Upon Further Review 2012: Offense vs Notre Dame
Formation notes: "second and seven under center play action":
Substitution notes: usual. When Lewan went out temporarily they made the same OL switch. No Rawls, FWIW.
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | DForm | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M25 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Run | QB sweep | Robinson | 5 | ||||||||
End around fake gets Te'o chasing Gallon way away from the play after he initially reacted quickly to the actual run. Kwiatkowski(+1) seals Tuitt inside impressively; Mealer cannot pass Nix off to Barnum and the other ILB and Motta are flowing freely. Schofield makes contact with the playside OLB at a hash; OLB tries to force it inside but Robinson just runs past him, jogging OOB as Motta comes up. Probably a push as far as yardage goes, but upside was greater on the cut. | |||||||||||||||||||
M30 | 2 | 5 | I-form twins | 2 | 1 | 2 | Base 3-4 | Pass | FB wheel trickery | Kerridge | Inc (Pen +15) | ||||||||
Kerridge offset. Gardner comes in motion and takes a pitch from Robinson, then sets up to throw. This doesn't really fool the OLB covering Kerridge but he is checking for a potential run and ends up a step or two behind. Gardner leaves it short, giving the LB a chance to catch up and interfere. (MA, 1, protection 2/2, RPS +1) | |||||||||||||||||||
M45 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back TE | 2 | 1 | 2 | Base 3-4 | Run | Inverted veer keeper | Robinson | 3 | ||||||||
ND shifts from an under look back to their standard presnap. Lewan(-1) is smoked by Tuitt on the backside. Omameh and Mealer(-1) double Nix; when Nix takes the contact he pulls Mealer with him so that when Omameh releases he's free to run at the play, too. Denard pulls as he sees the playside LB bug out for the frontside but the two DL cut off the vertical hole and he ends up having to go back outside, which blows up all the blocking angles and lets a bunch of guys converge after three. +0.5 for Schofield, I guess, for fending off Lewis-Moore decently enough and giving Denard the little chunk he did get. | |||||||||||||||||||
M48 | 2 | 7 | Shotgun 3-wide tight | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Pass | Slant | Gallon | Inc | ||||||||
I don't think this is a bad throw, actually, since the OLB was backing out into this route and if he leads Gallon he is potentially throwing an INT. Gallon gets his hands on it but it's behind him and dropped. (MA, 2, protection 1/1) | |||||||||||||||||||
M48 | 3 | 7 | Shotgun 4-wide tight | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel even | Pass | Scramble | Robinson | 7 | ||||||||
Forever to look, but he can't find anyone. Kind of looks like a delayed drag from Gardner is his primary read after the other guys run off the coverage, but for whatever reason he doesn't like that and takes off, reaching for the first down dangerously. He's down before it comes out. (SCR, N/A, protection 3/3, Robinson +1 on ground.) On replay, he didn't really have anyone. | |||||||||||||||||||
O45 | 1 | 10 | Ace twins | 1 | 2 | 2 | Base 3-4 | Pass | PA fly | Roundtree | Inc | ||||||||
Under center PA fools no one, nobody open. ND only rushes three, leaving a spy back. Time and Robinson chucks it in the general direction of a blanketed Roundtree. That's so overthrown I think he's throwing it away, but if so just run the ball. There was room to pick up something. (IN, 0, protection 2/2, RPS -1) | |||||||||||||||||||
O45 | 2 | 10 | I-form | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4-3 under | Run | Iso | Toussaint | 2 | ||||||||
A corner blitz submarines this. A slant got Nix upfield of Barnum but Barnum gets a shove and Nix runs by the play, leaving a gap; Toussaint tries to hit it but is run down by the corner and a LB coming around the outside. RPS -1. | |||||||||||||||||||
O43 | 3 | 8 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Pass | Dig | Roundtree | Inc | ||||||||
Double A gap blitz. Michigan almost picks it up. Toussaint chops down one LB, but he is fortunate enough to roll over to his feet quickly enough to get up and hit Robinson as he throws. He'd found an open guy but the pass sails since he literally cannot step into it. (BA, 0, protection ½, Toussaint -1) | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Punt, 0-0, 12 min 1st Q | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
O10 | 1 | 10 | Ace trips bunch | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Run | Pitch sweep | Toussaint | -2 | ||||||||
Play asks Roundtree(-1) to block a 250 pound OLB with predictable results. OLB beats him, strings it out, pushes Roundtree back, etc. Te'o shoots up in the gap to the interior of this block and convinces Lewan(-1) he must abort his pull outside Roundtree to take him. Toussaint ends up with no space and unblocked guys in his face. RPS -1. | |||||||||||||||||||
O12 | 2 | 12 | Ace 3TE | 1 | 3 | 1 | Base 3-4 | Pass | PA sack | N/A | -3 | ||||||||
Play asks Toussaint to block Tuitt with predictable results. He whiffs, Lewan gets beat by Shembo, down goes Robinson. (PR, N/A, protection 0/4, Lewan -2, Toussaint -2) Also no one was open because not one ND player took a step towards the line of scrimmage, but hey when you can get Michigan's incredibly deep TE corps on the field on second and goal from the twelve, you gotta do it. RPS -2. | |||||||||||||||||||
O15 | 3 | 15 | Shotgun trips | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Pass | Sack | N/A | -10 | ||||||||
Barnum(-1) is shoved back into the pocket by KLM; Schofield(-2) gets crushed back by Tuitt and Denard has no pocket and an edge rusher, with predictable result. Looks like Tuitt got his rush by smashing Schofield in the face, which isn't legal, but it also isn't called. Meanwhile, everyone in the pattern is double covered. Woo! (PR, N/A, protection 0/3, Barnum -1, Schofield -2). | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: missed FG(43), 0-0, 9 min 1st Q | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
M12 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back TE | 2 | 1 | 2 | Base 3-4 | Run | End-around | Gallon | 8 | ||||||||
Similar to the Norfleet play from UMass. The OLB and corner to that side both hop out to contain; Gallon cuts it up. M gets lucky after a terrible block from JRobinson(-1), who's supposed to crack down on a linebacker and gives a weak shoulder shove as he falls to the ground. This means he accidentally trips KLM as he tries to release from Schofield(+1, I guess), and KLM falls into the linebacker who was gently caressed by JRob. Gallon(+0.5) cuts behind a charging Te'o on the corner and picks up an extra few yards. | |||||||||||||||||||
M20 | 2 | 2 | Shotgun 2TE twins | 1 | 2 | 2 | Base 3-4 | Run | Yakety snap | N/A | -6 | ||||||||
Was going to be an inverted veer, it looks like. | |||||||||||||||||||
M14 | 3 | 8 | Shotgun 4-wide tight | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Pass | Dig | Gardner | 18 | ||||||||
Good protection; Robinson zings it in a tight window just as Gardner breaks open between two zone defenders. (DO, 3, protection 2/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
M32 | 1 | 10 | Ace 3TE | 2 | 1 | 2 | Base 3-4 | Pass | Throwback screen | Gallon | Inc | ||||||||
