FORMATION NOTES: I didn't find anything particularly unusual from Michigan but I need something visual so here's a gopher annoying a rich incompetent person.
SUBSTITUTION NOTES: Aside from Morris, the usual. Magnuson was out for this FWIW, and Green was still available.
[After THE JUMP: nothing you want to see.]
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M20 | 1 | 10 | I-Form twins | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 over | Run | Lead zone | Green | 2 | ||||||||
| Blocked pretty well with Kalis(+0.5) and Miller(+0.5) getting a lot of drive on the NT; he is set up such that Green(-2) needs to cut back behind that double. Green doesn't, running into a DT and a linebacker that the zone could have blocked with a cutback. Glasgow(-0.5) didn't get great contact on the linebacker behind and this may have been a meh gain anyway but it's probably a meh gain of 6 instead of 2. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M22 | 2 | 8 | Ace twins twin TE | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 even | Pass | Flanker screen | Funchess | 4 | ||||||||
| Absolutely wide open with the CB to this side of the field eight yards back and dropping; Chesson(-2) airballs his block and Funchess gets chased out after a few. (CA, 3, screen, RPS +1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| M26 | 3 | 4 | Shotgun trips tight bunch | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel even | Pass | Hitch | Funchess | Inc | ||||||||
| Four yard pass thrown well outside Funchess's body; still catchable but much tougher than it has to be. (IN, 2, protection 1/1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 0-0, 9 min 1st Q. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
| M7 | 1 | 10 | Ace | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 over | Run | Lead zone | Green | 2 | ||||||||
| Sneaky lead block from Butt, who's lined up as a wing TE and takes on the Kerridge role. Williams(-1) beat around the edge very quickly, erasing Green's thoughts of bouncing outside even though that looks open. Glasgow(-0.5) and Cole(-0.5) don't get an effective double on a DT; DE ends up to the inside of Cole as Glasgow tries to release downfield and that's a recipe for no second level blocking angle. Green doesn't have much choice other than to bang straight ahead into a unblocked LB. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M9 | 2 | 8 | Ace trips tight bunch | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 over | Run | Trap | Green | 1 | ||||||||
| Minnesota treating the tight bunch with 2TEs as inline blockers given their DL configuration. They attack to the interior and this should work... Braden(-3) engages and then is thrown to the ground by a DT so when Green tries to hit the hole in front of him he gets swallowed. RPS +1. Kalis(+0.5) did a good job to find a LB to block after releasing and finding no one at first; Glasgow(+0.5) got to his pull with alacrity. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M10 | 3 | 7 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel even | Pass | Seam | Funchess | Inc | ||||||||
| Ball is about ten yards overthrown and to a bracketed Funchess. Corner route on other side was the move. (BR, 0, protection 2/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 0-0, 4 min 1st Q. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
| M22 | 1 | 10 | I-Form | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4-4 even | Pass | Sack | N/A | 0 | ||||||||
| More all hitch with Kerridge running a flat route. Morris has that or the outside hitch for eh yardage, doesn't pull trigger, gets sacked as a result. (BR, N/A, protection 1/1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| M22 | 2 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back TE | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4-4 over | Pass | PA rollout drag | Funchess | 14 +15 pen | ||||||||
| Norfleet motions to the backfield. Zone stretch fake to him with Hayes pulling across; basically shotgun waggle. Morris gets pressure from an end who disengages and runs up at him; too late as Funchess has cleared one guy in a zone; Morris rifles it in. (DO, 3, protection N/A) Roughing call adds 15. | |||||||||||||||||||
| O49 | 1 | 10 | Ace | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-4 under | Run | Pin and pull zone | Smith | 6 | ||||||||
| Hill(+2) with a great block on the playside end, pancaking him. Braden(+0.5) gets an okay kick; Miller(-1) has a bad bendy pull that actually forces Smith to shove him in the right direction as the pair approaches the LOS. All this earns Michigan a play where Smith(+1) gets hit two yards past the LOS because Minnesota has 11 guys within nine yards of the LOS on the snap; Smith grinds out four very manly YAC. | |||||||||||||||||||
| O43 | 2 | 4 | Ace trips tight bunch | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 over | Run | Inside zone | Smith | -2 | ||||||||
| Quite a cluster. Kalis(-2) appears to be running a stretch, stepping backwards and trying to get lateral depth; this play goes straight upfield, as does the NT; Kalis ends up three yards in the backfield; Smith runs into everybody. Glasgow(-2) runs into Miller as he steps right as the rest of the line steps left, not that it really matters. | |||||||||||||||||||
| O45 | 3 | 6 | Shotgun trips | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel over | Pass | Hitch | Butt | Inc | ||||||||
