Thursday, September 10, 2009

Run Chart: Western Michigan

Preface: The Run Chart returns for 2009. It debuted in 2007 with the swanky "Hart Chart" title, and hopes to return to that one day with Demetrius Hart.

The point of the Run Chart is to serve as a micro-UFR that MGoBlog provides. As the title implies, it is an analysis of Michigan's running game, with special emphasis placed (naturally) on the offensive line. This is actually a lot easier when it's not a zone-blocking scheme being analyzed, but I digress. It's still pretty straightforward: if an offensive lineman gets overpowered, misses a block, is slow to reach the second level, etc, he gets a minus. If an offensive lineman does a good job clearing his man out, shows good speed getting to a linebacker or safety, etc, he gets a plus. These principles are also applied to wideouts and tight ends when applicable.

New this year, and this is in the infantile stage, so it will not be perfect, is QB decision making. If the read-side DE crashes down on the running back and the QB pulls it out, that's a +1. If not, it's a -1. I will inevitably make mistakes in analysis of this along the way, so comments are always welcome.


Annnnd, we're off. O-Line: Ortmann - Schilling - Molk - Moosman - Huyge.

Down
Formation
Runner
Play
Yards
YayNay
2-5
Shotgun slot right
Brown
Zone read handoff
3
Huyge, Ortmann, Forcier
Molk
1-15
Shotgun slot left
Forcier
Zone read keeper
4
Forcier
Forcier
1-10
I-form 3 WR
Brown
Iso, endaround fake
0
-
Schilling, Moosman


2nd and 5: Correct read by Forcier to hand off, and Schilling provides decent enough room inside while Huyge crushes his man on the zone and Ortmann turns the weakside DE away. Molk however, fails to drive the DT off the ball, holding this down. If Molk had blown the DT off, this had promise, as Moosman got to the second level quickly and put his helmet on the linebacker.

1st and 15: Forcier makes the correct read to keep it again, as the read-side defensive end sells out on Brown. However, and I could be wrong here, so if someone with a keener eye can help out, he appears to have the option of snapping it out to Kelvin Grady, who moves out into the flat from the slot. The nickelback who was lined up over Grady shoots into the backfield at the snap, and he tackles along with the inside linebacker.

1st and 10: Schilling and Moosman both get to the second level, and they both fail to get either of the linebackers there, who crash in and snuff this out for no gain.

Down
Formation
Runner
Play
Yards
YayNay
1-10
Shotgun split twins left
Forcier
Zone read keeper
4
Forcier
-
2-6
Shotgun slot right
Robinson
Slot sweep (?)
0
-
Brown, Webb


1st and 10: This is probably as simple as it gets. The read-side DE crashes down again, but the safety, playing close to the line, stays home. No minus for Tate obviously, as it's his job to just read the end, and in that respect he makes the right decision, and does a little dancing to fall forward for four yards. (Note: "Shotgun split twins left" is my own amateurish, NCAA-way of saying Tate has two backs flanking him and two wideouts to the left.)

2nd and 6: "Slot sweep" is the best I can come up with for this. It seems obvious that there is no read here by Forcier, he just hands it to Denard. It probably would've worked, if Carlos Brown and Martell Webb had blocked the guys who were keying in on Robinson from the get go.

Down
Formation
Runner
Play
Yards
YayNay
1-10
Shotgun 4 WR trips right
Forcier
Zone read keeper
8
Forcier
-

1st and 10: Another correct read as the DE shamelessly crashes down. Tate's general awesomeness (and possession of quickness Steve Threet doesn't have) gets him to the corner and out of bounds for 8.

Down
Formation
Runner
Play
Yards
YayNay
1-15
Shotgun slot left???
Robinson
Yakety Sa-OMG
43
Odoms
-

1st and 15: Normally broken plays or QB scrambles wouldn't be charted here, but this was too good to let go. I'm not sure what the designed play was supposed to be; Odoms was coming in from the slot for some type of reverse or fake, but Robinson dropped the ball and turned Yakety Sax into OMG. Odoms gets the plus because he absolutely clocks the linebacker that (might've) had Robinson cornered after he shed the first tackler. After that, well, yeah. Oh, and I did my best to guess the formation, as ABC/ESPN decided to zoom in on Robinson's shoelaces as the ball was snapped. Something tells me this will happen again in the future...

