FORMATION NOTES: Maryland was one of those multiple outfits so I don't have a representative alignment for you to ponder. Their favored alignment was a three-deep shell:

Those safeties would get significantly nosy.

SUBSTITUTION NOTES: Hinton started in place of Henderson and got 53 of the 71 snaps; Jones got the final 18 and had 9 snaps as a bonus OL prior. Skill positions:

• Cornelius Johnson: 65
• Barner: 55
• Loveland: 52
• Morris: 47
• Morgan: 27
• Bredeson: 15

Wilson had just four and Michigan did work in a few snaps for Moore, Clemons, and O'Leary. Gentry got one snap as OL7. Corum had a 2-1 advantage over Edwards with a Mullings cameo.

[After THE JUMP: kind of a scary lead in to OSU]

Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M17	1	10	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel even	7	Run	TE insert duo	Corum	1
Barner motions, causing the safeties to flip, and then he motions back. This takes the playside S from an OLB spot on the LOS to about five yards deep. Hinton kicks out a DE; Barner runs to double a DT, and the safety shoots the gap. This could be on Barner or Hinton. Hinton might need to let the end go; Barner might need to block the S. RPS -2? Motion seemed to confuse M. Also I am guessing it’s Hinton(-1), but I sympathize.
M18	2	9	Pistol FB twins U	1	2	2	4-3 under	7	Run	Power GT	Corum	4
Dantonio safeties at nine yards with both creeping to the LOS. Barner(+1) blocks down on a DE and Hinton(+0.5) chips and climbs; Barner uses the chip to decisively seal the DE inside and move him. Zinter(+0.5) gets a kick. Keegan(+0.5) wipes a DT. Barnhart(-1) has an awkward pull; the Zinter kickout is a little far inside as the DE is charging hard and Barnhart gets off balance trying to get inside of this; he doesn’t make contact with the LB who scraped over the top, though his presence is sort of worth something. Corum gets hit from the side after two and gets forward.
M22	3	5	Gun trips bunch	1	2	2	4-3 even	7	Pass	Out	Johnson	4
I don’t know why the presnap read isn’t Loveland here, as the LBs are not great in coverage and they slide away from the field presnap; he’s open for an easy conversion. Johnson is open too but this is a longer throw that’s more dangerous; JJ pulls Johnson upfield and MD can rally to prevent the conversion. (BR, 3, protection 1/1, JJ -0.5)
Drive Notes: Punt, 0-0, 13 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M35	1	10	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	5-1 nickel	6.5	Pass	Seam	Wilson	23
TE motions outside of Wilson presnap; M gets cover 3 and Brade doesn’t get any depth so the read here is simple and JJ lasers it in. Wilson hit high by the safety and targeting is initially called and (IMO properly) overturned. (CA, 3, protection 1/1, JJ +1)
O42	1	10	Ace 3TE	1	3*	1	4-3 under	9	Pass	PA TE out	Barner	Inc
We never get a replay downfield here but WTF is JJ doing not taking a shot here? The single safety at eight yards ends up following Loveland on an over route which means you’ve got Johnson one on one running (presumably) a post with no safety help. IDC if he’s covered, shoot your shot. Shea Patterson-esque. Loveland draws coverage and JJ checks down to Barner; CB steps in front of Barner and nearly intercepts. I put this on Barner. JJ pumps to Loveland and gets the flat defender to sink, and then Barner runs four yards downfield, taking this from a meh five yard gain to a near disaster. (BR, 0, protection 2/2, JJ -1, Barner route -)
O42	2	10	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 3-4	6.5	Run	TE insert iso	Corum	12
This may be what they expected on the first play. MD blitzes off the slot, M is like whatever. Hinton(+1) authoritatively turns out a DE. Barner(+0.5) pops a LB on a free climb. Keegan(+1) chips a DT and climbs to the other LB. Corum into the secondary. Morgan is in a lot of space so I guess his mild shove on a S is okay; Corum(+0.5) is able to cut inside of Morgan and break a tackle, adding a few yards to the run. RPS +1; slot blitz wasted a guy.
O30	1	10	Pistol TTE U	1	2*	2	4-3 under	7.5	Run	Power	Corum	14
Bredeson motions across the formation and M runs split zone off this a lot but here they use Bredeson as one of two pullers with Keegan coming to join him. Bredeson(-0.5) gets a kick but ends up giving ground, just a step, but it’s relevant. Jones(+1) chips and climbs, wiping out a LB; Barnhart(+0.5) finishes the block on the DT; Keegan has to gingerly pick through a small gap and loses all his momentum so he gets stood up by a LB. Corum stalls out. Zinter(+0.5) maintains his backside block and Hinton(+1) just hinges back and gets nobody to him at all; backside guys start pursuing and no edge set so Hinton runs at the DE and blasts him downfield; Corum(+1) sees the open backside of the play and hits it.
O16	1	10	I-Form Big	1	3*	1	4-3 under	8.5	Run	Pin and pull	Edwards	3
Jones(+1) blocks down on a DE and eliminates him. Hinton(+0.5) pulls outside of this and gets a kick; Keegan(+0.5) shoots inside of him and trips him up, but I think he’s done enough, but also I think this is supposed to be one of those post-up blocks where Hinton blocks a guy for a second and then moves on while Bredeson resumes kicking out the victim. With Hinton going to the ground there’s no one for the overhang corner. Just unfortunate.
O13	2	7	Gun 4-wide	1	1	3	4-3 under	8	Run	Split zone	Corum	5
Bredeson(+0.5) kicks out the OLB, who ends up very wide and upfield as he’s containing QB. Barnhart(+0.5) in a stalemate with a DE; Corum(+1) feints outside into the big gap and gets DE to commit outside; Barnhart stays attached. LB also sucks up into gap. Cutback lane is very large as Zinter(+1) and Nugent(+1) clobber a DT. Zinter climbs. Corum gets the last man and puts the hammer down.
O8	3	2	Gun 3TE	1	3	1	Goal line	9	Run	Dive	Corum	5
Crushing, with just about everyone getting movement. Keegan, Nugent, and Zinter(+0.5). Hinton too.
O3	1	G	Pistol 3TE	1	3	1	Goal line	10	Run	Split duo	Corum	1
I kind of wonder if what Hinton does is right, but it is impressive. He takes a DE and just deposits him outside like it’s nothing; LB shoots the gap inside. Barnhart(-1) gets fired back by a single block and Corum has to cut back behind this, where the LB can tackle. Corum still gets a yard as Nugent(+0.5) and Zinter(+0.5) blow out the DT; Keegan(+0.5) also gets depth.
