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Monday Presser Transcript 9-17-12: Brady Hoke
Brady Hoke
News bullets and other important things:
- Desmond Morgan and Richard Ash should return this week. Stephen Hopkins seems probable, Brennen Beyer is questionable, and Brandon Moore will be out.
Televised presser
This filter is called "file."
Opening remarks:
"Thanks for coming. It was good to win on Saturday, obviously. We have a lot that we need to keep doing better. I think we did some things better than we did a week before, but we're still growing as a team in a lot of ways. We have to improve every week if we want to be the team that we want to be. So we just have to keep making progress from fundamentals, from techniques, everywhere across the board, do a better job up front on both sides of the ball. You've heard that many many times before, and you'll probably continue to hear it. That's where the game is played, and that's where it starts, and for us going on the road playing a Notre Dame that's 3-0 and has played very well -- they've been in tight games. They played in East Lansing well, they had a tight game with Purdue, won the football game at the end, so you look at them as a team and their front seven on defense is playing real well together. Disruptive. And offensively I think Everett Golson has done a nice job running the offense, managing it, a lot of tight ends involved, and they're a good football team. We're going to have our hands full, and we need to get a lot better as a football team."
UMass Postgame Presser Transcript: Brady Hoke
Brady Hoke
Brady Hoke, before he was cool.
Three games in, what about your team is developing well?
"Um. It's a really good question. I think, uh, we're progressing a little bit in the two areas that are the most concerning, and that's up front defensively and up front offensively. I don't think we're close to where we should be and where we need to be, so we'll go back to work and keep working it. I like the attitude our team's had and how they've come to work, but I think for us to meet the expectations that we have, we have to get a lot better."
How would you assess how your offense ran the two-minute drill?
"I thought once we knew we were getting the ball back, we wanted to go, and they did a nice job with it. I'm not going to recite every play to you, but I thought we were good with the timeouts when we took them and what we needed to do."
How important was it to come out of this game without any injuries? Did you have any reservations about playing Denard when you were up 49-13?
"Well we wanted to play another series, and this is all about trying to get the mindset of a team and the mentality to win a championship, and keeping the offense together was a big part of that, and letting them finish. I don't know if we got any boo boos today, but we're having one of those years where a lot of guys are getting dinged up."
How would you assess Fitz and the running backs?
"I think he did okay. I think we're a little - there were a couple times where I'd like to see him stick his foot in the ground and be more vertical with some stuff."
Status of Desmond Morgan and Stephen Hopkins?
"They should be back next week."
What's the issue with Morgan's head?
"Uh, a head thing. I don't know what they classify him as. Sometimes you just get dinged."
Is this a type of game that you needed to have before getting into the brunt of your schedule?
"We would have taken any win."
What did you see from the offensive line today?
"Oh I didn't think we moved the line of scrimmage as well as we needed to."
What do you need to see from them in order to accomplish that?
"Well we better play with better leverage, and we better combination block better when we're doing that, and we better finish."
Would you contemplate shaking up the starting lineup?
"I think you willl evaluate like you always do."
Vincent Smith had a couple touchdowns. How did he play?
"Vince is a guy who whenever you call his number, he's pretty much going to perform. It's not surprising. When you look at what he's done for Michigan football and how he comes to work every day, it's not surprising."
You don't sound like a coach that has won by 50 points. Are you disappointed? Can you give an assessment of where you're at?
"I think we're getting a feel, but these kids have worked hard, and they've worked hard throughout -- since last January, and they have high expectations. It's our job to be honest and be real and push them to where they can meet those expectations. I told them the same thing I told you. It's great to win. But if we want to win the Big Ten championship, we need to improve a lot in a lot of areas, and they start up front on both sides of the line of scrimmage."
What kind of gains can you make from a game like this?
"Well, there's always a team morale factor, and being able to play a lot of guys, a lot of guys who have worked hard, a lot of guys on the look teams, them having the ability to play in this football team in from of 100,000 family and friends, I think that's great. That's what you want to happen. The other gains are not just for those guys who got that opporunity but for us as a team to improve. The kicking game, on offense, and on defense. Turnovers -- we've been terrible, terrible, of creating turnovers. If we don't start creating turnovers, we're going to get beat because we need to give more opportunities to our offense. Running the football and defending the run. I think they were seven of 17 on third down -- UMass was. We had some opportunities to make some stops and we didn't make them. I'm either answering your question or I'm rambling …"
Are you at the point where you're a little frustrated with the offensive line?
"I'm not frustrated with them. I wasn't frustrated before with them because I know how hard they go to work and how much work they put into it. At the same time we have to do it better. So, frustrated? I'm not frustrated. I like the offensive line. It's my favorite part of the football team because of the work they do. I put a lot of pressure on them. We put a lot of pressure on them, just like we do with the defensive line. But if your'e going to be good at football, you better be good at your offensive line and your defensive line."
How important is it to find a playmaker on offense other than Denard?
"That's a big part of it, and that's why we need to block better in the traditional run plays with the running back. I think there's some playmakers on the offense, at receiver, at tight end. Devin's a guy who -- he's a freshman, he's still got a lot to learn, but he's a playmaker. We have to find more, but trying to get your running back to be a playmaker is blocking at the point of attack."
It's very clear you're not happy with the run defense.
"I think you are to some degree. They had four senior offensive linemen who were pretty good football players. Mike Cox was a scholarship athlete here at the University of Michigan. Mike, when there's a hole there, he runs it pretty well. Totally? Probably not, when you get into a power running team."
So were you pleased?
MGoQuestion: It looked like Matt Wile was varying the angle and direction of his kickoffs. Was that part of the plan, and what were you hoping to accomplish with that?
"Yeah we were trying to, just like everything else, your kicking game -- we felt that the first two ball games, we didn't play as well as we needed to. The Alabama game we had three blocks in the back on kick returns that kills you. And then last week, we didn't think we were consistent enough. Part of that is trying to place the ball on kickoffs. He did the pooch punting because he had a little pineapple kick -- I don't know what they call it, that's what I call it -- but he does it pretty effectively. Yeah we were trying to spread the ball a little bit."
Drew Dileo. Nice surprise?
"Drew is not the biggest the cat in the world, but he's a got a heart that's huge, and he loves the game of football. Every day Drew comes out and we ask him to do a lot, and he does it well for us. So it's not surprising."
Upon Further Review 2012: Defense vs Air Force
Formation Notes: Oh, the humanity.
This is an I-form. Sweet. Air Force started out motioning the outside WR into the gap between the two backs, FWIW.
This was called "near 3-wide unbalanced" because I think NCAA calls formations with RB alignments like that "near" and "far". Yes, large sections of my nomenclature are lifted from EA Sports. It is the closest thing to a lingua franca we have for footballing jargon. Note the covered-up slot WR. That's the unbalanced bit. You discovered this in the Picture Pages.
This is "flexbone big," which means there's a TE on the line. Just flexbone means the two wingbacks and two WRs.
This was "near half-flex."
As for Michigan, they spend most of the game in a 4-4 with a three-deep shell. They would shift the line towards the field side. I called it "under" even when it was technically "over" because Michigan aligns to field and Air Force doesn't really have a declared formation strength because of all the motion they do.
Substitution notes: The humanity continues. Michigan started Roh-Campbell-Black-Beyer on the line, rotating in Clark, Heitzman, Pipkins, and Brink extensively. Ojemudia also got time, mostly after Beyer went out with his "knee strain."
At linebacker, Ryan got the most playing time; he was spotted by Cam Gordon on a couple drives. Michigan started with Demens-Morgan, then started rotating in Bolden and Ross. Demens did not appear in the second half; the final AF drive in their base offense featured Ross and Bolden both on the field simultaneously.
In the secondary, Gordon, Kovacs, and Floyd took every snap. Avery started out as the other corner and was replaced by Taylor midway through the second. Gordon moved down to the nickelback spot and Jarrod Wilson came in when Air Force was stuck in passing downs, which was rarely.
Show? Show.
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
O25 | 1 | 10 | I-Form 3-wide tight | 4-3 even | Run | N/A | Triple option | Floyd | 12 | ||||||||||
Wingback motions to backfield before snap, creating Maryland I. I am going to be guessing a lot here. Dive doesn't get it; QB and RB head out with the wingback as a lead blocker. Gordon(-1) motions inside of the tight WR on the AF motion and looks in the backfield, getting sealed away by the WR easily. Floyd(-2) doesn't know what he's looking at for way too long; Gordon's getting plowed for steps before he finally commits to a run fill. He ends up trying to dodge a cut block eight yards downfield; I'm guessing he probably needs to be turning this inside at the numbers five yards further up. RB gets the corner. Morgan had good pursuit and Kovacs makes a good tackle at the sticks, FWIW. | |||||||||||||||||||
O37 | 1 | 10 | Near 3-wide unbalanced | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Counter dive | Black | 4 | ||||||||||
AF did this a lot: line up the slot on the LOS. This should scream run at that slot defender. Here they motion towards that and hand it off on the backside, aiming for the hole between NT Campbell and 5-tech Roh. Campbell(-1) gets blown up by a downblock; Black(+0.5) blasts a G trying to pull across his face. This prevents the G from getting out on Demens, but then Black gets confused and starts chasing the QB. FB blasts into the G, who is now blasting Demens, and can fall forward for a few yards. | |||||||||||||||||||
O41 | 2 | 6 | Flexbone Big | 4-3 over | Run | N/A | FB power | Beyer | 4 + 10 Pen | ||||||||||
Power == pulling guard. This is not a true option as the QB is not looking at anything but the FB as he gives. Beyer(-1) is unblocked for a moment, thinks he has to get down on the dive back(?--I thought M used DEs for the QB) and then gets nailed by the guard. He's sealed inside, FB bounces out. Morgan(+1) is getting blocked, sheds to the outside, and tackles. He's just catching the guy because of the blocker and everyone falls backwards. RPS -1; this took a pretty good play from Morgan to not hit the first down. Campbell(-1) gets a flag for tackling an AF lineman [BWS] trying to get to the second level. | |||||||||||||||||||
M45 | 1 | 10 | N/A | N/A | Penalty | N/A | False start | N/A | -5 | ||||||||||
Freedom. | |||||||||||||||||||
50 | 1 | 15 | I-Form 3-wide unbalanced | 4-3 even | Run | N/A | Speed option | Gordon | -1 | ||||||||||
They motion a guy to the field and run to it. He goes for Kovacs. FB goes for Demens. Morgan(+1) forces the pitch and then pursues well; Gordon(+1) gets the edge on the WR and should force it back inside the numbers but seems to get held and falls; no call. Getz is at the sideline and has to delay to get around the falling Gordon; he falls at the LOS. Morgan was there for a minimal gain even if he keeps his feet. | |||||||||||||||||||
O49 | 2 | 16 | Ace 4-wide | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | QB draw | Ryan | 7 | ||||||||||
Acceptable given situation. Demens(-0.5) reacts quickly enough to get past a blocker and force a bounce but ends up falling; Ryan(+0.5) forces it back and trips the QB. Demens not being on his feet gives up some extra yardage. Morgan was pursuing and helps finish. | |||||||||||||||||||
M44 | 3 | 9 | Ace 3-wide | Nickel under | Pass | 4 | Scramble | Demens | 9 | ||||||||||
Dietz comes off first read as Avery(+1, cover +1) gets depth to carry a seam to the safety. Morgan(+1, cover +1) is on the other slant and the outside guys are covered; Demens(-1, cover -1) is nowhere near the RB release, which could go for the first; Dietz doesn't bother to throw it and takes off; Black(-0.5) and Ryan(-0.5) can't make shoestring tackles(-1), and Demens's late reaction gives Dietz a first down. | |||||||||||||||||||
M35 | 1 | 10 | Flexbone | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Triple option | Kovacs | 1 | ||||||||||
