A lot of big formations
Why did you do this?
Oh some attempt at achieving completeness or something. Without actually doing so, of course.
Please tell me you didn't do the other side of the ball.
I did! At least it was short.
Well then. You may as well detail what you discovered.
Ah yes, but let's put in a jump here.
[After THE JUMP: Clark against the best tackle in the league, inexplicable LB sub pattern, Washington falls off a cliff, corners are in your base]
Here is the big chart.
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O13 | 1 | 10 | Ace Big | 4-3 under | Pass | 5 | PA boot drag | Ryan | INT | ||||||||||
| Straight out of the 1950 playbook. PA naked boot from a big formation. Ryan(+2, pressure +1) reads it the whole way and is in Rudock's face as he turns around; Morgan(+1, cover +1) blasts the dragging TE off his route, not that it matters because Ryan hits the QB as he throws and the ball flutters to Beyer(+1) for an interception and free touchdown. RPS +3. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Defensive touchdown, 7-0, 13 min 1st Q. M picks up an unsportsmanlike for removing a helmet on the field so the next KO is from their 20. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
| O31 | 1 | 10 | Offset I Form Big | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Tackle trap | Clark | 11 | ||||||||||
| TE motions to playside and seals Clark inside as the T pops outside of him. Clark(-2) really cannot give up the corner here and does, going upfield and inside of the TE. Then the rest of the D is in trouble as no one moves at all in response to Iowa moving their strength. Well, Beyer and Ryan do. But that's it. Ross(-1) gets blown up by a WR. Henry(-1) is out of position and easily handled. There's your crease. Gordon fills adequately. | |||||||||||||||||||
| O42 | 1 | 10 | Ace twins twin TE | 4-3 over | Pass | 4 | TE corner | Ryan | 25 | ||||||||||
| Nice pocket for Rudock as no one on the line gets much of a rush; Rudock finds his TE; Ryan(+1, cover +1) actually in very good position here and may actually get a touch on the ball. Tough throw and catch with the coverage. Pressure -2. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M33 | 1 | 10 | Ace | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Pin and pull zone | Black | 0 | ||||||||||
| Zoning here with a block down on the playside DE as the tackle pulls around. Black(+1) runs down the line before the C can cut him off and forces a bounce; Henry(+0.5) had nimbly evaded a cut as well but does not get to be relevant. Beyer(+0.5) ends up taking a double here without giving much ground, so back has to go outside, where Black almost makes a TFL and and unmolested Ryan(+0.5) can finish it. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M33 | 2 | 10 | Ace | 4-3 even | Pass | 5 | Hitch | Taylor | 6 | ||||||||||
| M in a bit of an odd formation for them so not a huge surprise when they blitz from it. Play is a quick hitch against soft coverage that doesn't let the pressure get home; Taylor with an immediate tackle(+1). Mild irritation at cushion. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M27 | 3 | 4 | Shotgun trips | Nickel even | Pass | 4 | Rollout out | CGordon | 4 | ||||||||||
| Almost identical to what M runs in these situations with a bit of a pick from the lead receiver in a stack allowing the guy running a short out behind him to get open. No contact though and CGordon(-0.5, cover -1) doesn't even make contact after the catch, want something a bit better here. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M23 | 1 | 10 | I-Form twins | 4-3 over | Pass | 4 | Throwaway | Taylor | Inc | ||||||||||
| Token PA and a Taylor(+1, cover +1) versus Polish Hat matchup that Rudock doesn't like as Taylor jumps the route. He's out of options on this side of the field and starts moving around, allowing Henry(+0.5) to read and run at him kind of impressively for a big guy. Rudock throws it away after the third guy in the pattern can't get open(cover+1). | |||||||||||||||||||
| M23 | 2 | 10 | I-Form | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Iso | Clark | 2 | ||||||||||
| Running at Ross's face. Ross(-0.5) makes contact at the LOS and does okay but gets pushed inside, which means he's not funneling to Bolden, his unblocked help. Clark(+1) bails him out with a nice play in which he holds off the tackle and fills the gap inside. Bolden(+0.5) had a very fast flow around the DT mess right to the POA. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M21 | 3 | 8 | Shotgun trips | 3-3-5 nickel | Pass | 3 | Scramble | Clark | 3 | ||||||||||
| Clark(+1, pressure +1) gets enough of a rush on Scherff to flush Rudock up in the pocket, where he's got no immediate options since Bolden(+0.5), Countess(+0.5), and Taylor(+0.5) are in the pockets of their guys (cover +2). Ryan is spying and completes the flush, making an ankle tackle after a few yards. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Missed FG(35), 7-0, 9 min 1st Q. Three and out followed by punt shank set Iowa up in good position for next drive. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
| M45 | 1 | 10 | Ace Big | 4-3 over | Run | N/A | Zone stretch | Ross | 2 (Pen -13) | ||||||||||
| Washington(+1) in at NT. He attacks and discards the backside G, cutting off any cutback lanes. Beyer(-1) sealed away. Clark kind of falls over in the way, not exactly textbook but he does further constrict Weisman's options; Ross(+1) dodges a blocker and makes a tackle near the LOS. Iowa picks up an irrelevant clip away from the play. | |||||||||||||||||||