O2	2	G	Goal line	1	4*	0	Goal line	11	Run	Iso	Corum	2
Barnhart(+0.5) fires in a DE; Barner(-0.5) loses his guy to the interior but Bredeson(+1) delivers the wrath of God to the POA; TD.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 7-3, 2 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M36	1	10	Gun trips TE U	1	1	3	4-3 over SAM	7.5	Run	Counter	Edwards	6
Zinter(+0.5) and Barnhart(+0.5) double a DT and Barnhart climbs. Nugent(+1) gets the DE, who is playing to spill, and eliminates him; spill not actually achieved. Loveland(+0.5) is the second guy through and stalls out a the other LB. Edwards has his choice of lanes but generally if there’s no edge set you go outside; S aggressively fills and forces him out after a solid gain.
M42	2	4	Gun trips TE	1	1	3	Nickel even	6.5	Run	A-Gap Power	Edwards	6
Morris(+0.5) motions across and then goes to impede a safety. Barner(+1) turns out a DE; Barnhart(+0.5) and Zinter(+0.5) double a DE; Barnhart climbs and barely gets enough of a LB. Other LB charges at Keegan(+0.5), who makes a short pull and cuts the LB off; Edwards(+0.5) picks through some trash.
M48	1	10	Gun TTB	1	1	3	Nickel over	7.5	Run	Duo	Edwards	4
Barnhart(-2) goes to double a DT and lets a blitzing LB through scot free. Edwards(+1) takes contact a yard in the backfield but is somehow able to keep his feet, spin around, and grab 5 YAC. Nugent(+1) and Keegan(+1) pave a DT to create the room; Keegan then comes off and blocks a DE who Hinton(-1) fell off of.
O48	2	6	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel even	6.5	Run	Power Trap	Corum	7
MD sends the slot guy and M just runs a quick hitter up the middle that wastes him; also a LB shoots outside expecting power to go off tackle, RPS +1. Nugent(+1) gets a one on one block with a DT and wins it, sealing the guy out. Keegan(+0.5) with another short pull, whacking a guy who Barnhart has posted up. Zinter(+1) free releases and when the LB tries to shoot upfield of him Zinter puts him on the ground. Corum(+0.5) runs over a charging S at five yards for some YAC.
O41	1	10	Pistol TTB	1	1	3	4-3 even	7	Run	Duo	Mullings	8
Gashing now; Hinton(+1) fires a DE outside and when he tries to get off the block Hinton sticks with him and drives him a few yards downfield; he never even gets an arm out as Mullings passes. M actually gets to use both extended doubles here; Zinter(+0.5) and Nugent(+0.5) drive their guy. Frontside block slightly dodgier as Nugent and Keegan(+0.5) only get a half yard of depth; MLB attacks the interior gap and Nugent peels off to get him so the DT can rip inside and threaten to come through; Keegan stays attached and Mullings(+1) reads the MLB/DT situation and hops into the B gap, carrying guys for an extra couple yards. Morris got a push on his block of the slot LB.
O33	2	2	Pistol 3-wide	1	2*	2	Base 3-4	7.5	Run	Power	Mullings	5
Thunderous chip from Jones(+1) crumples in a DE; Barnhart(+0.5) finishes it as Jones climbs to a LB. Bredeson(+0.5) anticipates a slot blitz and kicks the guy out easily; Keegan(+0.5) pulls and finds the last LB. Motion brought a safety into the box, more or less. I’d like to see Morris(-0.5) aggressively go for him instead of stalk blocking a guy way further off; Mullings gets hacked down by the S.
O28	1	10	Gun trips	1	1	3	Nickel under	6	Pass	Post	Morgan	Inc
WTAF is this. Michigan has just run it thirteen straight times. It is first down. So you put in passing personnel down to Donovan Edwards as the back and run a straight dropback? Maryland casually drops into an eight man zone. RPS -2. Nobody is open really, but JJ hangs in the pocket and finds what appears to be the best option, which is Morgan on a post. Morgan gears down a step, which I don’t like (route-), and then extends to attempt to catch the ball, which he has to do with one hand because the DB is grabbing him. You could argue this is PI, refs -1. (CA, 1, protection 1/1, JJ +1)
O28	2	10	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 3-4	7	Run	Belly keeper	McCarthy	0
This is the bad idea keeper that I’m conflicted on. MD blitzes their OLB off the slot; he’s coming hard and appears to be pointed at the back so the pull here makes some sense, but the OLB anticipates the pull and redirects out to JJ, who does well to get back to the LOS. Honestly I think this is just a play from the MD defender, but (-1, ZR-). Shame because Barner(+0.5) and Hinton(+0.5) pave guys and if Edwards has this he’s got a safety in a ton of space.
O28	3	10	Gun 4-wide	1	1	3	Nickel over	6	Run	Crack pitch	Edwards	2
I don’t like this formation for a crack sweep; DE shoots straight upfield because it’s an obvious passing down and Loveland has no chance to get to the guy before he’s three yards in the backfield. This knocks Barnhart off his pull. There’s just no way he can be useful with that sort of bend in his pull. Compounding matters is that Nugent(-1) had a guy shoot inside of him and then he stops to attempt to block him. There is no earthy way this DL is going to do anything; Nugent stopping allows a LB to flow free, and both guys combine to chop down Edwards. RPS -1.
O26	4	8	Gun trips bunch	1	2	2	Base 3-4	6.5	Pass	Hitch	Barner	Inc (Pen +10)
Pass pro questionable from Barnhart(-1), who gets a DT slanting out to him; Zinter sees this, thinks Barnhart has it covered, and goes to help Nugent; Barnhart gets driven through and JJ has to let it go. He does so; ball appears to be wide but Barner got interfered with and can never get back to the ball. This throw is still too close for comfort, IMO, but I can’t grade it given the PI. (Not charted, 0, protection ½, JJ push)
O16	1	10	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	4-3 under	7	Pass	Back shoulder fade	Johnson	Inc
Again: WTAF are we doing here running a straight dropback? M even motions out Loveland presnap. It would be one thing if they had some frippery on or something. Anyway. This appears to be a bad read from McCarthy because the motion sucks out Brade and Morgan now has inside leverage on his man; he runs a skinny post and is open for a TD. JJ never looks that way, instead attempting a back shoulder fade to Johnson that… honestly is probably perfect? It feels like Johnson either adjusts badly to this or he gets yanked as he’s trying to get back to the ball. It goes maybe a foot past his outstretched hand as he’s going to the turf; if he keeps his feet here it’s probably a touchdown? (MA, 0, protection 2/2, JJ push)