| Crappy route from Butt as Minnesota goes with a full bracket on Funchess and leaves the middle of the field wide open for some sort of double move by the TE, but M is using a new QB and doesn't ever take advantage of that stuff. Butt turns around, DB right there for a PBU, Morris didn't have any other good options. (CA, 0, protection 2/2, RPS -1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 0-0, 14 min 2nd Q. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
| O47 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun double stacks | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4-3 over | Run | Inside zone | Smith | 7 | ||||||||
| M spreads Minnesota out with double stacks; Gophers respect Funchess to the field and have 6.5 in the box. Simple IZ allows Miller(+1) and Glasgow(+1) to take two guys; Miller pops off on a blitzer effectively and Glasgow gets a yard or two of depth. Cole(+0.5) kicks the DE; Smith(+0.5) gets some YAC. RPS +1. | |||||||||||||||||||
| O40 | 2 | 3 | Shotgun 2-back | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4-3 over | Run | Inside zone | Smith | 28 | ||||||||
| Minnesota shows corner blitz early and runs it; Kerridge(+1) picks that CB off. That still leaves the backside LB unblocked but M's line does a great job with the slant and Smith can avoid that guy. Cole(+1) drives the slanting end down the line; Glasgow(+1) and Kalis(+0.5) get second level blocks; Smith(+2) runs right off Cole's butt to avoid the WLB and then runs through a tackle for some nice YAC. | |||||||||||||||||||
| O12 | 1 | 10 | Ace twins twin TE | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 over | Run | Inside zone | Smith | 2 | ||||||||
| Late shift leads to OL screw up. Miller(-1) gets driven back one on one; Cole(-1) runs past the backside end and he and Glasgow end up in the same spot. Glasgow is supposed to be there, Cole not so much. Smith(+0.5) burrows effectively to get something. | |||||||||||||||||||
| O10 | 2 | 8 | Ace 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4-3 even | Run | Zone stretch | Smith | 10 | ||||||||
| Glasgow(+2) reaches a Minnesota DT shaded outside of him, crease time. Cole(+1) gets a good second level block, leaving Smith(+1) one on one with the safety; he makes a quick NS cut for six. Butt(+0.5) got a good kick; Miller(+0.5) didn't really have to do much but got to the second level for another LB. RPS +1; Minnesota seemingly unprepared. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Touchdown, 7-0, 11 min 2nd Q. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
| M14 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 4-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4-3 over? | Pass | Out | Funchess | 7 | ||||||||
| Quick out... really rifled, forcing a good catch out of Funchess, and immediate tackle. (CA, 2, protection 1/1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| M21 | 2 | 3 | Ace Biggish | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 over | Run | Inside zone | Smith | -1 | ||||||||
| One bad block on the backside blows this up; Glasgow(-2) gets the nose tackle slanting to him and runs by without at hit, which puts Cole(-1) in a bad spot. Cole still slows up and catches the DL; if he gets some drive he may give Smith a cutback opportunity. As it is, he just escorts the NT to Smith's facemask. Miller(+2) deposited the other DT in a heap; Kalis(+0.5) got a second level block; Butt(-1) chased an end way upfield when he's got an end around fake holding that guy; Williams(-1) caught by the slant and also escorts his guy to Smith; Braden hit him for a decently long time and then had to get to a LB so Williams had time to step around, or at least try to. Never does. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M20 | 3 | 4 | Shotgun trips TE | 1 | 2 | 2 | Nickel over | Pass | Out | Butt | 7 | ||||||||
| Very smooth pitch and catch; good timing and the ball is there in a flash so no play for Minnesota. (CA, 3, protection 1/1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| M27 | 1 | 10 | Ace twin TE | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 over | Pass | Scramble | Morris | 2 | ||||||||
| No replays so hard to tell what Morris is looking at downfield; Funchess looks bracketed but zips by an attempted jam so fast that he's way past one guy and there should be a significant window in front of the safety; Morris doesn't trust it. Has a late-releasing Butt wide open for a decent gain, but has already taken off at this point and gets a couple. (TA, N/A, protection 2/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| M29 | 2 | 8 | Shotgun double stacks | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4-3 over | Run | Inside zone | Smith | 5 | ||||||||
| Backside DE sells out on the IZ with no scrape so a keep here will work; Morris(-1) doesn't see it and hands off. Blocking actually excellent on this play, with Kalis(+1) and Glasgow(+1) getting good movement on their guys; Braden(+0.5) releases to the second level to get a linebacker; Miller(+1) does the same, getting a couple yards of motion as a bonus. Smith(+0.5) gets hit from the side by the DE and can get some nice YAC as the only other guy available to hit is a linebacker who lined up on the other hashmark outside the box. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M34 | 3 | 3 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel over | Pass | TE out | Butt | 6 | ||||||||
| Another quick rhythm throw that looks smooth. (CA, 3, protection 1/1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| M40 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4-3 over | Run | Counter power | Green | 3 | ||||||||