| O40 | 1 | 23 | Ace 3-wide | 4-3 even | Pass | 4 | Out | CGordon | 18 | ||||||||||
| Absolutely zero pressure(-3) as Rudock has all day and finds a wide open WR as CGordon(-2, cover -2) sucks up on an underneath route instead of covering the long guy on first and 25. RPS -1; leaving CGordon out there against Martin-Manley in this situation is goofy. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M40 | 2 | 5 | I-Form twins | 4-3 over | Run | N/A | Inside zone | Bolden | 10 | ||||||||||
| M slants away from the play. Both Iowa OL who are over guys slanting away playside read it and immediately release, getting out on Ross and Bolden. Both try to go upfield; Ross makes it. Bolden(-1) does not. Beyer(-1) and Washington(-0.5) creased; think this is more Beyer but can't be sure. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M30 | 1 | 10 | Ace twins twin TE | 4-3 over | Pass | 4 | Scramble | Bolden | 18 | ||||||||||
| Big gap opens up on the right side of Michigan's line as Clark gets upfield and Washington tries to leap into Rudock's throwing lane. This would be fine except both linebackers go with the release valve out of the backfield. I am not entirely sure what the responsibilities here are but I am pretty sure that both have coverage of #3 if the guy comes out to their side. Guy comes out to Ross's side and then breaks across Bolden. Ross goes with him the whole play; Bolden(-2) takes three steps to the guy and then is like “oh crap.” Bolden is looking the QB here, in a robber zone, and lets it go. Cover +2, though. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M12 | 1 | 10 | Offset I Form Big | 4-4 under | Run | Rush | Tackle trap | Ojemudia | 3 | ||||||||||
| Same play that Clark got creased on earlier. Ojemudia(+1) isn't having that, flaring out when the TE motions to him and fighting him the whole way. With Henry(+1) winning his battle along the there's no cutback, and there is a pile of everything eventually after a couple yards. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M9 | 2 | 7 | Offset I Form Big | 4-4 over | Run | N/A | Zone stretch | Ross | 4 | ||||||||||
| Black(-1) is lined up head-on the center and steps opposite the rest of the line on the snap, instant crease. Bad bad news for Michigan but Ross(+1) takes on a totally unfettered blocker in a bunch of space and manages to slip him to submarine the ballcarrier. Henry(+0.5) flowed down the line and helped tackle from the backside. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M5 | 3 | 3 | Shotgun trips | Nickel even | Pass | 4 | Improv | Wilson | 5 | ||||||||||
| No pressure(-3) and Rudock can scramble outside the pocket at his leisure. Then bad luck in the secondary as a good Ross chuck on Polish Hat knocks the TE right into Wilson(-0.5, cover -1) and when he bounces off that's some separation. Think Wilson should be getting over the top a bit faster. No Clark on this play, FWIW. Ojemudia. Unwise? | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Touchdown, 7-7, 3 min 1st Q. Three and out, shanked punt. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
| M42 | 1 | 10 | Ace Big | 4-3 over | Pass | 4 | Dumpoff | Black | 8 | ||||||||||
| No pressure(-2); Black(-1) specifically gets out of his lane, allowing Rudock to step up and throw a dumpoff to Weisman that is about a two yard pass so the LBs have no time to react. Thus dumpoff is productive. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M34 | 2 | 2 | I-Form twins | 4-4 even press | Run | N/A | Outside zone | Clark | -3 | ||||||||||
| Stunt blows this up with Clark(+2) slashing into the backfield to hit the back almost on the handoff. Gordon(+0.5) also cutting off things; Henry helps clean up after the back is delayed by Clark. RPS +2. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M37 | 3 | 5 | Shotgun empty | Nickel even | Pass | 5 | Slant | Black | Inc | ||||||||||
| Black(+1, pressure +1) bats it down. Think TGordon(-0.5, cover -1) was beat. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M37 | 4 | 5 | Shotgun empty | Okie zero | Pass | 5 | Out | CGordon | Inc | ||||||||||
| Six guys at line for five blockers, Iowa lets outside guy go, Rudock looks to the other side. M is dropping CGordon(+1, cover +1) right into the flat here and he leaps to deflect the pass. RPS +2. This preyed on Iowa's assumed reaction to a cover zero blitz like this. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Turnover on downs, 7-7, 1 min 1st Q. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
| O3 | 1 | 10 | I-Form Big | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Inside zone | Washington | 5 | ||||||||||
| Iowa straight singles both DTs to get to the LBs; Washington(-0.5) does meh, standing up the C and doing not much else, still creases. Ditto Henry(-0.5), who flows down the line to tackle from behind after a decent gain. Need your DTs to disrupt more if they're getting straight singled. Clark(-1) flew way upfield and there was a big cutback lane as he focused pass. | |||||||||||||||||||
| O8 | 2 | 5 | I-Form Big | 4-4 over | Run | N/A | Zone stretch | Ross | 20 | ||||||||||
| Washington(-2) gets caught going upfield and Iowa steps around on the stretch. Ross(-2) goes around a block to the inside, providing a nice lane for Weisman; Bolden(-0.5) slowed up to check a cutback lane that was patently not there. | |||||||||||||||||||
