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FORMATION NOTES: This game in a nutshell:

That is a seven-OL formation I called "beefcake". Michigan's short yardage package had Kemp as a head up nose and no one else inside either guard; Glasgow is called into action as a tilted three-tech in a three point stance.

Michigan tried some 3-3-5 stuff with Uche but spent most of the game in a 4-2-5, with weird stuff speckled in.

SUBSTITUTION NOTES: A significant amount of variation but Uche was mostly relegated back to about a third of the snaps as Michigan went with a four man line. This was almost without variation Paye/Kemp/Jeter/Hutchinson. Danna and Mason both got some snaps, with Mason's concentrated after the game was over.

LB level was Glasgow and Hudson basically the whole way—Gil got the last drive I charted in place of Glasgow. MLB was a rotating trio of meh: Ross got pulled early for performance reasons, and then Anthony got pulled seemingly for performance reasons, and then McGrone got some time.

Secondary the usual Hawkins/Metellus/Hill/Thomas setup with Gray rotating in for about equal snaps at CB; Woods got some time in dime packages.

[After THE JUMP: also not so great]

Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	D Pack	Front	Cover look	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yards
O25	1	10	Pistol trips TE	3-3-5	3-3 stack	Press one high	Run	N/A	Yakety sax	Uche	0
Taylor goes the wrong way on the mesh point. M blitzes Ross and Uche(+1), with Uche shooting past the C to tackle a confused Coan.
O25	2	10	Pistol 3-wide	3-3-5	30 nickel slide	Press two high	Run	N/A	Split zone	Hutchinson	8
TE motions across and then drags back for split zone. M slants away; Hutchinson(-2) gets blasted downfield and pancaked. Ross(-1) is coming in hot as a blitzer to fill behind and gets under the TE but cannot close down all that space; probably should go even more balls out to fill that gap because he’s got Uche unblocked waiting for a spill.
O33	3	2	Pistol 3-wide	4-2-5	Nickel over	Press one high	Pass	5	Scramble	Ross	1
Max pro short rollout as Wisconsin tries to motion a guy out and get him open on America’s Rollout Out. Michigan(RPS +1) zones it and covers(+2) both field side options. Hutchinson(+0.5) does a good job to get upfield and contain. Ross(-2, pressure -2) is sent on a blitz and gets cut; he’s recklessly hammering upfield and gets cut away from the side the QB is rolling to; woof. Coan has to try to take off directly upfield and can because Ross got cut. He is just short of the first down, call probably correct on review.
O34	4	1	Beefcake	4-2-5	Goal line fold	Press zero	Run	N/A	Dive	N/A	3
UW’s set has two TEs and two bonus OL stacked just behind the RG and RT. M responds with a goal line formation that is their normal 4-2-5 with Glasgow, of all people, a in three point stance basically head up on the guard. Dive is unstoppable. They get it. Kemp was looking like he’s come through and then got clocked by another OL.
O37	1	10	I-Form	4-2-5	4-3 even SAM	Press two high	Run	N/A	Trap	Kemp	6 + 15 pen
Trap; Kemp(-2) is left alone and shoots straight upfield. FB doesn’t even have to block him he’s so gone. Ross(+1) runs up to a free releasing OL and thunks him, stalling him at the LOS. He gets a horrible PF for hands to the face(refs -3) which is hands to the shoulder pads. Metellus(-0.5) is in man coverage on the FB and realizes late that this is a run; Ross bought him an opportunity to go get this for a meh gain.
M42	1	10	Offset I	4-2-5	4-3 even SAM	Press two high	Run	N/A	Power GT	Glasgow	18
Wisconsin pulls a Washington Tecmo Bowl, flipping from a ace three wide to this and shifting Glasgow down into a SAM viper role while Hudson gets stuck as the WLB. Power GT to the Glasgow side. M slants away. Hudson(-1) does not scrape and gets sealed away; bad news when you slant away and your weakside backer eats a second level block. Ross(+1) almost makes it right as the runs up and hammers a UW OL who stops in the hole because he ‘s not sure who to block. Taylor disappears into a heap of bodies, and then bursts around the edge for a big gain. This was blamed on Hill on the broadcast but it’s actually Glasgow(-2) who’s clearly the force player; he actually did a great job to rip past a TE but took it too upfield and loses contain.
M24	1	10	I-Form Big	4-2-5	4-3 even SAM	Press one high	Run	N/A	Counter Trey	Paye	2
M shoots Paye(+1) inside and the LBs cover over the top; Paye is able to drive an uncertain LT back into a puller and spill it. Glasgow(+0.5) and Ross(+0.5) both get to the spot, Glasgow to take on a FB and Ross for the tackle at the LOS.
M22	2	8	Shotgun 3-wide	3-3-5	Okie one	Press one high	Pass	4	Slant	Thomas	5
Uche(+2, pressure +2) has superior get off and gets past the LG to force an instant throw; that’s a slant against Thomas(-0.5, cover push), who is unable to challenge but tackles immediately.
M17	3	3	I-Form Big	2-4-5	5-3 fold	Press one high	Run	N/A	Counter zone	Hawkins	14
Thomas steps right and then comes back left; FB inserts backside as UW goes IZ the other way. This is a crazy thing to run on third and three: two DL, Paye and Hutchinson, the latter as the nose. It might actually work just by sheer weirdness if Hawkins(-3), who is six yards deep and clearly intended to be a free hitter, doesn’t run himself completely out of the play. This was there for Hawkins to smack Taylor in a small hole at the LOS.
M3	1	G	Beefcake split	4-2-5	Goal line fold	Press zero	Run	N/A	Power O	Paye	1
