Shameless shirt plug: This is for sale in our store.

In case you’re sick of hearing about hate lately.

Formation Notes: Michigan too had a version of their Nickel Over with a 4i-tech (Hutchinson), which I called Nickel Over 4i.

Michigan had a 404 Tite front with their Nickel personnel at times, and also went to a 46 Bear.

Also I added a new offensive play to our list called “TaTa Time,” which is when Taulia Tagovailoa starts running around with no plan whatsoever. Once again, if you ever find yourself recruiting against Maryland, I highly recommend sending the kid’s coach a copy of this game.

Substitution Notes: Snap counts! There were 68 plays before the backups went in though. Hutchinson and Ojabo had most of them, Jeter had as many snaps as Hinton. Ross was pulled at times for Colson/Barrett or NHG/Barrett. Starting corners/Dax went all the way to garbage time. At safety Moore got the start again, and Hawkins left after five snaps, replaced by Moten.

On with the show!

[After THE JUMP: Can they do enough to look like they could beat Ohio State without actually showing anything they’re going to use against Ohio State?]

Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O37	1st	10	Gun Wk	4-2-5	Nk Wide	2	Pass	4	Hitch	Colson	13	1.21
They drop Ojabo into the flat and run Cov3 with Colson(-2, cov-2) as the curl/flat. He gets hung up way too long on the slot and allows a free hitch plus YAC.
50	1st	10	Gun Trips	4-2-5	Nk Split	2	RPO		Counter/Flash Screen	Colson	14	0.83
First time we see this counter action where they mesh like a run one way then the RB cuts behind the pulling guard. Colson(-1) gets yanked by the counter action and caught behind a G, and Hutchinson(refs-1) can't close the gap because he's getting his shoulderpad ripped off and Ross(-1) doesn't banjo back after being read fast enough so neither can close it down and this goes for another chunk.
M36	1st	10	Gun Trips	4-2-5	Nk Over	2	Pass	4	Rollout Out	Hill	5	0.08
Hutchinson(+1, PR+1) times the snap and flushes but a TE chips him and TT escapes. Ball has to get out and he finds a guy open for 5 under soft coverage by Hill(-1, cov-1).
M31	2nd	5	Offset Trips	4-2-5	Nk Over 4i	2	RPO	n/a	Skinny Post/IZ	Colson	Inc	-0.74
Reading Colson(-1, cov-1) who hops up to make it an easy read. Hutchinson(+2) is getting held in Michigan road game fashion but gets a hand up and bats it down. I'd like the LBs to activate vs the run when two OL are 5 and 7 yards past the LOS, but it's no more called than the hold. Refs-1.
M31	3rd	5	Empty 5w	4-2-5	Nk Over	2	Pass	4	Bubble	Hutchinson	1	-3.33
OL tries to chip Ross, M has rolled their coverage that way (RPS+1) and put Hutchinson(+1) in the flat. They try to edge Dax Hill(+1) who sets a hard anvil at the line of scrimmage and the numbers for Hutchinson the hammer to arrive and finish.
Drive Notes: Missed FG(48). 0-0. 12 min 1st Q. The fact that UMD didn't get a penalty on this drive tells you what kind of game we're in for.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O25	1st	10	Offset Wk Twins	4-2-5	Nk Split	2	Penalty		False Start	n/a	(-5)	-0.74
Oops.
O20	1st	15	Offset Wk Twins H Jet	4-2-5	Nk Split	2	RPO	n/a	Slant/Counter Trey	Moten	Inc	-0.33
Ungh just no concern for illegal man downfield as 71 is blocking Colson while this ball is in the air. Don't matter because Moten(+2, cov+2) shot down from his FS position and is going to pick six if it's accurate but it's either thrown well behind the WR or Hill gets a finger on it. RPS(+2) they're hunting for this.
O20	2nd	15	Gun Trips	4-2-5	Nk Over	2	Pass	4	Curl	Moore	5	0.02
Just a quick underneath pass to go from 2nd and long to 3rd and long. Moore(+1, tacklig+1, Coverage: push) is all over it. Refs-1 spot it a yard beyond where the guy caught it.
O25	3rd	10	Empty 5w	4-2-5	Nk Split	2	Pass	5	Drag and Grab	Turner	Inc	0.13
M brings five (RPS+1, PR+1) which gets Barrett in free. UMD's plan is to bring one guy on a shallow cross and have two vertical routes block downfield. Pressure spooks TT into a bad throw; Turner(+1, cov+1) was tracking the whole way so unlikely this gets the first.
Drive Notes: Punt. 7-0. 6 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O17	1st	10	Gun Trips	4-2-5	Nk Over	2	Run		Bash	Ross	-6	-0.74
I can't even RPS this one (though UMD is running this with their heavy back) because it's all Ross(+3) who forces a give and then redirects outside, bats away an attempt at a stiffarm, and tackles 6 yards deep.
O11	2nd	16	Gun Trips	4-2-5	Nk Split A	2	Pass	4	RB Dumpoff	Barrett	Inc	-0.07
Hutchinson(+1, PR+1) is a ticking timebomb as he gets around a G who pulled to block him so they dump to the RB. He's going to be ended at the LOS by Barrett(+1, cov+1) but drops it.
O11	3rd	16	Gun Trips	4-2-5	Nk Split	2	Pass	4	TaTa Time!	Hutchinson	Inc	0.35
Hutchinson(+2, PR+2) immediately blows up a doubleteam and just barely misses a sack on the 3 yard line. TaTa Time! TT rolls and throws in the direction of two well-covered guys at the sideline. Colson(+1, cov+3) has it go off his helmet; if he doesn't Turner(+2) is going to pick it.
Drive Notes: Punt. 7-0. 4 min 1st Q. Foreshadowing.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O18	1st	10	Offset Trips H Jet	4-2-5	404 Tite	2	Run		Inside Zone	NHG	3	-0.22
Looks momentarily dangerous as Welschof(-0.5) gets blown out by a double, but he spins off of it and that keeps NHG(+1) free to hide out then hop outside and stop this for a minimal gain. Hard not to notice he's way better at this part than Junior.
O21	2nd	7	Offset Wk	4-2-5	Nk Split	2	RPO	n/a	Arc TE Option	Hill	11	1.18
Hutchinson(+1) gets read twice then finally forces a dumpoff to the TE while Ross(-1) gets distracted by the RB long after TT kept it. Then the TE figures out how to edge Daxton Hill(-2, Tackling-2), who inside-outsid'ed the WR trying to block him but got stiff-armed down by Okonkwo. Good play by that guy.
O32	1st	10	PIstol Str	4-2-5	Nk Over	2	Run		Inside Zone	Welschof	5	0.11
Tempo(30). M slanting(RPS-1) gets them caught going sideways vs Zone. Everyone stays in their lanes but does nothing grade-worthy.
O37	2nd	5	Offset Str	4-2-5	Nk Over A	2	RPO	n/a	Flowless Counter/IZ	Moore	11	1.41