Third TE actually Kerridge, no Funchess. This one isn't going anywhere even if accurate, as Lewan got bumped by the OLB and cannot get out on the corner. OLB and CB will probably combine to TFL if caught. Denard turfs it. (IN, 0, screen) | |||||||||||||||||||
M32 | 2 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4-3 under | Pass | Hitch | Roundtree | 9 | ||||||||
Barnum pulls and falls over but ND is just containing, really, and there's no pressure. Big difference between this and the passing downs above. Corner to this side is playing three deep and is run off by a corner route; Roundtree is wide open underneath it as a linebacker tries to get out on him. This is a read he was making in his first start, FWIW. (CA, 3, protection 2/2, RPS +1) | |||||||||||||||||||
M41 | 3 | 1 | Shotgun 2TE | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 under | Run | QB power | Robinson | 2 | ||||||||
Safety blitz almost blows this up as ND slants under the blocking and sends Motta; Omameh(+1) almost accidentally blocks him, but block him he does. Robinson(+0.5) can blast straight ahead to barely get it. Williams(-1) got slanted under dangerously; Lewan(+0.5) got enough movement on his guy to provide the tiny window exploited. | |||||||||||||||||||
M43 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun trips | 1 | 0 | 4 | Nickel even | Run | Inside zone | Toussaint | 0 | ||||||||
Slant sends Toussaint into a corner blitz. Mealer(-2) got beat up by the slant and ends up in the backfield, forcing Toussaint into the unblocked contain. If the corner didn't get him the other unblocked LB would. RPS -1. | |||||||||||||||||||
M43 | 2 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Pass | PA rollout dig | Roundtree | 11 | ||||||||
PA half roll thing puts Denard in space with unblocked Tuitt. Denard stops, finds Roundtree in a spot on his dig route, and zips it to him without stepping into the throw. Flat footed, a dart. I bet this goes as well all other times. (DO, 3, protection N/A) | |||||||||||||||||||
O46 | 1 | 10 | Ace 3TE | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4-3 under | Pass | PA hitch | Gallon | 12 | ||||||||
Two guys in this pattern and ND still gets pressure as Barnum(-1) and Mealer(-1) get split. Denard has to roll away from that and zings it to Gallon, dangerously. CB was breaking on the ball and almost had a play. (CA, 2, protection 1/3, Barnum -1, Mealer -1) | |||||||||||||||||||
O34 | 1 | 10 | I-Form twins | 2 | 1 | 2 | Base 3-4 | Pass | PA comeback | Gardner | 9 | ||||||||
Great protection this time, though again we're talking two guys in a route so maybe that's expected. Gardner comes open, Denard slings it to him. (CA, 3, protection 2/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
O25 | 2 | 1 | Shotgun 2TE twins | 1 | 2 | 2 | Nickel even | Run | Inverted veer keeper | Robinson | 15 | ||||||||
Kwiatkowski(+1) erases the end, who I can't ID. Backup? OLB contains, Denard sees a lane, he pulls. Barnum(+1) gets a block on Te'o. Schofield fell as he released but did make the other ILB run around him enough for Denard(+2) to burst into the open field, where he does not get a block from Roundtree(-1) and ends up chopped down by a safety. | |||||||||||||||||||
O10 | 1 | 10 | Ace trips bunch | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4-3 under | Pass | Halfback pass | Dileo | INT | ||||||||
You know about this. RPS punt; ND getting Te'o in Smith's face so fast he panics is because the line busts. Smith gets a BRX, if you're keeping score at home. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Interception, 0-0, 1 min 1st Q | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
M34 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Run | Inside zone | Toussaint | 2 | ||||||||
Kind of a midline look as Lewan flares out to block OLB Shembo and the 3-4 DE is let go. He's outside, so give. The end result of blocking Shembo is to remove Lewan from blocking the backside LB. Toussaint wants to cut back, but unblocked LB, so he has to go back into the interior, where he's dead meat. Given the angle of Toussaint's attack this is probably what he's supposed to do. Not sure what they think ND is doing that will make this work, but it doesn't. Mealer and Barnum managed to get enough push to crease Nix a little but that's a push at best; Schofield(-1) got beat up by Tuitt. RPS -1. | |||||||||||||||||||
M36 | 2 | 8 | Shotgun trips | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel even | Penalty | False start | Toussaint | -5 | ||||||||
Derf | |||||||||||||||||||
M31 | 2 | 13 | Shotgun trips | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Run | QB draw | Robinson | 2 | ||||||||
They fake the bubble screen, which only proves that the bubble would have picked up like ten yards on this play. Of course, this should have as well, but Te'o makes Omameh(-2) whiff and Barnum(-1) does not get much of a block on the other LB. | |||||||||||||||||||
M33 | 3 | 11 | Shotgun trips | 2 | 0 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Pass | Corner | Gallon | INT | ||||||||
Toussaint motions out. M rolls the pocket to the field, which only succeeds in getting a three man rush instant pressure when Kerridge(-2) is assigned to Shembo and fails to cut him. Three guys block Tuitt, though. Guy in Denard's face, throws worst possible pass ever. Absolutely no one open, FWIW. Throw it away, Denard. (BRXXX, 0, protection 0/2, Kerridge -2) RPS -1, as best case this playcall is a sack since you singled up a freshman fullback on a great pass rusher on a three man rush. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Interception, 0-0, 11 min 2nd Q | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
M33 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Pass | PA slant | Gardner | INT | ||||||||
PA leaves Te'o unblocked, who then runs into Denard's face. Denard finds Gardner, who's open, and throws it way in front of him. (INX, 0, protection 0/2, Smith -2, RPS -1) | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Interception, 0-3, 9 min 2nd Q. FWIW, the production on this game is fantastic. Great replays, no missed plays, Maycock saying a ton of smart things. | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
M20 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 2TE twins | 1 | 2 | 2 | Base 3-4 | Run | QB sweep | Robinson | 3 | ||||||||
PA fake with Toussaint going hard the other way doesn't hold anyone. Kwiatkowski(+1) gets a block on the playside end that forces him to give a ton of ground to come around it. That should secure the edge but a late move from Motta brings a ninth guy into the box and he aggressively fills that hole unblocked. Roundtree is hypothetically the guy who is supposed to block him but he's running downfield at the guy in man over him. (Who is twelve yards off the LOS. Bubble, etc.) Denard decides to cut back, which is worth three yards. Going at unblocked Motta is probably the same, so push. I liked Barnum(+1) sealing Te'o inside and giving Denard a lane; Lewan(+0.5) got a good kick so there is a spot. Mealer(-1) did not help Omameh seal Nix very much and he ended up not blocking anyone on the second level. RPS -1. | |||||||||||||||||||
M23 | 2 | 7 | Shotgun 2TE twins | 1 | 2 | 2 | Base 3-4 | Run | Inverted veer keeper | Robinson | 8 | ||||||||