We don’t get a replay of this and it is a wad of meat that is almost impossible to decipher. Paye(+0.5) and Hutchinson(+0.5) are able to fend off blocks and converge after about a yard to stand up Taylor.
M2	2	G	Beefcake	4-2-5	Goal line fold	Press one high	Run	N/A	Dive	Hudson	1
Dive again; M sends Woods(+0.5) off the edge and Taylor bends away from the A gap. Also Hutchinson(+0.5) gets to the backfield and stands up an OL. Hudson pops up and hits Taylor; Woods then comes in from the side and I think helps Taylor spin off and nearly score. One YAC against Taylor isn’t bad.
M1	3	G	Beefcake	4-2-5	Goal line fold	Press zero	Run	N/A	Dive	Kemp	1
Valiant effort but Michigan can’t quite stall out Taylor; Kemp(+1) swiped through the C and just about stood up the second OL enough to make this a stop.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 0-7, 8 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	D Pack	Front	Cover look	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yards
O4	1	10	Ace trips tight bunch	4-2-5	4-3 over	Press two high	Pass	4	Out	Hill	10
Another half roll and a two man concept; Hill(-1, cover -1) drops too far to the deeper route, which Metellus has handled, and allows a quick throw for significant YAC.
O14	1	10	I-Form Big twin TE	4-2-5	4-3 over	Press one high	Run	N/A	Power CG	Hudson	3
Yikes. FB shuffles backside and then goes and inserts like it’s an iso block. Ross(-2) goes for this and misses two giant guys pulling in front of his face. UW has this blocked to the safety if they don’t blow it. They blow it. Hudson(+2) is able to slice past one of the OL; Metellus(+1) is force and gets around the other, though that one was more of a dorf. They meet Taylor at the LOS.
O17	2	7	Shotgun 3-wide	3-3-5	30 nickel slide	Press one high	Run	N/A	Slant	Hill	10
Cephus sells a fade and then breaks inside cleanly; easy pitch and catch. Hill(-1, cover -1). Uche(+1, pressure +1) just about around the guard and is a hair away from a strip sack.
O27	1	10	I-Form	4-2-5	4-3 even	Press two high	Run	N/A	Draw	Kemp	7
Kemp(-2) and Jeter(-2) both fly upfield outside of blockers, big hole in the middle. Jeter is at least somewhere in the vicinity of the LOS, Kemp is again six yards in the backfield on a run play. Glasgow(+1), Ross(+1), and Hawkins(+0.5) all beat downfield blocks after false-step pass sets, though Hawkins’s guy kind of falls down.
O34	2	3	I-Form twins	4-2-5	4-3 over SAM	Press two high	Run	N/A	Lead draw	Kemp	10
Cumong man. Kemp(-2) is slanting across here and turns his body away  from the C, getting ejected. Danna(-1) coming across and gets stood up and controlled by an OL. Paye is actually in his gap and doing decently but Ross(-1) now gets a fullback in an absolute cavern. He’s not going to shut it down but you want him to hit the FB and maybe dive off the guy to get in an ankle tackle attempt. He gets on one side of the fullback and can’t touch the guy.
O44	1	10	I-Form twins	4-2-5	I-Form twins	Press two high	Pass	4	Corner	Metellus	Inc
Pocket is good(pressure -2). UW going big with two switch routes downfield; Hill(+1) over the top of one. Thomas(+1) in the grill of another and Metellus(+1, cover +3) gets over the top of the attempted deep ball. Metellus has a shot at a pick and can’t make it.
O44	2	10	Shotgun 3-wide	4-2-5	Nickel over	Press one high	Pass	4	RPO slant	Thomas	Inc
Probably an RPO as the boundary side guys are blocking while the field guys run slants. Thomas(+1, cover +1) in tight contact with WR and has a very good shot at a PBU on a three yard pass; ball well behind.
O44	3	10	Shotgun 3-wide	3-3-5	Okie two	Press two high	Run	N/A	Draw	Ross	7
Mostly a give up and punt, though the prospect of UW going on fourth and three here is nerve-wracking. M shows everyone at the LOS and sends five. Both LB drop out and only one guy releases downfield; Glasglow(+0.5) and Ross(+0.5) successfully contain it.
Drive Notes: Punt, 0-7, 4 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	D Pack	Front	Cover look	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yards
O28	1	10	Pistol trips TE	3-3-5	3-3 stack	Press one high	Run	N/A	Counter GT	Glasgow	72
Michigan shows press man; jet fake swaps Hawkins with Hill. Ross(-2) tips his blitz and then gets obliterated by the LT. Paye(-3) is left for the pullers and completely fails to set the edge. You’re EMLOS and the guy over you blocks down when you’re playing UW it seems like that would be automatic? Hill(-3) is now the deep safety and completely blows it, never finding the pull or the ball or anything. Uche(-2) also never found the ball, so Michigan in tough even if this goes inside the tackles. RPS -2. Why is Hill over a jet guy instead of Metellus? Jet guy isn’t even Cephus. Endzone shot.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 0-14, 2 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	D Pack	Front	Cover look	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yards
O20	1	10	I-Form	4-2-5	4-3 over	Press two high	Run	N/A	Down GC	Hutchinson	2
It says two high but this is flat out cover zero with both safeties running at the LOS on the snap and basically becoming LBs. Hutch(+1) gets a TE, extends him and sheds to tackle at the LOS. Hudson(+1) is the playside LB and dodges one puller and fouls the second; Metellus is able to force it back into Hutchinson. Anthony(-1) is in on this play, so Ross’s gotten pulled at half and after a quarter in the last two games. He too is unable to read two giant persons pulling in front of his face and goes to the FB backside. Zero times has the FB been where the play is going in this game. RPS +1, Metellus shooting to LOS was helpful.
