Maize n Brew - Game Six: Michigan at Penn State (10/12/13)A Michigan Wolverine communityhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49241/mb-fv.png2013-10-17T12:00:05-05:00http://www.maizenbrew.com/rss/stream/45883492013-10-17T12:00:05-05:002013-10-17T12:00:05-05:00A Coach's POV - PSU OT Play by Play
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<figcaption>Justin K. Aller</figcaption>
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<p>In this post, I'm not attempting to say what I would do in these situations. I'm trying to show what Borges is seeing and why, from his perspective, he is calling the plays he is. I'm also trying to show how Borges is reacting to what PSU is giving him, how he's adjusting, and how he's trying to be ahead of the curve so as not to be so "obvious".</p> <p>(Full Game Links: <a href="http://www.maizenbrew.com/2013/10/16/4843608/a-coach-pov-1st-quarter-play-by-play-Michigan-football-Penn-St" target="_blank">1st Quarter</a> | <a href="http://www.maizenbrew.com/2013/10/16/4843656/a-coachs-pov-2nd-quarter-play-by-play" target="_blank">2nd Quarter</a> | <a href="http://www.maizenbrew.com/2013/10/17/4847496/a-coachs-pov-3rd-quarter-play-by-play-dont-publish" target="_blank">3rd Quarter</a> | <a href="http://www.maizenbrew.com/2013/10/17/4847514/a-coachs-pov-4th-quarter-play-by-play" target="_blank">4th Quarter</a>)</p>
<p><b>Michigan 1st Drive of OT 34-34 (PSU missed FG in first half of OT)</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - A few things are important to note coming into this series. Gibbons missed a FG at the end of regulation, but the kick was dead on target. He also he a 42 yarder or so earlier in the game with plenty of leg to spare. So being at the 25 yard line, a 42 yard kick, is fine. Any extra is essentially icing on the cake giving what was known of Gibbons before this OT period. He is money inside of 40. Get inside 40 and get out with a win.</p>
<p>Michigan lines up with the TE-wing to hash and two WRs to field. They are likely expecting PSU to go back to the 7 man front with a CB in the box as they did every down before the last 3 in which Michigan tried to kill the clock. But they stay in their 8 man front. The original call makes sense before Borges sees how the defense aligns. All evidence points to them going back to that and Michigan being able to run this. And remember, any additional yards is icing on the cake.</p>
<p>Alas, PSU is thinking Michigan is going to be conservative and stacks the box. Corners are well back. Yes, an extended hand off would be nice here, no doubt about it. But before you saw this, there was absolutely nothing wrong with the play call. This is hindsight theory working for people. And this is probably a situation in which Borges doesn't want Gardner to check because if those CBs approach at the last second, it could result in a pointless turnover. No problem with this play call given what the situation is and what the situation appeared to be going into the down.</p>
<p>Play 2 - 2nd and 9 - Michigan goes to a pro I set in an effort to get PSU out of the 8 man front. Remember the situation, yards are just icing on the cake. PSU goes cover 4, which you should expect, so you can't go stretch, it needs to be a run up the middle. Michigan runs Iso and gains about 2 yards. That's pretty much exactly what Michigan wants.</p>
<p>Play 3 - 3rd and 7 - Yeah, I just don't like this. I mean, I get the point, trying to center it and all, but it's a wasted down. Maybe this is an effort to just minimize the bad, so you can't get a 3 yard loss, but in my opinion run a run that at least gives you a chance to gain a few. Other than that, I have no problem keeping it on the ground in these circumstance.</p>
<p><b>Michigan 2nd drive OT 34-34</b><br>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - Alright, let's look at this logically. After the 3rd Quarter, PSU only stacked the box on the clock killing drive and when yards were just icing on the cake in the first OT. So you expect them to get back to what they were doing originally now that Michigan will tend to open up the offense. That's going into the drive, you haven't seen anything yet. Think about what you actually know and what you should actually expect to see from PSU.</p>
<p>Michigan comes out in a pistol set with 3 WRs. This is the formation that has given them the best gains all day. Perfect. PSU has 7 in the box, so Michigan can run veer option with it. Perfect. It's exactly what you want. The DE stays, forcing DG to give. Fitz, if he doesn't slip gets at least 4, probably 5. But he slips and he gets 3.</p>
<p>There is nothing conservative about this play call. This is how they produced a lot of yards in the 3rd quarter, with this very play. Play should have picked up half the first down yardage, didn't because of a slip, it happens, but we are on a decent track.</p>
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<p>Play 2 - 2nd and 7 - Michigan again comes out in the pistol look with 3 WRs. Same look from PSU and you know you can be successful against it because you just saw it the previous play. PSU knows this too. Corners play soft, safeties walk up. PSU sells out on it and Michigan runs a pop pass to the backside. Perfect play call to take advantage of the defense. Nothing conservative about it, this is going for a TD and moving the sticks.</p>
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<p>Play 3 - 1st and 10 - 2 TEs now but again the pistol look. 8 in the box for PSU which is fine because the 8th man is optioned off. PSU crashes the mesh point, just as they did earlier. The defense crashes down on the run. Alright, it's unfortunate, but there is no way that Borges could have known they would sell out like that when they haven't before to this look, and still the play can be blocked and is blocked if DG gives. Fitz has a cut back to the front side that is open if DG gives. Sure, extended hand off is nice. Screen is nice. Close to the end zone it's also very risky. On 1st and 10 on a play that has worked all night, I just don't see the big thing to complain about outside of you want a check that they just didn't happen to make.</p>
<p>Play 4 - 2nd and 13 - I'm going to go ahead and say this is a great call by Borges. He motions Butt to a bunch formation. It's going to look like a rub route to the flat, which is a call to get the play back into a manageable situation. That's what PSU thinks as well. The #2 receiver doesn't get a good rub, but it's fine, because this isn't a rub to the flat. The two receivers are going to flood the zone deep and take both corners with them. Either the LB will stay in his flat as his zone dictates or he's 1 on 1 with Jake Butt, which is a win if you're an OC.</p>
<p>I said earlier how Funchess got his hands up late, like he was supposed to, but that made him drop the back should throw. When Gardner releases this ball there should be two outcomes: TD or 1st down at the 2. If Gardner throws it correctly it's a TD. He throws it short, which is safe with a LB turned away from the QB. But then Butt puts his hands up and continues to fade on the route. If he stops and goes up to get the ball at its high point, it's a catch or pass interference. But Borges got exactly what he wanted on this play. He was aggressive on this play. This is a great play call that put a receiver in a very good position to succeed, because he'll be either wide open or matched up 1 on 1 with a LB.</p>
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<p>Play 5 - 3rd and 13 - Michigan is anything but conservative. The motion from a trips stack, they still have stack to the top and the wing WR to the bottom. This is not a draw. This is the play that Gardner has been successful reading and throwing all game. It's not a conservative call. Fitz only goes out as a lead blocker once he sees Gardner decided to escape the pocket too early. Again, nothing conservative about this. This is a play that has time and time again put Michigan players in positions to succeed, both receivers and Gardner. It didn't work this time, but it's the right play call down at the end of the field. You need to run a play everyone is comfortable with the reads on because you also can't afford a TO.</p>
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<p><b>Michigan 3rd drive OT 37-37 (PSU has fumbled the ball and Michigan only needs a FG)</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - Remember the situation now. Similar as before. Michigan is conservative here and runs a weakside Iso. Not a huge fan of it, but it's not the end of the world. Borges is likely thinking stacked box, but wants to see how PSU reacts, and wants to run a quick hitting play that is the least likely to lose yards and pick up something. So am I a huge fan of it? No. But I do understand it perfectly. FWIW, CBs are 7 yards off so extended hand off is not an option.</p>
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<p>Play 2 - 2nd and 10 - Borges has now seen how PSU is playing it this time against this formation. So what does Borges dial up? A PA Iso out route to a wide open receiver for what looks to me like an obvious first down. Either way, he just got the ball to the 15 yard line, not by being conservative, but by taking what the defense gave him and giving his kicker a chance. Complain about the last call, but in 2 plays Michigan picked up 10 yards because they set this up.</p>
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<p>Play 3 - 3rd and 1 - Ball is on the hash. This is a 32 yard kick for a guy that is absolutely money from here. There is no reason to be anything but conservative. Yet he calls a play that should still be able to pick up a first down, but at worst centers the ball. It doesn't get the first, but there is nothing wrong with this call.</p>
<p><b>Michigan 4th drive OT 37-37</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - So scenario, how is PSU going to play it now? Aggressive like they did when Michigan could afford to be conservative? Or straight up. CBs are 7 yards off, they are playing cover 4 against Michigan's mirrored solo look. Borges tries to take advantage of this by running PA of the zone stretch. Michigan is flooding the field and giving DG a run/pass option. This isn't conservative. He is trying to attack the defense on the very first play for being aggressive and the DE makes a play to prevent it from succeeding.</p>
<p>Play 2 - 2nd and 10 - Michigan goes to a shotgun look. 3 WRs on the field, offense split 2x2. PSU has 6.5 in the box. Borges dials up a high low look to the outside to take advantage of the LB trying to sneak into the box. This is a pass to Drew Dileo covered by a LB and Dileo is running an option route to get open (hitch like earlier in the game for a big first down, or an out as is here). This isn't conservative, this is taking advantage absolutely of what the defense is giving. If this pass is on target, the only difference between this and a bubble is that Gallon has now run the CB into the end zone and Dileo can turn it up field and probably get inside the 10 easily, if not score a TD.</p>
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<p>Play 3.0 - 3rd and 10 - This is absolutely stupid. No reason for this.</p>
<p>Play 3.1 - 3rd and 15 - I believe there are three deep options here for Gardner. So this is far from conservative on 3rd and 15. Borges has called a play to try to give Michigan a first down, he didn't call a play to try to pick up something to get a FG. He called three pass plays, took advantage of things PSU gave them, and was aggressive this whole OT.</p>
<p><b>OT Offensive Conclusions</b><br>I don't see it. OT1 he was conservative because he was already in a position where Gibbons had kicked and made a FG in this game. Gibbons last FG was on line but short. With that same exact kick he makes the FG in the first OT. He hits the ground, the ball is low, it gets blocked.</p>
<p>OT2 Borges comes out and runs veer option. He runs a pop pass to take advantage of what the defense is giving up. He runs a wheel route that gets Butt matched up 1 on 1 with a LB that should be a TD or at worst a first down inside the two. Then on third and long he dials up the pass play Gardner has been most successful at all day, trying and playing for a TD.</p>
<p>In OT3 he sees what the defense is giving him on first down. On 2nd down he takes advantage of that for a 10 yard gain. You now have set up at worst a 32 yard FG for a kicker that is money inside the 40. You run a play to try to pick up the first, but at worst center the ball for your kicker. It's a chip shot. If we're playing for skins it's a gimme. He missed.</p>
<p>In OT4 he starts off with PA off of stretch action that beat PSU the whole 3rd quarter. It doesn't work out. So he comes back with a play that matches up Dileo on a LB and runs off the CB. Again, he's taking advantage of the CB alignment doing something other than a bubble. In fact, this play is better than a bubble, it runs the CB all the way into the end zone before he gets blocked. It should be a safety coming from the center of the field trying to beat Dileo to the end zone. At worst it should get inside the 10. Then, after a stupid delay of game, he still tries to pick up a first down on 3rd and 15. He's still trying to win the game on 3rd and 15. There was nothing conservative about either OT2 or OT4 and there was little conservative in OT3. On top of that OT1 is understandable.</p>
<p>So here we are. I think people have to put themselves in Borges's shoes for a second. Get outside of a couple isolated plays and a love for bubble screens. Borges ran things to take advantage of soft coverage when the time was right to do so. He made adjustments at half time and called plays that put his players in a great position to succeed time and time again. He set up the defense, he called plays to take advantage of those set ups.</p>
<p>Borges didn't do anything within his system that Rich Rod or someone else would do within their own, especially in the 2nd half and OT. The system would change, you'd bubble instead of doing a quick out to get a WR on a LB. Alright, fine, but those are very minor differences. The play calling philosophy I actually think was correct, and I'll stand by that. I think the problem most people are falling into is the common problem: it didn't work so it must be the play calling. Or: It's not what I would call in that situation so it must be wrong. Well there is a significant difference between "it's different so it's wrong" and "it's different so it's different". Just because it's different doesn't make it wrong like many are stating. Just because he went conservative on one drive where he was attempting to kill clock, and did so successfully, doesn't mean the rest of the game was conservative to the detriment of the team. I think after PSU scored their tying TD, people started seeing what they wanted to see and not what actually happened. People searched for reason for the loss, and this was the simplest thing to grasp at.</p>
<p>I don't know. Maybe people just don't see it. Maybe people are angry because this was a game Michigan shouldn't have lost. But it wasn't the play calling that lost it. Maybe that's hard to swallow, that in fact it's more complex than the play calling. And that's not saying it isn't coaching, coaches have to teach players how to play. But the play calling was fine.</p>
