drag routes

Previously: The Story. Podcast 12.4A, 12.4B, 12.4C. Quarterback. Running Back. Wide Receiver. Tight End. Interior OL. Offensive Tackle. Defensive End. Defensive Tackle. Linebacker. Cornerback. Safety. Special Teams. 5Q5A: Offense.

1. What's the point of anything if OSU is just going to put up 60 on us?

Well… you see… I mean… you know?

Your author has to admit that every time he gets even slightly intrigued about football happening he quickly remembers that OSU has put Michigan in a blender the last two years, and there's no real reason to expect it will stop. I am still not over two years ago, when Michigan entered the OSU game with the #1 pass defense in the country, by both regular and fancy stats, and was systematically dismembered because their third cornerback was suddenly a giant liability.

The idea that might be a fluke went out the window last year. And now we're looking at a season where the corners are Vincent Gray, who might be okay, and the vague hope someone out of the hodge-podge of other guys breaks through. And then they need a nickelback.

I don't mean to be a downer, but what's the mechanism via which Michigan gets from gives up a zillion to anything else? To my eye the best argument you can muster is that hiring Bob Shoop gives Michigan a crafty zone expert who can anticipate and defeat OSU's approach. That feels extremely thin, because he's not the defensive coordinator.

The other way Michigan could turn around the last two years is to have a defense that's on par with OSU, talent-wise. This is not that year.

[After the JUMP: good news! we got the depressing stuff out of the way]

SPONSOR NOTE: Upon Further Review is sponsored by HomeSure Lending and Matt Demorest. Rates are the lowest they've been in three years so it can't hurt to check whether you can save money on a refinance. Or you could buy a house in Ann Arbor! Good luck with that!

Matt's relocated the bus to Pioneer this year, BTW, and invites everyone to stop by and say hi. There's beer. I mean, obviously. Matt. Matt and beer: a good pairing.

FORMATION NOTES: Michigan had a ton of two-high, which gets a thorough discussion, and put out their rush packages very, very aggressively. I have 21 plays with no DTs on the field.

A lot of the single high, clear man coverage snaps came late, when Michigan went nuts with the okie packages and whatnot… and then they dropped to zone a lot anyway.

SUBSTITUTION NOTES: Hutchinson/Kemp/Dwumfour/Paye as your four man line, which wasn't that common. Hutchinson and Paye were close to omnipresent until Paye went out; Danna took over all of his snaps and the DTs started getting some passing downs. Prior to that it was Jetpack on passing downs. Mason got some scattered snaps. Also I thought I saw Hinton out there live but not on review?

Hudson/McGrone/Glasgow omnipresent. Uche got about half the snaps, all of them in 3-3-5 or jetpack packages. Michigan did use him as a standup DE in some 4-man fronts from time to time.

Usual Hill/Gray/Thomas rotation at CB. Metellus and Hawkins omnipresent, with Dax Hill getting another couple dozen snaps as a nickelback.

[After THE JUMP: this went better than the other one]