| O28 | 1 | 10 | I-Form Big | 4-3 under | Pass | 4 | Flea flicker | Avery | Inc | ||||||||||
| Avery(+1, cover +2) is all over the top of this, no sale on the flea flicker, but takes a really bad angle to the ball and instead of having an interception allows the WR a play on the ball. Maybe the wind knocked this down? Doesn't look like the WR has much of an idea either. RPS +1. | |||||||||||||||||||
| O28 | 2 | 10 | Ace twins twin TE | 4-3 over | Pass | N/A | Slot screen | Ryan | 1 | ||||||||||
| I don't know what to call this; it's Michigan's throwback screen with the playside G and T booking but to a slot receiver on the hash marks. Ryan(+2) takes advantage of a poor throw to slash upfield and sling KMM to the ground after a minimal gain. Wormley and Bolden looked to have this covered for a few more if Ryan doesn't make a nice play. | |||||||||||||||||||
| O29 | 3 | 9 | Shotgun trips | 3-3-5 nickel | Pass | 3 | Out | Countess | INT | ||||||||||
| Michigan drops eight, with Clark(+0.5) getting some harassing pressure that may induce a bad decision. That decision: throwing an out that the eight man coverage covers; Cam Gordon is out in the flat, Rudock thinks Countess is the flat guy, Countess(+4, cover +3) baits like that is his assignment, and then he drops into the route. Very similar to his ND pick. RPS +2. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Interception, 7-7, 12 min 2nd Q. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
| O24 | 1 | 10 | Ace | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | End-around | Clark | 7 | ||||||||||
| They've seen Clark getting out of his lane here and they call something to own that. Looks like a stretch, WR coming back around the backside, big hole as Clark(-1) gets upfield and Gedeon(-1) does not read it. RPS -1. | |||||||||||||||||||
| O31 | 2 | 3 | Ace Big | 4-4 over | Run | N/A | Zone stretch | Wormley | 1 | ||||||||||
| Bust by Iowa's center allows Henry(+0.5) a free run up the middle. Gedeon(+0.5) has a free flow and does well with it; Wormley(+0.5) comes off a block to finish the play after Henry slows it up. | |||||||||||||||||||
| O32 | 3 | 2 | I-Form Big | 4-4 over | Run | N/A | Zone stretch | Clark | -1 | ||||||||||
| Clark(+3) whips the inline Iowa TE, knocking him back, forcing a bounce, and then shoving off his blocker again to initiate a tackle. Solo TFL against a blocker is +3. Wilson(+1) flows down quickly to check that inside gap and then finishes the tackle. Henry(-1) got beat badly on the zone and Gedeon(-1) took a bad angle and then got thrown backwards by the OL. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 14-7, 6 min 2nd Q. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
| O13 | 1 | 10 | I-Form Twins | 4-3 over | Pass | 5 | Waggle FB flat | Taylor | Inc | ||||||||||
| Corner blitz from M, but Michigan has this covered pretty well with Ross(+0.5), who is about to flow out to the FB... until the LT blocks him four yards downfield. They have to get this fixed. Taylor(+0.5, pressure +1) is in QBs face as he turns around and forces a bad throw that hits the ground. Waggles are dumb. | |||||||||||||||||||
| O13 | 2 | 10 | Ace 3-wide | 4-3 over | Pass | 4 | Dumpoff | Ryan | Inc | ||||||||||
| PA, no sale. Rush just about stoned but Clark is coming through to harass so a pass; Coverage(+1) is good for two beats and then QB dumps it off; Ryan(+1, cover +1) does a seek and destroy on a badly thrown hospital ball. | |||||||||||||||||||
| O13 | 3 | 10 | Shotgun trips | Nickel even | Pass | 5 | Hitch | Avery | 8 | ||||||||||
| Corner blitz from short side with Clark dropping on other side. Does get Taylor(+0.5) through; QB dumps to the two yard hitch that Taylor vacated. Gets a bit dodgy as Avery does a sketchy job covering and tackling... but he does tackle with help. (Pressure +1, RPS +1). | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 14-7, 3 min 2nd Q. KO return sets up short field drive starting with 30 sec on clock. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
| M39 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | Nickel even | Pass | 4 | FB wheel | Ross | 17 | ||||||||||
| I don't blame Ross for this; he got intentionally picked off this route by a WR and still forced a back shoulder completion. RPS -2; caught man coverage. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M22 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun trips | 3-3-5 nickel | Run | N/A | Draw | Taylor | 3 | ||||||||||
| Momentarily looks terrifying as M is in pure pass mode and only rushes three and LBs are taking unblocked guys way downfield and then the fact that it's zone comes into play and Taylor(+1, tackling +1) comes up to hew down Bullock. RPS even I guess? Looked big but then zone and fact Taylor is looking at it the whole way bailed them out. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M19 | 2 | 7 | Shotgun trips | 3-3-5 nickel | Pass | 3 | Throwaway | Clark | Inc | ||||||||||
| Clark(+2, pressure +2) straight up whips the RT, forcing a throwaway into the sideline. Cover +1, not even close to a completion. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M19 | 3 | 7 | Shotgun trips | 3-3-5 nickel | Pass | 3 | Scramble | N/A | 0 | ||||||||||
| Coverage(+1) good for a beat and then Rudock takes off despite not particularly heavy pressure, getting nothing. Bad by Iowa more than great by M. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Missed FG(36), 21-7, EOH. Iowa's FG is biffed as holder cannot handle snap. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
