First offensive play of the year prediction thread

Pick six that will lead me to question why I invest so much emotional energy into a game played by strangers thousands of miles away. I will pass through the stages of grief with a sad familiarity and a resolve that I’ll never let it happen again, though deep inside I know I’m not fooling anybody. 

Deep ball to Eubanks for the TOUCHDOOOOWWWWNNNNN

DENNIS BERGKAMP! DENNIS BERGKAMP!

Short pass to Evans

I think ND will be expecting a shot downfield early.  They know the hype around a new QB, a great defense, and playoff aspirations.

I also think that Harbaugh is expecting ND to be expecting the big shot, and instead he will put his faith into Warriner and that O-Line.  3 straight handoffs to Higdon/Mason that yield a combined 12 yards and a fresh set of downs. 

Play #4 (the 2nd 1st down) is the deep one to DPJ or Gentry down the seam off play-action.

After a touchback on the kick return, Patterson to Nico Collins, 75 yards on play action, TD!

First series will be a hurry up offense

Higdon gets a handoff and runs up the middle for a couple. Announcer immediately calls it an RPO. 

Bench Mason up the middle. Only gains 2, but injures 3 of their defenders

Outside bubble to dpj 

Fake field goal: Nordin lobs a TD pass to Grant Perry who does spin moves all the way down the sideline for a TD.

Wait, we're talking about NCAA '18 the video game, right?

surprise announcement - Joe Milton as starter....play action pass and 80 yard TD bomb.  Then Shea plays the rest of the game

It'll be a first down punt by new walk-on punter Moltan Zesko, a spite move in response to all of the undesired questions about who our punter will be from the media.

/s

The Flying V 

Interception! As is tradition.

PA skinny-post to Gentry for 18 yds. Then Higdon off-tackle for 4. Top the drive off with a shotgun bomb to DPJ for 42 and a TD.

Commence weeping for the Noodle Dome Flopping Icefish.

Your prediction screams Mike Debord. 

1st down: Run up the middle

2nd down: Run up the middle

3rd down: Pass 

MOAR FADES!!

Triple lindy. 

First offensive play of the year?  I’m going to go with a PAT.

I Form play action deep pass to DPJ for TD!

Play fake to Higdon up the middle, TD pass to a wide open DPJ.  Like that's ever gonna happen at Michigan on the first play of the game.

Higdon, Gentry, McKeon, DPJ, Perry. Quick out to McKeon.

Then, Higdon, Higdon, Higdon … until ND stacks 9 in the box.

Patterson to DPJ bomb down the sideline for a touchdown!!

Play action deep ball to DPJ.

2015: Smith 1 yd gain

2016: Speight Interception

2017: Smith 8 yd gain

2018: Higdon 4 yd gain

Play action.  Two tight ends with a fullback.  Wide out spread left.  Roll out right with a tight end in the flat, the opposite tight end running a deeper cross and the WR coming across the formation deep. Reminiscent of 1997 with Griese to Tuman.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpAFF2g7KyA

Second play of this clip.  

Play action bomb to DPJ.  Touchdown!

I-formation, play action to Higdon, incomplete bomb to DPJ along the left sideline.

Out of the gun showing RPO but motions in DPJ for a big gainer from the jet sweep.

"The quarterback. Two receivers line up to the left, one to the right. There's a flanker lined up to the left behind the quarterback."

 "He gives the ball-- No, he doesn't-- He doesn't get the ball. The receiver goes all the way over there to the left. Once the quarterback has the ball, he fakes to the left. No. He fakes to the right. He doesn't fake. He thinks about faking. He pretends to fake."

After a strip sack by Devin Bush, deep in Notre Dame territory, Michigan's offense takes the field for a 4 play 13 yard touchdown drive. Play one is an incomplete pass on a fade to the end zone  targeting Gentry. Play two is a 7 yard run by Higdon on a sweep to the sideline. Play three is a third down conversion by Shea scrambling on a broken play to the pylon and getting pushed out at the 1 yard line. Play four is a plunge over the top by Ben Mason.

Heavy TE formation, shift to a spread, draw play to Higdon between Ruiz and Bredeson. 6 yard gain. They will do this to let ND not become comfortable right out of the gate.

Well at least we know it won't be a jet sweep to McDooooooommmmm, thank goodness!

RPO.  Heard about it often enough over the summer and during camp.  Might as well get it going.

whatever it is, we aren't going to huddle for a while.  it'll be hot and fast to start. 

Going deep to burn the defense.  50+ yard bomb completed.  The defense backs off a touch and the runners start shredding.  

Deep Out to DPJ, touchdown!!!

Nebraska Chili.

Counter trey out of a 1 receiver set.