<p>Maybe other people don't see it. Or maybe I don't see it. But what I'm pretty certain I just saw was a well called 2nd half and OT that was aggressive when it called for it and careful when it didn't. And I saw play calling that put players in positions to succeed.</p>
https://www.maizenbrew.com/2013/10/17/4847524/a-coachs-pov-overtime-ot-play-by-playSpaceCoyote2013-10-17T10:00:13-05:002013-10-17T10:00:13-05:00A Coach's POV - PSU 4th Quarter Play by Play
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<figcaption>Justin K. Aller</figcaption>
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<p>In this post, I'm not attempting to say what I would do in these situations. I'm trying to show what Borges is seeing and why, from his perspective, he is calling the plays he is. I'm also trying to show how Borges is reacting to what PSU is giving him, how he's adjusting, and how he's trying to be ahead of the curve so as not to be so "obvious".</p>
<p>Catching a flight tomorrow, running low on time, so just offense now.</p> <p>Link to <a href="http://www.maizenbrew.com/2013/10/17/4847496/a-coachs-pov-3rd-quarter-play-by-play-dont-publish" target="_blank">Quarter 3</a></p>
<p><b>Michigan drive 14 - 13:09 4th 27-24</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - Michigan stacks Funchess over Gallon and run the PA tunnel screen to Gallon. This is a play to take advantage of soft coverage on the outside, by forcing them to retreat and getting a block down field. Would have liked to have seen this a couple more times this game, but it's another way to stretch the box horizontally that isn't a bubble screen.</p>
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<p>Play 2 - 1st and 10 - Pro I from Michigan. The PA and the screen have effectively backed off PSU. There are no 7 defenders in the box. PSU in a standard 4-3 Over. Gardner checks to weakside Iso. Why? He's likely running power to the strong side here, or even stretch, but PSU has essentially stacked both LBs over their DL on the strong side, making it very difficult to get out on players. Meanwhile, on the weakside, its 3 blockers for three defenders. Good check by Gardner to attack the correct side of the formation for a nice first down pick up.</p>
<p>Play 3 - 2nd and 5 - TE and wing to boundary, two WR to field. Michigan runs PA again and max protects to help the OL. Blocking assignments to help the OL, again. They still miscommunicate here and bust. The key is though, that Gardner has been stepping into the pocket time and time again, this means the DE is trying so hard to get to his level and then merge in, instead he takes a straight 45 at him. This allows DG to spin and get outside the pressure. He isn't able to find anyone and only picks up a yard on his scramble, but this is serious progression from DG.</p>
<p>Play 4 - 3rd and 4 - Same look that has given Michigan a high/low to field and in/out to boundary all game. This time, Michigan switches it up though, runs two outs to the boundary and a short hitch in the slot to Dileo for a first down.</p>
<p>Michigan would run this same play or similar in OT but miss Dileo</p>
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<p>Play 5 - 1st and 10 - H-back motions to put 3 to the field. 2 outside are stacked, HB in a wing position. Play action max protect to help out the OL. He gets protection. Steps into pocket. Michigan is running double posts. Gallon runs a corner-post to keep any cover 3 corner in the corner. Then it's the same read as slants. Center field stays over top and follows first guy, throw to second, he hangs down and doesn't get over top, throw to first guy.</p>
<p>Turns out PSU blitzes the slot CB in an attempt to stop the run. This puts a LB on Funchess, so there is no clear, it's just Funchess over the top for a big gain.</p>
<p>(Traveling tomorrow and no computer access through the weekend, so we are only going to look at Michigan's offense from here on out. Sorry)</p>
<p><b>Michigan drive 15 - 6:28 4th 34-27</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - TE wing to boundary, two wide to field. PSU with 7.5 in box, one of those being a CB. Michigan runs stretch to boundary, no one seals but everyone washes down and Fitz can cut back for a nice gain.</p>
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<p>Play 2 - 2nd and 3 - Same formation from both teams. Michigan runs power and a good job on the pull to turn the guy inside and let Fitz get into the second level. This is because PSU is putting 7 in the box now. Michigan has spent the 3rd quarter getting PSU out of there. It also helps that they are running at a CB.</p>
<p>Play 3 - 1st and 10 - TE and wing to field along with a Z-receiver. Another WR to the boundary. Michigan once again runs into a 7 man front with the WR cracking the late moving safety. But the outside never comes close to setting the edge. This is a play that should work here and goes backward.</p>
<p>Play 4 - 2nd and 10 - Michigan in a straight pro I. Again, this is a bit on Gardner. PSU has 8 guys in the box, but 3 LBs to strength, meaning they have 5 on that side and 3 on the other. This needs to be a check to a weakside play, a play that can be very successful. I don't mind running under center here when you've had 3 out of the last 4 be quite successful running from that position. It's 2nd and 10 now, you can expect PSU to go back to the 7 man front they had been showing the last couple runs. They don't, but based on what the defense was giving, this is an understandable play call.</p>
<p>Play 5 - 3rd and 12 - Token PA. Gardner moves in the pocket well, throws a pass. I like the hitch and go here. Defense is playing aggressive for a TO. Worst thing that happens here is essentially a punt. In a way, it gives the offense the ability to move the chains, but it doesn't set up Gardner for complete failure.</p>
<p>Play 6 - 1st and 10 - Solo set mirrored. PSU again in a 7 man front. FWIW, I don't like the fact that Green is in right now. I know Fitz has taken a bit of carries, but get Fitz back in the game here. This is inside zone where the OL gets good initial push but then cedes it once they get to the second level. For whatever reason, Green starts hesitating here when he absolutely shouldn't have. Duck your head and bull up the back of your OL and gain 3-5 yards.</p>
<p>Corners are 7 yards off so still no extended hand off open.</p>
<p>Play 7 - 2nd and 10 - PSU still giving a 7 man front here as Michigan comes out in a mirrored solo formation. PSU in cover 4 so safeties will come down in run support. CBs back off quite a bit. Gardner checks to the correct side of the formation as the DE and the LB to that side are lined up inside Butt. If Butt seals it's 1v1 with a safety on the corner, still not perfect. But Fitz cuts back and gets about 3.</p>
<p>Against a 7 man front when trying to milk clock, on 2nd and 10, I 100% have no issue with this play call, especially as it should have pretty easily been about 5 yards. Could you go more aggressive? Yes. But I don't think not doing it is the wrong decision either.</p>
<p>Play 8 - 3rd and 7 - Michigan goes shotgun, 3 wide. 2 WR to field along with a TE, a single WR to the top. A little conservative with the draw, but it turns out to be a perfect play call as PSU is running cover 2 behind it so LBs are dropping out. Gardner can step through the rush easily, Fitz has the lead block on the only remaining LB and Gardner is into the secondary.</p>
<p>Play 9 - 1st and 10 - Now, before the play. You've seen PSU in 7 man fronts with cover 4 pretty much this whole drive. Against TE and wing to boundary, they've had a defender in the box as a CB. That's where I would go with this even before seeing the play. It turns out that's exactly what Michigan does. But PSU has adjusted, now not flaring the LB over the WR. Yes, the WRs are obnoxiously open here well before the snap, or at least the slot is, but the corner over the slot does walk down at the last second to about 6 yards. It's not as open as it looked when the camera was pulled back. And this isn't a "get to the LOS sooner so you can see what the defense is giving". The defense knows you're not snapping the ball until the play clock is almost up, so they aren't rotating up until then. Getting to the LOS sooner doesn't do anything for that.</p>
<p>FWIW, the original play call is exactly where I would have gone. The mirrored solo look is difficult to run against the cover 4 because safeties on each side can set the edge. Michigan runs power at the CB, which I like. That leaves a CB as the free hitter (the corner starts to drop off pre-snap and then comes up again) to fill a hole and make a play, something they don't tend to be very good at. I have to problem with this play looking at it before it actually happened.</p>
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<p><br>Play 10 - 2nd and 9 - Michigan comes out in a mirrored solo look to counter what they just saw from PSU. This gives them more gaps and allows Michigan to stretch the LBs and still run it. A safety walks down late as the 8th man in the box here making matters difficult. That puts 4.5 defenders to that side. This is another instance where switching the playside helps, but when trying to milk clock, the defense knows when you'll snap and moves accordingly. OL needs to do better working in unison. There should not be that gap for the backside ILB to shoot through. This won't be a big play, but this can be a positive yardage play to get them to 3rd and medium and should be.</p>
<p>Play 11.0 - 3rd and 10 - Michigan gets to the LOS with 10 seconds left. That's plenty of time. Gallon isn't on the LOS of scrimmage and DG needs to be more assertive to get him on so they can snap the ball. Yes, it's also on Hoke for not calling a TO, but there is no problem of when the team gets to the LOS when trying to milk the clock like this. You don't want your team standing ready to snap the ball for 20 seconds in this situation. It's a bad mental mistake by Gallon that costs Michigan a delay of game. FWIW, DG was under center ready to snap, Hoke probably thought they were going to snap it as they were ready with 3 seconds left on the play clock. Don't know why Glasgow didn't snap the ball or what.</p>
<p>Play 11.1 - 3rd and 15 - I think here is where the ire really begins. Michigan goes to the TE wing but switches out one of the WRs for a FB. FWIW, PSU knows Michigan isn't passing here, because they shouldn't. There is 1:42 left on the clock and it's 3rd and 15, you aren't throwing the ball, not even an extended hand off here, and risking stopping the clock in any way. So spread them out all you want, they'll put a man over each receiver and send the rest. Some people want it in Gardner's hands, but a draw won't work here. Maybe option does, but that requires riding a mesh point and risking a TO. The most you can do to get away from conservative here is to give an option look but don't actually option. In my opinion, you have to give it to Fitz here because they will try to strip DG, who has been stripped on numerous occasions. Maybe don't call stretch, but other plays haven't picked up 5+ yards today, and stretch has had some recent success, if you want to get into FG range, I actually think stretch gives the best chance to do that here. That sucks to say that, because the chances are good, but I think it's true.</p>
<p>50 seconds to go 80 yards for a TD with no time outs against a true FR QB. I just don't think you can argue legitimately that there is a smarter move here under the circumstances.</p>
<p><b>4th Quarter Offensive Conclusions</b><br>Did Borges get a bit conservative here? Yes, absolutely. But for the most part, I don't disagree with what he called. Maybe they should have run more option looks. But remember, this is a team that probably doesn't practice the read and the mesh point and the things of that nature as much as others because of all the other things in the system. Remember also that Gardner has had trouble in the past with ball security. My personal preference would have been to still run one before those last three downs on the clock killing drive when PSU wasn't solely going to try to strip the football. But at that point you have to give it to you best ball security RB because PSU is going for the turnover and Gardner simply isn't strong or experienced enough at carrying the ball to be put in that situation. Borges is protecting his players on offense by putting them in positions so they don't fail. He's protecting his QB, who just got a lot of his confidence back, from losing it all over again in a position to fail.</p>
<p>Also, maybe a 2nd down pass one time. But he passed on 3rd downs to try to keep the chains moving. He ensured that he milked off at least 90 seconds each set of downs. That was the most important thing for him to do. And still, he went for first downs.</p>
<p>And, the most important aspect of it all whether you wanted him to run some different plays in different situations is the fact that he was successful doing what he was tasked with doing. He took over 5 minutes off the clock along with all of PSU's timeouts and put the offense in FG range to seal the game away. Whether you agree with the strategy or not, I don't understand how people are being so adamant that he has no clue when his strategy worked the way it was intended to.</p>
<p>Let's put this in perspective. Michigan had 2 drives in the 4th quarter before the hurried drive to score a last second FG. The first they scored a TD on. The second they took 5 minutes off the clock, picked up first downs, and put the offense in a position to kick a game sealing FG before a delay of game penalty that has nothing to do with when Borges got the play call in or when the offense broke the huddle. They messed up, that's obvious. Everyone admits that. But Borges did what he had to do in the 4th quarter, first giving his team a 10 point lead, and then taking all but 50 seconds off the block and putting his team in position to kick a game-sealing FG in the process.</p>
<p>I honestly don't see how people have such an extreme issue with it. I don't. You can have a different preference, but what he was tasked with doing he did. He even marched the team down the field in about 20 seconds to give them a shot at a game winning FG. Now, they moved the ball partially because PSU was in a prevent, not their normal defense. Neither team was going back to that in OT. In OT2 and OT4 he went back to the offense that got him back in the game in the 3rd quarter, which you will come to see.</p>
<p>My opinion will stand that Borges called a well above average game. He called a conservative but understandable first half. He made half time adjustments and was aggressive and put players in positions to succeed time and time again in the 2nd half and in OT. The execution wasn't great or often even decent, and I admit that he asked too much out of his OL on first down. Swap some first and second down plays, like he did in the 3rd quarter and the first drive of the 4th, and he was great. Do exactly what you're asked to do in the 4th quarter, great.</p>
<p>Maybe he can be a bit more aggressive to get first downs late, I'm not saying that opinion isn't valid. He needs to run at least one of the downs, no questions asked. But Michigan was getting what they wanted on the ground until PSU switched it up, and by that time milking as much clock and snatching away TOs is a legit thought process. You have a young, mistake prone team that has struggled in pass pro even more than they've struggled run blocking. You have a QB with 3 TOs in the game that is known to fumble. I watched this game, I studied the tape, I understand the circumstances going into the play and am not reacting by what happened after, and I thought he made the right decisions for this team.</p>
