Upon Further Review 2021: Defense vs WMU
Substitution Notes: Forgot to do this for the offense. Smith, Jeter, Hinton, and Jenkins rotated at the 2-3 inside positions, with Mazi the nose when they had a 3rd guy and Julius Welschof coming in for passing downs. I didn’t see Jess Speight but Braiden McGregor got some run. Hutchinson was in and out with the other OLBs—Ojabo, Upshaw, Morris, and some Jaylen Harrell. Linebacker was Ross and NHG until backup hour, when Junior Colson and Kalel Mullings came in ahead of Michael Barrett. Dax played the hybrid nickel role or strong safety when they went 3-4, with Moten coming in as the extra safety with Hawkins. Cornerback was Green and Gray mostly, with rotations from Turner.
Formation Notes:
I used tech numbering for the fronts starting from the first strongside player with his hand down. So a standard odd front would be “404” for a nose guard (zero) flanked by 4-techs on the inside shoulder of their tackles:
…and a standard over front would be “32” for a 3-tech and a 2-tech. I didn’t bother with “3i” etc. (e.g. below) because that’s getting into the weeds and too hard to see.
Hi. I’ve shortened “Cover Look” and “x-high” to “Hi” and a number of DBs who are sitting at least 9 yards off the LOS to save space.
Expected Points Added. I’ve added a new column that shows the value of the play (to the offense). We’ll see if there’s value to glean from it later. Expected points are based on the points an average offense will score from that down/distance/field position on that drive. For example a two-point conversion attempt averages +1.1 EP. So if Jabrill Peppers intercepts an option pitch on an MSU 2PA and takes it back to the other end for 2 points, we calculate the result of –2 points for the offense minus the 1.1 EP they were expected to get, to call that a -3.3 EP swing for the offense.
[After THE JUMP: Good kids and bad vets]
Ln | Dn | Dst | OForm | DPack | Front | Hi | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yds | EPA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
O25 | 1st | 10 | Gun 5w | 4-2-5 | 32 | 2 | Pass | 4 | Stop | Green | Inc | -0.70 |
Ojabo(+.5) gets push, Green(-2, Cov-2) forgets he's in Cov2 and brackets the slot fade instead of coming down on the stop route in the flat. Pass is INx and dropped. | ||||||||||||
O25 | 2nd | 10 | Pistol 4w | 4-2-5 | 32 | 2 | Pass | 4 | Slot Flat | Gray | 0(Pen+15) | 2.02 |
Gray(+2, tackling+2, Cov+2) attacks like he likes this. Ojabo(-2) taunts to turn 3rd and long into a 1st down. | ||||||||||||
O40 | 1st | 10 | Pistol 3w | 4-2-5 | 31 | 2 | Pass | 4 | Quick out | Hill | Inc | -1.12 |
Hill(-1, cov-1) doesn't get wide enough, pass out too quick for any PR, INx. | ||||||||||||
O40 | 2nd | 10 | Pistol 3w | 4-2-5 | 31 | 2 | Pass | 4 | Out | Green | 6 | 0.29 |
Hutch(+1, pressure+1), around at 7 but ball is out to the hole in Cov3 under Green(-1, Cov-1) who has nobody deep to his side. | ||||||||||||
O46 | 3rd | 4 | Gun 4w | 5-2-4 | 404 | 1 | Pass | 5.5 | Fly | Green | 29 | 2.89 |
Blitz picked up (pressure-2) and Eleby has time to throw at Green(+1, cov+1) in Cov1. He's in phase, gets a good swipe, and has freshman Jourdan Lewis luck. Happens. | ||||||||||||
M25 | 1st | 10 | Pistol 3w | 4-2-5 | 32 | 2 | Run | 5 | Split Zone | NHG | 1 | -0.35 |
Slant against the crosser is usually good for SZ but Hutch(+2) comes inside that guy who's literally trying to tackle him for the duration (refs-2) and Dax is out there to replace (RPS+1). As Hutch waddles over wearing a leg toddler there's some space backside because Smith(-.5) and Ojabo(-.5) got too upfield. NHG(+1, tackling+1) replaces and closes it down. | ||||||||||||
M24 | 2nd | 9 | Pistol 3w | 4-2-5 | 32 | 2 | Pass | 4 | Out | Moten | 6 | 0.16 |
Harsh minusing this because an Out vs Cov 3 is RPS-1. Moten(-1, cov-1) can't get over because he has to buzz the vertical threat first. Dax is blitzing and nearly bats it as the LT falls on his ass from looking at this. | ||||||||||||
M18 | 3rd | 3 | Gun 3w | 4-2-5 | 23 | 1 | Pass | 4 | Bootleg | Ojabo | 13 | 1.00 |
Ojabo(-1) fails to chip the TE, NHG(-2, cov-1) has that guy in m2m and gets waaaay sucked in by the PA so this guy can make it almost to the endzone. | ||||||||||||
M5 | 1st | Goal | Pistol 3w | 4-2-5 | 32 | 1 | Run | 4 | Arc | NHG | 3 | -0.18 |
Moten(+1) covers ground to induce a give where Jenkins(+1) has fought through a double and Jeter(+1) has shoved his G back. That should end it but Jeter grabs RB instead of Eleby, who can now escape to where Ojabo(-1) was set up but is starting to lose ground. Could string it to the sideline still but T gets a huge yankback on Ojabo (refs-2 or worse) and Eleby gets to the 1. Also Ross(-1) got blocked into Hawkins on the backside. NHG(+1, tackling+1) saves the TD. | ||||||||||||
M2 | 2nd | Goal | Pistol 3w | 4-2-5 | 32 | 0 | Run | 6 | Arc | Hawkins | 2 | 2.07 |
Jenkins+2 fights through a double and could end this if Hawkins(-2) hadn't hopped out of his hole at the long mesh. Not a LB I guess. Jefferson forgets which team he's on and does the world's least earned Paul Bunyan pose. | ||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Touchdown. 7-7. 6 min 1st Q. That was way more explicable than I thought it would be. | ||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Dst | OForm | DPack | Front | Hi | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yds | EPA |
O10 | 1st | 10 | Pistol 3w | 4-2-5 | 32 | 2 | Run | 4.5 | IZ/Bubble RPO | Hinton | 2 | -0.17 |
Harrell in now. NHG(+2) blasts the C to remove half of a double that moved Hinton(-1), making a mess at LOS and freeing Hinton. Jeter(+.5) got push, and Ross(+1, tackling+1) disconnected from RT to stick this. | ||||||||||||
O12 | 2nd | 8 | Gun 2RB 3w | 4-2-5 | 32 | 2 | Pass | 4 | Flood Mid | Ross | 13 | 0.88 |
Ross(-1) and Hawkins(-1, cov-2) are spotting instead of passing off so this is wide open. Moten is going to cross Ross on his way to playing the trail, which means Ross needs to carry the flag of this Flood concept. Again: zone beater. Pressure-2, WMU has all day to do this. | ||||||||||||