O22	2	8	Shotgun 3-wide	3-3-5	3-3 stack	Press one high	Pass	4	TE hitch	Anthony	7
Anthony(-1, cover -1) way too soft on a TE hitch. If there’s ever a team to deny this to it’s UW, in this game, with your DTs. Woof. Pocket clean(pressure -1) on relatively quick throw.
O29	3	1	I-Form Big twin TE	4-2-5	4-3 under	Press one high	Run	N/A	FB dive	Jeter	2
Kemp(+1) able to shed and get to the backfield and actually makes contact in the backfield but he gets no support as Jeter(-1) is handled and driven by a single block. With Kemp hitting from the side there’s no hope unless Jeter can stand this up better.
O31	1	10	Pistol 3-wide	4-2-5	4-3 over	Press two high	Run	N/A	Power GT	Paye	0
Jet fake, Metellus and Hawkins swap to take care of it. No FB inserting to inexplicably mess up the LB reads so they get over to the POA; Paye(+1) has read it and dives inside to spill, where there are a lot of guys. Glasgow(+1) takes on the other blocker and stands it up with help from the cavalry.
O31	2	10	Pistol 3-wide	3-3-5	5-3 fold	Press one high	Pass	5	Flare screen	N/A	20
Simple flare screen against man to man gets Woods(-1), in at LB, blocked, cracked, and gone by the WR. Gray tries to replaced but he’s got two OL to deal with and no help. This is out so fast I don’t know if holding up and redirecting is even possible. RPS -2.
M49	1	10	I-Form	4-2-5	4-3 under	Press two high	Run	N/A	Lead draw	Metellus	3
This is offset on purpose, going between TE and tackle. Line gets split; Glasgow is outside and force; Paye(-1) washed down the line, significant gap. Anthony(-1) comes up and hits the FB but late; Metellus(+2) comes from his safety spot and reacts more quickly than anyone; he beats an attempted crack block to the spot and makes a tackle at the LOS. Because Taylor vs safety from the side, YAC. Still a rescue.
M46	2	7	Shotgun trips TE	3-3-5	30 nickel under	Press two high	Pass	5	Hitch	Thomas	3
Bizarre formation where M has Uche in overhang and a three man line that is shifted heavily away from the TE side, with Metellus as basically a standup DE. Dunno how this holds up against a run because pass; M sends five and does collapse the pocket some to force a throw but this is mostly clean (pressure -1). Coverage(+2) good and a checkdown required that Thomas(+1) makes a quick stick on.
M43	3	4	I-Form Big twin TE	4-2-5	4-4 over	Press one high	Run	N/A	Counter trey	Hawkins	0
Danna(+1) is left alone and digs under close to the G as the T releases because he knows power is coming and wants to bounce it. He forces the FB to stop to get around him and robs him of his momentum; Glasgow(+1) comes in and pops the FB and discards him with that help; Hawkins(+1) sent on a backside blitz and tackles first; RPS +2, this was going to be a stop even if the playside did nothing because of the Hawkins blitz. Anthony did get over to this despite a fullback false step.
M43	4	4	Shotgun trips TE	4-2-5	Nickel even	Press one high	Pass	5	Wheel	Thomas	27
Press man look gets got by a double rub skillfully executed; Thomas has no chance to get to this wheel route. Michigan sends guys and the PA delay just about gets this done as Danna(+1) and Glasgow(+1, pressure +2) are able to get to the QB with Danna forklifting an OL out of the way so Glasgow can hit on the throw. I’m not sure how this is on point, it looks like he gets impacted with the ball in his hand. DO for Coan. (RPS -1, cover -2)
M16	1	10	I-Form Big	4-2-5	4-3 even	Press two high	Run	N/A	Down GC	Hudson	3
FB inserts backside, pull frontside G and C. W Kemp head up on backside G he doesn’t have the quickness to get to the backfield and is not best positioned, contrast with shaded one tech getting to this for UW. Anthony(-2) and Glasgow(-1) both rip at the FB and are gone. Hudson(+3) again has to save this. With Hutch(-1) gone and Metellus force Hudson is in against two OL. One guy leaves to go block the S, and Hudson is able to come through the other guy and solo tackle to shut down a potential TD.
M13	2	7	Ace 2TE tight	4-2-5	4-3 even	Off two high	Run	N/A	Jet sweep	Hutchinson	11
Quick jet from a drawn in position to limit prep time. Gray(+1) takes on a block well and gets off it to get in a tackle attempt that significantly slows the WR after a couple yards; cannot complete tackle. Still should be good enough. Is not. Hutch(-1) is unblocked and doesn’t know what he’s looking at for a long time; he should be able to recover and get this once there’s a delay. Metellus(-1) and Hudson(-1) both overrun the play trying to avoid blocks.
M2	1	G	Beefcake split	4-2-5	Goal line fold	Press zero	Run	N/A	Power O	Kemp	1
Kemp(+1) fires off hard and sis able to submarine an OL in the backfield, tripping up a puller. RB goes right up the gut since the play is busted and gets a yard.
M1	2	G	Goal line	4-2-5	Goal line fold	Press zero	Run	N/A	QB lead boot	McGrone	0
Impressive from McGrone(+2), who has to bend around Jeter(-0.5) and Hutch(-0.5) and is still able to get to Coan at the LOS and stick him for nothing.
M1	3	G	Beefcake	4-2-5	Goal line fold	Press zero	Run	N/A	Dive	Kemp	0
Kemp(+2) times up the snap and surges under the C. He eats OL #2 but it’s still enough of a pile to let the rest of the D rally.
M1	4	G	Beefcake	4-2-5	Goal line fold	Press zero	Run	N/A	QB sneak	N/A	1
