Film Analysis Ep 8.1 - MSU - Key Offensive Plays
It was a frustrating ordeal watching Michigan's offense for most of the day vs. MSU. Despite picking up almost 400 total yards, it felt like the unit underperformed on the day. They put up only 21 points with mutliple drives starting in excellent field position, unable to capitalize on the field position battle they won for most of the day.
However, there were still some bright spots, and I have 8 plays to prove it! Some key things I noticed:
- Willekes was a problem on the ground, but Michigan handled him well in the pass game.
- The OL looked strong, again. No major dorfs or miscommunication errors. Working as a unit.
- Patterson is really good at faking his handoffs.
Check out all 8 plays below with individual analysis for each!
8.1.1 - Q1 3:49 - 1st & 10 - MSU47 - Pass to Eubanks - 26 yards
- Patterson has plenty of time on this play action pass. Think he missed DPJ on a potential TD, but nice ball placement to Eubanks, who does well to find an open space near the sideline.
8.1.2 - Q2 15:00 - 3rd & 5 - MSU6 - Pass to Collins - TD
- JBB gets beat late on the edge, but Patterson has just enough time to deliver a dime to Collins. Nice read from left to right and excellent ball location given the coverage underneath.
8.1.3 - Q2 4:07 - 1st & 10 - UM42 - Run for Higdon - 38 yards
- Biggest run of the day, Higdon creates many of these yards himself. Runyan with a really nice play. Would like to see Onwenu be a little more prepared for DE on his pull. Good hustle from Gentry / Collins down the field.
8.1.4 - Q3 8:02 - 3rd & 7 - MSU43 - Pass to Perry - 13 yards
- Excellent play-call on M2M coverage while MSU brings a blitz. Good job by OL to give Patterson time here, and great route combo between DPJ & Perry to create a ton of space on the angle route for the first down.
8.1.5 - Q3 2:35 - 1st & 10 - UM21 - Pass to DPJ - TD
- DPJ TD. Nothing special on the pass rush or coverage. Seems like Michigan wanted to take a shot all the way. Patterson notices safety not dropping to the fade and delivers a perfect ball. Great job by DPJ.
8.1.6 - Q4 13:34 - 4th & 2 - MSU41 - Run for Patterson - 11 yards
- Looks like a designed run all the way. Great play-call and might be a TD if Martin blocks better on the edge. This play is all about the fake to Mason working, and it worked beautifully.
8.1.7 - Q4 11:48 - 1st & 10 - MSU18 - Run for Patterson - 11 yards
- Another QB keeper - debatable if it’s actually a read for Patterson or not. The fake freezes DE Willekes and Patterson does well to maximize yards on the edge.
8.1.8 - Q4 10:25 - 2nd & G - MSU 5 - Run for Mason - TD
- Double from Onwenu & Ruiz puts the DT into the end zone. Good 1-on-1 blocks from Gentry & JBB also extremely important on this play. Nice play design on the counter and good lane for Mason.
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October 31st, 2018 at 12:14 PM ^
Once again, fantastic job on this video.
On play 6 where Martin didn't really block the DB: I don't really know anything about down-field blocking but it looks like he pretends that he's in a route but then he just stops and stands there. Is there a reason not to just attack the guy? The way he did it looked like there was no chance to get that block and if it really was a designed pull all the way, there was no reason that he needed to stay inside the DB.
October 31st, 2018 at 12:18 PM ^
I see no reason against doing what you said. If I'm in film review with Martin reviewing this play, I'd tell him two things:
- The harder you sell your route, the easier job you'll have blocking the guy (since he'll think you're in a route and he has to cover you).
- Block him while he's still in his back-pedal / moving backwards. That momentum will be really hard for the DB to work against once you're engaged with him.
Maybe I'm wrong, here, because McKeon looks really surprised that Mason doesn't have the ball, so it might've been a true read and Martin didn't think his block would matter on the edge. Regardless, should have at least gotten a hand on the dude.
October 31st, 2018 at 1:02 PM ^
Haha, I hadn't noticed McKeon's head whipping back to Patterson once he notices the defender chasing the play. Wish the camera stayed there a moment or two longer to catch a surprised celebration.
