FORMATION NOTES: More about this after the jump but this version of MSU is completely unrecognizable from the terrifying Dantonio quarters outfits. The operative word for this defense is "soft."

Michigan's got two TEs in and MSU has six guys in the box, with two safeties at 12-13 yards. This was an overarching theme for the day.

SUBSTITUTION NOTES: Nothing unusual. Loveland may be eating into Honigford/Bredeson snaps. Henning has been marginalized of late.

[After THE JUMP: beatdown, but it's all perfectly legal.]

Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Motion	Player	Yards
M30	1	10	Gun 3-wide	2	1	2	4-3 over	6.5	Run	Duo	WR	Corum	7
Motion across from Edwards, lined up at WR, ends up drawing a bunch of people over the trips WR formation. CB rotates to be FS, LB shaded over slot, other two LBs very passive. M doubles both DTs with Hayes(+1) and Keegan(+1) driving Slade two yards downfield and absorbing a LB. Other DT able to dig in against Zinter(-0.5) after Olu leaves but no matter, gap backside that Corum attacks. Schoon(+0.5) had a DE and got enough of him that dude can only tackle from behind.
M37	2	3	Pistol TTB	1	2	2	Nickel even	6.5	Pass	Hitch	N	Bell	Inc
This seems like a good spot for PA but nope, just a dropback. Triangle concept that MSU covers all of; would like to see JJ get off this and either look up Johnson or just dump it to Corum in space against Halliday, probably the latter. CB PBUs. (BR, -1, 0, protection 2/2)
M37	3	3	Gun wings tight	1	2	2	4-3 over	7	Pass	RPO TE flat	N	Schoonmaker	7
Lot of pointing at a corner pressing Bell presnap, and that guy comes on a blitz. JJ(RPO+) has an option for this, though, as Schoonmaker releases to the flat; conversion is easy. (CA, +1, 3, protection N/A, RPS +1)
M44	1	10	Gun 4-wide	1	2	2	Nickel even	6	Pass	TE out	TE	Schoonmaker	8
Schoonmaker motions in from wide to a wing TE spot; Bredeson flanked just outside of him. MSU playing super soft and it’s evident presnap so JJ just dumps it to Schoonmaker for a nice gain. (CA, +0.5, 3, protection 1/1)
O48	2	2	Pistol 3TE	1	3	1	4-3 even	6.5	Run	Counter CH	N	Corum	1
This is wild. M has an eight man run surface and MSU basically has six in the box. Schoon(-2) fires out way too far inside and Halliday just scrapes over him, absorbing a pulling Olu. Bredeson goes for the corner, as he should; Olu still can’t get outside of Halliday so Corum gets tackled. This probably should be a chunk play. RPS +1.
O47	3	1	Gun twins	1	2	2	6-1 even	8	Run	Dive	WR	Corum	3
Zinter(+0.5) stands up the DT to give a little space and Barnhart(+0.5) gets movement on a DE trying to dive inside.
O44	1	10	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel under	6	Pass	RPO flash screen	WR	Johnson	6
Another super soft look; M motions Bell across and there’s no reaction from MSU so JJ aborts into the RPO screen.This picks up six with Bell(+0.5) and Wilson(+0.5) getting OK blocks and then Johnson(-3) coughs it up. (CA, +0.5, screen, RPS +1)
Drive Notes: Fumble, 0-0, 9 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Motion	Player	Yards
O46	1	10	Pistol TTB	1	3	1	Nickel under	6	Penalty	False start	N	Oluwatimi	-5
Olu -1.
M49	1	15	Gun TTE	1	2	2	4-3 under	7.5	Run	Inside zone	N	Corum	8
Corum(+1) picks his spot here as the backside DE shuffles down too much to help plug a gap. Blocking here is pretty tough to judge as everyone’s just kind of handling their business ok but not great. Schoon(+0.5) doesn’t give ground against a guy firing upfield of him; Loveland(+1) gives Windmon the business. Slot LB collapses after JJ sort of holds him.
O43	2	7	Gun 4-wide	1	1	3	Nickel even	6	Run	Inside zone	N	Corum	6
Blitz from LB picked up by Keegan(+1), who ejects dude. Zinter(+1) sees guy loop around and stops to cut off the slanting DT. Windmon is free in the box but Barnhart(+1) has drive a DE two yards downfield so Corum(+0.5) can just commit that guy to a gap and bounce outside of it.
O37	3	1	Gun TTE	1	2	2	4-3 even SAM	8	Run	Inside zone	TE*	Corum	5
Mostly just a crushing double from Keegan(+1) and Olu(+1) on a DT; Zinter(+1) also turns out the other DT. Big play beckons but Barnhart(-2) releases to Windmon and airballs, more or less. Any contact and Corum is through to CB rotating back as S.
O32	1	10	Gun 4-wide	1	1	3	Nickel over	5.5	Pass	PA RB option	N	Edwards	28
5.5 man box with two deep S, what planet is this. Originally mad that this is not a run but oh okay. Edwards(route+) takes PA fake, runs to Windmon, gives business, JJ lays it on him, YAC city baby. (CA, +0.5, 3, protection 1/1, RPS +2)
O4	1	G	Pistol twin TE	1	2	2	4-3 over	9	Run	Split zone	TE*	Corum	-3
Keegan(-2) gets slanted under and his guy picks off Bredeson, who is the split flow blocker and is headed for EMLOS. Bell runs by this guy to go to a DB; Corum(-1) should cut away from the unblocked guy running at him and probably can get back to the LOS on the other side but cuts into him and gets demolished. RPS -1.
O7	2	G	Gun trips TE	1	1	3	4-3 over	7.5	Run	Zone read keeper	N	McCarthy	-1
Okay. This does not make sense, as M zone reads in the low RZ here without actually optioning anyone. Schoonmaker bocks the DE who is usually read. JJ(ZR-) pulls, really hard to tell who he’s reading, and a safety at five yards comes up at him. This can work if you pass up the DE and read him but no one really gets read here and pull is dead. Handoff looks pretty good, actually. Olu(+0.5) and Zinter(+0.5) combo through a DT and it’s probably 4-5 yards.
O8	3	G	Gun trips bunch	1	1	3	Exotic	6	Pass	Hitch	TE	Bell	3
Normally I’d ding the QB here because this is useless but there’s one guy in the endzone and he’s surrounded by four MSU players. A fade is better than this. (CA, +0, 3, protection 1/1, RPS -2)
Drive Notes: FG(22), 3-0, 3 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Motion	Player	Yards
M20	1	10	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel even	6.5	Pass	Throwaway	N	N/A	Inc
Blitz; Edwards(-2) gets run over and JJ has to eject. He spins around, gets a DE just as he does this, and chucks the ball OOB. (PR, 0, protection 0/2)
M20	2	10	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel even	6	Pass	TE drag	WR	Schoonmaker	18
Windmon inexplicably steps left as Schoonmaker runs across his face, easy pitch and catch with YAC to convert. (CA, +0.5, 3, protection 1/1, Hat -2)