Lewan(+2) and Kwiatkowski(+0.5) get great push on the playside DE, which makes the LBs' jobs very tough. DE contains, Robinson pulls. Lewan then comes off a crushing block on the playside DE to get a LB. Barnum(+1) has cut off Nix; Robinson has a big lane and hits it up. He's about a foot from busting outside for a big gain but can't quite get behind Williams(+0.5) who had an extended backside block that fended off Shembo. | |||||||||||||||||||
M31 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Run | QB power | Robinson | 3 | ||||||||
Schofield pulls. Barnum and Mealer get motion, but a LB shoots the gap on the backside. Te'o shows hard and gets outside at the LOS, funneling back; with the other LB pursuing Robinson doesn't have much of an option other than running up Schofield's back for a few. I think Nix was holding Mealer, FWIW, but it was subtle enough to not get called, because you never get called unless you literally tackle a dude. I think this is push all around. | |||||||||||||||||||
M34 | 2 | 7 | I-Form | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4-3 under | Pass | Waggle derp | Gallon | INT | ||||||||
Notre Dame may be expecting this! Tuitt is on the edge, unblocked, and immediately shoots up at Robinson; nobody open, Robinson should just take a sack, but throws something in the general direction of Gallon that is both a terrible decision and inaccurate, turnover. (BRX, 0, protection 0/2, team -2, RPS -1) | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Interception, 0-3, 6 min 2nd Q | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
M16 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Run | QB power | Robinson | 2 | ||||||||
This is set up pretty well with Lewan(+1) blowing up one LB and two blockers hitting it up in the hole to block Te'o. Robinson(-2) should hit it up like the play is designed, but instead tries to cut back, where Nix hacks him down since he's just invalidated Barnum's block. Funchess(+1) kicked out Shembo well. | |||||||||||||||||||
M18 | 2 | 8 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Run | QB sweep | Robinson | 20 | ||||||||
Kwiatkowski(+1) seals Shembo; Lewan and Barnum pull around. LBs are charging hard upfield at the snap, which gets one of them blocked by a releasing Mealer(+1). Te'o gets super aggressive and tries to shoot inside of Barnum to attack an outside run, which runs him out of the play. Lewan(+0.5) easily kicks the OLB, and the nose is the nearest guy as Robinson hits the LOS. Boom secondary. Robinson ducks OOB after picking up a bunch. RPS +2: caught the LBs with a play that exploited their aggression. | |||||||||||||||||||
M38 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun trips | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Pass | Hail Mary | Roundtree | INT | ||||||||
Why is Roundtree just jogging down the field? Why is Michigan throwing a Hail Mary with 16 seconds on the clock and a timeout? We may never know. Not charted. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Interception, 0-10, EOH | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
M21 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 2TE twins | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 even | Run | Inside zone | Toussaint | 31 | ||||||||
M seems so much more comfortable running at a four man line. Omameh(+2) takes on Nix one on one and blows him off the line. Mealer(+1) releases and kicks one of the ILBs. Te'o is not trying to hit the frontside gap and contains backside as he is again expecting this to be the belly. It looks like it but the Toussaint angle indicates it is not. The slight change gets two guys on the backside, where they're useless. Toussaint(+1) glides through the gap; Lewan(+0.5) gets an eh block on the corner, who gives up the edge, and Toussaint breaks a big one. RPS +1. | |||||||||||||||||||
O48 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Run | Zone stretch | Toussaint | 4 | ||||||||
Again two guys end up containing Denard. Te'o is creeping forward at the start as Motta comes down over the TE to check any of those PA seams and bursts upfield in a flash past Omameh(-1), who does not recognize this and get a shove. Toussaint(+1) makes a cut behind this and gets some yards thanks to the double delay on Denard; Nix got moved by Mealer(+0.5) and Barnum(+0.5) and this helps as well. RPS push; guys on backside are good, but allowing Te'o to attack like this bad; bubble yadda. | |||||||||||||||||||
O44 | 2 | 6 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4-3 over | Run | QB power | Robinson | -1 | ||||||||
Toussaint runs to the opposite edge on a fake that holds some backside guys as Barnum pulls around the TE and Lewan. Te'o is running at the gap on the snap after having read the Barnum pull, presumably, and is aligned in such a way so that Mealer had no shot anyway. He shows in an otherwise well blocked hole (Kwiatkowksi, Lewan(+0.5 each), Barnum(+1). Denard has to run up the backs of his blockers and gets nil. RPS -1. Unblocked guy in hole due to ND D alignment. | |||||||||||||||||||
O45 | 3 | 7 | Shotgun 4-wide tight | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4-3 even | Pass | Drag | Gallon | 8 | ||||||||
Straight dropback; four man rush with Te'o spying. He comes on a delayed rush and the other LB bugs out for Toussaint flaring out of the backfield, opening up a cross. Denard steps into it and hits Gallon against three guys on the first level of the zone. He turns it up for the first. (CA, 3, protection 2/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
O37 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 2TE twins | 1 | 2 | 2 | Base 3-4 | Run | Inverted veer keeper | Robinson | 9 | ||||||||
OLB contains, pull. Kwiatkowksi(+0.5) seals a slow-reacting Tuitt inside. Te'o is outside of an attempted block from Schofield, which isn't really his fault. Barnum(+1) pulls around and nails him. Te'o contains, forcing it back inside. Motta assumes this is not happening and hops outside; Roundtree(+0.5) gets a block; Denard cuts behind. No flow from the inside as Omameh(+1) hammers Nix on a double. This is momentarily super exciting until Robinson(+1) runs into the overhanging corner as he tries to get the edge. Nice tackle but I think Denard needs to keep going straight upfield since this guy didn't screw it up this time. Schofield(-1) tried to block Te'o, missed, and then peeled back instead of just going further downfield, or he could have blocked the CB and put Denard one on one with the S for six. | |||||||||||||||||||
O28 | 2 | 1 | Shotgun 2TE twins | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 even | Run | Inside zone | Toussaint | 4 (Pen -10) | ||||||||
This is all Toussaint(-2), who has a gap to slam it up for a first down in as Omameh(+1) gets push on Nix; Barnum is giving ground but has fended off an OLB. Toussaint's going to get a yard or four and not much more, but that's a first down. Instead he bounces around a guy three yards in the backfield and a second guy further outside two yards in the backfield, into the boundary, which draws holding calls and gets him the same number of yards he would have had anyway. | |||||||||||||||||||
O38 | 2 | 11 | Shotgun 2-back TE | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4-3 over | Run | End-around | Gallon | 5 | ||||||||