Washington(+0.5) gets nice push, and there's nothing on the dive, so a pull. Ryan is sitting on the edge and takes the QB. Kovacs(+1, tackling +1) was not blocked on this play and so does what Kovacs does when you don't block him, which is plaster the ballcarrier. | |||||||||||||||||||
M34 | 2 | 9 | Flexbone | 4-3 under | Pass | 4 | Drag | N/A | 6 | ||||||||||
This is ludicrously bad refereeing. Two Air Force OL release downfield on a pass play. One of them cut-blocks Demens! By the time Dietz releases the ball these two guys are six yards downfield. Anyway. Beyer(-1) gets cut by an RB and allows Dietz outside, where he calmly hits a little drag that Ryan is in meh coverage on. Pressure -1, Refs -2. | |||||||||||||||||||
M28 | 3 | 3 | Offset I-Form | 4-3 over | Penalty | N/A | Offsides | Washington | 5 | ||||||||||
Washington(-1) | |||||||||||||||||||
M23 | 1 | 10 | Near 3-wide unbalanced | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Speed option | Kovacs | 3 | ||||||||||
AF motion man moves back and then starts moving towards the LOS pre-snap, no call. He ends up falling to the ground, possibly on purpose, as he blocks Demens along with another Falcon. Ryan on the edge with QB; Dietz fakes keeping it and draws him, in then pitches late. Kovacs is a bit late on this one, but it's a three yard gain so call it a push. | |||||||||||||||||||
M20 | 2 | 7 | I-Form 3-wide | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Iso | Roh | 2 | ||||||||||
Campbell(+1) gets under his guy and pushes him back, which forces the RB to alter his flight path in the backfield a bit. Probably needed a little better angle but this was still good. Roh(-1) got blown out, though, so when RB alters path there's still a hole. Demens avoids one block only to eat the FB; Morgan(+0.5) and Ryan(+0.5) close to tackle in the hole. Call it a push for the LBs. | |||||||||||||||||||
M18 | 3 | 5 | Flexbone | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Counter option | Ryan | -1 | ||||||||||
Roh(+1) does not get faked out by the dive action and is there to force a quick pitch; Ryan(+2) is on the edge one on one and makes the open-field TFL(+1) | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Missed FG(36), 0-0, 9 min 1st Q | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
O25 | 1 | 10 | Flexbone | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Triple option | N/A | -1 | ||||||||||
Gordon rolled down with three deep across the top. AF fumbles the dive exchange. | |||||||||||||||||||
O24 | 2 | 11 | I-Form 3-wide | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Triple option | Morgan | -1 | ||||||||||
Motion to Maryland I. Man, they have this as again Gordon(-1) get sealed inside way too easily but Dietz does not make Morgan(+2) commit; he shoots out on the edge and makes a TFL in space (tackling +1). Floyd(-1) ended up on his face five yards downfield; if Morgan is forced to take the QB this could have been a big gain. | |||||||||||||||||||
O23 | 3 | 12 | Ace trips | Nickel even | Pass | 4 | Corner | Taylor | 15 | ||||||||||
Taylor(-1, cover -1) does not get enough depth on his drop; he's seven yards downfield, sucked up on third and twelve when a corner route is going on behind him. He recovers well but the ball is a foot over his hand and AF's big leapy guy can bring it in in front of an immediate tackle from Kovacs. C. Gordon(+0.5, pressure +1) was in the QB's feet as he throws; without this being open a likely scramble and three and out. | |||||||||||||||||||
O38 | 1 | 10 | Flexbone 3-wide | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Outside pitch. | Floyd | 9 | ||||||||||
No back; guy comes in motion and gets a quick pitch to the outside. C. Gordon(-1) gets crushed inside by a WR and ends up going upfield of him, which never works. This knocks a pursuing Roh out of the play as well. Downfield, Demens avoids one cut block only to take a second block as he's still trying to find his balance. Floyd(-2) again ends up on his face eight yards downfield. Morgan flows about as fast is as reasonably possible and manages to make contact from the side a ways downfield. Floyd needs to get on his horse as soon as he sees that WR crack down on the LB. | |||||||||||||||||||
O47 | 2 | 1 | Flexbone Big | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Triple option | Washington | 1 | ||||||||||
Dive. Washington(+1) actually does a good job of getting under his guy and pushing him back into the runner but he's got no help since Roh gave ground to a double. That's tough. | |||||||||||||||||||
O48 | 1 | 10 | Near half-flex | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Triple option | Floyd | 11 | ||||||||||
Kovacs again is supposed to have the pitchman; this time the WR releases downfield a bit, then cracks down on him. Floyd(-1) doesn't read this until it's way too late. RPS -1. | |||||||||||||||||||
M41 | 1 | 10 | Flexbone big | 4-4 under | Pass | N/A | PA waggle drag | Gordon | 18 | ||||||||||
This looks like a flood play but really there's just one WR this ever goes to. The guy who took Avery deep on a fly route is blocking the whole way. This is part structure(RPS -2), part Gordon(-1, cover -1) sucking way up. Fundamentally he was screwed, though, covering one of two guys. | |||||||||||||||||||
M23 | 1 | 10 | Flexbone | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | FB dive | Campbell | 4 | ||||||||||
Campbell(-1) gets cut to the ground and the immediate release of the guard is not punished. Demens doesn't do great here but I'm not sure what he can do. It'll be interesting to see what, if anything, the freshmen are doing better. | |||||||||||||||||||
M19 | 2 | 6 | Flexbone | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | FB dive | Campbell | 5 | ||||||||||
Same thing. When your NT is just falling to the ground on the FB dive that goes right behind him the linebackers cannot do anything about it, because they are getting insta-OL in their junk. Campbell -1. Brink(-1) also blown back. | |||||||||||||||||||
M14 | 3 | 1 | Flexbone Big | Goal line | Penalty | N/A | False start | -- | -5 | ||||||||||
Service. | |||||||||||||||||||
M19 | 3 | 6 | Near half-flex | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Triple option | Taylor | 7 | ||||||||||
Same thing: Block Kovacs, exploit crappy corner support. This time it's Taylor(-1) who gives up the corner. | |||||||||||||||||||
M12 | 1 | 10 | Flexbone | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Counter dive | Washington | 8 | ||||||||||
Washington(-2) gets blown down the line; Roh(-1) is easily locked out by the LT. Big hole. Demens reads the play and tries to get to it but he's basically screwed. He gets blocked by a guy with a great angle. Morgan(-2) ran himself way out of the play and it's only a superior play from Kovacs(+2, tackling +2) to avoid a block and make a diving ankle tackle that prevents this from being six points. | |||||||||||||||||||
M4 | 2 | 2 | Flexbone | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | FB dive | Roh | 1 | ||||||||||
Roh(+1) gets under his guy and pushes him into the running lane. This forces a cutback into Ryan(+0.5) and Demens(+0.5), who tackle for no YAC. Washington(-1) had gotten blown up, FWIW. | |||||||||||||||||||
M3 | 3 | 1 | Flexbone 3-wide | Goal line | Run | N/A | Outside pitch. | Avery | -1 | ||||||||||
AF blows this as the WR to the playside is headhunting Ryan, who's on the LOS and moving upfield at the snap this means he takes a bad angle that 1) immediately tips Avery that this is a run and 2) picks off the flex guy assigned to him. Avery(+1) moves up, forms up, and makes contact two yards behind the LOS. Ryan(+1) flattens the guy assigned to him and flows out to make sure there is no funny business. RPS+1. Putting Ryan on the line made AF go all crazy. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: FG(22), 7-3, 3 min 1st Q | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
O10 | 1 | 10 | Flexbone unbalanced | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | FB dive | Bolden | 3 | ||||||||||
Bolden(+0.5) in. He does do better than Demens on this dive, hitting the guard about a yard from the LOS. He loses the battle a bit but does hit the FB directly before falling over backwards. He saves Michigan a yard over Demens, so here's a half-point. | |||||||||||||||||||
O13 | 2 | 7 | Ace 4-wide unbalanced | 4-3 even | Penalty | N/A | False start | -- | -5 | ||||||||||
Service this time. | |||||||||||||||||||
O8 | 2 | 12 | Ace twins | 4-3 under | Pass | N/A | Waggle out | Floyd | 6 | ||||||||||
I think. He's the CB on this side and he is not even in the frame as this completion is made. Hard to tell if it's a good idea because they had to go deep or not. Still... suspicious. Floyd -1, cover -1. Fortunate AF does not execute better here, they could have turned this upfield at the sideline for first down yardage easy. Beyer(-0.5) gave up the corner, FWIW. Pressure -1. | |||||||||||||||||||
O14 | 3 | 6 | Flexbone tight | 4-3 under | Pass | N/A | Scramble | Ryan | 4 | ||||||||||
They fake that effective quick pitch and shoot three WRs the opposite way. Taylor(+1), Bolden(+1), and Ryan(+1), cover these guys... it's dodgy for the former two but they are enough to dissuade a throw, and then they attack at the right moment to prevent Dietz from running for the first. (Cover +3). Taylor came up late, leaving the deeper guy to Gordon and preventing AF from going over the top of these LBs. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Punt, 7-3, 12 min 2nd Q | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
O25 | 1 | 10 | Ace 3-wide | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Counter dive | Bolden | 4 | ||||||||||
Bolden is staring right at this and gets no blocker so he just runs right up in the hole, making contact after a yard. That contact is won by the FB, who pushes Bolden over backwards. Clark comes to help finish. A push; Bolden could have done better here but did not screw up an easy play. | |||||||||||||||||||
O29 | 2 | 6 | Near half-flex | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Triple option | Roh | -2 | ||||||||||
Roh(+1) shoves the LT inside and releases into the QB, who has to pitch early. CGordon(+1) is the guy on the edge here and makes a nice open field TFL. AF RT stumbled here, making this easier for Roh. | |||||||||||||||||||
O27 | 3 | 8 | Ace trips | Nickel even | Pass | 5 | Throwaway | Black | Inc | ||||||||||
Blitz sends Avery and Bolden with Gordon backing out; Black(+1) stunts around and gets through as the RG blocks air. Roh(+1) is coming up the edge as Black chases Dietz out of the pocket and he's all like F this I'm outie. This was a jailbreak [BWS]. (Pressure +3, RPS +2) | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Punt, 14-3, 6 min 2nd Q | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
O45 | 1 | 10 | Flexbone | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Counter power | Demens | 3 | ||||||||||
RT is pulling inside of the G here. Ojemudia almost tracks this down from behind but can't quite get there. Black(+0.5) constricts the hole, causing the RT to stumble. Demens(+0.5) is there for a tackle near the LOS. | |||||||||||||||||||
O48 | 2 | 7 | Flexbone | 4-4 under | Pass | 4 | PA throwaway | Roh | Inc | ||||||||||
Fake pitch into a fake option to the other side and then into a pass attempt. Avery(+1, cover +1) isn't biting on that stuff and the deep route is not immediately open. Roh(+1, pressure +1) then chucks the LT and gets pressure—probably gets held—forcing a throwaway. | |||||||||||||||||||
O48 | 3 | 7 | Flexbone | Nickel even | Run | N/A | QB draw | Roh | 14 | ||||||||||
DTs split too much and give up a running lane; contain should be the name of the game here. Roh, Campbell -1. Now there's trouble as the LBs are pass dropping against blockers. Demens(-1) can't do anything; Morgan is trying to flow into the gap and may be able to make a tackle but one of the downfield blockers for Air Force literally tackles him, reaching out to grab his ankles. RPS -1. This opened up big. Just play it straight when they're in the bone, it's not like their passing game is forcing you into the nickel on third and seven. | |||||||||||||||||||
O34 | 1 | 10 | I-Form 3-wide | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Lead zone | Morgan | 3 | ||||||||||
Heitzman(-2) gets scooped really badly. Insta-second level means Demens has to fight off a cut block, which he does. Morgan(+1) beats up the blocker on the edge and Gordon(+1) shoots past his, forcing a cutback. Demens could be there but for the DL. Beyer(+0.5) is there, but giving ground; momentum carries Getz for a few yards. | |||||||||||||||||||
O31 | 2 | 7 | Flexbone | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Quick pitch | Ryan | 7 – 15 Pen | ||||||||||
Ryan(-2) chopped to the ground by a cut block, back goes outside of him, no chance for anyone else to do anything about it. Brink was pursuing and may have had a shot. Demens again ate a block from a guy releasing right away; he kept his feet; not sure if there's anything at all he can do to prevent himself from getting hit there. Kovacs(+0.5) beat a block to get to the edge and prevented this from breaking even bigger. At the end of this play, the AF guy who took out Ryan gets up and clearly talks smack to him. Good on you, flexback. AF gets a call for tripping as that OL who cut Demens puts his legs up when Morgan jumps over him. Not relevant to the play. | |||||||||||||||||||
O40 | 2 | 16 | Flexbone Big | Nickel even | Pass | 4 | Dumpoff | Floyd | 6 | ||||||||||
I think Floyd(-1) blows a coverage on the TE here as he is headed for the corner and Floyd turns around and chases him; Gordon(+1) has his back, dropping into that route and preventing it from being thrown. With both of those guys focused on a deeper route the swing underneath opens up for good yardage. | |||||||||||||||||||