O25 | 1st | 10 | Gun 2RB 3w | 4-2-5 | 32 | 2 | Run | 5 | ZR | Hawkins | 3 | -0.30 |
Smith(-1) moved by double and Hill-Green's attack is stoned but then Hawkins(+2, tackling+2) flies down and sticks. | ||||||||||||
O28 | 2nd | 7 | Pistol 3w | 4-2-5 | 23 | 2 | Run | 4 | Split Zone | NHG | 8 | 1.23 |
NHG(-2, tackling-2) gets outside to stuff this then whiffs the tackle. Hawkins(-.5) gives up a few more yards. | ||||||||||||
O36 | 1st | 10 | Gun 3w | 4-2-5 | 32 | 2 | Pass | 4 | Mesh | Smith | Inc | -1.04 |
Smith(+1, pressure+1) push-pulls through blocker to force a chuck at his guy's feet. He's open under 4 defenders who all seem a little confused. Seems like it's Hawkins(-1, cov-1) unless Green went with the wrong guy? | ||||||||||||
O36 | 2nd | 10 | Gun 2RB | 4-2-5 | 404 | 1 | Pass | 5 | Seams | Green | Inc | -0.63 |
Morris is in and when they go to 3-4 he slides inside and Ross becomes the OLB. Hutch(+2, pressure+2) two-steps and past the RT, Morris(+.5) is through a beat later and about to hit. Green(+2, cov+2) in cov1 is in perfect position to rake this out if it's accurate. It sails and Hawkins, who's about to lay this guy out, can't redirect and bring in the INT. | ||||||||||||
O36 | 3rd | 10 | Gun 3w | 4-1-6 | 53 | 1 | Pass | 4 | Slot Seam | Ross | 22 | 3.52 |
Hutch(+2, pressure+2) is through the LT immediately and about to thundersack, if the first read isn't open. It is because Ross(-3, cov-3) let himself get crossed by the slot receiver without a chip and NHG(-1) was sticking close to the leaking RB instead of getting depth. Ojabo was coming through on a thunder sack. | ||||||||||||
M42 | 1st | 10 | Pistol 2RB | 4-2-5 | 32 | 2 | Pass | 4 | Bubble | Hill | 0 | -0.91 |
They test Hill(+3, tackling+2) on the edge. He Peppers the WR trying to block him and makes the tackle himself. | ||||||||||||
M42 | 2nd | 10 | Gun 4w | 4-2-5 | 23 | 2 | Pass | 5 | Slot Seam | Moten | 3 | -0.38 |
NHG(+1, pressure+1) times his blitz well but RG, um, does whatever this is. Smith(+.5) is doing his push pull move. Eleby has nowhere to throw (cov+2) into Cov3 and has to run. Moten(+1,tackling+1) makes sure he doesn't get far. ESPN's yellow Score Alert pops up as a flag tease. | ||||||||||||
M39 | 3rd | 7 | Gun 3w | 4-1-6 | 53 | 1 | Pass | 6 | Deep curl | Gray | Inc | -1.05 |
Ross(+2) through immediately, Welschof(+1) shoving a G, ball has to go. It's well over a WR that Gray(+1, cov+1) seems to have well in hand. | ||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Punt. 10-7. 14 min 4th Q. This drive felt considerably worse than I remember. | ||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Dst | OForm | DPack | Front | Hi | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yds | EPA |
O46 | 1st | 10 | Pistol 3w | 5-2-4 | 404 | 2 | Run | 5 | Split Zone | Morris | 4 | -0.16 |
Morris(+1) as extra DT w Aidan and Ojabo and beats his T, who gives him a good yank to prevent a stuff (refs-1). Should be a stuff but Jeter(-2) has his back turned. Trouble. Ross(+.5) gambles by shooting past a blocker to get to Jefferson's legs but not before he falls forward (tackling-1). Moten(+.5) came down, removed a WR, and was there if Ross couldn't get there. | ||||||||||||
50 | 2nd | 6 | Gun 3w | 5-2-4 | 513 | 2 | Pass | 4 | Mesh | Ojabo | 4 | -0.16 |
This is where having a DE instead of a Viper hurts. Jeter(+1, pressure+1) shoves his G back. Morris(-1) can't get anywhere vs a double though so Eleby escapes. Flat defender is Ojabo(-1) who runs this out after a gain of 4. That's probably 2 if the "OLB" is a LB, zero if he's a safety. | ||||||||||||
M46 | 3rd | 2 | Pistol 2TE Tight | 4-2-5 | 404 | 1 | Run | 6 | Fake End-Around Split Zone | Hutchinson | -3 | -1.73 |
Hutch(+2) dodges his guy and sets up in the backfield. Frontside has been wrecked by Morris(+2) splitting a double. Hinton(+1) ruined a guard. Ojabo(+.5) plunked the kickout guy for good measure. Everyone meets at the ballcarrier. Nobody checked the end around and CBs were in m2m so good thing WMU handed off. | ||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Punt. 10-7. 12 min 4th Q. Hutchinson is breaking these guys so easily it worries me that the others aren't doing so. | ||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Dst | OForm | DPack | Front | Hi | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yds | EPA |
O25 | 1st | 10 | Pistol 2RB 3w | 4-2-5 | 32 | 1 | Run | 5 | Duo | Ross | 6 | 0.33 |
Don't like how down I am about Ross(-2) here but he gets got by Jefferson on Duo, stepping backside to do Moten's job as Smith(+1) holds up to a play-long double and NHG fires at the one Jeter's dealing with. Ross does get back to make a shoestring tackle(tackling+1 I guess). | ||||||||||||
O31 | 2nd | 4 | Gun 2RB 3w | 4-3-4 | 404 | 2 | Pass | 5 | Flood Flat | Hill | 0 | -0.87 |
You tried to edge Dax Hill(+2, tackling+2) how did that work out for you Part II. Colson on for NHG, M drops both "OLBs" (a DE and Dax) and brings both ILBs, Colson delayed. The first is picked up but not the second (RPS+1, pressure+1). Dax gets right where he needs to be to take away the seam then fires on the out to the flat for a stuff. | ||||||||||||
O31 | 3rd | 4 | Gun 3w | 4-2-5 | 31 | 1 | Pass | 4 | Mesh | Hill | Inc | -0.44 |
Mesh owned. Harrell(+1, cov+1) goes with the RB and Upshaw drops into the middle of the mesh as M brings ILBs again. Ross(+1) gets in and loses his skates but it's enough to flush. Crosser hangs up to try to create a pick but now Colson(+1) and Smith(+.5) have beat their blocks, and Junior covers ground fast. Probably should be intentional grounding since WR wasn't to the numbers yet. Eleby faints and sits on the ground as if we don't have a photo of this very ref blowing his nose at a Terp who tried this. | ||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Punt. 17-7. 8 min. 2nd Q. Finally some interesting coverages. | ||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Dst | OForm | DPack | Front | Hi | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yds | EPA |
