Combating the Rub Route...?
Rewatching the game, something Dr. Brown needs to solve ASAP are the rub routes. Every single one of Proche's big plays came off of a rub route. Now... the question of where the "legal" rub vs a downfield block is always up for debate but never gets called on us because we are sooooo aggressive with our DBs. How do you stay in man while combating that? Especially when they stacked their WR's and the first one just run blocked our first DB into the second DB, to free up the other WR.
Also...
- Need to plan to drop a LB or DE into the slot WR's slant area EVERY 3rd down. That play kills us
- SMU must have been hell-bent on stopping our run game. Kept 8-10 in the box every play with EVERYONES first step being towards to the running back, daring us to beat them deep. DPJ and Gentry gladly obliged. This is what was missing from our game last year was the ability to take the top off the defense when they sold out to stop the run.
September 17th, 2018 at 7:33 AM ^
Of all the bad coaching decisions in this game, I think the worst was Jim Harbaugh wearing a shirt that looked like it should be on the PSU sideline instead of the UM sideline. No maize, no block M, just a blue shirt with a white logo. Not a good look.
September 17th, 2018 at 8:53 AM ^
Banjo the coverage. It takes time/communication, but Michigan has done it before.
September 17th, 2018 at 10:10 AM ^
Agree with this. You can still run man and use banjo. I believe that's what was supposed to happen on that first touchdown where it looked like Hawkins (I believe) allowed the man over the top for the score.
September 17th, 2018 at 10:57 AM ^
We've been talking about this issue of other teams taking advantage of our over aggressiveness for 2 years though Don Brown will occasionally mix up coverages like when Furbush got the pick. Need more zone though.
By the way, great name, Furbush,
September 17th, 2018 at 1:25 PM ^
As a former DB in college, you can combat the rub routes while staying in man coverage by simply communicating. If the WRs cross paths then a “switch” call can be used and the inside DB will play man against the receiver coming at him and vice versa on the outside. The inside DB is now in perfect position to defend a slant.