https://www.maizenbrew.com/2013/10/17/4847514/a-coachs-pov-4th-quarter-play-by-playSpaceCoyote2013-10-17T08:03:57-05:002013-10-17T08:03:57-05:00A Coach's POV - PSU 3rd Quarter Play by Play
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<figcaption>Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>In this post, I'm not attempting to say what I would do in these situations. I'm trying to show what Borges is seeing and why, from his perspective, he is calling the plays he is. I'm also trying to show how Borges is reacting to what PSU is giving him, how he's adjusting, and how he's trying to be ahead of the curve so as not to be so "obvious".</p>
<p>Also, I look at the defense.</p>
<p>There will be posts for each quarter.</p> <p>Link to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.maizenbrew.com/2013/10/16/4843608/a-coach-pov-1st-quarter-play-by-play-Michigan-football-Penn-St">1st Quarter</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.maizenbrew.com/2013/10/16/4843656/a-coachs-pov-2nd-quarter-play-by-play">2nd Quarter</a></p>
<p><b>PSU Drive 10 - 15:00 3rd 10-21</b><br>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - Black is very quick to get penetration, gets a little too deep but realizes it and really squeezes the play. Ross, in the process of wrapping up (this is why you wrap up) rakes down right on the football and it kicks to Clark, who returns it for a TD.</p>
<p><b>PSU Drive 11 - 14:44 3rd 17-21</b><br>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - PSU in a mirrored solo set and Michigan in a 4-3 Under with Clark standing up on the near side. Michigan runs a double A gap twist with their LBs, Heck scrambles and throws right at Clark, who almost makes an eerily similar INT as Zettel did on his zone blitz drop. This is a great job by Clark, who had originally started chasing the QB, seeing that someone was leaking behind him and regaining depth to get underneath the route and break it up.</p>
<p>This play is a nice way of getting 7 guys in pretty much every gap and making the zone blocks difficult for the OL. The drops from SAM and WDE still allow these players to hold the edge.</p>
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<p>Play 2 - 2nd and 10 - PSU goes 4 wide. Ross undercuts the OT as soon as he releases and the DT does a nice job getting his outside arm free. This means that both sides are closed for the RB to run through. Ross does a good job of riding so support can clean up.</p>
<p>Play 3 - 3rd and 8 - PSU 4 wide again, stacking receivers to the field and wing and on receiver to field. It's interesting that both Michigan and PSU have run this formation multiple times. Everyone standing up for Michigan as they go into their Okie package. They bring 4 and Ross is delayed as he's checking the RB first. The OT and OG just completely miscommunicate the coverage and Black says thank you very much, splits them, and applies quick pressure to force a quick throw and incomplete pass.</p>
<p><b>Michigan Drive 11 - 13:40 3rd 17-21</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - Shotgun from a solo set (meaning both TEs are on opposite sides of the ball and on the LOS) and two WR to the field. Fitz is behind the Butt, who is the lone receiver to the boundary. 8 Man front. The fake read option just holds the back side, the pulling guard shows that this is QB Power. Front side is initially blocked very well. Just as exciting is that the backside has done very well also. Gardner sees a safety filling fast, reverses field, and gets a nice block from Funchess to spring 9 yards. The most exciting thing about this is that it is blocked well at every point, and a RB probably hits this playside and gains 4-5 yards. That's a confidence boost for the OL that halftime adjustments worked.</p>
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<p>Play 2 - 2nd and 1 - Tackle over from Michigan. Michigan again runs power. Kalis does not recognize the a safety has walked down playside to form an 8 man block. The 8 man box isn't the problem though, the problem is that Kalis still targets the guy that was originally WILL, rather than now targeting the nominal WILL, which is MIKE. This is just as much on Schofield as it is on Kalis though, and with the alignment of the MIKE, I think Kalis needs to be the one to take over the combo and have Schofield get to the MIKE. SAM is still gunning the hole, but Bryant will just alter his lead block into a kick block and Fitz can ride behind him. WILL can probably scrape over and limit this to a couple yards, but it would pick up the first down. Kalis then does something mean.</p>
<p>Play 3 - 3rd and 16 - 3 by 1 receivers on third and long. It looks like Gardner can initial escape laterally, and earlier in the year he would have bailed right away. But he stays patient as long as he can in the pocket, steps up and out between the DE and DT. Gardner is a half step or just a block held just a moment longer from breaking this into the second level with one or two defenders between him and a first down. All because he didn't panic, he tried to let his receivers get into their routes, he allowed his OTs to wash the outside rush down and almost got around the DT. I'm impressed with DG improved pocket presence in this game, and that's exactly what even gave this play a chance in the face of a heavy rush.</p>
<p><b>PSU Drive 12 - 11:43 3rd 17-21</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - Guard bugging out away from action should signal a boot to the LBs, who are a bit late to picking it up. Michigan goes cover 1 behind it with Countess responsible for backside leverage. That heavy run look causes Countess to bite on the PA a bit as well, and the dip route from the slot also sells that, when he breaks back out he's open but Hack struggling to throw on the run. PSU chop blocks and that's not nice.</p>
<p>Play 2 - 1st and 25 - PSU goes 5 wide and Michigan threatens two LBs up the A gaps. I like this because Hack isn't very mobile and has struggled to throw on the run. They send six and PSU has 5 plus a TE chip. That means Hack has to throw a quick out, which at most is 5 yards, and even if it's complete 2nd and 20 is pretty good position for the defense.</p>
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<p>Play 3 - 2nd and 25 - Same look from PSU and Michigan. Same blitz from Michigan. Black determines he can't get there and drops to gain depth to try to undercut any shallow route. Hack is forced to go to the out on the field side and picks up about 7, which is 3rd and 18 and still a win for the defense. Until PSU threatens to beat this over the top, Mattison has decided to keep running it.</p>
<p>Play 4 - 3rd and 18 - PSU puts a RB in to protect the 3 WR and a TE. Michigan in cover 4 (they drop right away as they aren't worried about the run). Because the TE stays in to protect, Taylor knows he can be very aggressive with his coverage because he has a safety bracketing inside and deep. When Hack tries to throw the deep hook, Taylor undercuts for the INT.</p>
<p><b>Michigan Drive 12 - 10:42 3rd 17-21</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - Michigan in solo pistol with two WR split to the field. 8 in the box for PSU, so option is available. CBs 7 yards off so no quick pass available out of design. Veer option and the DE gives Gardner an easy read. He almost closes down on the mesh point, but Gardner is able to use his long arms to stiff arm and then pick up big yards. Great job by DG riding the mesh point to force the DE to commit one way or the other deep in the backfield. This is similar to what would happen in OT, FWIW.</p>
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<p>Play 2 - 1st and G (9) - Shotgun with trio to the top and a solo WR to the bottom. Designed draw (a bit obvious but that's alright). PSU blitzes into it, again, meaning if you get past the initial rush it's probably a TD. Jackson is out there and... oh come on. Just get in front or mess with the LB and it's a TD. Just kind of stood and watched him instead. 2 yard gain and DG's helmet comes off.</p>
<p>Play 3 - 2nd and G (5) - PSU in obvious cover 4, meaning there is an equivalent of 7 and two halves in the box. I probably would have run Iso instead of Power just because run is obvious here and your goal is just to stay on track long enough for DG to come back in. No way I'm putting the ball in the air with a true FR QB cold off the bench away at night in the RZ. The OL can actually block this well enough to gain a couple, they don't and it's a loss.</p>
<p>Play 4 - 3rd and G (6) - Three wide and a TE split 2x2 and a RB to the boundary. Formation tips man coverage on the outside and probably bracket coverage on the inside receivers. Back shoulder fade to Funchess against a corner seems like it should be a win more times than not. Millen says Gardner throws a good enough ball, which is inaccurate. DG throws a perfect ball on the back shoulder fade and Funchess just drops it. The reason why he drops it is because he gets his hands up late, which he is supposed to. Getting hands up early will come back to be one of the ways a similar play doesn't work in OT.</p>
<p><b>PSU Drive 13 - 8:46 3rd 20-21</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - Straight pro I from PSU. Michigan in 4-3 Over. Ryan does a great job meeting the LB in the hole and blowing up the intended running lane. Michigan runs cover 1 robber behind it, which is a good run support defense. FWIW, it is Gordon that is playing much more of the box safety this week rather than Wilson, which is a change that makes sense to me.</p>
<p>Play 2 - 2nd and 8 - Michigan zone blitzes off the double A gap blitz again. Pressure is a bit late to get there, someone horse collars Ross who otherwise gets to the QB and it doesn't get called. Long time for Clark to defend in the flat.</p>
<p>FWIW, this seems like a pretty clear change in philosophy from the first half. More zone blitzes, getting pressure, forcing Hack to move. Zone dropping into flats to pick up the TEs rather than try to cover them straight up.</p>
<p>Play 3 - 1st and 10 - Michigan is inverting the line here, but Clark doesn't get outside leverage which allows the RB to get to the edge and have a big run pick up. Same thing though as far as picking up the flats, they are trying to drop guys into them to get underneath the out routes to the TEs.</p>
<p>Play 4 - 1st and 10 - Draw action, and both SAM and MIKE are focused on carrying the TE. Beyer needs to release him to MIKE, who is in proper position, and get back to the flat on the RB, who leaks out and catches.</p>
<p>Play 5 - 2nd and 1 - Shotgun, inside zone. Can't really see much but Wormley sticks him 1 yard down field, just enough to pick up the first.</p>
<p>Play 6 - 1st and 10 - PSU goes pro I. Michigan brings a safety down to get 8 in the box. Gordon is worried about the dig and tries to drop into that area, and doesn't get enough lateral movement to take away the quick hitch.</p>
<p>Play 7 - 1st and 10 - PSU in pro I again. Michigan goes straight cover 1 with 7 in the box. They run draw at it. Wormley gets good push and gets hands on the OT so he can handle him. But gets too much depth and by the time he fights back he can't make a play. Still the LBs and box safety aren't really fooled and it's only 3 yards.</p>
<p>Play 8 - 2nd and 7 - Pro I. Michigan brings a safety into the box. Michigan slants with 5 guys, there is miscommunication at the line and Michigan gets a free run at Hack. Lucky, because Morgan did not pick up his back out of the backfield, but Mattison has seen Hack struggle against pressure and continues to bring it.</p>
<p>Play 9 - 3rd and 14 - Trey to the field, split wide to the boundary. PSU in gun and Michigan in nickel. PSU has seen quite enough of the blitzes and runs a screen, a play I like with a young QB in this situation. While Michigan's DL don't recognize it well enough, the edge gets pressure quick enough to force Hack to dump it quickly, so the defense can converge at the same time the blockers are. This is exactly what allows Wilson, the alley player that would have otherwise been blocked, the ability to make the play.</p>
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<p><b>Michigan drive 13 - 4:15 3rd 20-24</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - 2 TE set with WRs and TEs on both sides of the formation. Token stretch action. Gardner sees pressure coming and his blocker on one side of him. This means the defender has a free hit at DG. But DG, rather then trying to bail on the play, does a quick back step to escape the pressure wonderfully. Then he stays in the pocket and steps into a throw to Gallon for a nice strike. Poor protection again from the OL, but I am to the point now where I'm pretty ecstatic about DG's pocket mobility in this game, and that's even with knowing the eventual outcome.</p>
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<p>Play 2 - 1st and 10 - Two TEs to boundary and 2 WRs to the top. Inside action max protect, so only 2 in a route. Michigan attempt to high/low the single deep safety here to take advantage of him. It turns out the defense is in cover 3, so the deep look is covered. DG checks to his second read, who is open. I think DG is a half pause too late on the throw, and over steps his stride a bit as he's trying to thread it in there. That causes the ball to be low. But correct read again.</p>
<p>Play 3 - 2nd and 10 - Solo set from shotgun. RB to boundary. PSU puts 8 in the box. Staggered safety shows single high coverage. Quick, 1-step shotgun drop. Quick hitch to try to pick up half the yards, stay on track, take advantage of soft outside coverage, and give Gallon a chance at YAC. PSU blitzes and this is about as good of a call as you can have here because the CB will retreat and Gallon will have time to turn and run in a lot of space, but Schofield does a poor job getting into the defender knowing quick pass. He needs to get into the defender and keep his hands down here. This is three plays in a row that Michigan has attacked in various ways the loaded box, giving PSU a different look.</p>
<p>The difference between this and a bubble screen or extended hand off: Bubble or EHO probably doesn't give time for DE to knock it down; quick hitch gets more separation and has the same effect but 5 yards down field; quick Hitch is an easier throw for the QB. There are pros and cons to both. But both should be easy pitch and catch.</p>
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<p>Play 4 - 3rd and 10 - Shotgun 2x2. Michigan has run this play at least 3 times today. Has single high in/out beater to one side, high/low to other. DG makes a quick read, sees the underneath defender flare outside, hits Gallon on his hitch, who draws the PI.</p>
<p>Play 5 - 1st and 10 - Stacked to the boundary. TE and WR to the field. Michigan in a single back set under center. This is the same play that Michigan scored a TD with on the first play of the game. Defender is over the top so DG comes down to Gallon. Throws it short as his footwork seems a bit messed up.</p>
<p>Play 6 - 2nd and 10 - Shotgun. Trips to the field with a TE. QB power that is blocked very well once again.</p>