Tempo(29). Playclock is off but they hop up to get in one more play before the quarter break. It's split flow counter but the TE doesn't flow—just counter steps in as they read whether Hutchinson will go with the TE or crash on the run. He sets up in the flat and lets the TE loose. Hill sets an edge and Moore(-1, Tackling-1) replaces but he was too high (RPS-1) then Okonkwo breaks his tackle attempt, and Moten's(-1) too.
O48	1st	10	Offset Wk	4-2-5	Nk Even	2	Run		Counter Trey	Ross	6	0.36
Hinton(-1) gives up too much ground to a double so the T can come off to pick off the WLB. Ross(+0.5) takes on a lead blocker as Hill(-0.5) is slow to realize he's the free hitter after the motion made him into an LB, which was their best chance to stick this.
M46	2nd	4	Gun Wk	4-2-5	404 Tite	2	Run		Counter	NHG	8	0.55
Tempo(26). Smith(-0.5) comboed down to NHG but the problem here is McGregor(-1) fights to the wrong side of the LT, whose helmet comes off.
M38	1st	10	Gun Wk	4-2-5	Nk Under	2	Run		Stretch	Hinton	9	0.80
Hinton(-1) slow out of his stance and gets reached by the G. He stays engaged with this OL but reached guy means room to run. RPS-1 as M caught a guy short to this side. Colson(+0.5) chases it down.
M29	2nd	1	Offset Wk	4-2-5	Nk Over	2	Run		Split Zone	Smith	0	-0.79
They want to combo Smith(+2) who swims around it for the stuff.
M29	3rd	1	Offset Ace	4-3-4	4-3 Over	2	Run		Inside Zone	Ross	3	0.37
RPS+1, Ross(-1, Tackling-1) as Michigan delivers their MLB directly to the RB and he gets run over.
M26	1st	10	Gun Wk	4-2-5	Nk Even	2	Pass	4	Hitch	Turner	12	0.17
Turner(-2, cov-2) is playing cover 2 very softly, turning his back on a feint to a post. He's 6 yards away when the catch is made at the 1st down marker.
M14	1st	10	Pistol Wk	4-2-5	Nk Over	2	RPO	n/a	Arc TE Option	Ross	9	0.61
Tempo(28). Ross(-2, Tackling-1) is caught behind this again, looks dangerous but Hill(+1) sets a hard edge and shoves the WR upfield to force Okonkwo back to Ross, who gets to 2nd and 1.
M5	2nd	1	Pistol Str	5-2-4	Bear	0	Run		Stretch	Ross	??(-15)	-1.39
Tempo(30). Ojabo(+1) sets an edge and forces this back into Ross(+1) who sticks this time. Comes back on a too-obvious chop block as two guys tried to cut Jeter.
M20	2nd	16	Gun 2RB 3w	4-2-5	Nk Split	2	Pass	4	TaTa Time!	Moten	15	0.83
Ojabo(+2, refs-2, PR+1) beats the RT inside and get gets snatched around the waist to prevent a sack. Ojabo puts his arms up like LOOK! but is ignored and the T adds a hard shove in the back that sends Ojabo right at the ref who's now making a point of looking away. Nice. TT can now escape and makes a sick throw to a Jarrett, whom Moten(-2, cov-1) lost despite having the right leverage and plenty of time after Gray switched. Frustrating safety play but at least it's 3rd and 1.
M5	3rd	1	Pistol Twins	5-2-4	Bear	0	Run		Dive	Smith	1	1.03
Smith(+1) stands up to a double and stands Boone up at the LOS but the one yard is enough. Refs-1 (same guy) allows some major holding and a choke hold on the LT vs Hutchinson to prevent him from getting at this. Hutchinson says something to him.
M3	1st	Goal	Offset Ace Twins	5-2-4	5-3 Over	0	Penalty		False Start	n/a	(-5)	-0.86
Oops.
M8	1st	Goal	Gun Wk	4-2-5	Nk Even	2	Penalty		Power	Moten	4(-9)	-0.46
Ojabo(+1) fights inside the TE and soaks up the puller. Barrett(-1) is now free to attack but he got too far in. Moten(+1) comes down to get an ankle tackle. Comes back on an illegal shift.
M14	1st	Goal	Empty 4w	4-2-5	Nk Over	2	Run		QB Counter CGT	Ross	1	-0.20
Ojabo(+2) slams into the first puller of three, ends up with two of them and delaying the third so Ross(+0.5) can stick.
M13	2nd	Goal	Gun Wk Bunch	4-2-5	Nk Wide	2	Pass	4	Posts	Moore	Inc	-0.35
The way I learned Cover 3 this is on Moten(-1, cov-3) who is the curl-flat defender who's supposed to cover the seam not let anybody have a clean release through it so the middle 1/3 safety has time to look his guy up. He does not do that. However Colson(-2) is the man in the hole with two vertical routes and stops to get a guy who's running right at Moten. Fortunately TT wings it too high.
M13	3rd	Goal	Gun Wk Bunch	4-2-5	Nk Wide	2	Pass	4	Posts	Turner	Inc	-3.67
They run the same play, M has a switch coverage and after LOTS of watching this with friends (and drawing it up) the consensus here is Turner(-2, cov-3) is supposed to be over this (RPS+1) in position to INT not trying to switch with Moten, or at least Moten didn't hear the call. Hill(-1) is in trail coverage but should be nearer. But guess what, TT missed again.
Drive Notes: FG(31). 14-3. 9 min 2nd Q. I've got five clips from the end of this drive of Locksley shaking his head and I bet you the entire collection Ohio State is running some double posts with their mercenaries on Saturday.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O38	1st	10	Gun Wk	4-2-5	Nk Split	2	Pass	4	Slip Screen	Colson	2	-0.52
M in a zone coverage and Colson(+1) shoots up to pull this out after a short gain.
O40	2nd	8	Gun Wk	4-2-5	Nk Split	2	Run		Counter Trey	Colson	3	-0.51
This is how you're supposed to run Counter, with the RB on the other side and then he changes directions, FYI. Smith(+1) stands up his LG and prevents the T from getting around him so Colson(-0.5) is clean but he catches the RB instead of sticking him which gives up an extra yard or two.
O43	3rd	5	Empty 5w	4-2-5	Nk Eagle A	2	Pass	4	TaTa Time!	Hill	Inc	-1.02
Ojabo(-1, PR-1) gets too far upfield and leaves a big gap since Colson is playing rat to double Jarrett. TaTa Time! Hill(-2, cov-2) leaves the TE he's covering early, TT pulls up just short of the LOS, and the TE is now wide open for a catch and run. TT puts it over his head.
Drive Notes: Blocked Punt. 14-3. 4 min 2nd Q. Playing with fire here.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O25	1st	10	Gun Trips	4-2-5	Nk Over	2	Run		Counter	Hutchinson	0	-0.70
Hutchinson(+3) wrecks this himself, dodging inside the wide-set RT, then the puller as well, then making the tackle by himself. DUDE!
O25	2nd	10	Gun Str Y-Demi	4-2-5	Nk Over	2	Pass	4	Curl	Ross	3	-0.15
Hutchinson(+1, PR+1) puts the RT in the backfield and draws a double and a hold (refs-1) that doesn't get called. TT dumps it for a minimal gain that Ross(+1, cov+1) is there to end immediately.
O28	3rd	7	Gun Trips	4-2-5	Nk Over	2	Pass	5	Sack	Gray	-7	-0.07
M shows both LB blitzes, one comes plus Gray(+1) who makes the sack after Hutchinson(PR+3) got a hand on TT, though again his route is too deep for this QB. RPS+2.
