steps after the OT flares out and has no shot. He leaps a cut, but the delay is more than enough. Kovacs(-1, tackling -1) isn't going to prevent a first down; his missed tackle adds five or six. | |||||||||||||||||||
M35 | 1 | 10 | Ace twins twin TE | 4-3 under | Pass | N/A | Waggle cross | Taylor | 17 | ||||||||||
Bolden(-2, cover -2) gets utterly lost on the play action and lets this guy get open by ten yards. Yeah, so now they're decisive. Taylor(-2, cover -2) also sucked way up and didn't get depth even when it was clear this was a pass. There's no run threat to his side and he's still flying upfield. Nyet. | |||||||||||||||||||
M18 | 1 | 10 | Flexbone Big | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | FB dive | Bolden | 3 | ||||||||||
Campbell cut, ends up on ground, etc. Must be the scheme. Bolden(-0.5) there but not quite decisive enough and misses a tackle, Morgan and Floyd combine to finish the guy as he squeezes through the line. | |||||||||||||||||||
M15 | 2 | 7 | Ace twins | 4-3 under | Pass | N/A | Waggle hitch | Floyd | 9 | ||||||||||
Ojemudia(-1) flows hard down the line and gives up the corner (pressure -2). Floyd has to drop into the corner route and gives up a super easy completion in front of him, but that's a coverage thing—three guys ended up trying to cover one AF player. Cover -2, RPS -1. | |||||||||||||||||||
M6 | 1 | G | I-Form 3-wide | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Lead zone | Roh | 3 | ||||||||||
Roh(+1) thrusts playward, getting penetration and keeping the edge; he picks off the FB and forces a cut inside. Bolden(-0.5) gets past a blocker but his angle is not directly at the hole the RB must hit if he's going to be relevant. Ryan(+0.5) is containing but reads the cutback and gets a tackle in. Campbell did get a little penetration. FWIW. | |||||||||||||||||||
M3 | 2 | G | Flexbone | Goal line | Run | N/A | FB dive | Black | 2 | ||||||||||
Black(+1) immediately hops inside his blocker, and though he falls he forces a cutback. Clark(-1) again just shoulders a defender and starts falling over; he's not there to stand the RB up, and he falls forward for two yards. | |||||||||||||||||||
M1 | 3 | G | Flexbone | Goal line | Run | N/A | QB sneak | Campbell | 0 | ||||||||||
Campbell(+1) gets lower than two blockers and everyone falls at the LOS, not beyond it; Bolden(+1) is the first of many people to jump on Dietz. Roh(+1) also had a large hand in stalling the momentum of the pile. | |||||||||||||||||||
M1 | 4 | G | Near half-flex tight | Goal line | Run | N/A | Quick pitch | N/A | 1 | ||||||||||
Michigan sends everybody, and Air Force calls rock to their scissors, shooting Getz outside and getting it easily since Taylor is blitzing. I don't RPS plays like this since you've got to roll the dice to stop them from getting a yard. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 21-17, 9 min 3rd Q. That's kind of depressing. | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
O34 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 4-wide | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Speed option | Ross | 4 | ||||||||||
Our first all-freshman LB corps. AF motions a WR to the short side and runs a speed option at three WRs and not much space. Ross(+1) is blitzing with Bolden moving to cover him at the snap. He bowls over the WR who is trying to seal him inside, and the QB cuts up. Heitzman(-0.5) gets significantly delayed by a scoop block and blown off the line so there's a gap for him. Pipkins(+0.5) shot through the line at a crappy angle on the backside and manages to come around and tackle. | |||||||||||||||||||
O38 | 2 | 6 | Flexbone unbalanced | 4-4 under | Pass | N/A | PA fly | Kovacs | 32 | ||||||||||
They show their option and shoot that flexback downfield at Kovacs again. Kovacs is like NOT THIS TIME BUDDY, is determined to get outside of him, and... guy runs right by him. How the hell you're supposed to not have this happen I don't know. I guess you can key on is Roh getting blocked. Yes, in this case. Otherwise, screwed. I have to give him a -2, cover -4, but this is also an RPS -4, the culmination of Michigan's scheme leaving them vulnerable to this. WR is hit over the top with eight yards lead on the nearest defender, but bobbles the ball and falls over, which is the only thing preventing a TD. Picture-paged. | |||||||||||||||||||
M30 | 1 | 10 | ??? | ??? | Run | N/A | Counter dive | ??? | 0 | ||||||||||
I think. They are showing a replay on this down. No idea. Some pluses should be handed out for a zero yard run, and are not. | |||||||||||||||||||
M30 | 2 | 10 | Ace twins twin TE | 4-3 under | Pass | N/A | Waggle scramble | CGordon | 10 | ||||||||||
