purdue
[ed: bump so hard Jake Ryan wanna fine me]
[ed-S: I had to completely repost due to some bad html that was making it unreadable, so all the old comments are gone. Apologies to those of you who commented earlier--if you didn't, all you missed is Blue Seoul doesn't live in Seoul anymore]
Working Too Hard
So this is what it's like having a real job. I have enough time to watch the games, but not enough to obsessively analyze them. But there's been a lingering question about Fitz's lack of productivity compared to last season that I wanted to take a stab at answering. So even though it's a couple weeks late, here's my analysis of what's been going wrong for Fitz.
I see three main differences that are causing the lack of production:
- Fitz is being overworked
- The blocking is not as good
- Fitz is lacking some burst
There are some other problems in the defensive schemes and matchups, the playcalling, and our lack of run audibles, but these are minor issues and don't really explain everything.
For Fitz' sake!
This play didn't count, but it's indicative of the kind of problems the O-line was having in short yardage. Notice how all the defenders are keeping their blockers at arms length, they've got their heads up to watch the ball, and their lateral movement is keeping them on the l.o.s. instead of getting pushed back into the endzone. After watching a year of Greg Mattison, this is some pretty good fundamentals from the Boiler DL. Fitz takes the ball a little wider than he should have, but part of that is the fullback, #36 just got destroyed. He's too small, and his pad level is too high. It would have been a tough cut, but there was a little bit of space behind Schofield. That's the kind of cut Fitz was making at the end of last year. But he either didn't see it, or was too tired on this play.
I've noted it before, but here's another example of why we don't run more veer and speed option. Denard just doesn't have much experience or feel for the pitch. On this play we had a nice wall and he should have stuck his nose in there for the first down. I don't particularly like that, because I don't want him to take unnecessary hits. But he pitches this ball way too early.
ETC:
Jake MotherF****** Ryan! The long lost brother of Jack MotherF******** Johnson. I like how having an expletive as your middle name has become a term of endearment.
Look at how far away he is from this play. But his instant recognition and his quick first step™ allow him make the play.
He completely takes the running back by surprise with his Superman impression.
And trips him up for a nice TFL. That's called 'selling out' on a play. (Giving it your all)
The most nonchalant hook n' ladder pitch of all time.
"I ain't got the ball."
Devin Gardner's Development
I believe that's what the kids are calling, "Highpointing the ball".
How does scoring a touchdown make DG feel?
Pretty damn good.
How do two TD's make Fitz feel?
Well, alllllrighty then...I'm not real good at reading expressions, but I'm pretty sure that one is saying "Hey twitter, STFU."
Hate Week: Never Forget.
[ed: bump]
Know your enemy
Not much time this week, but I wanted to put up some plays from the OSU games, Neb game wrap will come out during the down time before the bowl game. Win or lose vs TSIO, revisiting the beatdown will be something fun to do in a week or so.
Unbalanced I-Form
OSU used a lot of unbalanced sets against Purdue, so our CB's have to be ready for it and talk to the LB's so that we can get properly aligned.
On this play, the boilers are in man coverage so when the TE flops, the OLB goes with him. This means the the DE no longer has contain so both he and the DT on that side shift down a gap. The OLB needs to be aware that his man is now ineligible to go downfield, so he doesn't have any coverage responsibilities, or he's got backs coming out of the backfield.
Purdue is betting against Miller's passing game and has 8 in the box, 9 if you count that CB who is kind of playing center field on the backside. The two receivers are man'd up by the CB and FS
OSU continues to have problems identifying who to block with their zone scheme. Both the split end and the LG completely whiff leaving the two frontside LB's unblocked.
There is a danger of a playaction rollout on this play. If that safety is so far off of the split end, there's a lot of room for him to do a post deep cross, so it's important for the backside DE to keep contain and respect Miller on a rollout.
With the missed block, this is an easy TFL for purdue, but their frontside defenders have also beaten their blockers since they maintained outside leverage and the LB forced the RB to bounce.
On this play we've got the same formation, but it's flipped. Again, Purdue is selling out against the run. They're showing 9 in the box as that CB is faking a blitz, but he steps back and is in man coverage with the split end. Again, the TE is inelligible, so guy #5 up there has contain on the strong side and guy #1 has contain on the weakside.
