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FORMATION NOTES: Standard stuff from Michigan with a close to even split between 2TE/2WR and 3WR/1TE. A couple snaps under center; a couple snaps with Mason as a fullback. This is the spot to complain about this director:

It's third and eight, buddy, maybe show us all the receivers.

Cumong, man. There is life outside the hashes.

SUBSTITUTION NOTES: Patterson at QB. The usual at OL except Ryan Hayes got a few drives, rotating with Mayfield.

RB was a Charbonnet/Haskins/Wilson rotation with Charbonnet getting about half the snaps and the other two splitting the rest. Turner's only snap was the near-fumble. Ben Mason got ~ten snaps as a fullback and wing TE. He was rusty.

With Collins out, Peoples-Jones and Black were nearly omnipresent; Bell got almost all the slot snaps and a few in two WR packages. Eubanks was nearly omnipresent; Schoonmaker got the large majority of the TE2 snaps. McKeon gave it a go early but then withdrew. Cameos for Sainristil and Cornelius Johnson.

[After the JUMP: a lot of short drives for reasons varied]

Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M35	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	4-3 under	6.5	Run	Split zone	Charbonnet	16
Weird formation from UI with the second LB outside of the TE and 7 yards deep. Orbit motion, split zone. DE pulled upfield by mesh and Eubanks(+1) puts him on the ground with a shoulder. A little dodgy technique there. Runyan(+0.5) shoves a DE slanting away down the line, big pocket of space. Weirdly aligned LB tries to fill it; Charbonnet(+1) jukes that guy in a lot of space and breaks to the secondary. Weird align guy had a lot of momentum to make this easy but he is technically a free hitter at or near the LOS. RPS +1, big gap caused by the arc threat.
O49	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	4-3 even	7	Run	Split zone	Charbonnet	11
Playside DE pass rushes and is gone; Bredeson(+0.5) gets playside DT and neutralizes him. Giant gaps. Onwenu(+0.5) meets the backside DT and shoves him a couple yards downfield; DT comes around behind Onwenu but doesn’t have a shot since no slowdown. Ruiz(+0.5) gets an OK second level block; Charbonnet(+0.5) cuts behind it.
O38	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel under	6.5	Run	Split zone	Charbonnet	5
Guy over Eubanks is about 7 yards deep and is clearly in man; Eubanks leads him to the hole. You could argue this should be a pull with DE clearly shading down on the run but I bet this isn’t even a read. Eubanks(+1) finds and jars that DE; Runyan(+0.5) and Bredeson(+0.5) wash down a couple guys; unblocked dude in Charbonnet’s grill at two yards; Charbonnet runs him over.
O33	2	5	Shotgun 3-wide tight	1	1	3	4-3 over	7	Run	Inside zone	Charbonnet	4
Onwenu(+1) and Ruiz(+0.5) crunch a DT, with Onwenu eventually pancaking the guy. Mayfield(-1) releases to the second level and gets shed quickly by his guy, who sticks Charbonnet; this is the only thing preventing a first down. Eubanks(+0.5) slid down and cut off the DE decently well.
O29	3	1	Pistol FB	2	1	2	4-4 even SAM	8	Run	Lead stretch	Haskins	29
Mason in as a FB to the boundary next to Patterson. M runs a stretch; Mason(+1) goes outside Onwenu, which draws one LB who he gets and influences a second who Ruiz(+1) does. Onwenu(+0.5) does a decent job with a DT on the LOS; Haskins(+2) first sees a gap inside of the Onwenu block away from Mason and hits it decisively and then breaks a tackle to score.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 7-0, 11 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M18	1	10	Shotgun twins twin TE	1	2	2	4-4 under	8	Run	Split zone	Charbonnet	18
Mayfield(+2) and Onwenu(+2) obliterate the backside DT; Onwenu actually pops off on the LB trying to shoot a gap inside and then rides that guy ten yards downfield. Once that guy finally sheds Onwenu looks around, sees Charbonnet getting tackled, and shoves that mess forward another few yards. Orbit motion and mesh removes UI LB, so there’s no second level. Eubanks is moving down on the split zone and the DE does his best to get inside; Eubanks makes glancing contact and that is enough, but this is dodgy. OTOH, split zone has been four of the first six plays. Charbonnet(+0.5) trusts the block and gets some YAC.
M36	1	10	Shotgun twins twin TE	1	2	2	Okie one	8	Run	Down G	Charbonnet	16
Illinois loads the LOS and comes after any sort of IZ; M beats it with a down G call against no LBs. RPS +2. McKeon(+0.5) gives some ground but gets his guy inside; Eubanks(+0.5) gets a freebie as his guy steps inside too, but he does eliminate him entirely. Bredeson(+1) gets around the slight McKeon push and buries the edge guy. Charbonnet(+0.5) cuts off this efficiently and gets a chunk.
O48	1	10	Shotgun twins twin TE	1	2	2	4-4 over SAM	8	Run	Insert iso	Charbonnet	2
Mayfield(-2) pass sets. Onwenu(+1) has adjusted to a slant outside and locked his guy out; Mayfield’s guy shoots into the rushing lane. Charbonnet has to dodge around this and the timing gets messed up. Bredeson(+1) locked out a DT; Ruiz(+0.5) got to a second level guy well; Mason(-1) missed but did delay his guy a bit so if this is on time could be a chunk.
O46	2	8	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel under	6.5	Pass	PA TE drag	Eubanks	11
Bad combo of an Illinois blitz threat and M’s PA, which pulls Bredeson. Ruiz has an A-gap LB to consider, and he comes, then backs out to loop around. Ruiz immediately goes outside to the DT charging in the gap Bredeson vacated but is not Voltron and can’t get this done. Quick pressure up the middle for Patterson; he flings a sidearm-ish pass off his back foot to Eubanks. Nice. (CA+, 3, protection 0/2, TEAM –2, RPS -1)