Coverage(+2) is good. Brink(-1) is chasing on the end but he's either slow or not going maximum speed. Either way this opens up more space than the QB should have. Bolden is underneath on a TE. CGordon(-1) roars up late when it becomes clear a scramble is coming but overruns it and gives up more yardage than is necessary. | |||||||||||||||||||
M20 | 3 | In | Flexbone | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | FB dive | Ross | 2 | ||||||||||
They get it. | |||||||||||||||||||
M18 | 1 | 10 | Near half-flex tight | Okie | Run | N/A | FB dive | Washington | 2 | ||||||||||
Washington(+1) gets some push and impacts the FB with his blocker; Bolden(+0.5) pulls out of the seven man front and tackles unmolested. | |||||||||||||||||||
M16 | 2 | 8 | Flexbone big | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | FB dive | Black | 2 | ||||||||||
Oookay. Black(+1) dodges a cut and Ross(+1) again plows a blocker back; those two tackle after the usual two yards. | |||||||||||||||||||
M14 | 3 | 6 | Ace 3-wide | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | QB draw | Bolden | 6 | ||||||||||
Michigan stunts, pulling Black around and sealing the intended hole. Bolden(-2) does not read this and sits, waiting for the QB to come through the hole the stunt closes off; he cuts behind where Washington was always going to get sealed off from thanks to the stunt. Black almost makes a saving play after avoiding a cut and coming around but can't; Bolden is not where he needs to be and this breaks for the first down. Ryan, who starts a full three yards behind Bolden, actually makes this tackle. | |||||||||||||||||||
M8 | 1 | G | Flexbone goal line | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | FB dive | Bolden | 1 | ||||||||||
May be a bust as the playside G pulls. FB is running straight at where the G no longer is. Campbell(+0.5) comes under a block and helps tackle with an unblocked Bolden(+0.5) hitting it after a yard. | |||||||||||||||||||
M7 | 2 | G | Offset I-Form | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | End around | Ross | 4 | ||||||||||
Ross takes one step playside and then bursts upfield as he sees the end around. Too far upfield. He's there to make the tackle but only from the side and just barely. Taylor(+1) provided good support here, getting into the lead blocker at the LOS and turning it in at then numbers. He also helps tackle. Ross gets a push; this was good recognition but that angle needs to be wider so that you're meeting the guy at the LOS instead of chasing him. | |||||||||||||||||||
M3 | 3 | G | Near half-flex unbalanced | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Outside pitch. | Taylor | 0 | ||||||||||
A crappy pitch bails M out, but I think they had this stopped. Taylor(+1) held the edge and dodged a cut, and Ross(+0.5) was going flat out for the outside. Bad pitch brings Getz into a ton of bodies and ends it. | |||||||||||||||||||
M3 | 4 | G | Field goal | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Speed option | Ryan | 2 | ||||||||||
Michigan leaves their defense on the field and AF still runs the fake. Not a good idea. Ryan(+1) forces it back and Bolden(+0.5) tackles with help. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Turnover on downs, 28-17, 1 min 3rd Q | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
M39 | 1 | 10 | Ace trips unbalanced | 4-3 under | Pass | N/A | PA fly | Taylor | Inc | ||||||||||
Two deep routes draw man coverage, basically, as Gordon shoots up on the option fake. Taylor(+1, cover +1) is step for step with his guy and probably has a play on the ball if this is accurate enough to be caught; it's not. | |||||||||||||||||||
M39 | 2 | 10 | Near half-flex | 4-3 even | Run | N/A | Triple option | Gordon | 7 | ||||||||||
Same thing. Safety has to worry about getting burned over the top and by the time he commits it's too late. Gordon hops over a cut block but is still way far away from the edge once Ryan forces a pitch. I guess you can key on the OL releasing downfield and get on your horse. Gordon -1. | |||||||||||||||||||
M32 | 3 | 3 | Flexbone tight | 4-3 even | Run | N/A | Quick pitch | Taylor | -2 | ||||||||||
Taylor(+2) comes up hard on this one, smacking a blocker three yards in the backfield at the numbers. Other blockers run by Clark(+1), who delivers a thumping tackle. RPS +1, they were looking for this. | |||||||||||||||||||
M34 | 4 | 5 | Near half-flex | 4-3 even | Run | N/A | Triple option | Gordon | 6 | ||||||||||
Same thing, always. Gordon(-1) does not get outside the flexback, gives up corner, does tackle at the sticks but not enough. Clark is coming so hard from the back on this that if Ryan makes the QB turn up this is a stop, I think. | |||||||||||||||||||
M28 | 1 | 10 | Flexbone | 4-3 even | Pass | N/A | PA flare | N/A | Inc | ||||||||||
