Punting v. Rutgers
Shop Smart Shop pointed out in a thread that there were only 10 players on the field during a punt against Rutgers but I didn't see any definitive screen shots on that thread so I thought that I'd use MGoVideo's video to grab some for the benefit of the board (GoBLUinTX usefully pointed out the key moment).
Here's the key image, labelled (click all images to embiggen in a new window). Norfleet is off the screen (I don't think that the ref is Dennis Norfleet).
Here are two shots from the end zone immediately before the punt (the clock isn't running because Michigan had called a time-out):
and
Just before the punt, the camera angle changes:
and with labels:
Just before the punt, Delonte Hollowell (#24, my number 3) moves to help out with the gunner on the top of the screen (the boundary) and Rutgers punts:
With labels (numbers are the same as above):
And here's the 11th player running onto the field late just before the punt, early in the 3rd quarter (the ball was punted at 12:58):
October 6th, 2014 at 12:28 AM ^
Just didn't execute like they did all week in practice. We're gonna work on it this week and get it better!!
October 6th, 2014 at 12:59 AM ^
It's seriously mind-blowing. We weren't this stupid in Hoke's first season, were we? I remember my first impression being that he seemed like a smart, composed game manager (a pleasant surprise at the time). I don't see any of that these days.
October 6th, 2014 at 1:23 AM ^
October 6th, 2014 at 11:34 AM ^
He was a pretty good game manager in 2011....confident, decisive, poised.
This year none of that is present. Which has led me to believe what many had already thought to be true...that he's simply in over his head. When things go right, he has no problems being aggressive. But as soon as something bad happens, it's like Hoke goes into a shell. Afraid to make any bold moves during the game. His team has been a perfect representation of his sideline demeanor...tentative, unsure of itself, afraid to make mistakes, no fire in the belly or sense of urgency. It's so sad, and seems liks such a fixable thing, that it makes me depressed to think about what this team could have been this year.
October 6th, 2014 at 12:00 PM ^
Don't forget that in Hoke's 1st season the "Hoke poops magic" tag was created. We very well could have had 10 on the fied in 2011 but no one noticed because it never cost us.
October 6th, 2014 at 4:45 AM ^
appreciate the effort.
They all need to be launched out of a cannon, but if the ST coach still has a job by Monday, COB, they're not even trying anymore.
October 6th, 2014 at 5:24 AM ^
is setup by the weird formation with a short and a deep return guy and then it got changed to a single return guy without someone being notified.
Either way its a fail and why it continues I don't know.
October 6th, 2014 at 7:15 AM ^
It's bad enough to screw this up in the normal (hectic) flow of a game but to send ten players onto the field following a timeout is truly unfathomable. Incredible. Mind blowing. Or, more accurately a(nother) poster child for incompetent coaching.
October 6th, 2014 at 7:34 AM ^
So Rutgers uses pro punt too. Interesting.
October 6th, 2014 at 9:43 AM ^
Winning solves everything, winning makes everything look good. Guarenfuckenteed, if Michigan was using the "spread" punt formation and losing to teams that used the pro-style, that would be a bone of contention.
October 6th, 2014 at 10:10 AM ^
The spread punt formation is proven to improve every aspect of punt coverage over the pro-style punt formation; this is why we complain about not using it. If we were losing despite using optimal punting strategy, we wouldn't complain about the punt coverage formation. Maybe the execution of the punt coverage, but not the formation itself.
October 6th, 2014 at 8:50 AM ^
I guess id rather have ten men on a return than twelve?
October 6th, 2014 at 8:58 AM ^
How do you practice all week, get to the game, and not notice the guy next to you all week isn't there?
Furthermore, how the hell do they not know how to use the special teams mat with the numbers on it? Stand on the mat, go on the field. It's that easy.
October 6th, 2014 at 9:44 AM ^
I don't know how the coaching staff is handling this (obviously not adequately), but the ST depth chart can be quickly changed based on injuries, who is playing on the field (some guys playing will rotate off because they get tired from playing down-to-down), etc. So it's not as simple as not seeing the guy that practiced next to you all week.
But whoever is in charge of getting people on the sideline ready before the 4th down and then getting people trying to come off the field to go back on clearly is not doing his job. My guess is that it's the ST Coordinator and possibly a GA, but it's getting a bit annoying that this team is struggling simply switching units, something you do practice during the week (quick changes like this).
October 6th, 2014 at 9:46 AM ^
which was worked to perfection last year. The Dileo slide and hold.
October 6th, 2014 at 11:40 AM ^
It should be really easy. Isn't there a product that is made specifically to make sure this doesn't get screwed up? I've seen pictures of it before. It is a large mat with 11 colored and numbered circles. All 11 guys line up on it, and then they head to the field.
October 6th, 2014 at 12:54 PM ^
And some starters play on ST as well. So it's not as simple as just putting everyone on a mat.
October 6th, 2014 at 4:25 PM ^
I cannot think of any excuse as to why it's too difficult to get 11 fucking guys on the field. This isn't that complicated.
Then again, apparently it is.
October 7th, 2014 at 5:38 PM ^
great effort and coaching last year against NW when Dileo slid into position to catch the snap and hold the ball for the FG attempt. Recall that he was loafing back until he saw what was going on and then he ran into position. Had he taken one more second they don't get the snap off in time and Michigan loses right then and there. Was it great effort and coaching or good luck? If Dileo doesn't get there in time was it a bad effort and bad coaching, or just bad luck?
October 6th, 2014 at 5:56 PM ^
During Friday's walkthrough at the stadium Lloyd would use this mat and call out the different special teams. He would then pick players at random and say "so and so is out of the game injured" and the backup would go to the mat. Lloyd would do this with all special teams to make sure this kind of shit didn't happen. As far as Brady saying shit like "that's on me" hell yes it is! Piss poor poundball bullshit when you can't even get 11 men fielded.
October 6th, 2014 at 9:44 AM ^
Team 135's philosophy as related by Devin Funchess.
October 6th, 2014 at 9:47 AM ^
that Norfleet doesn't field a line drive punt that would have set up points for Michigan. He could have caught that ball at the Rutgers 40 - likely would have gotten 10 yards minimum. So we would have been at the Rutgers 30 yard line. But instead it rolls to the Michigan 40 - then penalites, etc. Different drive entirely if Norfleet catches that punt. What a fucking year this is!
Go Blue!
October 6th, 2014 at 10:01 AM ^
He was at a "normal" depth on the punt. There was a pretty good wind at the punter's back, so there was no reason to expect a short punt. I don't totally blame Dennis for not fielding the punt. It looked to me to be a knuckle ball as well as a line drive.
You're right though - fielding that punt could have made a big difference.
October 6th, 2014 at 11:36 AM ^
A solution for the 10 guys on the field for punt returns is to just leave the current defense out there after 3rd down. Then sub in Norfleet for a DL. That way we should always have 11 on the field. This is how we did it in High School and I can confirm that we never played with 10 men.
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