| O30 | 1 | 10 | I-Form Big | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Inside zone | Henry | 13 | ||||||||||
| Beyer(+1) does a good job to get under his guy and slide through the line, cutting off the A gap; Black(-1) gives up ground and ends up pancaked, though Beyer saves his bacon. Henry(-1) gets his head down and is shoved way too far down the line, opening up a big cutback lane; Ross(-1) is unblocked and while he's in a lot of space this should be his game against a meh back. He takes a bad angle and misses a diving tackle(-1) that would have held this to five. | |||||||||||||||||||
| O43 | 1 | 10 | I-Form twins | 4-3 over | Run | N/A | Inside zone | Black | 2 | ||||||||||
| M aligned oddly, suggesting blitz, and they do go with a twist blitz from both ILBs. Black is shooting playside as a result and gets his helmet past the C; he takes on a G and holds his ground as that G gets confused and tries to hit CGordon, expecting that the C will help. C's on one of the LBs. Black(+1) makes the tackle. RPS +1. | |||||||||||||||||||
| O45 | 2 | 8 | Shotgun empty | Okie two | Pass | 3 | Slant | Avery | 55 | ||||||||||
| Avery(-2, cover -2) blows the coverage, taking two steps to a flat zone that a guy dropping off the line is taking. TGordon(-3, tackling -3) then misses a tackle to tack on a bunch more yards... in fact one touchdown's worth. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Touchdown, 21-14, 13 min 3rd Q. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
| O26 | 1 | 10 | Ace | 4-3 under | Pass | 4 | PA dumpoff | Ross | 10 | ||||||||||
| Play action; Clark(+1, pressure +1) beats the RT and forces Rudock up into the pocket; Ross(-2, cover -2) has blown a coverage, running after the TE who Wilson has and leaving a simple dumpoff open for a nice gain. | |||||||||||||||||||
| O36 | 1 | 10 | I-Form Big | 4-4 over | Run | N/A | Zone stretch | Clark | 2 | ||||||||||
| Not a whole lot of room here as Washington(+0.5) flows well and Henry(+0.5) beats his guy by ripping him downfield and running down the line. Clark(+1) blasts Scherff(!) back and disconnects to tackle; Canzieri can fall forward. | |||||||||||||||||||
| O38 | 2 | 8 | Ace twins twin TE | 4-3 over | Pass | 5 | Sack | Wormley | -4 | ||||||||||
| Zone blitz nails Iowa as Ojemudia(+0.5) and Ross(+0.5) cover both TEs very tightly, causing Rudock to pump and then think better of a throw to either(cover+1). By that point the blitz has gotten home, with Wormley(+3, pressure +3) ripping through an unprepared guard to swallow. | |||||||||||||||||||
| O34 | 3 | 12 | Shotgun trips | Okie one | Pass | 5 | Throwaway | Ross | Inc | ||||||||||
| Another blitz; Ross(+1) shoots up the middle and oles the tailback, and Wilson(+0.5) is a free runner from the edge; those guys combine to nail Rudock as he throws(pressure +3, RPS +2); ball flutters nowhere in particular and could have been picked off if Michgian was a bit luckier. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 21-14, 10 min 3rd Q. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
| O47 | 1 | 10 | Ace | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Sweep | Bolden | 6 | ||||||||||
| M gets caught in a bad play here as they are slanting away from the play, which I think they tip by putting Clark in a two point stance. CGordon(+0.5) does a pretty good job to not let the pulling T just obliterate him but the weight mismatch here is so bad that he can't do much else. Bolden(-1) shoots straight upfield on the snap and while he does just manage to redirect when he reaches the LOS that angle means he's chasing and has to tackle from behind a couple yards downfield. Ross(+0.5) did get over the top of his man but then the second puller nails him because Bolden ran himself out of the picture; despite that he still comes through to finish the tackle. RPS –1. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M47 | 2 | 4 | Ace twins twin TE | 4-3 over | Run | N/A | Zone stretch | Avery | 2 | ||||||||||
| Glasgow(+1) is in and gets held as he barrels the Iowa G to the ground; Iowa G brings him down with him. Refs(-2) miss it. He's still constricted the available space and Avery(+1, tackling +1) of all people is hanging out as an overhang guy, reads the hole, attacks it, and stands up the RB at contact. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M45 | 3 | 2 | I-Form Big | 4-5 over | Run | N/A | Lead zone | CGordon | -1 | ||||||||||
| Clark steps under the T as CGordon(+2) blitzes off the edge, hammering the FB well in the backfield and turning the play inside in little space as Bolden(+1) attacked hard, forcing the pile containing Clark backwards and removing any shot at a hole. RB stops, CGordon comes off his block and tackles with help from Heitzman. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 21-14, 7 min 3rd Q. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
| M43 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun empty? | 4-3 even | Pass | 3 | Scramble | Glasgow | 2 | ||||||||||
| Rudock looking for his TE on a quick out route that Beyer(+0.5, cover +1) has dropped into and then he freaks out when he's got short stop routes to the outside on both edges of the field. It looks like he's going to grab a decent chunk of yards when Glasgow(+1, tackling +1) grabs him at the LOS; pile falls forward. Clark(+0.5, pressure +1 ) was collapsing the pocket, causing the scramble. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M41 | 2 | 8 | Ace twins twin TE | 4-3 over | Run | N/A | Outside zone | Clark | 3 | ||||||||||