O16	2	10	I-Form Big	1	3*	1	5-2 over	9	Run	Double iso	Edwards	-1
Hinton(-2) doesn’t get out of his stance and allows a DE to cross his face; Bredeson picks him up. Nugent(-2) gets a DT stepping outside of him presnap and fires out too vertical, getting beat clean. MD also fires a LB off the edge, who crushes the play; Hinton steps towards him on his (late) get off but then decides to let him go. That’s bad for yards.
O17	3	11	Gun 3-wide	1	2	2	Nickel over	6.5	Pass	Out	Loveland	13
Loveland just runs an out against a guy who ends up turning his back to the LOS as Loveland makes his move outside; not really a route +, more like a Hat -. McCarthy delivers a dime. (CA, 3, protection 1/1, JJ +1)
O4	1	G	Gun TTE U	1	2	2	5-2 under	9	Run	Duo	Edwards	3
Zinter(+1) and Nugent(+1) blow out a DT with Nugent putting a LB in the endzone. Barnhart stalls his guy out but no movement or control, push. Edwards(+0.5) has a lot of room to hit it straight upfield but the last guy makes a good tackle attempt; Edwards is able to fall forward to the one.
O1	2	G	Goal line	1	4*	0	Goal line	11	Run	Iso	Corum	0
Feel like this is kind of on Bredeson(-1) as he runs up the backs of the other TEs instead of redirecting to the edge guy; if he does it’s a walk-in for Corum. Instead it’s a pile of humanity pushing and the edge guy comes in clean and can pull Corum back as the meat surges into the endzone.
O1	3	G	Goal line	1	4*	0	Goal line	11	Run	Down G	Corum	1
Barner(+1) fires in an end and puts him on the ground and from there it’s picking the gap. OLB outside of this trips over Barner and Bredeson(+0.5) finishes him off; Corum walks in.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 23-3, 8 min 2nd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M25	1	10	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel over	6	Run	Inside zone	Edwards	3
1:59 on the clock to start this drive. I don’t get what’s happening here, but I think Hinton(-2) messes up his assignment and blocks the end when he’s supposed to double the DT or go to the LB, leaving the end for Loveland. Loveland moves to block the DE, finds he has nothing to do, and then moves on outside. Meanwhile Keegan(+0.5) single blocks the DT and Zinter(+0.5) gets a second level block while Barnhart(+0.5) manages the other DT. Edwards runs up the gut into an unblocked LB. MD calls TO.
M28	2	7	Gun trips	1	1	3	Nickel over	5.5	Pass	Hitch	Johnson	10
1:55. Soft cover 3, easy hitch, why would you call TO and then run this D? (CA, 3, protection 1/1, JJ +0.5, RPS +1)
M38	1	10	Gun 4-wide	1	1	3	Nickel over	6	Pass	Corner	Morris	26
1:49. Nice pocket for McCarthy; Morris(route+) runs what looks like a post until he breaks it outside, beating the outside leverage of the CB; CB goes down. JJ fires it in, Morris gets some YAC, (CA, 3, protection 2/2, JJ +1)
O36	1	10	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel over	5	Run	Insert iso	Edwards	4
1:43. Actually a great call here as Hinton(+0.5) kicks out the backside end, Barner inserts behind him, and the rest of the Maryland front sells out on duo. Edwards(-2)… runs duo. Nugent(+1) with a chip and then he fires a charging LB inside; Zinter(+0.5) deals with the DT but can’t really move him out. If Edwards runs the play here he’s one on one with the S.
O32	2	6	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	4-3 even	7	Pass	Out	Morris	Inc
1:25. Cover zero look, quick out. This isn’t a great throw but it is catchable; Morris does not catch it. (MA, 2, protection 1/1, JJ -0.5)
O32	3	6	Gun 4-wide	1	1	3	3-2 dime	5.5	Run	Split zone	Edwards	3
1:21. M gets baited into this. Motion from Loveland triggers a safety blitz as MD goes cover zero for the second consecutive snap. With Loveland’s man to man guy converting into a run defender this is MD +2 in the box, RPS -2. Blocking is fine; Hinton(+0.5) and Keegan(+0.5) wash down guys and Loveland gets a kick(+0.5); Edwards can’t bounce because there’s an unblocked edge guy and has to plow into Loveland’s man.
O29	4	3	Gun 3-wide	1	2	2	4-3 under	6.5	Pass	Out	Loveland	11
A go win route for Loveland against Brade; Brade is in great coverage but JJ delivers a dime. (DO, 3, protection ½, JJ +2). Corum gets run over by a DT here but I think the issue is the line set, TEAM -1.
O18	1	10	Gun trips	1	1	3	Nickel over	5.5	Pass	Dumpoff	Corum	9
Less of a dumpoff than a plan to get Corum the ball after the other routes lift the coverage; quick throw to him as he’s cleared the spot drop LB by a few yards. He’s in a ton of space and if he just hits it vertical he’s got a decent chance of scoring but he feints outside and loses his feet. (CA, 3, protection 2/2, JJ +0.5, RPS +2, Corum -1)
O11	2	1	Pistol 3-wide	1	1	3	4-3 under	8	Run	Duo	Corum	0
54. A quick duo to convert the first down until Corum(-3) fumbles the ball. Keegan jumps on it. Zinter(+1) blew through a DT mostly by himself and created the space. M takes their TO.
O10	3	1	Gun 2TE	1	2	2	4-3 under	8.5	Run	Dive	Corum	3
Nugent(+0.5) and Keegan(+0.5) blow out the nose.
O7	1	G	Gun trips	1	2	2	4-3 under	7.5	Pass	Improv	Barner	Inc
35. Three man rush from MD, JJ has no reason to leave the pocket as no one’s anywhere near him, but he does. He gets himself pressured but is able to feint forward and evade a DE. He then throws an awful pass at two defenders that is almost intercepted. (BRX, 0, protection 1/1, JJ -3). Had Loveland running to the pylon, too.
O7	2	G	Gun trips	1	2	2	Nickel under	9	Pass	Seam	Loveland	INT
McCarthy throws it directly to a LB. (BRX, 0, protection 1/1, JJ -3).
Drive Notes: Interception, 23-10, EOH.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M25	1	10	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	4-3 over	7	Run	A-Gap Power	Corum	5
Extra guy in the box but one LB checks up on JJ. Keegan(+0.5) pulls and hits a guy who is trying to fight inside of Barner. Double is on the DT; Barnhart(+0.5) chips and climbs but to the LB checking JJ; Zinter(+0.5) secures his block. Keegan also extends to the MLB, who he can only get a glancing blow on but that does stall out his momentum and give Corum(+0.5) a chance to grind out a solid gain.