Almost but not quite a big gain as FR Day is in at this end and is the guy M is trying to confuse. He pops up and contains the QB as Gallon gets the ball. Nix goes straight upfield, knocking back Barnum(-0.5) and delaying Omameh's pull, so he can get to Day before he realizes who's got it and starts chasing. JRobinson(+1) cracks down on the playside LB very well; Lewan whiffs on Te'o but to the outside, which makes him not relevant. Corner contains at the numbers and Day manages to run Gallon down from behind. Nice play by Day. | |||||||||||||||||||
O33 | 3 | 6 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel even | Pass | Drag | Roundtree | 10 | ||||||||
Double A gap gets a guy in immediately, M has a route right beneath that from Roundtree. No one within 10 yards of him, easy completion and YAC for first. (CA, 3, protection N/A, RPS +1) | |||||||||||||||||||
O23 | 1 | 10 | Ace 3TE | 1 | 3 | 1 | Base 3-4 | Run | Inside zone | Toussaint | -1 | ||||||||
Schofield(+1) locks out Tuitt and pushes him upfield. Linebackers flow hard to the playside, Toussaint(-1) sees massive cutback lane provided by Schofield, cuts into it... and falls down untouched. Glarble. Lewan(+0.5) and Barnum(+0.5) had blown up KLM, FWIW; Omameh and Mealer had a tougher time with Nix but did okay. | |||||||||||||||||||
O24 | 2 | 11 | I-Form Big | 2 | 2 | 1 | Base 3-4 | Run | Lead zone | Toussaint | 8 | ||||||||
Nix starts pushing into the intended hole; Mealer(+0.5) and Barnum(+1) push him down the line and eventually pancake him, with Barnum popping out on a LB. Kerridge(+1) eases past the detour and booms the other ILB. Toussaint(+1) has a big gap now thanks to Lewan(+1) kicking the backside DE way out and cuts behind Kerridge into a big gap. He starts dancing as pursuit converges and picks up a nice gain. | |||||||||||||||||||
O16 | 3 | 3 | Shotgun 2TE twins | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 even | Run | Speed option | Robinson | 5 | ||||||||
Kwiatkowski(+1) and Schofield(+1) blow Tuitt out, knocking him downfield; Mealer(+0.5) just manages to get his helmet across Nix and there's a crease Robinson(-3) hits. An arm rakes the ball out, drive over. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Fumble, 0-10, 8 min 3rd Q | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
M43 | 1 | 10 | I-Form twins | 2 | 1 | 2 | Base 3-4 | Run | Iso | Toussaint | 2 | ||||||||
Argh bubble etc. Schofield(-2) is head up on KLM and doesn't really get anything. No motion, beat to inside. Omameh(+0.5) and Mealer(+0.5) beat up on Nix pretty good and Kerridge(+1) plowed the MLB; Toussaint has to cut away from his blocking because KLM is all over it. OLB who should be covering bubble contains. | |||||||||||||||||||
M45 | 2 | 8 | Shotgun 2-back TE | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4-3 over | Run | Inverted veer give | Toussaint | 1 | ||||||||
DE comes down on Robinson so give. Smith hits him not too well but enough; Omameh is pulling around to block the LB trying to contain; Toussaint(-2) should bounce it outside after feinting in but just decides to run into defenders. Barnum(+0.5) neutralized a penetrating Nix and Omameh(+0.5) got to the POA despite some delay caused by that; Lewan(+0.5) seemed to have a pretty good handle on Te'o. | |||||||||||||||||||
M46 | 3 | 7 | Shotgun trips | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Pass | TE out | Funchess | 5 | ||||||||
Gallon runs the corner off and Funchess goes out to exploit the space underneath. Denard hits him but it's kind of a slow, looping pass that allows the corner to recover quickly enough to prevent any YAC and force Michigan in to a fourth down. (CA, 3, protection 2/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
O49 | 4 | 2 | Shotgun 4-wide tight | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Pass | Out | Dileo | 4 | ||||||||
Toussaint motions out to give an empty look. A couple of quick outs to the short side of the field are paired with a corner blitz so both Dileo and Gardner are open. Denard's pass is dodgy and low but Dileo digs it out. (MA, 2, protection 1/1) | |||||||||||||||||||
O45 | 1 | 10 | I-Form Big | 2 | 2 | 1 | Base 3-4 | Run | Iso | Toussaint | 5 | ||||||||
ND reacting hard to inside zone action from the OL. Te'o is gone a gap away from the play as Mealer(+1) moves out on him after doubling Nix, who Omameh(-1) seals away. Nix comes upfield of Omameh's block and pursues Toussaint from behind. Kerridge(+1) pounds the LB and gets movement on him. Schofield(+1) blows up a backup DE and there's a gap; the Omameh block makes it smaller than it should be. Pursuit harasses Toussaint into the filling S. | |||||||||||||||||||
O40 | 2 | 5 | Shotgun 2TE twins | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 even | Run | QB power | Robinson | 1 | ||||||||
Mealer pulls here. ND is just too aggressive on this one, but they have to have gotten help from a Jackson(-2) bust as he runs right by the OLB to this side to hit a safety. OLB contains, getting outside the Mealer block, Te'o fills unblocked, Robinson bounces out for a minimal gain. Man, Kwiatkowski(+0.5) is just sealing guys every time. Easy job? Or is he killing people? | |||||||||||||||||||
O39 | 3 | 4 | Shotgun 2TE twins | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 even | Run | Speed option | Robinson | 6 | ||||||||
Omameh(+1) gets across the playside DT, who is a backup, and gets to the second level; Mealer(+1) then takes over and eventually puts this guy five yards downfield as he tries to flow. Schofield(+1) and Kwiatkowksi(+1) do the same thing to the DE, who is FR Day. Robinson sees the world caving in and just rams it up the backs of his OL for the first. Pitch was open too. Lewan leaves with a shoe issue. | |||||||||||||||||||
O33 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 2TE twins | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 even | Run | Inverted veer keeper | Robinson | 5 | ||||||||
ND has slid its LBs to the field and Robinson is reading the OLB, as M blocks the line. OLB contains, pull. Kwiatkowski(+0.5) and Schofield (now at LT, +0.5) seal Day, with Kwi popping out on a LB. Burzynski(+1) pulls around and hits Te'o. Hole. Robinson hits it up then cuts behind, which seems like a good idea, but Mealer(-1) lost KLM after getting a good seal on him and he flows down the line to tackle. | |||||||||||||||||||
O28 | 2 | 5 | Shotgun 2TE twins | 1 | 2 | 2 | Base 3-4 | Run | Inside zone | Toussaint | 3 | ||||||||
Again they're flaring out to block that OLB and letting the 3-4 DE go; DE does not really commit anywhere and there is a handoff. Ride that mesh longer or you're not really getting anywhere here. Toussaint is attacking farther outside, but this time no holes. Mealer(-1) got pushed too far by Nix; Schofield(+0.5) got a decent push on KLM and Toussaint can run up his back for a few. | |||||||||||||||||||
O25 | 3 | 2 | Shotgun 2back 2TE | 2 | 2 | 1 | Base 3-4 | Run | QB power | Robinson | 3 | ||||||||
Lewan back in. He(+1) blows KLM back a yard on the snap and to the inside. Kwiatkowski and Williams(+0.5) both take on players at the POA. Kwiatkowski has a DE, who wins easily but not fast enough to be relevant. Williams stalemates a LB. Omameh shoves him forward, Robinson burrow up behind. RPS +1; this was a pretty easy conversion with a spare blocker pushing a pile past the sticks. | |||||||||||||||||||
O22 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 2TE twins | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 even | Run | QB sweep | Robinson | 0 | ||||||||