Drive Notes: Punt. 21-3. 2 min 2nd Q. Next drive is just a kneeldown and not charted.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O25	1st	10	Offset Wk H Jet	4-2-5	Nk Split	2	RPO		Arc TE Option Give	Colson	8	0.91
They block this like Duo, Smith(+1) comes through the double to prevent a kick so Colson(-2, Tackling-1) can attack but he's ginger about it, and gets dragged. RPS-1 this took out Hutchinson with Jet action and M didn't get to react like most teams do with reads, in part because Ojabo(-1) played the QB keep instead of shuffling.
O33	2nd	2	Pistol Wk	4-2-5	404 Tite	2	Run		Stretch	Ojabo	4	0.12
Ojabo(+1) bends it back and ultimately makes the tackle but Colson(-1) blows it by getting stuck inside and not bouncing with the RB.
O37	1st	10	Gun Wk	4-2-5	Nk Split	2	Pass	5	Slants	Hill	Inc	-1.07
I think it's slants; BTN director isn't showing the receivers. Dax shows blitz and they check to have the RB get him. He comes anyway then Hill(+2, cov+2) bats it down. Pass was at a guy Turner(+1) had locked.
O37	2nd	10	Gun Wk	4-2-5	Nk Split	2	Pass	4	Scramble	Hinton	12	2.19
Tempo(23). Terps are like "watch me cheat" and refs-2 are like "Sure, Go Bucks!" and everybody gets held like whoa. LT has Hutchinson(+1, PR+1)'s shirt mostly off while the LG is riding his back. RT has Ojabo who's getting yanked back twice as he tries to rally to this. G has Hinton's shirt too but that's the normal stuff. TT bails until he gets a first. Not negging any M players for this.
O49	1st	10	Offset Wk	4-2-5	Nk Splits	2	RPO	n/a	Arc TE Option	Moore	2	-0.49
Hutchinson crashes so they arc outside where M has numbers (RPS+1). Turner(+1) might stuff at the LOS but gets tackled (refs-1). Moore(+1) shoots up and gets 90% of a tackle, Ross(-1) can't help him finish, but now the cavalry have arrived. Okonkwo is impressive.
M49	2nd	8	Pistol Str	4-2-5	Nk Split	2	Run		Duo	Ojabo	4	-0.32
Jeter(-1) gets beat by his double, Ojabo(+1) two-gaps the LT, reaching back to find the RB and drag him down after a short gain.
M45	3rd	4	Empty 2w	4-2-5	Nk Split	2	Run		QB Buck GT	Moten	2	-0.65
Hard to stop because Colson(-1) shot into the backside of a guard ignoring all the pulling, so now it's 4 on 3. Ojabo(+2) spins off his downblock and puts Okonkwo in the backfield to stretch it out. Moten(+2) fights through two blocks to push this out short of the sticks, setting up a 4th and short. Turner(-0.5) is hesitant and eats the T but he's waiting for TT to pass the LOS.
M43	4th	2	Offset Ace Twins	5-2-4	Goal	1	Run		ZR F Fold	Hutchinson	-1	-4.25
LOL! Hutchinson(+3) wrecks this by plowing into the F before he can insert, driving him back into the RB's path, then pulls him down. Ludicrous play.
Drive Notes: Turnover on Downs. 24-3. 12 min 3rd Q. Dude deserves to at least be invited to the Downtown Athletic Club. Start seeing lots of backups from here by the way.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O26	1st	10	Offset Wk	4-2-5	4-3 Even	2	Play-Action	4	Scramble	Ojabo	(-10)	-1.14
They finally call one, or at least the umpire does, as Ojabo(+2, PR+1) gets taken down in front of the head referee. TT runs for a bit but everyone knows and the defense is just trying to gather downfield for a swing at a fumble, so I'm not charting the pursuit.
O16	1st	20	Empty 5w	4-2-5	Nk Over	2	Pass	4	Bubble	Hill	3	-0.07
Same thing that happened earlier (RPS+1) as M brought NHG on the left and put Hutchinson(+1) in the flat. Hill(+1) sets an edge and starts the tackle and the two combine to end it.
O19	2nd	18	Offset Wk	4-2-5	Nk Wide	1	Pass	4	TaTa Time!	Moore	24	2.74
Ojabo(+1, Tackling-1, PR+2) beats a double, enters the pocket, and almost gets TT down. Hinton(+1) prevents the usual escape. He chucks a duck that his receiver grabs off the turf. Refs-3 don't replay it as UMD races to snap. Mike Pereira beeps in from the bathroom to say so. FWIW the difference between complete and 3rd and 18 from the 19 is 2.85 EPA. Cov: push this guy is diving back after all sorts of craziness.
O43	1st	10	PIstol Str	4-2-5	Nk Over	1	Run		Stretch	Speight	3	-0.43
Tempo(26). NHG(+2) ruins this by popping the LG to set an edge before it gets anywhere. Jenkins(+1) has his guy in the backfield too and it's going to be stuffed except Speight(-1) got blown out by a double and refs-1 are allowing a lot of blocking in the back to continue afterwards. Moore arrives to end it. Refs then meet to see if they can review the last play and realize they can't.
O46	2nd	7	Pistol Str	4-2-5	Nk Split	2	RPO	n/a	Arc TE Option	McGregor	14	1.71
McGregor(-2) isn't paying attention to the keep and gets sucked way inside. Ross(+1, cov+1) picks up the TE. TT looks for anything else with the space McGregor left him, then picks up the 1st down.
M40	1st	10	Gun Wk	4-2-5	Nk Splits BC	1	Pass	5	Rollout Deep Out	Turner	21	0.58
UMD checks when they see M loading the box and it's a rollout away from the pressure (RPS-1). Turner(-1, cov-1) gets too low in his zone and gives up the out above him with Hill in trail coverage.
M19	1st	10	Offset Wk Tight	4-2-5	Nk Over	2	Run		Counter Trey	Hill	9	0.62
Ojabo(-0.5) shoulders in a good edge at first but gets pushed out and Smith(-1) gets handfought inside but the real issue is the free hitter is Hill(-1, Tackling-1) who is not a LB but has to play one, making contact at 3 yards and getting dragged for six more.
M10	2nd	1	Pistol Str	4-2-5	Bear	1	Run		Inside Zone	Smith	1	-0.44
Tempo(26). Smith(+2) puts the C two yards in the backfield and Hutchinson(+1) gets a shoulder in to stop this a solid yard behind the line to gain. Refs-1 give him the 1st down, surprising everyone. No review.
M9	1st	Goal	Offset Trips	4-2-5	Bear	0	Run		ZR Belly/Arc	Ojabo	2	-0.18
Ojabo(+1) flies in at the QB then redirects to the RB and gets a hand on his waist to arrest momentum—not how you teach ZR defense but it's effective. Colson(+0.5) got around the arc TE and Ross(+0.5) avoided the wash from Smith(-1) getting moved way inside by the double, and clean up.
M7	2nd	Goal	Gun Twins	4-3-4	4-3 Split	1	Pass	4	TaTa Time!	Turner	7	2.56