O34 | 3 | 10 | Shotgun 4-wide | Nickel even | Run | N/A | Speed option | Kovacs | 11 | ||||||||||
RB moves simultaneously with snap; legal. They get out on the corner quick. Ryan is unblocked and optioned off. Morgan(-1) is slashed to the ground. He takes two with him as AF ends up doubling him. Three guys on the edge now: Avery, Kovacs, and Demens. Demens(+0.5) takes a good angle past the guy trying to cut him and is in the area ready for action about four yards downfield; Kovacs(-2) goes upfield of his blocker and loses leverage; Taylor(-1) is aggressive but puts himself right on the sideline and doesn't keep this hole small. Demens flows to tackle, but too late. | |||||||||||||||||||
O23 | 1 | 10 | Near half-flex twins | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Triple option | Ryan | 4 | ||||||||||
Roh shucks past a tackle and then eats a cut block. Demens also gets hit with a block right away, he stays on his feet but he's been shoved away from the POA. Ryan(+2) is alone on the edge with both guys and splits them such that Dietz turns it up and Ryan can tackle him. Washington was coming from behind but fell, Clark pursued from the other end to help tackle. I should probably find a minus on a four yard run but can't. I plead option. | |||||||||||||||||||
O19 | 2 | 6 | Offset I-Form | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | End around | Taylor | 12 | ||||||||||
Dive fake and then a handoff to that guy going in orbit motion. Ryan is looking in the backfied and gets lit up by a receiver cracking down on him. Taylor(-2) is way off despite this being in the redzone and comes up poorly, getting cut to the ground and allowing the back to leap over him. Demens was flowing as soon as he figured out where the ball was going; he can't get to the sideline. RPS -1... hard to figure out how M will defend this. | |||||||||||||||||||
O7 | 1 | G | Flexbone | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | FB dive | Campbell | 2 | ||||||||||
Campbell(+1) is falling over but in the running lane; RB falls over him. Demens(+0.5) is there to help stop his momentum as well. | |||||||||||||||||||
O5 | 2 | G | Flexbone | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Triple option | Refs | 5 | ||||||||||
This is the play where Arena league flex guy is hauling ass at the LOS before the snap and cuts Kovacs to the ground. Demens(-1) gets cut really badly here but once this goes outside Ryan there's no one to fill because Kovacs(-1) got blown up. Refs -2. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 14-10, 1 min 2nd Q. Hoke should have called a timeout once AF had second and goal with the clock running. | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
O12 | 1 | 10 | Near half-flex | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Triple option | Gordon | 14 + 10 pen | ||||||||||
So there's still no help on the edge as the flexback is running right at Kovacs(-1), who gets cut. Morgan(-1) also goes down. I don't think that's too much on Kovacs but on Michigan failing to adjust here. The CB has to respect the deep route being run by the WR, Gordon is on the edge, and he has support on the interior—he should take the pitch. Instead he takes QB, again corner is open, big gain. RPS -1. Campbell(-1) gets another holding call for tackling an AF OL, which is why Bolden is running free. Picture-paged. | |||||||||||||||||||
O36 | 1 | 10 | Near half-flex tight | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Counter power | Bolden | 6 | ||||||||||
RT pulls. A back shoots down onto Clark, cutting him off, and then the RB moves through the backside hole between the NT and Roh. Bolden eats the OL in the hole. Morgan(-1) is gone to the fake; Michigan is fortunate that Ryan(+0.5) reads it and comes down on the RB to tackle as he shoots through the gap. Bolden(+1) did force the RB into Ryan, whether it was intentional or not. Result-based charting. Big hole as Roh and Campbell(-1) got kicked. I get Roh since he's contain on the backside. Not so much Campbell, who ends up father away from the play than two guys lined up outside of him. | |||||||||||||||||||
O42 | 2 | 4 | Flexbone | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | FB dive | Bolden | 2 | ||||||||||
Straight ahead at the Roh/Campbell gap. Bolden hits it as fast as possible, they get a couple yards, everyone says that's how that has to go down, next snap. Bolden +0.5 I guess, for keeping this to two yards. | |||||||||||||||||||
O44 | 3 | 2 | Flexbone tight | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Counter dive | Bolden | 3 | ||||||||||
Again at the same gap, with the LT coming off of Roh to hit Bolden. Contact is made at a yard, but Roh is on the side and Bolden's getting hit so momentum pushes the pile over the line. Another push; this is just what happens unless someone MAKES PLAYS. | |||||||||||||||||||
O47 | 1 | 10 | Flexbone | 4-4 under | Pass | 4 | Out | Taylor | Inc | ||||||||||
Straight dropback! No pressure(-2), though I understand. AF WR does not sell his route and rounds it off, allowing Taylor(+2, cover +2) to break on the ball and break it up. | |||||||||||||||||||
O47 | 2 | 10 | Near half-flex tight | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Counter power | Washington | 7 | ||||||||||
Same play they just ran. Clark(+1) actually does a great job to get under the same block he just fell victim to. He comes through it and shoulders Getz, but he's literally shedding this block as he makes contact and can't use his arms. Brink(-1) fights way far upfield; they block Ryan. Washington(-1) is buried. Bolden hits the pulling T right at the LOS but there's just huge amounts of space to both sides of him. He sheds and tackles downfield. Morgan(-1) again misses the T pulling in front of his face. | |||||||||||||||||||
M46 | 3 | 3 | Near half-flex | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Quick pitch | Morgan | 11 | ||||||||||
Back goes in motion before the snap and they pitch it out; no adjustment from M before the snap. Gordon has to keep leverage and turn it in. He does. Clark(-1) doesn't adjust to the motion and goes upfield, no pursuit. Morgan(-1) starts moving about two steps after the OT flares out and has no shot. He leaps a cut, but the delay is more than enough. Kovacs(-1, tackling -1) isn't going to prevent a first down; his missed tackle adds five or six. | |||||||||||||||||||
M35 | 1 | 10 | Ace twins twin TE | 4-3 under | Pass | N/A | Waggle cross | Taylor | 17 | ||||||||||
Bolden(-2, cover -2) gets utterly lost on the play action and lets this guy get open by ten yards. Yeah, so now they're decisive. Taylor(-2, cover -2) also sucked way up and didn't get depth even when it was clear this was a pass. There's no run threat to his side and he's still flying upfield. Nyet. | |||||||||||||||||||
M18 | 1 | 10 | Flexbone Big | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | FB dive | Bolden | 3 | ||||||||||
Campbell cut, ends up on ground, etc. Must be the scheme. Bolden(-0.5) there but not quite decisive enough and misses a tackle, Morgan and Floyd combine to finish the guy as he squeezes through the line. | |||||||||||||||||||
M15 | 2 | 7 | Ace twins | 4-3 under | Pass | N/A | Waggle hitch | Floyd | 9 | ||||||||||
Ojemudia(-1) flows hard down the line and gives up the corner (pressure -2). Floyd has to drop into the corner route and gives up a super easy completion in front of him, but that's a coverage thing—three guys ended up trying to cover one AF player. Cover -2, RPS -1. | |||||||||||||||||||
M6 | 1 | G | I-Form 3-wide | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Lead zone | Roh | 3 | ||||||||||
Roh(+1) thrusts playward, getting penetration and keeping the edge; he picks off the FB and forces a cut inside. Bolden(-0.5) gets past a blocker but his angle is not directly at the hole the RB must hit if he's going to be relevant. Ryan(+0.5) is containing but reads the cutback and gets a tackle in. Campbell did get a little penetration. FWIW. | |||||||||||||||||||
M3 | 2 | G | Flexbone | Goal line | Run | N/A | FB dive | Black | 2 | ||||||||||
Black(+1) immediately hops inside his blocker, and though he falls he forces a cutback. Clark(-1) again just shoulders a defender and starts falling over; he's not there to stand the RB up, and he falls forward for two yards. | |||||||||||||||||||
M1 | 3 | G | Flexbone | Goal line | Run | N/A | QB sneak | Campbell | 0 | ||||||||||
Campbell(+1) gets lower than two blockers and everyone falls at the LOS, not beyond it; Bolden(+1) is the first of many people to jump on Dietz. Roh(+1) also had a large hand in stalling the momentum of the pile. | |||||||||||||||||||
M1 | 4 | G | Near half-flex tight | Goal line | Run | N/A | Quick pitch | N/A | 1 | ||||||||||
Michigan sends everybody, and Air Force calls rock to their scissors, shooting Getz outside and getting it easily since Taylor is blitzing. I don't RPS plays like this since you've got to roll the dice to stop them from getting a yard. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 21-17, 9 min 3rd Q. That's kind of depressing. | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
O34 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 4-wide | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Speed option | Ross | 4 | ||||||||||
Our first all-freshman LB corps. AF motions a WR to the short side and runs a speed option at three WRs and not much space. Ross(+1) is blitzing with Bolden moving to cover him at the snap. He bowls over the WR who is trying to seal him inside, and the QB cuts up. Heitzman(-0.5) gets significantly delayed by a scoop block and blown off the line so there's a gap for him. Pipkins(+0.5) shot through the line at a crappy angle on the backside and manages to come around and tackle. | |||||||||||||||||||
O38 | 2 | 6 | Flexbone unbalanced | 4-4 under | Pass | N/A | PA fly | Kovacs | 32 | ||||||||||
They show their option and shoot that flexback downfield at Kovacs again. Kovacs is like NOT THIS TIME BUDDY, is determined to get outside of him, and... guy runs right by him. How the hell you're supposed to not have this happen I don't know. I guess you can key on is Roh getting blocked. Yes, in this case. Otherwise, screwed. I have to give him a -2, cover -4, but this is also an RPS -4, the culmination of Michigan's scheme leaving them vulnerable to this. WR is hit over the top with eight yards lead on the nearest defender, but bobbles the ball and falls over, which is the only thing preventing a TD. Picture-paged. | |||||||||||||||||||
M30 | 1 | 10 | ??? | ??? | Run | N/A | Counter dive | ??? | 0 | ||||||||||
I think. They are showing a replay on this down. No idea. Some pluses should be handed out for a zero yard run, and are not. | |||||||||||||||||||
M30 | 2 | 10 | Ace twins twin TE | 4-3 under | Pass | N/A | Waggle scramble | CGordon | 10 | ||||||||||
Coverage(+2) is good. Brink(-1) is chasing on the end but he's either slow or not going maximum speed. Either way this opens up more space than the QB should have. Bolden is underneath on a TE. CGordon(-1) roars up late when it becomes clear a scramble is coming but overruns it and gives up more yardage than is necessary. | |||||||||||||||||||
M20 | 3 | In | Flexbone | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | FB dive | Ross | 2 | ||||||||||
They get it. | |||||||||||||||||||
M18 | 1 | 10 | Near half-flex tight | Okie | Run | N/A | FB dive | Washington | 2 | ||||||||||
Washington(+1) gets some push and impacts the FB with his blocker; Bolden(+0.5) pulls out of the seven man front and tackles unmolested. | |||||||||||||||||||
M16 | 2 | 8 | Flexbone big | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | FB dive | Black | 2 | ||||||||||
Oookay. Black(+1) dodges a cut and Ross(+1) again plows a blocker back; those two tackle after the usual two yards. | |||||||||||||||||||
M14 | 3 | 6 | Ace 3-wide | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | QB draw | Bolden | 6 | ||||||||||
Michigan stunts, pulling Black around and sealing the intended hole. Bolden(-2) does not read this and sits, waiting for the QB to come through the hole the stunt closes off; he cuts behind where Washington was always going to get sealed off from thanks to the stunt. Black almost makes a saving play after avoiding a cut and coming around but can't; Bolden is not where he needs to be and this breaks for the first down. Ryan, who starts a full three yards behind Bolden, actually makes this tackle. | |||||||||||||||||||
M8 | 1 | G | Flexbone goal line | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | FB dive | Bolden | 1 | ||||||||||
May be a bust as the playside G pulls. FB is running straight at where the G no longer is. Campbell(+0.5) comes under a block and helps tackle with an unblocked Bolden(+0.5) hitting it after a yard. | |||||||||||||||||||
M7 | 2 | G | Offset I-Form | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | End around | Ross | 4 | ||||||||||
Ross takes one step playside and then bursts upfield as he sees the end around. Too far upfield. He's there to make the tackle but only from the side and just barely. Taylor(+1) provided good support here, getting into the lead blocker at the LOS and turning it in at then numbers. He also helps tackle. Ross gets a push; this was good recognition but that angle needs to be wider so that you're meeting the guy at the LOS instead of chasing him. | |||||||||||||||||||
M3 | 3 | G | Near half-flex unbalanced | 4-4 under | Run | N/A | Outside pitch. | Taylor | 0 | ||||||||||
A crappy pitch bails M out, but I think they had this stopped. Taylor(+1) held the edge and dodged a cut, and Ross(+0.5) was going flat out for the outside. Bad pitch brings Getz into a ton of bodies and ends it. | |||||||||||||||||||