O25 | 1st | 10 | Pistol 3w | 5-1-5 | 404 | 2 | Run | 5 | ZR | Hutchinson | 5 | 0.09 |
Try to read Hutch(+1) who shuffles and isn't tested. Goes FS where there's a wad of bodies, a LT giving Upshaw a play-long facemask, and Jeter(-2) getting slow-motion ejected, which creates just enough space for the pile to lurch forward for a solid gain (tackling-1), with Ojabo(-.5) also in there not really sure what to do instead of adding himself to the wad. | ||||||||||||
O30 | 2nd | 5 | Pistol 3w | 5-1-5 | 404 | 1 | Run | 6 | Split Zone | Jeter | 3 | -0.31 |
McGregor(-1) in as a DT(!), is not one. Jeter(+1) has his G in the backfield and can make the tackle himself but shouldn't have to: Hawkins(-1) thought the QB kept it and was out the backside instead of helping. Not a linebacker. | ||||||||||||
O33 | 3rd | 2 | Pistol 2TE Tight | 5-1-5 | 404 | 2 | PA | 5 | Bootleg | Ojabo | 3 | 1.15 |
Ross(-1) is keying the RB and misses the QB's keep until he's already edged. Ojabo has the TE so it's all Ross. | ||||||||||||
O36 | 1st | 10 | Gun 3w | 4-2-5 | 32 | 2 | Pass | 4 | Fade | Gray | Inc | -1.04 |
They double Aidan and take a shot at Gray(+2, cov+2) who's in phase and gets a chop at the WR as he's trying to catch it. Gray haters: WR was already dropping it. Haters are wrong. | ||||||||||||
O36 | 2nd | 10 | Gun 5w | 4-2-5 | 32 | 2 | Pass | 4 | Skinny Post | Moten | Inc | -0.63 |
They forget to block Hutch(+2) who gets upfield quickly to interrupt the throw. Good thing bc Ojabo(-2, cov-2) is backing out to replace Ross who blitzed. | ||||||||||||
O36 | 3rd | 10 | Gun 3w | 4-2-5 | 23 | 1 | Pass | 7 | Fade | Gray | Inc | -0.32 |
7-man blitz. Ojabo through but LT grabs his facemask and jerks him back. Ross(+1) got in skinny and is going to thunk Eleby on the throw, which is a desperation heave deserving of an interception. We look downfield and yes there's a brief moment Gray(+1, cov+1) got the facemask (live it's half a second). He's in a better spot to catch than WR but can't do it. Refs pick up the flag: no facemask. Actually there were two. | ||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Punt. 24-7. 4 min 2nd Q. Next drive starts with 6 seconds. | ||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Dst | OForm | DPack | Front | Hi | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yds | EPA |
O25 | 1st | 10 | Pistol 3w | 4-2-5 | 32 | 2 | Run | 4 | Fold | Hutchinson | 1 | 0.00 |
Can't not chart this. Hutch(+2, tackling+1) swims inside LT and ends this at the LOS all alone. | ||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Dst | OForm | DPack | Front | Hi | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yds | EPA |
O25 | 1st | 10 | Gun 3w | 4-2-5 | 32 | 2 | Run | 4 | Split Zone | Hinton | 5 | 0.09 |
Hutch(+1) squeezes the crosser. Smith(+1) got in there. But Hinton(-2) and Ross(-1) shoved back and pile lurches for 5. Lot of this. | ||||||||||||
O30 | 2nd | 5 | Gun 3w | 4-2-5 | 32 | 2 | Run | 4 | Counter Trey | Ross | 2 | -0.48 |
Great play by Ross(+2) finally. Hutch(+1) beat back the edge but Ross thunked a LB and came off to tackle. | ||||||||||||
O32 | 3rd | 3 | Gun 3w | 4-2-5 | 32 | 2 | Pass | 4 | Flood Mid | Hill | 12 | 2.10 |
Hutch backs out as NHG blitzes. Called rollout and this throw is a foot off the ground and six inches from the sideline when caught. Hill(-1, cov-1) was step behind. Live I thought they were reviewing it but it was an injured WMU OL. It was good FTR. | ||||||||||||
O44 | 1st | 10 | Pistol 3w | 4-2-5 | 513 | 2 | Run | 5 | RPO Dive | Ojabo | 6 | 0.39 |
Ojabo(-1) or Ross(-1) doesn't exchange—shades of 2019 OSU communication issues. They're slanting so it's probably Ross. Moten(+1) comes from far away to limit the damage. I like him. | ||||||||||||
50 | 2nd | 4 | Gun 3w | 5-1-5 | 404 | 2 | Run | 5 | Belly | Ross | 3 | -0.44 |
Broadcast misses this play so thank you All-22! Tempo. Ross(+2), RPS-1 has to read this and get out there because they're playing 1 LB and Hutch(-1) got caved. | ||||||||||||
M47 | 3rd | 1 | Gun 3w | 5-2-4 | 512 | 1 | Run | 5 | Duo | Ojabo | 2 | 0.95 |
Bear front here. Upshaw(+2) fires into the T and this could be over but Ojabo(-1) gave up the edge just enough. Moten(+1) gets there a hair too late but again, I like him. | ||||||||||||
M45 | 1st | 10 | Pistol tight | 4-2-5 | 22 | 2 | Pass | 4 | Scissors | Ojabo | Inc | -1.00 |
Hutch(+2) is being doubled but he swims right by the TE and is about to Hulk smash the RB into Eleby. Too late because Ojabo(+1, pressure+2) is around at 10 and it's throwaway time. | ||||||||||||
M45 | 2nd | 10 | Pistol 3w | 4-2-5 | 22 | 2 | Run | 4 | IZ/Slant RPO | Ross | 3(Pen-10) | -1.22 |
Smith(+1) stands up G at LOS to close lunge gaps, RB bounces into edge where Hutch(+1) has a TE controlled; that guy hugs as Hutch tries to jump outside and they flag him LOLOLOLOLOLL no I stopped counting these dumb refs a long time ago. Ross(+1) sifts through traffic and bursts outside to run this guy into Dax after 3 yards. | ||||||||||||
M45 | 2nd | 20 | Gun 3w | 4-2-5 | 23 | 2 | Pass | 4 | Tunnel screen | Hill | 0 | -0.80 |
You tried to edge Dax Hill(+2) how did that work out for you Part III. Ross(+1) read it too. | ||||||||||||
M45 | 3rd | 20 | Gun 3w | 4-2-5 | 55 | 2 | Pass | 4 | Fade | Gray | Inc | -0.48 |
Ojabo(+1, pressure-1) and Morris(+1) get through after a few beats. Gray(+1, cov+3) was there with it and everyone else had guys. NHG got away with some Def holding well short of the sticks. Glad they let that go. | ||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Punt. 27-7. 11 min 3rd Q. Don't know how many more drives I have in me but I'll stick around for the Hutch strip sack. | ||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Dst | OForm | DPack | Front | Hi | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yds | EPA |