M38	1	10	Ace tight	1	2	2	Nickel over	6	Run	Inside zone	TE	Corum	17
Just baffling from MSU. You could argue Corum misses a cut here because he shoots through the second most obvious gap; Olu(+1) and Zinter(+1) get guys pushing upfield and blow them way upfield. Hayes(+0.5) just kind of stands up his guy and Honigford(+0.5) gets surprised when his DE shoots upfield, but is able to get enough of him to give Corum a gap. Bell(+1) cuts off a charging safety; Corum(+1) then dodges a tackle and gets three MSU players in a heap; he’s taking off with escorts for the endzone when the last guy in the heap is able to get up and grab an ankle. RPS +1.
O45	1	10	Gun TTE	1	2	2	4-3 over	7	Pass	Flea flicker improv	N	Bell	13
MSU safety does bite on the flea flicker action but never gets closer than the first down line and is able to bail; hard to tell on reply but it looks like the nickel guy on Wilson is yanking him back and preventing him from getting over the top. Smart play, but no flag (refs -2); ultimately moot since JJ is able to come down to Bell, who moved outside once his route is covered. (CA+, +1, 3, protection 2/2)
O32	1	10	Pistol TTB	1	3	1	Nickel even	6.5	Pass	PA TE Y cross	TE	Schoonmaker	24
Heavy PA with Keegan pulling; he’s got a tough job as the SAM blitzes. He’s able to get a shove in that gives JJ the ability to evade the rusher and move up in the pocket. He IDs Schoonmaker as the open guy and throws a nice lofted ball that gives the LB underneath the route no play on the ball. (CA+, +1, 3, protection 2/2)
O8	1	G	Gun TTE	1	2	2	Nickel over	7	Run	Tackle insert	N	Corum	4
Uh. This is basically an iso play where the guy inserting is Barnhart, who pulls from RT and goes between LT and LG. Can’t say I’ve seen this before. Hayes(+0.5) fends off an end. Keegan has Slade one on one and kind of wins… Slade does get off the block but has to give ground and only gets in a passing arm tackle. Olu(+0.5) gets a second level block and Barnhart(+1) gets all the way around to get the other LB.
O4	2	G	Gun twins	1	2	2	4-3 over	8.5	Run	Inside zone	N	Corum	2
Slade wins against Keegan(-1) this time, driving him back a yard and getting him off balance so he can shed. Schoon(+0.5) gets a chunk of a the DE; Corum(+0.5) has no choice but to burrow behind the Keegan block type thing and get what he can.
O2	3	G	Gun empty 2TE	1	3	1	Goal line	9	Run	Jet sweep	WR*	Corum	2
Elaborate set of motions get Michigan into an empty formation with Corum to the boundary. Jet motion, JJ flips it to him. Playside end is ignored as Schoon(+0.5) and Hayes(+0.5) get relevant guys. Corum(+1) beats the DE to the corner. RPS +1.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 10-7, 12 min 2nd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Motion	Player	Yards
M7	1	10	Gun TTB	1	2	2	4-3 even SAM	7	Run	Duo	N	Corum	16
MSU jams this up on the interior pretty well; Corum can probably thud into the line for three or four. MLB commits inside, though, burying himself in the line, and Hayes(+0.5) is able to get a yard of movement as his guy tries to fight inside. Corum(+3) says WOOP that’s my bounce. He runs through an arm tackle from the DE, jukes inside a CB, and then meets three MSU players eight yards downfield. He keeps his feet for another eight yards. Lordy.
M23	1	10	I-Form Big	1	3	1	Nickel even	7.5	Run	Lead down G	N	Edwards	6
Late shift from MSU puts the SAM in the box and brings down a safety; SAM blitzes and M runs away from it. Schoon(-1) gets shed by the DE and when Bredeson shoots up in the gap he contacts the same guy. Running into the POA does not look like much. Edwards(+1) threatens it and then bounces as Keegan(+0.5) thumps the corner; corner is just trying to stay upright and can’t really hold the edge. Halliday is the relevant LB and he can’t get to the edge in time either.
M29	2	4	Pistol TTB	1	1	3	Nickel over	7	Run	Counter G	WR	Edwards	2
Edwards(-1) misses a cutback that’s a giant play as Zinter(+1) escorts a slanting DT way out of the play. Schoon(-1) gets stood up by an end, who extends Schoon off of him and gets to the outside. This play bends wide this season and Edwards threatens the edge but Windmon cuts it off. Edwards cuts it up inside and Schoon’s guy gets him. Barnhart(-0.5) got an okay hit on the second level but LB comes through to remove an important YAC.
M31	3	2	Ace TTE	1	2	2	Nickel over SAM	7	Run	Duo	N	Corum	3
This is so weird, with one of their ILB acting as an overhang CB as an actual CB is on the LOS. Also it’s third and two and they’re just passive. This is more like trio, if you get my drift, with three different long doubles. Schoon(+0.5) and Loveland(+0.5) fire a DE back a yard. Barnhart(+0.5) and Zinter(+0.5) get movement on a DT and Corum just runs up their backs.
M34	1	10	Gun trips TE	1	1	3	Nickel even	6	Pass	Scramble	N	McCarthy	21
There is absolutely no indication this is a called run except for the speed with which JJ is just like LFG. MSU is twisting two DTs and there’s a gap up the middle as one guy vacates before the other comes across; also Halliday starts running after Edwards even as Edwards is putting his shoulder into the stunting DT. JJ(+2) sees the lane and goes. He even goes headfirst before contact. (SCR, +2, protection 2/2)
O45	1	10	Pistol TTE	1	2	2	Nickel even	6	Pass	Hitch	N	Johnson	Inc
We do not get a good angle for this, or a good replay. There is a LOT of contact between Johnson and the CB as they go off screen, and a lot more implied as they come back on. But Johnson has gotten separation fifteen yards downfield. JJ loads up and fires a ball that’s more at the DB than Johnson. (IN, -2, 0, protection 2/2)
O45	2	10	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel even	7	Run	Power G	N	Corum	7
Loveland(+2!) blows in a DE and when that guy tries to go upfield knocks him over. That’s a backup I think, but dang. Zinter(+1) pulls and gets to MLB a couple yards downfield; Bell comes from the outside to occupy the corner. Hayes(+1) gets a double and then out on Halliday. Corum jets outside of Zinter but Bell’s guy can come off and force Corum into MLB.
O38	3	3	Gun TTB	1	2	2	4-3 even SAM	7	Pass	Waggle improv	WR	Anthony	Inc
Anthony(route-) is supposed to pick/rub Halliday, who draws Bell in the flat as Bell motions across the formation. He does not so the first read isn’t there. JJ comes off of it. He’s now under serious duress; he’s got Wilson open but doesn’t see it. He puts the ball on Anthony; Anthony lets it go through his hands and off his facemask for a drop; he was OOB anyway. Yeesh. (MA, 0, 0, protection 1/1)