There is no one in the A gap. There’s been no one in the A gap, and just Glasgow over the G, so UW calls timeout and is like “uh guys” and then they run a sneak. RPS -1.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 0-21, 6 min 2nd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	D Pack	Front	Cover look	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yards
O42	1	10	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	2
Tape does not have play.
O44	2	8	Shotgun trips TE	3-3-5	3-3 stack	Press two high	Pass	N/A	RPO in	Hawkins	8
Hawkins(-1, cover -1) in man, playing soft; UW sends its WR out to fake a stalk block and then break in; Hawkins caught off guard, easy completion. RPS -1.
M48	1	10	Pistol twins twin TE	4-2-5	4-3 over	Press two high	Run	N/A	Power GT	Paye	2
Metellus shoots down from like 15 yards on jet motion to add another guy to the boundary; he appears to be force; Paye(+1) shuffles down when he was left and jams up the lane. He gets both pullers to some extent and the back doesn’t bounce ; Anthony(+0.5) and Glasgow(+0.5) help clean up. RPS +1.
M46	2	8	Pistol 4-wide	4-2-5	Nickel over	Press two high	Pass	5	Circle	Metellus	3
Metellus reads this route and drives it; he gets a swipe in at the ball that misses but he’s still able to make a 0 YAC tackle despite being in a disadvantageous position. Nice play. (+1, cover +1, pressure -1)
M43	3	5	Shotgun empty	3-3-5	5-1 split	Press one high	Penalty	N/A	False start	N/A	-5
oops
M48	3	10	Shotgun empty	3-3-5	5-1 split	Press one high	Run	N/A	QB draw	Danna	-5
Danna(+2) again forklifts an OG, driving him back into the QB’s lap as he tries to take off. Paye(+1) also drove the backfield and finishes the play.
Drive Notes: Punt, 0-21, 2 min 2nd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	D Pack	Front	Cover look	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yards
M43	1	10	Shotgun trips TE	3-2-6	Dime even	Press two high	Pass	4	Dumpoff	Anthony	18
Woof, Anthony(-2, cover -1, tackling -2) gets a simple one yard RB out. He breaks stride for no apparent reason before the RB break and then whiffs the tackle.
M25	1	10	Shotgun trips	3-2-6	Dime even	Press one high	Pass	4	Scramble	Paye	25
This is a two-high man free, which means that if the QB breaks the pocket the only guys with eyes on him are two super deep safeties. Paye(-3, pressure -3) tries to split a couple of OL and gets shoved over. When Hutch(+1) gets around on his loop quickly QB just runs up the pocket. Nobody in front of him, keeps going.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 0-28, EOH
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	D Pack	Front	Cover look	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yards
O16	1	10	Ace trips tight bunch	4-2-5	4-3 over	Off two high	Run	N/A	Split zone	Kemp	10
Kemp(+2) times the snap again and blasts into the backfield. RB has to cut awy from the play design into unblocked guys. Hudson is there to contain. He gets beat to the outside which is fine except Gray(-3) comes way way too far inside as he comes off zone coverage and loses the edge. I guess you could get on Hudson a little here but he’s got support outside this should be fine.
O26	1	10	Ace trips tight bunch	4-2-5	4-3 even	Off two high	Run	N/A	Draw	Kemp	9
Kemp(-2) again just gone upfield. Jeter(-2) fired way outside, another giant gap. McGrone(+0.5) actually does a decent job to come up and plug the FB but just too much space to shut down.
O35	2	1	Ace 2TE tight	4-2-5	4-3 even	Off two high	Pass	4	Waggle RB flat	Metellus	4
Could get on Metellus for not getting up on the flat route; he does make contact at about a yard. Because Jonathan Taylor he misses the tackle(-0.5, tackling -1) a bit but it still able to run it out with help from Hudson.
O39	1	10	Ace trips tight bunch	4-2-5	4-3 over	Half press two high	Run	N/A	Draw	McGrone	4
This time it’s Mason(-1) shooting upfield and gone; Kemp does at least recognize it and try to get back to the gap. Hole is thus smaller; McGrone(+1) is able to hit the FB and make a diving ankle tackle.
O43	2	6	Shotgun 3-wide	4-2-5	Nickel over	Press one high	Run	N/A	Split zone	Danna	7
Danna(-2) gets caved. He’s slow off the ball and gives a bunch of ground; Glasgow(+0.5) runs up and whacks the free releasing G but can’t extend to the sideline because Danna is in the way; no edge, first down. McGrone(+0.5) does a good job to get around a blocker and tackle.
50	1	10	?	?	?	?	Run	N/A	?	?	4
Tape just has the tail end.
M46	2	6	Shotgun 3-wide	2-3-6	5-1 split	Press one high	Run	N/A	Split zone	N/A	9
This is a run down? And Michigan has two DEs and no other DL on the field? Hutch(-1) and Uche(-1) both lose single blocks and go for rides, gap up the middle McGrone cannot fill since he gets a downfield blocker quick.RPS -2.
M37	1	10	Ace trips tight bunch	4-2-5	4-3 over	Press two high	Run	N/A	Power O	Paye	9 (Pen -10)
Wisconsin adapts to the Paye dive and outside spill by motioning a fullback and having that guy plunk Paye(-1); Paye gives ground and the pullers clear him. Maybe McGrone is going too far outside but he might be the designed go-git-em for the spill M is trying to get. Glasgow(-0.5) can’t get inside and misses an arm tackle; Metellus(-1, tackling -1) comes up with a weak cut attempt and gets spun through. It comes back on an immaterial and pretty iffy holding call(refs +2)
M47	1	20	Shotgun 3-wide	4-2-5	Okie one	Press one high	Run	N/A	Power GT	Paye	23
Michigan has a passing exotic on with their standard personnel so it’s Jeter as a DE and Paye in the Uche role. They’re running some crazy stunt whatever and someone busts a gap. I’m guessing it’s Paye(-2); McGrone(-1) backs off and then doesn’t read two giant guys pulling in front of his face and stops dead. He is able to get over but gets a blocker and is only ever going to be inside of him. Once through line, first down, RPS -2.