O25 | 1st | 10 | Pistol 3w | 4-2-5 | 32 | 2 | Run | 4 | IZ/Fade RPO | Jeter | 4 | -0.11 |
Jeter(+1) stands up to a double so that's closed. But Ross(-1) hesitates and G comes off. Now there's room to squeeze out a few(tackling-1). Hinton(-.5) also gave up ground to play-long double | ||||||||||||
O29 | 2nd | 6 | Pistol Trips TE | 4-2-5 | 32 | 2 | Pass | 4 | PA Slant | Green | 12 | 1.53 |
Green(-1, cov-1) doesn't carry the slant far enough for Moten to take over. Both DTs rip when they see high hat so Jeter(+.5) and Hinton(+.5, pressure+1) if this is covered. | ||||||||||||
O41 | 1st | 10 | Pistol 3w | 4-2-5 | 32 | 2 | n/a | n/a | Yackety Snap | n/a | -2 | -1.52 |
C snaps it and nobody moves. Then M does because they're facing this and get to react first. No +s but nice to see the defense get the initiative once. | ||||||||||||
O39 | 2nd | 12 | Pistol 3w | 4-2-5 | 31 | 2 | Run | 4 | IZ | Ross | 22 | 3.04 |
RPS-1 as M blitzes Colson(+.5) who just can't quite bend in time (if the mesh goes any longer he would). Smith(-2) is a beat late wrenching the C to get back in his gap, and the RB goes by. Ross(-1) committed softly to one side of a G 5 yards downfield but fought back and ends this at a 5-7 yard gain if the G doesn't grab his shoulderpad and tackle him right in front of...I'm sorry you know. Anyway that's the other 15 yards. | ||||||||||||
M39 | 1st | 10 | Pistol 3w | 4-2-5 | 315 | 2 | Run | 4 | IZ/Bubble RPO | Morris | 18 | 0.51 |
Almost a nice play. Jenkins(-1) got turned in the backfield but Morris(+.5, tackling-1) two-gapped a G and nearly makes a monster play. This time Ross is there too...nope they yank him down by the collar and it's another gash. | ||||||||||||
M21 | 1st | 10 | Pistol 3w | 4-2-5 | 32 | 2 | Sack | 4 | IZ/Bubble RPO | Hutchinson | -7 | -1.21 |
LOL. Hutch(+3) walks around the RT, enjoys the quiet of the backfield for a moment, finds a quarterback still trying to decide if it's wise to test Dax Hill on the edge again*, then decides this QB doesn't deserve a ball anymore. RT violated "never turn around" rule and finds the ball. *[It is not.] | ||||||||||||
M28 | 2nd | 17 | Gun 3w | 4-2-5 | 23 | 2 | Pass | 4 | Mesh | Green | 5 | 0.04 |
Hinton(+2) does it to the LG now while they chip Hutch(+1, pressure+2) who also comes through after. Ball gets out to a guy Green(+1, cov+1) is all over and immediately tackles. | ||||||||||||
M23 | 3rd | 12 | Pistol Trips | 4-2-5 | 23 | 2 | Pass | 4.5 | Curl | Welschof | Inc | -0.88 |
Aidan is speed rushing and taking two blockers so Welschof(+2) gets to own a C, forcing a throw underneath that he bats. Ross(+1) and Hill(+1, cov+2) were all over that. | ||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Blocked FG(40). 33-7. 6 min 3rd Q. Backups in and as much as I'd like to I can't do Kalel Mullings vs Dead WMU. |
I was mad for a moment but I do not recall why that was.
Yes, WMU scored on their first drive, helped by Ojabo committing a not smart taunting penalty and Gemon Green getting Freshman Jourdan Lewis’d on a 30-yard throw he had covered as well as you could hope for. What made it feel bad was the second drive moved the ball as well before Michigan was able to string a few good plays together and induce a punt from the 39. In order of annoyance:
- Ten-play, 75-yard TD drive extended by Ojabo taunting/Green whiff.
- Ten-play, 51-yard drive to a short punt extended by Hawkins dropping an INT then Ross failing to chip.
- Well-scripted 40-yard meatball drive at the start of the 2nd half that petered out at midfield on a questionable hold.
- Nine-play, 52-yard Late Game O’Neill Crew drive to a missed FG.
- One six-and-out, two three-and-outs.
Those first two drives were slow going, but also felt very vanilla. Michigan was running easily identified coverages and getting picked apart by zone beaters. They rarely changed their personnel group—the “2-4-5” that’s really just the Don Brown 4-2-5 with Dax Hill at Viper—or shifted their fronts while flipping between coverages. Eleby was clearly rattled at the beginning—when you haven’t played in front a crowd since 2018 and your first one is a packed Big House that’s understandable—and that saved the first drive from being worse.
And then Macdonald flipped to Page 2 of the playbook and the defense looked like a defense.
There’s our three-four! Daxton Hill is hanging out in the slot like he’s the SAM and there’s no safety over the top of the slot receiver. WMU checks to a play meant to punish Hill on the edge for doing that, and Michigan’s all over it. Third down:
This looks like Don Brown at first blush—LB over the TE, two LBs hovering behind a 4-man line, 1-high—but it is not. The ILBs are blitzing, the OLBs are backing into coverage, with Jaylen Harrell—a guy recruited to play defensive end—taking the running back down the sideline and into his safety help. The crossing routes of this Mesh play get routed right into each other as neither receiver seems sure of the coverage or what Hutchinson is doing there with them. They try to turn that into a pick by then Josh Ross has flushed the QB and it’s time to chuck the ball where a WR might plausibly be (he isn’t) but a defender won’t. The weirdness is the point.
Daxton Hill: Space Spacebacker of Space!
That’s right, he’s the Viper now, at least on the base “2-4-5” that we’re just going to call a 4-2-5 because it’s accurate. In that Peppers is less of a linebacker—like Peppers and Khaleke Hudson were under Brown—and more like Peppers in 2015, a pure nickel who squeezes the slot to temp you into testing it.
Because that messes up everything you’re trying to do in the box—who wants an extra player in there when you’re trying to meatball?—offenses are built to recognize this behavior and attack it. Go right ahead sirs.
Also the Hutchinson strip sack occurred on a play that was designed to attack Dax’s aggressive alignment again, and after Eleby read that was the play he appears to hold off because Dax was coming in to pick six it if he tried.