O38	4	3	Gun trips	2	1	2	Exotic	6	Pass	Scramble	N	McCarthy	16
Edwards in slot; MSU has six guys on the LOS and backs three out while sending the boundary corner, this gets picked up. Olu shoves a guy who’s supposed to be slanting across for pocket integrity and JJ sees that he’s got a big gap and just Halliday trying to fill it; that’s never going to work. (SCR, +1, protection 2/2)
O22	1	10	Gun trips TE	1	1	3	Nickel over	6	Run	Inside zone	N	Edwards	9
Windmon walked into slot gray area with an overhang CB to the other side so there’s really just one relevant LB here. Olu(+0.5) and Keegan(+1) double through a DT, with Keegan sealing. Zinter(+1) controls the other DT. Edwards through the A gap in a flash; Olu harasses but cannot seal Halliday as Edwards decides to run fast instead of setting the block up, which is defensible since he gets a YAC chunk. RPS +1.
O13	2	1	Ace TTB	1	3	1	4-3 over	8.5	Run	Duo	N	Edwards	7
Barnhart(+0.5 )and Zinter(+0.5) get lateral movement on a DT and a little depth; Bredeson(+1) gets over on tough wing TE block to get inside position. If Edwards slams this up he converts easily but Bredeson has given ground laterally largely because of tough assignment and he wants to bounce. It works as the CB is caught flat footed but I feel like this is a risk that could easily be third and four. +1, results based charting. But!
O6	1	G	Pistol TTB	1	2	2	4-3 even	7	Run	Arc read keeper	N	McCarthy	-3
So JJ does have this DE beat to the edge as he shuffles down so technically this is a good pull(ZR+) but guy #11 is still unblocked and now he’s at six yards. Halliday holds the edge with Schoon(+0.5) kicking him; JJ(-1) needs to politely eat the garbage MSU is serving him and get back to the LOS, maybe gain a yard; innstead he tries to dodge the tackle and loses three. RPS -2.
O9	2	G	Empty quads bunch	1	2	2	Nickel over	5.5	Run	QB draw	N	McCarthy	2
Edwards motions to a bunch to the boundary, so there’s four guys down there. Johnson to top is sort of singled but DB is in a spot where he can buzz a slant. This is a numbers decision and JJ says the numbers say QB draw, and ok. MSU thinking same thing and not rushing, but defending run first and foremost. Zinter(-1) gives ground and Hayes can’t do much; JJ gets pushed into Hayes’s guy and gets a meh gain. RPS -1.
O7	3	G	Empty 4-wide TE	1	1	3	Exotic	6	Pass	TE stick	N	Schoonmaker	Inc
MSU drops eight and I don’t see anyone who is open other than Schoonmaker so this is the right decision. Right throw, too, as Windmon is right there and this ball is in the only spot it can be caught. Tough, but makeable; Schoonmaker does not make it. (CA, +1, 2, protection 1/1) Schoonmaker should drift away from Windmon, IMO.
Drive Notes: FG(24), 13-7, 1 min 2nd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Motion	Player	Yards
M22	1	10	Ace TTB	1	3	1	Nickel even	6.5	Run	Inside zone	N	Corum	17
Only three guys left of the C here when M has five, so yeah this is going outside. Schoon(+0.5) and Hayes(+0.5) double and drive a DE. Honigford(+0.5) targets correctly and cuts off MLB but MLB is just running inside so cuts himself off. Keegan(-1) again gets shed and Slade has some shot at Corum. Corum(+1) bursts off tackle and dodges the corner, loses the ball momentarily but recovers it, and jets. Bredeson(+0.5) kicks a charging S; last guy tracks him down. RPS +2.
M39	1	10	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel even	6	Run	Pin and pull	N	Corum	9
Zinter mistakenly pulls but realizes his mistake and stops to cut off a DT. Push. DE and DT both slow up in case Corum cuts it up despite no indication he will do this so I guess I have to give a point to Keegan(+1) for an effective cut of Slade that makes the interior available. Schoon(+0.5) mostly does his job but can’t prevent the DE from releasing. Olu(+1) seals in one LB and Hayes(+1) removes Windmon. Barnhart(-1) takes contact from a S and gets blown back; this could be bigger if this doesn’t happen. RPS +1.
M48	2	1	Gun trips TE	1	1	3	Nickel even	5.5	Run	Inside zone	N	Corum	3
Well, this could be a shot down but you’ve got 5.5 in the box so chunk run is fairly possible as well. Definition of push blocking all around here as both DTs stick at the LOS, with Slade giving a little ground after a chip. Neither guy is able to get off a block but there’s no gap so Corum just burrows for what he can get.
O49	1	10	Gun twin TE	1	2	2	Nickel even	6.5	Run	Duo	RB flip	Edwards	0
Keegan(-2) gets stacked and shed violently at the LOS and Slade gets a stuff. Zinter(+0.5) had created a crease up the gut along with Olu(+0.5).
O49	2	10	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel even	6	Pass	Corner	N	Bell	Inc (Pen +15)
Straight dropback; JJ fires in a corner route that is fairly accurate but could use another couple yards of depth downfield. Bell’s able to leap and grab it but DB is in a good spot and shoryukens the ball out. Looks like JJ does get hit on this throw as Olu(-1) gives up some penetration. (CA, +1, 1, protection ½) MSU DL then picks up a weak PF call as after he swings at JJ’s arm his hand deflects into JJ’s helmet. Probably correct by the letter of the law, but Refs +2.
O34	1	10	Pistol TTB	1	3	1	4-3 over	7	Run	Counter G	WR	Corum	1 (Pen -10)
Bell jet, counter the other way. This time Windmon doesn’t take the bait and is able to scrape over and then shoot the gap. Zinter(-2) gets beat and grabs Windmon, drawing a holding call. Corum is able to dodge a CB and get a yard. I think this is a missed cut by Corum(-1) here as Hayes(+1) and Keegan(+1) obliterate a DT and the A gap is very there.
O44	1	20	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	4-3 even SAM	7	Pass	TE delay	N	Schoonmaker	13
Delay against Windmon is easy money. (CA, +0.5, 3, protection 2/2, RPS +1)
O31	2	7	Gun trips bunch	1	1	3	Nickel over	6.5	Run	Inside zone	N	Edwards	3
Rare +1 in box for MSU as they add a safety. S tears off edge and overruns it but forces Edwards inside; Olu(-1) takes a hit from a guy slanting across and gets knocked back; DT is able to cross his face and get to Edwards. Barnhart(+0.5) gets a chip from Zinter but mostly handles a DE himself; DE is slanting inside and will always get there but he’s forced a couple yards downfield so there’s some gain here. RPS -1.