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<p>Play 7 - 1st and 10 - Same look as last down. This time it's inverted veer. I like how this gives the same backfield action as the QB power but hits the opposite B-gap. This really stresses the defense. This is how two plays can be set up the same exact way and the offense can essentially run power to both sides of the formation. Gardner is a little too passive and could have hit the intended hole for a nice gain. Tries to make a big play, instead gets an alright gain.</p>
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<p>Play 8 - 2nd and 6 - Motion to tackle over, which is interesting. What this also does is that is that, by not squeezing the TE right way (still lined up as if there is an invisible OT between him in the OG) is that it keeps the DE wider than he normally would. This helps the TE block this a bit more. Michigan give power action to the weakside, the 2 RBs will pick up any wash that tries to fight through that vacated hole along with the OG quickly stepping to fill. Play action with 8 in the box. DG might feel the pressure a bit quickly here, but he also sees a big hole and knows PSU brought a blitz, so he has a chance to break a long run, especially when a guy turned his back to the play in coverage. Gardner picks up enough for a first down.</p>
<p>Play 9 - 1st and 10 - Solo two TE on each side of the ball and two WR to the same side. 8 man box with a safety walking down late. Michigan will run stretch away from it again. PSU is very much aligned to the play side. This is not tackle over, this is lined up normal. Michigan is set with more than 10 on the play clock. I know in this situation DG can flip the run side. PSU has 5 playside and 3 on the backside. This is easy money the other way regardless of PSU being in a 5-2 set.</p>
<p>I like the stretch here after Michigan has run PA off of it more than several times now. Force that DL to move a bit. But this is squarely on DG not switching sides. He is supposed to count defenders and run to the correct side, and didn't here. They had very easy blocks in the other direction.</p>
<p>Play 10 - 2nd and 10 - Shot gun, 3x1 with a TE on each side of the formation (boundary stays in to block). Draw action. Michigan runs a flood play to the field: seam-corner-delayed bench route and PSU can't cover it in their coverage. TD with easy reads to the outside for Gardner.</p>
<p><b>PSU Drive 14 - 0:28 3rd 27-24</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - PSU goes to gun 2x2. Michigan drops into a coverage they did early in the game and the two outs on each side is an easy pitch and catch to the TE against a LB.</p>
<p>Play 2 - 2nd and 5 - Single back with 2 TEs to one side and two WRs to the field. Black jumps, then hesitates, and that's why the inside zone gets big yards, because his hesitation made it so no one was between the RB and the second level going straight down hill.</p>
<p>Play 3 - 1st and 10 - Trio to the field, a split WR to the boundary. Shotgun from PSU. Michigan still in their 4-3. They blitz both ILB through the B-gaps, get quick pressure and Hack just throws it away. Pressure is clearly bothering him.</p>
<p>Play 4 - 2nd and 10 - 2x2 gun from PSU. Michigan goes cover 4. Something tips pass, because Mattison yells it out pre-snap. Ross does a poor job on his drop, which goes straight back, respecting the TE seam way too much with safety help taking anything over the top. This coverage should allow the LBs to be a bit more aggressive on the outs knowing they have safety help, but Ross is late. Right call, poor execution.</p>
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<p>Play 5 - 1st and 10 - 2x2 again, this time PSU under center. It's inside zone. Black allows the OL to too easily release to the LBs as well as gets sealed inside without getting any movement. This creates a huge seam. Big run</p>
<p>Play 6 - 1st and 10 - Inside zone, can't see much because of up tempo. Michigan collapses a bunch of bodies around it.</p>
<p>Play 7 - 2nd and 8 - Double outs again. Michigan confused and the TE is wide open. Gets illegal substitution penalty. This is the advantage of changing tempos. Defense wasn't hurrying off field as they would if you're always NASCAR paced.</p>
<p>Play 8 - 1st and 10 - PSU goes to 4 verts look. Cover 1 from Michigan. It's a hitch and go on the outside. Countess jumps on the hitch, but he does so with his body in a position to disrupt the WR's route before he can get by him. If the WR gets by clean, this is a TD. But because Countess has better body position, it's an incomplete pass.</p>
<p>Play 9 - 2nd and 10 - Michigan bringing overload pressure on the zone blitz. This forces Hack to move and then throw the ball into a bracketed TE. Incomplete.</p>
<p>Play 10 - 3rd and 10 - Okie front from Michigan. They only bring the DL and the OL is confused. Every else drops into a cover 3 and Hack can't hit anyone against the pressure.</p>
<p><b>3rd Quarter Offense Conclusions</b></p>
<p>In my opinion, this was a great quarter by Borges. He got Michigan the lead back, moved the ball consistently, and had play calls that consistently took advantage of things the defense was giving. He mixed up first down calls. He ran a lot of PA. He ran some first down option. I know what's ahead. I know what is about to happen and I know the complains. But this is 3 quarters that people are forgetting, and it sums out to above average play calling so far (despite being only 20 offensive points in 3 quarters). Execution issues have really prevented this offense from taking off, and this is without your All-American OT, two RS Fr, a RS So, a walk on, and a senior on the line for much of the game. With no TE that is an upper classman. With a QB that has previously appeared shaken and as if his confidence was gone. Some easy missed assignments and turnovers stalled most of the drives early, much more than play calling, so the point result doesn't necessarily reflect the amount of points scored, but the execution does. Players were in position to succeed for the better part of the first 3 quarters.</p>
<p>Maybe all that is why people are as upset as they are as to what happens next, and I actually think Borges has some valid points coming up, even if he isn't perfect. But maybe the fact that the first three quarters I actually think he called an above average game, all things considered, have forced people hands in being even more upset to come.</p>
<p><br><b>3rd Quarter Defense Conclusions</b></p>
<p>Mattison went away from a lot of the basic cover 3 stuff that was getting eaten up by TE outs. To do so, he brought interior pressure and dropped his WDE and SAM to undercut a lot of these routes. Rather than try to stay with them, cover underneath and let a safety deal with the over the top stuff. Combined with the pressure, Hack really struggled to adjust and that's how Michigan succeeded defensively in this quarter. Nice half time adjustments on both sides of the ball.</p>
https://www.maizenbrew.com/2013/10/17/4847496/a-coachs-pov-3rd-quarter-play-by-play-dont-publishSpaceCoyote2013-10-16T13:00:10-05:002013-10-16T13:00:10-05:00A Coach's POV - PSU 2nd Quarter Play by Play
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eKiI3Nok5i_0hJOi9jOcBVq1Brw=/0x36:4000x2703/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/21305099/184237872.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Justin K. Aller</figcaption>
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<p>In this post, I'm not attempting to say what I would do in these situations. I'm trying to show what Borges is seeing and why, from his perspective, he is calling the plays he is. I'm also trying to show how Borges is reacting to what PSU is giving him, how he's adjusting, and how he's trying to be ahead of the curve so as not to be so "obvious".</p>
<p>Also, I look at the defense.</p>
<p>There will be posts for each quarter.</p> <p>Link to <a href="http://www.maizenbrew.com/2013/10/16/4843608/a-coach-pov-1st-quarter-play-by-play-Michigan-football-Penn-St" target="_blank">1st Quarter Post</a></p>
<p><b>Michigan Drive 6 - 14:32 2nd 10-7</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - Michigan runs a 2 TE play action with 2 WRs to the top. PSU counters with 8 in the box, meaning one of the receivers to the top of the screen will get single coverage. They are in max protect, which means only 2 receivers are in routes. Bryant kind of watches a guy run around him when Fitz is expecting help, as he should. Because of that, Fitz is out of position to make the block, kind of reaches at the defender and misses, and he comes in a hits DG from the blind side. FWIW, DG is also very late in his read, or more accurately, doesn't trust his read as he turns. He should be able to turn, see coverage deep, and Gallon wide open on his snag route. But he sees him, then looks off of him again, and by the time he gets back to him he's close to the sideline and the pass is quite difficult to make. Gallon still catches it and does a nice job trying to make a play in space, but it turns out to be a loss.</p>
<p>Play 2 - 2nd and 12 - Pistol veer option. DG doesn't make the read this time, and Fitz is forced to try to pick his way in space across the formation. A free blocker gets through because Bryant never releases from his combo to the second level LB despite the fact that only he can make a play on him here with the LB charging down. This means there is a free hitter in the backfield and Fitz takes what he can get. This is 8 blockers on 8 defenders plus a read option. This should be easy yards, you not only have blockers for every defender, you have an extra blocker. The idea here is to get back to manageable after the first down shot. They should, and didn't.</p>
<p>Play 3 - 3rd and 11 - Glasgow pretty clearly doesn't make the correct block and passes on the NT to no one. Michigan has 3 blockers on the bottom for 3 defenders (not counting the center), and 2 above the center for 3 blockers. Glasgow should pick up the most dangerous defender where PSU has numbers. Fitz will pick up B-gap on the side he's lined up on. So a relatively easy pass pro is busted. Then Gardner makes magic and gets a first down.</p>
<p>Play 4 - 1st and 10 - Tackle over Power from Michigan. PSU has 7.5 in the box, but backside isn't making a play here on the front side. Michigan has 7 blockers. They are in good shape with 7 blockers for 7 defenders. PSU does a nice job beating the puller to the hole, and because of that Green is able to hit an open hole for a decent first down gain and that half box player is able to make a play down the field after a 3 or 4 yard gain.</p>
<p>Play 5 - 2nd and 7 - Pistol look. Michigan has 2 wide and 2 TE mirrored. PSU walks down and 8th defender into the box and Michigan runs play action out of the stacked look. Green runs the wrong direction, so the LB doesn't have to hold up before his drop and he undercuts the route. Gardner never sees the underneath defender, which he probably should, but that defender shouldn't be able to make a play if Green runs to the correct side of the formation. This is why it's risky to play freshman.</p>
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<p><b>PSU Drive 6 - 11:37 2nd 10-7</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - PSU in a 3 wide set. Michigan in a cover 1 out of their 4-3 over with the safety walked down over the slot. Both Ryan and Bolden fail to carry the TE deep, not giving Wilson a chance to get over the top. Pretty sure this is more on Bolden not taking the correct initial drop, but Ryan can do better off the LOS.</p>
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<p><b>Michigan Drive 7 - 11:27 2nd 10-14</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - Twins tackle over. PSU with 7 in the box, so Michigan should be able to run here. They run stretch to strength, and no one on the OL gets to their 2nd level blocks. Gardner could help by switching sides of the formation, as PSU has shifted their personnel to strength rather heavily. If Michigan could run counter... Either way this is a first down in which you have a defense conceding run and you lose yardage, whereas if the OL is even relatively decent at their job it's at worst 2nd and 7.</p>
<p>Play 2 - 2nd and 10 - Shotgun, trio to the top and TE to the bottom. RB lined up behind TE. This formation has screamed Y-stick since ND. Michigan runs inverted veer which should kill because you see PSU's backside defenders starting to play Y-stick. Gardner correctly keeps, but then Bryant lunges at a defender with his eyes down on his pull and completely whiffs him because he was reaching and didn't keep his eyes on the defender. Bryant makes this block even a little bit and it's at least 10 yards. This is Borges calling a play based on what he saw from his scripted plays and taking advantage of PSU's defense, and instead of it being extremely successful it isn't because of a terribly missed, easy assignment.</p>
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<p>Play 3 - 3rd and 8 - This is the same concept as Michigan's first TE run. They have a 2 high beater to the field for a high/low read and a single high to the top. Gallon (taking Funchess's route) sits as there is a defender over the top of him, and Funchess's route (Gallon's previously) is a bit shorter because of the timing of the drop, this gives a high/low but also an in/out concept against cover 3 and makes it difficult for the LB to cover the TE in the flat, as we've seen Ross struggle with out of cover 3. But this is an easy read for Gardner on both sides of the formation depending on his initial read of the safeties and then a single key defender. Gardner reads it correctly, doesn't throw a great ball, but this should be caught again. This is Borges giving Gardner easy reads to the outside of the field to avoid confusion for him. It's easy 1-2 progression and then scramble. Both times he has found his guy, both should have been big plays.</p>
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<p><b>PSU Drive 8 - 9:45 2nd 10-14</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - Michigan puts a safety over the slot, and tips it's single high coverage. Motion tips cover 1 rather than cover 3. PSU runs to Ryan, who does decent on the edge, but it's Gordon coming down quickly in run support, setting the edge, and finishing the play.</p>
<p>Play 2 - 2nd and 8 - Michigan in obvious cover 1 as the corner has switched the field to line up both CBs over the 2 WR side. This allows Gordon to be the backside support player against the run, which is a nice switch up so that PSU can't pick on the CB as the free tackler in the run game. PSU runs play action off of it, MO does a good job not chasing the play, pressuring Hack to throw on the run to a well covered TE.</p>
<p>Play 3 - 3rd and 8 - Michigan goes cover 1, forcing Ross to cover the TE man to man. Ross takes away the inside nicely, but can't break underneath the route quick enough to make a play. Tackles right at the catch.</p>
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<p>Play 4 - 1st and 10 - Should be no gain. The playside DL just stands up PSU OL. But Wormley gets turned around and can't find ball and Countess doesn't fill properly, so the RB can escape out where Gordon makes a big ankle tackle to prevent a big run.</p>
<p>Play 5 - 2nd and 5 - This looks like straight outs from PSU, but the #2 receivers have option routes here (they run outs because of the coverage). Michigan in cover 3 and it's an easy in/out read from Hack.</p>
<p>Play 6 - 1st and 10 - Mario swims his blocker and squeezes down quickly to make a great play against the run.</p>