Collectively the four plays where the offensive concept was “Let’s try to edge Dax Hill” were worth –3.78 expected points. It’s not the *worst* idea in the world, but it was up there with running a no-read zone read on the goal line with under 10 seconds left in the half in ways to burn points in a football game. Like with Peppers circa 2015, the way Michigan has Dax Hill responsible for a huge swath of the horizontal space along the line of scrimmage will continue to encourage offensive coordinators to try to punish it. Washington’s John Donovan tried it a lot when he was running PSU’s offense in 2015. Check back next week to see if he tries it with Giles Jackson, who’s going to be more dangerous than Skyy Moore and Not Skyy Moore.
The zone coverage was bad and then suddenly it was not?
Early on WMU caught Michigan in a Cover 3 versus an out route. This almost always goes badly for the Cover 3, which is the first defense you learn in JV football, and why quarterbacks with the arm to make those throws are swiftly moved up to varsity. This continues all the way up, and against defenses with MUCH greater talent than Michigan’s.
Michigan shelved the Cov3 stuff after the first drive because WMU was looking for those quick outs. The Cover 2 busts were more concerning because they routinely involved the returning starters. Watch how new starter RJ Moten is playing this versus how Josh Ross and Brad Hawkins react:
Moten is the bottom safety, Hawkins the top safety, Ross the top LB
That is some hesitancy from guys who’ve spent years in Cover 1. I’m more comfortable with Hawkins staying back until he’s sure versus Ross, who freezes. That wasn’t Ross’s biggest mistake in coverage. This is a thing he should have known from all the Cover 1, which still plays its LBs in zone underneath:
#12, LB who backs out first
If you let that guy cross you without a chip there’s nobody to stop him until the safeties. And Ross isn’t even concerned; he peeks at the QB, who’s in the middle of getting blown up by Hutchinson, instead of trying to do anything about the guy he just loosed. Even a momentary chip and this is a thundersack.
It’s very frustrating to have your senior LB do this, but his job got harder than anybody else’s. It’s also got to get cleaned up because this is the kind of stuff that any offense can attack, and given the next guy is Junior Colson, a pretty raw true freshman, getting Ross cleaned up seems the most viable option. Not just because he’s a senior captain, but because his senior captainy stuff helps him to be in two places at once when Michigan asks him to be both linebackers.
This is the 5-1-5, a thing I saw a bunch with the Ravens when I wrote my Macdonald piece this summer. Michigan only dipped their toes but you can feel the water. Good: five defensive linemen for five offensive linemen, a man and safety help for all three receivers. Bad: one linebacker to deal with three guys in the backfield. Sure enough the RPO throw isn’t there because there’s plenty of coverage, and the line is instantly gummed up with dudes. Ross’s job is to clean up any leaks, and you can see him trying to guess where that’s going to come before it’s identified and he gets out there. Linebacking in this system is hard. At the moment, Ross is the guy who can do it.
To a lesser degree this goes for Hawkins, but as I said his caution in zone at this point is preferable to peeking at the running game. It also makes him a better run defender since he’s always had that underrated ability to fly down and make a stick that fan brains don’t contemplate:
The transition costs that set these veterans back were necessary but can still be frustrating.
Speaking of frustrating, Green was supposed to be Brian’s boy.
You’re not talking about this.
Because that can happen to anybody. German Green remains a good to excellent man-to-man cornerback. This has no linebackers in coverage and is expecting the ball to go to one of these WRs in all the space. Both CBs play right on their respective WRs’ hips, and when the throw comes Green flips inside where he can break it up if accurate.
Unfortunately he still seems a little lost in zone.
On the other hand at no point did I want to give Vincent Gray a gentle talking to.
Um yeah. By the end of the offseason we were calling BS on the program talk that DJ Turner II was the savior because what can you say about Gray that anybody is going to believe? I did believe they would start Turner anyways because very few guys ever come back from a JT Floyd 2010-like campaign. I was still ready to not believe my eyes or my charting on this one until Sam was like “No that was the fastest guy in the MAC" whom Vincent Gray was running with step for step without interfering.
Combine that with the play above and several throwaways at Gray where he was in position to intercept if the ball was catchable and you’ve got the beginnings of a Floydian turnaround. Caveat MAC but Gray also seems to be more of a natural when facing the offense. His stick that Ojabo wiped out wasn’t just a blast; Gray stayed over the in-breaking route that’s supposed to clear him out during the play-action mesh, read the QB’s eyes flip to the flat, and then broke.
This game was the best possible that could be hoped for from Gray. Next step is to put two good days together.
PFF didn’t like Nikhai Hill-Green’s debut but you like him?
I do. NHG’s job wasn’t as difficult as Ross’s. Most of the time NHG was tasked with seeing how the double in front of him was going and then activating to ensure his impact was felt. His impact was felt. He was also Ross-esque as a blitzer.
He had one bad missed tackle on La’Darius Jefferson after flashing outside to maybe TFL, and he was the LB who got caught peeking at the play-action when WMU was able to bootleg down to the goal line on the first drive. Those were big negatives that resulted in an even +/- day. They’re also fixable things. We didn’t see much of Junior Colson—just enough to know he’s fast—so it’s reasonable to assume he’s nowhere near Hill-Green at the read-and-attack stuff. I can see why the coaches like Hill-Green though, because he is willing to stuff his nose in there.
Do you have a favorite non-Hutchinson defensive end outside linebacker?
The “linebacker” who frustrated me the most was David Ojabo. His athleticism didn’t translate to pass rushing like Hutchinson’s, and meanwhile his rawness was very evident on a number of bounces to the edge that should have been TFLs. He was also getting held like a motha on most of those plays so I’ll reserve judgement. His athleticism also isn’t quite good enough to play linebacker.
This goes back to Michigan playing with a fifth defensive lineman instead of a hybrid linebacker on the weakside. A hybrid safety like Ohio State or Alabama uses would run that play out of bounds for no gain. A regular OLB from the Wisconsin ranks would probably keep it to two. It gets four because for all of his athleticism Ojabo is a defensive end, and not a Rashan Gary freak who can move like a linebacker at defensive end-size. He has to get a better feel for what he can get away with and not give up the edge, which will come with time, probably not in time for Ohio State.
If I had to choose one of the DE types to pair with Hutchinson, it’s probably Mike Morris. Not only does he seem to have the pass-rushing ability of the other guys—e.g. Taylor Upshaw—but his DE/DT positional flexibility allows them to switch between their fronts without changing personnel. Just put his hand down as a DT and you can quickly go 5-2 from 4-3 even if the offense is trying to tempo on 3rd and short.
#90 the 2nd guy down on the DL
Speaking of Don Brown anchors,
Aidan Hutchinson’s All-American campaign is on. They only had him on the field for about two thirds of the game, but in that time he did damage. You saw a few of the plays above already. Here’s the strip sack:
And you can search his name in the play by play and find four more instances I felt I had to clip to belabor a point I don’t need to make. The WMU tackles were vastly overmatched, and when they started trying to chip Hutchinson or double team him, it created single-blocks that the other DL—especially Welschof—were able to turn into pressures.