| Again blocked pretty well but Michigan ends up running a slow-developing counter play at a safety who's hanging out at eight yards presnap so when Green does get past the line he's there to hit for minimal gain. Making things more frustrating: Funchess is to the same side as this safety with a guy in press coverage. Oh well. Anyway: Kalis(+1) takes out a linebacker who's coming hard, with both going down to clear out space. Cole and Glasgow double an end and don't do a great job; the end ends up to the inside, where Cole(+0.5) does take him to free up the gap Green hits but they've comboed such that Glasgow has a really hard time getting to the linebacker he's going for. He gets there but his angle's all messed up and Green ends up tackled by the safety and that guy. RPS –1. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M43 | 2 | 7 | Ace | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 over | Pass | Hitch | Chesson | Inc | ||||||||
| Timing again excellent with the ball coming out at Chesson turns around; tiny bit high but only a tiny bit and the ball goes right through Chesson's hands. (CA, 3, protection 1/1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| M43 | 3 | 7 | Shotgun trips TE | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel even | Pass | Dumpoff | Hayes | 2 | ||||||||
| Morris misses Funchess breaking open for the first down easy and dumps it off to Hayes; ball is well behind Hayes and requires a spectacular one-handed stab to bring in. This throws Hayes off stride and allows a DT tracking him to tackle; without that there is some chance he gets to the marker. (IN, 1, protection 2/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 7-7, 3 min 2nd Q. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
| M12 | 1 | 10 | Pistol 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4-3 over | Run | Power O | Green | 0 | ||||||||
| Sure to go down on the list of legendarily bad Derrick Green cuts. Michigan executes this excellently; Green(-3) sees Kalis(+0.5) get to the linebacker in front of him and kick him out and runs directly into him. One: Green needs more patience to watch which side of the block he runs to. Two: this is a situation for an out-in cut because you know the LB is thinking contain, leverage. Butt(+1) Glasgow(+1) and Cole(+1) had all won blocks and Green is getting ten yards at least if he makes an obvious cut. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M12 | 2 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4-3 over | Pass | Out | Darboh | Inc | ||||||||
| Darboh falls down on an out, allowing a DB to jump the route and nearly intercept. No idea if he gets this aggressive other wise or if this could be completed so not charted. (NC, 0, protection 1/1, Darboh -2 on route) | |||||||||||||||||||
| M12 | 3 | 10 | Shotgun 2-back | 1 | 0 | 4 | Nickel over | Pass | Screen | Hayes | 8 | ||||||||
| Norfleet motions to backfield. They fake a flare screen to him and come back to Hayes; Minnesota is looking screen with a DL, who backs out and forces one of the Michigan OL to take him. This allows a LB to flow free. Glasgow gets chopped accidentally by Chesson(-1) trying to crack down and can't get out; CB contains and free LB ends the play. (CA, 3, screen, RPS -1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 7-10, 13 min 3rd Q. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
| M7 | 1 | 10 | Ace Biggish | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 over | Pass | Sack | N/A | -5 | ||||||||
| Funchess motions in and takes an end around fake; also IZ fake. Morris sets up. Has Darboh one on one with a safety and may as well throw it but does not. Williams(-1) gets overwhelmed by a blocker at this point; he gets a holding call that is super fortunate to not be a safety. Morris starts rolling out, falls over for a safety, fumbles so it's not, picks ball up, runs as far as he can. So basically this is two safeties fortunately escaped. Hooray! (TA*, N/A, protection ½, Williams -1, Morris -3 run) | |||||||||||||||||||
| M2 | 2 | 15 | Ace Big | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4-4 over | Run | Inside zone | Smith | 2 | ||||||||
| Michigan blocking desperately to get room for a punt with Minnesota slanting by a bunch of lunges. Kalis(-1) and Glasgow(-1) lurch and fall over; Miller(+1) latches onto a slanting DT and escorts him out of the middle; Cole(+0.5) and Butt half-heartedly double a DE and Smith manages to get a few. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M40 | 3 | 13 | Shotgun trips | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3-3-5 nickel | Run | Draw | Hayes | 3 | ||||||||
| Give up and punt. Not even a good one as Braden(-1) is driven back and then the DE dives inside to tackle. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 7-10, 11 min 3rd Q. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
| M25 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun twins twin TE | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 over | Pass | TE corner | Butt | Inc | ||||||||
| M runs a snag concept to the boundary that sees no one take Green; Morris tries for Butt on a corner route that the Minnesota S has covered and makes a nice play on for a PBU. Ball is on point and this is a play on which you're giving your guy a a chance so okay. (CA, 0, protection 2/2). I might BR the next one though. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M25 | 2 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4-3 even | Pass | Out | Funchess | INT | ||||||||