<p>Play 7 - 2nd and 10 - Man coverage again here. Think there is a miscommunication between Cam and Ross, as Ross hesitates as if he's playing the RB out of the backfield. My guess is Ross is actually correct here, and this is an in/out coverage from the 2 LBs.</p>
<p>Play 8 - 1st and 10 - Michigan slants, Black blows up the play big time, and the rest of the DL pretty easily beats their counterparts and the RB can't go anywhere.</p>
<p>Play 9 - 2nd and 11 - Believe Michigan is in cover 4 here and Ross is picked on. Tough position for Ross who must flow to run and cover the flat. It's incomplete though.</p>
<p>Play 10 - 3rd and 11 - Cover 3 dime look. Avery is in perfect position to make a play on the ball and doesn't. Never actually finds the ball, which shouldn't happen in this situation. If you are playing inside, force the receiver tighter to the sideline and get the eyes around so you can break this up.</p>
<p><b>Michigan Drive 9 - 7:00 2nd 10-21</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - Michigan tries to go with a weakside Iso against an 8 man front (the safety walks up late to put the 8th guy in the box). You'd like to see Gardner see that and check, but frankly the front side is the same as it would be if PSU was in a 7 man front, so the numbers are still there. The difference here is what happens if you're forced to cut back. That happens here. If this is a 7 man box, Fitz breaks a big one. But the walk down safety does a nice job filling the cut back hole. Late movement made it so Gardner didn't check.</p>
<p>Play 2 - 2nd and 8 - Brian <a target="_blank" href="http://mgoblog.com/content/picture-pages-dumbest-play-history-football">picture paged</a> this at mgoblog. I'll get into this a bit more at another point, but the 2 backside blockers are essentially out of the play here. So it becomes 6 blockers on 6 defenders. This play can still be blocked. The FB and TB have the same read: Lewan. If Lewan seals they can both go outside and this is still a big gain. Lewan can't, which is understandable, so you cut behind him. The problem is that Kalis has a guy lined up over his outside eye and can't manage to do the correct footwork to reach an interior DL. On top of that Bryant can't even cut the backside tackle because of poor and slow footwork. This actually should be a 4-5 yard gain. The play call isn't optimal against the formation, but the reason it isn't checked out of is because on the playside the offense is still reading what it wants. I won't sit here and say it's optimal, but it can work. This isn't the stupidest thing ever.</p>
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<p>Play 3 - 3rd and 10 - Absolutely great job by Gardner stepping into the pocket and above the edge pressure. This allows him to step into the throw a rope to Funchess for a first down. Gardner has improved, for those taking notice. Confidence still needs to come along, but improvement will be obvious once it does.</p>
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<p>Play 4 - 1st and 10 - 3 WR pistol look. Michigan blocks everyone inside well enough, but Dileo doesn't make his block. The problem is he not only misses it once, but twice. If he successfully cracks Gardner has a big gain outside. He misses crack, alright, then seal that guy outside and Gardner looks to cut it up, but then he misses that as well and then gets completely lost and it's no gain. Dileo doesn't have to do anything great here, he just needs to do something, but doesn't. Borges going back to plays that work but not going to the well too often so far. But clearly trying run game variety on first down to keep on track. This is a play the OL has blocked well enough, could have been a nice gain on first down.</p>
<p>Play 5 - 2nd and 9 - Borges out thinks himself a little here, and not because it's a "middle screen in a stacked box". All year, people haven't wanted run fakes to Norfleet. This is the equivalent of how Meyer uses the shovel pass. He gets the 2 playside guys to bite on Norfleet, so he has blocked two players with one guy. What actually bites him is the OLB not doing his job and following Fitz out of the backfield. Glasgow then doesn't wash his DT down nearly enough and the DT actually makes a nice play. To top it off, Glasgow doesn't go to block the correct guy because MIKE didn't bit toward the jet sweep, but instead to Fitz. PSU's mistakes actually stopped this play, along with a nice play by the DT. What I don't like (I'm guessing here) is that Michigan never went back to this look and threw the flare screen.</p>
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<p>I actually like this play. PSU is flowing fast to action. The box defenders need to fast flow outside to defend the two misdirection plays and the middle of the field should be wide open. It's seeing things PSU is doing and trying to take advantage of them. It's just that PSU screwed up on their assignments a bit. Perhaps actually run the jet sweep to see PSU's response first, but then people complain that that's obvious, which it is.</p>
<p>Play 6 - 3rd and 8 - Michigan runs the same play they've essentially run three times now. High/low on one side to take advantage of 2 high, and an inside/out look on the top of the screen to take advantage of single high. Easy reads, last time it was dropped, this time they get a holding penalty.</p>
<p>Play 7 - 1st and 10 - 8 in the box for PSU against 12 personnel. 3 routes, one from the RB. Williams does not come off his block to pick up the 8th defender. Gardner steps in again, this squeezes the defense up and allows him to then escape out the back. Then he has an open receiver that he finds and actually makes a pretty nice throw except the PSU defender makes an amazing PBU. This is a flood concept to that side, which gives Gardner some easy reads, a post and then a high/low where he ends up going. But the OL/TEs need to pick up their blocks. Their eyes are not on their keys. Williams thought his man was playing a coverage and didn't keep his eyes on him and the delayed pressure got there.</p>
<p>Play 8 - 2nd and 10 - Michigan goes gun with a bunch set to the top and a TE in. RB lined up to the weak side. Michigan has 4 blockers for 3 defenders on that side. PSU blitzes, making the draw play a perfect call because a large hole playside opens up as the OL washes the blitzers down and past the play. If Kalis gets his head to the correct side, Gardner probably picks up a few extra yards. As is, he picks a nice 5 yard gain to make 3rd down manageable.</p>
<p>Play 9 - 3rd and 5 - Borges goes to the play that Gardner is most comfortable with, though it's the Z-snag variation with Funchess playing Z. Gardner should have made the read quicker though and didn't. The OL had a slide coverage so no one picked up the backside DE. It's not the best pass pro call as it could have been, but Gardner should have seen the CB release the Z receiver and immediately hit Funchess. His hitch hesitation allowed the DE to get there. The OL didn't help, certainly, but he still could have made a play here.</p>
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<p><b>PSU Drive 9 - 2:38 2nd 10-21</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - Inside zone from PSU. Black washes his guy down and should have backside arm free, but never gets his arm out to slow the RB. Bolden does a nice job cutting under the OL to make a play here.</p>
<p>Play 2 - 2nd and 6 - Well blocked inside zone, Morgan does a great job of lining up the OL and disengaging to make a play on the ball carrier for a minimal gain.</p>
<p>Play 3 - 3rd and 2 - Play action, PSU runs essentially a double rub route, first with playside TE then with playside WR. FB leaks. Morgan gets caught up a little bit, but FB drops it. Would have been short gain, but enough for the first down. That drop probably saved Michigan at least 3 points.</p>
<p><b>Michigan Drive 10 - 1:30 2nd 10-21</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - Michigan has a packaged play, so when the corner comes to set the edge on the zone stretch, Gardner can hit the little pop pass behind it. This is a nice little response to the defense bringing a corner late into the box. The route is likely an adjustment (the hitch aspect) because the safety is playing over the top well. If PSU wouldn't have that safety come over the top Chesson completes the wheel route and this is a big gain. If Michigan got a first down I think they would have pressed the issue a bit more.</p>
<p>They wanted the option to keep the block running if they didn't get the first down. So they ran the football. If they pick up a first down I think they start pushing it and try to get in FG range. They didn't so they eat clock.</p>
<p><b>2nd Quarter Offense Conclusions</b></p>
<p>I'd still personally like to see a bit more pass on first down, but every first down run had a good chance at success if blockers just do a little bit. Still, Borges mixed it up a bit, he did some things based on how PSU reacted to offensive plays earlier, and was ahead of the curve on the middle screen that only got snuffed out because PSU messed up. I'll get more into the "Worst Play Ever" play at another time, but even that play had a chance to work. Is it the best thing there? Probably not. But the set up isn't the problem. It's certainly not my favorite play, and doesn't give the offense much leeway, but that's the closest thing to a real issue I have with any individual play calls against what the defense was doing. I'm still seeing a ton of offensive line problems, both in the run game and a lot in pass pro. That makes anything that gives Gardner an easy read difficult to call. It puts Borges in a bit of a bind.</p>
<p>In the first half, Borges called a few veer options, he ran an inverted veer, he ran a QB draw from a spread look, he ran a QB power from a spread look. He had run game variety. He only ran into a single stacked box on the first play of the 2nd drive. Other than that they had numbers playside (you can argue the "Worst Play Ever", but they had numbers playside even there) and often had numbers overall in the run game based on their formation and the defense's look.</p>
<p>Borges hasn't called a marvelous game by any means, but he has done things to set up the defense and put his players in a position to succeed. Michigan should have easily moved the ball on every drive in the 2nd quarter except for very simple execution mistakes, not even just "missed down blocks", but like "catching the football that's in your hands" or correctly blocking in pass pro.</p>
<p>I haven't seen the 2nd half yet, but in an isolated half, this was actually a very well called game, with big offensive line problems the reason it only produced 10 points. Because players were in position to make plays and there were a lot of points potentially left on the board because of simple execution issues, not execution issues where Borges put people in positions where they couldn't succeed.</p>
<p><b>2nd Quarter Defense Conclusions</b></p>
<p>PSU is clearly picking on Michigan's LBs in coverage again. To do that, it is important that they continue to run the football though. They have really picked on Ross early, and he's struggled a lot. But pretty much all PSU's success has been in the pass game against LB busts.</p>
https://www.maizenbrew.com/2013/10/16/4843656/a-coachs-pov-2nd-quarter-play-by-playSpaceCoyote2013-10-16T10:00:11-05:002013-10-16T10:00:11-05:00A Coach's POV - PSU 1st Quarter Play by Play
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<figcaption>Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>In this post, I'm not attempting to say what I would do in these situations. I'm trying to show what Borges is seeing and why, from his perspective, he is calling the plays he is. I'm also trying to show how Borges is reacting to what PSU is giving him, how he's adjusting, and how he's trying to be ahead of the curve so as not to be so "obvious".</p>
<p>Also, I look at the defense.</p>
<p>There will be posts for each quarter.</p> <p><i>This is note intended to serve the same purpose as Brian's UFR over at MGoBlog. This is intended to look at things from a coach's perspective, namely, the two Michigan coordinators and why they are doing what they're doing. I will have one for each quarter and OT.</i></p>
<p><b>Michigan Drive 1 - 15:00 1st 0-0</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - Tackle over Power. Glasgow missed assignment and didn't down block (instead deciding to triple the playside DT when that wasn't his job against this front). Butt didn't hold block anyway. Absolutely no problem running this here. It's first play, you see what the defense is giving. CB 6 yards off. Only 8 in box from PSU. PSU was set up to give up yards on the run, missed assignments killed the play. But you see what PSU is giving you early and it should set up things for later. Need to be executed better.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1861113/xfHp66m.jpg"><img alt="Xfhp66m_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1861113/xfHp66m_medium.jpg"></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">3 on 1 eh? Welp, see ya later.</p>
<p>Play 2 - 2nd and 14 - Designed QB Power off read option look. Kalis needs to do better in the hole on a small defender. Bryant needs to actually maintain his block. This should have been a big gain. Nice design to essentially block a couple defenders with the outside zone look to Fitz.</p>
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<p>Play 3 - 3rd and 10 - Good roll call away from middle blitz. Outside receiver bracketed and slipped. Miscommunication on routes as there is no levels or inside/out concept here.</p>
<p><b>PSU Drive 1 - 13:20 1st 0-0</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - Washington got too occupied on someone obviously the backside OG on an inside zone. Lined up playside of center, needs to beat center's head across or at least pin BSG and scrape quicker. Morgan needs to do better to disengage and leave shoulder free.</p>
<p>Play 2 - 2nd and 2 - DL plays run, but it's a roll out. Taylor in single coverage on the outside, needs to respect deep and come back in cover 1.</p>
<p>Play 3 - 1st and 10 - Clark needs to do a better job of setting the edge immediately, though he does a good job of shedding blocker and getting there eventually. DL flows buy no one wraps up RB who is able to drive the pile.</p>
<p>Play 4 - 2nd and 4 - Straight cover 3 look from Michigan, with an inverted line. Wilson does a good job staying over top of the receiver and then coming down as PSU TE tries to sit between levels from their 4 vert look that <a href="http://breakdownsports.blogspot.com/2013/10/Penn-State-Quick-Passing-Game-Playbook-Hitches-Option-Vertical.html" target="_blank">I described here</a>. Wilson understands concept, and if TE tries to take the look deep then Wilson's body is in position to prevent the TE from getting there.</p>
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<p><b>Michigan Drive 2 - 11:57 1st 0-0</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - Tackle over. PSU gives a different look, starts with 9 in the box, motions late to 10 and then one safety backs off the bring it back to 9. CB is 7 yards off the LOS, which isn't deep enough to just throw it out there, need a designed route if you want to do that, but it's still early so you are still probing the defense a bit; I still don't have a problem here really. Run zone stretch away from strength and see how they play it out of the look. The one safety is going to step back into coverage, which means you have 5 blockers for 5 defenders. The fact that the entire OL (and a TE which is more understandable, but you expect your TE to be able to block a DE) can't block anyone is infuriating. But we move on. We know how they will play it and we can use that to our advantage later.</p>