You know another way to quantify his play without making your readers search on their phones?
Chart.
Defensive Line | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Player | + | - | T | Notes |
Smith | 5 | 3.5 | +1.5 | Has a push-pull move. Needs another. |
Hinton | 3.5 | 2.5 | +1 | Thought this would be better. |
Jeter | 5 | 4 | +1 | Good against single-blocking, bad vs doubles. |
Speight | 0 | DNP | ||
Jenkins | 1 | 1 | 0 | Encouraging. |
Welschof | 3 | +3 | Passing down DT, took advantage when Hutch got doubles. | |
Whittley | 0 | DNP | ||
Hutchinson | 23 | 1 | +22 | Did this on like 30 snaps. WMU just overmatched. |
Ojabo | 3 | 10 | -7 | See the athlete, expectations scaled way back. |
Upshaw | 2 | +2 | Good at DE things, but... | |
Morris | 5 | 1 | +4 | It's real. Anchor type can be 3-4 DT or 4-2-5 DE |
Harrell | 1 | +1 | OLB-ish. Took RB on Mesh. | |
McGregor | 1 | +1 | Got a snap as a DT :[|] | |
Newburg | 0 | DNP | ||
TOTAL | 52.5 | 23 | +29.5 | Hutchinson and Just Guys, hope this was a good MAC OL. |
Linebacker | ||||
Player | + | - | T | Notes |
Ross | 12.5 | 12 | +0.5 | Tough job isn't enough to excuse Mouton play. |
Hill-Green | 5 | 5 | 0 | Not afraid to stick his nose in. Some fixable offenses. |
Colson | 1.5 | 0 | +1.5 | Bush-like speed, not given the hard stuff. |
Mullings | 0 | DNC because I stopped when he came in. | ||
Barrett | 0 | DNC | ||
TOTAL | 19 | 17 | +2 | Linebacker is hard but Ross was disappointing. |
Secondary | ||||
Player | + | - | T | Notes |
Hill | 8 | 2 | +6 | Space backer of space. |
Hawkins | 2 | 5.5 | -3.5 | Rough day in zones. |
Moten | 4.5 | 1 | +3.5 | I like him. |
Paige | 0 | DNC | ||
Kolesar | 0 | DNC | ||
Moore | 0 | DNC | ||
Green | 4 | 4 | 0 | Good in man, still lost in zone. |
Gray | 7 | 0 | +7 | Holy cannoli. |
Turner | 0 | DNC | ||
Johnson | 0 | DNC | ||
Seldon | 0 | DNC | ||
McBurrows | 0 | DNC | ||
Green-Warren | 0 | DNC | ||
TOTAL | 25.5 | 12.5 | +13 | Worried about complex coverages. Not worried about edges. |
Metrics | ||||
Pressure | 14 | 5 | +9 | Ball out fast, Hutch or guys freed bc of Hutch were coming. |
Coverage | 18 | 16 | +2 | Zones/pattern matches were shaky, Gray/Hill were good. |
Tackling | 14 | 6 | +8 | One whiff, DBs did work, front 7 leaked a lot of lurches |
RPS | 2 | 3 | -1 | Kept it pretty vanilla except the one interesting drive. |
Not a lot of surprises there.
Who’s Mr. Worldwide this week?
As a reminder, our criteria here are versatility, the ability to make your teammates better, being cool against long odds, and enjoying time spent under highway overpasses. This is decided after the second UFR. Your top three this week:
- Ronnie Bell. THE CATCH, which might actually be what we needed to finally get rid of John O’Neill. The Catch and Run which I remind you was a 3rd and 3. He also blocked on the Corum TD and had a big return. All of Michigan Stadium is his highway overpass, and the love that he was getting from 113,001 people in it as they carted him out was heart-stopping as well as gut-wrenching.
- Mike Sainristil. Michigan’s best tight end. From Eastern Massachusetts, which is just one big highway overpass.
- Nikhai Hill-Green. Earned the start in his first game as a redshirt freshman over returning starter Michael Barrett, five-star Junior Colson, four-star classmate Kalel Mullings, and a legion of former starters and never starters who left the program because they could see “the other guy next to Osman Savage” was going to get all their playing time. Made Mazi Smith and Chris Hinton and Donovan Jeter look cool by shooting into their double teams when they were starting to give way. Seemed to enjoy ending up buried by said double-teaming linemen who were indiscernible from overpasses.
Easy 3-2-1 point system so our standings:
3: Ronnie Bell
2: Mike Sainristil
1: Nikhai Hill-Green
All complaints about these selections should be directed to local author John U. Bacon, in person in a few hours.
You seemed to be getting upset about something on the radio today.
I had to stop charting the refs for my own sanity. I have never seen a group of people so consistently incompetent who weren’t doing so on purpose. John O’Neill, his fat side judge, and the sleepy umpire don’t know the rules. They don’t watch the game. They make it hard to enjoy because their wretched ineptitude is inserted into more plays than not.
You can tell the players feel like chumps if they don’t take advantage. I watched several Eleby games this offseason and never saw him take a dive before. It didn’t work for him but it did for his punter. Hutchinson fell down and they gave him a flag. Once again in an O’Neil game a team losing by a lot got escorted to the red zone chunk plays off of ridiculous non-calls. They blew the Bell catch. Nobody could possibly be enjoying this. Please get anyone else.
Heroes?
Aidan Hutchinson, Daxton Hill, and Vincent Gray. Just three totally alike dudes.
Maybe not so heroic?
Ross, Ojabo, Hawkins, Green not in man coverage.
What does it mean for Washington and the future?
Baltimore Rome wasn’t built in a day. The guesses about Macdonald’s defense were pretty spot-on, including the one about how Clinkscale’s coverages are going to take some time, and linebacker is a very hard job.
Aidan Hutchinson is a cheat code against WMU OTs. This could mean Hutchinson is every bit the Bosa as the Bosas, or that the WMU Ts are awful, in which case you are worried about the non-Hutchinson DEs when they face better competition, but still not worried about Hutchinson.
The DTs can survive a good MAC interior OL. There were no walk-ons. A day of taking on double-teams was mostly quiet, which again might spell trouble down the road. We’re going to have to adjust our points expectations for them now that they’re not being asked to be playmakers as much. Mazi Smith’s push-pull move is nice but needs to be paired with something or come out faster. Encouraging signs from Kris Jenkins, who wasn’t supposed to be a contributor until next year.
Cornerback not gonna die? Green has to clean up his zones but Gray’s performance was encouraging. WMU clearly wanted to Ricky White him and it didn’t happen. String two good games together then we can talk about breathing when a ball is in the air.