O35	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel over	6	Run	Split zone	Wilson	14
Legit six in the box here. They drop to a zone and the overhang guy on the slot is relatively useful but still. RPO action holds that guy. DE tries to dive inside of Eubanks; Eubanks(+1) deals with that and gets him downfield. Mayfield(+1) eliminates LB entirely; Onwenu(+0.5) gets a DT but does lose him a little late. Wilson(+1) breaks backside and has an easy 8 before juking past the slot guy and getting some bonus yards.
O21	1	10	Shotgun twins twin TE	1	2	2	Okie one	8	Run	Pin and pull	Wilson	9
Schoonmaker(+1) fires down on LB; removes him. Mayfield(+1) pulls around, fires in a LB who is non-obvious. McKeon(-1) is inline and gets shot back by his guy. Ruiz has to bend around this. Then his guy flows. Ruiz(+0.5) still able to get a kickout. Wilson(+1) back jukes the guy McKeon couldn’t deal with and then gets a nice chunk of YAC.
O12	2	1	Shotgun 2TE tight	1	2	2	4-3 over	8	Run	Split zone	Wilson	1
Blitzer fires off the outside; McKeon barely brushes him but he’s not really relevant. He does cause an issues as DL slant away from this and Bredeson(-1) leaves his guy after an initial hit, expecting Runyan to pick him up when Runyan has a DL he must deal with because of the blitz. Bredeson’s guy goes and tackles. If Bredeson sticks with guy a LB probably hits Wilson but after more yards than 1. Ruiz(+0.5) gave a guy the business.
O11	1	10	Pistol FB	2	1	2	4-3 even SAM	7.5	Pass	PA FB flat	Mason	Inc – 15 pen
Mason open for six plus some manball YAC but Patterson puts it way in front and low. (IN, 1, protection N/A). Mason(-1) then runs straight, a DB shows up, and he lowers his shoulder. I dunno man.
O26	2	25	Shotgun twin TE	1	2	2	4-3 even SAM	7.5	Pass	Screen	Charbonnet	Inc
Screen is very predictable and the DE to the screen side just runs into the passing lane and nearly intercepts. (BR, 0, screen, RPS -3). Yikes.
O26	3	25	Shotgun 4-wide	1	1	3	?	?	Penalty	Illegal substitution	N/A	5
Oops.
O21	3	20	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Okie two	6	Run	Split zone	Charbonnet	5
Zero read. Eubanks has no shot at keeping DE from rushing lane since he thinks there’s zero read as well. Runyan(+0.5) is able to move his guy a bit and Charbonnet cuts behind into a decently blocked backside DE for a few. This is a give up and punt but I get it; no RPS.
Drive Notes: Missed FG(34), 5 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M30	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel even	6	Run	Power GC	Haskins	2 + 15 pen
Orbit motion, handoff, play that attacks off tackle to the boundary, away from the usual aiming spot. This should work pretty well as Eubanks(+0.5) and Mayfield(+0.5) wash guys down the line; Onwenu pulls and finds a DB who came down to be a SAM on the motion and does get a kickout, though it’s a bit of wobbly one. Ruiz(-2), pulling behind Onwenu(+0.5), goes to block the same guy and Haskins gets hit by the playside LB. Illinois gets a PF for an attempted stomp that actually misses Ruiz.
M47	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	4-3 over	7	Pass	TE cross	Eubanks	Inc
Pocket mostly good but a stunt almost sees a guy squeeze between Mayfield and Onwenu; borderline minus but Patterson had decent time and wasn’t impacted. Time is good enough. Patterson fires past an outstretched LB’s hand, which is good (he rarely tries this kind of thing) but he also puts it at Eubanks’s feet and Eubanks can’t dig out a tough-ish catch. (MA, 2, protection 2/2)
M47	2	10	Shotgun twin TE	1	2	2	4-3 under	8	Run	Pin and pull	Haskins	28
Zero edge; Eubanks(+1) gets around the playside end ands seals him inside. Onwenu(+0.5) able to seal out a guy slanting inside him; Ruiz(+1) stops and cuts off a guy trying to shoot a gap. Mayfield(+2) pulls around and buries what looks to be a cornerback or possibly a lost child, and Haskins can just run straight a long distance since there is no edge.
O25	1	10	Shotgun 2TE	1	2	2	4-4 under	8	Pass	Arc RPO TE corner	Schoonmaker	25
This is in fact an RPO, lo siento. Pull on mesh is probably automatic; Schoonmaker goes right past his defender and has a ton of separation; arc run is also open but this is an easy TD. (CA, 3, RPO, RPS +2). RPS+2! Hooray!
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 14-0, 1 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
O7	1	G	Shotgun 2TE	1	2	2	4-4 over SAM	8	Run	Split zone	Charbonnet	7
Scrape on from Illinois, playside LB flys outside on Patterson. To get the gap Onwenu(+1) and Mayfield(+1) have to pave a DT, who is duly paved, two yards downfield and a yard inside. Eubanks(+1) gets a good kickout on a guy shuffling inside, and then there’s no second level.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 21-0, 12 min 2nd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M1	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide tight	1	2	2	4-3 over	7	Pass	Waggle flat	Bell	5
Ballsy but I like the idea; Patterson looks like he’s trying to hit Black on a deeper route that’s a conversion but wisely doesn’t try to lift it over a LB when he’s rolling out opposite his throwing arm. Late throw down to Bell is a little awkward but made. (CA, 3, N/A)
M6	2	5	Shotgun twins twin TE	1	2	2	4-3 over	7.5	Run	Pin and pull	Haskins	9
Nice patient run from Haskins(+1). Schoonmaker(-1) should almost certainly be blocking down on a DE but he lets him go; guy trips on Eubanks and Bredeson(+0.5) sits on the unexpected visitor. Schoonmaker gets a point back by Never Turning Upfield and getting a useful second level block. Haskins downshifts until a CB commits to a cut block on Ruiz and then cuts off that; Eubanks(+0.5) sits on a guy who tripped; Haskins able to cut past an arm tackle from Schoonmaker’s guy and drive for a decent chunk of YAC.