M30	2	5	Pistol FB twins U	1	2	2	Base 3-4	8	Run	Power Trap	Corum	3
Same play but a different way to get to it as there is no G pull and M uses the TEs instead. Barner(+0.5) stalls out a DT; Bredeson(+0.5) kicks a LB. Zinter(-0.5) has an ineffectual chip and gets stuck on the double team; he does get off late to harass a linebacker but the guy in man coverage on Barner just fills the gap and a safety at nine yards runs up to prevent Corum from getting an extra yard or two. RPS -1. MD is selling out here.
M33	3	2	Gun 3-wide	1	2	2	Exotic	7	Run	Split duo	Corum	1
Welp, Barner(-2) has his worst block of the year. He gets thundered into a by an OLB and knocked backwards; OLB then shoots under Loveland(-1) who’s trying to split block; he has a tough task with an unexpected occurrence. Gap gets closed and Corum tries to run up the backs of his OL but they can only get a yard and a half.
Drive Notes: Punt, 23-17, 8 min 3rd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M49	1	10	Gun trips	1	2	2	4-3 under	6.5	Pass	Hitch	Johnson	10
I guess I’ll grudgingly let the WTAF slide here since the two TE set gets three LBs on the field and Maryland runs a very obvious cover 3 that Michigan hits an easy hitch on. Bah! (CA, 3, protection 2/2, JJ +0.5, RPS +1)
O41	1	10	Gun twins U	1	2	2	4-3 under	7.5	Run	Power T	Corum	2
Michigan’s trying to show all kinds of different ways to tweak run plays and It just does not matter when the opposition is functionally +2 in the box since the deep S is at ten yards and charging. Here the blocking is fine. Hinton(+0.5) controls his guy; Barner(+0.5) seals his guy in; Barnhart(+0.5) pulls from T and gets a kick. Doesn’t matter because the LBs are slid to the playside here and Keegan never has an angle to the MLB, and also a safety is making contact at two yards. RPS -2.
O39	2	8	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	4-3 over	7	Pass	Flicker cross	Morgan	8
A flea flicker; JJ has to step up in the pocket because Barnhart(-2) gets beat around the edge at eight yards. M fortunate that Corum sees it and helps out and that nobody else gets any rush at all. If JJ is clean I bet he finds Morris wide open on a corner route but he’s moving around sees Morgan, also wide open on a crosser he takes that instead. (CA, 3, protection 1/3, JJ +1)
O31	1	10	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	4-3 even	8	Run	Insert iso	Edwards	7
Monster block by Keegan(+2), who blasts a guy Nugent(+0.5) is engaged with and then pops off to eject a linebacker from the scene. Other LB has to step up to take on Loveland so no one left to fill the gap; Edwards does well to slow a hair and find the gap but stumbles as he’s getting through the hole and ends up unable to try any moves once the second level rallies. This is +1 in the box but the high safety is actually high, so hooray.
O24	2	3	Gun 2-back	2	2	1	4-3 over	7	Pass	Corner?	Johnson?	Inc
A miscommunication as JJ fires it at the corner of the endzone, where nobody is. This feels like a JJ problem; corner has outside leverage on Johnson. Johnson releases inside; safety to this side of the field takes Loveland’s out route. Feels like this is a successful route combo that gets Johnson with inside leverage and no safety, so a throw down the middle probably scores. (BR, 0, protection ½, JJ -1). Nugent(-1) beat on a stunt, although it was one that took a long while to get there.
O24	3	3	Gun trips TE	1	2	2	3-3 stack	7	Pass	Slot fade	Morris	Inc
Cover zero and seven guys move to the LOS. Four are coming from depth, though, and pressure is minimal. Morris runs a slot fade that is probably a TD if it’s Wilson but is long since it’s Morris. This is clearly PI, but no call. I sympathize with JJ here. If Morris isn’t interfered with this is probably good, but you should probably know you need to throw the back shoulder when your guy hasn’t won. (MA, 1, protection 2/2, JJ push)
O24	4	3	Gun trips TE	1	2	2	4-3 under	7	Pass	Pivot	Loveland	11
Loveland(route+) motions in, breaks back out like he’s running an out, and then pivots back inside. JJ does a good job to not look at Loveland until he’s in the pivot but he has to hitch up because a LB dropped into the lane. The MLB is stone still though and the window is open for the conversion. (CA, 3, protection 2/2, JJ +0.5)
O13	1	10	Ace twin TE	1	2	2	4-3 under	8	Run	Jet sweep	Morgan	13
Interior playfake holds the playside DE. Loveland(+0.5) gets a kick; Barner(+1) is able to get to and control a safety charging at this play; Morgan(+1) simply outruns a LB who is charging hard for this and is able to reach out the ball and score.
O3	2PT	2PT	Gun twin TE	1	4**	0	Goal line	9	Pass	Fade	Barner	Inc
Michigan brings in the heavy package, with Gentry as OL 7. They then motion the TEs out and throw a fade to Barner against a 6’2” corner. (CA, 1, protection 1/1, JJ +0.5, RPS -1)
Drive Notes: Touchdown(missed 2PT), 29-17, 4 min 3rd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M25	1	10	Gun trips TE	1	1	3	Base 3-4	7	Run	Arc read give	Corum	3
Morris motions across the formation and then appears to arc the unblocked end. It doesn’t look like JJ is looking at the end, but the LB, who zips inside. I have to assume this is live, so JJ -1, ZR -1, because the end Morris passes up just collapses down on Corum and bows up an otherwise well blocked play. Hinton(+2) blows his end off the line one on one; Barner(+0.5) releases right but finds no one and correctly adjusts to kick out the overhang guy. Corum’s probably going ot whack the unblocked man at three-four yards and get six but the guy collapsing down on him prevents that. Hinton gets rolled up on; Barnhart to LT and Trente to RT.
M28	2	7	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	4-3 under	7	Pass	Drag	Morgan	8
Barner motions out to the field, and someone on Maryland busts a coverage. Drag wide open; kind of disappointing that Morgan(-1) can’t make the CB miss in acres of space; dude is maintaining leverage and giving up the inside and Morgan runs into him. (CA, 3, protection 2/2, JJ +0.5, RPS +1)
M36	1	10	Gun 3-wide	1	2	2	4-3 over	7	Run	Duo	Corum	3