M24	1	10	Ace trips tight bunch	4-2-5	4-3 over	Press two high	Pass	4	Waggle TE out	Hudson	11
Hudson(-1, cover -1) sucks up on the playfake and this is open on the corner but it’s not like I blame him.
M13	1	10	I-Form Big twin TE	4-2-5	4-3 over	Press one high	Run	N/A	Iso	Mason	5
Kemp(-1) fires off early again but loses; he does take a long double. Mason(-1) gives ground and is sealed. McGrone runs up to take on the FB block, does okay.
M8	2	5	I-Form Big Twin TE	4-2-5	4-3 over	Press two high	Run	N/A	FB dive	Kemp	3
Kemp(-1) shoved back yards; ditto Mason(-1); Paye(+0.5) gets to the back and helps stop things.
M5	3	2	I-Form Big	4-2-5	Goal line fold	Press zero	Run	N/A	Speed option	McGrone	3
McGrone(+1) finds a gap and shoots it lightning quick to force a pitch. Hudson(-1) still caught flat footed by the edge run, again understandably, but first down.
M2	1	G	Goal line	4-2-5	Goal line fold	Press zero	Run	N/A	FB dive	Glasgow	2
Glasgow gets clocked but I’m not minusing him since he’s 225. RPS -1.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 0-35, 5 min 3rd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	D Pack	Front	Cover look	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yards
M14	1	10	Offset I	3-3-5	3-3 stack	Press two high	Run	N/A	Split zone	Hudson	4
M puts Hudson and Glasgow at the LOS between NT and DE; both come. Hudson(+1) knifes through the line and disrupts the RB in the backfield; he should let M rally here. Glasgow(-1) is actually in good position, having driven his guy for a second but then he spins back, vacating his gap and making McGrone wrong. Kemp(+0.5) is able to come back and tackle.
M18	2	6	Ace 2TE tight	4-2-5	4-3 even	Press two high	Run	N/A	Power O	McGrone	4
M is playing to get McGrone over the top for scrape; Paye(-0.5) and Glasgow(-0.5) both lose blocks and no delay and then McGrone doesn’t quite hold the edge. He does whack the FB well but bounce happens. He also gets a tackle attempt end that bends the back a little. Thomas(+0.5) out there as a cover two corner and helps hold it down.
M22	3	2	Offset I Big	4-2-5	4-3 even	Press one high	Run	N/A	Iso	Jeter	9
Big gap between DTs and UW goes right at it. Jeter(-2) ejected by double. McGrone runs up and gets cut at the LOS, which would seal the gap if Jeter hadn’t gotten blown up.
M31	1	10	Offset I	3-3-5	3-3 stack	Press two high	Run	N/A	Power GT	Uche	5
Uche(+1) runs up to playside and hits the playside DT trying to block down on him; he then sheds that guy. He’s now in the midst of the two pullers. He occupies both. McGrone(-1) is hesitant and doesn’t go after it, which he should since he’s got help; Glasgow heads for FB as is probably appropriate; Metellus is there to help clean up.
M36	2	5	Shotgun 3-wide	3-3-5	3-3 stack	Press one high	Run	N/A	Power GT	Paye	3
Paye slides in, takes on puller; McGrone same. Both do okay. Gray(+0.5) falls off his WR to go get this.
M39	3	2	Offset I twin TE	4-2-5	4-4 even	Press one high	Run	N/A	Iso	Kemp	1
Kemp(+1) able to take on a single block and shed it; he got some depth so RB starts going over. McGrone(+1) takes the FB on and sheds and helps stop momentum; cavalry arrives.
Drive Notes: Punt, 8-35, 13 min 4th Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	D Pack	Front	Cover look	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yards
O26	1	10	Ace 2TE tight	4-2-5	4-3 under	Press one highR	Run	N/A	Iso	Gil	42
Kemp(-2) single blocked and turned out. Shoved a long way. Jeter does better but just a push; he might be held(refs -1). Gap up the middle. Gil(-1) shoots up to the line and fails to keep contain or funnel to help, McGrone(-2) fails to get the playcall, which swaps the safeties just before the snap and should see him flying away from the swap; he doesn’t know what he’s looking at and stalls.
M32	1	10	Ace 2TE tight	4-2-5	4-3 even	Off two high	Run	N/A	Iso	Kemp	7
Kemp(-1) takes a double and gives a lot of ground; Gil(-2) runs up at this double and hits one OL, which removes him from the play entirely. McGrone(-1) could do better and hit the fullback at the LOS instead of two yards deep, again through the line. This time Hill(+1, tackling +1) pops up from a safety spot to make a nice tackle to hold it down.
M25	2	3	Ace trips tight bunch	4-2-5	4-3 even	Half press two high	Run	N/A	Iso	Kemp	4
Kemp(-1) blown out and pancaked. McGrone(-1) fires hard, dodges FB, falls, not useful
M21	1	10	Ace trips tight bunch	4-2-5	4-3 even SAM	Half press two high	Penalty	N/A	False start	N/A	-5
oops
M26	1	15	Shotgun 3-wide	4-2-5	Nickel even	Press one high	Run	N/A	Split zone	Paye	6
Paye(-0.5) gives a lot of ground as the force guy and does get to the ball eventually; Gil(-1) sent on a blitz, attempts to doge OL, gets hit, off balance, diving tackle attempt from side. Guy nominally blocking Gil goes and hits Anthony.
M20	2	9	Shotgun 3-wide	4-2-5	Nickel even	Press one high	Pass	5	Flare screen	Hutchinson	Inc
Hutchisnon(+2, cover +1) reads the flare screen and almost intercepts.
M20	3	9	Shotgun 3-wide	3-3-5	5-1 fold	Press one high	Pass	6	Sack	Hudson	-11
Max pro; Hudson(+2, pressure +2) is very deep and reads this, it appears, and converts to a late blitzer who UW doesn’t pick up. Coverage(+2) good to get him to the sack.
Drive Notes: Missed FG(48), 8-35, 8 min 4th Q. UW gets the ball back with 3 minutes left up 21, charting over.