M15	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel over	7	Pass	Slant	Bell	22
Just a slant against off coverage that’s so off Bell gets a ton of YAC. Illinois is not good at D. (CA, 3, protection 1/1)
M37	1	10	Shotgun twin TE	1	2	2	4-3 over	7.5	Pass	Comeback	DPJ	13
Wind catches this a bit and turns it into a wobbler but DPJ has a ton of separation (route+) and it doesn’t matter. DPJ able to break a tackle for another couple yards. (CA, 3, protection 1/1)
50	1	10	Shotgun twin TE twins	1	2	2	4-3 over	7	Run	Split zone	Charbonnet	10
TE inline; Eubanks releases to the overhanging CB. DE zips upfield, unprepared to shuffle. Mason(+0.5) there to cut him off but doesn't’ really need much of a block. Runyan(+1) helps wash a DT down and then picks off a LB; Bredeson(+1) finishes that DT block. Seems like Charbonnet trips, and then he gets earholed by the crown of a DB’s helmet(refs -3) without a call; he also fumbles(-3). Hooray.
Drive Notes: Fumble, 21-0, 8 min 2nd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M20	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	4-3 over	7	Run	Arc zone give	Wilson	0
Blown read by Patterson as DE dives down and the LB scraping around turns his shoulders inside; he’s moving at a good clip, too. Given all the split zone M has been running this is ripe for a pull; Eubanks even looks back a Patterson(-2) after the play as if to ask WTF. Runyan(+1) and Bredeson(+1) both pave the DL they’ve got but nope.
M20	2	10	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	4-3 even SAM	7	Pass	Cross	Bell	71
Excellent protection; Onwenu and Mayfield do an excellent job IDing and neutralizing a stunt. Patterson calm in the pocket, steps up and hits Bell for a 15 yard chunk. Bell(+2) then dusts the first tackler; Eubanks(+2) jets past him(!), getting a shove on one DB and then extending to a second. (CA, 3, protection 2/2)
O9	1	G	Shotgun 2TE tight	1	2	2	4-3 over	7	Run	Split zone	Wilson	6
Mayfield turns out a DE for a moment; that guy threatens to come upfield of Mayfield and Eubanks(+0.5) comes across the formation and hits that guy. He probably doesn’t need to but better safe than sorry in the redzone. Onwenu(+1) does seal the other guy, pinning him inside a yard downfield; LBs bury themselves in the line so Wilson(+0.5) just has an S. He lowers his shoulder and gets a couple yards after contact.
O3	2	G	I-Form Big	2	2	1	Goal line	9	Run	Split zone	Wilson	-1
This is probably a variant with another name but beyond the scope of this column; it features Mason from the FB position taking the split TE role. Illinois gets this with a slant; their guys dive playside and M doesn't have angles to get the LB level. Schoonmaker(-1) doesn’t get a seal on his dude; that guy pops back outside and influences Wilson to drift further away from Schoonmaker; if he’s able to NS behind this maybe Mayfield can make a tough redirect on the second level and M can carve out a few yards. As it is he gets thunked. RPS -1.
O4	3	G	I-Form Big	2	2	1	4-3 over SAM	8	Pass	PA TE corner	Eubanks	4
There was a scene in Spaceballs like this. PA, Illinois goes nuts, third down PA from four is wide open. (CA, 3, protection 1/1, RPS +1)
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 28-0, 4 min 2nd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M25	1	10	Shotgun twins twin TE	1	2	2	4-3 over SAM	7	Run	Pin and pull	Charbonnet	1
Eubanks(-3) airballs as his guy goes vertical immediately on the snap and shoots into the backfield such that Charbonnet(+0.5) has to cut up behind him. Runyan(+1) able to neutralize his guy so there’s a tiny crack for Charbonnet to get something.
M26	2	9	Shotgun twins twin TE	1	2	2	4-4 over SAM	8	Pass	Throwaway	N/A	Inc
Patterson bails on a perfect pocket like one heartbeat after his first read. Gross. (TA, N/A, protection 2/2)
M26	3	9	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel even	6.5	Pass	Cross	DPJ	Inc
Patterson correctly reads levels and finds DPJ for the first down in rhythm. He throws a wobbler well behind DPJ. (IN, 0, protection 2/2)
Drive Notes: Punt, 28-0, 2 min 2nd Q. 55 seconds, 3 TOs on next drive.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M25	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	4-3 over	7	Run	Inside zone	Charbonnet	0
Blitzball LBs here; Onwenu(+2) is able to get a nice hit on a DT and then pulls off to pick off a LB at the LOS; really nice play; Mayfield(-2) ends up running past it somehow, gets off balance, and DT comes through. Eubanks has a push block against a DE; LB coming tight to LOS behind this cuts off the cutback. Keep could be viable here. Otherwise this is running 6 v 7, RPS -1.
O25	2	10	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	4-3 even	7	Run	Split zone	Charbonnet	9
LB withdrawn, implies man coverage, he goes with Eubanks to backside. Insta-releases from OL any they make it work with Bredeson(+0.5) and Onwenu(+0.5) getting enough of their guys for a crease. Ruiz(+0.5) gets an OK second level block; Charbonnet(+0.5) runs through an ankle tackle.
Drive Notes: EOH, 28-7. There is a final play at 3 seconds but not worth charting. M takes 3 TOs to locker room.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M25	1	10	Shotgun trips	1	1	3	Nickel over	6	Pass	RPO slant	N/A	-4
Charbonnet(-2) and Patterson(-2) conspire to fumble the mesh.
M21	2	14	Shotgun 4-wide	1	1	3	Okie one	7	Run	Inside zone	Charbonnet	-1
This is a decision to run into a +2 front with DBs a million yards off. RPS -3.