Floyd(+1, cover +1) and Morgan(+1, cover +1) cover their guys, Floyd on a fly route and Morgan recovering from the PA. QB tries to flare it out as a checkdown and misses badly. Possibly thanks to Heitzman(+0.5) getting a nominal amount of pressure. | |||||||||||||||||||
M28 | 2 | 10 | Flexbone | 4-3 even | Run | N/A | Triple option | Floyd | 3 | ||||||||||
Ojemudia(-2) has no idea what he's doing and shoots down inside at the dive back instead of taking the QB. Floyd(+2, tackling +1) shoots by the corner and fills after the QB pitches for no earthly reason. Took a huge mistake by the QB and a great play to not have this break huge. Because the whole defense was going nuts about the dive back. | |||||||||||||||||||
M25 | 3 | 7 | Ace 4-wide | 4-3 even | Pass | N/A | Slant | Morgan | 10 | ||||||||||
Morgan(-1, cover -1) takes a weird bad zone drop and opens this up. OL had cut everyone, so this was coming out immediately or not at all. | |||||||||||||||||||
M15 | 1 | 10 | Flexbone | 4-3 even | Run | N/A | FB dive | Black | 6 | ||||||||||
DL shift does Michigan a disservice here; Black(-1) pops through the line at the wrong spot to do anything about this and LBs can't do anything about it either. | |||||||||||||||||||
M9 | 2 | 4 | Flexbone | 4-3 even | Run | N/A | Triple option | Ojemudia | 1 | ||||||||||
Ojemudia(+1) does hop out on the QB this time. He decides not to pitch for some reason and gets nailed. Pitch looked like a TD, FWIW. | |||||||||||||||||||
M8 | 3 | 3 | Flexbone | 6-2 over | Run | N/A | Triple option | Morgan | 8 | ||||||||||
M finally switches their scheme up, shooting Gordon at the QB from the corner. This forces a pitch. Morgan and Floyd are on the edge against one blocker... Floyd(-1) gets cut and ends up incapacitated at the three and Morgan(-2, tackling -1) overruns the RB entirely. TD. | |||||||||||||||||||
M3 | 2pt | 2pt | Ace twins | 4-3 even | Pass | N/A | Waggle TE circle | Bolden | 3 | ||||||||||
Roh(-1, pressure -1) sucks up and does not get out on the edge. Bolden(-1, cover -1) also bites hard, so this is easy. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Touchdown(2pt), 28-25, 12 min 4th Q | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
O34 | 1 | 10 | Flexbone | 4-3 even | Run | N/A | Triple option | N/A | 2 | ||||||||||
Fumbled the dive fake. | |||||||||||||||||||
O36 | 2 | 8 | Flexbone tight | 4-3 even | Pass | 4 | Scramble | Brink | 1 | ||||||||||
One flex back is in a WR stance, so may tip pass. Dive fake and then Dietz drops back. He doesn't like what he sees(cover +1) and scrambles directly upfield. Brink(+1) and Pipkins(+1) collapse on him. | |||||||||||||||||||
O37 | 3 | 7 | Shotgun trips | Nickel even | Run | N/A | Speed option | Floyd | 13 | ||||||||||
Three AF players are moving before the snap, which ain't legal. Ross is hauling after this play—he really is decisive—but gets easily cut off by a guy blocking down. Kovacs takes another blocker and Floyd(-1) is one on one on the outside with a motioned flexback; he again gets taken out of the play. RPS -1. Schemed here, mostly. No response from the LBs to the motion. | |||||||||||||||||||
50 | 1 | 10 | Near half-flex | 4-3 even | Run | N/A | FB dive | Campbell | 2 | ||||||||||
Campbell(+1) shoves his blocker backwards and gets to the hole, tackling. C released directly into Ross; Campbell making this play saves a yard or two, an important yard or two. | |||||||||||||||||||
M48 | 2 | 8 | Flexbone | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | FB dive | Roh | 3 | ||||||||||
Campbell over C on this one, play goes behind him. Roh(+1) fights to the hole and helps tackle; Bolden(-0.5) isn't quite authoritative enough with his fill and shoulder-blocks the RB down. | |||||||||||||||||||
M45 | 3 | 5 | Flexbone | 4-3 even | Run | N/A | Counter dive | Ross | 2 | ||||||||||
Woo! Ross(+1) is going forward on the snap, splitting the two guys releasing downfield and blasting the RB at the LOS. Would be two but he does not wrap. Black(+1) ditched a blocker and takes out the pulling G; he uses the Ross-created delay to tackle. | |||||||||||||||||||
M43 | 4 | 3 | Near half-flex | 4-3 even | Run | N/A | Triple option | Clark | 0 | ||||||||||
Michigan stunts. They send Clark upfield and take Black out behind that. Clark(+1) takes out the lead blocker and forces Getz upfield. Black(+1) is now out on the QB, who ends up pitching it forward to a guy right next to him. Black and Ross(+1), who flew right by a blocker en route to the edge, make the stop. RPS +1. The stunt killed it. Way to pull that out at a critical juncture, Mattison. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Turnover on downs, 31-25, 4 min 4th Q. Okay, so ABC screwed up here and the tape misses the first three plays of this drive. They are INC, 7 yard completion plus 15 roughing the passer, Roh(-1), incomplete (Clark +1 for leaping PBU), and a sideline interference(!) penalty. We pick it up on second and fifteen. | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | DForm | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