Hutchinson(+2, PR+1) is around at 8 yards, Jeter(-2) has a sack if he just hops outside a little but can't and gets edged. Yank on Morris (refs-1) prevents him from getting pursuit, and we're into TaTa Time again. Turner(-2, cov-2) has fallen 2 steps behind his guy but it does take a good throw to beat him. BTN(-5) never shows a replay of the routes.
Drive Notes: Touchdown. 31-10. 4 min 3rd Q. Michigan's booth people have to be able to let him know when to ask for reviews. M returns the kickoff for a TD so we're right back on the field.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O25	1st	10	Offset Trips H Jet	4-2-5	Nk Split	2	Run		Inside Zone	Colson	6(-11)	-0.74
Playing to spill here. Jeter(+1) splits a double to give Colson(-1) a chance to shoot up for a stuff; he goes to the G's shoulder instead of the RB. Ojabo(-1) has been moved downfield then chucks his DE but then plants sideways—can't tell from this angle but I assume the TE grabbed his collar and yanked him down with it because no other reason he would suddenly turn his back to the ballcarrier. That allows the back to fall forward. Comes back for an illegal formation because UMD's WR wasn't on the LOS.
O20	1st	15	Gun Wk	4-2-5	Nk Even	2	Play-Action	5	Curl	Gray	25	2.54
Gray(-2, cov-1, Tackling-2) is playing off on a man blitz when the whole point of this coverage is to take away quick early throws. Jeter(PR-1) is unblocked and realizes too late he's got a free shot at the QB but that's understandable (RPS-1). Gray leaves his feet while Tackling and turns a 5-yard out on 1st and 15 into a 25-yard chunk, compounded at the end by Colson(-1) overrunning it. BTN chooses *this moment* to put up a graphic of Harbaugh vs Ohio State.
O45	1st	10	Offset Wk	4-2-5	Nk Split	2	Run		Split Zone	Ross	4	-0.16
Jeter(-1) moved out with little contest so the C can move on to the LBs. Smith(+1) put the LG in the backfield so there's no escape that way, and Ross(+1) steps around the LT to arrest the RB's momentum until help arrives in the form of Moten(+0.5) and Hutchinson(+0.5).
O49	2nd	6	Gun Wk	4-2-5	Nk Split	2	Pass	4	Snag	Colson	9	1.14
Colson(-1, cov-1) spot-drops in Cov2 then widens for the TE in the flat that Gray is over while this guy sits on his hash.
M42	1st	10	Pistol Wk	4-2-5	Nk Split	2	Run		Stretch	Ojabo	25	0.72
Defense is probably gassed but this is really bad. Ojabo(-1, refs-2) got moved off by a double but then straight-up tackled by the TE. Colson(-2) gets reached by the RG and doesn't even try to fight back to his gap.
M17	1st	10	Pistol Str Tight	4-2-5	Bear	1	Run		Stretch	Hutchinson	0	-0.34
Tempo(25) but it doesn't help them as M goes 46 on their stretch (RPS+2), with Moten and Ojabo setting a high edge. Guy who's supposed to block Welschof falls down over the guy trying to ride Ojabo's back, and then Hutchinson(+1) arrives at speed from the backside.
M17	2nd	10	Gun Wk	4-2-5	Nk Over	2	Pass	4	Scramble	Hutchinson	17	2.87
Yeah the DEs are gassed. Hutchinson(-1) gets way too high on his pass rush and sits up there instead of fighting back, which sucks because he finally gets some DT pressure from Welschof(-1, PR+1) who's got a sack if he can fight to the other side of the C he put deep in the backfield. Instead he goes inside and gives TT a lane to escape. Ross(-2) gets crossed instead of containing and that's the last of the yards.
M3	2PA	3	Empty Bunch Tighy	4-2-5	5-2 Over	1	Run		QB Counter Trey	Moten	3	1.05
Ojabo(-1) gambles he can dodge the kickout and misses, Ross(+2) fixes that and gets his job done by crossing Okonkwo and funneling back to Moten(-1) who was slow to get over after Speight(-1) got crushed by the LT and comboed through.
Drive Notes: Touchdown (2PT). 38-18. 2 min 3rd Q. Not that mad—problem with a KR TD after a long drive is you're gassed on the next one.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O25	1st	10	Pistol Twins Z Jet	4-3-4	4-3 Over	2	Run		Jet Sweep	Hill	0	-0.70
They try to edge Daxton Hill(+2). It doesn't work out for them, in part because Hutchinson(+1) dodged a cut block and meets Dax at the hash mark.
O25	2nd	10	Gun Twins	4-3-4	4-3 Split	1	Pass	5	TaTa Time!	Turner	INT	-7.17
Morris(+2, PR+1) pops the RT but stays outside so they don't lose contain. Unfortunately Hutchinson and Smith(-1) stunted and Mazi is unable to get off the LG which means it's TaTa Time! He flings an extremely ill-advised pass downfield which Turner(+3, cov+3) intercepts and runs back. Heel miiiiight have been out but they can't find any angle to show it so review stands.
Drive Notes: Defensive Touchdown. 52-18. 1 min 3rd Q. One more drive but you'll note a lot of backup names.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O25	1st	10	Offset Wk H Jet	4-2-5	Nk Over	2	Run		Arc Read Give	NHG	7	0.60
Jenkins(-0.5) needs to do better to take on this double though he stays in his gap but the bigger issue is Jeter(-1) got widened by his double. Both of their respective inside guys can come down on NHG(+0.5, playing MLB) who lets one by and spills to the pursuit, which is Barrett (playing WLB)
O32	2nd	2	Pistol Str	4-2-5	Nk Over	1	Run		Arc Read Give	Barrett	1	-0.82
NHG/Barrett(+1) swap roles and MB aggressively hops past a double that blew out Jenkins(-1) to the point where he cuts off NHG's angle. Moore replaces Barrett (RPS+1) but isn't needed because Jeter(+1) put his double in the backfield, Hutchinson(+0.5) has a solid edge, and there's nowhere for this to go but down in the backfield.
O33	3rd	2	Gun Trips Tight	4-2-5	Nk Over	1	Run		Stretch	Smith	1	-0.50
Smith(+2) makes a great play as Jeter(-1) got cut down but Mazi has his G planted in the backfield and two-gapped to deter a cutback. Then he gets immediately back over and sheds to help Hill(+1) stuff short of the sticks with Hutchinson(+1) providing a hard edge and assist.
O34	4th	1	Gun Wk	4-2-5	Bear	1	Pass	5	America's Rollout Out	Hill	Inc	-4.26
Interesting playcall (RPS+1) when you need a yard on 4th and 1. Hutchinson(+1) is setting a strong edge the whole way if that's the plan. Jeter(+0.5) and Moten(+0.5, PR+1) force a pass. Hill(+1, cov+1) is in man and in good position inside to make sure the WR can't turn without getting off-balance. He does, he is, and the throw is low where he's got no shot but to hang his arms over his knees and hope to pluck it from the ground. He cannot.
Drive Notes: Turnover on Downs. 52-18. 14 min 4th Q. Offense scores again and deep backups come on so end charting.

