One-Play One-on-One: Wilton Speight
[Upchurch/MGoBlog]
If you watch the video at the bottom of the post, you’ll see very quickly that third-down plays had not gone all that well for Michigan to this point in the game. Now, facing another third-and-long in the middle of the fourth quarter, Michigan was faced with another convert-or-punt situation should they choose to pass. Michigan went five wide and spread Wisconsin’s defense just thin enough for Speight to both have time to throw and to get the matchup he was looking for to his left. I started describing to Wilton the purpose of these posts, and as soon as I mentioned which play I wanted to talk about he was ready:
“That was probably the biggest play of the game, bigger than that touchdown throw, because that set that up. We hadn’t been as successful as we’d like to on third downs, but motioned out the running back and bumped the linebackers out a little bit, and I knew I was going to my left. Didn’t know if I was going to the inside or outside slant, but their linebacker dropped underneath the inside slant and I just ripped the ball to Darboh and he plucked it with his fingertips and dove with it for the first down. That was big time.”
What do you remember about their alignment before the snap?
“Yeah, I knew to not judge anything until our running back, De’Veon, motioned out. As soon as he motioned out, I kind of saw them bump and adjust exactly how we wanted to, so that’s right when I knew I was going to work the boundary. My eyes kind of lit up and I ripped it in there.”
On that topic, once you move De’Veon out, you see a safety comes down to cover Grant Perry, you’ve got Cichy split out wide, do your reads change based on those matchups, or do you have a very rigid progression you’re working through?
“Well, presnap when De’Veon went out there I said, ‘Okay, I’m going to my left. I’m going to work these two guys.’ Then it was just the progression. I start with the inside slant, and if that gets taken away I go to my outside slant. Darboh ran an incredible route, got spacing off of the corner, and made a play.”
As far as breaking down a defense, as soon as you see they’ve set, do you have a way you do that every time? Has Coach Harbaugh taught you to work through a certain way, like first read safeties, then linebackers, etc.?
“Yeah, yeah. Harbaugh and Fisch teach me that it’s a three to five second max of decision-making of what’s the front, where are the linebackers, what’s the secondary doing, are the corners over, is it one high, is it two high, are the linebackers cheating up, does it look like they’re blitzing, where’s the shade, stuff like that. So there’s a lot that goes through on a presnap, and it helps, though, when you know what’s going on.”
What do you remember seeing immediately after the snap? Was it the off coverage on Darboh?
“Yeah, off coverage on Darboh. I immediately saw someone sink underneath the inside slant, but I knew that window was going to be open on the outside slant. Yeah, it was a good play.”
It looked like a perfectly placed ball. On a five-yard slant like that, walk me through where a perfectly placed ball would be in terms of what the receiver wants and what you want.
“A little bit out in front, depending on where the corner or the defender is. If he’s right on his back, you like to put it right in his gut, right on his numbers. It’s a chest throw so the corner or the defender can’t get around it. He had a little bit of space so I wanted to lead him, and he likes catching things with his hands, so just let him do that.”
October 4th, 2016 at 10:09 AM ^
What time in the video is the play that was discussed?
October 4th, 2016 at 10:10 AM ^
Ah, it went right to it when I refreshed the page and played it again. Thanks for revising.
October 4th, 2016 at 10:14 AM ^
I forgot that the html code doesn't include start times like the shared link does. I frantically edited. Good to know it's working now. If you want to mess with settings (for example, to slow the play down to half speed or quarter speed) open it in youtube.
October 4th, 2016 at 10:13 AM ^
This is phenomenal. I like the idea of breaking down the play, and I suspect the players will appreciate that sort of in-depth questioning; Speight definitely seemed like he did.
October 4th, 2016 at 10:28 AM ^
of some of the comments questioning our QB.
He knew what receiver choices he had right when the RB went into motion, didn't lock into one guy until he knew he was open, and then quickly put the ball right where that particular receiver likes to catch the ball.
A lot going through his mind in 3 to 5 seconds. I like the thought process and execution.
October 4th, 2016 at 10:30 AM ^
When he has time to survey the field, he can really break down the defense. My concern is that they're slowly writing the book on Speight, and it seems his biggest weakness is pocket pressure. He's accurate with his feet set and he's hard to bring down, and he can throw on the run, but if you can goad him into getting happy feet his accuracy gets much worse. I felt that Wisconsin really tried to pinch the pocket closed with their OLBs rather than go straight for the sack, almost as if Speight was mobile, in the interest of keeping him from rolling out.
My memory could be off, but IIRC there's been an increase in quick-hitting air raid style plays where Speight gets 1-2 reads at most and really tries to get rid of the ball quickly. Some of that could be to counter Wisconsin's excellent blitzing attack itself, but I think Harbaugh also tried to mitigate Speight's accuracy issues knowing that's what Wisconsin would go after.