Barner(-0.5) lets his guy cross his face and cut off that gap. Keegan chips and moves on; Barnhart(-0.5) can’t really control his guy, that gap closes. Zinter(+0.5) and Nugent(+0.5) move the DT two yards downfield and then the guy grabs and pulls Zinter with him so he can’t get off on a LB(refs -1);Jones(-1) gets spun off of and could get called for a hold.
M39	2	7	Gun TTE	1	2	2	Nickel over	7.5	Pass	Sack	N/A	-7
Edwards(-2) doesn’t pick up the corner blitz. (PR, N/A, protection 0/2)
M32	3	14	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	3-3 stack	6	Pass	TE delay	Barner	7
Three man rush, Barnhart(-2) beat clean around the edge, woof. JJ has to get rid of it and dumps it down for what he can get. (CA, 3, protection 0/2, JJ push)
Drive Notes: Punt, 29-24, 12 min 4th Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
50	1	10	Ace	1	2	2	Base 3-4	7.5	Pass	PA post	Johnson	Inc
CJ(route+) gets matched up against a safety and gives him the same move he did against OSU last year; there’s no FS; he’s wide open. JJ just misses. (IN, 1, protection 2/2, JJ -2, RPS +2)
50	2	10	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel even	6.5	Run	Power	Corum	4
Barner(+1) controls an end, getting him a yard off the LOS and preventing him from shedding. Zinter pulls around and gets one of those kickouts where the guy dodges but in doing so is not useful. Barnhart appears to chip and then move on instead of going direct to LB; I assume this is supposed to be A-gap but the DE prevents it and Zinter adjusts. Barner doesn’t have an angle for the LB.
O46	3	6	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Base 3-4	7	Run	Power GT	Corum	3
RPO flat screen option for Barner looks good. One day in 3023 we’ll throw it. Does hold the backside LB enough, I guess, to run power GT the other way. 5-man front means no frontside double so Barnhart(-0.5) just gets stuck at the LOS. OLB charges and Zinter(+1) wipes him out. Trente goes inside of this. Corum… well. Corum bounces it. This is understandable because Zinter is giving the edge the business and there’s no gap because Barner didn’t get any movement. But he goes too fast and the LB doesn’t bury himself in the line but can flow inside out and make a nice play. Contrast with Edwards chunk last week.
Drive Notes: Punt, 29-24, 7 min 4th Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
O39	1	10	Ace twin TE	1	2	2	4-3 even	7	Run	Inside zone	Corum	1
Motion extremely counterproductive here as Morris motions in and then goes after guys in the box; things get jammed up but Corum finds a cutback lane only to get hacked down by the corner the motion brought into the box. Also the only person Morris(-2) hits is Loveland, knocking him over. Barner(+0.5) getts some depth; Keegan(-0.5) gets fired back. Barnhart again gets a phantom chip and then climbs to a guy he has no angle on. On the backside Jones(+0.5) turns out a DE and Zinter(+1) blows a DT down the line so if Corum can get to the cutback he’s got a solid gain. Nope. RPS -1. Stop adding WRs to box please.
O38	2	9	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	4-3 even	7	Pass	Scramble	McCarthy	4 (Pen -10)
Four man rush and JJ has nobody open. Maybe he can get to CJ on a stop route to the field but he’s not looking there initially and if he were to come off of it he’d be way late. Barnhart eventually gets beat but so late it’s not a pass pro minus; JJ flushes to the short side and picks up a few before nonsensically sliding instead of getting OOB. Jones gets called for a garbage hold (refs -3) I refuse to minus. (MA, N/A, protection 2/2, JJ push)
O48	2	19	Gun trips	1	2	2	Nickel even	6.5	Pass	Snag	Loveland	Inc
Another four man rush; Edwards stays in and helps on Jones instead of Barnhart. JJ doesn’t see anything downfield and checks it down for seven yards but Loveland drops it. (CA, 3, protection 2/2, JJ push)
O48	3	19	Gun 4-wide	1	1	3	3-2 dime	4.5	Pass	Seam	Loveland	Inc
Barnhart(-2) beat around the corner on another three man rush. WTF. JJ feels it and steps up to fire a seam route to Morris as he’s clearing a LB; LB undercuts it and breaks it up, kinda sorta near INT. I don’t mind this because the alternative is a sack, the consequence of an INT is minimal, and this converts if complete. (PR, 0, protection 0/2, JJ push)
Drive Notes: Punt, 29-24, 4 min 4th Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
O47	1	10	Gun TTE U	1	2	2	4-3 even SAM	7.5	Run	Duo	Corum	5
Absolutely bizarre by MD to let this happen. No LB threat so Keegan(+0.5) and Barnhart(+0.5) just get a free double team on a DT. Nugent elects to pass up the double at first before going to it and this could be bad but a LB is concerned about the outside gap as Jones(+1) clobbers the DE out of the picture; LB sucks up to that gap and is out of the play enough to make this a good gain.
O42	2	5	Gun TTE U	1	2	2	4-3 over	8	Run	Duo	Corum	3
Mostly Corum(+1). Barnhart(-1) gives ground, controlled by DE. Corum has to press frontside. Keegan(+1) hammers a DT wide and then awkwardly butt blocks a LB; Zinter(+0.5) moves a guy to provide the sliver of space Corum is able to zip up in.
O39	3	2	Gun trip TE	1	3	1	4-3 over	8.5	Run	Split duo	Corum	1
Mostly a disaster. Keegan(-1) gets a blitzing LB and gets hammered back; dude fights to the Corum lane and whacks him. Keegan avoids a -2 because he stays attached and shoves the guy past the play eventually. Barnhart(-2) immediately leaves on third and two, stumbles out, and blocks no one. This DT is lined up inside of him! Barner has no chance especially because a LB plows into him; he’s getting doubled. Corum(+2) gets crushed by three guys two yards in the backfield and is somehow able to spin off the tackle attempt and get back to the LOS. Three more guys grab him. He’s still upright. M rugby scrums this a yard.
O38	4	1	Gun twins U	1	2	2	Goal line	10	Run	Split duo	Corum	1
A matter of inches. The only double M gets is Zinter and Jones clobbering a guy off the LOS but that gets filled by a LB charging at Bredeson(+0.5) to cut that gap off. Nugent(+0.5) gets rocked back at first but recovers to drive a DT a bare half yard; Keegan(+0.5) gets a better start and equal finish, and Corum barely gets it.
Drive Notes: 31-24, EOG. I am not charting Cristobal snaps.