This isn’t good enough to beat Ohio State.

Is that really all we have to say about our 10-1 team playing on the road vs the 2nd-best passing attack in the Big Ten and holding them to 1.3 points per possession?

It’s Ohio State week. The Millennials don’t know what that means because they’ve experienced one win in their living memory, and the kids haven’t had one. So we’re down to the Gen Xers mourning the John Cooper Era of their formative years arguing with Boomers with real memories of Michigan being solidly inside the Circle of Juggernauts instead of perpetually banging on the door. Which are you?

I think I technically qualify as Gen X, but by less than a week.

Okay you’re X, so I’m going to be the Boomer today. Grumble. Nixon. Freedom. Lawns. Prepackaged soundbite I got from my chosen 24-hour propaganda cable network masquerading as news that I’ve dangerously mistaken for wisdom to avoid acknowledging any personal responsibility for the disintegration of Western society over my lifetime. When are you coming over to fix Siri for me?

Okay, Boomer. Well this was the non-garbage drive list:

• A 9-play, 74-yard touchdown drive when they were down 31-3 with two missed reviews that would have brought up 3rd downs, including a 25-yard pass on 2nd and 18 from deep in Maryland territory.
• A 6-play, 75-yard touchdown drive immediately after that because Michigan returned the intervening kickoff.
• 17(!)-play, 68-yard FG tempo drive where Maryland kept shooting themselves in the foot  in the red zone
• 6-play, 33-yard missed FG drive
• 8-play, 31-yard drive that ends on downs
• Five 3-and-outs, one that ended on 4th and 1 late.
• 2-play pick-six.

What do you call that?

Unacceptable.

And why is that?

There were guys running open for touchdowns that a better quarterback is going to hit.

Yeah, I saw that too, particularly on the FG drive, when Maryland ran a pair of deep slants and had the post route open both times. Whatever you were hoping to see the week before Ohio State, it wasn’t coverage like this.

Michigan is in a Cover 3. The 200-level thing is want RJ Moten, who’s the curl/flat defender, to at least get in the way of the tight end coming up his seam. That is YOUR SEAM! You are specifically put there to own that part of the field.

The 100-level thing that you expect the freshman to have down already is Junior Colson, the hole defender, gets no depth despite two vertical threats running right by him. Even in spot coverage, a defender in your zone has to be defended through your zone and passed off. Colson needs to keep dropping under that—the crosser is going right into Moten.

The next play Michigan went to one of its Pattern-Match calls but somebody didn’t switch. It’s hard to pick out whom because BTN doesn’t like to show most of the football in their football broadcasts. Want to take a guess?

The guy I pegged is DJ Turner, #5 on the 8 yard line. In these cases it’s helpful for me to draw it up so I can see what would make the most sense. You can see one very clear m2m pair (Turner on the H’s fade route), and one very clear switch here where Ross motions Moore to take the RB. He does that so Ross can bracket the Inline Tight End (Y) with Colson.

That leaves the Z receiver crossing where he’s a minor threat as long as everyone else stays high, and the Offline Tight End (F)  to be bracketed with Hill and either Turner or Moten. You see Turner motion to Moten, and Moten responds by staying high over the Z Receiver. That means Turner is supposed to switch with Moten, just as one safety would bail high and the other come down if this receiver motioned across the formation before the snap, leaving Moten the guy with flat responsibility and Turner the deep safety.

Turner doesn’t get depth, and there’s nobody to bracket the guy Hill is trailing. At least that’s how I see this one. If you have it differently, put it in the comments. It’s a complicated coverage either way, and not unsurprising that your college cornerback in his fourth start would not have free safety switching down. It’s bound to come up again because these are 100% Ryan Day routes, except you’re you’ve got CJ Stroud throwing to Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, or Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Best to work out the kinks when it’s Taulia Tagovailoa winging it over Corey Dyches.

Anyway those were the only major coverage issues. The rest were soft coverage or TaTa Time! throws long on a play’s 7th or 8th second. Considering they kept the exotic blitzes to a minimum—usually just rushing the four DL—I thought it was a decent passing performance even if you do figure Maryland could have had another 80-100 yards and a touchdown or two.

That’s not true I remember a blitz that I was like “Shoulda saved that for Ohio State.”

Okay they couldn’t resist one. Maryland was running a lot of trips formations and having the TE stay in to assist with Hutchinson on the other side. If you’re going to not have any pass threats on that side, we’re not going to just leave the cornerback to sit on his hands all day.

As far as playbook surprises go, Ohio State had to figure that Michigan like any team would have a DB blitz planned for trips formations. Anything else bother you?

They ran on us.

Again, hard to disagree, though there seemed a very good reason for it: Michigan was extremely married to two-high in this game, choosing to let the front deal with a QB-inclusive running outfit without safety assistance. The tempo drive was annoying because they were cracking holes in the line with a puller and counter action. This only worked when Maryland’s double on a Michigan tackle could get to the linebacker, which is bound to happen sometimes.

The issue here is once that happens and Smith gets back into his gap, there’s too much space between him and the DE.

Hill, the slot defender, is only just arriving in the still frame above after dropping under the slot receiver; both safeties are staying high and away from the play. The big negative here went to the DE being blocked by helmetless #71 up top, which turned out to Branden McGregor. Normally the guy playing that spot is Aidan Hutchinson, and he’s got that tackle’s feet on the hash marks. But honestly that’s asking much of your front to do that consistently, especially when Hutchinson is catching his breath. The extra space led to a bunch of 5-yard runs where the guy whose gap it was had to go for a bit of a ride, since the tackles were necessarily coming from that direction. On the other hand Rakim Jarrett had two catches for 20 yards. I thought that was a good tradeoff.