| Just one of those things. Morris has and finds Funchess for five and YAC, but the ball is batted directly to a Minnesota defender for a pick six. (BA, 0, protection 0/3) Cole(-2) did blow a blitz pickup to get Morris nailed and Braden(-1) whiffed on Cockran, who deflected the ball. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Defensive touchdown, 7-20, 6 min 3rd Q. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
| M25 | 1 | 10 | I-Form | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4-3 over | Run | Iso | Smith | 0 +15 pen | ||||||||
| At this point Minnesota DGAF about the possibility of a pass and has everyone within eight yards of the LOS. M runs an iso at this. With the LBs filling HARD because of safety help at four yards M has no chance to create much crease. Glasgow(-1) and Miller(-1) neither handled the NT or get an effective block in the MLB, so that compounds things but with a free hitter at three yards this isn't going anywhere anyway. RPS -2. M lucks out with a facemask call. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M40 | 1 | 10 | Ace biggish | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-3 over | Run | End around | Funchess | -5 | ||||||||
| No hope at all on this. DE flaring out to deal with it on the snap; Butt(-1) is beaten and that guy submarines Kalis to get two for one. Cole has no hope of getting to a LB looking for this all the way; Funchess swarmed. RPS -2. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M35 | 2 | 15 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel over | Pass | TE out | Butt | Inc | ||||||||
| A route Morris threw well a couple times; this time he misses entirely. (IN, 0, protection 2/2). M did pick up a blitz well. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M35 | 3 | 15 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel even | Pass | Sack | N/A | -5 | ||||||||
| Minnesota only rushes three; Cole(-1) does get blown back a bit but Morris has an opportunity to move up in a nice pocket and then sacks himself by fumbling without being touched. (TA*, N/A, protection ½, Morris -3) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Fumble, 7-20, 5 min 3rd Q. Why am I doing this? Michigan puts Morris BACK ON THE FIELD after this. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
| M25 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 4-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4-3 over | Pass | Out | Funchess | Inc | ||||||||
| It's hard to tell without a replay if this is more Morris or Funchess; Funchess gets one hand on a rapidly moving ball outside the frame of his body but it kind of looks lazy; he could go get it with two hands maybe? It's a short throw though, so... (IN, 1, protection 1/1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| M25 | 2 | 10 | Shotgun 4-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel even | Run | Inside zone | Green | -2 | ||||||||
| Slant with a blitz; Kalis(-1) runs by one DT and Braden(-2) inexplicably stops blocking the guy so he shoots through the line. Miller(+1) picked up a stunt well and Glasgow(+0.5) kicked a guy so this would be a nice hole if Michigan didn't give up massive early penetration on the backside. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M23 | 3 | 12 | Shotgun trips TE | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3-3-5 nickel | Pass | Dig | Funchess | Inc | ||||||||
| Smith(-2) is looking at a delayed blitzer and doesn't see the non-delayed guy stunting inside until it's too late; guy goes right through. He gets knocked over almost accidentally by Kalis, who's peeling back to maybe help Braden dealing with an edge rush. Morris has to back away from this and reset, doing so and firing to Funchess. Or at least trying. He's being grabbed and can't step into the throw so it's behind him and almost intercepted. A bad throw here is understandable but one to a defender is still bad. (IN, 0, protection 0/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 7-27, 1 min 3rd Q. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | D Form | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
| M26 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4-3 over | Pass | Dumpoff | Hayes | 6 (Pen -10) | ||||||||
| Hayes(+1) dodges a tackler at a yard and gets a nice gain out of nothing after Morris can't find anything early. Kalis(-2) called for holding. (CA, 3, protection 0/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| M16 | 1 | 20 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel over | Run | Counter power | Hayes | 4 | ||||||||
| Blocked just fine with Braden(+1) blasting a guy well off the ball and Butt(+0.5) chasing a stunter inside with Glasgow(+1) getting a quick, effective pull; Hayes(+0.5) finds the crease and hits it hard, safety who started at eight yards is unblocked to fill. RPS -1. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M20 | 2 | 16 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel even | Pass | Fade | Funchess | Inc | ||||||||
| Morris holds the ball for an extra beat, momentarily trying to bug out when there are no lanes and then re-setting, which gives a blitzer just enough time to get around Miller(-1); Morris throws a panicked ball to a blanketed Funchess that is well OOB. (IN, 0, protection 2/3) | |||||||||||||||||||
| M20 | 3 | 16 | Shotgun trips | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3-3-5 nickel | Pass | Rollout hitch | Darboh | Inc (Pen + 15) | ||||||||