| Clark(+1) batters his guy a couple yards off the line, which immediately cuts off the outside and allows Taylor(+1), the force guy, to see that and read that the RB will cut up. He shoots upfield of the TE assigned to him and makes a tackle unfettered. Glasgow(-1) had gotten sealed away by a guy lined up inside of him and Gedeon(-0.5) took a block by the G and was then totally out of the play. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M38 | 3 | 5 | Shotgun trips | Okie one | Pass | 5 | Hitch | Stribling | 6 | ||||||||||
| Heavy blitz is just getting there as the play develops, with Black(+0.5, pressure +1) coming through a double that Iowa has to abandon when a blitzer comes. Can't complain too much about Stribling's coverage(+1) here as he's there to tackle on the catch and may have this down short of the sticks except for the fact that he's unfortunate the tackle is one of those events where the WR doesn't hit the ground right away because the DB is in the way. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M32 | 1 | 10 | Ace twins twin TE | 4-3 under | Pass | 5 | Out | Taylor | INT | ||||||||||
| Blitz wins big time here. Ryan sent off the edge as both TEs go into patterns, drawing OT. Beyer ends up with the G, the tailback goes out in a route, and there is no one to check Bolden(+1, pressure +3), who times well and is in like a flash, hitting Rudock on the throw. This gives Taylor(+4, cover +2) the opportunity to undercut the pass and pick it off. Cover + reduced a bit since the ball was floating but this was a circus catch, so full marks for Taylor. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Interception, 21-14, 4 min 3rd Q. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
| O40 | 1 | 10 | I-Form | 4-3 under | Pass | 4 | Long handoff | Countess | 0 | ||||||||||
| Excellent job by Countess(+2, tackling +2) to wipe this out for zero gain despite playing off. | |||||||||||||||||||
| O40 | 2 | 10 | I-Form | 4-3 under | Pass | 4 | Hitch | Taylor | 10 | ||||||||||
| Taylor(-1, cover -1) late on this out, no real challenge. | |||||||||||||||||||
| 50 | 1 | 10 | Ace twins twin TE | 4-3 over | Pass | 4 | Dumpoff | Bolden | 17 | ||||||||||
| Way too much time(pressure -2); Bolden(-2, cover -2) bites up on PA and then does not get out on the RB; his zone drop is the wrong way with Gedeon dropping to the same space. This was probably going to be a completion either way but that allows a healthy chunk of YAC. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M33 | 1 | 10 | I-Form Big | 4-4 over | Run | N/A | Zone stretch | Clark | -1 | ||||||||||
| Maybe they should run away from Clark(+1), as he makes a TFL after disengaging from the tackle; Black(+2) made that happen by reading the stretch and zooming past the center who's not really trying to block him, getting to the hole at the critical moment and forcing the back to stop. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M34 | 2 | 11 | I-Form Big | 4-3 under | Pass | 4 | Scramble | N/A | 2 | ||||||||||
| Excellent coverage(+3) offsets bad pressure(-2); Rudock scrambles and Black(+0.5) is in position to harass him OOB. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M32 | 3 | 9 | Ace 3-wide | 3-3-5 nickel press | Run | N/A | Zone stretch | N/A | 8 | ||||||||||
| Iowa saw this formation and took a TO, then come out in the same three-wide from under center; it is unbalanced and unsound as a rush D with the line and LBs shaded to the weakside, so Iowa decides to take advantage of it. Nobody even slides right on the snap; Ojemudia(-1) gets upfield and pancaked and that's all she wrote for run defenders. Avery comes up to push Bullock OOB just short of the sticks. RPS -2. This did force a fourth down, I guess, but one that Iowa can obviously go for. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M24 | 4 | 1 | I-Form Big | 4-5 under | Run | N/A | Inside zone | Washington | 4 | ||||||||||
| Washington(-1) blown out by a double team and that's all she wrote despite Gedeon making good contact with the FB in the hole. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M20 | 1 | 10 | I-Form twins | 4-3 over | Pass | 4 | Waggle FB flat | Gedeon | 11 | ||||||||||
| Seriously, they have to get a handle on this illegal man downfield stuff: this is probably going to work anyway but Gedeon is trying to recover from the PA fake when the OT attempts to cut block him five yards downfield! Refs -2. Clark(-1) was flowing down the line instead of upfield at the QB and does not pressure or cover, caught in-between. And yes, Gedeon(-1, cover -1) probably wasn't getting there anyway. Hooray your waggle got you ten yards and not a pick six this time. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M9 | 1 | G | I-Form Big | 4-5 under | Run | N/A | Inside zone | Washington | 9 | ||||||||||
| Washington(-3) just picked up and carried downfield until he's pancaked at the five. I am shocked by his performance today. What happened to him? Taylor(-1, tackling -1) does have an opportunity to submarine him and get it to second and goal from the two but hits Weisman high and gets run over. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Touchdown, 21-21, 12 min 4th Q. The dam finally breaks. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
| O34 | 1 | 10 | I-Form | 4-4 over | Pass | 4 | PA out | Taylor | 21 | ||||||||||