M20	3	15	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Okie one	7	Pass	Cross	Black	Inc
Excellent time against four man rush; Patterson checks down to a six-yard route and then throws it so far behind that it’s almost picked off. (INX, 0, protection 2/2)
Drive Notes: Punt, 28-7, 13 min 3rd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M25	1	10	Shotgun trips TE	1	1	3	4-3 over SAM	7	Pass	Comeback	Black	9
Another well timed comeback to the field where Black(route+) is open by many yards and the throw gets wobbly. (CA, 3, protection 1/1, RPS +1)
M34	2	1	Shotgun 2TE twins	1	2	2	4-3 over SAM	7	Run	Insert iso?	Wilson	5
Blocking scheme doesn’t make sense, probably because Schoonmaker(-1) is supposed to kick the overhang guy on an insert, just based on what Eubanks is doing, and doesn't. Bredeson(+1) puts a DT on the ground with help from a trip it looks like; Eubanks(+0.5) pulls, passes up a DE stumbling around, but can’t find anyone to hit forcefully as he gets around. Runyan(-0.5) doesn’t extend to the second level vertically enough and his guy comes over him to tackle along with the unblocked force guy. Runyan did help Bredeson on the thunk.
M39	1	10	Shotgun trips tight bunch	1	2	2	4-3 over SAM	7.5	Run	Zone stretch	Wilson	1
Stretch, slant away. Onwenu(+0.5) gets a guy passed off to him and stops to seal him out, nice gap. Mayfield(-2) helped get that gap but when he releases to the second level he gets stuck between LBs, blocking neither. Playside LB able to get to Wilson as he cuts off the kickout from Schoonmaker(+0.5).
M40	2	9	Shotgun twins twin TE	1	2	2	4-3 under	7.5	Pass	Slot fade	DPJ	Inc
DPJ gets a safety in outside leverage over the slot at about six yards depth. This is an anti slot fade position but DPJ gets outside leverage and there is an opportunity; Patterson’s throw again falls apart into a dodgy spiral and then the throw weirdly carries DPJ into the DB after looking like a nice back shoulder throw. Wind? DPJ has a shot but he gets whacked by the DB on the catch and this would be a really nice grab if made. (MA, 1, protection 2/2)
M40	3	9	Shotgun trips TE	1	1	3	Okie one	6	Pass	Corner	Bell	Inc (Pen +15)
Good pocket on what’s really a 5.5 man rush; Patterson kind of throws off his back foot and his throw again disintegrates in the air, taking his WR into a DB. This is many yards away from where it should be and M is lucky to get a garbage PI(refs +3) out of it. (IN, 1, protection 3/3)
O45	1	10	Pistol twins twin TE	1	2	2	4-3 over SAM	7	Run	Zone stretch	Turner	-4
This is a perfectly executed stretch that’s going to get yards until the MLB shoots the gap inside of a successful reach block. Mayfield and Onwenu reach a DT, LB jets inside Onwenu and there’s no realistic shot that he can make this play. RPS -2. I guess I’m not grading the blocks? I should grade the blocks? Onwenu(+1), Mayfield(+0.5), Ruiz(+0.5). Turner fumbles this but after his knee hit.
O49	2	14	Shotgun twins	1	2	2	4-3 over SAM	8	Pass	Waggle TE cross	Eubanks	Inc
This can’t be an RPO because it takes so long that, say, Ruiz(-1) ends up six yards downfield. He should get flagged and does; Patterson comes around and fires to Eubanks for a first down, dropped. (CA, 3, protection N/A, RPS +1) Penalty declined.
O49	3	14	Shotgun trips	1	1	3	Okie one	7	Pass	Dumpoff	Charbonnet	Inc
Mayfield(-1) beat on the edge; still pushing and Patterson can step up. He dumps it to Charbonnet for what’s going to be not much unless he can break a tackle; misses. (IN, 0, protection ½)
Drive Notes: Punt, 28-10, 8 min 3rd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M25	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	4-3 over SAM	7	Run	Pin and pull	Wilson	5
Orbit motion, pin and pull the other way. Eubanks(+1) and Runyan(+0.5) get edge blocks; Bredeson(+0.5) gets a kick. Ruiz(-0.5) gets jarred back but did get to a spot; Wilson(+0.5) has to cut behind this because there are a lot of guys in the area as Illinois ignores the orbit (RPS -1); Onwenu(-0.5) sees his guy come through well enough to tackle on this cutback.
M30	2	5	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	?	?	Run	Zone stretch?	Wilson	6
Tape mostly cuts off this play but Bredeson(+1) has depth on a DT he controls and Bell(+0.5) gets a decent downfield block; Wilson(-3) gets the first down and then puts the ball on the ground.
Drive Notes: Fumble, 28-17, 14 min 4th Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M21	1	10	Shotgun trips TE	1	1	3	4-3 over SAM	6.5	Pass	Hitch	Black	12
Hooray cover 3 bail being attacked. Black wide open, hit. This one actually zoomed out enough to see. (CA, ,3 protection 1/1, RPS +1)
M33	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel over	6.5	Run	Arc read give	Charbonnet	3
FFS, keep. Shuffle, Patterson gives, shuffle DE tackles unblocked. You’ve been killing them with split zone all day, he’s gonna bite. Patterson -2. Onwenu(+1) fires a DT down the line enough to get Charbonnet some yards. Mayfield(+0.5) got a nice second level block.  RPS +2, this is probably blocked all the way to S.
M36	2	7	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel over	6.5	Run	Arc read keeper	Patterson	10 + 15 pen
Same play, keep as Patterson(+1) sees a square shouldered DE and says nope. DE hits RB, wide open spaces, Black(+0.5) and Eubanks(+0.5) get decent downfield blocks as Mayfield(+0.5) cuts off a LB. RPS +1. Facemask adds 15.
O39	1	10	Shotgun trips TE	1	1	3	4-3 over	7	Pass	PA deep out	DPJ	18
PA, excellent pocket after. Patterson has time, finds DPJ wide open on an out; his throw is so far behind that DPJ stops inside the numbers and has to shield the ball from a near-INT. A rare IN completion. (IN, 2, protection 2/2, RPS +1)