M3 | 4 | G | Field goal | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Speed option | Ryan | 2 | ||||||||||
Michigan leaves their defense on the field and AF still runs the fake. Not a good idea. Ryan(+1) forces it back and Bolden(+0.5) tackles with help. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Turnover on downs, 28-17, 1 min 3rd Q | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
M39 | 1 | 10 | Ace trips unbalanced | 4-3 under | Pass | N/A | PA fly | Taylor | Inc | ||||||||||
Two deep routes draw man coverage, basically, as Gordon shoots up on the option fake. Taylor(+1, cover +1) is step for step with his guy and probably has a play on the ball if this is accurate enough to be caught; it's not. | |||||||||||||||||||
M39 | 2 | 10 | Near half-flex | 4-3 even | Run | N/A | Triple option | Gordon | 7 | ||||||||||
Same thing. Safety has to worry about getting burned over the top and by the time he commits it's too late. Gordon hops over a cut block but is still way far away from the edge once Ryan forces a pitch. I guess you can key on the OL releasing downfield and get on your horse. Gordon -1. | |||||||||||||||||||
M32 | 3 | 3 | Flexbone tight | 4-3 even | Run | N/A | Quick pitch | Taylor | -2 | ||||||||||
Taylor(+2) comes up hard on this one, smacking a blocker three yards in the backfield at the numbers. Other blockers run by Clark(+1), who delivers a thumping tackle. RPS +1, they were looking for this. | |||||||||||||||||||
M34 | 4 | 5 | Near half-flex | 4-3 even | Run | N/A | Triple option | Gordon | 6 | ||||||||||
Same thing, always. Gordon(-1) does not get outside the flexback, gives up corner, does tackle at the sticks but not enough. Clark is coming so hard from the back on this that if Ryan makes the QB turn up this is a stop, I think. | |||||||||||||||||||
M28 | 1 | 10 | Flexbone | 4-3 even | Pass | N/A | PA flare | N/A | Inc | ||||||||||
Floyd(+1, cover +1) and Morgan(+1, cover +1) cover their guys, Floyd on a fly route and Morgan recovering from the PA. QB tries to flare it out as a checkdown and misses badly. Possibly thanks to Heitzman(+0.5) getting a nominal amount of pressure. | |||||||||||||||||||
M28 | 2 | 10 | Flexbone | 4-3 even | Run | N/A | Triple option | Floyd | 3 | ||||||||||
Ojemudia(-2) has no idea what he's doing and shoots down inside at the dive back instead of taking the QB. Floyd(+2, tackling +1) shoots by the corner and fills after the QB pitches for no earthly reason. Took a huge mistake by the QB and a great play to not have this break huge. Because the whole defense was going nuts about the dive back. | |||||||||||||||||||
M25 | 3 | 7 | Ace 4-wide | 4-3 even | Pass | N/A | Slant | Morgan | 10 | ||||||||||
Morgan(-1, cover -1) takes a weird bad zone drop and opens this up. OL had cut everyone, so this was coming out immediately or not at all. | |||||||||||||||||||
M15 | 1 | 10 | Flexbone | 4-3 even | Run | N/A | FB dive | Black | 6 | ||||||||||
DL shift does Michigan a disservice here; Black(-1) pops through the line at the wrong spot to do anything about this and LBs can't do anything about it either. | |||||||||||||||||||
M9 | 2 | 4 | Flexbone | 4-3 even | Run | N/A | Triple option | Ojemudia | 1 | ||||||||||
Ojemudia(+1) does hop out on the QB this time. He decides not to pitch for some reason and gets nailed. Pitch looked like a TD, FWIW. | |||||||||||||||||||
M8 | 3 | 3 | Flexbone | 6-2 over | Run | N/A | Triple option | Morgan | 8 | ||||||||||
M finally switches their scheme up, shooting Gordon at the QB from the corner. This forces a pitch. Morgan and Floyd are on the edge against one blocker... Floyd(-1) gets cut and ends up incapacitated at the three and Morgan(-2, tackling -1) overruns the RB entirely. TD. | |||||||||||||||||||
M3 | 2pt | 2pt | Ace twins | 4-3 even | Pass | N/A | Waggle TE circle | Bolden | 3 | ||||||||||
Roh(-1, pressure -1) sucks up and does not get out on the edge. Bolden(-1, cover -1) also bites hard, so this is easy. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Touchdown(2pt), 28-25, 12 min 4th Q | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
O34 | 1 | 10 | Flexbone | 4-3 even | Run | N/A | Triple option | N/A | 2 | ||||||||||
Fumbled the dive fake. | |||||||||||||||||||
O36 | 2 | 8 | Flexbone tight | 4-3 even | Pass | 4 | Scramble | Brink | 1 | ||||||||||
One flex back is in a WR stance, so may tip pass. Dive fake and then Dietz drops back. He doesn't like what he sees(cover +1) and scrambles directly upfield. Brink(+1) and Pipkins(+1) collapse on him. | |||||||||||||||||||
O37 | 3 | 7 | Shotgun trips | Nickel even | Run | N/A | Speed option | Floyd | 13 | ||||||||||
Three AF players are moving before the snap, which ain't legal. Ross is hauling after this play—he really is decisive—but gets easily cut off by a guy blocking down. Kovacs takes another blocker and Floyd(-1) is one on one on the outside with a motioned flexback; he again gets taken out of the play. RPS -1. Schemed here, mostly. No response from the LBs to the motion. | |||||||||||||||||||
50 | 1 | 10 | Near half-flex | 4-3 even | Run | N/A | FB dive | Campbell | 2 | ||||||||||
Campbell(+1) shoves his blocker backwards and gets to the hole, tackling. C released directly into Ross; Campbell making this play saves a yard or two, an important yard or two. | |||||||||||||||||||
M48 | 2 | 8 | Flexbone | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | FB dive | Roh | 3 | ||||||||||
Campbell over C on this one, play goes behind him. Roh(+1) fights to the hole and helps tackle; Bolden(-0.5) isn't quite authoritative enough with his fill and shoulder-blocks the RB down. | |||||||||||||||||||
M45 | 3 | 5 | Flexbone | 4-3 even | Run | N/A | Counter dive | Ross | 2 | ||||||||||
Woo! Ross(+1) is going forward on the snap, splitting the two guys releasing downfield and blasting the RB at the LOS. Would be two but he does not wrap. Black(+1) ditched a blocker and takes out the pulling G; he uses the Ross-created delay to tackle. | |||||||||||||||||||
M43 | 4 | 3 | Near half-flex | 4-3 even | Run | N/A | Triple option | Clark | 0 | ||||||||||
Michigan stunts. They send Clark upfield and take Black out behind that. Clark(+1) takes out the lead blocker and forces Getz upfield. Black(+1) is now out on the QB, who ends up pitching it forward to a guy right next to him. Black and Ross(+1), who flew right by a blocker en route to the edge, make the stop. RPS +1. The stunt killed it. Way to pull that out at a critical juncture, Mattison. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Turnover on downs, 31-25, 4 min 4th Q. Okay, so ABC screwed up here and the tape misses the first three plays of this drive. They are INC, 7 yard completion plus 15 roughing the passer, Roh(-1), incomplete (Clark +1 for leaping PBU), and a sideline interference(!) penalty. We pick it up on second and fifteen. | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | DForm | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
O37 | 2 | 15 | Shotgun trips | 4-3 under | Pass | 4 | Out | Ryan | Inc | ||||||||||
Roh(+1) gets some pressure after initially getting stopped by the LT; Dietz is rolling out to his side after he dumps the tackle and has to throw. Ryan(+1, cover +1) is in position and breaks to break up a poorly-thrown ball. | |||||||||||||||||||
O37 | 3 | 15 | Shotgun 4-wide | Nickel even | Run | N/A | QB draw | Clark | -2 | ||||||||||
Mattison is so looking for this, running a stunt that sends Clark(+1) directly into the running lane AF is looking for. Ryan(+1) darted inside the tackle he's stunting and helps tackle. RPS +2. | |||||||||||||||||||
O35 | 4 | 17 | Shotgun trips | Nickel even | Pass | 4 | Batted | Ryan | Inc | ||||||||||
Ryan(+2) sets the RT up inside, looks like he's going to burst outside, and then is definitely bursting outside because the RB clunks into the RT. Ryan in, QB has to throw, Ryan knocks it down. (Pressure +2) | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Turnover on downs, 31-25, 1 min 4th Q. EOG for D. |
That could have gone better.
Yeah. I found this reference to what Michigan was doing on The Birddog, the great Navy blog:
The biggest surprise in this game was how poorly Michigan defended the option. They spent most of the game in a 3-deep 4-4, with the safety assigned to the pitch man. Sound familiar? No wonder Air Force was able to move the ball. After playing both Navy and Air Force several times in his career, you'd think that Brady Hoke would have known better.
That link takes you to the Birddog's extensive breakdown of the 2008 Georgia-Georgia Tech game in which the Yellow Jackets broke a long losing streak against the Dawgs by completing one pass for 19 yards… and rushing for 409. In that game, the pitchman was the safety's responsibility, the safety started eating the flexback, and the Jackets looked like Las Vegas for a day. The Birddog chalks this up to old-timey ways to defend the wishbone that time-pressed coaches default to because they aren't up on the ways in which the flexbone makes those defenses invalid.
It's of purely academic interest until Michigan schedules another option team, but the similarities between how UGA defended Tech in 2008 and how Michigan defended Air Force in 2012 are extensive. If you just want to know why Saturday went down like it did, I can't recommend that post enough.
This is already nine thousand words.
What I'm saying is could I have some cliffs notes?
Ah so:
Fundamentally, the mechanics of your basic triple option play are the same whether you're running it out of the wishbone, I-formation, spread, or whatever. Each of these formations, however, imply different overall philosophies. The underlying theme of the wishbone– bringing blockers to the point of attack to support a power running game– is very different than that of the spread. In the spread, you want to stretch the defense, both vertically and from sideline to sideline, in order to create running lanes. You might think these are just platitudes, but they aren't; this difference, coupled with the threat of the pass, is why wishbone defenses don't work against the spread option. The spread allows an offensive coordinator to use a greater variety of formations in order to create the space he wants for his ballcarriers. That advantage played a big part in Georgia Tech's win over Georgia.
Mattison knows he was burned, and we won't see Michigan try this in purely hypothetical future option matchups. But when it came down to crunch time, he did respond.
Oh yes?
Oh, yes. On Air Force's final drive he had the luxury of the Falcons trying a shotgun passing attack but it's still a big plus when you call rock to the opponent's QB draw scissors, and on the even-more-critical final AF drive in their base offense Mattison finally pulled out a variation of his base defense that worked:
Clark bursts upfield and Michigan stunts Black outside, getting both a delay on the QB and a second tackler in space. Also featured is James Ross getting on his horse and doing what James Ross does: running at maximum speed somewhere. I assume there will be moments this year when Ross doing this leaves a tight end wide open, but you can't accuse Ross of being indecisive. If you need to figure out where to eat dinner with 12 people, invite James Ross.
He is in fact the only edge-type person on the—
probably pretty doomy CHART
--chart to not get a negative.
Defensive Line | ||||
Player | + | - | T | Notes |
Roh | 9 | 5 | 4 | Size not a problem against Falcons. |
Campbell | 4.5 | 7 | -2.5 | I may have been a little harsh on some early cuts as AF didn't get that many yards on them. |
Washington | 2.5 | 5 | -2.5 | Right, this is more realistic than his Alabama number. |
Black | 6 | 1.5 | 4.5 | Some big plays late. |
Brink | 1 | 3 | -2 | Eh. |
Ash | - | - | - | DNP |
Pipkins | 1.5 | - | 1.5 | Showed some agility after popping through the line at bad angle |
Beyer | 0.5 | 2.5 | -2 | Clark seemed a lot better. |
Heitzman | 0.5 | 2 | -1.5 | Probably shouldn't be playing yet. |
Clark | 5 | 2 | 3 | Too bad impressive PBU not shown by ABC. |
Ojemudia | 1 | 3 | -2 | One bust on QB he got away with. |
TOTAL | 31.5 | 31 | 0.5 | Step up from 'Bama; maybe not very telling anyway. |
Linebacker | ||||
Player | + | - | T | Notes |
Morgan | 8 | 10 | -2 | Faded late after strong start, thus setting up allfrosh. |
Demens | 2 | 3.5 | -1.5 | Poor guy was dodging two blocks a play. |
Ryan | 13 | 2.5 | 10.5 | Ran up the score with +4 on final three plays. Option blame fell elsewhere. |
C. Gordon | 1.5 | 2 | -0.5 | Will be viable depth for Ryan. |
Ross | 4.5 | - | 4.5 | Goes, man, just goes. |
Bolden | 5.5 | 6 | -0.5 | Some nice plays, some getting lost. |
Hawthorne | - | - | - | DNP. |
TOTAL | 34.5 | 24 | 10.5 | Thought these guys did okay considering all the cut blocks |
Secondary | ||||
Player | + | - | T | Notes |
Floyd | 3 | 10 | -7 | Has always been a terrible run defender, this played into a weakness. |
Avery | 3 | - | 3 | Did okay before getting pulled with back issue. |
Taylor | 7 | 7 | 0 | Had some crappy plays, but also popped up to pop people. |
Kovacs | 3.5 | 7 | -3.5 | Really put in a bind by the scheme. |
T. Gordon | 3 | 5 | -2 | Did not do well compared to Ryan on edge. |
Holowell | - | - | - | DNP |
Wilson | - | - | - | Did not chart. |
TOTAL | 19.5 | 29 | -9.5 | No Marlin Jacksons here. |
Metrics | ||||
Pressure | 7 | 7 | 0 | Not really important. |
Coverage | 15 | 15 | 0 | Push good against this kind of offense. |
Tackling | 6 | 3 | 66% | AF != Alabama |
RPS | 7 | 13 | -6 | Mattison said as much. |
So… I did not get the Demens removal. I thought the DL was pretty scary save Roh, loved Ryan, thought the linebackers were otherwise eh, hated Floyd's run support, was disappointed in the safeties, and think Michigan got outschemed somewhat. Thus Air Force racking it up.