| Infamous doom play. Before the hit Morris threw the ball about five yards over Darboh's head. (INX, 0, protection N/A) | |||||||||||||||||||
| M35 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel over | Pass | Dig | Funchess | Inc | ||||||||
| And they throw afterward... spectacular. Great pocket, Morris throws a wobbler that's so far outside of Funchess it's nearly intercepted. (INX, 0, protection 2/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| M35 | 2 | 10 | Shotgun 4-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel over | Pass | Hitch | Chesson | 9 | ||||||||
| Gardner enters, throws out in rhythm to Chesson a little outside but still reasonable. (CA, 3, protection 1/1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| M44 | 3 | 1 | Ace | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel over | Run | QB sneak | Gardner | 2 | ||||||||
| Tempo sneak. This one is hard to get. | |||||||||||||||||||
| M46 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun trips | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel even | Pass | Scramble | Gardner | 11 | ||||||||
| Protection good for a beat and then a long stunt where a DT loops around two guys gets home as Braden(-2) totally vacates his lane and allows the guy through free. Gardner(+2) is in considerable space with the DT and jukes past him, taking off as he signals Hayes to block for him. (SCR, N/A, protection 1/3, Braden 2). Gardner loses helmet, disaster 2. | |||||||||||||||||||
| O43 | 1 | 10 | Ace 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4-3 over | Run | Inside zone ? | Hayes | 3 | ||||||||
| This is pretty weird, with M going for cut blocks on a DT and a LB threatening blitz. Glasgow(-1) airballs his but Miller's gets home and the other DT stunts behind all this, so it's really just a Butt(+0.5) kickout that he does well and a Braden(-1) block on a linebacker before the secondary; Braden ends up catching the LB and giving ground to the outside; Hayes(+0.5) has to shoot outside of that at an awkward angle, which allows a CB to come up and costs Hayes some yards and the ability to cut past a guy. | |||||||||||||||||||
| O40 | 2 | 7 | Shotgun 4-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel even | Pass | Scramble | Gardner | 18 | ||||||||
| Oh, man, Gardner bails on this pattern just before it shoots Darboh wide open downfield as Minnesota busts hard. Protection is good for a while and then Hayes loses a DE, understandable; he loses him in such away as to open up the corner, though, but getting a good hit on him,. Gardner(+1) breaks the pocket, gets a guy in the air with a pump fake, and is fast. (SCR, N/A, protection 2/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| O22 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 4-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel even | Pass | Sack | N/A | -11 | ||||||||
| This sack is largely Gardner's own making, as he wants Norfleet but then a guy jumps in the passing lane; if he moves up he's good but by falling back in the pocket he allows the two DEs, who are pushed too far upfield to really be effective without this QB error, to combine to sack. (TA, N/A, protection 2/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| O33 | 2 | 21 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel even | Pass | Out | Chesson | 18 | ||||||||
| Excellent protection against a six man pressure; Gardner finds Chesson for a big chunk. (CA, 3, protection 3/3) | |||||||||||||||||||
| O20 | 3 | 3 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3-3-5 nickel | Pass | Bubble screen | Funchess | 17 | ||||||||
| Hey they block one of these. Darboh(+0.5) gets it done and Funchess(+1) evades a tackle for a nice gain. (CA, 3, screen) | |||||||||||||||||||
| O3 | 1 | G | Shotgun empty TE | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4-3 even | Run | QB power | Gardner | 3 | ||||||||
| Pretty obvious intent here but power instead of a draw is a good way to not get RPSed here. Kalis(+1) turns in a DT authoritatively; Cole doesn't even have to kick a nutso pass rush from the DE, Glasgow(+0.5) gets to the LB and occupies him and that's it. RPS +1. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Touchdown, 14-30, 7 min 4th Q. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | RB | TE | WR | DForm | Type | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||
| M5 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 4-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel over | Pass | Out? | Funchess? | Inc | ||||||||
| Yeesh, more all hitch action with an out and fade to one side of the field; Gardner hesitates, and then protection breaks down. He barely gets a throw off that is almost intercepted. (BR, 0, protection 2/2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| M5 | 2 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel over | Pass | Fly | Darboh | Inc | ||||||||
| Basically a go-get-it with no separation. Pretty accurate for a 45 yard pass, would like it farther outside, but that's life. (CA, 1, protection 1/1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| M5 | 3 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | 1 | 1 | 3 | Nickel over | Pass | Out and up | Darboh | Inc | ||||||||
| Protection here okay; Glasgow(-1) does allow inside penetration that forces Gardner to keep moving after the ends suggest he goes up in the pocket. Ensuing throw while in motion is well overthrown. (IN, 0, protection ½) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Drive Notes: Punt, 14-30, 4 min 4th Q. Michigan quits. | |||||||||||||||||||
Why did you do this?