Oof. This is one block away from being huge, and that block is Omameh(-2) not getting any kind of seal on a DT shaded inside of him. He fires out straight while everyone else steps right, Nix gets the edge on him. Kwiatkowski(+1) gets Tuitt sealed. Schofield and Mealer pull around. Schofield doesn't actually kick the OLB but he's moving way outside to contain. Mealer(+1) chops Te'o but the contain and pursuit from Nix ends the play when this is probably at least a first down otherwise. Denard tries to cut after being chased outside and slips, giving up a few yards. | |||||||||||||||||||
O22 | 2 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4-3 even | Run | Inside zone | Toussaint | 4 | ||||||||
Barnum(-1) does not step around Nix after he takes a Mealer bump and loses him to the playside. Omameh(-1) just gets beat by KLM. Toussaint(+1) bounces outside past both DTs and picks up a few thanks to Kwiatkowski(+0.5) and Schofield(+0.5) getting the playside DE back a couple yards. | |||||||||||||||||||
O18 | 3 | 6 | Shotgun 2TE twins | 1 | 2 | 2 | Base 3-4 | Pass | PA scramble | Robinson | 3 | ||||||||
Play action fake does nothing except get two ND defenders in as they take off for Robinson. LBs suck up a little but get back on a little drag over the middle, and Funchess is blanketed by two guys. Denard dances around and gets tackled short of the sticks. (PR, N/A, protection 0/2, team -2, RPS -1) | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: FG(33), 3-10, 13 min 4th Q | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
M30 | 1 | 10 | Ace twins twin TE | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 over | Pass | PA post corner | Gardner | Inc | ||||||||
Gardner starts in the backfield and then motions out. Denard gets great protection this time and can sit and survey until Kwiatkowski finally gets beat, whereupon he finds a miraculously open Gardner 40 yards downfield. Gardner again does the 360 as Denard takes him away from the safety; pass is in his hands; dropped. (DO, 3, protection 2/2, RPS +2) No idea why this could possibly work in this situation but it did. Borges sorcery ++. | |||||||||||||||||||
M30 | 2 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back 2TE | 2 | 2 | 1 | Base 3-4 | Pass | RB wheel | Toussaint | Inc | ||||||||
Toussaint motions out to the boundary, which is WR-free. Token play fake to Kerridge, protection pretty good but Omameh does make Robinson move his feet a little. He's staring at a bunch of covered guys and manages to put it over the head of a guy in great coverage on Toussaint, who has the ball in his hands a moment before Motta comes over the top and separates it from him after disengaging from Funchess, who he's covering. We don't get a wide shot to see if he had someone somewhere else; this is a great deep throw and a play equal to that from Motta. (DO, 1, protection 2/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
M30 | 3 | 10 | Shogun trips | 1 | 0 | 4 | Base 3-4 | Pass | Improv | Gardner | 13 | ||||||||
Only a three man rush. Robinson steps up through it after his initial survey finds no one. This draws a couple of underneath zone defenders up; he tosses it over them to Gardner, who is still just a hair in front of the safety. Completion, tackle, first down. (CA+, 3, protection 1/1) | |||||||||||||||||||
M43 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4-3 over | Pass | Bubble screen | Gallon | 13 | ||||||||
Boy am I glad it took 54 minutes to throw this. It's not a true bubble as the throw is delayed and guys get downfield to block but it's so open Gallon cuts inside of the OLB despite Roundtree setting up to block him so Roundtree can get outside. (CA, 3, screen, RPS +1!) | |||||||||||||||||||
O44 | 1 | 10 | Ace 3-wide | 1 | 2 | 2 | Base 3-4 | Pass | PA corner | JRobinson | 20 | ||||||||
PA kind of threatens dread waggle. Barnum is flaring out to the waggle-ish side to block, though, and Smith has enough time to shut down Shembo on his otherwise unblocked charge. Denard sets up and now has a simple high low read on the corner, who is not sinking, so he throws the corner. Nails the other Robinson in the numbers on rhythm. (CA+, 3, protection 2/2, RPS +1) | |||||||||||||||||||
O24 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel even | Pass | TE drag | Funchess | 5 | ||||||||
Double A blitz. It's not timed as well as the MSU ones, which allows a pickup. Smith gets a cut but the LB does force a throw; it's the same drag M used a couple times earlier and is complete but this time ND is ready for an immediate tackle. (CA, 3, protection 2/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
O19 | 2 | 5 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Run | QB draw | Robinson | 12 | ||||||||
ND sends only three and starts dropping the LBs; by the time M releases downfield all those guys are at the sticks and moving backwards. Mealer(+1) shoves the NT to one side and that's Denard through the line. Funchess(+1) and Omameh(+1) pick up blocks on virtually stationary downfield defenders and Robinson shoots between them, getting chopped down by a safety inside the ten. RPS +1. | |||||||||||||||||||
O7 | 1 | G | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Run | QB power | Robinson | 1 | ||||||||
Funchess(-1) is blocking down and gets blown up by Day, which picks off Barnum's pull and makes Denard(-2) decides to go under it... which is where Day is. Go outside, take your chances, maybe get OOB. | |||||||||||||||||||
O6 | 2 | G | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Base 3-4 | Pass | Sack | N/A | -8 | ||||||||
All day, no one open. Robinson's timer goes off and he wants to scramble around; Day grabs him as he tries to break the pocket. Not Schofield's fault at all. Just a thing that happens on the goal line sometimes. (TA, N/A, protection 2/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
O14 | 3 | G | Shotgun 4-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4-3 even | Pass | Corner | Gardner | Inc | ||||||||
OL collapsing all around him as ND knows he has to throw and is really coming hard this time w/ Te'o spying. Gardner is his best option and is kind of open. Denard misses, putting it off Gardner's hand but well OOB. (IN, 0, protection 2/3, team -1) | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: FG(33) 6-13, 3 min 4th Q. EOG for offense |
Dispensing with chatter.
This was the structural problem with the Michigan offense against ND.
ND:
- often showed extremely soft coverage,
- ran cover zero behind it,
- never had their corners tested, and
- never had their OLBs put in a bind.
I'm not just talking about bubble screens here. In either of the top two frames, a simple smash concept…
A and Z are running a smash concept that high-lows the corner
…is an easy read Michigan—one Denard was doing way back in the day—is in advantageous position on. Michigan ran some of these. They either should have kept going to that and curl-flat or bubble screens until ND was forced out of this defense.
They should also have protected Denard at all costs. Even in this game, when Robinson had time he was zipping it in.
Borges's late under center passes were max-protect sorts that kept Robinson clean and resulted in big gains (or should have) as ND's inexperienced corners got lost on Gardner, sucked up on a short route, opening up a longer one, etc.