O37 | 2 | 15 | Shotgun trips | 4-3 under | Pass | 4 | Out | Ryan | Inc | ||||||||||
Roh(+1) gets some pressure after initially getting stopped by the LT; Dietz is rolling out to his side after he dumps the tackle and has to throw. Ryan(+1, cover +1) is in position and breaks to break up a poorly-thrown ball. | |||||||||||||||||||
O37 | 3 | 15 | Shotgun 4-wide | Nickel even | Run | N/A | QB draw | Clark | -2 | ||||||||||
Mattison is so looking for this, running a stunt that sends Clark(+1) directly into the running lane AF is looking for. Ryan(+1) darted inside the tackle he's stunting and helps tackle. RPS +2. | |||||||||||||||||||
O35 | 4 | 17 | Shotgun trips | Nickel even | Pass | 4 | Batted | Ryan | Inc | ||||||||||
Ryan(+2) sets the RT up inside, looks like he's going to burst outside, and then is definitely bursting outside because the RB clunks into the RT. Ryan in, QB has to throw, Ryan knocks it down. (Pressure +2) | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Turnover on downs, 31-25, 1 min 4th Q. EOG for D. |
That could have gone better.
Yeah. I found this reference to what Michigan was doing on The Birddog, the great Navy blog:
The biggest surprise in this game was how poorly Michigan defended the option. They spent most of the game in a 3-deep 4-4, with the safety assigned to the pitch man. Sound familiar? No wonder Air Force was able to move the ball. After playing both Navy and Air Force several times in his career, you’d think that Brady Hoke would have known better.
That link takes you to the Birddog's extensive breakdown of the 2008 Georgia-Georgia Tech game in which the Yellow Jackets broke a long losing streak against the Dawgs by completing one pass for 19 yards… and rushing for 409. In that game, the pitchman was the safety's responsibility, the safety started eating the flexback, and the Jackets looked like Las Vegas for a day. The Birddog chalks this up to old-timey ways to defend the wishbone that time-pressed coaches default to because they aren't up on the ways in which the flexbone makes those defenses invalid.
It's of purely academic interest until Michigan schedules another option team, but the similarities between how UGA defended Tech in 2008 and how Michigan defended Air Force in 2012 are extensive. If you just want to know why Saturday went down like it did, I can't recommend that post enough.
This is already nine thousand words.
Uh-huh.
What I'm saying is could I have some cliffs notes?
Ah so:
Fundamentally, the mechanics of your basic triple option play are the same whether you’re running it out of the wishbone, I-formation, spread, or whatever. Each of these formations, however, imply different overall philosophies. The underlying theme of the wishbone– bringing blockers to the point of attack to support a power running game– is very different than that of the spread. In the spread, you want to stretch the defense, both vertically and from sideline to sideline, in order to create running lanes. You might think these are just platitudes, but they aren’t; this difference, coupled with the threat of the pass, is why wishbone defenses don’t work against the spread option. The spread allows an offensive coordinator to use a greater variety of formations in order to create the space he wants for his ballcarriers. That advantage played a big part in Georgia Tech’s win over Georgia.
Mattison knows he was burned, and we won't see Michigan try this in purely hypothetical future option matchups. But when it came down to crunch time, he did respond.
Oh yes?
Oh, yes. On Air Force's final drive he had the luxury of the Falcons trying a shotgun passing attack but it's still a big plus when you call rock to the opponent's QB draw scissors, and on the even-more-critical final AF drive in their base offense Mattison finally pulled out a variation of his base defense that worked:
Clark bursts upfield and Michigan stunts Black outside, getting both a delay on the QB and a second tackler in space. Also featured is James Ross getting on his horse and doing what James Ross does: running at maximum speed somewhere. I assume there will be moments this year when Ross doing this leaves a tight end wide open, but you can't accuse Ross of being indecisive. If you need to figure out where to eat dinner with 12 people, invite James Ross.
He is in fact the only edge-type person on the—
probably pretty doomy CHART
--chart to not get a negative.