Down
Formation
Runner
Play
Yards
YayNay
1-10
Shotgun slot right
Robinson
QB keeper
5
Huyge/Moosman, Koger
Kel. Grady, Brown
2-10
Shotgun slot right
Robinson
QB keeper/fake reverse
7
Brown, Huyge
-
3-3
Shotgun 4 WR
Robinson
ISQD
2
-
Molk
4-1
I-form twins left
Brown
Off tackle left
6
Ortmann, Koger
-
1-10
Shotgun slot right
Forcier
Zone read keeper
5
Forcier
Huyge
1-10
I-form 3 WR
Brown
Iso/end around fake
11
Moosman, Molk, Schilling
-
1-10
Ace 4 WR
Kel. Grady
End around
11
Koger, Stonum
-
1-G
I-form twins right
Brown
Off tackle right
2
-
Koger, Schilling

1st and 10: I wanted to call this the Incredibly Surprising Quarterback Draw (HT: MGoBlog), but it's really not. There's no selling of anything pass-related, just a direct snap and go. Koger gets through and sticks one linebacker, while Huyge and Moosman team up to crush the strongside defensive tackle. Brown tries to cut the strongside DE, who is laughably crashing in on a zone read that isn't there, but he fails to do so successfully. Kelvin Grady is overpowered by a linebacker, which isn't surprising. This forces Robinson to dance a bit, and he is tackled by the DE that Brown didn't cut.

2nd and 10: Basically the same play with the added wrinkle of faking to Kelvin Grady on a reverse. Huyge does a good job of getting outside of his man while Carlos Brown occupies the safety long enough for Robinson to slip through.

3rd and 3: This is actually perfectly setup. The Incredibly Surprising Quarterback Draw that has tortured Michigan for years is in our own playbook this year, and it would've been a really good play here...if Molk doesn't completely whiff on the linebacker he's supposed to block. Disappointing to watch this on replay.

4th and 1: Ortmann clogs the DE, Koger chips the free safety, and Brown easily has the first and more. Was anyone else stunned when they saw that Michigan led the Big Ten in 4th down conversions last year?

1st and 10: Forcier again keeps it correctly, as the DE again sells out on Brown. Huyge misses the linebacker though, and he gets a piece of Tate before the DE who sold out on the read comes back to tackle.

1st and 10: Moosman and Schilling do a great job of escorting the DTs to the turf, while Molk sticks the linebacker this time, sending Brown into the secondary.

1st and 10: Same play as last time (minus the fullback), except the end around is real this time. Koger turns the linebacker away enough for Grady to get outside. Stonum doesn't really hold his block on the corner, but it's enough for Grady to elude him when he gets free of Stonum.

1st and goal: The strongside defensive end shoots in here, too fast for Koger, and too fast for Schilling, who was pulling. One (or both) of these guys should've had him, but really this was just a good play.

Down
Formation
Runner
Play
Yards
YayNay
1-10
Shotgun slot left
Shaw
Zone stretch right
5
Moosman
-
3-15
Shotgun 4 WR
Forcier
QB draw
10
-
Webb

1st and 10: This is a handoff all the way, Robinson isn't even reading the end. Molk actually appears to get overwhelmed here, but it leads to the DT overrunning the play, allowing Shaw to cut upfield. Moosman clears a linebacker out, and Shaw just kind of drags ahead for five.

3rd and 15: Generally a mistake is made if there are no "yays" on a 10 yard run, but nobody really stands out when it's a QB draw on 3rd and 15 against a 3-man front. Webb, flexed out in the right slot, isn't quick enough to block the linebacker Pritchard, who significantly stalls Forcier's run.

