Does the Funchess Stumble have anything to do with the pass being behind him? Maybe Gardner caught it and thought Funchess would slow down more than he did.

Also, on that second play, to throw it on time, Gardner would have had to throw it right when he got to his 7 step drop. He wouldn't have time to read it before throwing IMO. He then had to throw slightly behind target to miss the LB in zone coverage.

I am not trying to make excuses for Devin's inaccuracies. But I feel like on some of the throws, they can at least be justified as to why they aren't perfect. And to be honest, if they are caught then I don't care.

If you're Borges, which ceiling* do you push Funchess towards? Gronk or Megatron?

Gronk is 6'6" 265#

Calvin Johnson is 6'5" 236#

Should he focus on adding size and blocking? Or adding speed and route running?

* - obviously either would be amazing, as both guys are matchup nightmares. Not saying Funchess could be either, but... (NTB) he could go either "giant wide-out" or "freak playing TE"

Great write-up!

This is one of those situations where I can see the DC's logic clearly.  You have already figured out some of the things that were important to MInnesota to defend:

• Bracket Gallon, because obvious
• Spy DG, because obvious
• Cover Fitz, because obvious

You've now used four of your available eight defenders in pass coverage (two for Gallon).  You're left with three DBs and one LB to cover the bunch.

If you've scouted Michigan--which you most certainly have--you know Al Borges loves to use the bunch on third down to get open players by using a similar route tree to what he employs here.  One guy heads for the sideline (usually the inside guy), one guy heads inside the hashes, and one guy tries to take the top off the defense by going deep.

USUALLY--and in fact, later in this very game--the pass goes to the guy heading to the sideline, because his man has had to move through the trash trying to get to him and he's often open.  This is similar to what happened on the Dileo play (pass off his finger tips when he was WIDE open) though they may have been in zone on that one.  If it doesn't go to the sideline, it usually goes to the inside guy (also Dileo in many cases).  I don't think I've ever seen this route tree go to the deep man, whom I believe usually runs a fade or corner.

So, knowing all that, you use your LB to play a robber--reading the QB's eyes and seeing if that throw goes inside or outside--and trying to double the receiver or make a quick tackle after the catch.  Also, Funchess is "just a tight end" before this game; he's had his moments, but has never been the featured receiver.  You have to believe a good DB can cover him, because the alternative is to leave those inside/outside routes in a one-on-one which is VERY difficult to defend in straight man.

Bottom line: Michigan went against tendency to a guy they haven't used much on deep routes, and Funchess ran a great route and made a great play to score.  Here are your alternatives:

• Have your safety play center field - this leaves Gallon one-on-one.
• Take man coverage off Toussaint
• Take the spy off DG
• Have your LB either carry the seem with Dileo or drop deep middle - leaving Butt, Dileo, or Funchess one-on-one (notice how open Butt's route was initially)

It appears Minnesota wanted to give help on Dileo, who is definitely a third-down security blanket.  Not a bad call, and one that I might make in that situation.  I like even better trying to have the LB split the difference between Dileo and Butt, since those seem to be the commonly-used routes.

What I'm trying to say is that this is an RPS.  Michigan is going against their own tendencies and using a guy that has never been used as he was in this game.  Great call by Al Borges, and none of the alternative plans of action by Minnesota would have yielded better match-ups, IMO.

Of course, this is why the shotgun with four credible receiving threats is so hard to defend--you can't cover everything as a defense, and this is with only a three man rush.

AND...this is why this game was SO important for Michigan's offense: we now have another credible receiving threat to take pressure off Gallon.  Double Gallon?  Fine, we'll throw it to Funchess.  Double Funchess?  Fine, we'll throw it to Gallon.  Cover two?  Fine, we'll run MANBALL and beat you up in the box, or use our underneath threats (Dileo, crossing routes and middle screens to Chesson) to move the ball in the air.  Heck, we might even throw-in a quick pass to Jeremy Jackson (but not a bubble screen).

This was a vital development for us; we haven't had anything but Gallon as a real threat up to this point.  I can't wait to see how Borges uses Funchess the rest of the way.  I sure hope we don't see any "Bad Al" from here on out, because when he's on, he calls an amazing game.

EDIT: FWIW, I think this is also a great read by DG, who recognized the defense and saw the opportunity with Funchess.  Butt was open too, but Funchess is clearly the better option.

Instead of calling it a good play design, which would credit Borges, we call it 'blorpy' defense, which makes it a defensive failure.

Somehow I'm not surprised...

Jimmy Graham is the poor man's Devin Funchess.

Also, I'm really excited about baseball no longer existing.

I love how the DB claps his hand and stomps, as if to say "argh, I almost had that one!"

No.  No you didn't.

I liken Devin Funchess to Mike Williams during his dominant USC days.  Dude was flat-out unstoppable.

Any time you use "butt" in a sentence, it has to be followed by (NTB). As in, "Even though her face wasn't all that, her butt (NTB) was awesome!"

Good read, I like the analysis of  'on target' being relative to receiver's and defenders' locations, hieght, and abilities. 

One issue is that, from the ESPN replay, Gargner seems to be staring down Funchess the whole way. We can't see his eyes, but from behind it looks that way. 

The rebound comparison is spot-on. Gardner doesn't have to hit a guy like Funchess in the hands and in stride. A lot of times just putting the ball a little short will be better anyway. That allows Funchess to box his man out with his ridiculously large frame.