I'd kind of forgotten but this was also bad.

Yep. We're having a lot of consternation about the offense, and justifiably. The defensive performance was on the same level. I'm leaving out the last Wisconsin drive-type substance that started with 2:28 on the clock and their kneels to end the game:

• two first-down-and-outs
• two drives of 47 and 43 yards, one ending in a punt and the other a missed 48-yard FG
• five TD drives of 75, 72, 80, 43, and 84 yards

Five of Wisconsin's first seven drives were touchdowns and a sixth would have been a scoring drive if it had started from the UW 25 instead of the four.

Guh.

Indeed.

Do you have any regrets?

Like… generally?

About this game in specific.

I wish I hadn't called Paul Chryst "Turtle" after last year's inexplicable coaching brainfart. Probably didn't matter but Chryst came into this game, immediately faced a fourth and short on his 34, and instead of punting he did this:

One dollar says Chryst has now activated his inner Kirk Ferentz and will be appropriately aggressive against Michigan going forward. I mean:

On replay you see how close that is to a turnover on downs as Glasgow is able to hit Coan on the throw; I'm not sure how that ball is as accurate as it is. Hopefully Chryst had a change of heart after a long heart-to-heart with his coaching mentors and immediate family, and not because he saw someone be mean to him on the internet.

I also regret the fact that Michigan doesn't do the beef short yardage. They certainly could have some version of this short yardage package with Mason and Spanellis as the beef, but instead we have an offense whose only role for Mason is as a straight-up running back.

Is that… DT Jordan Glasgow?

Yes? I have no idea what Michigan was thinking there. Michigan actually launched a stirring goal line stand, but when faced with fourth and one Wisconsin called timeout, huddled up, and someone said "so the only guy to the left of center is a 225 pound converted safety" and this happened:

He would also get clocked on the fifth Wisconsin TD, which I put on RPS. Poor Damn DT Jordan Glasgow.