Defensive Line | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Player | + | - | T | Notes |
Roh | 9 | 5 | 4 | Size not a problem against Falcons. |
Campbell | 4.5 | 7 | -2.5 | I may have been a little harsh on some early cuts as AF didn't get that many yards on them. |
Washington | 2.5 | 5 | -2.5 | Right, this is more realistic than his Alabama number. |
Black | 6 | 1.5 | 4.5 | Some big plays late. |
Brink | 1 | 3 | -2 | Eh. |
Ash | - | - | - | DNP |
Pipkins | 1.5 | - | 1.5 | Showed some agility after popping through the line at bad angle |
Beyer | 0.5 | 2.5 | -2 | Clark seemed a lot better. |
Heitzman | 0.5 | 2 | -1.5 | Probably shouldn't be playing yet. |
Clark | 5 | 2 | 3 | Too bad impressive PBU not shown by ABC. |
Ojemudia | 1 | 3 | -2 | One bust on QB he got away with. |
TOTAL | 31.5 | 31 | 0.5 | Step up from 'Bama; maybe not very telling anyway. |
Linebacker | ||||
Player | + | - | T | Notes |
Morgan | 8 | 10 | -2 | Faded late after strong start, thus setting up allfrosh. |
Demens | 2 | 3.5 | -1.5 | Poor guy was dodging two blocks a play. |
Ryan | 13 | 2.5 | 10.5 | Ran up the score with +4 on final three plays. Option blame fell elsewhere. |
C. Gordon | 1.5 | 2 | -0.5 | Will be viable depth for Ryan. |
Ross | 4.5 | - | 4.5 | Goes, man, just goes. |
Bolden | 5.5 | 6 | -0.5 | Some nice plays, some getting lost. |
Hawthorne | - | - | - | DNP. |
TOTAL | 34.5 | 24 | 10.5 | Thought these guys did okay considering all the cut blocks |
Secondary | ||||
Player | + | - | T | Notes |
Floyd | 3 | 10 | -7 | Has always been a terrible run defender, this played into a weakness. |
Avery | 3 | - | 3 | Did okay before getting pulled with back issue. |
Taylor | 7 | 7 | 0 | Had some crappy plays, but also popped up to pop people. |
Kovacs | 3.5 | 7 | -3.5 | Really put in a bind by the scheme. |
T. Gordon | 3 | 5 | -2 | Did not do well compared to Ryan on edge. |
Holowell | - | - | - | DNP |
Wilson | - | - | - | Did not chart. |
TOTAL | 19.5 | 29 | -9.5 | No Marlin Jacksons here. |
Metrics | ||||
Pressure | 7 | 7 | 0 | Not really important. |
Coverage | 15 | 15 | 0 | Push good against this kind of offense. |
Tackling | 6 | 3 | 66% | AF != Alabama |
RPS | 7 | 13 | -6 | Mattison said as much. |
So… I did not get the Demens removal. I thought the DL was pretty scary save Roh, loved Ryan, thought the linebackers were otherwise eh, hated Floyd's run support, was disappointed in the safeties, and think Michigan got outschemed somewhat. Thus Air Force racking it up.
Ryan is so shiny here, but you thought he might be a problem live?
That was probably lingering Argh Ryan bias from last year. He made tackles in space, he was very likely not the guy who had the pitchman at any point except when he was making tackles in space, and he almost singlehandedly ended Air Force's final drive. Bennie Oosterbaan would be proud as soon as he stopped asking why a linebacker was wearing his number.
He also lowered some BOOM:
Note that the alignment there drives the blocking crazy. The WR is trying to crack down on a LB but he's on the line, so the CB knows right away that this is a run, and then the angle he has to take cuts off the guy assigned to Avery.
Ryan did have one ARGH RYAN; other than that he was stellar. Easily Michigan's best defender on the day.
But Floyd not so much.
No. While he got a lot better in coverage last year—Gibson minus all of the points—he remained a sucky edge defender. Remember bubble screen fiesta by Northwestern? Etc. He is not real good at taking on blocks of any variety. This ends up a Morgan TFL but watch Floyd:
That was a constant occurrence, and it would have been a problem on this play if the QB had made Morgan commit before pitching. It cost Michigan lots of yards on others. On this one he's not even blocked and ends up in the parking lot:
I don't know why they're so far off. I do know that attacking Michigan's corners in the run/screen game has been easy money for a couple years now.
How did Taylor do in his first extended time?
He was uneven, as you might expect. I don't blame him on the easy pitch touchdown Air Force got since he was blitzing at the snap—watch Floyd for confirmation—and got blocked in the back something fierce without a call from this ref crew deathly afraid of throwing a flag on America. Mattison dialed up a risky play in an effort to get a stop and got beat, which is fine on the one yard line. You've got to dial it up somehow.
He did extend a few Air Force drives with rookie mistakes, like this corner route on which he has to know the situation:
That step up is the difference between a completion and getting off the field, and it was made against a stationary tight end three yards downfield on third and twelve. On the other hand, he recovered pretty well there. If Dietz doesn't put it up high he's got a play on it. He's got the athleticism. He needs to learn how to play zone coverage, is all. He might already be better than Floyd at run support.