| Nil pressure as Rudock has a million years on a max pro PA thing that eliminates all of this front eight. (Pressure -3). Rudock eventually picks out a WR in front of Taylor(-1, cover -1), who is sold out, sure, but you'd still like him to have some chance of making a play. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M45 | 1 | 10 | Ace 3-wide | 4-3 over | Pass | 4 | Hitch | Countess | 5 | ||||||||||
| Five yard catch, immediate tackle. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M40 | 2 | 5 | Ace twins twin TE | 4-3 over press | Run | N/A | Zone stretch | Gedeon | 5 | ||||||||||
| Washington(-1) doesn't do much except get sealed away here, so a guy can get out on Gedeon(-1); Gedeon makes good contact in the crease and threatens to close the hole but takes the hit too high and then the Iowa guy is under his pads, driving him back. Henry(-1) also got put away so fast that Bolden got eaten up by another OL so there's even a cutback lane as well. I assume these guys are just exhausted at this point. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M35 | 1 | 10 | Ace Big | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Zone stretch | Clark | 8 | ||||||||||
| Bizarre alignment as M runs up in a seven man front against a big formation with CGordon rolled up to the line. So Clark(-1) runs right at Rudock and then has to turn around when he does not have the ball, but because M seemed to misalign there is no one for the other TE to block and a huge cutback hole. Bolden(+1) had dodged a blocker and Henry and Washington seemed to flow well but doesn't matter. RPS -2. Wilson(-1) should have been much more aggressive here to try to hold it down. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M27 | 2 | 2 | Ace Big | 4-5 over | Run | N/A | Zone stretch | Henry | 4 | ||||||||||
| Henry displays impressive strength shedding an Iowa OL but went straight upfield and got creased as a result(-1); Black(-1) also put away. Iowa is getting across these guys facemasks all day now. Bolden comes up and hits a G, bouncing off to tackle, but there's no way he can stop the pile from lurching forward. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M23 | 1 | 10 | Ace Big | 3-4 base | Run | N/A | Zone stretch | Bolden | 6 | ||||||||||
| M slants away; Bolden(-1) catches a block after taking a hesitation step to the inside and cannot funnel to help. RPS -1. Slant made it tough. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M17 | 2 | 4 | Ace Big | 4-5 under | Run | N/A | Zone stretch | Black | 2 | ||||||||||
| Black(-0.5) blown up by the C momentarily, giving a bunch of ground, but he does manage to come through the block when the C releases and makes contact a few yards downfield. Not good, but not as bad as it could have been. Glasgow(+0.5) did a good job on the other G, pushing him backwards and potentially clogging this up. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M15 | 3 | 2 | I-Form Big | 5-4 under | Run | N/A | Lead zone | Clark | -1 | ||||||||||
| Clark(+3) times the snap exquisitely and is moving before anyone else, bursting past an attempted block to pick up a man-sized TFL. Wilson(+0.5) also shooting in to stop it. Henry(+0.5) seemed to have control of the G and this could have been stopped even without Clark beasting up. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: FG(33), 21-24, 6 min 4th Q. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
| O31 | 1 | 10 | Ace Big | 4-3 over | Run | N/A | Zone stretch | Gedeon | 22 | ||||||||||
| Black(-2) turned in immediately and sealed away; Gedeon(-2) takes a bad angle to the hole and gets blasted inside, again giving his help no chance, and then it's secondary time. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M47 | 1 | 10 | Ace Big | 5-4 under | Run | N/A | Zone stretch | Wormley | -2 | ||||||||||
| No room at all this time with Wormley(+1) and Black(+0.5) flowing down the line effectively; Clark(+0.5) comes from the backside to clean up. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M49 | 2 | 12 | Ace Big | 5-4 over | Run | N/A | Power O | Wormley | 2 | ||||||||||
| Wormley(+1) crashes down into the intended hole, leaving Weisman with nothing on the frontside; his cutback gets minimal yardage as CGordon and Bolden(+0.5) are back there to combine to tackle. Bolden made a good read and scrape to get there, so he gets a plus, but CGordon was just hanging on the backside. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M47 | 3 | 10 | I-Form Big | 5-4 under | Pass | 4 | Waggle TE drag | TGordon | 12 | ||||||||||
| I mean. Thoroughly bad by TGordon(-2, cover -2), who has inside help and lets the TE so far outside of him he cannot even tackle on the catch on a waggle that is always going to send the TE to the sideline. Iowa can now kneel it out. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: EOG, 21-24. | |||||||||||||||||||
This was a performance typical of the 2013 Michigan defense, at least before they were disassembled in the final two games: do a good to very good job until the endless parade of three-and-outs murder your thin DL, at which time you give up the ghost and the other team scores a couple times to either win or put the game out of reach. This a game in which a drive by drive overview is useful:
- INT, defensive touchdown.
- 51-yard Iowa drive, missed FG
- Short-field TD drive
- Four-and-out turnover on downs
- INT
- Three and out
- Three and out
- Short field, one first down, missed FG attempt
- Quick strike TD drive
- One first down, punt.