Again, there's a real danger for playaction on that post or crossing route. The SAM backer has to get into a pass drop if he reads pass blocking from the linemen. This play turns into a lead draw, so he's okay, but he's in a tough position because he has to help in coverage and watch for the cutback once he sees that the action is going weakside. Fortunately for Purude, the DE beats his block and the FB fails to pick him up.
So this results in another TFL, but if that SAM evacuates his area too quickly, there's going to be a huge cutback lane.
[ed: time to jump]
Side Note: Derek Dennis's status is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.
With half of the Big Ten regular season complete, it's time to take a look at the conference to see where Michigan is and what it will take to get a good seed in the Big Ten Tournament. In this post, we'll walk through the series we've already completed and then look at the opponents we still have on the schedule.
So, for all you late comers to the baseball season, here's what you need to know.
Where We've Been
@Indiana | |||
---|---|---|---|
Series Record | 2-1 | ||
Scores | 16-10 | 6-4 | 6-26 |
Game One | Wild and crazy high scoring affair as it goes back and forth after Michigan was all but dead early. Dufek wins it in the 10th with a RBI double. Two bench clearings. Crazy. | ||
Game Two | Brosnahan is sporadic but his emotion carries him through for the win in a well pitched game by both teams. Michigan's early lead is enough to get by. | ||
Game Three | Katzman makes the start and can't get through the first. Yours truly quits the game early as Michigan was down 17. | ||
Outlook Then | For as exciting and tense as the first two games of the series |
While not much has changed in terms of outlook, Indiana hasn't turned out just as good as I expected either. They've been quite inconsistent, with their top hitters going ice cold the weak after they torched us. That freeze of course happened against Ohio State, giving the Buckeyes a pretty easy 2-1 series victory. They did sweep Iowa, though, something Michigan couldn't do.
Purdue | |||
---|---|---|---|
Series Record | 2-1 | ||
Scores | 5-8 | 6-4 | 9-4 |
Game One | Alan Oaks continued to struggle and Michigan could do nothing with Purdue's Matt Bischoff in the loss. | ||
Game Two | Big inning early and a solid Brosnahan start allows Michigan to coast to a victory with Burgoon locking down the 8-9th. | ||
Game Three | Brandon Sinnery gets his first start and makes good. A 7-run 4th inning caps off Ryan LaMarre's POTW winning series. | ||
Outlook Then | Michigan is going to continue to make decent to good pitchers |
The loss to Bischoff is still nothing to worry about. It really would have helped for Michigan to get a sweep. Ohio State isn't on their schedule, but I'm not sure if that helps or hurts us. Purdue may be able to steal a game from the Buckeyes, or they may get blown out in all three.
@Illinois | |||
---|---|---|---|
Series Record | 2-1 | ||
Scores | 17-1 | 2-6 | 11-4 |
Game One | Alan Oaks is back! 8 innings of great pitching and the offense explodes for 17 runs? We're rolling. | ||
Game Two | The bats fall asleep and Brosnahan has his shaky start that should be good enough for a win. Bad defense doesn't help. | ||
Game Three | After 3 ugly innings by both teams, Tyler Burgoon steps in and shuts down the Illini for Pitcher OTW honors. Offense explodes late, sparked by POTW Patrick Biondi. | ||
Outlook Then | 2-1 series win over a BTT contender will work. We really had |
Things haven't changed much here in a week. Illinois lost 2 of 3 at Michigan State, which means the Spartans are just keeping pace with us.
Iowa | |||
---|---|---|---|
Series Record | 1-2 | ||
Scores | 2-5 | 3-5 | 7-5 |
Game One | Jarred Hippen is really good. He overshadowed anything Michigan related in this game. | ||
Game Two | Due to rain in the forecast, it was a double header, & Hippen momentum carried right through game 2. Michigan grabbed an early lead then blew a big inning. Brosnahan's luck runs dry. | ||
Game Three | Michigan jumps ahead and, for the most part, stays ahead. Offense finally shows up late in the game. | ||
Outlook Then | 1-2 isn't going to cut it. Losing one to Iowa in the Hippen |
That happened. Nothing has happened in our season and it still stings. I can't wait for this weekend to come so I can get it out of my head. Plus, the Buckeyes did us a favor losing a home series to Penn State just so we could keep pace.
After the jump, we look at the present and then haphazardly predict the future.
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