<p>Play 2 - 2nd and 14 - This play was one of those that Brian screamed about for a bubble screen. Well, they end up running a play on the back end of this Y-stick that should be just as effective. They run two quick outs from the #2 and #3 and run off the outside CB with a streak route. This is the equivalent to the bubble screen but with an easier throwing angle for the QB. The problem is that Gardner has become too dependent on the Y-stick concept to get going and to get comfortable. For whatever reason here though, Gardner isn't even checking the safety any more. Watch his eyes, and they go straight to the key defender. At no time does he hold the defense or even think of going backside. Either the coaches have over-simplified the concept and reads for him, or they haven't taught him what to look for well enough. But it's in the play design to take advantage of the soft coverage from this alignment. My guess is Borges wanted an easy pass to get DG some confidence and get the play into 3rd and manageable. Remember, this is still the script portion of the play calling.</p>
<p>Play 3 - 3rd and 8 - PSU runs cover 3 and Gardner never reads his 2nd key defender (first read is playside CB who is backing out), who is clearly fanning out into the flat. This is the correct play call by Borges, who runs routes past the sticks and gives Gardner an easy in/out read on the flat defender, and Dileo the option of hitching or running an in on the LB. Dileo runs the hitch, which is wide open because the flat defender is bugging out to undercut the route, and Gardner just doesn't read it. This should be an easy first down as this is as simple of a read that Gardner can get. In fact, it's a read PSU runs all the time with their FR QB.</p>
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<p><b>PSU Drive 2 - 10:29 1st 0-0</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - Gordon does a great job from his SAM position to get upfield and anchor, effectively sealing the edge and forcing the cutback, where the DE is scrapping across and constricting the hole. Washington has corrected his mistake from earlier and allows the RB to only get into one place, which the LB is filling.</p>
<p>Play 2 - 2nd and 9 - Michigan looks like they're in cover 2. Some miscommunication from the LB and Taylor as neither slides down on the underneath guy. PSU is trying to run a levels concept on Michigan. Taylor cannot squeeze here because he cannot allow the TE to run a corner over top of him in his cover 2 zone, so he's alright, the LB is the one who has to release. MIKE needs to do a better job of hedging this off and stepping into this I believe as well. Not terribly defended, but a half step slow in getting their assignments down should have resulted in a catch with no YAC.</p>
<p>Play 3 - 3rd and 9 - Michigan goes cover 4 look here. PSU given too much time. But still, Gordon gets sucked up on a crossing route, which he should be looking for, but Taylor also believes he has inside help, which he doesn't get. Gordon needs to do better here, Taylor should be the one coming off the guy and collecting the cross underneath here.</p>
<p>I like cover 4 here and don't mind the three man rush. You are filling up every possible throwing window in this situation in a condensed field. As long as the DL even gets token pressure this play is successful. Can't go to the well every time, but at this point I think this is a perfectly fine call on 3rd and 9 near the end zone. Knowing a FR QB with confidence in his arm, he's quite likely to try to fit it into a window that doesn't exist with all the bodies back there.</p>
<p><b>Michigan Drive 3 - 9:32 1st 0-7</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - Michigan in tackle over with twins to the top. PSU only has about 7.5 in the box, which is essentially the same look they gave on the first play. This means Michigan has a huge advantage in numbers, they run power again, and it goes for a big gain. You also now notice the backside LB flowing hard to the play. This play should be big playside but Kalis takes an awful angle to the LB, and instead of cutting him off is forced to watch him down. Luckily the backside LB took himself too far playside instead of properly scraping over the top.</p>
<p>Play 2 - 1st and 10 - Michigan go pistol 2 TE look. Runs the veer option. DG correctly reads the DE starting the squeeze and picks up an easy first down. Remember, squeeze or sit is a keep look. Only literally containing is give, because the RB needs to be able to cut between the DE and the inside defenders for the give to be successful.</p>
<p>Play 3 - 1st and 10 - Double twins look with Gallon stacked over Funchess at the bottom of the screen. Draw action from Gardner. Fitz makes a great pass pro pick up and DG has done better to learn to step into the pocket instead of trying to escape around it (improvement guys). Funchess reads a single high coverage and carries the seam, but Gallon was wide open on his out as well as PSU ran a cover 3 look behind the CB blitz. FWIW, this is actually a corner post play that Gallon breaks out because the deep third defender is playing hang coverage. Both receivers make the correct adjustment to the coverage. On the backside you have a high/low look that Gardner would have looked to against 2 high safeties.</p>
<p>FWIW, if the safety gets over the top of Funchess, Funchess will sit in the void, just as I described the PSU TE doing on his 4 vert concept. We'll see that later.</p>
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<p><b>PSU Drive 3 - 8:19 1st 7-7</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - Michigan in cover 1. Gordon and MIKE do a great job not biting on the out fake by the TEs, MIKE knows he has over the top help from the FS and carries his TE deep before releasing, meanwhile Gordon stays over top of his TE so that he can't go anywhere. This is a mirrored play, so both things are happening the same on both sides. Hack checks to the hitch late but Taylor has it well covered by now, and then he's lost and ends up eating a sack. If Hack gave his initial read enough time he might have had something develop behind the MIKE, but that's a very tight window.</p>
<p>Play 2 - 2nd and 12 - Delayed draw and black just dominates his 1v1 match up, which is huge with OL releasing to LBs. Clark actually does a good job waiting for the RB to cross his plane before fighting back inside. I'm pretty sure the OT gets away with a bit of a hold, but Clark has to be better at disengaging here. Anyway, Taylor does a great job shooting the alley and stepping up and making a play on a powerful RB.</p>
<p>This is proof that the DL is improving, especially against the run. A lot of the day Michigan got playside of their blocker, didn't get pushed by the play but managed to scrape to the play under control. They were disruptive all day with much better hand technique and footwork.</p>
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<p>Play 3 - 3rd and 10 - Michigan threatens a couple on the blitz but only brings the DL, dropping into a cover 3. Hack quickly reads the CB dropping off on a high/low concept to the sideline. Ross has outside hook/flat responsibility here, is worried about giving up the seam and is late getting outside, so this is close to a first down but they stop him short. Cover 3 is conservative here, but this should at most gain 6 yards, anything deeper than that should have been broken up by Ross.</p>
<p>Play 4 - 4th and 1 - PSU going for it, quickly line up. Michigan defense is prepared as they squeeze the line, get in 4 point stances and quickly drive into the OL's feet and therefore Hack's feet to stack the play up.</p>
<p><b>Michigan Drive 4 - 6:43 1st 7-7</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - Michigan in a tackle over look with a trio look to the outside. Each WR is eligible as is the TE to the top of the screen. I actually like this look, as it gives you a lot of strength to one side of the field, where you can run either power/zone to that side or even a pitch type play to attack the edge. You can also easily roll to the bunch/trio side for some easy pass plays to protect the backside TE in pass pro. There is nothing wrong with this formation.</p>
<p>What they do with it is actually run a lead counter to the weak side though because PSU is overplaying the strong side. This should work, because Michigan will have 4 blockers on 4 defenders. But Glasgow and Bryant completely whiff their combo block. The LBs bite quite a bit at the counter action, but Glasgow takes way to direct of an angle and doesn't gain depth to seal off the defender to the backside. His target is wrong, he targets where the LB is instead of where he needs to make his block on a LB that will work back to the ball. That whiff puts 2 blockers in the hole on what otherwise should be a very nice gain on first down. Again, play call is exactly what you want, the defense gave you exactly what you want, and the OL simply is not blocking it.</p>
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<p>Play 2 - 2nd and 9 - Tackle over look again, straight I form with twins to strong side. This means Williams is an eligible receiver. Earlier in the game, the DE was squeezing down on Williams rather than getting up field, so you hope that helps protect him. What's worse is that Kalis doesn't keep his body in front of his man, so there is no pocket for Gardner to step into. Now, the coverage is soft on the outside, so there is likely a "bubble" type play that is quick that could work. There is also single coverage on the outside and you are only putting 2.5 guys out in routes off play action which should hold the defense. I'm not sure what the route concept was because we never get a chance to see it, but likely this is a hitch throw or hitch, hitch throw no matter what. In this situation you can't hold onto the ball, but either way it's the pressure up the middle that sacks this play, not the play design (which actually probably got exactly what it was looking for), but the interior blocking.</p>
<p>Play 3 - 3rd and 17 - Roll out to avoid pressure, essentially a throw it up and see what you can get. This is a post-streak concept to try to hold the safety inside and get Funchess singled up deep, which is what they got. Funchess is actually open as he gets over the top of his defender. You'd like this pass a little more outside, but Funchess needs to make this catch. Play was there to be made, need to execute that. FWIW, I like the play call because only picking up a chunk probably doesn't get you into comfortable field goal range at this point in the game, and you really need to pick up about 12 yards to feel comfortable getting a good 4th down play. That intermediate pick up is something that Gardner has already struggled on today, so I think this is the correct play call.</p>
<p><b>PSU Drive 4 - 4:59 1st 7-7</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - Inside zone from PSU. MO sets the edge nicely right where he aligns so the play can't get stretched anymore. The 3 tech does a good job two gapping his guy. Washington gets some push, gets pushed back when he's scrapping, but ends up at the LOS which is a win. Wormley gets a bit too much depth before scrapping across, but doesn't allow for a cutback.</p>
<p>Play 2 - 2nd and 9 - Mattison overloads the OL and has a great play call on but Morgan doesn't breakdown and squeeze the cutback hole as he should. This should be a 3 yard loss, especially as there is an outside defender responsible for the roll out. Morgan got greedy here and wanted the PA sack. Gordon does a nice job filling backside and tackling in space.</p>
<p>Play 3 - 3rd and 5 - Cover 3 here puts Michigan in a bad position to cover hitches (which is why Michigan ran it earlier). Hack gets rid of the ball quickly after seeing the outside CB release back and the flat defender carry inside. But his pass is a little off target.</p>
<p><b>Michigan Drive 5 - 3:38 1st 7-7</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - Michigan comes out in a near look, which probably tips pass but not necessarily. Gardner actually looks like he has at least a couple receivers open on this play (this looks like Z-snag, which is a similar concept to Y-stick) but decides to scramble for good yards.</p>
<p>Play 2 - 1st and 10 - Counter pitch here, and Magnuson tries to stick on the misdirection too long rather than sealing the LB inside. That changes the play from 1 on 1 with Fitz in space (and every other box defender sealed inside, regardless of backside defenders that don't have someone directly on them) to two tacklers for Fitz to beat. On top of that, Kalis never seals his guy despite Magnuson helping him more than he should in his combo. So then a third defender is there when Fitz should only have to beat the EMOL, which he does. This is another misdirection play that Borges has dialed up to the weakside because PSU is flowing quickly to the initial movement. This is a great playcall at this time that should go for big yards but doesn't.</p>
<p>Play 3 - 2nd and 10 - Michigan goes back into gun with trey to the top of the screen and split to the bottom. Designed draw picks up 9 yards. First designed draw of the game and a nice situation to make third down manageable.</p>
<p>Play 4 - 3rd and 1 - Michigan finally gets enough push playside to open up a hole and should be able to pick up this third and short regardless of PSU's 9-man front. But DG fumbles and it's a wasted play.</p>
<p>Play 5.0 - 4th and 1 - They get a false start which forces them to kick a FG on the real play 5. But this is an Iso fake Gardner boot. The playside OG pulls and the playside DE crashes. Michigan has this pick up easily on 4th down but the OL moves early. So now Michigan not only didn't pick up a first down they otherwise would have, but they showed their look on what would have been a wildly successful play (Williams had playside LB so pulling OG had the only other defender out there that had a chance on DG). Double whammy.</p>
<p>FWIW, Gibbons hits a 47 yarder with plenty of leg (at least 5 yards), though he almost pushed it wide. This is important for decision making later.</p>
<p><b>PSU Drive 5 - 0:49 1st 10-7</b></p>
<p>Play 1 - 1st and 10 - Michigan goes cover 1 and walks down a safety into the weakside of the box, giving them 7 box defenders with the OLB split out over the slot receiver. PSU runs into it. Morgan makes a great play to attack down hill, get outside leverage, breakdown rather than gain too much depth, and force the RB back into scraping defenders for little gain.</p>
<p>Play 2 - 2nd and 9 - Essentially same initial look from both sides, but the safety doesn't walk down because it's cover 2. Ross does a poor job on his drop, dropping straight back when he has hook/curl responsibility. Needs to angle his drop to get into the TE rather than letting him get a free release on his out cut.</p>
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<p>Play 3 - 3rd and 1 - PSU goes to 22 personnel. Michigan has 8 in the box. Michigan slants into the inside zone to the wide side of the field and stacks up the OL in space. The RB can't hit the backside cutback, and Bolden is there just in case he does try to flow back.</p>