O21	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	4-3 over	7	Pass	Fade	DPJ	Inc
DPJ gets yards of separation(route+); Patterson’s throw requires a diving layout catch that DPJ can’t quite make. (MA, 1, protection 1/1)
O21	2	10	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel even	6	Run	Inside zone	Charbonnet	2
Either an RPO that Patterson blows or just a 6 v 6 run. ILBs both fire hard so Bell is open, FWIW. Still 6 v 6 in box so ok. Charbonnet needs to understand the play, which should hold the slot defender if it’s a run and be biased towards a bounce to the field. He has it, he doesn’t make the read. Onwenu(+1) fires in a DT. Mayfield(-2) bizarrely butt blocks a DE, which is a reasonable and good thing to do if you see a scrape. This is not a scrape so the LB just shoots into the gap and tackles Charbonnet. Eubanks(+1) drove that end off the line so the bounce is there.
O19	3	8	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	Okie one	6	Pass	Scramble	Patterson	5
Mayfield(-1) beat around the corner but beat at 10 so Patterson can evade and escape the pocket. He doesn’t find anyone but takes off for good yardage. (SCR, N/A, protection ½)
O14	4	3	Shotgun twins twin TE	1	2	2	4-3 even	8	Run	QB pin and pull	Patterson	5
Patterson(+1) does well here. Mayfield(-1) blocks down on a DT and hits him to stall but then gets shed quickly; that guy gets in a tackle attempt. Schoonmaker(+1) chips a DE and gets to a second level block. Onwenu(+1) pulls and hits the chipped DE; that guy ends up outside the numbers by the end of the play. This room allows Patterson to cut up behind Onwenu and get it. Eubanks got a second level hit but then got shed, push.
O9	1	G	Shotgun twins twin TE	1	2	2	4-3 even	7.5	Run	Split zone	Charbonnet	4
Probably not a real read. Slant away from Illinois. Meh block from Runyan doesn’t open up a gap; Eubanks(+0.5) does his best to come around tight to this and be useful; he picks up a LB. Charbonnet cuts off the back of this into an unblocked guy.
O5	2	G	Shotgun twins twin TE	1	2	2	4-4 even	8	Pass	RPO out	DPJ	5
Dunno why this has to be an RPO but man coverage straight up on DPJ is enough for a pull and a throw. DPJ gets a yard of separation and the throw pulls him away from the defender; diving catch necessary. (CA, 2, RPO)
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 35-25, 9 min 4th Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
O20	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide	1	1	3	4-3 even	7	Run	Zone stretch	Haskins	2
This has an arc on it that should be a keep maybe but this is our year. Ruiz releases immediately to the second level and that must be what they want so Bredeson(-1) getting knocked back and shed is a him issue. Haskins tries to cut off Onwenu’s butt as he gets a decent block and Bredeson’s guy tackles him. I still get itchy when these blocks are asked for with no chip. RPS +1; that arc held the LB level and if Haskins can get through the line he's off.
O18	2	8	Shotgun 2TE twins	1	2	2	4-3 even SAM	7	Pass	Waggle corner	DPJ	Inc
Playside S bites hard; Patterson has to wait on DPJ to get over and this allows the S to recover a bit. He’s still very much in scramble mode. Patterson throws a Rudock pass where he’s trying to be perfect instead of giving his guy a chance; it wings by DPJ’s outstretched hand. (IN, 0, protection N/A)
O18	3	8	Shotgun trips	1	1	3	Okie one	6.5	Run	Zone stretch	Haskins	6
Good playcall as UI drops the two ILBs on the LOS out and shoots guys upfield on pass rushes. Haskins(-1) makes the cut upfield but lacks a little patience; Ruiz and Onwenu are coming out but got delayed a bit and he doesn’t use either block. RPS +1.
O12	4	2	Shotgun twin TE	1	2	2	4-3 over SAM	7.5	Run	Arc read give	Charbonnet	0
The give here is absurd. Patterson(-2) has a DE shuffling down so hard that Eubanks doesn’t even really have to juke him and then he pulls out into grass. Mayfield(+1) has already hammered a LB inside. A keep is a conversion. On the interior Onwenu(-1) gets stood up in an extremely rare occurrence, but this is probably doomed either way. RPS +1.
Drive Notes: Turnover on downs, 35-25, 7 min 4th Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
O1	1	G	Goal line	2	2	1	Goal line	10	Run	QB sneak	Patterson	1
They get it.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 42-25, 6 min 4th Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Player	Yards
M40	1	10	Pistol twins twin TE	1	2	2	4-4 over bear	8	Run	Inside zone	Haskins	3
Not great; Onwenu(-0.5) drive back a bit by a single block; ditto Eubanks(-0.5). Cutback happening. Ruiz can’t get to a LB, more cutback, Bredeson(+0.5) able to clear the decks for a cutback and a small gain.
M43	2	7	Shotgun twins	1	2	2	4-4 even	8	Run	Pin and pull	Haskins	20
No edge. Eubanks(+1) turns in a DE; Onwenu(+1) pulls around and cuts off a charging DB. LB cut off as well, Haskins to edge, no edge, yards.
O33	1	10	Shotgun twins	1	2	2	4-4 over	8	Run	Insert iso	Haskins	5
Mason(+0.5) gets a lead block but a lungy one that could be come under; Runyan(+0.5) able to turn out a DE thought he cooperates; Haskins(-0.5) nice gap but falls before contact.
O28	2	5	Shotgun twins	1	2	2	4-4 even	8	Run	Split zone	Haskins	3
Mayfield(+1) able to wash a DT way down the line; Onwenu(+0.5) pops off on a blitzing LB. Haskins can cut behind depsite Mason(-1) pretty much missing a shuffle DE coming down hard.
O25	3	2	Shotgun twins	1	2	2	4-4 even	8	Run	Pin and pull	Haskins	14
Eubanks(+1) eliminates playside DE. LBs bury themselves in line; Onwenu(+0.5) gets out and gets cut by a DB, no edge, RPS +1.
Drive Notes: EOG, 42-25.