That seems desperate.

It is. I can't imagine how this worked out any better in practice and how Chris Hinton and Mazi Smith are not even in the conversation for snaps. Freshman DTs suck, but when you already suck might as well try it.

But that wouldn't have helped enough, or possibly at all. It's one thing to say that Michigan's personnel is way short of where they should be in year five of Harbaugh, especially at DT, and it's another to watch a defense that seemingly has not prepared for the opponent after a bye week.

What?

I mean… the boggling thing was watching Michigan key on the Wisconsin fullback. Things could have been a lot worse—er, check that. Things could have been bad more quickly if a couple of guys facing down two OL pulling to them hadn't managed some heroic rearguard actions.

Sometimes this was a linebacker failing to understand the implications of a slant, as Hudson does here. M's line slants to the field, which means that the WLB needs to get over quickly to replace that since there's going to be a big gap. Ross comes up and hammers UW's lead puller—who doesn't play this all that well—and jams it up. Glasgow losing contain is just a thing that gets a minus, it's not a systematic thing. Hudson getting wiped out of the play is:

LB #7 to top

Things were significantly worse later, when Ross started going after the fullback side. Hudson and Metellus were able to contain this by making two excellent plays; if Wisconsin can get a hat on a couple of safeties this is blocked all the way to Hill because Ross isn't keying on the 300-pound guys pulling:

MLB #12, also LB #7 to bottom

So last week Seth asked me for nomenclature on this style of power where the fullback replaces on the backside and both the backside tackle and G pull… because it is the base of the Wisconsin offense. In fact the fullback's initial step did not take you to the play once on any play with a pull until Wisconsin was in the midst of their fifth TD drive. (IE: he led out some draw plays and there were a couple counters on which he did pull through the hole after taking a counter step, but everything else he was away from the point of attack.)

And yet!

LB #34, LB #7

The sheer number of situations that looked awful and got rescued by +2 and +3 plays from Hudson, mostly, was uncanny. If Wisconsin had just said "screw it, the pullers are doubling #7" things would have been bad more quickly.

And yet, also:

S #20 to left

I don't get it man.

For reference, this is what it's supposed to look like. Anthony is able to get over an attempted second-level block on this counter and get to the point of attack. Michigan's already got this play dealt with because of a Hawkins blitz and a nice Glasgow play but the MLB is ready for duty if necessary.

Michigan's linebackers in this game were equivalent to Nebraska's linebackers in last year's Michigan-Nebraska game.

If they kept doing this maybe that was the plan? A lot of those plays don't actually go very far.

If the plan was have one guy beat two blockers and make a miraculous play, they executed that plan. Some.

The long touchdown?

It was in a similar vein. There are about four things wrong on it. One: Ross tips his blitz before the jet motion and gets obliterated because now he's a standup, motionless 230 pound DT. Two: nobody sets the edge. This is probably Paye even though Paye was playing to spill these power plays the whole day; those were usually in a context where a LB was able to get over the top. Three: Josh Uche doesn't read half of the UW OL running to the field. And four: Michigan put Lavert Hill, not Josh Metellus, in the jet sweep slot so it's a CB rotating back.

Put it all together:

Endzone shot demonstrates that if Michigan does hold the edge this is a chunk run anyway but maybe one where someone's able to tackle at some point:

I really don't know how Michigan's LB level was unable to read two OL pullers for virtually the whole competitive section of the game. Where does Uche think the big guys are going? This isn't even a good jet fake.

This contributes to the overall sense of malaise. Michigan failed to do a lot of basic football things in this game, and the rot spread to the defense in a major way. Fit your gaps!

DE #19 to right

When someone's running outside of a force block it's a bad scene.

That late 42-yard fricking iso play—an iso!—is a fine summary of Michigan's run D in this game. Kemp, locked out, definitively to one side of an OL. Jeter can't plug the gap. Meanwhile Michigan's running a weird thing where they flip the safeties presnap and McGrone doesn't have the playcall so he spends the play standing next to Metellus instead of ripping to the front where he's needed.

Michigan's DTs are very bad and the attempts to compensate are leaving gaps unfilled on the regular.

Don Brown didn't just forget how to coach?

No, he didn't. Michigan's ineptness is comprehensive and probably not a Don Brown thing. Anyway, here's a chart. 