<p><b>1st Quarter Offensive Drive Conclusions</b></p>
<p>I have yet to see a play call by Borges that was even close to completely reprehensible. The stretch into the 9/10 man front wasn't great, but considering it was the first play of the second drive, and could still be successful if executed properly, makes it understandable. The play action from Tackle Over was fine too. Earlier, there were things that made it look like that play could be successful, and we had seen Gardner step into the pocket. It's not a position that puts players in a great position, but it's a play where they should be able to get away with it for long enough to at least get the ball away. It's like a trick play almost, it's either going to be big or it should be nothing. It should have been nothing.</p>
<p>Anyway, in the first 5 drives I think Borges mixed up the type of play calling to put players in very good positions to succeed at times, especially on the two counters and as well as you can expect on the passing plays outside the one above. I would like to see some first down passing, but Borges mixed up option/spread concepts with some downhill type plays and each should have at least kept Michigan on track. I think most of the complaints come later, so I'll leave it at that.</p>
<p><b>1st Quarter Defensive Drive Conclusions</b></p>
<p>Essentially, it was one blown assignment on the run and one blown assignment in the pass and PSU managed to get 7 points out of it because of the circumstances. Defense has been really good so far, and has constantly been in position to make plays.</p>
https://www.maizenbrew.com/2013/10/16/4843608/a-coach-pov-1st-quarter-play-by-play-Michigan-football-Penn-StSpaceCoyote2013-10-16T09:36:09-05:002013-10-16T09:36:09-05:00What Went Wrong: Penn State
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<figcaption>Justin K. Aller</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Because this dead horse isn't going to beat itself.</p> <p>We've been here before. Not exactly here, as this is Michigan's first loss, but somewhere close where after the game it seems all we have are negative takeaways and worries for the future. Michigan continues to do the same things wrong, and it has hurt the team repeatedly. This was the first game in which these mistakes cost Michigan in the win column, but the consistency of these issues and the escalation of competition means that this is surely not the last time we are here. Let's slog through this one more time.</p>
<h4>You're Not Supposed To Set Them Up In the Red Zone</h4>
<p>When Devin Gardner threw the worst interception in the history of football against Notre Dame we all shrugged and said, "well, it can't get any worse".</p>
<p>It has.</p>
<p>Not in terms of one single play, but in three of Michigan's last four games it has handed the opposition easy points far too often. Michigan gave away a touchdown (pick-six) against Akron and a field goal thanks to a shanked punt. The next week against UConn a fumble return touchdown and an interception returned inside Michigan's red zone meant 14 points. Against Penn State it was two interceptions that set Penn State up with 24- and 20-yard fields and two more touchdowns. In those three games, Michigan has allowed just five touchdown drives of over 50 yards on defense. The offense has completely erased that massive advantage thanks to giving up two defensive touchdowns on turnovers and setting the opposing offense up for three more touchdowns on short fields.</p>
<p>This is absolutely the biggest issue going forward, and it doesn't even count all the other turnovers and special teams miscues that have robbed Michigan of what could have been fruitful possessions. Consider:</p>
<table style="height: 150px;" align="center" width="400" border="1"><tbody>
<tr>
<td>Game</td>
<td>Points Given Up (Off)</td>
<td>Points Allowed on 50+ Yd Drives</td>
<td>Scoring Margin</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Akron</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">7</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">14</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">+4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UConn</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">14</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">7</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">+3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Penn State</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">14</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">14</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">-3</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p> </p>
<p>Michigan's defense has taken some heat for its struggles late against Akron and Penn State, but you absolutely can't fault the defense for its full game effort. Michigan's offense has turned three 10+point wins into nailbiters simply by giving away scores. This is even worse when you consider the level of competition.</p>
<p>In games against teams with strong defenses (MSU, OSU) Michigan is going to have a much harder time overcoming late deficits after ceding so much ground earlier in the game.</p>
<p>Forget limiting turnovers — if Michigan could just keep its turnovers from becoming easy touchdowns for opposing teams, the Wolverines would be in much better shape (as well as 6-0 without nearly the same level of hand wringing over it).</p>
<h4>You're Going The Wrong Way</h4>
<p>Once again, Michigan's offense gave up negative play after negative play to the Penn State defense. The offensive line should officially have everyone in panic mode for the foreseeable future. Michigan spent all game <a href="http://mgoblog.com/diaries/what-source-our-run-blocking-issues-pictures" target="_blank">blowing assignments</a> and giving up inexcusable TFLs. How many did Penn State finish with for the game? Eleven for 44 yards (three sacks).</p>
<p>Michigan ran the ball 30 times with its tailbacks. How bad was it? Let's look at the numbers.</p>
<p><b>1st down</b>: Michigan ran the ball 15 times total for an average of 1.9 yards/carry. Six of those runs went for a loss or no gain while three more went for just one yard. Only one run (a 12-yard run by Toussaint in the first quarter) went over 10 yards.</p>
<p><b>2nd down</b>: Michigan was somehow worse on second down, running the ball 11 times for just two total yards. Four of those runs were for no gain, three were for negative yardage, and only two plays (three and four yard runs) went for more than a single yard.</p>
<p><b>3rd down</b>: Unsurprisingly, Michigan didn't get the chance to run much on third down, given the exceedingly long third down attempts it faced. Michigan had just four runs on third-down. Three went for no gain and another went for a three yard loss.</p>
<p>For the day, MIchigan's run totals went like this:</p>
<table style="height: 150px;" align="center" width="200" border="1"><tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">Result</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Number</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">Negative</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">6 (-17 yards)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">No Gain</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">1-3 Yards</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">4+ Yards</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p> </p>
<p>I am running out of ways to format these numbers to show how badly Michigan performed running with its tailbacks. Nearly 60% of Michigan's tailback run plays on the day either lost yardage or broke even.</p>
<p>Michigan did get 121 yards on 24 carries from Devin Gardner, but because of blocking deficiencies and a stubborn adherence to running play calls that continue to not work, Michigan essentially set 17 downs on fire and got a below average return for its investment on another nine.</p>
<p>On the year, Michigan is one of the worst teams in the nation when it comes to allowing negative plays in the run game. Michigan is allowing eight TFLs per game on the year. Only six teams in the nation are worse, and they have a combined record of 10-26.</p>
<h4>Is It Supposed To Be This Hard</h4>
<p>Do you know what happens when a team can't run the ball effectively with its tailback but does it anyway? That team ends up staring down a lot of long third-down conversion attempts. MGoBlog's Mathlete explains <a target="_blank" href="http://mgoblog.com/diaries/down-fire">how bad this is</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Michigan's average third down is 7.6 yards. They haven't had a single game better than 7 yards to go on average for third down. 95 teams average less than 7 yards to go on third down for the season. 95 teams average third down is better than Michigan's best game average.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>He also talks more about how bad Michigan's run game has been, so be sure not to miss that if you hate yourself and want to feel bad about the thing you hold most dear.</p>
<p>Against Penn State Michigan picked up just four of its 18 third-down attempts. This is so ludicrously bad that I can't even bring myself to laugh at it. What's worse is that this is the same thing that has been plaguing Michigan's offense all season long in games like these.</p>
<p>Michigan's defense thrives on forcing teams to complete long drives down the field to score after 10-12 plays, because it leaves more room for mistakes that lead to punts. Unfortunately, Michigan's offense plays the kind of herky jerky offense that is stopped up by this defense. Michigan had three touchdown drives that went longer than 70 yards in a game where the team converted just four third-down attempts.</p>
<p>The talent on offense is there. Michigan has the receivers to make big plays in the passing game and a quarterback capable of picking up yards on the ground and through the air. Once Devin Gardner shook off his bad start he put together a solid game. But Michigan's offense as a whole is so erratic that it can't grind out drives because it refuses to set itself up for easier third-down conversions.</p>
<p>--</p>
<p>For the better part of the first month of the season these things all had a bright side: they could be improved upon and Michigan's offense could settle into a rhythm in which it would effectively move the ball against most defenses.</p>
<p>Not anymore.</p>
<p>This is Michigan. A team that has no reliable tailback run game, can't set itself up for manageable third-downs, and will routinely give up crippling interceptions that put the defense at a huge disadvantage. This isn't going to change. Michigan is going to spend the season as the same gut-wrenching highwire act it has been since Akron. Some days it'll plummet to the net below, Some days, no matter how many times a foot slips, Michigan will make it to the other side.</p>
<p>Strap in, because we've probably got a few more of these columns coming before it is all said and done.</p>
https://www.maizenbrew.com/2013/10/16/4843674/michigan-penn-state-what-went-wrongZach Travis2013-10-14T08:00:11-05:002013-10-14T08:00:11-05:00Risk and reward (or lack thereof) in Happy Valley
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/E9yxAYinFa0Lf5BsSoLgfFOYItA=/0x10:4000x2677/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/21120461/184242387.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Justin K. Aller</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Michigan went to Happy Valley, with the win in its hands on several occasions, left the Keystone State with a loss, its first of the season. The Wolverines fall to 5-1 (1-1) on the season. </p> <p>When <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/142581/bill-belton">Bill Belton</a> ran across the goal line, I couldn't muster up much of a reaction. What was a fairly dominating second half for the Wolverines will be forgotten because they played like a squad playing on literal thin ice, afraid to fall through, doing the careful tip-toeing around inevitability. Not to go all Yogi Berra on you, but the thing about inevitability is that it's, you know, inevitable.</p>
<p>Of course, when I say they played that way, to a very certain extent I mean they were coached to play that way (but I'll get to that later). Michigan went up 10 with 10:28 to go, having erased an 11-point halftime deficit and holding Penn State to just three third quarter points. Despite playing a dreadful first half, Michigan appeared ready to coast to a hard-fought road victory.</p>
<p>Once Penn State drove down the field for a field goal and a Michigan delay of game basically pushed the Wolverines out of field goal range on the ensuing drive, you just knew disaster was on the way, even with PSU only having 50 seconds with which to work. When Michigan took that penalty, it was hard to be too surprised by anything, especially a losing outcome. When surprise is excised from the equation, so is the resulting emotional response, for better or worse.</p>
<p>Naturally, Michigan's punt would go for a touchback and a net of 15 yards. The Nittany Lions had 50 seconds with which to work; when <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/215213/christian-hackenberg">Christian Hackenberg</a> hit that first pass to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/142582/allen-robinson">Allen Robinson</a>, I instantly thought of 2005, and how this was probably going to be that in reverse. Sometimes, you just know.</p>
<p>After a 29-yarder to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/85915/brandon-felder">Brandon Felder</a>, Hackenberg, with the aplomb of a fifth-year senior, tossed one up to Allen Robinson. Robinson, who had had a fairly quiet game (4 receptions for 48 yards to this point) soared well over the 6 feet two inches tall <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/206285/channing-stribling">Channing Stribling</a> and came down with the ball at the half-yard line. It was the least surprising Hail Mary play ever, all the way down to the fact of a freshman Stribling being asked to check one of the top wide receivers in the country in crunch time. That's not quite <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/159545/chris-wormley">Chris Wormley</a> in coverage against UConn in terms of strangeness, but I'm not sure how that happened, other than the thought that Stribling's height is an asset in a sure-to-be jump ball situation. I suppose that makes sense, but it didn't matter, as Robinson jumped what seemed like four feet in the air.</p>
<p>Entering overtime (after a 52-yard field goal miss on a Michigan mini-drive there at the end) and winning the coin flip, Michigan's best bet was to stop the Nittany Lions in the first overtime period and win it right there.</p>
<p>A big sack by Chris Wormley (who had himself a nice game amid all the doom and gloom) set up a 3rd & long that Hackenberg couldn't convert. Then, Sam Ficken missed, the Beaver Stadium crowd went quiet, and it seemed as if Michigan was in the clear. The waters calmed with an eerie suddenness.</p>