Demens got pulled but doesn't stand out as terrible above.
No. I'm not sure what he could have done on most of these plays. I mean, the poor guy ended up dealing with multiple blocks for big chunks of the first half:
That is not one but two Air Force blockers who do nothing but go after Demens. No consideration for guys on the line, no one else to block, just Kenny Demens vs The World.
Bolden was okay, but I think maybe Demens doesn't get sucked to the frontside and makes a stop on this play:
That's pretty bad because of the stunt in front of Bolden. That hole frontside is going to get filled by the stunter, and that's something the LB should realize. I didn't see much from Bolden that was option-relevant. Michigan was using their MLBs mostly to nail that FB dive.
Ross showed that maybe there were plays out there to make, but I don't expect Demens to get buried. I also don't expect him to do much unless Michigan starts getting more plays from the DL.
So what about this covered slot thing?
I've never seen anyone do that with the frequency Air Force did, and wanted to know if Mattison was using that stuff as a run key. Answer: yes. Via Heiko:
MGoQuestion: A lot of times Air Force came out with two receivers lined up on the line of scrimmage such that the slot was an ineligible receiver. Do you coach your defense to use that as a run key?
“Yeah. We knew that. We knew that. In fact, if you watched that, you would have seen J.T. Floyd come over to him and know that he didn’t have to drop, and he didn’t. He became another run defender over there.”
Even so I was frustrated a couple times when that happened and the guy over the slot did not react quickly enough to the run. It is possible to pass out of it but the contortions you have to go through are extreme. Nebraska got a corner route TD on it against Southern Miss by not even bothering to move either of the outside WRs. [HT: Smart Football.] We saw the magical journey the covered slot guy went on on the long shoulda-been-TD in Picture Pages.
LOLrefs.
Just astoundingly bad. Here's an Air Force pass play on which not one but two Falcon offensive linemen release downfield:
Those two guys in the middle of the field are OL. One of them cut-blocked Demens. No flag. I know the packaged plays have made everyone aware that refs will give OL a couple yards, but that's ridiculous. There was that Arena-league touchdown, and Morgan got tackled on a critical third down:
I mean, call it both ways. We're part of America too.
Heroes?
Jake Ryan and James Ross.
Goats?
Floyd's run support, Mattison's antiquated approach to defending the flexbone option, the D-tackles (somewhat), and the safeties (somewhat).
What does it mean for UMass and the future?
Not a whole lot since option has just slid off the schedule. However: I think Taylor will have some rough spots but come through okay. He's an athlete. Ross is going to get more playing time until such time as his hypercaffeinated ways get Michigan burned, and possibly beyond that. Jake Ryan is developing as well as Michigan fans had hoped.
Still feeling pretty ominous about the line, unfortunately, but a lot of Air Force's success is not replicable by other teams. Since Alabama is way up there, UMass way down there, and Air Force way out there, our first read on how this defense is going to play against humans comes against Notre Dame.
September 13th, 2012 at 3:11 PM ^
September 13th, 2012 at 3:47 PM ^
He's the dude in the low crouch before the snap, and the guy screaming toward the ball at mach 2 with his hair on fire after the snap.
September 13th, 2012 at 6:17 PM ^
James Ross is Boba Fett. Book it.
September 13th, 2012 at 3:49 PM ^
If you need to figure out where to eat dinner with 12 people, invite James Ross.
September 13th, 2012 at 4:09 PM ^
That paragraph about Ross made me laugh out loud at my desk.
September 13th, 2012 at 3:37 PM ^
-- I think. (I'm no expert).
Blocking Zone
ARTICLE 6. a. The blocking zone is a rectangle centered on the snapper and extending five yards laterally and three yards longitudinally in each direction.
b. The blocking zone disintegrates when the ball leaves the zone.
RATIONALE: Defines the area where players are allowed to clip (9-1-2-d) and block in the back (9-3-3-c). No change from the current rule.
EDIT: Here is the rule from the NCAA rulebook (section 3, article 3, b 2 c 1):
1. Offensive players who are on the line of scrimmage at the snap within the blocking zone (Rule 2-3-6) may legally block in the back in the blocking zone, subject to the following restrictions:(a) A player on the line of scrimmage within this blocking zone may not leave the zone and return and legally block in the back.(b) The blocking zone disintegrates when the ball leaves the zone (Rule 2-3-6).