Nikhai Hill-Green and RJ Moten may start for four years. Strong debuts for both guys, who passed last year’s starting viper and third safety to earn starts in Year 2, which is Year 1 because of the COVID year.
David Ojabo not quite baked. Pulling him out of the oven for most of last year showed as much as the athleticism. He was the hidden (and not so hidden) reason for a lot of good defensive plays turning bad. Might be better suited to an Uche role this year while he gets a better feel for edge things offscreen.
Hill is your spacebacker. Much better use of his abilities than uncoached Cover 2 safety #analysis.
September 9th, 2021 at 4:37 PM ^
Hutchinson a beast. Super encouraged about Gray. Thank you so much for putting in this effort!
September 9th, 2021 at 4:41 PM ^
Don't thank him! Be ungrateful and nitpick mercilessly. This is the internet, sir.
(jk. Thanks, Seth!)
September 9th, 2021 at 5:01 PM ^
Didn't even highlight my favorite quote, "I had to stop charting the refs for my own sanity. I have never seen a group of people so consistently incompetent who weren’t doing so on purpose. John O’Neill, his fat side judge, and the sleepy umpire don’t know the rules. They don’t watch the game. They make it hard to enjoy because their wretched ineptitude is inserted into more plays than not."
There are some things that you just can't defend against.
September 9th, 2021 at 4:40 PM ^
we calculate the result of –2 points for the offense minus the 1.1 EP they were expected to get, to call that a -3.3 EP swing for the offense.
The new math really is everywhere.
September 9th, 2021 at 4:46 PM ^
It really has been quite a luxury that going back probably to Brandon Graham, we’ve always seemed to have at least one all-conference to all-american guy on the line. When you look at whos made it to the NFL lately off the line, its an impressive list
September 9th, 2021 at 4:48 PM ^
I liked Welschof a lot too. Granted he's going against OL in pass sets, but he seemed to dictate the LOS much more than the other DTs who mostly just caught blocks. Is he just not big enough for rushing downs?
September 9th, 2021 at 5:01 PM ^
I recall last year he did get moved around a bit on the interior. He was also sent on slants and stunts at the worst possible times which resulted in him being carried out of the frame or running away from the play.
September 9th, 2021 at 6:11 PM ^
His build doesn’t lend itself as well to run defense. He’s built long like a defensive end so getting leverage in the A-B gaps is more difficult because it’s harder for someone w/ that frame to secure and maintain leverage. He is explosive and can use his athleticism more in pass rushing situations especially compared to to our current interior guys.
He can definitely get there and I’m guessing him and Morris can be legit contributors to the tackle spot by the end of the season. He’ll be good to watch progression wise.
September 9th, 2021 at 7:11 PM ^
He reminds me of Chris Wormley where they're not prototypical tackles but their explosiveness makes up for it by rocking the OL back with initial contact.
September 9th, 2021 at 4:49 PM ^
Maybe not so heroic?
Hill. The defensive ends are now just guys.
I don't get the "Hill" here, is this supposed to be Hawkins or Ross?
September 9th, 2021 at 5:02 PM ^
I think he meant Hawkins.
September 9th, 2021 at 4:53 PM ^
I think you are confusing Gemon and German.
September 9th, 2021 at 5:06 PM ^
Came here to say this. Gemon is the starting CB. Brother German did not see the field, as far as I could tell.
September 9th, 2021 at 4:57 PM ^
Nice job Seth. Not sure if it was intentional, but the brevity for the write-up on each play is a welcome change after the last couple of years of these.
Two requests after reading both the offense and defense.
No more nicknames/shortening, aside from Hutch? Maybe it's just me getting old, but it's really hard to keep them all straight.
And any chance you can do the thing Brian did to highlight which player he's referencing on a GIF? Especially with gfycat randomly deciding to show me a different, unrelated, GIF after it repeats once, it's sometimes hard to figure out where who you're talking about is lined up.
September 9th, 2021 at 7:22 PM ^
FYI - I used to have the same issue with Gfycat until I noticed the "Autoplay related gifs" toggle under the play/stop controls. Select to 'off' and only the play will repeat, with no Wayne's World gifs following.
September 9th, 2021 at 11:47 PM ^
Agree on the highlighting of the player. Was thinking that the other day when reading the offensive UFR.
September 9th, 2021 at 5:03 PM ^
I know the G. Green play is chalked to "offense making plays" but I am not so quick to write it off. This was a MAC QB to a MAC WR - Jourdan Lewis' Poor Damn Jourdan Lewis was against PSU.
I worry that a close catch against WMU translates to a yard of space against OSU's WR corps.
September 9th, 2021 at 5:23 PM ^
You may end up being right. Passes get completed in small windows in the NFL against multi million dollar cornerbacks every game - sometimes you get got even when doing almost everything right. Green was in good position, the throw was just in the right spot (high).
September 9th, 2021 at 9:38 PM ^
I think we need to accept that OSU's WRs are going to toast basically anyone they see - the group put up 385 yards and 6 TDs against Clemson (and yes, I know the TEs very heavily involved). But WMU's QB is the most accurate returning passer coming into the year and that pass was just on the mark. That's going to happen, but if Green only gives up super-accurate completions to well-covered guys once a game I'll take it.
September 10th, 2021 at 8:52 AM ^
This is a MAC QB, but a really good MAC QB. It doesn't matter if he's throwing it to me, there is no way for a DB to take away every single angle from a receiver. If the QB drops a dime, you're gonna get completions.
September 9th, 2021 at 5:19 PM ^
deleted - I apparently have poor reading comprehension
September 9th, 2021 at 5:29 PM ^
I haven’t had a chance to review in detail but IIRC a low RPS total means most plays were RPS push?
Vanilla or no, that seems highly unusual. I would more expect a lot of RPS tallies that even out.
September 9th, 2021 at 5:37 PM ^
Whittley and Speight played together at the end of the third.
September 9th, 2021 at 5:38 PM ^
I know our defensive tackles put on weight this year, but they still look small compared to top players like Jordan Davis at Georgia. We need a Branch sized player that can move.
September 9th, 2021 at 7:12 PM ^
Cave trolls look small next to Jordan Davis. Dude is unreal.
September 9th, 2021 at 7:12 PM ^
IIRC, Mazi said in one of his media interviews (the ones with the cicadas) that he's at 318lbs right now. Not small, but I'm pretty sure Michigan wants their 0-tech to be closer to 330lbs.
Hopefully the 5-2 helps him when M plays beef squad formations (looking at you Washington and Wisconsin), but if he's a little lighter he's probably a little better in a 3 or 4-tech.
If they run a 2-4-5 base most of the time, I can understand why he's not at 330+.
September 9th, 2021 at 5:50 PM ^
Thanks, Seth. Interesting stuff, and fun.
September 9th, 2021 at 6:29 PM ^
Kudos to you Seth and belated kudos to Alex too. You fine folks are doing a terrific job of adding to the foundation that Brian built.
