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Matt Demorest, Realtor and Lender and I have brought back our (sometimes-)weekly video short. The purpose of these is to show you something on film that you as a fan will be able to pick up on when you see it in the future. This week's topic is the double-slants RPO from Locksley's and Gattis' time at Bama that Maryland that they used in lieu of running under Michigan's two-high scheme.

If you're in the housing market, Matt's the guy.

There is nothing after the jump because it's video content.

This article stole the sponsor:  Starting this season, Neck Sharpies is sponsored by HomeSure Lending and Matt Demorest. Mortgage rates are LOW right now, so if you've been waiting to see if football is actually played as a sign that a refinance can save you a bunch of money, now's a good time to strike. It usually takes Matt and his people about 5 minutes to know if a refi makes sense, and if it doesn't they'll tell you. You know the guy, and you know from a bunch of other readers that he does a better job and charges less than the mills that mistreat Beileins.

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If you saw any highlights of Minnesota last year it was probably a long bomb to Rashod Bateman, or a 14-yard slant to Tyler Johnson. You probably kenned along the way that Tanner Morgan is one of the most efficient passers in the conference, with 10 YPC and a fantastic TD/INT ratio. It might surprise you to learn, then, that Minnesota last year was one of the most run-heavy teams with the most simplistic passing games in the country.

Mathlete and I recreated a lot of advanced stats over the offseason and Minnesota came out 13th in run rate and 14th in standard down run rate. They were also 48th in OL yards, 44th in run efficiency, and way down at 112th in run explosiveness, opposite a passing game that was 10th in efficiency and 5th in explosiveness. Of note they were also 98th in sack rate.

Usually that's the profile of a MANBALL team--an Iowa or Carr-era Michigan that runs until they see 8-man boxes and only then unleash their NFL arms and receivers. In PJ Fleck's case, however, it's not him choosing to run the ball but his opponents.

Minnesota's RPO offense is all about stretching linebackers' priorities and daring them to cheat towards one or the other. They have a big offensive line that doesn't pass protect very well, so the entire (effective) passing game is about throwing to covered receivers with just a little bit of leverage. That kind of passing offense works so long as the guy is truly in man and doesn't have help inside.

To take care of the help, they run RPOs. Lots of them. So much of them that you can almost force them into running the ball all game. Then they're running the ball so much you start cheating towards it and OPE, you let Bateman or Autman-Bell loose.

[After THE JUMP: How Minnesota throws it to the same three spots on the field and gets away with it]

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: Not a whole lot to note on Michigan's end. Michigan is going legitimately four-wide a lot more often. This is still mostly passing downs but previously there was a tight end on the field all the time; now you have some snaps with 4 WRs.

As for Indiana, you'll have to forgive this week "D form" column, as IU did a ton of late shifting and incessantly blitzed off the corner after lining up in slightly odd ways.

Hint: slot is blitzing, because it is a down. I threw up my hands a bit as the Hoosiers explored new ways to not quite stop Michigan's offense.

SUBSTITUTION NOTES: Patterson the whole way, usual Haskins/Charbonnet split at RB with Wilson coming in from time to time, mostly late. OL the usual, with Hayes getting the last drive and some bonus OL snaps.

McKeon got ~every snap that wasn't four-wide; Eubanks got in for a bit fewer than half the snaps.  Usual Collins/Bell/Black/DPJ rotation at WR with Sainristil poking through as #5; Jackson and Johnson both got a handful of snaps. Ditto Mason.

[After THE JUMP: bombs away]