Defensive Line
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Paye	5	11	-6	Major hand in the long TD.
Dwumfour				DNP
Kemp	8.5	14	-6.5	Fired off hard, got burned on draws.
Hutchinson	5.5	5.5	0	Retained his dignity.
Danna	4	3	1	One real nice forklift.
Uche	5	3	2	Back to a third of M snaps.
Jeter		7.5	-7.5	Tough debut.
Mason		2	-2
Hinton				DNP
Vilain				DNP
TOTAL	28	46	-18	Ye gods
Linebacker
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Hudson	9	4	5	Miraculously held some plays down.
Ross	4	8	-4	Pulled before half.
Glasgow	6	5	1	Did not grade DT snaps.
Gil		4	-4	Glasgow not under threat I don't think.
Anthony	0.5	7	-6.5	Also pulled.
McGrone	6	6	0	Hooray?
Barrett				DNP
TOTAL	25.5	34	-8.5	Go the correct way.
Secondary
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Metellus	5	3	2	Unflappable.
Hawkins	1.5	4	-2.5	Almost had the fourth down.
Hill	2	7	-5	Not a deep S.
Thomas	3.5	0.5	3	/waves tiny flag
Gray	1.5	3	-1.5	Lost a bounce.
Woods	0.5	1	-0.5
Kelly-Powell				DNP
TOTAL	14	18.5	-4.5	the sweep
Metrics
Pressure	7	9	-2	No Uche hurt here.
Coverage	12	8	+4	Decent!
Tackling	1	4	-3	Hurt on the jet sweep.
RPS	5	11	-6	DT Glasgow.

I honestly don't remember a game where the chart looked this bad. Probably RichRod? I know I haven't had a DL negative in a million years. It is a struggle to believe Michigan is this universally disappointing and bad. Pretty much everyone got blasted at some point. Hutchinson gets pancaked here:

DE #97 to bottom

And he has a case as Michigan's best player in this game outside of Hudson.

So… the linebacker level.

This is specifically about MLB, I think. Glasgow maintained his playing time until very late. As noted above, Hudson spent a lot of this game turning two guys pulling to just him into three yards.

MLB was a rotation between Ross, who got pulled after a number of above incidents, Anthony, who got pulled after this:

And McGrone, who was all right but also dorfed some things.

McGrone introduced himself by shutting down a QB boot that looked like a sure touchdown until he came hurtling into the frame:

This was also promising; he's able to find a gap and shoot it to force a quick pitch. For naught, of course, but hey! Quick pitch!

He also got lost on a couple plays, as one does. The ability to go very fast is enticing.

Carlo Kemp is our up and down guy of the week, it appears?

There isn't a Jonas Mouton award for the guy who has the biggest mark in his second-highest column, but maybe now there is and that's Kemp this week. He had a strange game seemingly based on the idea that he couldn't win a fair fight against the Wisconsin OL. He spent his day firing absurdly hard off the LOS, attempting to time up the snap and succeeding sometimes. This should have been a zero-yard gain if the edge guys actually contain it after Kemp blows up the play design:

Kemp was also the major source of resistance on that almost-goal-line stand, again by being shovy and reckless—although you  can only be so reckless at the one.

The flip side of this was Kemp's tendency to run eight yards deep whenever Wisconsin ran a draw or trap. Here the FB can't even block him because he's so far upfield:

DT #2 to top

Seven yards upfield on a draw:

DT #2 to bottom

And this was literally the next play:

DT #2 to left, moving right

Cumong man.

Jeter, meanwhile?

I had nothing positive for him and several –2 events, many of them on the draws where he'd put himself to one side of the OL and then get moved out, contributing to the giant gaps in the middle. Late he got wiped by a double:

Meanwhile he did not pick up a plus. Getting your first extended playing time against Wisconsin is rough, of course. This was not an encouraging debut.

Is there anyone who is still good at football?

Josh Metellus. He gets a swipe in at this, misses, and still gets a zero YAC tackle.

He's been really good and I despair for him that this what his last year looks like.

Is anything useful coming out of this?

Danna was up and down in his playing time but this is a good opportunity to give a visual indicator of what I mean by "forklift" when applied to a DL:

DT-type substance #4

Hands under OL arms, gripping basically the armpits, and now let's go for a drive. This was his CMU specialty and translated against a UW OL here.

That's the useful thing? Terminology?

Yes?

 

Are we still doing Mr. Worldwide?

Uh, yes, sorry. I forgot last week. Last week's winners:

1. Mike Onwenu: awesome in general, blocked two guys at once.
2. Carlo Kemp: did many dirty works for his teammates, suffered slings and arrows in the knee.
3. Josh Metellus: the fixer on D.

This week's winners:

1. Khaleke Hudson: cleaned up for other's messes with great frequency.
2. Jordan Glasgow: played DT! Which is versatile and is kind of living under a giant bridge made of Wisconsin meat!
3. Nico Collins: made his teammates better by catching some punts.

Standings:

5: Khaleke Hudson
3: Zach Charbonnet, Mike Onwenu
2: Carlo Kemp, Jordan Glasgow
1: Ryan Hayes, Josh Metellus, Nico Collins.

I feel like we're missing one last thing.

Here's Wisconsin with a tweak in the RPO field. Watch their slot receiver set up like he's going to block and then break in.

That's smart since the thing looks like a run anyway, and it works to get Hawkins off of him, unlike the DBs we're seeing stuck to Michigan's RPO slant guys.

So in this game Wisconsin had a small, successful RPO innovation while also intercepting one of Michigan's when a DL got his hands up on a nominal run play?

Yeah, is that what you were looking for?

Yes, the knife twist [dies]

[dies]

Heroes?

Hudson. Metellus. Ambry Thomas?

Maybe not so heroic?

Every DL except Hutchinson. Ross and Anthony.

What does it mean for, you know, the rest of it?

Michigan has zero quality DTs, has seen its MLB regress dramatically, and can't fit the run.