O28	3	4	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel under	6	Run	Inside zone	N	Corum	4
S blitz with a slant away from it, M mostly picks it up; Barnhart(+0.5) able to fend off a guy a yard downfield and Zinter(+0.5) able to chip and then get to a linebacker. That’s enough for third and one but Corum(+1) is able to stay upright through a couple tackle attempts and then an MSU player blasts him across the line to gain.
O24	1	10	Ace twins	1	2	2	Nickel under	6	Pass	Waggle TE flat	TE	Loveland	Inc
Edge LB shoots up so JJ doesn’t have a whole lot of time here. He thinks the nickel is dropping into Bell’s route and comes off to Loveland but NK reads it and comes up to tackle after a minimal gain. Bell has a lot of room to the sideline here and seems like the better option. (BR, -1, 3, protection N/A)
O24	2	10	Gun TTE	1	2	2	Nickel over	6.5	Pass	Rollout out	TE	Bell	Inc
Rollout into a nickel blitz; Corum picks it up. JJ has this out before Bell turns around and will hit the narrow window here, but airmails it. (IN, -1, 0, protection 1/1)
O24	3	10	Gun trips	1	1	3	Exotic	6	Run	QB draw	N	McCarthy	3
Ok, this one seems straight up called given JJ’s disposition here. It almost works as MSU sends five and stunts a guy up the A gap, but JJ takes off a hair early and/or Olu doesn’t recognize the stunt fast enough and JJ gets hung up on Olu long enough for a DE to rally and prevent what looks like a conversion otherwise. RPS –1.
Drive Notes: FG(38), 16-7, 9 min 3rd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Motion	Player	Yards
M31	1	10	Pistol trips TE	1	2	2	Nickel even	6	Run	Duo	TE	Corum	12
This almost breaks. LBs end up putting themselves in the wrong gaps; Olu(+1) and Keegan(+0.5) get some drive on one DT. Zinter(+1) gets a chip but mostly drives his guy a couple yards downfield himself. Halliday goes and hits Barnhart, who releases to him, and before he can recover Corum(+1) is zipping through and is into the secondary. Critical tackle from the S separates Corum from TD.
M43	1	10	Gun 4-wide	1	1	3	Nickel even	5.5	Pass	Post	N	Bell	29
Well this is probably why they play like they do. This one has a safety come down over Schoonmaker as they creep a LB back into the box, so it’s one high. PA doesn’t draw anyone in but it doesn’t matter, Bell just breaks off his route and McCarthy nails him. (DO, +2, 3, protection 2/2)
O28	1	10	Gun trips TE	1	1	3	4-3 under	7	Run	Inside zone	N	Corum	2
Not a huge fan here as M covers up a receiver and this is a tip for MSU to play one high, which they do. They slant to the run strength and add a DB in; Zinter(+2) blows Slade up by Olu(-1) got off balance as he got swum by and goes down so he cannot get out to the MLB. In fairness Slade falls on him. Corum just burrows for what he can get. RPS -1.
O26	2	8	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel even	6	Run	Duo	WR	Corum	7
Henning jet motion pulls a safety and LB wide. Duo again, with Keegan(+1) and Barnhart(+1) putting a DT on skates. Schoon(+0.5) stalemates a DE. Other DT blown off the line by Olu(+1) and Keegan(+1); both LBs are in horrible situations; one pokes his nose in the A gap and Corum shoots to the other side of the double, with Schoon’s guy disconnecting to tackle from the side at four.
O19	3	1	Gun 3-wide tight	1	1	3	4-3 over	7	Run	Dive	N	Corum	1
Tempo, dive play, push all around and Corum jumps to convert.
O18	1	10	Pistol twin TE	1	2	2	Nickel over	6.5	Run	Split duo	WR	Edwards	2
Blitz eliminates one double but Olu(+1) wipes that LB and Slade is slanting away; other double is again effective, with Zinter(+0.5 )and Barnhart(+0.5) getting depth enough to give Edwards(-1) a decision. He makes a no cut run and does not commit Windmon inside; he’s able to read where Edwards is going and track him down after just a couple yards.
O16	2	8	Gun empty tight	1	1	3	4-3 over	7	Run	Counter jet	RB jet	Wilson	-3
Jet motion from Edwards into empty, Wilson comes the other way on the snap and takes a jet the other way. MSU adds an S to the box presnap and Bell(-2) is looking at the center; when he puts his eyes back on the D the situation has changed and he does not realize it; he passes up the S for a corner at eight yards; S goes and TFLs. RPS -1.
O19	3	11	Gun trips TE	1	2	2	Exotic	6	Run	Split zone	TE	Corum	4
This just about works as MSU blitzes off the corner and the dude overruns Corum. Keegan(-1) shoves a DL stunting away from him and then looks behind him, stopping; he doesn’t go downfield immediately. Corum(-1) then has to make a decision quickly and runs up into Windmon instead of busting it outside, which has a reasonable chance of converting.
Drive Notes: FG(32), 19-7, 4 mi n3rd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Motion	Player	Yards
M37	1	10	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel even	6	Pass	Hitch	WR	Bell	8
Double A blitz; Corum cuts the guy Olu doesn't pick up into the ground. Quick hitch against off coverage is automatic. (CA, +0.5, 3, protection 2/2)
M45	2	2	Pistol 3-wide	1	1	3	4-3 even SAM	7	Run	Split zone	WR	Corum	3
Olu(+0.5) shoves a guy moving away; Keegan(+0.5) seals. as Olu gets a second level block. Zinter(+0.5) has a guy slanting across him and picks him up but cannot prevent the guy from closing down the gap after the conversion.
M48	1	10	Gun TTE	1	2	2	Nickel over	6	Run	Tackle insert	N	Corum	-1
Zinter(-1) gets rocked back and is a yard in the backfield; he rocks back further as Corum(-1) approaches him but with Barnhart(+0.5) kicking and Hayes(+1) getting around and getting a thump he should just hit the POA and see what happens; instead he stalls out and runs into Zinter, undecided about where to go.
M47	2	11	Gun trips TE	1	1	3	Nickel even	6	Pass	Scramble	WR	McCarthy	12
Short stuff is covered; no idea about further down the field. JJ sits in the pocket and doesn’t pull the trigger; it’s about four seconds before Barnhart’s guy bulls him back so that’s not a pass pro minus. McCarthy(+1) slips through the first wave of pressure and then takes off for the conversion. (SCR, +1, protection 2/2) Actually he probably has Schoonmaker for a decent gain if he’s out on time with this. FWIW.
O41	1	10	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel even	5.5	Pass	Dumpoff	N	Edwards	5