Ryan is so shiny here, but you thought he might be a problem live?
That was probably lingering Argh Ryan bias from last year. He made tackles in space, he was very likely not the guy who had the pitchman at any point except when he was making tackles in space, and he almost singlehandedly ended Air Force's final drive. Bennie Oosterbaan would be proud as soon as he stopped asking why a linebacker was wearing his number.
He also lowered some BOOM:
Note that the alignment there drives the blocking crazy. The WR is trying to crack down on a LB but he's on the line, so the CB knows right away that this is a run, and then the angle he has to take cuts off the guy assigned to Avery.
Ryan did have one ARGH RYAN; other than that he was stellar. Easily Michigan's best defender on the day.
But Floyd not so much.
No. While he got a lot better in coverage last year—Gibson minus all of the points—he remained a sucky edge defender. Remember bubble screen fiesta by Northwestern? Etc. He is not real good at taking on blocks of any variety. This ends up a Morgan TFL but watch Floyd:
That was a constant occurrence, and it would have been a problem on this play if the QB had made Morgan commit before pitching. It cost Michigan lots of yards on others. On this one he's not even blocked and ends up in the parking lot:
I don't know why they're so far off. I do know that attacking Michigan's corners in the run/screen game has been easy money for a couple years now.
How did Taylor do in his first extended time?
He was uneven, as you might expect. I don't blame him on the easy pitch touchdown Air Force got since he was blitzing at the snap—watch Floyd for confirmation—and got blocked in the back something fierce without a call from this ref crew deathly afraid of throwing a flag on America. Mattison dialed up a risky play in an effort to get a stop and got beat, which is fine on the one yard line. You've got to dial it up somehow.
He did extend a few Air Force drives with rookie mistakes, like this corner route on which he has to know the situation:
That step up is the difference between a completion and getting off the field, and it was made against a stationary tight end three yards downfield on third and twelve. On the other hand, he recovered pretty well there. If Dietz doesn't put it up high he's got a play on it. He's got the athleticism. He needs to learn how to play zone coverage, is all. He might already be better than Floyd at run support.
Demens got pulled but doesn't stand out as terrible above.
No. I'm not sure what he could have done on most of these plays. I mean, the poor guy ended up dealing with multiple blocks for big chunks of the first half:
That is not one but two Air Force blockers who do nothing but go after Demens. No consideration for guys on the line, no one else to block, just Kenny Demens vs The World.
Bolden was okay, but I think maybe Demens doesn't get sucked to the frontside and makes a stop on this play:
That's pretty bad because of the stunt in front of Bolden. That hole frontside is going to get filled by the stunter, and that's something the LB should realize. I didn't see much from Bolden that was option-relevant. Michigan was using their MLBs mostly to nail that FB dive.
Ross showed that maybe there were plays out there to make, but I don't expect Demens to get buried. I also don't expect him to do much unless Michigan starts getting more plays from the DL.
So what about this covered slot thing?
I've never seen anyone do that with the frequency Air Force did, and wanted to know if Mattison was using that stuff as a run key. Answer: yes. Via Heiko:
MGoQuestion: A lot of times Air Force came out with two receivers lined up on the line of scrimmage such that the slot was an ineligible receiver. Do you coach your defense to use that as a run key?
"Yeah. We knew that. We knew that. In fact, if you watched that, you would have seen J.T. Floyd come over to him and know that he didn't have to drop, and he didn't. He became another run defender over there."
Even so I was frustrated a couple times when that happened and the guy over the slot did not react quickly enough to the run. It is possible to pass out of it but the contortions you have to go through are extreme. Nebraska got a corner route TD on it against Southern Miss by not even bothering to move either of the outside WRs. [HT: Smart Football.] We saw the magical journey the covered slot guy went on on the long shoulda-been-TD in Picture Pages.
Just astoundingly bad. Here's an Air Force pass play on which not one but two Falcon offensive linemen release downfield:
Those two guys in the middle of the field are OL. One of them cut-blocked Demens. No flag. I know the packaged plays have made everyone aware that refs will give OL a couple yards, but that's ridiculous. There was that Arena-league touchdown, and Morgan got tackled on a critical third down:
I mean, call it both ways. We're part of America too.
Jake Ryan and James Ross.
Floyd's run support, Mattison's antiquated approach to defending the flexbone option, the D-tackles (somewhat), and the safeties (somewhat).
What does it mean for UMass and the future?
Not a whole lot since option has just slid off the schedule. However: I think Taylor will have some rough spots but come through okay. He's an athlete. Ross is going to get more playing time until such time as his hypercaffeinated ways get Michigan burned, and possibly beyond that. Jake Ryan is developing as well as Michigan fans had hoped.
Still feeling pretty ominous about the line, unfortunately, but a lot of Air Force's success is not replicable by other teams. Since Alabama is way up there, UMass way down there, and Air Force way out there, our first read on how this defense is going to play against humans comes against Notre Dame.
Upon Further Review 2012: Defense vs Alabama
Formation notes: Nothing unusual. Here's a kitten in some marshmallows.
Substitution notes: On the line we got a ton of people: the starting four (Roh-Campbell-Washington-Black), Ash, Pipkins, Beyer, and Brink. James Ross rotated through both MLB and WLB, replacing Demens or Morgan on about half the drives. Cam Gordon saw a few snaps in place of Ryan.
In the secondary, Michigan first moved Gordon down to nickel and brought in Jarrod Wilson. After the long touchdown on Avery they brought in Raymon Taylor as a one for one replacement for Countess.
Show? Show.
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
O25 | 1 | 10 | Ace 3-wide | Nickel even | Run | N/A | Inside zone | Morgan | 1 | ||||||||||
Michigan comes out with their nickel, moving Kovacs down into the box. Line is Ryan-Campbell-Roh-Beyer. Campbell(-1) and Roh(-1) get blown a yard or two off the ball Demens(+2) and Morgan(+2) have to flow very hard very fast; they do so, meeting linemen near the LOS before they can fully disengage. Demens gets outside his man and forces it back to Morgan; Campbell is also there. | |||||||||||||||||||
O26 | 2 | 9 | Shotgun empty | Okie | Pass | 5 | Hitch | Floyd | Inc | ||||||||||
Ryan (+0.5, RPS +1, pressure +2) gets a free run off the edge. McCarron has to throw immediately and does to Lacy; dropped. Floyd looked like he was in okay coverage. | |||||||||||||||||||
O26 | 3 | 9 | Shotgun 2-back | Nickel even | Pass | 4 | Throwaway | Ryan | Inc | ||||||||||
Morgan shows blitz, backs out. Michigan stunts; Ryan(+2) ducks inside the LT and runs through a crappy chip from the RB, getting pressure(+2) right up the middle as Black(+0.5) comes around the outside to contain. McCarron chucks it away. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Punt, 14 min 1st Q | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
O39 | 1 | 10 | Ace twins twin TE | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Counter Iso | Demens | 9 | ||||||||||
Countess gone now. Kovacs rolled up for an eighth guy. The second TE is lined up as an h-back on the boundary and roars up in a gap. Demens(-2) eats him two yards downfield and lets him outside; Morgan(-1) gets lost on the counter action. Roh(+0.5) had disengaged and tackles; could have tackled near the LOS if Demens hadn't gotten blown up. | |||||||||||||||||||
O48 | 2 | 1 | Ace twins twin TE | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Power off tackle | Demens | 2 | ||||||||||
Michigan slants away from the play, sending Ryan as they pull Black off the LOS. Roh(+1) ends up slanting into a double and gets buried, but holds up okay and does not allow anyone to get on the LBs. Demens(+1) flows into the hole next to Roh and gets a diving tackle on Lacy as he leaps; Morgan(-1) gets caught up in Roh's trash and cannot help. Otherwise this could be no gain. | |||||||||||||||||||
50 | 1 | 10 | Ace 3-wide | Nickel even | Pass | 5? | Waggle hitch | Avery | 7 | ||||||||||
I think this was a blitz the PA screwed up. There is no one on the edge(pressure -1) as McCarron turns, and it's an easy pitch and catch for him. Avery in coverage, not that close, does tackle on the catch. | |||||||||||||||||||
M43 | 2 | 3 | Ace | 4-3 under | Penalty | -- | False start | -- | -5 | ||||||||||
you gonna die now kid saban's gonna eat you | |||||||||||||||||||
M48 | 3 | 8 | Ace 4-wide | 4-3 even | Pass | 5 | Seam | Floyd | 19 | ||||||||||
Ryan gets dragged way out in to the slot. Play goes to the other side anyway. Michigan sends both LBs, dropping off Black short. Kovacs(-2, cover -2) goes for a chuck on the interior WR and doesn't get much; the routes are all past Black's little drop-off and the blitz is slow (Demens -0.5, Morgan -0.5, pressure -1); McCarron sees the big gap in the middle of the defense and hits it. Floyd tackles; he really had no choice here but to split the two WRs running in his zone and tackle. Kovacs has to get depth here as his man goes vertical. RPS -1. | |||||||||||||||||||
M29 | 1 | 10 | I-Form | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Lead zone | Demens | 14 | ||||||||||
Floyd rolled up. Michigan slants away from the playside again, which means the line gets sealed inside. The LBs have to be hauling ass. Demens(-1) gets caught up in a lineman who is falling as he releases, but is releasing on the snap so that is tough. Have to have some DL make a play. . Morgan is trying to reach but wasn't done any favors by his DL; Roh(-2) and Ryan(-2) end up getting blown back two yards by single blocks and Morgan ends up in a pile of bodies. Gordon comes up to keep leverage and is kicked by the FB; thanks to Demens there is no one Gordon is funneling to. Kovacs(+1, tackling +1) comes up to make a nice openfield tackle to prevent a TD. RPS -1; slant made things tough. | |||||||||||||||||||
M15 | 1 | 10 | I-Form Big | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Lead zone | Roh | 5 | ||||||||||
Morgan(-1) rushes at the LOS on some sort of blitz and gets chopped to the ground again. Roh(-1) gets blown out of his lane by his blocker. Brink(-1) also chopped to the ground on the backside. Washington(+0.5) actually gets some push and forces Yeldon into a relatively small hole. Demens is one on one with a guard and can't do much more than a helpless dive at feet. Gordon(+0.5, tackling +1) fills well. | |||||||||||||||||||
M10 | 2 | 5 | I-Form Big | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Iso | Ash | 5 | ||||||||||
Ash at NT. He's blown up(-2); Morgan(-1) is thumped backwards by the FB. Demens had no chance thanks to Ash getting blown up so fast.. They comboed him like it was nothing. | |||||||||||||||||||
M5 | 1 | G | I-Form Big | Goal line | Run | N/A | Lead zone | Heitzman | 3 | ||||||||||
Michigan just chucking guys out there, anybody. Heitzman(-2) hurled to the ground and pancaked. This is the gap. Demens(+0.5) gets a good thwack on the FB at the LOS and forces it back inside, would be a no gain if that DE could just not die immediately. Guy who hurls Heitzman to ground then gets out on Morgan(-0.5); Black actually makes the tackle near the goal line. | |||||||||||||||||||
M2 | 2 | G | I-Form Big | Goal line | Pass | N/A | PA TE corner | Ryan | 2 | ||||||||||
Ryan(-1, cover -1), loses the TE on the PA, but you can't blame him much. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 0-7, 7 min 1st Q. Ugh, turn out the lights. Pick a DL, he got his ass kicked. | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
O33 | 1 | 10 | Ace 3-wide | Nickel even | Pass | 4 | PA throwaway | Gordon? | Inc | ||||||||||
Ross has already replaced Morgan. Wilson playing FS. So much for no freshmen. Coverage(+2) is good off the PA; McCarron can't find anyone, at which point Ryan and Beyer are getting some pressure. He backs out and throws it away. | |||||||||||||||||||
O33 | 2 | 10 | Ace twins twin TE | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Inside zone | Demens | 16 | ||||||||||
Morgan back. M slants again. This gets the two DL past their blockers; Morgan(+1) flows hard to the cutback lane these guys just vacated. Center comes out on him but he's at the LOS already and has funneled. Demens(-2) sits and waits for the ball, getting blocked by a fullback three gaps away from the play. Campbell(-2) didn't help by getting pushed past the play. | |||||||||||||||||||
O49 | 1 | 10 | I-Form | 4-3 even | Pass | 5 | PA fly | Avery | 51 | ||||||||||
Play action. All day for McCarron (pressure -2); Avery (-3, cover -3) falls on the double move and guy is wide open. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 0-14, 5 min 1st Q | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