September 13th, 2012 at 3:24 PM ^
Long uses a 3-3-5, but in this game it was more of a 3-3-2-3 the way they lined up. What Long likes to do is to use those “2″ to put an extra DB on either side of the formation to be #3 in the count, then have the free safety follow the pitch. This way, the offense has to block #3, but doesn’t have anyone left to get to the safety (indeed, Aztec safety Nat Berhe led all tacklers with 14). You should be able to run inside fairly well against this defense, but Army wasn’t able to do so consistently. Neither did Navy when they played San Diego State in the Poinsettia Bowl, although they did have some success through the air. Trent Steelman has a lot of strengths, but Army can’t rely on his arm to jump-start the offense.
This would explain why we did okay with up the middle stuff and so poorly on the edges. We picked a defense that was stout in the middle and too much of a gamble on the edges (especially when you figure illegal Arena League blocks). It looks like you are leaving yourself exposed either way. Plus with the way Floyd was either being removed or removing himself from the play, it wouldn't have much mattered on the edges.
September 13th, 2012 at 3:28 PM ^
that he was trying to take away the fullback dive and force the QB to keep it:
That was the scheme. The whole thing in playing that kind of offense, if you don’t squeeze the down block, he’ll block your linebacker all day, so we felt that it was important to tighten our guys down and to squeeze it, and they went to what they do. They started zoning us so they got to the outside. Again, those are the things you’re touching on that I should have done quicker of saying, okay, let’s loosen these guys and let’s see if the fullback can beat us.
September 13th, 2012 at 3:32 PM ^
So would last year's defensive line have allowed us more flexibility on the corners? OR Is this a choice that a defensive coordinator has to make regardless of personnel?
September 13th, 2012 at 3:46 PM ^
Oh man, Martin and Van Bergen would have have a field day in this game. Martin especially can kill an option dead by penetrating from the NT spot.
September 13th, 2012 at 3:26 PM ^
I'm very excited. Need to temper it since the last time I got this excited (before Bama) I got burned but let's see how the defense progresses throughout the season. Do they get better week to week. Hopefully we soundly beat UMass and use this week as a good tuneup to further work on the technique and making more instinctive decisions.
September 13th, 2012 at 3:52 PM ^
given that Indiana just beat them 45-6 at home. I'd say a thrashing is the minimum requirement - I would prefer to see a walk-on fourth quarter.
September 13th, 2012 at 3:48 PM ^
Another advantage of running the option (at levels above high school) is:
Just like the defense is not used to seeing it, the refs are not used to seeing it. A bunch of these funky illegal motion & OL downfield things are unique and thus probably not something refs are normally accustomed looking for/calling.
September 13th, 2012 at 5:39 PM ^
I agree, but that's not an excuse. Don't the refs do anything to prepare for a game?? I honestly don't know if they do or not, but they should. Teams send tape to the NCAA about penalties that were called incorrectly... teams become known for certain tactics... and for freak sake, previous game film is available.
The AF game was some truly piss poor refereeing that was quite one-sided because of the unusual offense AF runs. Obvious calls in terms of the rule book became less obvious just because they are uncommonly called, but it seems the refs should get some prepping about what to watch for specific teams.
I am not one to complain about refs. Generally their incompetence applies to both teams equally, but not in this case. If Michigan would have lost this game, I would be incensed.
September 13th, 2012 at 3:49 PM ^
Final numbers don't seem harsh enough considering how much the defense got completely shredded. Was this really all on just Mattison and poor run support by the corners?
September 13th, 2012 at 4:02 PM ^
because it's such an unorthodox style of play (look at what they do against BCS conference teams...their rushing stats were the norm), compounded by playing it the week after Alabama, where there is just such little time to prepare (i.e. Dave Brandon gets the RPS -1).
September 13th, 2012 at 4:18 PM ^
I guess that makes sense, but man, some of those infuriating 3rd down conversions have pretty small minuses associated with them when my internal RAGE meter says that they should be higher.
September 13th, 2012 at 4:49 PM ^
Do we need to continue the berating of Brandon for scheduling two tough opponents back to back? At this point, it just sounds like whining.
September 13th, 2012 at 4:59 PM ^
Yes, we must berate Brandon for everything, always. I'm not sure why, those are just the rules.
September 13th, 2012 at 5:08 PM ^
Pretty simple really. Brandon gets ripped on for scheduling "A" teams:
Alabama
Air Force
Appalachian State
Alabama too tough, Air Force too different, Appalachian State too painful. We need to find just the right mix of opponents, equipped with everything it takes to lose with dignity against the hallowed Michigan Wolverines
September 13th, 2012 at 5:27 PM ^
Also, Arizona. Too RichRod.
I guess that ruins my dream of a home-and-home with Austin Peay.
September 14th, 2012 at 1:59 PM ^
First up would be Ball State...is that rematch acceptable?
September 13th, 2012 at 5:02 PM ^
...but we are, after all, talking about the game in which it is an issue. And, specifically, the side of the ball in that game. Once we clear the review of the game in which it is an issue, then by all means, it would be reasonable to stop.