On each interception*, Denard got quick pressure. On the first it was a three man rush with a rolling pocket that got a redshirt freshman fullback singled up against Shembo. On the second, Te'o flies up in the pocket unmolested. Smart Football suggested that Smith needs to abort the mesh point and just go block the guy, and yeah if that's what ND is doing and Michigan is prepared for it go for it. They apparently weren't. I've never seen M abort a mesh like that, or have to.
The third is second and seven under center play action that gets Tuitt in Denard's face. Is Gallon open? Yeah. Does that somehow erase the fact that Denard has thrown INTs on his past two throws thanks to pressure, has has thrown the ball away once this year and was amongst the worst guys in the country in interception rate last year? I mean, we know this happens. It has just happened against Air Force and UMass, at home. It is not going to stop happening. Calling plays that emphasize this flaw is insane. Everyone in the stadium knows that when Michigan goes under center a defender or two will make their top priority Denard containment. He'll be unblocked, and Denard will have to form up and make a throw with a guy in his face. Which he sucks at.
If you don't think that's stupid, I don't know what else I can tell you. Robinson was 24 of 40 for 244 yards, a TD, and no INTs two years ago against the Irish in a year when they finished with the #25 pass efficiency D. His regression is obvious despite having two solid years of QB coaching from Borges to raise him up.
If it's not the structure of the offense, what is it? Is Denard in Flowers for Algernon?
*[we're setting aside the Hail Mary because it's a Hail Mary.]
Now, Denard.
Losing this game was of course a joint effort. Passing table:
[Hennechart legend is updated.]
Opponent | DO | CA | MA | IN | BR | TA | BA | PR | SCR | DSR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011 through MSU | 13 | 66(12) | 11(1) | 34(1) | 17 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 4 | 55% |
2011 after MSU | 9 | 77(9) | 7 | 17 | 9 | 6(1) | 5(2) | 9 | 5 | 69% |
Alabama | 4 | 15(2) | 1 | 4 | 3 | - | - | 3(1) | 1 | 71% |
Air Force | 1 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | 2 | 1 | - | 75% |
UMass | 1 | 16(4) | - | 4 | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 68% |
Notre Dame | 4 | 10(1) | 2 | 4(1) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 65% |
Gardner had an MA, Smith an INX. UFR charts don't fully weight the horribleness of any particularly horrible throw and so the DSR does not reflect the horrible horrible INTs. It's still pretty bad. The run chart is worse for Denard: he ends up –2.5 after fumbling and missing some cuts.
I've gotten so many conflicting opinions on the Gardner route on INT 2 that I don't know what is going on there, but he's staring right at Gardner so even if the route is not as expected he should be adjusting to that. The most authoritative word I've heard said the route was fine in the eyes of the coaches, so the final verdict is it's on Denard (and the combination of events that literally prevented him from stepping into the throw).
Meanwhile, taking sacks or just chucking the ball away on the other two throws saves Michigan 100 yards of field position, with another 71 thrown away by the fumble. Thanks to the heroics of the defense, it took both Denard and Borges having awful games to lose it, but lose it they did.
FWIW, Denard did abort a throw in the second half, which resulted in… a failure to convert a third down and a field goal attempt after he got instant pressure on ill-conceived play action. If he had done that in the first half, Michigan punts and ends up in third and long on the two passes that were just WTF—ie, not the Gardner miss. FWIW, in that half he was 8 of 11 with two of the incompletions deep balls in the hands of his WRs on the final drive. Notably, he was not eating unblocked pass rushers as he did this.
How could the pieces fit together better?
Bubble, etc. Posts written about it before. Or flash screens or what have you, anything that forces opposition corners and linebackers to think about the slot guys on every play. They're more effective as in the box blockers when they are dragging guys out of the box than trying to deal with guys much bigger than them.
That brings the secondary up, and then you're either looking at a deep safety and a more consistent run game, opportunities to hit shots over the top, or zip gone TDs. Here's a nine-yard inverted veer from the second half:
They option off the OLB. The safety sitting twelve yards off the LOS flashes into the screen at the end; he's the guy who forced Denard into the cornerback. If Michigan has forced him to react to the possibility of a bubble screen, he is not available and this defense has just ceded a 42 yard touchdown, or Motta has made a fantastic recovery—look how he's beating Roundtree's block to the outside—and Michigan still gets nine yards.
Meanwhile, Michigan's best running play is that inverted veer.
Michigan has no play action off of it. They have no counter from it. They just kind of run it. And it's great! But if you want to get the explosion back you need to start screwing with opponents by faking your good plays. Michigan tried it last year, couldn't block it, and dumped it. They took an offseason and kept it dumped. Oy.
Michigan should be running more max protection schemes. Keep Denard clean, give him a couple options, and then tell him to take off. Maybe leak Toussaint or Smith (or Norfleet) out of the backfield after a delay.
What was with the Vincent Smith play? That didn't look right.
It wasn't. A reader pointed out what Michigan did against Minnesota, pulling both playside linemen. On the initial pitch play, Michigan pulled both playside linemen. On the ill-fated trick play, nobody pulls. According to Borges that's a call that did not get to the line, which yeah. I punt on the RPS there, shading to plus since if Smith didn't have to pull up so quickly it looked like Dileo was coming open.
Consider my objections there retracted. The play likely would have worked but for the bust on the line call.
Please give me something positive?
The offensive line went from battered to batterer at halftime, inexplicably. Michigan's first play of the half set the tone when Patrick Omameh(!) of all people blows Nix off the line of scrimmage:
Michigan manballed up late and blew a dump-truck sized hole in the ND OL plus got a Dudley-level thump from Kerridge:
On a speed option late, Michigan picked up a third and four by blowing ND down the line so far that it didn't matter that the pitch was unbelievably wide open.
Here's the run chart:
the ratio that is important for the OL. On a lot of plays they do okay and get a push.