Down
Formation
Runner
Play
Yards
YayNay
1-10
Ace twins right
Brown
HB dive
12
Huyge, Molk, Moosman/Webb
-
1-10
Ace twins left
Brown
HB dive
6
Ortmann
-
2-4
Shotgun slot left
Forcier
QB keeper fail
-4
-
Forcier, Brown
2-10
Shotgun slot right
Forcier
QB keeper
3
-
Koger

1st and 10: Huyge sort of catches the DT off balance and puts him on the ground, while Molk drives the other DT out. Moosman and Webb hit the second level and double team a linebacker, giving Brown space.

1st and 10: Ortmann muscles the DT away, while Koger coasts into the second level, leaving the DE to grab a hold of Brown, who drags him before going down. Pretty sure Koger didn't whiff here, it looked to be by design, so no minus.

2nd and 4: Legrier (the linebacker) reads this immediately and shoots in. Brown might not have been assigned to block him, but he essentially watched him go right past him. Forcier gets a minus because it's obvious on this one that he has the option of going to Grady in the flat. Grady was watching Tate, hands out waiting to catch...and there was no throw.

2nd and 10: Koger is a step slow getting to the second level, letting the linebacker get to Forcier on the keeper to the right.

Down
Formation
Runner
Play
Yards
YayNay
1-10
Shotgun slot left
Brown
Zone read handoff
3
-
Forcier
3-1
I-form twins right
Brown
HB sweep right
4
Hemingway, Webb
-
1-10
Shotgun 4 WR
Brown
Zone read stretch
7
Ortmann, Savoy
Webb, Schilling (0.5)
1-10
Shotgun slot left
Shaw
Zone read stretch
7
Huyge, Moosman, Molk
-
3-3
Shotgun 4 WR
Forcier
QB keeper
2
-
Koger, Forcier
4-1
I-form twins left
Shaw
Iso
2
Ortmann/Koger, Schilling
-
1-10
Shotgun split slot left
Shaw
Zone read stretch
12
Kev. Grady, Stonum
Huyge
1-10
-
-
Penalty
-10
-
Moosman
2-20
Shotgun split slot left
Sheridan
Zone read keeper
4
Sheridan
-

1st and 10: OL statemates across the board, and Brown fumbles (recovered by Schilling). But I actually think this is the wrong read on Forcier's part. This is another one where I think the DE crashes down too aggressively on Brown. It's not as blatant as some of the earlier ones, but I still think a keeper gets more here.

3rd and 1: I love this playcall on 3rd and short. Webb does a good job stuffing the DE, and Hemingway blocks the way a 230-pound receiver should block.

1st and 10: Ortmann does an excellent job sealing the corner that was never there a year ago, and Savoy drives the corner back. But Webb and Schilling both whiff on the same guy, who tackles Brown. Schilling only loses half a point because he was tripped on his way to the second level, but Webb just nudges the guy and goes past him.

1st and 10: Brute strength from Huyge here, as he just totally clears the DE out, providing a lane for Shaw. I love the play from Moosman here too, he inhibits the playside DT's progress without directly blocking him, and then zeroes in on Pritchard. Molk finishes off the DT (while perhaps getting away with a hold).

3rd and 3: Koger can't get to Pritchard, who makes the tackle, but at the same time, Forcier doesn't follow Kevin Grady's lead block for some reason, instead trying to go wide and basically running right into Pritchard.

4th and 1: Ortmann and Koger team up to mash the playside DE, while Schilling sticks the playside DT. Molk was up and down on this play. He didn't successfully block Pritchard (who made the tackle), but he stalled him enough for Shaw to convert. Side note: I was panicked when I saw Tate come off the field and Sheridan go in, but upon further review (and the knowledge that Tate's shoe had come untied), it's sort of funny. Sheridan didn't even have time to take off the red wristband the 3rd and 4th string QBs wear on the sideline.