Points!

Points!

Do they mean anything?

Maybe! I mean, they were points with which Michigan won this game.

I know, but [gestures at rest of season]

Ah yes. Well… there was certainly a waft of Illinois defense hanging over the proceedings, most prominently on Eubanks's touchdown:

Oops, must have searched "spiritual equivalent of Eubanks's touchdown." Here's the thing itself:

Third and goal from the five and the guy covering Eubanks is crossing the line of scrimmage. Good is dumb.

Also any time a Michigan running back tested the edge, only to find out the edge had wandered off to stroke Lovie Smith's beard.

I thought I'd clipped more of these but apparently I felt they were very boring 20 yard runs not worth talking about. This is a very bad defense that's probably going to get the beard, and the rest of Lovie, fired.

Aw, hamburgers.

Well… not so fast, my friend. There are some things to take from this game. Some of them are even encouraging! The constant pie-to-the-face fumbles not so much, but, you know, other things!

Like what?

Like a run game that was a lot closer to last years: a selection of plays that fit together well and can get some RPS wins without frippery. This space has been complaining about the lack of split zone in an offense that is nominally built around it and alternatives to it—notably the arc read. This week Michigan turned split zone up to 11. Michigan's first three plays: split zone. There were four more on Michigan's second drive and a total of 14(!) on the day, making it by far Michigan's most-called run play.

And it worked tactically for quite a while. Michigan's first snap saw the unblocked DE widen out for Patterson:

TE #82 pulling across formation

Eubanks hammered him and with Runyan shooting his guy inside that's a gap too big for one free hitter coming from a weird presnap position to deal with.

These split zones averaged 7.7 YPC, and hey now you've got a base play to run constraints off of. By the second drive, when Michigan dialed up a split zone for the fourth time in six plays, Illinois's backside DE was sure as hell not going to get kicked out by Eubanks. Eubanks is able to just do enough here because Mayfield and Onwenu get huge wins:

TE #82 pulling across formation

I gave Eubanks a push because this verges on an RPS minus, what with that DE selling out on split zone. This is a situation in which you can get chunks as the opposition resolves to shut our base down. Split zone has ceased being a tactical win and has now evolved into a strategic one.

The first of these saw Illinois stack the LOS and attack it with the LB level. Michigan brought out their old friend Down G and got another chunk:

Down G can be vulnerable if the opposition can get its LB level to the POA with a quickness; here Illinois doesn't have one. RPS +2.

Back to the future, again?

Yes, for the Nth straight year it feels like Michigan has thrown over what they were doing and installed some different stuff midseason. This was the first game that had Down G all year—maybe there was a goal line play—and the first one where split zone and pin and pull had such prominence.

Is this a natural evolution of the ground game or another horse switched mid-stream? It's a little tougher to tell than last year; the switch in approach is much less drastic. But since this felt like last year's ground game with some extras attached I'll take it. Michigan's sequencing made sense. Hammer split zone, get a base play, and then work off it.

Also supporting the theory that the run game is shifting back towards last year: Mason involved as a TE/FB on about ten plays.

Hooray! Todd offense!

So you… liked this gameplan?

I did. In addition to a  run game that was callback to last year Michigan also took the cheap yards on the perimeter when Illinois played in the parking lot. This was the only one of three hitch/comeback routes Michigan ran against bail coverage on which the director zoomed out enough to see the route:

#7 WR to top

Michigan should be hammering that when teams give their WRs too much respect.

RPS issues for Michigan were rare and fairly understandable—they got nailed by a linebacker blitz that caught a stretch play perfectly, for example. The approach was good. This was the only thing that ranked but it rankled quite a bit. This is a seven-man front Illinois shows with DBs in the parking lot that Michigan runs into the teeth of:

That snap is with 13 on the play clock, too, plenty of time to check to double slants or whatever. 

But the fumbles! The fuuuuuumbles. The fumbles?

As discussed in UV, this spike in fumbles is uncharacteristic—that's why it's a spike—and still seems like Michigan getting boned by randomness to me. Charbonnet's fumble saw him get earholed by the crown of a helmet without a call and immediately before the hit he did the thing you're supposed to do by putting both arms on the ball:

I'm not sure there's more you can do there. Yeah, maybe get the second hand under the ball but Charbonnet is off balance and going to the ground. Compounding the thought this is all weird and random is that Patterson is the only player with multiple fumbles.

The one thing that does seem like it could be a coaching point is the fact that Michigan has had a ton of mesh fumbles. That's not the work of an angry Michigan ball-security-hating God.

If Michigan was doing good logical things on the ground why did they get relatively bottled up in the second half? Isn't that the pattern of teams who have run out of stuff and have no base?

It is but in this case it wasn't the fact that Michigan was running plays with little opportunity for success. They just weren't executing it correctly.

"They?"

Here we go again. Patterson isn't pulling the ball in situations where he needs to. After hammering Illinois with split zone Michigan had multiple opportunities for arc keepers that Patterson eschewed, to the point of fist-shaking.

If Patterson clears the DE that's either blocked to the safety or Eubanks has to deal with Mayfield's guy since Mayfield doesn't have an angle for the keeper.

But the DE's shoulders are square, that's a give read.

This again? Here's a "give read" on the next play.

Here's what happened:

The dude with the shoulders square goes and hits the running back. First down. This happened on all… uh… two Patterson keeps in this game. The second also saw an Illinois defensive end grab Charbonnet long after Patterson was gone on a rollout.

unblocked ILL DE to top of line

Robotically assuming that any DE shuffling down is a give read is wrong. That guy is going to be guessing a lot, and if you don't make him wrong you're setting downs on fire. So, yes, the failed fourth and two is an obvious keep read with a DE shuffling down so hard he has a zero point zero percent chance of being useful on a pull:

Also some of these were even less ambiguous. Here the DE fires down and the scrape backer turns his body inside as Eubanks arcs:

Both Runyan and Bredeson get wins on their blocks there and Michigan still gets nothing because of a blown pull read. And remember that on arc you should be biasing towards a pull because that tight end only gets to block someone on a pull.

Why do I keep doing this?

Well, bolded alter-ego, I think it's because you embody various arguments being made on the internet and some of these arguments come from former coaches and players—from any program, not just Michigan—who regard current coaches and players as part of an "us" with everyone else as "them," so criticism is met with defenses no matter how implausible they might be. This is why I get the receipts embedded above.

These arguments usually devolve into assertions that the playcalls were good and the decisions were good and the lack of success is due to ineffable factors. This site is of the opinion that a play that gains no yards has problems that should be addressed.