People get mad at me if I don't.
Seriously? Like… what kind of people?
Seemingly normal ones? For a given definition of normal? Who otherwise seem to make sane and hale decisions in their everyday life?
But enough about Michigan's decision to start Shane Morris.
Actually not quite enough. Here is the chart—?
chart
--for Morris, which is pretty much what you were expecting.
[* on chart == extreme version of bad event]
Shane Morris
| Opponent | DO | CA | MA | IN | BR | TA | BA | PR | SCR | DSR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Michigan | - | 4 | - | 1 | 1* | 1 | - | - | - | N/A |
| App State | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1* | ||||||
| Utah | 1 | 4 | 5** | 1* | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 40% | |
| Minnesota | 1 | 8(2) | - | 8** | 2 | 3** | 1 | - | - | 33% |
(Also Gardner stuff:)
Devin Gardner 2013
| Opponent | DO | CA | MA | IN | BR | TA | BA | PR | SCR | DSR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Michigan | 2 | 10(1)+ | 1 | 1 | 2* | - | - | 1 | 3 | 82% |
| Notre Dame | 7+ | 16(1)++ | 4(1) | 2 | 3* | - | 1 | 4 | 4 | 82% |
| Akron | 3 | 14(2) | - | 5 | 3** | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 59% |
| UConn | 2 | 13(1) | 1 | 5*+ | - | 1 | - | 5 | 5 | 76% |
| Minnesota | 4+ | 7(1) | 4 | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | 2 | 92% |
| Penn State | 7+ | 12(2) | - | 5+ | 2** | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 66% |
| Indiana | 5 | 18(3) | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | - | - | 5 | 78% |
| Michigan State | 1 | 15(2) | 1 | 5 | 4* | 6 | - | 4 | 1 | 50% |
| Nebraska | - | 17(1) | 1 | 4(1) | 2* | 5 | - | 6 | - | 62% |
| Northwestern | 5 | 21(6) | 3 | 5 | 6***** | 1 | 2(1) | 6 | 4 | 65% |
| Iowa | 3 | 12(5)+ | 2(1) | 5(1) | - | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 68% |
Devin Gardner
| Opponent | DO | CA | MA | IN | BR | TA | BA | PR | SCR | DSR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App State | 1 | 11(4) | - | 2(1) | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | 82% | |
| Notre Dame | 3 | 17(3) | 2 | 1 | 6(1)** | 3 | - | 2 | 2 | 68% |
| Miami(NTM) | 1 | 9(1) | 1 | 3 | 2 | - | 1 | 2 | 2 | 65% |
| Utah | 2 | 9(2) | 5 | 5** | 1* | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 60% |
| Minnesota | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | N/A | ||||
| Rutgers | 4 | 14(3) | 1 | 3* | 2 | 2* | 4 | 73% | ||
| Penn State | 2 | 12(3) | 2(1) | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 57% |
I thought it was inexplicable to start Morris given what we'd seen and Gardner's ability to gain yards here and there, but some people disagreed. No one can disagree that Morris was left in way, way too long. Michigan put him back out there after he fumbled without anyone touching him, and then Michigan went three and out, and then they put him out there again. Without the head injury, Gardner never appears in this game, and then you start wondering about what happens the rest of the season.
Does Michigan just roll with Shane Morris because uh he's the quarterback now? You'd have to think no, but then again Michigan saw something that indicated Morris was at all plausible when he had 49 passing yards deep into the second half that was actually still competitive.
What was the issue? All things. Morris seemed to have no idea what he was looking at most of the time, opting to wildly overthrow a bracketed Funchess here instead of try the open-ish corner on the other side of the field or just dump to Hayes:
If you're going to punt it up, punt it up in an area where a catch is hypothetically possible.
Here he has a big window to hit Funchess for the first down and checks down with a ball that requires a one-handed stab:
On the rare occasions he did find an open receiver downfield he threw a few nice passes and zinged a number way off target. The thing Michigan found to work even a little were five yard outs to the slot, and even those were a dodgy proposition what with balls hammered too far outside a few times. The pick six was another one of these; you wonder if this was an instance of going back to the well on which Minnesota's DE had a high chance of deflecting a throw that was likely to come.