- Three and out
- INT
- 60 yard TD drive
- 50 yard FG drive
- 31 yard EOG drive
That's 15 drives faced. After 12 of those Iowa had netted 7 points and turned the ball over three other times besides despite Michigan facing consistently awful field position since their offense couldn't move the ball. (If you want you can give Iowa credit for the first missed FG drive; the defense still was kicking ass.) If the offense had gained more than six(!) yards in the second half by the time drive 13 happens, you win and the defense goes home heroes.
Obviously that did not happen. On the final three drives they ran out of steam and Iowa started grinding it in an F-U kind of way: five straight plays on the game-winning field goal drive were zone stretches from a big formation on which exhausted DL just could not prevent Iowa players from sealing them to the inside.
Despite that it's shocking that Iowa managed to crest 400 yards in this game. For most of it they seemed as or more inept than Michigan. But their can only be one worst offense (other than Purdue) in the conference, and it is (was) us.
Let's just do the chart then:
[Reminder that DL is a MAKE PLAYS position and being neutral is bad; for a full game you want +4 to break even.]
| Defensive Line | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | + | - | T | Notes |
| Heitzman | - | - | - | Didn't play much. |
| Washington | 1.5 | 8 | -6.5 | Really struggled against Iowa's zone game. |
| Black | 6.5 | 6.5 | 0 | Had his moments but struggled late. |
| Clark | 17.5 | 6 | 11.5 | Had a really good day against tough opposition. Pressure number is mediocre though. |
| Wormley | 5.5 | - | 5.5 | Had an impressive sack. |
| Pipkins | - | - | - | DNP |
| Glasgow | 2.5 | 1 | 1.5 | Held up pretty well when turned to late. |
| Ojemudia | 1.5 | 1 | 0.5 | Isn't playing much with Clark turning it on. |
| Godin | - | - | - | DNP |
| Beyer | 3 | 2 | 1 | Not a strong day. |
| Henry | 3 | 5.5 | -2.5 | Iowa's meaty line exploited his lack of technique. |
| Charlton | - | - | - | DNP. |
| TOTAL | 41 | 30 | 11 | DTs started to flag in his game. |
| Linebacker | ||||
| Player | + | - | T | Notes |
| C.Gordon | 4 | 2.5 | 1.5 | A PBU or two. |
| Morgan | 1 | - | 1 | Absence in this game very strange. |
| Ross | 4.5 | 6.5 | -2 | Put on skates a lot but with DTs struggling he was also going to do so. |
| Ryan | 6.5 | - | 6.5 | Created free touchdown. |
| Bolden | 4.5 | 6.5 | -2 | Consistent mistakes; did help force an INT. |
| Gedeon | 0.5 | 6.5 | -6 | Weird that he was even on the field. |
| RJS | - | - | - | DNP |
| TOTAL | 21 | 22 | -1 | Was Morgan hurt or something? I don't recall anything along those lines. |
| Secondary | ||||
| Player | + | - | T | Notes |
| Countess | 6.5 | - | 6.5 | I don't think he had a single pass completed on him. |
| Taylor | 8.5 | 3 | 5.5 | Great pick, a few bad coverages. |
| Stribling | - | - | - | DNP |
| Thomas | - | - | - | DNP |
| T. Gordon | - | 5.5 | -5.5 | Critical missed tackle led to only big Iowa play. |
| Avery | 2 | 2 | 0 | And his coverage oops led to the above. |
| Wilson | 2 | 1.5 | 0.5 | Eh |
| Furman | - | - | - | DNP |
| J. Clark | - | - | - | DNP |
| Lewis | - | - | - | DNP |
| TOTAL | 19 | 12 | 7 | Zero separation on M starting corners all day. |
| Metrics | ||||
| Pressure | 18 | 17 | +1 | I forgot to categorize it. |
| Coverage | 26 | 16 | +10 | Most issues on TEs. |
| Tackling | 6 | 5 | 56% | Kovacs wouldn't have had that happen. |
| RPS | 12 | 10 | +2 | Wore down late but that's not Mattison's fault. |
Those numbers are relatively low; should be noted that they were better before the late collapse.
So… yeah. Quinton Washington got a bunch of playing time after beating up on Northwestern and was really bad. With Pipkins out Michigan probably felt they had no other choice despite Washington's performance; it's telling that as Michigan got gashed at the end they stuck with Black and even mixed in Glasgow some… Washington disappeared. And I get why. Stuff like this happened way too much:
Washington has to keep his helmet to the playside of the center, here he doesn't even occupy the guy after getting beat and he starts releasing downfield, inadvertently clipping Ross as he tries to make a spectacular, if unsound, play. I hit Ross for a –2 there for giving up that lane but Michigan was in big trouble as soon as Washington went 0-fer on his assignment. This happened a lot. It happened to Black, too, in what was an ominous foreshadowing of the next week.
At least it appears the seemingly odd lack of playing time for Washington was justified. Why, exactly, a very good player turned into a pumpkin for his senior year I don't think we'll ever know. 2012 Washington is worth another win or two on this team, but he went backwards in a way I don't think I've ever seen before. I have to assume it was an injury or mono or something… nothing else makes sense.
Clark was good though?