Any other questions before we chart?

What’s going on with the basketball team?

Chart.

Defensive Line
Player	+	-	T	Snaps	Notes
Hinton	1	2	-1	32	Half day, mostly quiet on his side of the front.
Smith	10	3.5	+6.5	43	Was a good day, get that pass rush up to a C+ and star.
Jeter	2.5	6	-3.5	34	Doubles moved him this time.
Welschof	0	1.5	-1.5	16	Got to the backfield, but it doesn't count if you lose contain.
Jenkins	1	1.5	-0.5	11	See him when he's on the field, still think it's next year.
Whittley	0	0	0	4	DNC.
Speight	0	2	-2	12	Moved too easily by Maryland's OL.
Hutchinson	25	1	+24	63	"Oh wait, that's just McGregor!" —Me when when a play wasn't wrecked and I thought it was Hutchinson for a hot second.
Ojabo	14	5.5	+8.5	56	A lot of his positives were "Got held, refs-2" Must fix for OSU.
Morris	2	0	+2	22	Pass rush meh, but held the edge as well as the starters.
Upshaw	0	0	0	0	DNP
Harrell	0	0	0	11	DNC
McGregor	0	3	-3	7	"Oh wait, that's our starter next year." —Me also.
Newburg	0	0	0	0	DNP
TOTAL	55.5	26	+29.5	-	The usual.
Linebacker
Player	+	-	T	Snaps	Notes
Ross	10.5	8	+2.5	55	One great play, still too much Mouton stuff in coverage.
Colson	3	15.5	-12.5	51	His 2nd crash and burn day with training wheels off. 3rd is a cyan.
Barrett	2	1	+1	24	Did a real LB thing. (DO, 3, Prot n/a, +2) for the KR pass.
Hill-Green	3.5	0	+3.5	28	Going to be better than Ross. Battle w Colson not finished.
Mullings	0	0	0	0	DNP
Velazquez	0	0	0	6	DNC
Solomon	0	0	0	0	DNC
TOTAL	19	24.5	-5.5	-	Colson is too tentative, coverage is an issue.
Secondary
Player	+	-	T	Snaps	Notes
Hill	9	7.5	+1.5	68	Kept trying to edge Dax Hill, kept not working out for them.
Hawkins	0	0	0	5	Left early.
Moore	2	1	+1	75	Pretty boring there, kid.
Moten	6	4	+2	63	Not boring enough. Wasn't making these mistakes in Sept.
Kolesar	0	0	0	8	DNC
Paige	0	0	0	9	DNC
Perry	0	0	0	9	DNC
Turner	8	7.5	+0.5	68	No star today. Zone coverages need to get cleaned up.
Gray	1	2	-1	68	I'm nervous too.
Gem.Green			0	0	DNP. Could he have?
McBurrows			0	0	DNP. Could he have?
TOTAL	26	22	+4	-	November Maryland is a B- passing offense. Next one is A+.
Metrics
Pressure	18	2	+16	-	TaTa flushed early and often, holding called once.
Coverage	15	20	-5	-	Three big biffs not punished, the rest on the LBs.
Tackling	0	10	-10	-	Lot of his Okonkwo and a guy they call "Baby Bus"
RPS	12	6	+6	-	Maryland vs. Maryland.

 

You’ve been going easy on the linebackers all year. Are you ready to declare at least one of them isn’t very good?

Ross I’ll defend. He also still makes the incredible play here and there

Ross did get run over on a short down by Peny Boone, the thicc Detroiter who brought the nickname “Mini Bus” (for fellow Detroiter Jerome Bettis) with him to College Park. Brute strength was never either Ross’s game.

The problem this game was Junior Colson. The last couple of games they’ve stopped swapping the MLB and WLB when the strength of the formation changes, which means they’re trusting the younger guys to take on the hard stuff that Ross had to do alone. Colson has allowed them to do that and have him play some slot safety because of his speed and agility, but he wasn’t always sure what he was looking at. This stretch run caught him on the wrong side of a guard, with a huge gap forming outside of that once Ojabo was tackled out of the way.

When he got aggressive, he ran to the wrong spot as often as otherwise. Here he correctly shot into the puller to bend the QB run backwards, but he also put his buddies in a tough position by going inside of the guy. You need to blow this dude up enough that the ballcarrier can’t get to the other side, and get your pursuit going.

And in the early going Maryland had an easy time moving the ball by messing with Colson keying the running back’s direction.

We’re at the point of the season now where there are no more free passes. If Hinton or Smith wins a double-team against Ohio State, the linebacker behind that has to get in there and pay it off with a stuff. Hill-Green isn’t perfect, but he’s aggressive, and in a game where you’ll only get a few shots to punch them off the field, he might be the guy they need to turn to.

#41 the LB on the left

He does sometimes miss tackles (he didn’t in this one) but a third and long this game will be worth more than all the 2nd and 5s.

Mibbie they buckeyes juist haven't seen a real bygae rusher yit eh

Yeah, well I’m pumping the brakes a bit on Ojabo after the Maryland game. We’ve all seen his sick agility by now, and depressingly that’s all the NFL is going to care about. The Maryland tape added one more to the pile, although it was a maybe not a definite:

The thing about Ojabo though is he’s still a newborn pup in a lot of ways, especially when it comes to the kind of officiating you get when you’re pegged as a star. Maryland saw MSU and PSU get away with a “let’s just cheat our asses off and see if they call it” strategy, and that was painfully successful against Ojabo, no matter how he protested.

I saw there a guy giving up the effectiveness of his rush to make sure the penalty was called, and it wasn’t. He did pick up one flag when the guy completely yanked him down. This is just life when you’re a great pass rusher, especially in the Big Ten, and especially at Michigan. Hutchinson deals with it by being so strong he can often still be effective even when wearing a guard on his back and dragging a tackle on his chestplate. Ojabo does not have that kind of strength, and now the book’s out there.

Aye bit hae ye seen mah laddie shut doon a run gam? he kin stuff a puller in the banger lik' a numpty bahoochie.

His run defense too is unfinished, though he flashes now a lot more than he did before. I think having Hutchinson around has helped his development immeasurably, since he tries the same things and generally makes it work. Here he blows up a triple-pull by getting deep into the first puller and extending. That causes a big traffic jam and ruins the play.

He shuffled later, but Ojabo also tried to use his uncanny agility for more unconventional approaches to zone read:

 

Most of his run game issues were the same as the passing game issue: He’s not used to getting held, and his reactions sometimes compound the situation. Fair or unfair, this is part of the job description. It’s also why he doesn’t have a shield in the FFFF chart this week despite the 1st round projections. I want that to show a level of play that he’s not quite achieved. Star, definitely.

 

I would also like to appreciate Hutchinson a little while longer.