M17 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | Nickel even | Pass | 5 | Fly | Floyd | Inc | ||||||||||
Overthrown and OOB. Floyd might have had a play. | |||||||||||||||||||
M17 | 2 | 10 | Ace twins twin TE | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Inside zone | Campbell | 8 | ||||||||||
Pipkins in. Roh(+0.5) does a nice job to fight upfield of his guy at the numbers and force it back. Michigan has slanted to the boundary; Campbell's(-2) quickness gets him past his guy, and then he takes a terrible angle that is not along the LOS, so when the RB cuts back he's got a lane. Linebackers nowhere near the cutback, which I don't get since the line is slanting. They get swallowed. | |||||||||||||||||||
M9 | 3 | 2 | I-Form Big | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Iso | Roh | 9 | ||||||||||
Demens(+1) thunders into the FB at the LOS and forces a cut. There is one because Roh(-2) fought out of his gap and got shoved back; Floyd(-1, tackling -1) whiffs on Lacy afterwards. Mattison: "One of the touchdowns, for example, where Floyd missed the tackle in the hole, which would have been a two-yard gain, and he got a touchdown on it. Craig Roh just tried to make the play inside and should have stayed outside." | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 0-21, 1 min 1st Q | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
O34 | 1 | 10 | Ace twins | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Inside zone | Ross | 50 | ||||||||||
Nobody takes the C gap to the field. The line again slants to the boundary, and get under their guys. Penetration. Black is containing to the outside. Neither linebacker goes to the hole the line is funneling them to. Ross(-3), Morgan(-2), Kovacs(-0.5, tackling -1) for missing a tough tackle but not keeping leverage, Gordon(-1, tackling -1) for whiffing as he comes up, Taylor (-1, tackling -1) for whiffing, Ryan(-0.5, tackling -1) why am I doing this | |||||||||||||||||||
M26 | 1 | 10 | whatever | whatever | Penalty | N/A | False start | -- | -5 | ||||||||||
death | |||||||||||||||||||
M31 | 1 | 15 | Ace 3-wide | Okie | Run | N/A | Inside zone | Morgan | -3 | ||||||||||
M seven across the front, and they send six with Ross dropping off to clean up. Ryan gets upfield and forces it back, but he's way upfield, I don't think that's ideal. Beyer(+1) gets a little penetration and cuts off a cutoff lane the RB thinks about. Morgan(+2) beats a block and surges upfield as RB tries to break outside the tackles. RPS +1 | |||||||||||||||||||
M34 | 2 | 18 | Ace 3-wide | 4-3 under | Pass | 4 | Scramble | Roh | 15 – 15 pen | ||||||||||
Roh(+1) fights inside the tackle and his held, but no call; hold makes him fall. This spooks McCarron and Beyer(+1) coming around the outside flushes him totally. Contain is broken and McCarron gets a bunch of yards, but the missed hold probably made that possible. Bama guy gets a PF for hitting Floyd in the head at the end of the play. Refs -1. | |||||||||||||||||||
M34 | 3 | 18 | Shotgun 3-wide | Nickel even | Pass | 5 | Screen | -- | 26 | ||||||||||
Michigan gets RPSed hard(-3), sending everyone to the same side they blitz on. Yeldon has a free first down. | |||||||||||||||||||
M8 | 1 | G | I-Form Big | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Lead zone | Morgan | 4 | ||||||||||
Again the slant, again LBs not flowing. Ross(+0.5) at least tears ass. Into a blocker, but okay. He pushes some guys back and makes the hole smaller. Kovacs cuts off the lead blocker and maintains leverage; Morgan(-1) slows up inexplicably and can only make contact from the side. Gordon(+0.5, tackling +1) meets him at the same time, preventing this from getting to the two. | |||||||||||||||||||
M4 | 2 | G | Shotgun 3-wide | Nickel even | Pass | 4 | Fade | Avery | Inc | ||||||||||
M4 | 3 | G | Shotgun 3-wide | Okie | Pass | 6 | Throwaway | N/A | Inc | ||||||||||
Michigan sends the house and gets free rushers(pressure +2, RPS +1). McCarron chucks it away. This should be grounding, as he's in the pocket. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: FG, 0-24, 10 min 2nd Q | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
O47 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | Nickel even | Pass | 4 | Cross | N/A | Inc | ||||||||||
No pressure (-2); decent coverage(+2) and a checkdown. With Ryan coming up probably a 4-6 yard gain if caught; dropped. | |||||||||||||||||||
O47 | 2 | 10 | Ace twins twin TE | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Counter | Ross | 7 | ||||||||||
Big gap on the backside as the line slides towards the TEs. Alabama pulls one to the back, which neither LB reads, and kicks Black. Brink(-1) is blown up. Ross(-1) and Demens(-1) are gone. Kovacs is nominally in the box and comes down to tackle(+0.5, +1) as Hart breaks into the second level. | |||||||||||||||||||
M46 | 3 | 3 | Shotgun empty | 4-3 under | Pass | 5 | Sack | Ryan | -6 | ||||||||||
TE standing up a yard or two outside the line points Ryan out but no one picks him up. Ross is sent; Beyer backs out. Ryan(+1) flushes McCarron up into the pocket, where Ross(+0.5) and Roh(+0.5) combine to sack. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Punt, 5 min 2nd Q | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
O25 | 1 | 10 | Ace twins | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Zone counter | Kovacs | -2 | ||||||||||
Not sure what to call this. Looks like standard inside zone blocking; QB flips the handoff around and gives it to the back going to the other side and he's headed backside from the start. Michigan is totally screwed on this with Beyer(-2) fighting inside and losing outside contain but for Kovacs(+2, tackling +1) shooting up past an attempted WR block and making a TFL. | |||||||||||||||||||
O23 | 2 | 12 | I-Form twins | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Power off tackle | Ryan | 3 | ||||||||||
Ryan (+1) gets into the FB at the LOS to the inside and clogs up the hole; Roh(+1) also fights through a block and ends up taking the pulling guard as well. Lacy slows up, confused, and shows why he'll lose his job to TJ Yeldon by not shooting outside immediately. Michigan should have had a guy there but Demens(-1), unblocked, is just sitting behind the line. The delay allows an unblocked Beyer(+0.5) to tackle near the LOS. | |||||||||||||||||||
O26 | 3 | 9 | ??? | ??? | Run | N/A | Draw | ??? | 9 | ||||||||||
We're watching a close-up of JT Floyd for this whole play. | |||||||||||||||||||
O35 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun trips | Nickel even | Pass | 4 | Quick out | Demens | 13 | ||||||||||
A five yard hitch turns into more as Demens(-1, cover -1) overruns the play. | |||||||||||||||||||
O48 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 4-wide | Nickel even | Pass | 4 | Out | Floyd | 12 | ||||||||||
No pressure(-2), WR wide open for about 15 (Floyd –1, cover -1). Easy. | |||||||||||||||||||
M40 | 1 | 10 | Shotgun 4-wide | Nickel even | Pass | 4 | Dumpoff | Roh | 11 | ||||||||||
Roh stunts with Beyer and gets into the LT, knocking him back on his heels. LT then tackles him. No call. because Bama needs that kind of help. McCarron scrambles out and dumps it off to Lacy. (Pressure +1, Roh +1, Refs -2) Lacy gets a first down but runs out the clock as he does so. Fumble pops out, because this is when we really need a turnover. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Fumble, 7-31, EOH | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
O20 | 1 | 10 | Ace twins twin TE | 4-3 under | Pass | 4 | Waggle out | Gordon | 28 | ||||||||||
Coverage is fine here with Gordon prepped to make a tackle after this guy catches it three yards downfield; Gordon(-2, tackling -2) whiffs, turning this into big yards. Morgan(-1, tackling -1) compounds matters. | |||||||||||||||||||
O48 | 1 | 10 | Ace twins twin TE | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Inside zone | Pipkins | 5 | ||||||||||
Pipkins in at NT. He gets good push(+1), driving the C back a couple yards and constricting any frontside hole. RB has to slow up awkwardly and cut back. Roh(-2) has taken a cut and gets up, then tries to do what he did on the earlier TD by over pursuing and getting out of his lane, opening up the backside. If he's more responsible likely TFL. Ryan then brings Yeldon down after he slices back upfield. | |||||||||||||||||||
M47 | 2 | 5 | Ace twins twin TE | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Inside zone | Campbell | 15 | ||||||||||
Campbell(-2) ends up shoved two yards downfield and well down the line, opening up a big cutback lane. Pipkins(-1) took an angle too far upfield and helped open it up, too. Demens(+1) does a good job to dodge an attempted cut block and tackles as Yeldon shoots upfield; this is probably a touchdown-saving play. | |||||||||||||||||||
O38 | 1 | 10 | I-Form | 4-3 under | Pass | 5 | PA sack | Campbell | -16 | ||||||||||
Coverage(+2) is good, causing McCarron to hesitate. He spooks. Campbell(+2) has blasted the OL's hands down and starts coming around the edge. He has to go even further around as Black is now bull-rushing his guy back, but manages to get all the way around that and run the QB down for a sack. Impressive. (Pressure +2) Washington(+1) also beat a guy and forced a RB up; that's probably the reason for the McCarron spook. | |||||||||||||||||||
M46 | 2 | 26 | Ace | Nickel even | Pass | 4 | PA scramble | -- | 4 | ||||||||||
McCarron has nothing (coverage +2) and despite not getting any pressure just decides to take off. He gets a few. | |||||||||||||||||||
50 | 3 | 22 | Shotgun empty | Nickel even | Pass | 4 | Tunnel screen | Kovacs | 15 | ||||||||||
Despite only sending four this gets dangerous. The LB to that side is sent and Michigan sends Beyer and Demens to the field; this goes to the boundary. Kovacs attacks this fantastically, getting past an attempted blocker, and... misses the tackle. He does delay the WR considerably, which helps the D rally. I'll give him a pass as this was a tough play. Gordon comes into tackle after a big gain, RPS -2; without that Kovacs play this could have been six. Bama has our screen number in this game. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Missed FG(52), 7-31, 7 min 3rd Q. | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
O47 | 1 | 10 | Ace twins | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Zone counter | Beyer | 12 | ||||||||||
Again the backside DE here fails to keep contain. Beyer(-2) is the culprit. Kovacs is in man coverage and is not very useful; Michigan blitzed Morgan so there is no playside LB (RPS -1). Gordon(-0.5, tackling -1) comes up and misses a tackle but at least slows the guy and keeps leverage. Brink(-1) ended up on the ground, so even if Beyer contains there's a big hole to exploit. | |||||||||||||||||||
M41 | 1 | 10 | Ace twins twin TE | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Inside zone | Demens | 8 | ||||||||||
Brink(-1) is instantly doubled away and sealed; quick G release on Morgan. Morgan(+0.5) gets to the G about a yard downfield and does get outside of him, funneling back; Demens(-2) is slow to the hole and then misses the tackle(-1). Kovacs(-1, tackling -1) also there and spun through. | |||||||||||||||||||
M33 | 2 | 2 | I-Form Big | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Iso | Ash | 0 | ||||||||||
Ash(+2) beats a block by swimming under it and coming back behind the OL so that he's still in the hole. He takes on the lead blocker and forces Lacy to slow up. Demens(+0.5) is free and comes up to hit. Campbell(+0.5) helped out, too. | |||||||||||||||||||
M33 | 3 | 2 | I-Form Big | 4-3 under | Pass | N/A | Waggle flare | -- | Inc | ||||||||||
McCarron doesn't have it long(cover +1) and tries to flip it to the back leaking out but biffs it. Hard to tell if this makes it. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: FG(51), 7-34, 2 min 3rd Q | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
O25 | 1 | 10 | I-Form Big | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Lead zone | Kovacs | 8 | ||||||||||
M does not adjust to motion (RPS -1) and Black gets sealed inside by the TE. Demens(-2) runs up in that same gap and is sealed by same TE, so it's Kovacs(-1, tackling -1) on the outside with a blocker and a ton of space. Kovacs damn near makes an awesome play but doesn't and loses leverage, so the minus. Black(+0.5) was actually in position to tackle if Kovacs forces it back. | |||||||||||||||||||
O33 | 2 | 2 | Ace twins twin TE | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Inside zone | Campbell | 18 | ||||||||||
Campbell(-2) drives his man back, but his angle is way too far directly upfield and then he gets cut, falling over. Morgan(-1) and Ross(-1) both got blown up. Black(-1) ran way too far upfield and opened this gap up even further. I screenshotted this. It's turrible by everyone relevant. Long way to go. Long way. | |||||||||||||||||||
M49 | 1 | 10 | I-Form Big | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Lead zone | Ross | 5 | ||||||||||
Michigan gets flanked a la MSU last year. Ross(-2) runs straight upfield, eliminating himself. The TE in position doesn't even have to block him, Kovacs gets walled off a bit but does come up to tackle once Floyd provides leverage at the numbers. | |||||||||||||||||||