Morris had no business playing against Minnesota. Inserting him at all is malpractice and leaving him in past halftime is all but throwing the game.
Okay… the ground game?
This was not as bad as it was against Penn State. Most of the OL held their ground.
| Offensive Line | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | + | - | Total | Notes | |||||||||||||||
| Cole | 4.5 | 2.5 | 2 | Overpowered a little but still okay day. | |||||||||||||||
| Glasgow | 8.5 | 8 | 0.5 | Some zone ID misses. | |||||||||||||||
| Miller | 7 | 3 | 4 | Good day. | |||||||||||||||
| Kalis | 5.5 | 4 | 1.5 | Doing okay. | |||||||||||||||
| Braden | 2 | 7 | -5 | Got embarrassingly tossed to the ground. | |||||||||||||||
| Magnuson | DNP | ||||||||||||||||||
| Williams | 2 | -2 | |||||||||||||||||
| Kerridge | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hill | 2 | 2 | One kickass block. | ||||||||||||||||
| Butt | 2.5 | 2 | 0.5 | ||||||||||||||||
| TOTAL | 33 | 28.5 | 54% | Not good enough to be consistent on the ground but we've seen worse of late. | |||||||||||||||
| Backs | |||||||||||||||||||
| Player | + | - | T | Notes | |||||||||||||||
| Gardner | 3 | 3 | Fast, scrambly. | ||||||||||||||||
| Morris | 7 | -7 | Fumbled twice, missed a zone read. | ||||||||||||||||
| Green | 5 | -5 | Missed two obvious cuts, added nothing of his own. | ||||||||||||||||
| Smith | 5.5 | 5.5 | YAC machine. | ||||||||||||||||
| Hayes | 2 | 2 | Free Justice. | ||||||||||||||||
| Johnson | DNP | ||||||||||||||||||
| Shallman | - | - | - | DNP | |||||||||||||||
| Kerridge | N/A | N/A | N/A | moved to TE for now | |||||||||||||||
| Houma | DNP | ||||||||||||||||||
| TOTAL | 10.5 | 12 | -1.5 | Eh. | |||||||||||||||
| Receivers | |||||||||||||||||||
| Player | + | - | T | Notes | |||||||||||||||
| Funchess | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| Chesson | 3 | -3 | |||||||||||||||||
| Darboh | 0.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Norfleet | |||||||||||||||||||
| Canteen | - | - | DNC | ||||||||||||||||
| Dever | - | - | - | DNC | |||||||||||||||
| Jones | - | - | - | DNP | |||||||||||||||
| TOTAL | 1.5 | 3 | -1.5 | Eh. | |||||||||||||||
| Metrics | |||||||||||||||||||
| Player | + | - | T | Notes | |||||||||||||||
| Protection | 38 | 13 | 75% | Cole 3, Braden 3, Kalis 2, Smith 2, Miller 1, Glasgow 1, Williams 1 | |||||||||||||||
| RPS | 5 | 7 | -2 | Where are big plays? | |||||||||||||||
On the RPS: I just don't see Michigan finding things that might work and exploiting them. On this third and medium Minnesota sends two guys in motion with Funchess, indicating a bracket and man coverage all around. They have no deep safeties for anyone else; Michigan throws an out to Butt that gets jumped.
Okay. It happens. Michigan never tried to find this again, never tried to bust out an out and up here to see if you can get an easy long throw. They keep running these all-hitch/all-out five yard routes that find opponents in Michigan's shorts and have not gotten anything over the top.
It's rock paper scissors so sometimes you get got; where is Michigan getting the opponent? I mean, how many times this year has Michigan eaten big plays because opponents have IDed their obvious man coverage and run rub routes? Lots. How many times has Michigan done it? Not at all? It might be not at all. I liked Minnesota's little middle screen they broke out in this game, which was a clever call at the right time, and I again thought about how I almost never think similar thoughts about Michigan.
I mean, I did like that Michigan got a couple things from double stacks; here they get a hat for a hat in the box by spreading the WRs way outside, which demands respect when one of those guys is Funchess:
That is seven yards, not 37, though. They did come back to this, taking advantage of Minnesota's response to get a nice zone read gain from Smith despite the fact that no one bothered to check Morris:
Again, that's five yards; Michigan did not try it again to see what would happen after a Morris keep. They just don't pressure a defense effectively. With Nussmeier on the sideline this is something that Hecklinski or someone in the box needs to be on top of and attack.
They don't, and to me that's yet another sign that the program is shockingly disorganized in year four, with faint prospects for improvement.