Nothing did more to change Michigan’s fortunes this year than Aidan Hutchinson’s return. If you think back to last season, the wheels came off the moment they were without him.

He’s the difference between a moment when you can’t see the secondary and thus worry which open receiver is getting the ball in a few heartbeats, and the moment when you can’t see the secondary and thus start to wonder if your secondary is properly positioned to pick it off.

He’s the difference between the opponent getting a drive at the end of the half to make things competitive, and a 2nd and long that sets up a three-and-out that gives Michigan an opportunity to go into the break commandingly.

#97 at the bottom

He’s the difference between an easy 4th and 1 conversion to keep the ball moving at the start of a comeback half, and the end of hope with 25 minutes remaining.

He is such a difference that your fan brain becomes moderately disappointed when there’s a defensive end who has to two-gap the edge of an inside run play with zero help from the safeties, and it doesn’t happen, and you’re momentarily confused why this +2 event didn’t occur before you see the jersey number is 17 not 97.

Aidan Hutchinson should be a Heisman candidate, full stop. We’ll worry about McGregor next year.

You said Mazi Smith needed a good game to get his star; he had a good game and didn’t get his star.

That was partly a timing thing; Alex asked for the Foe Film chart on Tuesday when I had just posted the offense, and then I made an edit when I was half-done charting the defense. By that point I didn’t have much charted for Smith so I wasn’t ready to make a call. It ended up borderline. To the good:

#58 2nd DL from the top of the formation

As a fat man I appreciate the move #78 makes after he’s been swum around and put on his face. That chill air lets you know the handles are loose right quick. Pull down the shirt and clap your hands—let ‘em know you’re not embarrassed (you are so, so embarrassed).

For those concerned about Smith’s conditioning, he played the most of any Michigan DT this day, and when Jeter was flagging Mazi was fixing his buddy’s mistakes, playing both sides of this block to deter a cut inside then drive the RB to where Hutchinson had set up.

Even #78 isn’t clapping his hands with as much gusto at this point. Smith’s got a motor on him. On the downside—and this goes for the other two DTs in the main rotation right now as well—the pass rushing isn’t violent enough to be a difference-maker, and not controlled enough to be effective right now.

Is that why they kept losing contain?

 

Yeah dude, welcome to The Taulia Tagovailoa Experience, or as I called it in the charting six times: “TaTa Time!”

This is what Maryland does *all the time* man! Alex Drain tried to warn us:

There's something to be said for a QB who doesn't take sacks, and even for one who takes -6 yard sacks. Taulia has the tendency to take backbreaking -15 yard sacks that singlehandedly kill drives because he runs straight backwards for 10 yards, thinking he can outrun the defensive ends chasing him like a hungry pack of wolves, moments before they devour him alive. Building off of that, Taulia ascribes to the "heave & pray" school of quarterbacking, where he runs around frantically looking for a receiver, then finds one, and then chucks it up whether the receiver is open or not.

The difference between this game and MSU/other Maryland games I’ve watched is that Michigan didn’t bother with blitzing at him, and—it needs to be said—our tackles are not the rushing threats that MSU’s are. Keeping Tagovailoa in the pocket was like getting my kids to stay at the Thanksgiving table: they’ll start in there, sure, but at the first sign of something they don’t want to eat they’re outta there. The mere sound of a Hutchinson or Ojabo was enough to flush him in this game. Passes thrown on platform from the pocket: four.

Live I was sure I was going to find too many instances of the DEs getting run out too far upfield, and that did happen. But most of the time when I counted the yards from the pressure point to the line of scrimmage it was in the 8 or 9 range. At that point your pass rushers are where they’re supposed to be, and your tackles are not. I mean look at this: Hutchinson has beaten a double-team to pressure eight yards beyond the line of scrimmage. You ask about getting home: the man’s literally got his shirt half-off and is getting a back-rub.

The thing Michigan can do is pick a lane and be in it:

The Ravens do a great job of pass rushing with big heavies, because they pressure as a team. It’s a ticking timebomb with no escape routes. Neither Hinton nor Smith is all that dynamic, and Jeter is far from it. There’s got to be more control, especially when you’re going against a guy who’s looking to get out in space because he’s 5’10” and you’re not.

If the DTs are going to rage upfield, they’d better win. I counted one instance when the main pressure was generated by a DT, coincidentally on the worst play all game from the ends.

Here too Welschof got deep in the pocket on the wrong side of his block. The lane comes first. As for the ends, this was at the end of a long drive that immediately followed another long drive, with just a Michigan kick return TD in between, and the game was hardly in doubt.

And yes, Boomer, I know what you’re going to say.

What?

I’m waiting for you to say something about the officiating.

Kid, I’m 70. I saw Michigan score the same touchdown four times from the 1 yard line but the linesman wouldn’t call it for fear of Woody belting him in the stomach like he did the cameraman. I saw them call a winning field goal wide. Reffing the score in a blowout nobody will remember doesn’t register for me.

Fair enough. Did you hate everything about [checks notes] the 59-18 Big Ten road win to get to 10-1 in a year we expected 7.5 wins or was their something you found pleasing you want to ask about?

I like that Harbaugh saved all of his timeouts for next week. Timeouts are precious and should be preserved in case you have to ice a kicker later.

So the one Maryland drive had two reviewable plays that weren’t reviewed. One was a 25-yard pass on 2nd and 18 that was clearly not a catch. Maryland got to the line and snapped it, but not before BTN managed to show us the play multiple times. It happened again on the same drive when Michigan clearly stopped a run short of the sticks to bring up 3rd and 1. They moved the chains, and nobody took a look. Tell me there isn’t somebody patched into the coaches’ box who can get that information to Harbaugh in time to challenge?

The annoying thing is Maryland scored on that drive, and scored again on the next one because Michigan was so gassed. Your timeouts can help that too. And you can’t take them with you.

Any other questions?

Why didn’t Turner get a star?

I hinted that he was going to if he had a regular, and then I said something about it on Twitter when he got the pick six. It is, indeed, a beautiful play, if mostly a gift.

But we discussed the rotation above, and he picked up a bunch of –2 and –1 plays for soft coverage. He’s not a shutdown cornerback. And he’s going to face the nation’s toughest receiving corps, probably drawing Chris Olave. Better to wait.

Sometimes I wonder about Daxton Hill’s star, to be honest.

Hill isn’t a perfect player, and probably isn’t a 1st rounder, though his talent is going to be coveted in the NFL. He takes risks, and sometimes they are perfectly calculated and work out spectacularly. Here they caught him coming on a blitz, checked to make sure the RB was going to pick him up, made it clear in the QB’s mind that he was going to have leverage on the outside slant. That’s worth it, because Hill’s plan all along is to be in the throwing lane. Worst case, the ball gets by him and Turner is in good coverage.

Here’s a bad risk he took.

