One-Play One-on-One: Henry Poggi
[Upchurch]
I knew exactly who I wanted to talk to when I saw the list of players available Monday. It was the perfect confluence of events: a great overhead angle of a Michigan touchdown run, Poggi mashing two guys at once on said run, and a question stem using The Big Lebowski that popped into my head after watching the replay just once. It seemed related enough to ask. This is a very professional website.
What were you expecting from them at that point and what did you get?
“Yeah, I think we were down at what, the five- or six-yard line? Not sure what exact front they were in but we knew they were going to be heavy run there. We were I think in like a wing, pretty much just a regular Power play. Down, down, guard pulls, and I have everything off the edge—Ty [Isaac] made a great cut—and just fitting right up off of that edge.”
Once you do engage the safety you’ve got that corner behind him. Are you trying to turn him so you can block two at once or is that just the way timing worked out on this play?
“Yeah, just kind of hit ‘em how you see ‘em.”
Walk me through the finer points of a goal-line kickout.
“I think just the most important thing is you can’t let much penetration and you’ve got to win inside and upfield, so you want to go attacking at his outside shoulder and just kick him out and push him upfield. Kind of create that running room.”
I can’t let a one-on-one go by without a Big Lebowski question. Who were you trying to channel on that play? Was it Walter and the red Corvette, because it seemed like Walter and the red Corvette.
“Definitely Walter. Had to let #2 know that he’s entering a world of pain.”
October 24th, 2017 at 4:57 PM ^
October 24th, 2017 at 5:00 PM ^
The blocking and scheme were great, and for a wee moment I had hope.
I forget what happened over the rest of the game.
/Puts hands over ears and starts humming really loud to drown out any outside noise ... /
October 24th, 2017 at 6:00 PM ^
October 24th, 2017 at 6:30 PM ^
maybe I don't know my outside shoulder from my inside shoulder?
because he says "go after his outside shoulder..." which makes me think: shoulder furthest from the play, closest to the sideline. however, in watching the tape, it looks like Poggi attacks the guy's inside shoulder (in my mind, closest to the play), no? the approach/result makes sense - push the defender toward the sideline & away from the play using the part of his body closer to the play where i want him not to be. So, am I wrong on thinking that's the inside shoulder? Can someone help me understand?
[yes, I am probably over-thinking this.]
October 24th, 2017 at 6:36 PM ^
October 24th, 2017 at 7:03 PM ^
October 24th, 2017 at 7:05 PM ^
October 24th, 2017 at 9:09 PM ^
October 24th, 2017 at 7:39 PM ^
October 24th, 2017 at 9:16 PM ^
October 25th, 2017 at 9:02 AM ^
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FEED A STRANGER APPLES
October 25th, 2017 at 9:03 AM ^
did you recently turn 37?
October 24th, 2017 at 7:43 PM ^
October 24th, 2017 at 8:41 PM ^
The bravado of those about to get their own asses kicked.
October 25th, 2017 at 9:32 AM ^
October 24th, 2017 at 8:52 PM ^
October 24th, 2017 at 9:21 PM ^
And he can get you a toe. Dude tames marmots and German nihilists for fun.
October 25th, 2017 at 4:59 AM ^
In today's college game, putting all of our players into a small area (allowing the other side to do the same), taking our QB out of the play, and then asking 10 players to take on 11 seems seems suboptimal. Why did Harbaugh seek to exploit an advantage in laser tag, but won't in football? (Or why didn't he ask the best laser tag players to all meet him in a small, enclosed space so that they could shoot at each other point blank and see who best executes a close range shot?)
BTW, it looks like Poggi moves a couple frames before the ball is snapped. Probably too close to notice in real-time, but it is noticeable on film (maybe because his early movement is also somewhat jerky).
October 25th, 2017 at 6:10 AM ^
October 25th, 2017 at 10:39 AM ^
When I saw this I was hoping he would go over the draw play on the 2nd drive where he turned a potential 60yd TD into a 1 yd loss by not going out on the linebacker. You don't have to be mean, but I think it would be far more interesting to hear what happened on some bad plays and see what they were thinking.
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