Weird that they’re backing out hardcore on a first and ten but they get this right, M passes. They’re playing so soft M has its choice of three different guys underneath; Edwards is the choice (CA, +0.5, 3, protection 2/2)
O36	2	5	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel even	6	Pass	Waggle cross	TE	Bell	Inc
Man they have this as Bell has yards on two defenders and will turn this up and probably get inside the 20; JJ throws it well behind and Bell can’t make the catch well behind him. (IN, -2, 0, protection N/A, RPS +1)
O36	3	5	Gun twin TE	1	2	2	Nickel even	6.5	Pass	Wheel	N	Edwards	Inc
Five man pressure gets a stunter through and looks like everything is covered here, certainly not a whole lot of time for JJ to get through progressions. He wants Edwards on a wheel that’s very well covered and just chucks it up when he gets the rusher. (PR, 0, 0, protection 1/3, TEAM -2)
Drive Notes: FG(54), 22-7, 14 min 4th Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Motion	Player	Yards
O8	1	G	Gun TTE	1	2	2	4-3 even	7	Run	Split zone	N	Corum	4
Zinter(+1) blasts a DT to open up a big gap; Loveland(+1) kicks a DE concerned about McCarthy; JJ also brings a S with him. Barnhart(+0.5) gets a free release and a second level block; Olu has to combo through a DT and doesn’t have time to get out to the other LB.
O4	2	G	Pistol TTB	1	1	3	4-3 over	7	Run	Split zone	TE	Corum	4
DE shuffles down hard as this is apparently a scrape exchange with two LB/S types hanging outside. Hayes(+1) realizes it and stops to cut off the DE; Schoon(+0.5) shows up and fires the guy out further. Keegan(+0.5) gets enough of Slade and Corum(+0.5) hits the hole. RPS +1.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 29-7, 12 min 4th Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Motion	Player	Yards
M16	1	10	Gun 4-wide	1	1	3	Nickel over	6.5	Run	Split duo	TE	Corum	4
Just maul the light box off the ball, get four, etc. Schoon(-1) does not get a good kick; Barnhart(+1) and Zinter(+1) obliterate their DT; Olu(+0.5) and Keegan(+0.5) do pretty well, DE collapses down.
M20	2	6	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel even	6	Run	Pin and pull	WR	Corum	3
Good seal by Schoon(+1); Olu(+0.5) and Zinter(+0.5) get their kickouts but MSU has gone hard after this and forces it back and Hayes has no shot on Halliday, who took off. RPS is off but this would be RPS.
M23	3	3	Gun trips TE	1	2	2	Nickel over	6.5	Run	Split zone	TE	Corum	5
Slant away, LB shuffles into the vacated area. Honigford(+1) gets a lot of movement on his guy; Schoon(+0.5) kicks out. Halliday checks up on JJ and that’s enough for Corum to dart by for the conversion, except Corum spins outside of him and takes a hit from a safety; he has to break that tackle to convert and does, but this is a lot simpler if he just hits it up.
M28	1	10	Ace TTB	1	3	1	???	6	Run	???	???	Edwards	3
Only the tail end of this play makes the tape.
M31	2	7	Pistol 3-wide	1	1	3	Nickel even	6	Run	Split zone	WR	Edwards	8
MSU drops their nickel into a SAM alignment when Henning motions across the formation, which is usually Slantistan and indeed it occurs. Hayes(+2) gets his guy two yards downfield; Schoon(+1) able to get over to get the tough split block; Edwards(+1) cuts behind the Hayes block and breaks a tackle; almost off to the races but not quite.
M39	1	10	Gun 4-wide	1	1	3	Nickel even	5.5	Pass	RB option	N	Edwards	5
Back to the single up Windmon thing. JJ puts this behind Edwards and forces a spinning catch that takes him off his feet. (MA, -0.5, 2, protection 1/1)
M44	2	5	Pistol twins	1	2	2	4-3 over SAM	7.5	Run	Split zone	N	Edwards	2
Scrape exchange from MSU and DE is in fast enough that Schoon doesn’t have much opportunity to get there. Edwards(+1) dodges the guy in the backfield and gets back to the LOS. RPS off, otherwise RPS.
M46	3	3	Gun 3-wide	1	2	2	4-3 even	7	Pass	Rollout fly	TE	Bell	Inc
Rollout, no PA, Bell goes deep and JJ hits him; leaping grab looks rad; overturned, probably correctly. (DO, +2, 1, protection N/A)
Drive Notes: PUNT WHY PUNT WHY, 29-7, 6 min 4th Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	O Form	RB	TE	WR	D Form	Box	Type	Play	Motion	Player	Yards
M41	1	10	Gun trips TE	1	1	3	Nickel even	6.5	Run	Inside zone	N	Corum	5
Keegan(+0.5) and Olu(+0.5) combo through a DT; Zinter(-0.5) gets shed to the inside. Corum dances but gets more or less what he would have anyway. Hayes(+0.5) got enough of a DE.
M46	2	5	Gun trips TE	1	2	2	Nickel even	6.5	Run	Split duo	TE	Corum	7
Corum goes for a bounce as the double from Keegan(-0.5) and Olu(-0.5) doesn’t really go anywhere. Schoon’s guy is folding inside and Schoon can only fend him off; Hayes(+0.5) gets a step of movement that allows Corum(+1) to burst outside. Bell(-1) airballs on his guy; Corum spins through to convert.
O47	1	10	Ace 3-wide tight	1	1	3	Nickel over	8	Pass	Reverse pass	N	Edwards	Inc
Edwards is open here but Bell leaves it many yards short. LOL +1.
O47	2	10	Gun 3-wide	1	1	3	4-3 even	7	Run	Counter T	N	Corum	5
MSU is +1 in the box here and Loveland(-1) gets stacked and shed so difficulties. Hayes(+0.5) and Keegan(+0.5) give a DT the business so Plan B for Corum(+0.5) is a solid gain.
O42	3	5	Gun trips	1	1	3	Nickel over	6	Penalty	False start	N	Oluwatimi	-5
Olu -1.
O47	3	10	Gun twin TE	1	2	2	Nickel even SAM	7	Pass	Fly	N	Johnson	Inc (Pen +15)
Fly route to Johnson because why not. S does a really impressive job to get over from the opposite hash on a throw that is OK but probably a little short; S wipes out Johnson so we don’t really get a verdict. (MA, +0.5, 0, protection 2/2)
O32	1	10	Pistol 2TE	1	2	2	Nickel even	6.5	Run	Split zone	N	Corum	3
DE again shuffling down hard; Bredeson(-1) gets shed on his block. Honigford(+0.5) and Hayes(+0.5) drive a DT a bit to give some space to get something as Corum has to cut inside.
O29	2	7	Gun TTE	1	2	2	Nickel over	6	Run	Inside zone	N	Stokes	2
LB blitz gets picked up by Zinter(+1); dude is charging hard and zinter gives some ground but seals him ot one side and Stokes(-1) does not use that block, instead cutting behind it. This exposes him to a DE who’s unblocked and held by JJ, but this late he’s not that held.
O27	3	5	Pistol twin TE	1	2	2	Nickel under	7	Run	Split duo	WR	Stokes	5
Grading the last play of a 29-7 game seems counterproductive, right?
Drive Notes: EOG, 29-7.