I also think "berating" is a bit strong in context of the post, but whatevs.
September 13th, 2012 at 5:35 PM ^
It might sound like whining if I had brought it up in this post. Since I didn't, it probably doesn't.
September 13th, 2012 at 5:52 PM ^
lulz. Was going to say, I don't recall reading anything to that effect.
September 13th, 2012 at 6:07 PM ^
...he was referring to me, not our fearless leader.
September 13th, 2012 at 7:09 PM ^
Sure, Brian is out leader, but he has fears. They include, but are not limited to, GERG, Nickleback, mascots, Appalachian State rematches. These are fears that many of us share. His biggest fear might be Nickelback named as the new HC, who then names GERG as the DC and App St as the mascot, or something to that effect.
September 13th, 2012 at 3:56 PM ^
For keeping the 1s out there on D on what turned out to be the fake field goal. Sure, everyone knew it was a fake, but if this is results-based charting then Mattison and/or Hoke deserve an RPS for keeping the D out there.
FWIW they did this pretty often last year, doesn't hurt to keep your 1s on the field.
September 13th, 2012 at 3:58 PM ^
Yikes. Even though they all knew it was coming, the defensive guys must have been PISSED playing a team that cut blocks so much. It has to be so damn frustrating.
September 13th, 2012 at 4:08 PM ^
At the end of the post there are two links to illegal cut blocks (the first on Kovacs, and the 2nd on Morgan) that weren't called. I'm a little slow so I might not understand, but it seems because the blocker was lined up in the backfield outside of the tackle box that a north-south cut block is allowed downfield. The Morgan block "North-South" might be a little suspect.
Either way, just curious if I am misunderstanding the cut-block rules changes from last year.
Here's from the '12 NCAA rulebook
ARTICLE 6. There shall be no blocking below the waist (Rule 2-3-2) (A.R. 9-1-6-I-VII).
Exceptions:
1. Against the runner.
2. Before a change of possession on scrimmage downs that do not include kicks, blocking below the waist is allowed as follows:
(a) Players of the offensive team who at the snap are:
(1) On the line of scrimmage more than seven yards from the middle lineman of the offensive formation; or
(2) In the backfield with any part of the body outside the tackle box; or
(3) In motion;
may block below the waist only along a north-south line (Rule 2-12-9) or toward the sideline adjacent to them at the snap.
(b) Players of the offensive team who at the snap are completely inside the tackle box or on the line of scrimmage inside the seven-yard limit may block below the waist.
(c) Players of the defensive team who at the snap are inside the blocking zone extended to the sideline may block below the waist inside that area until the blocking zone disintegrates (Rule 2-3-6-b) except against a Team A player in position to receive a backward pass
September 13th, 2012 at 5:41 PM ^
September 13th, 2012 at 5:42 PM ^
On "Near 3-wide, Unbalanced" why doesn't one of the recievers who is ineligible, take a step off the line to become elegible. Still left with 7 on the LOS, obviously. This is a vague question for any team that would do this; it's such a give-a-way, why not take the 1.5 yard off the LOS to make it plausible for a pass play?
September 13th, 2012 at 6:07 PM ^
I rewatched the 1st half only to focus on Demens play. He royally sucked. He got blocked out of almost every play. How in the world did he only end up with -1.5? I was expecting double digits.
September 13th, 2012 at 7:20 PM ^
1. How does Kovacs get dinged for getting blocked by the guy who illegally was running forward at the snap? That's like dinging a guy for getting tackled when his facemask gets grabbed.
2. JT Floyd is bad in run support. This is old news.
September 13th, 2012 at 8:13 PM ^
Just FYI I'm seeing something strange on this post:
When I am just on the home page, all the videos are wrong. Meaning, the wrong clip is showing.
When I click through the link to the post itself, the right video shows in the right place.
Lemme know if I can provide any more info.
September 14th, 2012 at 9:22 AM ^
noticed that too. they are all shifeted down one. I think the second blue angels clip has pushed them all down. and of course the last clip doesn't exist (shifted down out of the post?). Maybe its with Floyd in the parking lot?
September 13th, 2012 at 11:24 PM ^
From the article:
"Clark bursts upfield and Michigan stunts Black outside, getting both a delay on the QB and a second tackler in space."
This is an effective tactic against the triple when not overused. There are counters and if the offensive coordinator is right they can make hay. Mattison came nowhere near overusing this. Should have been called more.
September 14th, 2012 at 6:11 AM ^
September 14th, 2012 at 6:25 AM ^
Jourdan Lewis, Terry Richardson, and Blake Countess are better in man coverage than the guys we've had out there recently (Floyd, Taylor, Woolfolk, etc.). I think we'll be able to play more man in the next couple years.
September 14th, 2012 at 8:58 AM ^
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