October 31st, 2018 at 12:24 PM ^
Regarding the throw to Eubanks when DPJ is open in the first play on film: As I discussed last week, Michigan is running a leak concept with Eubanks. It's kind of a "gotcha" play that uses Michigan's tendencies against MSU. While Shea is looking straight forward early in the play, Eubanks is his first read--in my opinion, he's just looking ahead where he can see Eubanks in his early route and keep the safety from sniffing the route before throwing to Eubanks, the primary receiver.
It worked out in the end.
October 31st, 2018 at 1:07 PM ^
Good call. Maybe it's asking a bit too much, but couldn't that initial look forward (to get safety towards middle of the field) also be used almost as a "homerun check" for DPJ? Makes a lot of sense why he didn't throw here given that it's a look-off and not an actual first read, but seems like the play design gives time for something like this.
October 31st, 2018 at 2:06 PM ^
Perhaps yes as he acquires more experience. We know: 1. Shea gets hesitant on occasion, which suggests that he's not always decisive with multiple reads; 2. Michigan has a certain number of plays that use complex route combos to clear space for a primary read (the TD to Collins and the first down pass to Perry, both of which were excellent features of the video, for example) that Shea knows he is going to make even if he is looking the other way to start.
Given the nature of the Eubanks route and what we see elsewhere, it is reasonable to me to conclude that Eubanks was always his first target, and that his look-off was just a look for the benefit of the safety near the zone Eubanks was to enter as he received the ball.
Perhaps a player with years of experience in this offense will notice the pattern switch on the right side and know how to exploit it, but Shea wasn't looking for that.
FWIW I think Shea has a chance to really pick up steam late in the season the way Rudock did in 2015. And it's not just the Penn State and OSU games that we're anticipating--Michigan earns two extra games if they beat OSU with another possible if Shea can hulk out in a playoff game.
October 31st, 2018 at 12:52 PM ^
What in the world was Sparty thinking with that defensive play-call on the touchdown to DPJ -- only sending four and man-covering DPJ with no help from the safety? You're just asking for them to throw it over the top. Great recognition by Shea.
October 31st, 2018 at 1:19 PM ^
I thought for a minute that maybe the safety just made a terrible decision in anticipating the check down throw to Higdon, but it doesn't look like he even thinks about helping out the DB, so it's probably just like you say - a wacky play call. Maybe Dantonio thought Shea would be too intimidated to uncork one in Spartan Stadium?
October 31st, 2018 at 2:11 PM ^
This may be over simplification, but I think this is just what a run-first offense buys you on occasion. Dantonoi calls paper and sells out against the run on 1st and 10 because we hadn't been taking numerous deep shots. Shea counters with a scissors bomb for 6.
October 31st, 2018 at 3:37 PM ^
Yeah this is probably it, but just cooky to see a team that brings lots of rushers bring only four with single coverage on the only guy split out.
October 31st, 2018 at 2:09 PM ^
It's first down; MSU has its safeties within 10 yards of the LOS and they're thinking run. The safety's first step is toward the LOS, at which point the coverage is basically set. When it becomes clear that it's a pass play, he just sits on the TE route with single coverage on the outside.
It's not like single coverage outside is unheard of. Michigan leaves its players on islands like that, too. But DPJ and Shea make it work as well as it possibly can.
One nit to pick with the commentary: I think "possibly the biggest play of the game" is not an accurate statement. I think "probably the biggest play of the Harbaugh era" is closer to the truth.
October 31st, 2018 at 2:44 PM ^
Biggest play of the game for me was Perry raking out the ball from Willis' hands on the almost INT. That was huge.
#2 would be the DPJ TD.
#3 is the 4th & 2 pickup.
October 31st, 2018 at 3:33 PM ^
Sure, but generally when teams are leaving guys on an island like that it's to get pressure into the backfield by sending would-be helpers. That's really what confuses me. It definitely looked like they were selling out on the rush a bit, but they didnt actually send anyone, which means if they do throw the ball, it's almost a gimme with DPJ out there. Again, this is all assuming that safety wasn't biting on that flair-out by Higdon.
October 31st, 2018 at 4:51 PM ^
Yeah, what stands out on that play are the FIVE MSU defenders bunched together within a couple yards of each other in the shallow end of the defensive backfield. Just begging to get burned on play action there.
October 31st, 2018 at 5:40 PM ^
Damn, Love it Oz.
If we wore Maize pants, would've been 42-7.
Dominated.
October 31st, 2018 at 7:02 PM ^
This is really great stuff and I look forward to these very much. Thanks for taking the time to do it.
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