How was Patterson otherwise?

Pretty meh.

SHEA PATTERSON

	Good				Neutral			Bad					Ovr
Game	DO	CA	SCR		PR	MA		BA	TA	IN	BR		DSR	PFF
MTSU	2	14(3)	3		4	3(1)		1	2	4(2)*	2*		70%	-
Army	1	17(2)+++	1		1	3		-	6*	5	-		61%	-
Wisconsin	2	15(3)++	1		7	7		1*	2*	5	2*		63%	-
Rutgers	4	11(1)+	1		1	5		-	1*	3	-		79%	-
Iowa	-	15(4)+	2		2	1		-	4**	3	3*		56%	-
Illinois	-	10+	1		-	3		-	1	7	1(1)		58%	-

That spike in inaccuracy is probably due to the wind, which seemed to affect his throws more than I'd expect. I guess his spiral isn't super tight? It seemed like a lot of his throws to the field got blown into very wobbly balls that slowed down. And then there were various plays on which it felt like the wind was affecting Patterson's throws more than it should. A six yard checkdown to Back on third and fifteen was so far behind him that it was almost picked off:

Yikes.

To the good, Patterson had a nice play on which he beat a pressure by zinging the ball out to Eubanks:

If he could do that with any consistency Michigan's offense looks a lot different.

I didn't see a whole lot to indicate this was a step forward. This was especially disconcerting, a clean pocket on which Patterson's first read is covered and then Patterson bails on the play:

 

This game didn't move the needle; I hope I'm wrong but I don't see how Patterson performing at this level gets Michigan past PSU.

But the wide receivers have to help out?

We get this line after every game, usually citing difficult plays that weren't made. Patterson's throw takes DPJ into the defensive back here and the catch gets hit out by the DB:

You do want your WRs to make some of these plays; all is unrealistic. And… they did. Ronnie Bell added 55 yards after the catch in this game. DPJ bailed Patterson out on an out that ended up just inside the numbers:

There was one flat drop from Eubanks on a play that was going to come back due to an illegal man downfield anyway; I also had Eubanks not bringing in a moderately difficult throw that was below his waist but catchable. Patterson's other incompletions were all 1s in my grading system, or uncatchable.

[0 = uncatchable, 1 = circus catch, 2 = moderate difficulty, 3 = routine]

	THIS WEEK					SEASON
Player	0	1	2	3		0	1	2	3
DPJ	2	0/2	2/2	1/1		3	0/2	4/4	9/9
Collins						8	1/2	4/4	8/9
Black	1			2/2		5	1/3	1/3	13/14
Bell		0/1		3/3		7	2/5	3/7	15/15
Johnson						1	1/1	1/1
Sainristil						2			1/1
Jackson									1/1
McKeon						4	0/1	1/2	5/5
Eubanks			0/1	2/3		4	0/2	3/4	11/12
All
Schoonmaker				1/1					2/2
Charbonnet	1					3		0/1	6/6
Turner						1			3/3
Mason		0/1					0/1
Haskins									1/1

Routes: DPJ ++.

M WRs had the one flat drop and got two out of three 2s; anything else is asking them to conjure yards out of nothing.

But the press conference stuff?

An attempt to boost confidence.

Well, that's cheery.

We could talk about the run game maybe?

Yes, let's.

This is a last year kind of number from the line:

Offensive Line
Player	+	-	Total	Notes
Runyan	5.5	0.5	5	Reliable, not that forceful.
Bredeson	9	2	7	Same as Runyan pretty much.
Ruiz	5.5	3.5	2	Still kind of iffy.
Onwenu	17.5	2	15.5	Mauling afternoon, 4th and 2 only full minus of day.
Mayfield	11	10	1	Offense Mouton.
McKeon	0.5	1	-0.5	Just a few snaps.
Eubanks	15	3.5	11.5	One big play crushing minus and otherwise +++
All				DNP
Hayes				DNC
Schoonmaker	2.5	3	-0.5	Work in progress.
TOTAL	66.5	25.5	72%	Split zone makes for a ton of TE involvement.
Backs
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Patterson	2	8	-6	missed keep x3, fumble
McCaffrey				DNP
Charbonnet	2.5	3	-0.5	meh, no plays made really.
Turner				barely absolved from fumble
Wilson	3	3	0	fumble
Mason	2	3	-1	too much lunging
Haskins	3	1.5	1.5	DID NOT FUMBLE
TOTAL	12.5	18.5	-6	FUMBLEZZZZ
Receivers
Player	+	-	T	Notes
DPJ
Collins
Black	0.5		0.5
Bell	2.5		2.5	catch and run
Johnson
Sainristil
Jackson
TOTAL	3		3	clean
Metrics
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Protection	26	4	87%	Mayfield –2, TEAM –2.
RPS	15	12	+3	a win!

The pattern is pretty well established by this point in the season. Good, reliable performances from the left side of the line. Onwenu mashes. Ruiz is meh, and Mayfield swings wildly between good plays and bad ones.

But isn't Mayfield Getting It? Isn't he a rough and tough son of a gun?

Mayfield, like a lot of young players, is up and down. This was more down than up, considering our desired 2:1 positive ratio for blocks.

But didn't he sit on a guy?!

Yes, he sat on a guy.

RT #73 pulling

That guy appears to weigh 150 pounds and may have wandered in from a playground or refugee camp but he was duly sat upon and I issued the somewhat grudging +2. Football is not all sitting upon guys. Sitting on guys is really a very minor part of football, at least when the teams are fairly well matched.

Mayfield had a number of issues. Some of this is executing your blocks. Mayfield releases to the second level here and gets shed way too fast; Charbonnet gets stuck short of the sticks:

Some of it appears to be a missed assignment or two. Michigan's first unsuccessful run on the day saw Mayfield pass set on what otherwise looked like it was going to be another chunk:

RT #73

That may be an attempt to bait the DE, as we saw PSU do a couple of years ago to Rashan Gary, but in the circumstances—Michigan has literally not passed yet and is averaging more than 10 yards a run—I doubt it.