Is this just more spread zealotry?
Oh, probably. It drives me f-ing nuts when Michigan blocks a play right for once and gets three yards because a safety is hammering down on the snap:
If you cannot punish that aggression you're doomed, and Michigan has one long play of any significance this year: the Funchess bomb on which they got lucky.
Tailbacks?
Green's done for the year of course but we did get some more information about him going forward. It was not of the nice variety. This may be his all-time worst cut:
It's less the cut than the lack of patience; he needs to be a step back so he can see which side of the block that defender ends up on. Heck, even if he is up there he should understand that Kalis's block is 90% likely to be a kickout and 100% if he jukes from outside to inside. He does that and he's getting a nice chunk. Instead it's second and ten.
Oh and this:
Huge drive by the OL that demands a cutback; worst case scenario there is that Green rams a linebacker who's being harassed by Glasgow and falls forward for five. Instead he ignores the block which almost has to be his primary key and gets a yard.
He may look like Superman but going into next season there will be serious doubts about his ability to stay in front of his competitors.
Smith showed his uncanny knack for taking hits and keeping his balance some…
…and then Michigan ran him once in the second half. They didn't have many opportunities to run him, I guess, what with the three-and-outs.
Have any examples of that thing you said on the podcast about how the guy chasing a DL to the ballcarrier is not always the guy at fault?
Mostly. Smith got snowed under on this run as Minnesota slants away. Glasgow, highlighted, sees the guy cross his face and does not so much as touch him, giving Cole a tough job:
This happens to Michigan a lot. They are bad about helping out the guys next to them when the DL does anything remotely fancy; I know this is not what Funk wants. He wants that DL to take a "shoulder spear," as he puts it in clinics, to blunt the DL's momentum without unduly hampering the guard's release. Do that and give Smith another yard to make a decision and this could be a nice gain. Instead, bupkis.
Cole needs to do better here as well; if he can shove the guy in any direction, be it down or across, Smith has the opportunity to cut back in a big hole. Instead he eats a TFL. (Does another back make this cut anyway? Maybe. Mike Hart probably does. Justice Hayes might. Smith has not shown that level of agility.)
[BONUS ZONE COMPLAINING FROM THIS PLAY: if you care to, watch the Williams/Braden block to the bottom of the screen. That doesn't make any sense, either. The double lets the DE inside and then pops Braden off to the second level; combo blocks want to get both guys on the same side of it.]
But the offensive line is so young?
I guess you can flog youth as an excuse for this kind of stuff, but when OSU is doing what it's doing with an offensive line with one more year of experience (total years on campus: 10 for M, 11 for OSU) I don't buy it.
This play was emblematic of Michigan's overall confusion. Most of the team appears to run an inside zone to the left. Kalis, though, appears to think he's running a stretch; Glasgow steps to the right instead of the left:
Or this one. Kalis gets a bit of a spear; Braden just stops blocking the guy when he should be stepping around to seal him out.
And this from Braden was…
…woof. Pulled out a –3 there.
Receivers?
[0 = uncatchable, 1 = circus catch, 2 = moderate difficulty, 3 = routine]
| Player | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funchess | 5 | 0/1 | 1/2 | 3/3 | 14 | 2/5 | 7/10 | 26/27 | |
| Chesson | 2/2 | 4 | 0/3 | 2/3 | 8/8 | ||||
| Darboh | 2 | 1/1 | 7 | 2/3 | 3/3 | 10/11 | |||
| Norfleet | 0/2 | 0/1 | 11/12 | ||||||
| Canteen | 2 | 1/1 | 2/3 | ||||||
| Butt | 3 | 2/2 | 3 | 3/4 | 7/8 | ||||
| Hill | 2 | 0/1 | 0/1 | 3/3 | |||||
| Williams | 2/3 | ||||||||
| Heitzman | 1/2 | ||||||||
| Jones | 1 | 1/1 | |||||||
| Green | 1/2 | 1/1 | |||||||
| Smith | 1 | 2 | 0/1 | 1/1 | |||||
| Hayes | 1 | 1/1 | 2/2 | 3 | 1/1 | 4/4 | |||
| Johnson | |||||||||
| Kerridge | 0/1 | 1/1 | |||||||
| Houma |
ROUTES: Darboh –2, Butt –1.
Not much opportunity to blow anything; I wonder if I am ever going to hand out a route plus. Wither Dileo?
Heroes?
De'Veon Smith fired off hard and didn't blow any cuts he could reasonably make. Gardner scrambled up Michigan's other TD.
Maybe not so heroic?
Whoever decided Shane Morris was viable. Green's vision is super questionable. Braden had a rough day.