September 9th, 2021 at 6:38 PM ^
Aidan is taking his game to another level. He's going to take over a few games this year. You can feel it coming. It will be glorious.
September 9th, 2021 at 6:43 PM ^
Great read!
September 9th, 2021 at 6:57 PM ^
I always thought of "out of phase" CB was Channing Stribling (not frosh J.Lewis). Either way, PDGG.
September 9th, 2021 at 7:21 PM ^
They both were often victims of it but Jourdan Lewis had it happen so often this site created the Jourdan Lewis angered a gypsy meme.
September 9th, 2021 at 7:15 PM ^
I’m still encouraged that most issues seem to be mental errors in adjusting to a new scheme and not limitations with athleticism (For the most part) or obvious structural flaws.
September 9th, 2021 at 8:17 PM ^
I agree. I didn't see Seth mention it, but in the "every defensive snap" video (a board topic earlier this week) I saw at least 2 plays where Hill-Green was looking away from the Center and LOS at the snap. I assume that he was looking for direction from others and/or confirming his spacing relative to the DBs.
September 9th, 2021 at 7:36 PM ^
Random thoughts:
-Ross needs more zone reps handful of plus plays emu had would’ve been nil if he didn’t hesitate.
-what does ojabo do (at this point in time) that Morris doesn’t do better? He seemed like a lone weak point to my eyes.
-IN GAME ADJUSTMENTS!!!
-scheming to Vincent Greys strengths. Yay.
-Moten=Kinel = Motinel?
- interior DL played well IMO and in line with What is asked of Ravens odd front.
-Hill-Green is fine by me.
-Hutch and Hill are ALL Americans. I though hills use last year made him disappear, coaches are giving him a bunch of responsibility and so far he is eating it up.
-thought to myself “ imagine hutch AND Kwity playing DeOlb in this scheme with McGrone in for Hill-Green.
- see above…would’ve beat sTATE.
September 9th, 2021 at 7:50 PM ^
The way Dax gets under, around, and through blocks on the edge is eerily Peppers-esque.
September 10th, 2021 at 7:34 AM ^
The dude fought through blocks unlike anything I’ve seen in a while. He had the best game defensively to me hands down.
September 9th, 2021 at 7:54 PM ^
Will Ross go down as the most consistently overhyped player ever? Jeter is one thing, where we have been skeptical for years now. But every offseason this blog tells me Ross will be a high level starter and he's never been better than mediocre to my eye. Also pretty bummed he gets so many snaps and Barret got none, I really thought he flashed a ton of ability last year.
September 9th, 2021 at 8:03 PM ^
RE: The first UM play you clipped in the zone coverage section (below the Ravens play) --- I don't know how you can assign ANY fault to Hawkins. If you truly believe that they are playing cover 2, then Hawkins has responsibility for the deep half. Your gripe would be better directed at 1) Ross, which you did for his false step / shallow drop, 2) the corner at the top of the screen (can't tell who that is from that angle) for staying on the fly route for too long or 3) Hill for covering the flat route too close to line of scrimmage (would be an absurd complaint, but I guess you could make it). Hawkins would probably come in a distant 4th in fault.
September 9th, 2021 at 8:49 PM ^
Just listening to local sports radio over here in Seattle. Sounds like they are going to focus on the run big time. Huskies i mean. Not happy with how many times they threw it , three picks will add to that displeasure , but expect big sets and lots of running.
but then again they tried to run on Montana and couldn’t. So not sure what to think about this matchup. If Hutch has a day like WMU, uhhh pain is a coming for them.
also sounds like they aren’t really thinking about putting in Sam Huard yet.
September 9th, 2021 at 9:10 PM ^
How the fuck does John O’Neill still have a job?
September 9th, 2021 at 9:28 PM ^
The thing that I like most about this defense is that it seems competent. I feel like MacD will not be beaten by a team running the EXACT same play over and over again (slot fades, crossing routes, Wisconsin just trucking through lite DT's). It seems like they have enough tools and plans in the bag to adjust to whatever the offense is throwing at them.
And this feels REALLY REALLY good.
September 9th, 2021 at 9:31 PM ^
The coverages felt very soft, with a lot of holes upon watching live. This write up only confirms it. I am confident it’s a lack of experience with the scheme thing vs lack of talent (not saying the talent is elite, but I have a hard time believing these guys can’t figure it out like many other less talented teams in the B1G). I’m hopeful, especially with Click back there- this is something that will improve over the season. The more I watch them over and over, the more I feel like the back 7 gelling is really going to be the key to success beyond expectations this season.
I just think about other teams like the Badgers or Iowa who have been running zone heavy or cover 2 schemes since dinosaurs ruled the earth, that when there is turnover it’s just plug and play for the next guys up. They can play it in their sleep by then cuz they are also us usually older. We just need time in this scheme, I hope we are good enough that guys don’t get fired and we get to see what this scheme looks like next year + when the players have a firm grasp on it and it’s fully optimized.
September 9th, 2021 at 9:34 PM ^
I'm glad to see Gray bounce back, and I've contended for some time that he and Green did get better as the year progressed last year, only the entire defense was falling apart so it was hard to tell. If Green and Gray are really there are above-average corners along with Hill and Hawkins/Moten, that's a secondary you can rely on in most games.
Am interested to see how NHG does in his second game - first-game jitters can be rough and I wonder if it'll be a bit slower the more reps he gets. Definitely looks the the part of a plus athlete with good instincts.
September 10th, 2021 at 8:24 AM ^
He looked better than expected but I'm not sure how good the Western WRs were with their best one out. I also think zone helps him. He's not fast but he is long.
September 9th, 2021 at 10:44 PM ^
I used to joke about a conspiracy theory I had regarding the B10 refs but the more I watch film like this the more I believe it to be true. I think they told the refs not to call holding on the OL unless it was really obviously affecting the play. In this write up you can see multiple DL being tackled, guys getting their face masks grabbed, and generally having no calls made against them. Why? I don't get it? Michigan has put as many DL in the NFL as just about anyone and we can't buy a f**king holding call?!?!?
September 10th, 2021 at 6:20 AM ^
If Hutch keeps this up he will be mentioned with Kayvon Thibodeaux and Derek Stingley to be the the #1 non-QB drafted this year! Kid is a beast!
September 10th, 2021 at 10:42 AM ^
Good UFRing.
Am I alone in the GIFs not playing at all? No amount of clicking converts them from still images to movey-helping things.
September 10th, 2021 at 12:53 PM ^
I'm really surprised about Barrett - he went from looking like a star after the first game last year to barely getting any game time even in garbage time. I thought maybe he was injured, but he was on the participation chart via MGoBlue. Wonder if he's just struggling to pick up the new defense. Too bad as we could really use another talented, experienced linebacker on this roster.
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