We're gonna die!

Here's the part where I say something like "whoa, my charting is actually really encouraging." And then I talk you off the ledge.

Sounds great. Let's go.

Uhhhhhhh.

JJ MCCARTHY

	Good				Neutral			Bad					Ovr			Reads
Game	DO	CA	SCR		PR	MA		BA	TA	IN	BR		DSR	GRADE!		RPOs	ZRs
East Carolina	6+	14(2)++++				5				2			91%	+20		0/0	0/0
UNLV	2	15++	1		1	1				1			95%	+12.5		0/0	1/3
Bowling Green	1	6+	1		1	1				3**	2**		61%	-3		0/0	2/2
Rutgers	3	13++(1)	3		1				1	3	1		79%	+12		0/0	3/4
Nebraska	3+	10+	1		1	1				1			94%	+13		0/1	3/3
Minnesota	1	11+(2)			1	1				3			80%	+8.5		2/2	3/3
Indiana	2	11+++(1)	2		2	3			1				94%	+15		0/0	3/4
MSU	5+	15(1)	1			2			1*	3			87%	+13		0/1	1/1
Purdue	6	18++(2)			2	8				4			86%	+21		0/0	0/0
Penn State		4+(2)	1		3						1		83%	+2.5		0/0	3/5
Maryland	1	13			3	4				1	5**		70%	-3		0/0	0/2

(Run +/- is in the other chart; the above is solely a passing/decisions grade.)

The DSR runs into trouble when there are massive negative plays, as there were in this game. McCarthy more than matched his season total for bad reads and matched his BRXs in one game.

I don't know what to tell you. I might downgrade this from McCarthy's worst day since Bowling Green to his worst day of the season, period. Against BGSU he made two very bad reads and had a third pass sail over Loveland for an INT but was otherwise pretty much fine. What stood out in this game was McCarthy making all kinds of bad decisions that he does not usually make. The interception was obviously very bad but the play before it might have been worse. MD again drops eight, and no one is anywhere near JJ when he bugs out of the pocket. He pressures himself by rolling towards Barnhart, makes a nice play to recover from that, and then throws it directly at two Maryland defenders when he's got Loveland open towards the front pylon:

I am used to JJ McCarthy rollouts being lethal for Michigan, not vice-versa.

The other thing that jumped out on tape was McCarthy just not reading the safeties. Historically he has been superb at this. But there were shots in this game to be taken and McCarthy did not take them. We never got a downfield replay of this but if you watch the "deep" safety here—he's at eight yards presnap—you'll find him tailing Colston Loveland at the end of the play:

That means Cornelius Johnson is one on one, presumably running a post against a guy playing cover-3 outside leverage. While I am not blessed with the All-22, apparently Sam Webb is and on our early edition of the WTKA roundtable yesterday he referenced this play, stating that Johnson was wide open.

FWIW, I put the PBU on Barner, not McCarthy, as Barner moves four yards downfield when the coverage lifts instead of staying put. But not taking the shot there is some Shea Patterson stuff.

The other one had a throw but I'm not sure why McCarthy threw a corner route here. This is again Michigan scheming up a post route with no safety in the middle of the field. The safety goes with the Loveland out route; the CB always has outside leverage on Johnson. There is every opportunity to hit Johnson between the hashes:

WR #6 to top

I have no explanations for this.

McCarthy did intersperse some dimes…

…and his accuracy was fine. I had a couple of throws in the MA pile that may be INs to someone else, but I thought the back shoulder to Johnson was where it needed to be if Johnson could get back to it and that the Morris slot fade was catchable if Morris wasn't interfered with. The other two MAs were a four yard scramble when there seemed to be no better options and the low throw to Morris on the two-minute drive that was catchable but not caught.

So it was just decisions, and often decisions that shouldn't have been that hard.

Also he had that zone read issue.

Well, Michigan's dedication to not getting McCarthy hit has its downsides. Michigan's zone read game has been iffy at best. As mentioned in the game column, I don't really blame McCarthy for the early keep that went nowhere; I felt that was just a play from the Maryland LB. But Michigan had an arc read on to start their early fourth quarter drive and McCarthy handed the ball off; the DE Morris passed up then made the play:

WR #8 motioning across

I would love to know what the rules are here. We had McCarthy keep on a third down against MSU that was patently insane unless Wilson was supposed to pass up the DE, and we have Morris dodging said DE and McCarthy giving anyway. I do not know who's screwing up here. It could well be Morris.

In any case, Michigan has not been very good at reading this stuff out, and that's after McCarthy started his career with a very high rate of correct decisions on mesh points. That's regressed. I'm hoping that this was just a season-long rope-a-dope and they'll be better about it against OSU, but the overall lack of QB run didn't help JJ when passing, and there were other ways I don't think Sherrone Moore did everything he could to help McCarthy out.

Is this RPS number going to be picked up by a desperate OSU blogger to claim that it's all signs?

I cannot rule this out but the next section is going to be about why this is about Michigan not knowing what Michigan is doing more than not knowing what Maryland was doing. Chart:

Offensive Line
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Henderson				DNP
Keegan	12	1.5	+10.5	Third consecutive monster day.
Nugent	9.5	1	+8.5	DTs went for the proverbial Ride
Zinter	12	0.5	+11.5	Interior OL was nuts.
Barnhart	5	8	-3	Woooooof
Jones	4.5	1	+3.5	I did not minus the hold but did minus another potential hold.
Hinton	8.5	5	+3.5	Two big MAs but otherwise kinda great.
El-Hadi				DNP
Persi				DNC, one snap.
Bredeson	3.5	1.5	+2	Down to earth slightly.
Barner	8	3	+5	Got crushed on a short yardage play, otherwise Barner.
Loveland	1.5	1	+0.5	Eh.
Beetham				DNP
Marshall				DNP
TOTAL	63.5	21.5	75%	Beefed 'em, with one exception.
Backs
Player	+	-	T	Notes
McCarthy				One carry, got a minus in his decisions chart.
Orji				DNP
Tuttle				DNP
Corum	6.5	4	+2.5	-3 for the fumble.
Edwards	2	2	0	Ran duo on an iso.
Mullings	1		+1	Nice duo roun.
Hall				DNP
TOTAL	9.5	6	+3.5	Plays made.
Receivers
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Johnson				Maybe he was supposed to run that route, YMMV.
Wilson
Morris	0.5	2.5	-2	Blasted a guy, but it was Loveland.
Clemons				DNP
Morgan	1	1	0	Fast on jet, didn't dodge a guy on a drag.
Moore				DNP
TOTAL	1.5	3.5	-2	Eh.
Metrics
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Protection	31	11	74%	-7 Barnhart, –2 Edwards, –1 Nugent, –1 TEAM
RPS	9	12	-3	Pretty poor given the hammering on the ground.