October 4th, 2016 at 10:33 AM ^
October 4th, 2016 at 11:06 AM ^
Some of his throws have been downright dangerous because he makes the right decision IF he could execute but he lacks the accuracy because he feels pressure. I don't expect perfect throws under duress, but he shouldn't either. I know he's trying his best to help the team but at some point you need to acknowledge your limitations or it's hubris. To be more practical, you can err in a safe direction (where it's either a sensational catch or an incompletion) and Speight does NOT. He's trying to make perfect throws under pressure and it can result in extremely scary throws because it's giving defenders plays on the ball. At least Tacopants doesn't play safety.
Pressure's never an easy thing for a QB to handle, but there are ways to mitigate it. Speight's first thing I think is to roll out, which works for him because he's so hard to tackle, but Wisconsin largely prevented that. Some QBs are coached to throw it away, which has its costs but at least prevents a sack or turnover. I like Wisconsin's approach of just chucking it downfield. They were consistently overthrown (probably deliberately to avoid all chance of an INT) but that's less risky than trying to thread a needle with a hand grenade, and they damn near scored on a few occasions. You can do worse than test Chesson's speed against the secondary. These are low-percentage plays but we were terrible on third downs anyway.
This is probably the toughest defense Speight will face until 11/26, but I'm sure Ohio State is watching the tape and going, "Ah-hah."
October 4th, 2016 at 4:58 PM ^
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October 4th, 2016 at 7:37 PM ^
Put in a system architect as starting QB of the Patriots and sure, it's gonna be a disaster. But neither would Tom Brady fare any better in a senior IT position. No two careers can survive such a swap. But you don't need to be an expert to see a guy throw right at DBs or an application launch be a complete disaster. To grown-ups, this argument means nothing. Well, it does mean one thing -- you're not a grown-up and have no idea how the world works. Not that Speight's a pro but he's been doing this for some time now; stop acting like he just picked up a football for the first time two years ago.
Everyone keeps saying "5th start, 5th start" as if his entire year as the 2nd string QB meant nothing. Harbaugh turned Rudock from a wreck into a marginal NFL prospect inside a year. What do you think he was doing with Speight the whole time; futzing around?
The thing about "5th start" is that if that real game experience is all that you're insisting, then he should be improving the most now. Well. . . is he? It's not like there's gonna be much of a difference between his 20th and 21st start. I did see significant improvement between the Minny game, the Hawaii pick and thereafter, but he's pretty much been who he is since. And I think he's pretty fine already. Why's everybody acting like I'm all down on him just because I don't think he's Tom Brady?
October 4th, 2016 at 10:40 AM ^
October 4th, 2016 at 2:07 PM ^
30 years ago the Army implemented an evaluation process that used leading questions to bring out the intricacies of what had transpired during an excercise. This was a change from evaluators telling the participants what they did, good or bad. This reminds me of those reviews.
October 4th, 2016 at 10:14 AM ^
VERY COOL idea for an article! Getting inside the head of the player involved is just wonderful! Also bypasses coaches, who for very good reasons won't often talk about super-detailed stuff.
This shows just how much it matters to have a great QB guy talking to your players. Beginning of last year, Speight was largely a non-entitiy, and Harbaugh has made this guy a budding master of the position mentally, and his physical skills are coming along.
Totally amazing.
I really hope you guys keep having access to do more of these player interviews that are so much more than "How do you feel about winning/losing the game?"
Rob
October 4th, 2016 at 10:20 AM ^
The mental aspect of the game is always what impresses me. As it was mentioned before, you don't get these sort of questions in press conferences very often, if at all, so it's tough to get a perspective on just how much decision-making is involved in such a short space of time, and then to combine that with the physical part of it. It really makes you appreciate what these kids are able to do and what how the coaches teach these kids all the more.
October 4th, 2016 at 10:18 AM ^
I love listening to QBs talk about their interpretation of plays. I guess that's why I enjoy watching Gruden talk with other QBs. Very interesting article Adam. Thanks for putting this up. Those were, without a doubt, the biggest back-to-back plays in the the game.
October 4th, 2016 at 1:04 PM ^
I have to say I like his style of interviewing better than Gruden's. Gruden relies so much on vernacular that for somebody not already well versed in the subject and language being used, the message can get lost.
October 4th, 2016 at 10:26 AM ^
October 4th, 2016 at 10:51 AM ^
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October 4th, 2016 at 1:06 PM ^
I thought Griese was working overtime not to appear to be a former Michigan player.
October 4th, 2016 at 10:35 AM ^
October 4th, 2016 at 10:40 AM ^
The guy who jumped underneath the inside slant definitely was playing a zone, but Smith motioning out dragged a linebacker with him, which indicates man. I'm figuring Smith was a decoy to not only reveal the coverage but thin out the left side, but I'm curious as to how Wisconsin's coverage responsibilities changed when they saw the motion. They still had numbers on their side but they wound up double-covering the inside slant. It looks like the outside slant (Darboh) attacked an area between zones that kind of high-low-ed the guy who covered the inside route and the safety didn't get there in time. Looked more RPS than a bust, but it's not like a double slant is some sort of exotic play.
