hunter reynolds

You missed a gap. [Patrick Barron]

From the very first snap Michigan knew they had a problem against Manny Diaz's defense. Those defensive linemen LOVE to get into the backfield. Watch the DT lined up on the bottom hash.

Our left tackle, LaDarius Henderson, is supposed to block down on that DT, normally an easy enough block. But with #91 getting upfield so quickly, the shoulder that Henderson is expecting to shove is now a back.

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Before the handoff is made, #91's striped helmet is past Henderson's winged one.

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This is Duo, Michigan's base running play. They want to double that guy down to the linebackers. Instead of two guys blocking this dude, you have zero.

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Play is dead.

This was their problem with passing as well. Look at Chop Robinson, the DE on the top, on 3rd and 3.

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We're mad at Karsen Barnhart for not blocking this guy, but Barnhart's first step hasn't even landed yet and Robinson is already in the backfield.

PSU had Michigan's snaps dialed in and their ends were hopping over the line of scrimmage before Michigan's own linemen were out of their stances. Meanwhile the Wolverine linemen seemed slower than usual in getting into their blocks. And yet they still went on the road and beat a top-ten opponent by double the spread without throwing a pass in the second half. Was it just stubborn manliness? Was Penn State so bad you could put a "RUN!" sign, let their DL into the backfield, and still kick their asses? What the heck just happened?

What happened is actually way more interesting. It has to do with Penn State's system, why it works so well, and what Michigan was doing that most teams can't do in order to squish the best defense in the country into submission.

[After THE JUMP: Hoppin and mad.]

[Patrick Barron]

Backup safety Hunter Reynolds, who started last year when Brad Hawkins wasn’t available, announced he’ll be looking to use up his eligibility elsewhere.

A former walk-on, Reynolds flashed advanced anticipation, though Michigan’s secondary as a whole struggled.

Reynolds was perhaps more beloved around here because of the leadership he took in representing the players’ interests on a national level as the NCAA floundered about its response to the pandemic. He doesn’t have to be at Michigan to continue to have that kind of influence, but it was point of pride for Michigan fans.

[Hit THE JUMP.]

Not Pictured: the safety who ought to be.

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This job on the whole doesn't suck, but picking a play to talk about out of this holistic failure hasn't exactly been the highlight of it. What's wrong with the defense? See the ball? Go to guy with ball!

I don't know what's going on with safeties coach Bob Shoop so I can't judge who's responsible for the fact that he's not with the team this year. I can tell you that not having a safeties coach is really showing on the field but you don't need Seth to say "THE BALL! DON'T LOOK OVER THERE THE BALL GO TO THE BALL! GYOTDJAMMIT"

#Analysis!

I also hope I've taught you enough by now that you know all about setting up with outside leverage, and how that leads to slants when you blitz.

Why are they having Daxton Hill set up like he's Tyree Kinnell against a walk-on named Lutz when the WHOLE DANG POINT of using Daxton Hill as a safety is he doesn't have to cheat to the slot fade to cover it?

[After THE JUMP: #Analysis]

by god I roped curling into this one 

DAX TIME!

Josh Metellus is good. Dax Hill is fast. Can Hill be fast and good? 

clone Dax Hill

So many guys discussed I maxed out the site's ability to tag a post