So. I think Michigan got sucked into a false sense of security after their two first-half touchdown drives. The tail end of the first drive was an absolute mashing, with Michigan interior OL blowing out DTs left and right.

C #60 and RG #65

The next play was a third and two dive inside the ten that gained five(!) yards.

Michigan easily punched it in.

They then started the next drive with a beautiful sequence of six runs that all gained between 4 and 8 yards. Michigan picked up three first downs without even getting to third down. Moore mixed power, duo, counter, a trap, and a counter; Maryland started looking very confused. On this, the fourth play of the sequence, the Terps waste two players because they see a pull and expect power to go off tackle:

That's got two unblocked guys outside the tackles and goes for seven yards largely because a safety starts at ten yards and charges. The next play was a crushing Mullings duo where we got to see something we've rarely seen all year: an opportunity for those extended doubles on the LOS to do their work. The LB level does not know what they're looking at and has to read and react; Mullings threatens vertical to draw a LB and get the DT to rip inside, and then hits the gap:

Next play we get a guard pull, which normally sends linebackers flying to the playside, but the MLB sticks because Michigan just ran it up the gut and Jones easily seals him:

MD LB lined up over Nugent

Clobbering and confusing. That six play sequence was the closest Michigan has come to the 21 and 22 outfits. If you have concerns that Moore doesn't have that Harbaugh in him, I would chuck those out the window.

It's just…

I think I know where this is going because I have been exposed to your takes for longer than two nanoseconds.

Okay, okay, but: what on Earth is this playcall after 13 consecutive runs?

I have been banging the table about play action passes for two years now and I just threw up my hands after charting this. 13 consecutive runs! If you bring in Trente and run play action those linebackers are crossing the line of scrimmage. Hell, the safeties might cross the line of scrimmage. Instead Michigan brings in a three-WR package, doesn't even bother attaching Loveland to the line of scrimmage, and puts Edwards in. Then they run a straight dropback on which a team that has just eaten all of the garbage in the above section casually drops eight into coverage.

McCarthy actually makes the relative best of a bad situation here since Morgan is the only vaguely open guy on the play and IMO if this is Roman Wilson it's complete. But this is a confidence-shaker. It makes no sense.

That wasn't even the only instance on the drive. After Michigan got a rickety first down—this was series with the Barner PI on fourth down—they did it again, putting out three wideouts and motioning Loveland out of the box presnap before throwing a straight dropback pass. This is reaching Throw It To Nico levels of blog shirt-rending. I simply do not understand Michigan's aversion to play action.

This started hurting Michigan in the second half, when Maryland got more aggressive and Michigan did not try to punish the Terps except for that one time. This had subtly deleterious effects. On this second and five Michigan carves out three yards. It could have been four or five via rugby scrum, but Maryland's deep safety is at nine yards on the snap and charges up to halt Corum's momentum.

MD FS

On the next play Michigan gains one and a half yards and punts.

Michigan's next drive this first and ten carry sees the free safety commit downhill at the mesh point and arrive as Corum gets two yards downfield.

On this one it probably doesn't affect the yardage gained because the LBs are slid to the playside and Michigan has no angle to block the initial tackler, but first and ten is the ideal time to go play action. Second and eight not so much: the next play was the flea-flicker, which is a literal flea-flicker but did not draw the safeties up because it was second and eight and Michigan had passing personnel on the field.

When Michigan finally—finally—ran their second first-down play action of the game, Cornelius Johnson was wide open for a touchdown:

Johnson was also wide open for a touchdown on the first one. Run the touchdown play more. Eventually it will not be the touchdown play because opposition safeties have to stay deep; this is much better than beating your head against a nine-man front for three quarters.

Last week the RPS was good because Manny was gonna Manny. Against Not Manny this was the worst output of the year. RPS should be positive for a team that has the blocking numbers above, because you have a strong base to run constraints from. To put up a –3 given the context is not kind of bad, it is very bad.

We're gonna die!

I mean: week before OSU. A magnet for the worst gameplans Michigan has, and a prime trap game between PSU and OSU. Michigan has had approximately all year to ignore their opponents and concentrate on the Buckeyes, and they will have a much better gameplan than this one. I'd memory-hole this.

Can we memory-hole the Barnhart performance?

Uh… I know last week I said we should dump the PSU teleports in the garbage and not worry about them. I can no longer support this position. Karsen Barnhart was not good. Most alarmingly for Game purposes, he was torched three times on pure speed rushes by Not Penn State Defensive Ends. Worse, two were three-man rushes for Maryland:

That is more alarming than Barnhart getting got by PSU's super-elite get-off guys in the Beaver Stadium madhouse. Maryland has a couple decent DEs but they're not on the level of the Purdue/PSU/OSU guys, and my confidence he'd even out and be okay in The Game is all but gone.

On the ground there remained the notable lack of oomph from Barnhart compared to both Hinton and Jones. This power play is stymied because Barnhart gets stuck at the LOS and there's no gap:

LT #52

He's agile but if you put him in a one on one block that's about the best you can expect.

On top of that, he was making mistakes that you do not want your fifth-year senior to be making. The one run during the six-play Sherrone sequence that didn't look pretty was Barnhart not picking up a run blitz:

RT #52

He got another –2 right before Michigan salted away the game because he just stumbles by a DT and gets Corum crushed in the backfield before going Corum:

This is an alarming late-season fade, and if I was in charge Trente Jones would be starting next week. But if I was in charge he would have started from the drop. Michigan cannot afford to eat another Barnhart performance like the above and if he starts off shaky the change should not take long to make.

Are the other guys actually better?

At this point I'd say so. Hinton was improved. When he latched onto a guy, it was over. I'm not 100% sure Hinton is supposed to do this to the DE instead of try to wall off the LB who shoots the gap inside of him, but also just look at him go "you are over here now":

LT #78

He picked up a +8.5 for various incidents like this. He is a house.

