hashtag speed in space

Label Notes: Reminder that I’m combining all scores (except QB) in the charting. p=pass pro, y=YAC, c=catch, b=block for RBs, and route=route. It might be more than one or an odd number, in which case the higher one goes first, so if you see something like “Wilson(+3croute) that means Wilson got a +2 for a difficult catch and +1 for running a good route. Capital letters in the formations refer to skill positions: R=RB or tailback, S=superback (2nd RB), Y=inline TE, F=off-line TE, X=split end (WR on weak side), Z=flanker (WR on strong side), H=Slot.

Formation Notes: Michigan spent much of its day in Gun Wk Z Tight, which is just Twins but a WR tight to the line instead of a tight end, then mostly ran to the backside of this. As you can see in the same clip, Ohio State broke out a Bear front that I called Hurricane in the charting. The number after is how many safeties they left high, e.g. Hurricane 1:

Substitution Notes: Trueblueintexas had the snap counts. Six McCarthy snaps. Line was Hayes-Keegan-Vastardis-Zinter-Stueber the whole way (no Filiaga). All got the most important snaps but was still a little lame and Schoonmaker closed it out with Honigford and two Selzer snaps.

[After THE JUMP: Anyone who tries to make you feel bad about reveling in this is a sad person who never has to be listened to ever again.]

SPONSOR NOTE: Not Upon Further Review is sponsored by HomeSure Lending and Matt Demorest because it falls under Neck Sharpies which is what he sponsors now. He's also open now, and one of the things you can do from your home while supporting this good dude and his local employees is to check whether you can save money on a refinance.

WHY? I was charting up this game because I needed to extend UFR data to the end of the season for my HTTV article on the course of #SpeedInSpace over the 2019 season. Since I had it I figured I'd post it. 

FORMATION NOTES: For most of this I only took personnel notes for OSU because I was just trying to complete data. Their standard personnel is like ours except they replace the strong safety with a slot cornerback. I called that a "Nickel." Sometimes the slot cornerback is replaced with a second hybrid (they call it the bullet). I called that a "4-2-5." Their passing down dime is four DEs and an ILB lifted for a second safety. I called that "Rushmen". I called this Nickel Eagle:

[After THE JUMP: I use swear words and so can you!]

I promised you I'd get back to the #SpeedInSpace stuff Gattis was running in the Citrus Bowl and here we are. You may want to first go back and (re-)read Neck Sharpies: Can't Turn You Loose because it explains the rules and structure of Alabama's defense. That article then showed how Gattis messed with the Tides' coverage. Now we'll get into how he messed with their run fits.

Those run fits are comparatively simple. Saban's run defense is predicated on the fact that he has better athletes than every team he faces, especially at the three defensive line positions. The goal is to always stay balanced, so that the offense can't get numbers, and to bring five-man pressures to make sure any one-on-one victory in the front seven is rewarded.

It's not so different from Don Brown's philosophy in 2016-'17: bring pressure, set the edge, and push everything back to your meat-grinder inside, with hybrid players on the edges so you can quickly flip jobs when the offense moves personnel across the formation, ensuring your numbers are always even. Intuitively, "Rip" pushes those numbers to the (defense's) right side and "Liz" to the (defense's) left. Got it? Great. Let's fuck it up.

[After THE JUMP: Sure you're prepared for one guy to flip, but we have more than one guy]