1st and 10: The man that Kevin Grady (in at fullback) blocks ultimately makes the tackle here, but Grady gets enough of him to spring Shaw into the secondary. Conversely, Huyge whiffs at the second level, but Shaw sheds the tackle. Nice downfield block from Stonum too, helping to pick up a couple extra yards (and a first down).

2nd and 20: Correct read by Sheridan as the read end again crashes down with abandon, but it appears that the inside linebacker is spying, as he has his eyes on the QB the whole time.

Down
Formation
Runner
Play
Yards
YayNay
2-4
Shotgun split slot right
Forcier
Zone read keeper
2
-
Forcier

1st and 10: The read end sort of comes down toward the running back, but much less wrecklessly. That, combined with the fact that Kevin Grady cut him, makes me give Tate a nay here. Should've handed it off.

Down
Formation
Runner
Play
Yards
YayNay
1-10
Shotgun slot left
Robinson
QB keeper
9
Kev. Grady, Ortmann, Moosman
-
2-1
Shotgun 4 WR
Robinson
QB keeper
9
Kev. Grady, Moosman
Molk
1-10
Shotgun slot right
Robinson
QB keeper/fake reverse
-6
-
Webb
2-16
Shotgun 4 WR
Robinson
ISQD
1
-
-

1st and 10: Ortmann seals the tackle while Kevin Grady sticks the end, allowing Robinson to slip through. Moosman shows some great Barwisism by pulling all the way from his RG spot to block Wiggins the free safety.

2nd and 1: Another great lead block from Grady the elder. Moosman pushes the DE Drew Nowak back, giving Robinson more room to slip through. Molk gets to Pritchard on the second level in time, but doesn't block him much at all, otherwise this one might've been bigger.

1st and 10: Webb gets owned by Braska here, who blows the play up. Ouch.

2nd and 16: I can't take anything away here. Go watch this play again. Chris Pyant, the DT, just pulls off a pretty sick spin move at the perfect time. Schilling's handling him just fine, and he spins right into Robinson on the draw. Nobody at fault here, just an awesome move by Pyant.

Down
Formation
Runner
Play
Yards
YayNay
1-10
Shotgun split slot right
Smith
Zone read stretch
1
-
-

1st and 10: Nothing really of substance here. Stalemate by Ortmann, Schilling gets to the second level. Maybe an overrun by Kevin Grady, but eh.

I'm going to kill the charting here, as the remaining runs after this are designed to kill the clock.

So...

Chart:

YayNayTotal
Ortmann
5.5
0
5.5
Schilling
3
2.5
0.5
Molk
4
3
1
Moosman
7
2
5
Huyge
4.5
2
2.5
Koger
3.5
3
0.5
Webb
1.5
4
-2.5
Kel. Grady
0
1
-1
Kev. Grady
3
0
3
Hemingway
1
0
1
Brown
1
3
-2
Odoms
1
0
1
Stonum
2
0
2
Savoy
1
0
1
Sheridan
1
0
1
Forcier
5
5
0
TOTAL44
25.5
+18.5

Thoughts:
  • I actually thought Schilling would be one of the highest rated on the line.
  • With that said...after last year, every lineman being in the green is a great sight to see.
  • No eye gouging errors from the receivers/tight ends; only Webb in the red.
  • Kevin Grady was really good at fullback filling in for Mark Moundros. Hopefully even when Moundros returns, Grady gets on the field.
  • One of my immediate thoughts about Forcier following the game (aside from his general competence at completing the forward pass) was that he had work to do when it came to the zone reads and the running game. The chart reflects that. For the most part, he made the correct decision on the zone read handoffs/keepers, though.
  • If the offensive line tightens things up penalty-wise, and the team as a whole makes the improvement everyone always raves about from Game 1 to Game 2...Notre Dame is a winnable game. The strength of Michigan this year is supposed to be the running game, and that will be the key to protecting Tate against Tenuta's blitzes. Case in point:
  • With that said...Brandon Minor has to be on the field, be effective, and be our leading rusher to win on Saturday, in my opinion.
  • Oh, one more thing. THIS is the man I want coaching my football team:

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