There were a couple instances where it seemed like he was confused on the edge and either gave up big cutback lanes when he charged after the QB or let the QB waggle for (relatively meager) profit. Aside from that he was impactful. He generally whipped CJ Fiedorowicz, Iowa's senior, 265-pound TE:
That guy went in the third round of the draft and gives up little in terms of weight to Clark. (Note that Henry got blasted one further spot inside, so if Clark doesn't make a big play this is an excellent gain.) This was not an isolated incident. His play really bailed Michigan out of some nasty spots since the DTs and Gedeon weren't doing well against the stretch.
And here's Clark beating Brandon Scherff:
And Clark beating Brandon Scherff:
And Clark ending Iowa's winning field goal drive after the rest of the line was about to die by timing the snap and going Brandon Graham beast mode:
I bet you a dollar Ferentz was one of the guys voting Clark onto the All Big Ten team. Clark had an out-and-out surge the second half of the year; if he maintains that level of play he will be ABT. If he improves on it he will be an All-American.
What was with Gedeon's number there?
For unexplained reasons Michigan pulled their starting linebackers out of the game for Bolden and Gedeon for the decisive collapse. That, too, is a mystery. Michigan had come close to stoning Iowa for most of this game, and then yoink here's a true freshman and a highly unreliable backup in at crunch time. Morgan hardly played after the first couple drives, and Ross was knocked out of the OSU game, so… injury?
I hope so. Gedeon made a number of rookie mistakes on which he got pwned by OL and did not even try to funnel to his help:
That video of Clark owning Polish Hat above also features Gedeon taking a crap angle and then getting flung yards backwards by an Iowa OL.
Bolden was better. He still made more bad plays than good. I'm really checking myself for confirmation bias when I look at him because the coaches put him out there a lot and are now raving up and down about him, but when I watch him I see problems. Here Michigan is slanting away from this sweep and Bolden just attacks straight upfield when it seems like he needs to flatten out here to either pursue and make the tackle himself or pick off one of the guys who ends up blocking Ross:
And on this scramble the back comes out of the backfield to Ross's side; Ross initiates man coverage on him that he maintains throughout the play. Bolden steps towards the tailback, creating a huge lane for Rudock to motor through:
Those are the sorts of plays I associate with Bolden currently. Errors. Bolden did thump the QB on a nice blitz to set up the Taylor INT; I do hope it really has clicked for him. If not he will be replaced by Desmond Morgan promptly.
So what is with the personnel shifts if it's not injury?
We saw decision-making like this at safety for the Nebraska game, when Michigan inexplicably lifted both starters for Avery and Furman. My best guess is that the state of the offense slowly drove everyone over the edge and Michigan started making detrimental changes to the D in a state of panic just in case the new guys would make their rather good defensive performance good enough to win despite acquiring under 200 yards of offense. Here the in-game swap doesn't seem to make even that amount of sense, and there was no mention of injury in the aftermath. So… you got me.
Michigan's fritz out in decision-making through big chunks of the year (PSU, aforementioned safety thing, tackle over) reminds me of Aliens. When that location thingy is beeping people lose their minds.
So those corners: good?
I just want to point out that the two guys we don't think are going to start picked off another two passes in this game, and like all their other picks on the year these were not batted balls or passes that float directly to you; Countess and Taylor earned them. Countess:
Taylor's was aided by Michigan hitting the quarterback but is still a route jump and a circus catch that would have been a 1 if Taylor played offense.
Should be noted that other than the 55-yard TD, which had nothing to do with either CB, Iowa WRs had a total of 62 yards between them.
What was with that long Iowa TD then?
An error by Avery compounded by a missed tackle from Thomas Gordon:
I can't really remember the last time a Michigan safety has blown a tackle that gave up an extra thirty yards, so hooray I guess? Also both those guys were seniors so hooray I guess?
Any systematic problem with football beefs?
Illegal men downfield are out of control. I'm going to bring this up whenever I see it; here Ben Gedeon is trying to cover a fullback, which is difficult when there's an OL cut-blocking you five yards downfield.
That was likely to work anyway as Gedeon sucks into the PA hard but I mean come on. We should at least be able to agree that when an OL blocks a linebacker downfield on a pass play, that ain't right.
How about examples of why the waggle is the Atari 2600 version of the zone read?
Oh yes sir.
But when they didn't give up a free touchdown they did get up to 12 yards at a time for having their QB turn his back to the defense in the hope someone wasn't about to annihilate him when he turned around. The risk-reward there is just so broken.
Heroes?
Clark was the clear winner against Scherff and Polish Hat. The corners blanketed Iowa WRs.
Goats?
Well, mostly the offense. Washington did have a real bad day and Gedeon was not ready for prime time.
What does it mean for 2014?
Frank Clark had a very nice day whilst spending approximately half his time going up against Brandon Scherff. He fought him tooth and nail on the ground to good effect, and while he didn't get as much pass rush as you'd want overall it was encouraging.
If you get left out there for 15 drives against Iowa there ain't nothing you can do.
I am just not seeing it with Bolden yet. Disclaimer for the proverbial "click".
If dudes are pushing past Taylor and Countess that's impressive. I know I know they got torn up by Tyler Lockett but against human WRs Michigan did well, and then you'd expect those guys to improve.
Michigan needs more sources of pressure. If it wasn't Clark and I guess a little Wormley in this game it was nobody. Except on waggles.