M44 | 2 | 5 | I-Form Big | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Iso | Pipkins | 7 | ||||||||||
Pipkins(-2) blown up. Ross(-2) runs into his own OL instead of the FB. | |||||||||||||||||||
M37 | 1 | 10 | I-Form Big | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Iso | Ross | 0 | ||||||||||
Ross(+1) pops the FB at the LOS and shucks inside. Washington(+1) sheds his block around the LOS and provides a guy in the hole. Cam Gordon comes from behind to help out. | |||||||||||||||||||
M37 | 2 | 10 | I-Form Big | 4-3 under | Pass | N/A | PA TE corner | Taylor | Inc | ||||||||||
Roh(+1, pressure +1) is unblocked and dodges an RB block to get some token pressure that may see McCarron miss long on his TE; Taylor(-1, cover -1) had gotten sucked up on PA and this was open, but not mega-open. | |||||||||||||||||||
M37 | 3 | 10 | Shotgun 3-wide | Okie | Pass | 5 | Corner | Avery | Inc | ||||||||||
Press coverage, Avery playing inside leverage, gets no chuck, lets slot have a step. Overthrown. Ryan and Roh got decent pressure from the edge, but it's a push. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Punt, 14-34, 12 min 4th Q | |||||||||||||||||||
Ln | Dn | Ds | O Form | D Form | Type | Rush | Play | Player | Yards | ||||||||||
O43 | 1 | 10 | Ace twins twin TE | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Inside zone | Campbell | 3 | ||||||||||
Washington(+0.5) holds up to a double decently; Campbell(+1) gives ground on a double at first but comes through it after the second guy releases to block Ross(+0.5), who is trying to shoot the gap and at least a little aggressive. Black comes through a block but I'm not sure if I like this or not because if the back is aware enough to cut outside of this it could break big. Back doesn't, instead grinding for a few yards. | |||||||||||||||||||
O46 | 2 | 7 | Ace twin TE | 4-3 under | Pass | 5 | Waggle TE out | Gordon | 16 | ||||||||||
Gordon(-2, cover -2) bites hard on the play action, opening up not only the catch but a ton of YAC. RPS -1. | |||||||||||||||||||
O38 | 1 | 10 | Ace twins | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Inside zone | Campbell | 11 | ||||||||||
Campbell(-2) gets clubbed to the ground by a double, which is a super quick release on Ross as a result. Kovacs(+0.5) attacks hard this time—makes me think he has not being doing well all game previous—and gets in for a tackle attempt at the LOS. He misses but at least forces the back away from the gaping hole Campbell left. Ash(-1) also got kicked pretty badly. Campbell could make a tackle now if he wasn't on the ground. Ross fights through his block and... misses a tackle(-1). Taylor comes in from the side to finish it. | |||||||||||||||||||
O27 | 1 | 10 | Ace twins twin TE | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Inside zone | Ash | 6 | ||||||||||
Ash(-2) blown three yards off the ball by a single block from the center. Morgan comes up hard and takes on a G near the LOS, forcing it back, but Ash getting blown up doesn't make that relevant. Ross(-1) also got chopped. If he remains up he could make a tackle at about three yards. Pursuit catches up after a few more. | |||||||||||||||||||
O21 | 2 | 4 | I-Form twins | 4-3 under | Run | N/A | Power | Brink | -1 | ||||||||||
Brink(+2) manages to shoot between the gap left by the pulling guard, aided by the OT's odd decision to flare out on Beyer. He's falling but a couple yards oin the backfield, and tackles(+1) at his feet. Looked well defended otherwise. Heitzman(+0.5) and Washington(+0.5) but like whatevers. | |||||||||||||||||||
O22 | 3 | 5 | Shotgun trips TE | Okie | Pass | 6 | Fly | Floyd | Inc (Pen+15) | ||||||||||
Mattison's zone blitz gets Roh(+1, pressure +2, RPS +1) in unblocked, forcing McCarron to chuck a hopeful one off his back foot. It is of course dead accurate. Floyd(-2, cover -2) is in good position but just gets outrun and ends up hooking the WR's arm, drawing a legit flag. | |||||||||||||||||||
O7 | 1 | G | Ace twins twin TE | 4-3 even | Run | N/A | Inside zone | Ross | 6 | ||||||||||
Ross(-1) is sent on a blitz and shoots the gap between two blockers. He goes to the inside, gets shoved, and thus vacates his gap. RB hits gap. Kovacs(-1, tackling -1) gets run over at the five; Morgan has impressively leapt a cut block and manages to get him down before the goal line. | |||||||||||||||||||
O1 | 2 | G | Goal line | Goal line | Run | N/A | Iso | -- | 1 | ||||||||||
They get it. | |||||||||||||||||||
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 14-41, 5 min 4th Q. Backups for both teams on the next two drives, charting ceases. |
why are you doing this to me
i'm not doing anything
just leave me alone
Defensive Line | ||||
Player | + | - | T | Notes |
Roh | 7.5 | 8 | -0.5 | Surprised he came out this well. |
Campbell | 3.5 | 11 | -7.5 | Minor downgrade at this position. |
Washington | 3.5 | - | 3.5 | ?!?!?!?! |
Black | 1 | 1 | 0 | I guess. |
Brink | 2 | 4 | -2 | Blown up a couple times. |
Ash | 2 | 5 | -3 | See above. |
Pipkins | 1 | 3 | -2 | Etc. |
Beyer | 2.5 | 5 | -1.5 | Etc. |
Heitzman | 0.5 | 2 | -1.5 | Didn't register. |
TOTAL | 22.5 | 39 | -16.5 | erg |
Linebacker | ||||
Player | + | - | T | Notes |
Morgan | 5.5 | 10 | -4.5 | And this was the best ILB play! |
Demens | 6 | 12.5 | -6.5 | Seemed marginally worse than Morgan. |
Ryan | 4.5 | 3.5 | 1 | I may have not picked up some things he was doing that were bad. |
C. Gordon | - | - | - | Nothing of note. |
Ross | 2.5 | 11 | -8.5 | Welcome to college. |
Bolden | - | - | - | Garbage time. |
Hawthorne | - | - | - | DNP. |
TOTAL | 18.5 | 37 | -18.5 | urgh |
Secondary | ||||
Player | + | - | T | Notes |
Floyd | - | 4 | -4 | Bad PI extended Bama TD drive. |
Avery | - | 3 | -3 | Big TD on his fall. |
Taylor | - | 3 | -3 | One long TD on him. |
Kovacs | 4 | 5.5 | -1.5 | Poor day by his standards. |
T. Gordon | 1 | 5.5 | -4.5 | Missed tackles a plague. |
Holowell | - | - | - | DNP |
Wilson | - | - | - | Did not chart. |
TOTAL | 13.5 | 26.5 | -13 | Thanks for being inaccurate, Miller. |
Metrics | ||||
Pressure | 12 | 8 | 4 | Do I hear bright spot? |
Coverage | 9 | 13 | -4 | Could have been worse. |
Tackling | 5 | 14 | 26% | This probably could not have been worse. |
RPS | 3 | 8 | -5 | Blitzes exploited a couple times. |
So that's a demolition, too. If you want to sanity-check those numbers, Alabama averaged 6.2 YPC while running two-thirds of the time. Other than the Avery fall, Michigan kept the Alabama passing game in decent check, but it doesn't matter when you get crushed that badly on the ground.
I'm shocked that Washington didn't pick up any negatives and can't vouch for that. It may be that there were just other places to run all the time. We'll see what happens this week.
Oy, Campbell.
Yeah. He flashed impressive closing speed to track down McCarron on his sack but unfortunately also vacated lanes like whoah. By the time Yeldon hits this hole, he is behind Desmond Morgan, like literally directly behind him on the field:
And, like… come on, man:
The last-second switch on the defensive line seemed ominous when it was made and even considering the opposition I think that disquiet is confirmed now.
So it was all on the line?
The numbers say no but I have to admit this was hard sledding for me as I tried to figure out what was going wrong. On last year's defense, it was usually a single thing, maybe two things. On certain plays against Alabama it became extremely difficult to pinpoint what was wrong because it seemed like everything was.
So take this Yeldon run.
Michigan is slanting away from the playside blocking, which is going to leave a gap to the outside. Alabama has a lead blocker who kicks a charging Gordon, which is fine for Gordon, as he's turning it upfield at the hash.
Everything else is broken. Three Michigan defenders are on the backside of the play with two Alabama blockers. Then there is a cavern. Roh and Ryan are both clubbed off the ball by single blocks. As a result Demens is slashed to the ground because the OL assigned to him doesn't even have to provide a token double. Morgan is trying to flow to the hole but has to jump over Demens because the lineblob has gotten back to him. Once Yeldon reaches the LOS there is no one to even slow him. He hits the secondary, where Kovacs makes an impressive touchdown-saving tackle on a guy who wasn't even touched before he passed the sticks.
Who is at fault here? That side of the line, definitely. Demens? I mean, he's trying to read in the backfield and he's already got a guy in his legs before the ball is handed off. Morgan? He probably could have taken a more conservative angle… and tried to tackle where Kovacs got him. Trying to judge linebackers under these conditions is trying to find out who's the best guy at reattaching limbs in a field hospital stocked only with Elmer's Glue and old copies of Guns and Ammo. When they just single-block the entire line and roar out on you on the snap, life as a linebacker is a sad, sad existence.
BWS said the linebackers were hesitant.
Yeah, he's right. I'm not saying the linebackers were good—they got hammered numerically—and hesitancy is the main problem to my eyes as well. Here's a very similar defensive call on which the line gets excellent penetration:
This leapt off the screen to both myself and Chris, who focused on it in the above-linked post.
Here your slant closes off most of the holes. Campbell gets shoved past his ideal location, and that's a problem, but watch Morgan and Demens mostly. Morgan is aggressive, getting to the hole at around the LOS and funneling to his defensive partner. Demens then gets blocked by an h-back(!) three gaps away from where the play is. Morgan's at the LOS; Demens is two yards behind it. Is Campbell at fault here? Yes, if he is in the right spot there is no gap in the line.
Did Demens screw up? I think so, but this happened with enough consistency that in an ideal world Michigan wants that to happen so Demens can track down that RB when he has to slow up and awkwardly pick a hole.
Here there isn't going to be one so you need to slam hard into that big gap. How do you know this? You probably don't. Your peripheral vision picks it up and you go, because you have instincts. Or don't, as in this case.
These are what James Ross are supposed to have, yes?
Reportedly, yes. It didn't take him long to leap Joe Bolden and become the #3 LB on the depth chart. He rotated in at both MLB and WLB and did a bunch of stuff wrong but at least was damned decisive about it. Here's a replica of the first play above, the lead zone. This one is still a lost down (four yards on first and goal from the eight) but the differences between Ross and Demens are notable:
Ross pounds into the guys at the line and gets himself sealed, but at least the POA is still at the LOS and there isn't a huge body in the way of Morgan. Morgan then takes a false step and can't get to the hole despite this being Yet Another Slant on which cutbacks should be doomed. Watch Morgan slow up as the blocker reaches him despite Campbell being obviously unblocked directly in front of his face. Blocker gets into him a bit and instead of meeting the tailback in that hole, he does it three yards downfield from the side.
So what's the point of all the slanting?
This is one of those things that I still need coaching up on, but IME executing that slant where you pick a gap and get in it is designed to force the tailback into a specific gap your DL are not covering by design. This gap is ideally one-person-sized and can be filled by the nearest LB plugging a FB or leading guard at the LOS. This allows the other LB to play it a little cooler. When the gap is big enough that the back can pick either side of the block the fullback laid down then you need that second linebacker to haul ass, beat the block (which is almost always coming from a difficult angle for the offense to get you on the slant), and finish as a free hitter.
Michigan was getting large gaps without free hitters. Is this on the DL? Or LB? Or both? Hand me the glue and the March 1987 edition—you know, the one with that guy using an AK47 on a bear.
Because, man, the linebackers seem clueless. Michigan slants left on this play, leaving Black as backside contain. the linebackers go… left. so you've got a huge hole you were planning on putting there and honey linebackers don't care.
Long, long way to go. For everybody.
Was not a step up or down in this environment. Is that good? If you want it to be, I guess. He did force a cutback by getting good push, something we didn't see much else of:
In general, ask again later.
Any unrelated complaints recycled from last year?
Spread punt plz.
I know Hagerup's kicking the dickens out of the ball, but that's all the more reason to get those interior guys gone on the snap. Most of college football probably isn't wrong about this.
Nobody. I don't trust my Washington number.
Oh hell let's just move on.
What does it mean for Air Force and beyond?
This made me feel much worse than the offense. Denard flashed greatly improved accuracy, we didn't have Fitz, Alabama is Alabama, etc. Here it's just a complete crapfest. You expect to lose the battle against this OL with Michigan's DL but they got so comprehensively owned that I'm worried this ends up being a harbinger.