Well, that was… frustrating? Good? Good and frustrating?

Yes. Drive Perspective™ is in order:

• 80 yard TD drive, 8 yard TD "drive"
• Five FG drives of 86, 57, 54, 41, and 27 yards.
• One 33 yard drive terminated by fumble.
• One punt after 30 yards.
• 37 yards to end the game.

MSU did not put Michigan's punt team on the field until there were five minutes left; Michigan's worst drive of the day went 27 yards and ended in points. ~All of the frustration is redzone.

Also sort of weird, right? This was the team with the terrible secondary? And we just ran all day?

Well, I mean, yeah. MSU went with the Iowa approach and sat in a two-deep nickel for the vast majority of the game. If anything they were even more conservative than the Hawkeyes, who would at least add a linebacker and run a 4-3 when Michigan beefed up. MSU did not. This resulted in some fairly boggling presnap alignments:

That's second and two, Michigan has three tight ends in the game, and MSU has six guys in the box and one in the gray area. So you see that and you think "surely gray area guy is blitzing his ass off" but nope:

Schoonmaker does a poor job on Halliday so MSU holds this one down but when something similar happened a bit later it was just like… how did you think this was going to go? You are –1 in the box:

Corum bursts off the left side there but the answer to "where is the hole?" is "everywhere":

Functionally a five man box on first and ten from your own 22? Sure!

MSU really waited until the last possible second to do anything other than bleed down the field.

Does this make sense?

More or less, yes? MSU was a heavy underdog with little chance of stopping Michigan between the 20s so limiting explosives and hoping to win by forcing field goals in a game with few possessions might have been the best move. Because pretty much the instant MSU did anything else, whoops switch verts chunk play:

Some day someone is going to try to make JJ McCarthy beat them instead of Blake Corum. This was not that day.

On the other hand, once you get down 16-7 and it's the middle of the third quarter you can't keep doing this. Even Iowa broke out of its doldrums when it became clear that allowing Michigan another five-minute drive would leave them basically no time to recover. MSU never got out of the shell. It was a "not in the face" gameplan, which made sense until it was time to put up a fight to win the game, and then no fight was proffered until… well, you know.

And even with all that conservatism there were several events where Michigan was just about to break a huge play. The everywhere play embedded just above features one flailing MSU player getting a desperate ankle tackle in to prevent a huge play. This third and one was one Barnhart block on Windmon away from being one on one with a rotating corner for a TD:

RT #52 blocking MLB #4

Edwards also almost broke one. Replay this game and Michigan likely has at least one long rushing touchdown and maybe two.

Sounds like this was a beatdown tactically.

Well, RPS didn't come out to anything flashy. The most obvious RPS mismatch was anyone versus MSU LBs when the rest of the coverage lifted. This was another consequence of playing in the parking lot. Michigan did work underneath against linebackers who can't move. Windmon was the first victim:

Michigan repeatedly hit Schoonmaker underneath for big catch and run plays, and when McCarthy was able to break the pocket he found himself in space with Cal Halliday, a "throwback" in that he does not wear gloves but also in that he cannot run:

That's not fancy. It is effective. There wasn't much fancy stuff in this game, and it wasn't that effective. Michigan ran an RPO to convert their first third down of the game that caught a CB blitz…

…and they ran that flea-flicker that turned into a 12 yard pass. The only other thing that popped out as a bit of frippery was the attempted counter jet to Wilson that didn't work:

Bell is watching the C for the snap as MSU changes its defense and he runs to the corner when the safety is about to TFL.

The rest of it? Well, running duo over and over again at light boxes works out to a charting fiesta for the offensive line.

Roll that beautiful bean footage.

Yes sir.

Offensive Line
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Hayes	12.5		+12.5	Dude.
Keegan	12.5	7.5	+5	Tough matchup against a lot of Slade, did well.
Oluwatimi	11	4.5	+6.5	Couple of false starts, when blocking A+.
Zinter	16.5	5	+11.5	Whipping 'em.
Jones				DNP
Barnhart	9	3.5	+5.5	Had a couple bad plays that held down promising runs but you'll take that easy.
El-Hadi				DNC
Anderson				DNP
Persi				DNP
All				DNP
Schoonmaker	7.5	5	+2.5	Lots of half points for doing job.
Honigford	2.5		+2.5
Hibner				DNP
Bredeson	1.5	1	+0.5
Loveland	4.5	1	+3.5	Get some!
TOTAL	83.5	27.5	75%	Straight up beatdown.
Backs
Player	+	-	T	Notes
McCarthy		1	-1	Decisions are in the other chart, this is a –1 for the TFL on zone read #2.
McNamara				DNP
Orji				DNP
Corum	12.5	4	+8.5	Missed tackles galore.
Edwards	4	2	+2	Some nice cuts, couple missed ones.
Stokes		1	-1
Gash				DNP
TOTAL	16.5	8	+8.5	Corum that dude.
Receivers
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Johnson		3	-3	Fumble.
Bell	1.5	3	-1.5	Missed targeting on Wilson end around.
Henning
Wilson	0.5		+0.5
Anthony
Clemons
TOTAL	2	6	-4	Just one screen and not much broke long enough to involve them.
Metrics
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Protection	34	5	87%	-2 TEAM, –2 Edwards, –1 Oluwatimi
RPS	14	10	+4	Just a beatdown physically, not a whole lot of strategy to it.