Offensive Line | |||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | + | - | Total | Notes | |||||||||||||||
Lewan | 8.5 | 2 | 6.5 | Got quality motion. | |||||||||||||||
Barnum | 7.5 | 3.5 | 4 | Much better day than UMass. | |||||||||||||||
Mealer | 8 | 6 | 2 | Big time struggles early, did better, also bad snap. | |||||||||||||||
Omameh | 8 | 7 | 1 | I'll take a positive day for him against that line. | |||||||||||||||
Schofield | 7 | 6 | 1 | Roughed up a little, but came through okay. | |||||||||||||||
Kwiatkowski | 10.5 | - | 10.5 | I must be giving him too much credit for easy stuff? | |||||||||||||||
Moore | - | - | - | DNP | |||||||||||||||
Williams | 1 | 1 | 0 | Kwiatkowski is getting more PT than these guys though. | |||||||||||||||
Funchess | 2 | 1 | 1 | Not really tested. | |||||||||||||||
TOTAL | 53.5 | 26.5 | 67% | Burzsnyski also +1. That's quality but the Kwiatkowski thing worries me about this number. | |||||||||||||||
Backs | |||||||||||||||||||
Player | + | - | T | Notes | |||||||||||||||
Robinson | 4.5 | 7 | -2.5 | Didn't really get many Denard yards. | |||||||||||||||
Bellomy | - | - | - | DNP | |||||||||||||||
Toussaint | 4 | 5 | -1 | Couple of WHAT ARE YOU DOING cuts | |||||||||||||||
Rawls | - | - | - | DNP | |||||||||||||||
Smith | - | - | - | DNCarry | |||||||||||||||
Hayes | - | - | - | DNP | |||||||||||||||
Hopkins | - | - | - | DNP | |||||||||||||||
Kerridge | 3 | - | 3 | Insert complaints about scholarship FBs x2 | |||||||||||||||
TOTAL | 11.5 | 12 | -0.5 | Need better from the ballcarriers. | |||||||||||||||
Receivers | |||||||||||||||||||
Player | + | - | T | Notes | |||||||||||||||
Gardner | - | - | 1- | ||||||||||||||||
Roundtree | 0.5 | 2 | -1.5 | ||||||||||||||||
Gallon | 0.5 | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
Jackson | - | 2 | -2 | ||||||||||||||||
Dileo | - | - | - | -- | |||||||||||||||
J. Robinson | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
Darboh | - | - | - | -- | |||||||||||||||
TOTAL | 2 | 5 | -3 | [Comment not found] | |||||||||||||||
Metrics | |||||||||||||||||||
Player | + | - | T | Notes | |||||||||||||||
Protection | 32 | 19 | 63% | Toussaint –3, Lewan –2, Schofield –2, Barnum –2, Kerridge –2, Smith –2, Mealer –1, Team -5 | |||||||||||||||
RPS | 12 | 13 | -1 | I was super super kind on the Denard INTs. |
So, the protection sucked, and the line was in tough but came out okay, and the ballcarriers didn't do much, and I must be Mike Kwiatkowski's secret dad or something. I don't know about the Kwiatkowski stuff, but he sealed guys away every time when Michigan went for the edge. That gave him a ton of relevant blocks that he accomplished and boosted those numbers up there. I probably should have started with the half-points more, but I'll keep an eye on him in the future. There is a reason he is playing a lot more than Williams in single TE sets (and sets with Funchess).
Receivers:
[Passes are rated by how tough they are to catch. 0 == impossible. 1 == wow he caught that, 2 == moderate difficulty, 3 == routine. The 0/X in all passes marked zero is implied.]
Player | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gardner | 2 | - | - | 3/4 | 9 | 0/3 | 1/2 | 10/11 | |
Roundtree | 1 | - | 3/3 | 4 | 0/1 | 1/1 | 7/7 | ||
Gallon | 2 | 1/1 | 2/2 | 5 | 0/1 | 3/4 | 9/9 | ||
J. Robinson | 1/1 | 1 | 0/1 | 1/1 | |||||
Dileo | 1/1 | 1 | 1/1 | 2/2 | 2/2 | ||||
Jackson | 1 | 3/4 | |||||||
Darboh | |||||||||
Chesson | |||||||||
Kwiatkowski | 2/2 | ||||||||
Moore | |||||||||
Funchess | 2/2 | 1/1 | 7/7 | ||||||
Williams | |||||||||
Toussaint | 0/1 | 1/1 | 0/1 | 0/1 | 1/1 | ||||
Smith | 1/1 | 0/1 | 3/3 | ||||||
Kerridge | 0/1 | 0/1 |
Nothing to see here, really.
Heroes?
Kwiatkowski was a major part of Michigan's success on the ground, along with Lewan.
Goats?
Denard, Borges, Denard, Borges, Denard, Borges, Denard, Borges, offensive line pass pro.
What does it mean for the Big Ten schedule?
I don't know, man. I'm guessing they'll finally look at themselves and say "okay, let's just assume this is what happens when Denard gets pressured" and move to avoid that at all costs. That means more running, fewer plays on which they put Denard on the edge against an unblocked dude, and please sweet baby Jesus more easy quasi-running game throws that get Gallon more touches.
Even in this dismal game, Denard's passes when he did not get pressure were quality, so max protect the guy, give him easy hot reads against those double-A blitzes, and run the ball.
They can and will do better against the Big Ten. Yes. I believe this.
September 28th, 2012 at 7:16 PM ^
No, your theory thus far has been that Denard has never shown himself to be a good player against quality teams in any system, failing to understand that he had one year in the system he was recruited for (with, once again, all the factors I listed above) and is now playing quarterback in an offense that isn't emphasizing his skill set to the degree a RR offense would have....
You're using that theory to state that we shouldn't alter the offense in any meaningful way to skew towards 2010's model, because, once again, we weren't perfect in 2010 with our first year quarterback (see above factors again), which is just mind-blowingly stubborn and not at all thoughtful.
I'm not at all saying what you're claiming, you either just don't understand my point or are refusing to because of its merit.
September 29th, 2012 at 10:26 AM ^
You're using that theory to state that we shouldn't alter the offense in any meaningful way to skew towards 2010's model, because, once again, we weren't perfect in 2010 with our first year quarterback (see above factors again), which is just mind-blowingly stubborn and not at all thoughtful.
I'm not at all saying what you're claiming, you either just don't understand my point or are refusing to because of its merit.
Newsflash Coastal, this offense does have elements of 2010's offense, a lot of them. Your point has no merit. You're arguing for something that is already taking place.
Just come out and say why you're really upset with Borges... ;)
September 28th, 2012 at 7:14 PM ^
You're changing your argument here. You started off by basically saying he never showed an ability to score against good teams, then backtracked into "meaingful" scoring, all the while ignoring the fact that nobody else on that offense was doing anything. it wasn't Denard that struggled against elite defenses; it was everyone. The fact the team scored anything in those games was due in large part to his playmaking. And while some people talk up the "prevent" defenses he scored against, you earlier pointed out the magic of scoring 14 points against Alabama after being down 31-0. If you thought Alabama was running its base defense at that point, then I'd argue every team in 2010 was doing the same.
September 29th, 2012 at 9:43 AM ^
Please go read my very first post on this article, then read the 2nd the 3rd the 4th and so on. My argument and stance has been pretty consistent. Denard is a bad decision maker. He was a bad decision maker in 2010, 2011 and 2012. You don't set the all time interception record at Michigan with half of the attempts and get to hold the title of good decision maker.
Denard is a phenomal athlete. He has a strong arm. He is a great leader. He is inaccurate. Though he is inaccurate, his athleticism, leadership and strong arm make up for it.
What his positives do NOT make up for are the turnovers, whether they be INT's or Fumbles. No skill-set makes up for turnovers...
You two have made arguments that Borges needs to put his players (plural) in the best position to succeed, but your only gripe is that Denard isn't succeeding. News flash, Denard is one player and he had one bad game this year. I think you two need to calm down and wait a few more games before you try to make the claim it's Borges's fault.
What OC in the B1G would you trade Borges for? Easy answer for me.