Campbell was bad. Campbell is playing because Michigan has no other choice. Campbell can remain bad and not get pulled off the field. There is no reason to think Campbell will ever be not bad, etc. I'm expecting the DL causes Michigan to get gashed by Air Force—like, a lot—and we have an uncomfortable outing Saturday.
Preview 2012: Linebackers
Previously: Podcast 4.0, the story, quarterback, running back, wide receivers, offensive line, defensive line.
SLB | Yr. | MLB | Yr. | WLB | Yr. |
Jake Ryan | So.* | Kenny Demens | Sr.* | Desmond Morgan | So. |
Cam Gordon | Jr.* | Joe Bolden | Fr. | Brandin Hawthorne | Sr. |
Royce Jenkins-Stone | Fr. | Mike Jones | Jr.* | James Ross | Fr. |
It's step-up time for the linebacking corps. They return every contributor from a year ago and get freshman-to-sophomore transitions from Jake Ryan and Desmond Morgan. Kenny Demens, Cam Gordon, and Brandin Hawthorne are entering their second consecutive years in a sane defense for the first time in their careers and could/should see larger than average leaps in performance.
They will need to be much better. Mike Martin isn't going to bail them out on six plays a game anymore. Ryan Van Bergen isn't walking through that door. Ryan has to become an elite pass rush threat; Demens and Morgan need to take on blockers and funnel to help far more consistently than they did a year ago.
This is well within reach. Now about getting there.
Middle Linebacker
Rating: 3.5
eats MSU cut |
eats OSU TE |
eats him again |
Minnesota, granted |
flow hard son |
Iowa FB denied |
No Coker part 1 |
blitzing |
line to seam PBU |
In 2010, Kenny Demens was not Obi Ezeh, and this was enough. Expectations were sky-high for Demens in 2011 if only because he seemed so much better than Michigan's incumbent that he had to be pretty good. In retrospect, his somewhat disappointing output was always the likely outcome. Like almost everyone else on the defense, Demens had experienced position-coaching chaos and shifted from system to system on a semiannual basis.
Stepping into an entirely different coaching regime naturally meant hesitation, and hesitation was what we got. I put up this extremely scientific pie chart after Eastern Michigan put up 4.5 YPC despite throwing six times:
We'll talk about the Jake Ryan edge allowance below; here we're fixated on the big red thing labeled "hesitant linebacker play." This was the week after I'd watched Notre Dame's linebackers tear ass after anything that moved, so I may have had a view of proper linebacker play improperly biased towards running your balls off as soon as a guard gives you a direction.
I don't think so, though, as Michigan linebackers were exploited on the edge for much of the year. Blue Seoul captured a Kain Colter option TD in With Pics(!), and while I suppose Carvin Johnson, who Seoul criticizes, could have been more Kovacs-y on the play, he did follow the golden rule of leverage by keeping Colter well inside of him. It's just that there was no one to clean up afterwards:
Johnson's mistake should have been worth a few yards, but not enough for Northwestern to convert. Earlier he was unable to shut down an outside run that got turned up at the numbers:
He's even with Hawthorne, who was the backside LB, and well behind nose tackle Mike Martin in his attempt to shut the play down. This is because he took an angle upfield of a blocker on a perimeter run, which is one of those "you better make the damn play" decisions. Demens wasn't close.
Demens got a –4 in that game and was negative the next week against MSU as the Spartans pounded the edges and found Michigan LBs a step slow. Too often Demens did not do what Johnson is managing above, like on this Ed Baker run against MSU. Watch him eat a block and let Baker to the edge:
I know this is not an edge play, but it's symptomatic of the main issue.
You want edge biff? Edge biff.
State couldn't get out to the second level on Hawthorne and he is free. This is a quintessential example of what you hear about the WLB in the under: he often ends up the free hitter because of the configuration of the DL whereas the MLB has to take on a block. Demens takes on a block, loses leverage, does not funnel to his partner, and off Baker goes. This was 60-70% of all the complaining I did about the linebackers last year and my A-#1 bitch about Jonas Mouton. Michigan linebackers aren't good about keeping leverage. (Yet.)
Before and after that, Demens was pretty good between the tackles. He pounded ND for twelve tackles and a +8.5 and was consistently above average late in the year, picking up three straight +4s against Iowa, Illinois, and Nebraska before falling back towards zero in the OSU game. Late he started playing faster. His third-and-one stick of Marcus Coker was hands down Michigan's tackle of the year:
Yeah, Kovacs collapsed Alex Carder's lung. He did not stop that truck dead in its tracks. Demens was also the second key on that Braxton Miller rollout against OSU, tracking him to the edge and forming up at the right spot to allow Black to come from behind.
For Demens, it's about playing fast and going hard. Last year Mattison literally played him at nose tackle because he'd rather have Mike Martin blitz; Demens needs to go when he goes, and decide to go more quickly. That should be in reach. He'll be a solid run defender and decent down the seam, but a lack of raw athleticism probably sees him top out at a bit above average.
[hit THE JUMP for Bolden as Samson, Jake Ryan(!), and Desmond Morgan]
Fall Camp Presser Transcript 8-16-12: Brady Hoke
Programming note: Due to a poorly timed (but awesome) vacation, I was in California for the last several days. That's why Ace had to cover for me at Media Day and why *Jedi handwave* there was no coordinator presser on Tuesday. I'm back to provide uninterrupted coverage from here on out, though, so feel free to get off your tenterhooks.
News bullets and other important things:
- Just completed 14th practice; did some scrimmaging.
- Ben Braden, Erik Magnuson, and Erik Gunderson are all practicing at tackle.
- No decision yet on Fitz Toussaint.
- Roundtree's chances of returning for Alabama are "good."
- Matt Wile currently holds a slight edge for the punting job over Will Hagerup and Kenny Allen.
- Chris Wormley has not yet undergone surgery but will; as expected, will likely miss the entire season.
Brady Hoke
Football was being played.
Opening remarks:
"Thanks for coming. 14th practice, midway point, did some good things, did some things -- playing with a little better speed. I think the fundamentals and techniques that you always go back to. I think the guys are doing a pretty good job with that. I think we have to be more physical on both fronts. That's not nearly solved yet for how we need to play, but for the 14th day, this is really grind right now and it should be because of the schedule that they've been on. You have to see how they respond. They responded pretty well to some situational things this afternoon, but as far as being ready for September 1st, we have a long way to go."
By situational, do you mean scrimmage?
"It's a little bit situations. You know, just give as many -- not a lot of plays, but enough to hear some football and those kinds of things."
When do you plan to have a full scrimmage?
"Not until Saturday."
Just wanted to ask about a couple Alabama guys: their QB McCarron and nose guard Williams. Thoughts?
"Well I mean, I think McCarron's done a great job leading their football team. National championship quarterback. Plays with a lot of poise. The run game, he gets them in and out of the right places. They run the ball. He's a very good leader. He seems to be on the field for them. Williams is a guy who's disruptive. Somebody will have to contend with [him]. They have 10 teammates on each side of the ball, so they're really part of a very good football team."
Have you identified any backup tackles to Lewan and Schofield?
"You know, I don't know. All those guys -- Ben Braden's taken some snaps, Gunderson's taken some snaps, Erik Magnuson's taken some snaps. I don't know I'd identify anybody who was it, I'd be honest with you, yet."
Is it concerning that you have true freshmen at those positions?
"Yeah, always is. But it's always -- those guys have to grow up fast. All of them are smart guys, and they're coachable, so they'll be okay."
How many freshmen do you anticipate having in the two-deep on the offensive line?
"On the line? Oh maybe three. Maybe four."
You didn't get to spend much time with the freshmen earlier because they were in classes. What about now?
"Well they got out on Tuesday and today's Thursday, so you still, from a learning and being comfortable with the terminology and what they're asked to do, I think that part of it's still early. I think they get through this week and into next week a little bit. You have a better idea. Can they play fast? Can they play with poise? Can they play with great technique? All those things are a part of it."
Does anyone catch your attention in a positive way?
"Uh, you know, I would probably say they're all -- I think they're all working hard. I think they're all eager. I think the talent level, the athleticism stuff is kind of what we're looking at -- I don't know. Not yet."
Has Desmond Morgan made a leap this fall?
"Yeah, I think he did from spring and I think he has in the fall. I think he had a very good summer. He's a driven, young man. And a very competitive person. I think the improvement of how he reacts -- he's pretty instinctive. That's why Yyu play as a freshman, because you're an instinctive person and football player. And he's pretty instinctive. I think the strength gains that he's made, he's a more powerful football player, linebacker."
When do you make decisions on walk-ons getting scholarships?
"No we haven't done that. It depends sometime before school starts if we're thinking about that or if we have the scholarships."
Are you thinking about it this year?
"Sometime before school starts."
How has Fitz looked, and are you closer to making a decision on him yet?
"I have not, and he's out there like the others running around."
How do you plan to build cohesion as an offensive line while rotating three guys at left guard?
"What we'll do is take a big part of scrimmage, practice situations, and keep playing a guy there so that there's a comfort level between the left tackle and the center. I think Taylor can play basically with anybody because of his experience, and he knows more what to do. So that part of it, he's pretty good so he doesn't have to worry about himself as much as he does that guard."
Has he been sort of an on-the-field coach?
"Yeah, he's done a nice job. He's done a nice job."
When would you like to identify a starting offensive line?
"Oh, ten -- ten days before probably."
Is that a rough guess? Why ten days?
"I think, you know, some continuity that we try to build consistently, but I think that's part of it."
Chris Wormley tore his ACL.
Has he had/will he have surgery?
"No. He has not and he will."
"Sometime in the near future."
How did he sustain the injury?
"Just playing football."
Any plans to redshirt him?
"Most likely he'll miss the year."
You have three guys competing for the punting job. Has anyone stood out yet?
"You know, not really. I would give right now -- probably Wile had the better day. But we've got to be consistent day in and day out. Today I thought Matt stroked it pretty well. I didn't think Will was as consistent, but he was better than he has been. Both of those guys were a little bit behind because they didn't get as many reps during the summer, so I think they're catching up."
How confident are you with playing an inexperienced guy like Jerald Robinson, who has reportedly been standing out at the receiver position, on September 1st?
"I think we've got to put enough pressure on him and get him out of his comfort zone that you test them as best you can, and he's got to go out there and do it. I mean there's no other way besides going out there on that stage and doing it. We can put him on situations and test him and make him uncomfortable and see how he reacts. But at the same time, he's just got to do it."
What would you do to get him out of his comfort zone?
"Well you give him a lot of reps. You see how he reacts when he gets tired. You do some things coverage wise to beat him up at the line of scrimmage. Just trying to get him a little bit out of the comfort level."
How is Roundtree doing, and what are his chances of playing the first week?
"He's doing great."
"I think they're good."
What is the clearing process for him to get back on the field?
"Him feeling better and the doctor feeling good and comfortable about it."
Do you check up on him every day?
"Yeah he's with a rehab specialist every day. We obviously communicate."
What's he doing physically at this point?
"With the rehab -- "
Just that?
Has JT Floyd progressed since last season, and how has his chemistry with Blake Countess developed?
"Well I think there's a chemistry before JT and Blake. I think they push each other. I think the consistency is always something that we've got to keep having out there. That's kind of a position where you're on the island, everybody sees it when you falter, but I think they both improved. I think they both worked very hard."
How do Blake and JT differ?
"That's a good question. JT's a little rangier, a little longer-armed, a little taller. I would say Blake's probably a little more physical, you know, of the two. I think JT showed some physicalness a year ago, too. "
Do you think that they feed off each other?
"Yeah I think so. I think that and Tom Gordon and Kovacs. Kovacs [is] kind of the field general, and it's part of being a safety. I think they feed really well [off] each other."
Can you get a sense for what kind of team you are 14 practices in?
Can you characterize anything about it so far?
"You know, we've got a lot we need to improve on."
Do you like what you're getting out of the seniors?
"They're doing a good job."
Brennen Beyer
- Likes his new position, prefers it to OLB.
- Technique-wise working on bull rush and a couple other moves.
- Says defense's strength is "technique." Weakness is "toughness." Needs to be "tougher."
Desmond Morgan
- Father is a high school coach -- used to give him a bunch of pointers on technique, but now just watches the games as a fan.
- Family attends every game.
- Second year in defense, is picking up visual cues faster and therefore playing faster.
Vincent Smith
- Fitz's absence and return didn't affect running back practice. Fitz basically picked up where he left off.
- No sense of cutthroat competition between running backs -- they're all brothers and support each other.
JT Floyd
- Loves watching film. Craziest place to watch film? In the shower. Did it multiple times last season.
I brought up the fact that he had only allowed one touchdown to opposing teams' No. 1 receivers all last season.
Floyd: "Which one? I just want to test you."
Me: "The Iowa guy? McNutt? It was either him or DeVier Posey." [I didn't remember exactly, but it was Posey.]
Floyd: "McNutt didn't score a touchdown on me!" - Awesome.