As noted in the chart, the plusses for McCarthy taking off on his scrambles go in the other chart because that's pocket awareness/decision-making. This one is just for McCarthy making guys miss and making extra yards. I probably should have given him a positive or two for being fast, but that slipped through the cracks.

Anyway: that's a total beatdown.

Barnhart seems… ok?

Barnhart's been fine, for the most part. He's been excellent in pass protection, where Jones had some hiccups. He does seem to be a clear step down as a run blocker. I think there were two different plays in this game where Jones probably clears the way for a monster gain. One's above—the block on Windmon that doesn't get made. There was also a pin and pull where it looked like Corum had the jets but Barnhart got blown back by a charging safety:

RT #52 pulling

He doesn't have a lot of oomph, which is why he had a ton of trouble with Slade in this game last year. Keegan had his moments of struggle, too, but came out with a clear W. Barnhart is more suited to tackle.

I'm gonna dead dove it.

?

What did PFF think?

Well…

i know i'm hitting a very dead horse with a two-by-four on repeat but michigan got a 64.0 run block grade from pff this week. michigan state got a 62.1. pic.twitter.com/JnamyWZLnd

— ace (meeting at midfield) (@AceAnbender) November 1, 2022

I take a lot of their stats seriously, and much of their grading. Whatever they're doing for the OL is not worth paying attention to anymore. I just do not comprehend how this performance—284 rushing yards, 5.3 a carry, long of 21—is not a monster grade. I guess it's just "that guy did his job, zero points," which means a guy who always does his job every play is 1) the greatest OL in the history of football and 2) totally average to PFF. Nothing else makes sense when Michigan's duo blocking was consistently putting MSU DTs two or three yards downfield. Yeah, I guess that "should" happen. But every time?

Let's pretend I don't know what duo is.

…duo you?

I hate you sometimes.

You've probably heard the word "duo" thrown around a lot recently, as Michigan's run a lot of it. Their opening snap was in fact duo:

So what are you looking at here? Both MSU defensive tackles. Both guys get double-teamed, and not briefly. Slade, the guy closer to the bottom of the screen, gets doubled the whole play. Big gap, Corum doesn't take contact until he's three or four yards downfield, and Michigan is in second and three. That's duo in a nutshell. Blow DTs off the ball, observe defensive panic.

If you can do that, then the defense has to start getting nosy. Big doubles on DTs that drive them downfield make linebackers itchy. There is a battle between RBs and LBs on every play, and the location of the DT/OL block is a huge thumb on the scale. It determines when a player has to make a decision. The closer the big bodies are to you, the less time you have and the more time they have. So when a DT gets dumped two yards downfield the RB gets to see where the LB puts himself and then make a decision—many times he gets to put a linebacker in a gap and then not be in that gap. Here's Corum on a duo play where Halliday sucks into the line, and then WOOP bounce:

At this point Halliday is committed and Corum is not, because the DT is two yards downfield.

This phenomenon helps on runs on the inside too. DT gets deposited downrange on this play that nearly breaks, and Halliday gets Barnhart releasing to him. Barnhart has no angle to block Halliday, but Halliday has to make a decision without knowing where Corum is going. Watch Corum's little hop step before he hits the jets:

Halliday hits Barnhart and then can only wave an arm at Corum as he zips by.

Is this leading up to some sort of grand conclusion about the two main running backs?

Wellllllllll…

IT IS

There were two duo plays almost back to back that had different outcomes largely because of the running backs. I cannot help it if Michigan puts duo teaching tape on the field on dang-near consecutive plays.

FINE GO AHEAD

All right, play #1. The double on the topmost DT is the relevant one. He's two yards downfield again. Watch Corum, and then watch Windmon:

Corum hop-steps, and he sells the interior gap. Windmon commits to it and when Corum hits outside he can only recover from the side; six yards.

Now watch Edwards, and watch Windmon:

No hop step, no angle alteration, and Windmon hops back outside to make a tackle for two yards.

Are we banging on Edwards again?

I mean, in contrast to Corum, I guess, yes. Edwards has many assets and should be a fine lead back next year. He also does do this sometimes. The play he broke to the edge for a decent gain sees him dip inside for a step, and that was enough to prevent Halliday from getting him:

As a general rule Edwards should be changing direction, because he changes direction a hell of a lot faster than almost any linebacker. I just don't know if he's got the same kind of split-second ability to read a play that Corum does, and I don't know if that's teachable. To some extent, maybe, but that kind of bang-bang decision-making seems like a thing you either have or you don't.

You only say mean things about the running backs even when there is Blake Corum.

Uhhhhhhhh how about this dandy?

There's nothing left to say, really. He's the best RB I have seen at Michigan. Edwards probably isn't going to be at that level.

Okay… elephant in the room. Redzone.

Among the stat nerds it is conventional wisdom that redzone offense does not really exist in an NFL context. IE: teams that are good between the 20s are about as good inside them, over long periods of time. This probably does not apply to college, where Army and Mike Leach both exist, as much, but our priors should probably be "just one of those things." It's worth noting that after all of last year's consternation Michigan was 10/10 to finish the year against Ohio State and Iowa.

But!

All right, let's talk about it. There were four goal-to-go situations in this game. Two ended in Corum touchdowns when Michigan went basic and just went thud-thud-thud. Both of those goal to go situations started at the eight, as well.

The problems arose on the other two because Michigan suffered TFLs on first and goal from the four and the six. The first drive then suffered another TFL on second and goal. Two of the three were JJ McCarthy keepers. The first one does not have an unblocked end to read, so I assume he must be reading someone on the second level:

Probably thinks he can beat Windmon to the corner and he can but the safety is at five yards for obvious reasons and nopes that real quick.

The second is a technically correct read as M runs arc and the DE shuffles way down, but again that safety is an issue:

The idea of QB run game is that if they're not playing zero coverage you have a blocker for everyone until the deep safety, but they're playing zero coverage that close to the goal line. (Also McCarthy has to know when to give up the ghost and just get what he can; both of these plays were TFLs and both could have been at the LOS or a little beyond.)