<p>This is where the previous discussion of alternate universes comes into play. What if Michigan hadn't plowed into the line with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/76863/fitzgerald-toussaint">Fitzgerald Toussaint</a> two times (before getting Gardner to center it on third down) to set up a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/76867/brendan-gibbons">Brendan Gibbons</a> kick? At that point, a Toussaint run was a known quantity; Michigan would get zero yards, <i>at best</i>. With Michigan playing a line of Schofield-Burzynski-Glasgow-Kalis-Magnuson for much of the second half once Taylor Lewan went down, you couldn't exactly expect much more.</p>
<p>I suppose I can forgive the first offensive series. Other than Captain Hindsight, who knew that Gibbons would get that first attempt blocked? Plus, with an offensive line like that and a quarterback who hadn't exactly been reliable, I understand Borges not wanting to risk a potential game-winning field goal opportunity by going to the air.</p>
<p>With that said, Gardner was having success on the ground when Michigan spread PSU out a little bit. If you're going to run, why not just do it with Gardner? It's not as if that would be any less obvious than a powerless 1st & 10 Toussaint power, but it was working for most of the game. In overtime, we're talking one first down being the difference between a nerve-fraying unknown--a field goal from 40+ yards by a college kicker--to a relatively simple 25-30 yard chip.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, all 107,000+ in Beaver Stadium got behind the Nittany Lions, and as soon as <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113852/drew-dileo">Drew Dileo</a> placed the ball, it was clearly going to get blocked. If Gibbons didn't lowball it into <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114128/kyle-baublitz">Kyle Baublitz</a>' right arm--herhaps compensating after leaving the 52-yarder short?--Da'Quan Jones was there with a good shot at the swat himself..</p>
<p>For three downs, Michigan planted modestly, conservatively, humble seeds promising humble yields. Come harvest time, there was nothing to pick among the withering stalks of disaster, whistling ominously as the Pennsylvania wind cut through them.</p>
<p>---</p>
<p>From that point on, anything that happened should not have been a surprise, due both to the nature of overtime in college football as well as the nature of Michigan football, historically.</p>
<p>Michigan opened it up slightly in the second OT, throwing twice (but still running Toussaint on first down), but it would have been nice if that second down pass had gone to Funchess and not Jake Butt. Michigan had a nice matchup with Butt on a defensive back (if I remember correctly), but he couldn't come down with it. That's a play that he will make one day, but it was not this day.</p>
<p>The two teams traded field goals in the second OT period before, once again, Penn State more than generously offered up the game to the Wolverines. Allen Robinson straight up dropped the ball on the end around, which <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134818/frank-clark">Frank Clark</a> recovered, giving the Wolverines another opportunity to win the game with just a field goal. After this one, you must remove the phrase "just a field goal" from your catalogue of phrases.</p>
<p>With this gift in hand, the Wolverines once again plugged away on the ground, testing fate. Toussaint went for zero on first down, then Michigan went to the air, picking up nine yards, as if Al Borges had awoken from some fever dream to the realization that passing is in fact allowed.</p>
<p>In perhaps the most underratedly cruel outcomes of this game, Jeremy Gallon's reception set up a 3rd & 1, providing Michigan's coaching stuff with another doomed running play. Gibbons missed, the ball zooming wide of the uprights like a comet of regret.</p>
<p>Michigan opened it up in the third OT; of course, Gardner's first two passes fell incomplete, as if to lend credence to the staff's previous hyperconservatism. Another unfortunate delay of game penalty put Michigan in a "let's just get yards, any yards" scenario on 3rd & 15.</p>
<p>Gibbons hit, and the game fell to PSU's hands this time. Unlike Michigan, however, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="#">Bill O'Brien</a> was in position to act aggressively (albeit "aggressive" is a relative term when you juxtapose this play with Michigan's play calling) after PSU picked up 5, 3, and 1 yards on its first three downs. Instead of putting the game on <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/141952/sam-ficken">Sam Ficken's</a> once again shaky leg, O'Brien went for it.</p>
<p>The reward for O'Brien's risk eventually flowered into victory. Even so, if not for a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/159537/jarrod-wilson">Jarrod Wilson</a> pass interference in the end zone on 3rd & 8, Michigan would have forced a PSU field goal; this was a shame, as Wilson had had a pretty good evening otherwise.</p>
<p>The denouement was so long that the ultimate resolution was clear well before it actually happened. There was no way Michigan had a goal line stand left in the tank after so many close calls. Bill Belton waltzed into the end zone off the left side of the line. I was not surprised nor upset.</p>
<p>---</p>
<p>Here's why: imagine yourself as anything other than Michigan fan, and picture yourself watching this team. What do you see? If you're being honest, you'll see a average squad with exceptional talent and ability in spots, but not enough to produce a consistent effort on either side of the ball. Michigan turns it over a lot (i.e. like a bad team). Almost entirely irrespective of its opponent, Michigan runs the ball like an FCS team trying to run into the teeth of Alabama's defense.</p>
<p>The defense is merely a shade or two better than okay--good when its back is against the wall--but lacks a star; Michigan is counting on a guy coming off of a knee injury and returning mid-season to be that guy. The numbers from this game are a little misleading, however. Two of PSU's touchdowns came as the result of post-Gardner interception short fields; unfortunately for the defense, this was not a new development.</p>
<p>The offense is a Frankenstein-esque monstrosity of big plays mixed with turnovers and negative rushing plays. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/76856/denard-robinson">Denard Robinson</a> plays in Jacksonville, but Michigan's best offense still seems to be the Denard offense.</p>
<p>Michigan had innumerable opportunities to win this game and didn't. If you hadn't noticed already, lack of sample size is no longer an excuse for Michigan's road woes under Brady Hoke. Even when things are ugly, good teams win on the road. Michigan does not have a good team this year, 5-0 start notwithstanding. This was a realization that was easy to dismiss after Michigan did in fact pull out those games against Akron and UConn, but you can't really dismiss it anymore.</p>
<p>For the first time possibly, my confidence in the staff as a whole took a hit. Yes, it was one game, one that took almost everything going wrong for Michigan to lose, but Brady Hoke and Co. coached far from their best game. You won't see me saying "FIRE COACH X" any time soon, but this was the first time I seriously questioned whether the Michigan coaching staff is as good as I think it is. That, I think, is the most discomfiting part of this game, as its implications are far more long-term than one loss.</p>
<p>---</p>
<p>With all of that said, after Northwestern's loss in Madison, Michigan's goals are still very much within reach, albeit not without significant improvement. The Wildcats have two losses already, and Michigan still has the opportunity to play Nebraska and Michigan State.</p>
<p>Right now, it's much easier to pick losses than wins out of the lineup that is Michigan's remaining schedule. Indiana, as strange as it is to say, will offer a frighteningly stiff test for the Wolverines in Ann Arbor this Saturday.</p>
<p>Now, a few miscellaneous bullets since I scrapped the usual format:</p>
<p>
</p>
<ul>
<li><span><b>Although Michigan gave Hackenberg time much of the night, </b>guys like Jibreel Black, Chris Wormley and yes, Frank Clark, made some big plays. Sure, PSU was having OL issues just like Michigan, but it was nice to see these guys get in the backfield and lay the lumber from time to time. </span></li>
<li><span><b>I'm not sure how this happened, </b>but Funchess wasn't targeted at all in the overtime period. However, he did also fail to convert one touchdown early on that went right through his hands (and another, IIRC). </span></li>
<li><span><b>Michigan finished with four sacks. </b>James Ross and Jake Ryan added a tackle for loss apiece. </span></li>
<li><span><b>Both teams were abysmal on third down. </b>Michigan was 4-for-18, PSU was 3-for-16. </span></li>
<li><span><b>Looking at just 1st & 10 carries from the tailbacks during regulation time--</b>i.e. 12 from Toussaint and one from Green--Michigan managed 20 yards on 13 carries, good for 1.5 yards per carry. This figure does not include numerous failures on second and short and other situations. If Lewan is banged up and forced to miss a game or two (I have no idea if this is the case as I write this on Sunday night), Michigan is in enormous trouble. Lucky for them, another bye week awaits after the Indiana game. Even if Lewan is healthy, I can't see how power plays can be a regular feature of the playbook. Michigan running power is a lot like what a dyed-in-the-wool man-to-man basketball team looks like when it tries to play zone. The vaguely spread stuff is working, and Gardner has shown the ability to execute reads correctly, which Denard Robinson wasn't really able to do. While we thought we were past this, Michigan's best bet this season is to keep betting on Gardner's legs and hoping the early game interception disappears, whether via sheer conservatism or real improvement. </span></li>
<li><span><b>MGoBlue Notes can be found </b><a href="http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/101213aac.html">here</a>. After dropping the last four to the Nittany Lions, Michigan now holds a slim 10-7 lead all-time in that series. </span></li>
</ul>
https://www.maizenbrew.com/2013/10/14/4833728/michigan-wolverines-penn-state-nittany-lions-big-ten-football-devin-gardner-brady-hokeFouad Egbaria2013-10-13T13:47:10-05:002013-10-13T13:47:10-05:00What to Take from Michigan vs Penn State
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fANE6eYAOvbyN45yXle4XB-kf70=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/21085627/20131012_ajw_bm2_080.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Michigan went east and failed to escape a loss after four overtime periods. What does it mean?</p> <h3>The Bad</h3>
<h4>Gardner is more frustrating than Robinson</h4>
<p>Watching Denard Robinson wasn't nearly as gripping as watching Gardner because we all expected him to throw it into a crowd every time he let it go. We didn't expect to see Devin Gardner turn the ball over at an alarming rate for the first half of the season.</p>
<p>There's also the matter of potential. Denard Robinson never had great arm talent. Robinson wasn't tall enough to see over offensive lineman and was always looked at as a utility back playing quarterback. Gardner has the physical tools to be an elite NFL quarterback, yet he constantly makes the same mistakes that Robinson made. His Jekyll and Hyde at will continue to give Wolverine fans heart attacks.</p>
<h4>Al Borges' time has run out</h4>
<p>I would say it's been fun, Al, but it simply <i>hasn't been fun</i>. Michigan has walked into games ill-prepared on offense for three straight seasons now, refusing to lean on its strengths because of a few outdated football principals. No quality coordinator continues to call runs into the teeth of the defense when said runs are averaging a tackle for loss, but Borges doesn't have any problem with it.</p>
<p>The most disturbing part of Borges' tenure has been his simple refusal to properly use the tools at his disposal. Running a 5'7", 160 pound running back straight into South Carolina's defense is asinine. So is giving your backs thirty touches in a game when they're averaging less than a yard per carry.</p>
<p>I'm not the only one who thinks Michigan would be much better off without Borges.</p>
<h4>The offensive line is in deep<br>
</h4>
<p>This is obvious when Taylor Lewan goes down and things go from bad to terrible. So many fans tweeted us last night asking where all of these great recruiting classes are and when they're going to kick in. Many don't realize that offensive lineman take more time to develop than any other players on the roster, so it's going to be at least another year before Michigan's offensive line looks great across the board. The ideal offensive line graduates seniors and replaces them with rising seniors, juniors or redshirt sophomores; Michigan replaced Lewan by shifting Schofield and placing a redshirt freshman in at right tackle.</p>
<p>There will come a time when Michigan has one of the best offensive lines in the country under Brady Hoke, but it won't come as soon as many fans would like it to.</p>
<h3>The Good</h3>
<h4>Jake Ryan is back and looks like his old self</h4>
<p>Remember when I said not to expect Ryan to contribute until extremely late in the season? Forget I ever said that. Jake Ryan was on the field early and saw spotty action throughout the game, getting into the face of Hackenberg more than once – and being blatantly held on an early PSU touchdown.</p>
<p>Expectations for the defense are on the rise with Ryan back. The defense has its best pass rusher back and will soon be able to count on him to get consistent pressure, meaning no more infuriating complete passes as a result of unlimited time in the pocket.</p>
<h4>The pass rush has made steady progress</h4>
<p>Ryan wasn't the only one to get pressure yesterday. Frank Clark seems to be coming on at the right time and should give Michigan a solid pass rushing unit on long downs when combined with Beyer and Ryan. We'll see if the unit will continue to improve as Michigan heads into the teeth of its Big Ten schedule.</p>
<h4>Jarrod Wilson has erased doubts and surpassed expectations</h4>
<p>Wilson was looked at as the major weakness in Michigan's secondary at the beginning of the year. Three games in, Wilson was improved but still seen as young and in need of more practice time. Six games in, Wilson is playing fast and is one of the reasons why the defense has looked so good at times. Few of Michigan's recent safeties would've made the interception he made early against Penn State, and fewer of them have the length and long speed he has. His future is very bright.</p>
<h3>The Takeaway</h3>
<p>No more narrative changes. No more wondering if this is a bad team, inconsistent team or good team playing like trash. No more watching the television, wondering if or when Michigan would make enough mistakes to stain its once-perfect record. Watching this team was similar to watching a cheap horror film – it's not <i>if</i> they're going to get killed, but <i>when</i>.</p>
<p>The offensive line is going to struggle for the remainder of the year. Devin Gardner will continue to make simple misreads that have cost him countless times already this year. The defense might have the pressure issues fixed, but it remains a step behind expectations.</p>
<p>Every team left on Michigan's schedule is capable of beating the Wolverines. Don't ask me how many this team will win between now and December.</p>
https://www.maizenbrew.com/2013/10/13/4833226/Michigan-football-what-to-take-from-michigan-vs-penn-state-Al-BorgesAnthony Mammel