Ojabo got too high on this one and was driven around behind the quarterback. That means 5 to 10 yards of scampering that the defense should have to pay. Hill doesn’t want to pay it, and leaves his tight end. If that ball doesn’t sail there are many yards down the sideline before someone can stop that tight end. For a shot of booting them off the field when the game is still close…no I don’t want him taking that. I really don’t want him to test CJ Stroud in that situation. He was really lucky it didn’t lead to a Tarleston State score.

But really what sets Dax apart is that he allows the defense to shade him towards all the things that go on in the middle of the field while not giving up the edge that he should.

Right! Did they try to edge Daxton Hill this week?

They did. A bunch of times, exactly like that.

How did it work out for them?

Not so great, for the most part.

There was one exception:

That tight end is Chigoziem Okonkwo, a 6’2”/230 converted receiver who’s grown into quite the load. As we scour other peoples’ rosters for potential fullbacks, Brian’s centered on him (you’re not supposed to tamper with other teams’ rosters but I have a Xavier Worthy to sell you if you think it’s regulated).

I can see why, because Dax Hill has that edge defended just as well as all the Daxton Hill edges are defended, and Okonkwo found a way around…er…over him. Through him. Hill has been a good tackler in his career—he’s quick enough to bring down slots, strong enough to bring down RBs, and tall tight ends are lopsided. Okonkwo was a different matter. We should steal him.

Maryland’s other attempts to edge Dax Hill went worse than Tata Time, especially because they were also trying to edge Aidan Hutchinson:

 

And yet they kept trying anyways:

 

Bless their hearts. Smith-Njiba is up next—that’s a challenge of a different level.

Who’s Mr. Worldwide this week? I admit I do not understand what a Pitbull is.

Arms up everybody let’s make a highway overpass! [Paul Sherman]

As a reminder, our criteria here are versatility, the ability to make your teammates better, being cool against long odds, and enjoying time spent under highway overpasses. This is decided after the second UFR. Your top three this week:

1. Donovan Edwards. The running back who led Michigan in receiving, with his 77-yard wheel route alone bumping McNamara from a 6.7 YPA day to 9.3. Wheels route are the highway overpasses of routes.

2. Aidan Hutchinson: It was an RPS+ play whenever he was dropped into coverage, induced multiple Ta Ta Time!s, took on doubles, easily could have gone in the draft this year and left Michigan to an 8-4ish fate, instead choosing to remain in a city in Southeast Michigan that is encircled by highways on all sides.

3. Cade McNamara: Too short. Not enough arm strength. Should have been behind McCaffrey (Jr/5th) and Milton (So/Sr) for two more years. A stopgap until the 5-star is ready. Can’t even run or make a read option. He’s not even allowed to! And yet he’s pulled off the Rudock. He’s carried this team through 4th downs and been their most effective ballcarrier on short downs. Hangs out with Michigan’s offensive line, which is the closest you can get to a highway overpass.

HMs (half points). Harbaugh burned his review to try to get Carter Selzer a catch, so we’ll go with him. Also Daylen Baldwin had four catches (got credited for three) on four targets, and people were still talking about him like he’s obsolete. He’s not.

3-2-1 point system so our standings are:

• 12.5: Aidan Hutchinson
• 8: Hassan Haskins
• 6: DJ Turner II
• 5.5: Erick All
• 5: Cade McNamara
• 4: Luke Schoonmaker
• 3.5: Ryan Hayes
• 3: Ronnie Bell, Daxton Hill, Donovan Edwards
• 2.5: Andrel Anthony, David Ojabo
• 2: Mike Sainristil, Junior Colson, Josh Ross, Andrew Stueber
• 1.5: Mazi Smith
• 1: Nikhai Hill-Green, Cade Kolesar, Cade McNamara, Julius Welschof, Chris Hinton
• 0.5: Blake Corum, Joel Honigford, Chuck Filiaga, Donovan Jeter, Trevor Keegan, Carter Selzer, Daylen Baldwin

Heroes?

Aidan Hutchinson. Maybe if he recovers a fumble in the endzone this game he can do the pose before they review it and take it off the board for no reason.

Maybe not so heroic?

Junior Colson.

What does it mean for The Game?

DJ Turner II has to outplay Chris Olave. If Turner has his own pro aspirations, here’s a chance to prove he can hang with college football’s most NFL player.

Vincent Gray has to outplay Garrett Wilson. OSU’s elite blue chip burned Gray and the other Gray-like guys in 2019. Gray probably can’t hang, but can he overhang?

Daxton Hill has to outplay Jaxson Smith-Njiba. There have been holes all over Hill’s coverage, and Ninja finds them better than anybody. He’s also not seen a guy who can move like he can. Five-star versus more mature five-star. Go win it.

Junior Colson has to outplay his youth, or else Nikhai Hill-Green has to play. The talent is there for Colson to be Michigan’s X-factor, and he’s had games where you can see it coming together. As soon as he trusts himself he’s going to be special. If that’s not today, they have a guy in NHG.

Josh Ross has to outplay himself. Every game has had too many moments when the senior captain looked like it was his first year in a demanding new defense. His best attribute is blitzing, and they’ve been holding him back lately. Time to let that fly and live with the consequences.

Michael Barrett has to outplay his role. He lost the first half of the season to an injury then carved a Viper role into the new defense, putting the five-man lines aside. But this isn’t the old Viper—Barrett’s versatility started to shine through this game. Let’s see what else he can pretend to be. If he’s Mr. Worldwide next week Michigan’s had a good day.

Brad Hawkins, RJ Moten, and Rod Moore have to outplay a clean CJ Stroud. The different looks they’re going to give OSU’s young quarterback are going to fall to the safeties to execute. They may just have to be there to deter the throw, not break it up.

Mazi Smith, Chris Hinton, Donovan Jeter, and Michael Morris have to stand up—just stand up—to a great OL. This year’s been mostly a tour of crappy lines. Even Wisconsin didn’t come close to the juggernaut up next. Pressure together. Keep the linebackers clean. Trust the system.

David Ojabo has to be more than pro potential. Nicholas Petit-Frere is another guy who would be in the NFL if his current program didn’t have more in common with an NFL development league than the fifth-most pro-like college football program. Dawand Jones is a freak we’ve not seen the like of since Orlando Pace. But even NFL tackles can’t handle the elite edge guys, and Penn State had some success.

Aidan Hutchinson has to be in the Heisman conversation. The way Michigan makes up the systemic talent difference between these teams is by having, without a doubt, the most outstanding football player on the field.

Macdonald has to out-pro The Pro. Ryan Day has been running the kind of stuff that every pro team uses because they have access to similar talent. We brought in the NFL guy because the ultimate college DC was exposed by the very simple concept that the pro game relies on, which is my talent versus yours. Macdonald was part of a Ravens defense that destroyed young NFL quarterbacks by making their reads hell. All it has to do is work on a young college quarterback.

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