September 28th, 2012 at 6:41 PM ^
Unless you think Shane Morris is going to beat out Gardner and Bellomy next year, Borges is going to have a spread-type QB at the helm again so it's not just about Denard leaving.
I find it highly unlikely that occurs but if we're starting a true frosh QB next year the offense is going to stink either way.
September 28th, 2012 at 6:48 PM ^
I think Bellomy is going to be our QB next year and we will have 70% of Borges playbook in for him with left over running elements from the Denard Era. That's my prediction. By the time Shane Morris is ready to start, (Redshirt Freshman or RS Sophomore Year) we will have about 95% of the playbook in, and then we roll.
And Bellomy, is a Pass 1st run 2nd Spread QB. (Shane is actually quite mobile too, but is also pass first) Denard is the opposite.
I think the offense will actually flow better next year with Bellomy at the helm, a year more mature. We may actually establish an identity.
September 28th, 2012 at 6:56 PM ^
If given a fair shot I don't think Bellomy will beat out Gardner unless they just decide they need Devin at receiver and basically force the issue.
I think you're going to be very disappointed if you think Bellomy will be better than Denard next year with literally no meaningful game experience under his belt.
He might make fewer mistakes but you'll lose explosiveness on the ground and he doesn't have ideal arm strength for what we THINK Borges wants to do either.
September 28th, 2012 at 7:19 PM ^
Well, unless the offensive line makes massive gains after losing a first-rounder in Lewan and Fitz rediscovers how to run away from people, I expect Borges's offense to look a lot like this year's, but with even less success against good defenses. The issue is part the system but also part the players simply not being at the level needed for it to succeed. Some of that is system fit and some of it may simply be talent.
But regardless, I do think the team is heading in the right direction. Taking craps on the players currently trying their best to win, though, while propping up the future players as the "guys who will make it work" drives me crazy. The reality is right now, and claiming the future is better simply because we haven't seen it yet (and thus don't have data points by which to divine if that is true) drives me crazy.
September 29th, 2012 at 9:47 AM ^
Lewan, as of now, is not going anywhere. Lewan has been grading out pretty poorly this year by the Coaching Staff. As of right now, He is not ready for the NFL. Still needs to add strength and work on a ton of technique. Jake long didn't have the greatest technique when he was here but he had the brute strength to make up for it. Taylor doesn't have that gift, so he needs to master technique to make up for it.
I fully expect Lewan to be back next year. Also, our OL will be much better next year than this year. Kalis Schofield Lewan... Won't find a group of 3 OL better in the B1G than these 3.
September 29th, 2012 at 8:50 AM ^
September 28th, 2012 at 7:07 PM ^
Take the Maize-colored glasses off. Nobody is saying that this is the University of Denard Robinson, but show me anyone else on this offense who is having an above-average year offensively? Lewan is a first-rounder and maybe Gardner will pan out, but Fitz has been in neutral all year and Funchess is too young to really take over. So for better or for worse, Denard is the best option this team has right now to score points.
And what sanity was lost? UM fans love to talk about how much better we are than other fan bases, but as soon as this team stopped winning 8+ games a year everyone lost their marbles and the knives came out. For goodness sake, people buried one of the better college coaches around after half a season, then watched as he predictable struggled and kicked dirt on him as he left. Not saying he wasn't at fault for what happened, but this isn't some noble fanbase and school.
You argue that, wow, UM scored 14 whole points against Alabama. Of course, they couldn't score at all in the first half, and I saw precious little innovation that whole time. Heck, one of the TDs UM scored was because the cornerback fell down. That's some Borges magic right there! Of course, against other defenses like MSU, ND last year, VT, even OSU to an extent, the offense sputtered and the only time the team moved the ball was when Denard just took over and did what he does best.
I'm not saying he has to run the RR offense with Denard, but if he isn't going to allow the team to audible into plays that take advantage of the skillsets on the field (not just Denard, but Gallon, Gardner, etc.) because they don't mesh with his philosophy, that's on him. And for all the talk about the PA being a "great" counter to blitzing, it works when you have established a competent running attack. Outside of Denard this year, show me evidence that Borges or this team has established that as a threat?
And yeah for Price in Washington. He's a very good QB. I'm happy he threw the ball away with immediate pressure. He led Washington to a 7-6 record last year. If you are going to ascribe a substantial amount of last year's 11-2 record to Borges' offensive prowess (which you did above), then Denard deserves a good deal of credit as well; similarly, the gangbuster offense coordinator at Washington must suck pretty badly because they barely won more games than they lost. Of course, the reason they struggled last year was more to do with their offense, and I think Keith Price is one of the better QBs in the country. And last year's UM team benefitted from a great effort by the defense. But just like wins in baseball, records and an individual player's and coach's' abilities are not easily tied together.
September 28th, 2012 at 9:34 PM ^
"UM fans love to talk about how much better we are than other fan bases, but as soon as this team stopped winning 8+ games a year everyone lost their marbles and the knives came out. For goodness sake, people buried one of the better college coaches around after half a season, then watched as he predictable struggled and kicked dirt on him as he left. Not saying he wasn't at fault for what happened, but this isn't some noble fanbase and school."
So true -- Rosenberg was on his ass before the first season started and the incomparable Lisa Horne (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/69799-captain-rich-rod-is-going-down…) was among the many who rushed to judgment.
Dirty the guy and then say "Look how DIRTY he is!" Simple, really.
Obviously history has shown us that RichRod was a mixed bag and a shaky hire for UMich. That's fine. But, a lot of Michigan fans clearly had too much invested in the bowl streak and string of undeafeated seasons. Because RichRod was at the helm when they ended, he'll forever be blamed for EVERYTHING, including the mediocre classes of '05 to '07. EVERYTHING.
October 1st, 2012 at 1:37 PM ^
Among other crimes he didn't commit, but may as well have...
September 28th, 2012 at 10:37 PM ^
bubble screen is not a spread only playcall or check. Not sure what games some people are watching on Saturdays, because the bubble screen has become a counter type of play in both spread and prostyle offenses. I seem to remember MSU running mutiple bubbles against us last year that were highly effective, and they are strictly a prostyle offense.
September 28th, 2012 at 4:18 PM ^
when the D doesn't fear your RB. If Borges can't call plays that highlight Denard's talent then he doesn't belong here period. Pitching a quick pass to a WR who has a corner 10 yards off of him helps give a QB confidence not to mention it puts you ahead in the down and distance game. Borges seems to hate this and as we've seen before (EMU and Iowa last year) he is going to keep plays even if they are not working.
September 28th, 2012 at 4:24 PM ^
I was reading these points of discussion as "not even going to hand-off the ball to the RB!"
Am I mistaken?
September 28th, 2012 at 4:29 PM ^
if Borges can't call plays that highlight Denard's talent then he doesn't belong here period.Well, that doesn't make any sense, sorry to say. Denard is only going to be here for the remainder of this season. I don't know that firing the OC because he's, allegedly, misusing a QB that doesn't fit his system is the best idea.
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