October 4th, 2016 at 10:40 AM ^
October 4th, 2016 at 11:52 AM ^
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October 4th, 2016 at 10:44 AM ^
feature on MGoBlog, narrowly beating out UV and Opponent Watch. It is just cool to understand what the players are seeing on the field and how they are responding. If this kid can figure out his accuracy problems, he could be really freaking good.
October 4th, 2016 at 10:58 AM ^
You might actually send the message that Speight might actually know a lot more about playing QB than all of these people talking about floors and ceilings and whatnot.
For me, the most reassuring intangible is his sense of leadership -- the team looks to be behind him 100%. You don't have to have Brady's fire or Montana's calm to lead a team well. You just have to be yourself. This interview makes it sound like Wilton is just about there.
October 4th, 2016 at 11:05 AM ^
October 4th, 2016 at 11:40 AM ^
Hey now, it's been at least 5 minutes since we had a concern trolling hot take on Speight.
October 4th, 2016 at 11:03 AM ^
Will add my appreciation for this feature. It's great to get a tiny bit inside players' heads during the game. Mass-market football coverage never comes close to touching on how players actually play the game, so this is most welcome.
October 4th, 2016 at 11:32 AM ^
October 4th, 2016 at 11:45 AM ^
Real content for the real Michigan fan! Awesome.
October 4th, 2016 at 11:45 AM ^
October 4th, 2016 at 12:03 PM ^
These are way too specific and contextual to make anyone a better football player, but I just like getting in the players' heads. They're obviously way more locked in than they let on but they just don't get an opportunity to talk about it when the reporters are asking questions like, "Talk about the importance of winning."
I don't know if the WRs will have much to say though. Not that they aren't smart, but the 1-on-1 with Perry was one of the less interesting because with the exception of maybe option routes and run-and-shoot schemes, the WR's job is to execute the called route to the level of a Noh performer. It's probably the least read-and-react position on the field, and Perry was quite frank in his "just doin' my job" take:
"We throw that during practice, after practice. Getting extra work, we’ll throw that route because that’s a route you run from the slot a lot. I wasn’t surprised by it."
October 4th, 2016 at 1:17 PM ^
October 4th, 2016 at 11:58 AM ^
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October 4th, 2016 at 12:13 PM ^
I think Speight may be who he is at this point. Unlike Rudock he's had quite some time under Harbaugh's wing; he started off much better but plateaued pretty quickly. Rudock's ascension was because Harbaugh was polishing that gem all through the season for lack of time before.
And he's fine! He's not Tom Brady, he may not even be Florida Rudock, but he could be Brian Griese, and we did pretty well with that guy. (The NFL did, too, FWIW.) My one quibble is that he could admit that to himself and make less dangerous throws, but that's more to raise his floor. I don't think we should expect Speight to win games by himself, because if he can avoid giving the ball away (and overall he's been quite lucky so far), with our defense we can win most games like we did last Saturday. It'd be nice to have Speight reach elite level to maximize our chances of beating OSU, but he may not have that in him, and when he tries to play like he's a playmaker he gets significantly worse.
October 4th, 2016 at 1:24 PM ^
October 4th, 2016 at 12:39 PM ^
i think jake butt is great, its tough to rep m much better, and hes one of the top TEs in the country - but he needs to add a little effort to his blocking. ive never he thought he lacked effort or contact courage as harbugh puts it, hes just a great receiver and not much of a blocker.
but the play at 3:11 of the 4th quarter is a perfect example of a lack of effort. if he holds that block for another half second, who knows, its at least another 2-3 yards. darboh did the same thing on a similar play 1-2 series before, just decided not to block anyone.
great win, they should be excited. and those dudes made some big plays. i just hope the staff addresses these issues during film bc its nothing but lack of effort, something ive rarely seen from this team and those guys
October 4th, 2016 at 1:16 PM ^
It looked like Butt gave it the ole whiff or, how to block like Devin Funchess. This is really sad to see because a few years ago, while never confused with a road grader, Butt would engage in blocking and be positively compared to Funchess.
October 4th, 2016 at 1:20 PM ^
I have a good feeling about the way this season is shaping up. Here is Speight, the kid who we're still warming up to, who keeps surprising us and exceeding reasonable expectations, talking confidently about how he is able to read a defense both in presnap and as the play unfolds. Add to that our defense keeps improving, dialing in the aggressive system in ways that give any QB very little time and space to do anything against it. Add to that a schedule that has incrementally tested us just enough when the training wheels were on for our new QB and new defensive scheme. Then after Saturday, we get a bye week to prepare for Sparty...nice! I'm starting to believe the Ohio State game will be the culmination of all things good for us.
October 4th, 2016 at 4:33 PM ^
Have you forgotten about the ferocious Fighting Illini? You're going to hurt the feelings of their 23 fans. :-)
October 4th, 2016 at 5:04 PM ^
October 4th, 2016 at 6:53 PM ^
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