Later he'd release to the second level and get stuck between LBs, which defeated an otherwise promising play with a big gap in the line:

RT #73

Mayfield had a couple of minor pass pro issues—getting the pocket disrupted when his guy got around at 9-10 yards, that sort of thing—and that's fine. He did move some guys, sometimes in concert with Onwenu. But he's pretty wobbly, as freshmen tend to be.

Another big Onwenu grade. Is that real?

I mean I graded him, I think it's real.

It's just that there are a lot of guys wandering around the message boards dumping on Onwenu. Some of them seem to sound like they know what they're talking about?

I can only tell you what I saw and give you the plays that stood out to me, good and bad. Onwenu doesn't come in for negative clips in this game because he got a total of –2. Yes, one of those was on the failed fourth and two conversion. No, that one play is not worth singling out to criticize a guy who delivered his usual level of crunching blocks.

The Mayfield shed play above features an Onwenu pancake of a DT. You want Onwenu to get downfield like he's not 350* pounds? Okay, here he is IDing and picking off a blitzing LB, then riding that guy ten yards downfield, then getting in a shove on Charbonnet for another few yards:

RG #50

Get some!

Onwenu seems like the steady veteran next to Mayfield, because he is. His ability to ID and pick off charging LBs has been excellent. See above. Also this is a really nice play to get that much shove on a DT and then erase a blitzing LB:

RG #50

Mayfield, meanwhile, gets off balance and can't finish the job Onwenu started. A similar dichotomy happened on Patterson's fourth down conversion. Mayfield gets shed and his DT is almost able to make a stop in the hole; he can't mostly because Onwenu got a giant kickout with an assist from a Schoonmaker chip:

RT #73, RG #50 pulling

If you are an analyst and your conclusion this deep into the season is that Onwenu is struggling and Mayfield is better, you are a bad analyst. Period.

YMMV but I chalked up the Turner TFL  and near fumble to RPS as Illinois perfectly times a blitz. Michigan has to let Mayfield seal here and have Onwenu get the blitzer but neither guy is able to see it in time:

If you want to assign that to Onwenu that moves his grade down a bit. I think that would be harsh, obviously, and it only takes Onwenu down to +12 or whatever.

That's a very last year TE number.

Yes, another indicator that this was a shift back towards last years approach is a giant TE number. With McKeon limited this all fell on Eubanks's plate, and he picked up a steady stream of half-points for split zone kickouts and some more substantial positives when he was asked to fire guys inside on the edge:

TE #82 to top

This is very much playing the video game on junior varsity, especially for the guys going up against the Illini LB/DE corps, and I expect Eubanks to come back to earth pretty hard against Penn State. Not so much that he ends up negative but scraping above zero is probable and he might get his 2:1.

FWIW, if there were any questions about Eubanks's speed—there are not—his blocking on the Bell 71-yarder should resolve them. He blocks one Illinois CB, outruns him, and then gets a second:

TE #82 flying up on the outside

That is impressive. Hopefully Michigan can get him loose in the seam a little more this year; the TE chunk play has fallen out of the offense.

Yes, he did have a horrible drop.

Schooooooooooon

is this going to be like Tru Wilson?

Maybe.

Bah. Anyway, Luke Schoonmaker had the touchdown above. He wasn't challenged but this plus his other catch and run suggest that he's going to be a smooth, athletic guy with downfield upside.

On the ground he was still a mixed bag. He has the capability to get guys sealed inside. Here he's the wing TE:

#86 TE to top

That's a nice job; dude gets sealed inside and can't get around him the whole play. As mentioned above his chip helped the fourth down conversion, and he sticks to his second level block:

#86 TE to top

He had some other dorfs. These were mostly mental errors, and I did appreciate that after he messed up a pin and pull downblock he didn't turn upfield, instead just going to a LB and getting one his points back. When Schoomaker knows what he's doing he's been decently effective as a blocker.

I NOTE, SIR, THAT HASSAN HASKINS DID NOT FUMBLE. HASSAN HASKINS FOR VICEROY?

Haskins was decisive and did not fumble. He broke some tackles, and did not fumble. His opening-drive TD was probably his best carry of the day, featuring a decisive slam into an interior gap away from his lead block and then a broken tackle to score:

At no point during this carry did he fumble. Or on any of his other carries.

He didn't do a whole lot else that came in for grading and I kind of think he's just a guy, but if he's just a guy who is not fumbling we're going to see another healthy chunk of carries for him.

Heroes?

Onwenu and Bredeson. Eubanks, despite the drop. Hassan Haskins did not fumble.

Maybe not so heroic?

Patterson missed three pull reads, was part of another mesh fumble, and had 7 INs; just the same. Mayfield was pretty wobbly on the ground. Fumblor, the god of fumbles, is a dick.

What does it mean for Penn State and beyond?

Last year's run game will be trotted out, probably. I wish we'd done this in game one and then started adding new frippery instead of installing a system with no down G and almost no pin and pull; I kind worry that this renaissance will be cut short because Penn State will learn from last year and Michigan hasn't had enough time to come up with the proper constraint plays.

Patterson does not want to keep. I kind of get it against Illinois, until the point where you're in a dogfight against Illinois. We thought this last year and he got better; if it's not better against Penn State it's going to be tough to win.

Patterson's affected by wind a lot. This was his most inaccurate game at Michigan, and that's probably down to the wind and only the wind.

Michigan's guards are dudes. Bredeson gets less discussion because he's utterly reliable and less prone to throw someone in a reservoir but he's going to be in the NFL a long time. Onwenu is more of a question mark because guys his size wear out fast, but he's performing superbly.

Hooray for hitch/comeback routes against off coverage. They're scared, and it's time to take advantage.

Eubanks is a complete TE this year. Maybe he's not a top-end blocker but he's a ton better than last year. I don't think he'll score like this again, probably in his career—this was a fluke combination of a TE-mad gameplan and Illinois doing Illinois things. I do think he'll probably be a plus for the rest of the season.

The ball needs a phone case to cover it. Do it.