Fade passes in the Red Zone
Last post of 2016. The winning FSU TD was a well-thrown fade pattern in to the end zone, to a WR who had a size and route advantage over All-American Jourdan Lewis. It was a great play call with excellent execution by FSU.
It reminded me again, how faulty Drevno/Harbaugh/Fisch? play calls are inside the end zone. Michigan had 2 starting WRs, both over 6-2 with excellent ball skills and leaping ability. Where was the Fade Pass inside the Red Zone all season? It is a high-percentage / low-risk play. QB takes a short drop, which insulates him for taking a sack as he lets the ball go quickly. WR has the full advantage over the DB on that type of route, especially if there is a size advantage. Corner is in man coverage and has zero help on it. Its a mano-e-mano, winner take all play. The Fade is such a great play, that several variations can be run on it. Back shoulder, stop, full corner Fade etc.
It has been very frustrating to watch Michigan try to play offense in the Red Zone vs. teams that have very good defenses. Smith is slow with little burst, and the OL is not a good run blocking line. To limit the playbook and take away things that may offset your weaknesses, and emphasize your strengths is crazy.
The next group of WR recruits has several guys over 6-3. Hopefully their size advantage will be taken advantage of next year.
Happy 2017 to all of my friends, and enemies too. Go Blue.
December 31st, 2016 at 5:56 PM ^
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December 31st, 2016 at 6:00 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 8:07 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 5:56 PM ^
Get Nico
December 31st, 2016 at 5:57 PM ^
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December 31st, 2016 at 5:57 PM ^
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December 31st, 2016 at 5:58 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 6:00 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 6:00 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 6:03 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 6:07 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 6:14 PM ^
January 1st, 2017 at 12:10 PM ^
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December 31st, 2016 at 6:03 PM ^
it's possible that's not a preferred throw for our QB(s) or WR(s) too, not every QB or tall WR are (is?) the same
December 31st, 2016 at 6:32 PM ^
The fade doesn't have to be thrown to a tall WR. Jeremy Gallon was excellent on them. It's supposed to be a very quick throw. It only becomes a jump ball if the QB throws it late.
December 31st, 2016 at 6:03 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 6:08 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 7:18 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 6:04 PM ^
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December 31st, 2016 at 6:08 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 6:18 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 7:05 PM ^
i heard plenty of chatter that speight was great at throwing the fade route prior to the start of the season.. i too was surprised that they almost never tried it.
December 31st, 2016 at 7:28 PM ^
Francois was 8-26 passing up to that point and then throws a picture-perfect fade against our best corner. Frustrating.
January 1st, 2017 at 6:06 AM ^
That play was a fluke, there's no reason why jourdan shouldnt have broken that up, it was much easier play than most of his pbu's this year. We don't throw fades because you ened an accurate qb and we have .... not that.
January 1st, 2017 at 12:08 PM ^
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December 31st, 2016 at 6:19 PM ^
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December 31st, 2016 at 6:20 PM ^
Watch:
https://youtu.be/NkSDkXFVwro
December 31st, 2016 at 6:20 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 6:39 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 6:21 PM ^
Speight has the ability to make these throws. Michigan's play calling is predicated on what the QB can throw accurately.
December 31st, 2016 at 6:22 PM ^
I've made this point before, but it seems that the staff eschewed the fade in favor of the Peppers wildcat/zone read in goal to go situations this season. I think this was a mistake since Peppers (on offense) ceased being effective after Rutgers.
December 31st, 2016 at 6:32 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 6:23 PM ^
Speight wouldn't have been able to make that throw anyway lastnight. Did you see his passes? Wouldn't have been able to do it against OSU either because of his collar bone. They say he's the best deep ball thrower they've seen but what good is that if you cant run the ball to set up play action or pass protect. Not to mention, I haven't saw one wideout pull away from a defender on a deep ball in many years. That pass to Jehu against Florida doesn't count either. Here's to hoping People Jones has immediate impact and is the big playmaker that they haven't truly had since Braylon. Manningham didn't dominate OSU or USC when it counted as he was proclaimed a superstar at the time. If Peoples Jones is who they say he could be like a Calvin Ridley, the offense will come along better. If he isn't, might be a long season.
December 31st, 2016 at 6:28 PM ^
I had some issues with individual playcalls (why not Hill on that 1st and goal carry?) but still, I felt like there were plays there to be had that we botched. For instance, I really liked the throwback (if that was the intended call) on 2nd and goal our first possession. Unfortunately, Speight overthrew a wide-open Chesson.
December 31st, 2016 at 7:10 PM ^
I think there were at least half a dozen plays that were there, and Speight airmailed the pass, or was just off. He could have avoided at least one of the sacks as well. Was not a good game from him at all, though he did have some good moments in there.
December 31st, 2016 at 6:29 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 6:38 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 6:49 PM ^
He's under 5'10" but your point still stands.
December 31st, 2016 at 6:35 PM ^
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December 31st, 2016 at 6:41 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 6:58 PM ^
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December 31st, 2016 at 7:47 PM ^
The passes were airmailed because Speight was backpedaling with pressure in his face. If he were able to step into the throw, that 2nd and goal play to Chesson would have been an easy completion. Speight has demonstrated decent accuracy when he has a pocket to work with - last night he mostly never had one.
January 1st, 2017 at 6:07 AM ^
they were airmailed because Speight is awful at everything except moving around the pocket
January 1st, 2017 at 12:05 PM ^
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December 31st, 2016 at 10:00 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 6:48 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 6:49 PM ^
aren't a high percentage play. It's actually one of the lower percentage play in football. Unless your WR is Megatron or a WR who can threaten with the slant, I wouldn't bother with a fade.
December 31st, 2016 at 7:26 PM ^
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December 31st, 2016 at 6:54 PM ^