So after M got behind the sticks the second time around they went with this play, which is pure numbers:

If they don't have four to the bunch, screen. If they don't double Johnson, throw it to him. IF they have five in the box, QB draw. MSU's DE anticipates this and doesn't rush upfield, collapsing down after the draw is clear. Three yards, which is pretty good from the six or five but not real good from the nine.

Then third and goal on both of these plays was a pass. One was five yards short of the endzone:

Also exactly one route even gets into the endzone. I don't know what the idea was here. Throwing a fade is a better idea than any of this. The second pass attempt was a good throw into a tight space that Schoonmaker couldn't convert:

I think that is more of a route issue for Schoonmaker because these redzone stick routes usually see the target drift away from the defender once he's definitively to one side. Schoonmaker just stands there.

So what about this is actually redzone instead of just regular failure to execute offense?

Well, one: running your quarterback laterally inside the the ten is not a great idea. Both of the McCarthy keepers are solid or better gains anywhere else on the field because the MSU safety will be 13 yards downfield, not five. Two: Michigan is very opposed to throwing in goal to go situations. This is generally fine.

So…?

I don't think this has to be any more complicated than running buckets and throwing in the occasional RPO relief. TDs ensued when Michigan kept it in Corum's hands. This doesn't necessarily mean running the same thing every time; Michigan's first and goal saw them pull a tackle and then insert him on the other side of the line. This play is closer to iso than power—I called it tackle insert, FWIW:

I have not seen them run that this year, and honestly can't recall seeing it in the Harbaugh era before this game.

After all our (my) offseason worries about what Michigan would do without Hassan Haskins, Michigan is 11th nationally in power success rate. They run the gruntiest run play—duo—a lot, and dumped MSU's very good DTs downfield repeatedly doing it in this game. Dump the frippery and keep it in Corum's hands.

So we're almost done here and we haven't talked about throwing the ball at all.

Well… I mean. That kind of team.

JJ MCCARTHY

	Good				Neutral			Bad					Ovr			Reads
Game	DO	CA	SCR		PR	MA		BA	TA	IN	BR		DSR	GRADE!		RPOs	ZRs
Colorado State		4+											100%	oops		0/0	4/4
Hawaii	4	8(1)+											100%	+14		1/1	3/3
UConn	2++	5(6)			1	2							100%	+11		1/1	1/2
Maryland	2	15(1)	1						1	5	3**		67%	+1.5		1/2	1/3
Iowa	3+	11+(4)			3	3			1	3			78%	+8		1/1	2/3
Indiana	2	22++(3)	1		1	1				2*	3		83%	+16		4/4	4/5
Penn State	3	9(5)	2		2	1		1		1(3)	2		78%	+4.5		5/6	3/3
MSU	2	12(1)++	3		2	3				3	2		77%	+8.5		2/2	1/2

(Run +/- is in the other chart; the above is solely a passing/decisions grade.)

This felt more up and down than it actually was because I don't think our brains properly stick 50 yards of scrambles in to our evaluations of how McCarthy did. He fired a couple of pinpoint dimes. His yardage output looks a lot better if the completions he had to Bell on those waggles don't get broken up by either an MSU DB or the ground:

The rest of his day was finding guys open underneath and occasionally making a bad read or errant throw.

One thing that I think deserves mention: Michigan did not have a lot of guys running open. MSU was frequently in the pockets of everyone I could see on screen, which defies expectation. This may be the defensive equivalent of the July drive—MSU may have spent a lot of time looking at Michigan's passing concepts and pattern-matched the hell out of them. Like, this was a fairly common outcome for a play to have:

Literally no one is open.

One saving grace of McCarthy's performance was his ability to move around in the pocket and make things happen. This came in both flavors. He set up one of those goal to go series by smoothly moving past a blitzer and rifling the ball into Schoonmaker:

And then his ability to scramble picked up three separate chunks. I think two of those were actual scrambles and the third was a called draw but YMMV. This one was borderline; it looks like he's genuinely reading downfield but he's out of there in a flash:

This one was called:

The helmet on the first appears to be looking at receivers; on the second he's looking at linebackers.

One of these days someone's going to challenge McCarthy, and I still think he's up for it.

Receivers?

Another desultory day.

 

	THIS WEEK					THIS YEAR
Player	Uncb	Circus	Tough	Routine		Uncb	Circus	Tough	Routine
Johnson	2			1/1		2	1/3	1/2	13/14
Bell	2	0/1		4/4		4	2/3		31/33
Wilson						3	1/3	1/1	11/11
Anthony	1					2			6/6
Henning									2/3
Clemons
Walker
All						1	1/1		1/1
Schoonmaker			0/1	5/5		1	1/1	3/5	23/24
Honigford
Hibner
Bredeson									4/4
Loveland				0/1		1			3/3
Corum						1			5/5
Edwards			1/1	2/2		1		3/3	9/9
Stokes									1/2

Routes: Anthony –.

Eh?

Block of the year of the week?

Well it's… Colston Loveland?

TE #18 to top of line

I have a couple of other +2s from Hayes and Zinter but they don't come with the same dramatic impact as a freshman tight end putting a defensive end on the ground.

Heroes?

Offensive line. Corum.

Maybe not so heroic?

WRs did not have a great ancillary day. Some missed blocks and the Johnson fumble.

What does it mean for Rutgers and beyond?

Increased belief this OL can get work done against OSU. They demolished a good and deep DT corps with duo, and these were not marginal wins. These were guys getting booted three yards downfield. Meanwhile PSU's ground game had a pretty respectable day (26 carries, 121 yards, 4.5 per, long of 27) against the Buckeyes.

These guys have more blast than last year. Michigan did not run much duo a year ago, probably because Vastardis was not a hammer panda and they had to rotate so much at guard. A healthy Keegan and Zinter a year on and Oluwatimi coming in means these guys are suddenly one of the most powerful IOLs in the country. Their base short yardage play is essentially a QB sneak, QED.

Barnhart's serviceable or better. He has some hiccups but doesn't make many mental errors and has excellent agility—it's tough to pull from tackle and they've asked him to do that. Doesn't bring a whole lot of oomph right now, at least not by himself. Another year of development and he'll likely be a plus Big Ten OT, assuming that Hayes goes.

Corum! LOL.

Loveland flashing as a blocker. Prepare for the mother of all TE hype posts in next year's season preview.

Don't run your QB laterally in the redzone. Safety too close and McCarthy's a great runner… for a QB.

McCarthy's numbers are fine. I'd like to see him get a bucket of attempts at some point just to see him carry the offense for once, but the opposition's going to have to actually try to shut down Corum first.