But there were still incidents where you can see why he was benched. Here he doesn't have the snap count and probably blocks the wrong guy anyway:

LT #78

You can see him take a step towards the outside blitzer before changing his mind, not that he's likely to do much against him because he had the wrong snap count. First play of the next drive was another –2 as he blocks a DE while Loveland runs up his back because he's supposed to block the DE:

LT #78

If Hinton goes and doubles the DT that guy is going into outer space and Edwards can probably cut back for a big gain. At least these were mental errors and not Hinton falling over. He did fall off one block in this game but that's a big improvement, and came paired with a lot of donkeys being deposited downfield. He also did not come close to a pass pro minus against the same guys who put Barnhart in a blender thrice.

Michigan says he's available, which I think is a Lie, but if he was available I'd roll with him.

Meanwhile, every time Trente Jones gets extended playing time he scores highly in my metrics. He is powerful and agile. This is a monster chip and he easily gets a second level block after:

"TE" #53 to top

He was +4.5, –1, and didn't pick up a pass pro minus. He had limited opportunities to do so, admittedly. I did not minus the holding he got, which was extremely weak.

I mean, we've got enough data on Trente over the first half of last year to believe he's a better player than Barnhart if Barnhart's going to play like he has the past couple weeks, but for whatever reason Barnhart has incredible plot armor.

The running  backs were kind of eh?

Corum was good but a non-inevitable fumble is a –3, so his score is low. Edwards mostly got what was blocked for him, but had one major biff.

Some run calls that seemed frustrating at the time were not bad tactical decisions but just bad execution. This insert iso on Michigan's two minute drill is the foremost example of this. Michigan's blocking carves out a huge hole on the backside of the play, which is the design since the TE is running into the backside B gap. Edwards must have a different playcall, because he ignores it:

I saw this and I was like nooooo:

Edwards had a solid day otherwise but he's still throwing in events where you collapse in despair.

On the other hand, Edwards took some guff last week for taking so long to get to the giant cutback lane on his first explosive run, but that's not always a bad thing. Corum had a vaguely similar situation in the fourth quarter but he didn't take long enough to hide behind the line and then burst out. Maryland had a linebacker who did not end up burying himself in the line and he was able to make the play:

MD MLB

One difference here is that the lane for Edwards was a cutback so he got to press the frontside of the play and commit LBs; Corum's lane is a bounce outside the playside.

I feel a disturbance in the force, like a blogger has un-issued complaints.

Capital of you to notice. I had some other problems with the playcalling outside of the aversion to play action. I am frequently frustrated by Michigan's tendency to ask WRs and tight ends to make blocks that they just can't make if the defense plays it a certain way, and on third and ten you have to expect a DE is going straight upfield for a speed rush against Karsen Barnhart. Loveland's positioning makes it impossible for him to effectively crack this DE:

TE #18 split out, second from top

Barnhart has to bend around this and he's never recovering in time to be useful after that.

My other main playcalling rabble was the two point conversion, on which Michigan boxed themselves into a corner by putting no WRs on the field and throwing a fade to AJ Barner against a 6'2" corner.

If the idea was to get the CBs off the field and take advantage of some LB or DE, okay. But when they don't do that just run the ball.

Finally, I was a bit frustrated by Michigan's first play, because they had a great setup for what they wanted to run and then the motion ruined it. Michigan's running an insert iso and gets this setup:

This is close to ideal. The LBs are slid playside a bit and the safety walked into the box is more or less on the LOS; he's likely to spend himself outside of his DE. Hinton is blocking the DE; Barner will head for the MLB. But then Barner goes in motion, causing the safeties to swap; he yo-yos back to his original position and the safety who was on the LOS is now three yards off of it and shoots the gap:

Neither Barner nor Hinton changes their expectation based on motion that theoretically should be inconsequential. Michigan went back to it later on their next drive and got the behavior they expected. The result:

The first one feels more like bad luck.

Block of the week?

Come on down, Trevor Keegan:

LG #77

The force he gets on the second block there is eyepopping.

Receivers?

Not really a needle-moving week as they generally caught what should be caught and almost all of the non-routine catch attempts were circus:

 

	THIS WEEK					THIS YEAR
Player	Uncb	Circus	Tough	Routine		Uncb	Circus	Tough	Routine
Johnson	2	0/1		3/3		7	2/6	3/4	23/24
Wilson				1/1		1	1/5	3/4	30/30
Morris		0/1	0/1	1/1		1	0/4	1/2	6/7
Moore						3		1/1	2/2
Clemons						1			3/3
Morgan		0/1		2/2			1/2	0/1	13/15
O'Leary									1/1
Loveland	2			3/4		6	0/1	3/3	2528
Barner	3	0/1		1/1		6	0/2	2/2	16/17
Bredeson									2/2
English									1/1
Klein									1/1
Corum				1/1		1	0/1		9/9
Edwards								2/4	15/16
Mullings									1/1
Hall
Stokes

Routes: Morris+, Loveland+, Morgan-, Barner-.

Tyler Morris had a nice route on Michigan's two minute drill.

That's a flash.

Heroes?

The interior OL. Trente Jones. Non-fumbling Corum.

Maybe not so heroic?

Well, McCarthy. Karsen Barnhart.

What does it mean for The Game?

We can't have this version of McCarthy. I don't think we will. But a wobble without any intervening games to build confidence is worrying. This was mostly just McCarthy making bad reads that are totally uncharacteristic. If he doesn't do that against OSU I think we're fine.

The interior OL is ready to freakin' go… Monster performance, and one that will test the OSU front seven severely.

…but Michigan can't get One Guyed. On the other hand it is really easy to envision JTT crumpling Barnhart into the backfield and erasing gaps.

The tackle options are viable. All accounts are that Henderson is good to go so if Barnhart isn't handling it they can go to Trente. Will they? All indications are they won't, because they haven't so far, but this is three weeks of iffy performances. Surely they won't close their eyes and go la la la if they get a fourth.

This gameplan was meh but it is irrelevant. They will have a July Drive for OSU, and a September one, and an October one. It'll be fine. Harbaugh will be fully involved until gameday.

Michigan needs Wilson. No offense to up-and-comers like Morgan and Morris but there were multiple incidents in this game where I believe Wilson gets Michigan a big chunk and his replacements did not.

For the love of god, run play action on running downs. I beg thee.