Thursday, October 8, 2009

Run Chart: Michigan State

The advantage of the run game being a complete non-factor: charting it is quick and easy.

O-line same as last week: Ortmann - Schilling - Moosman - Huyge - Dorrestein.

Down
Formation
Runner
Play
Yards
YayNay
1-10
Shotgun slot right
Brown
Zone read dive
-1

Huyge

1st and 10: Oren Wilson shoots inside from the defensive tackle spot, getting inside of Huyge and blowing this play up. From my entirely amateur perspective, I'm a big fan of throwing right to the endzone off a turnover, especially when that turnover puts you in the redzone. Oh, and MSU was in their base 4-3 here, leaving the slot receiver at the top of the screen uncovered except for the safety. But that's just me.

Down
Formation
Runner
Play
Yards
YayNay
1-10
Shotgun 4 WR
Brown
Zone read dive
2
-
Ortmann

1st and 10: Ortmann is a step slow getting to the second level and can't get to Greg Jones in time, but really this play develops too slowly and Colin Neely crashes down unblocked (by design) from his defensive end spot.

Down
Formation
Runner
Play
Yards
YayNay
1-10
Shotgun ace slot left
Robinson
QB keeper
1
-
Schilling
1-10
Ace 2 TE twin WR left
Minor
HB dive
2
-
Minor
1-10
Shotgun split slot left
Minor
Yakety Sax
-4
-
Minor, Brown
2-9
Shotgun 4 WR
Brown
HB draw
6
-
Huyge

1st and 10: Jones is again too quick as this time it's Schilling that doesn't get to him in time. Doesn't help that this play was obvious. This is a double edged sword. More later.

1st and 10: I honestly have no clue what Minor is doing here. The OL zone blocks to the left and does it well...and for some reason Minor cuts back (or stumbles, perhaps?) right into unblocked Michigan State defenders. There was a hole created by the zone blocking, and I can't figure out why Minor cut back. Baffling.

1st and 10: This is just terrible. Minor and Brown, both flanking Forcier, both think they're getting the ball and run into each other. Plays like this (and the botched snap two plays later on 3rd down) stand out like an ugly sore when looking back at this game and seeing how many opportunities Michigan left on the field due to stupid mistakes.

2nd and 9: I'm probably being a nitpicky douche here, but this is a run chart, and four of the five offensive linemen are selling the pass by pass blocking here. The six yards here are a result of a great playcall. Huyge pulls around and is shed mercilessly by Greg Jones. Fun fact: Did you know Greg Jones grew up a Michigan fan and UM whiffed on him? Awesome.

Down
Formation
Runner
Play
Yards
YayNay
2-17
Shotgun slot right
Brown
Zone read stretch
-1
Ortmann
Koger

2nd and 17: Ortmann does a good job kicking out the DE, but Koger inexplicably runs right past Eric Gordon. Linebackers usually excel at stuffing plays when they are unblocked.

Down
Formation
Runner
Play
Yards
YayNay
1-10
Shotgun split slot right
Brown
Zone read stretch
7
Ortmann
Minor (-2)
2-3
Shotgun split slot right
Brown
Zone read stretch
2
Minor
Dorrestein
3-1
Shotgun slot right
Forcier
QB keeper
0
-
-

1st and 10: Ortmann kicks out the end again, and this honestly might go for a 93 yard touchdown - if Minor doesn't totally blow a block on Rod Jenrette. Go watch this again. Hemingway has the corner occupied. If Minor blocks Jenrette, there's no one between one of Michigan's fastest players and the endzone. Disastrous.

2nd and 3: Minor actually sticks Gordon pretty good here, but Dorrestein's cut block on Jerel Worthy fails, allowing Worthy to continue down the line untouched to tackle.

3rd and 1: I have hatred in my heart for this playcall. There are no missed blocks or assignments by the OL...it's just a shitty call, in my opinion. It's fundamentally flawed. If you need a yard, give it to your 216-pound running back. If Brandon Minor is healthy enough to be in the game and serve as a lead blocker, he's healthy enough to carry the ball on 3rd and 1 (and if he isn't, he shouldn't have dressed). Give it to him. Or go into the I and run a FB dive with Kevin Grady. I don't like calling a designed run with your 180-pound quarterback, not just because there were better options, but because it exposes him to unnecessary contact. I'm not saying you take plays out of the playbook to protect Tate from injury - you can't do that. But pick your spots. A designed run on 3rd and short when they're already expecting run and have been stuffing it all day - I hate it. I'm one of the biggest "trust the coaches" people around...but I hate this.
Down
Formation
Runner
Play
Yards
YayNay
1-10
Shotgun split slot left
Minor
Zone read stretch
3
-
Dorrestein, Ferrara

1st and 10: Ferrara in at RG for Huyge, and he can't get to Gordon. Dorrestein gets blown back by Trevor Anderson, who then spins off and chases Minor. The right side of the line is not good.

Down
Formation
Runner
Play
Yards
YayNay
1-10
Shotgun slot left
Odoms
Reverse
-4
-
-

1st and 10: There's really nobody at fault here on offense. Reverses depend on the defense losing contain. MSU did a good job staying at home on this play.

Down
Formation
Runner
Play
Yards
YayNay
3-1
Shotgun 4 WR trips left
Forcier
Zone read keeper
11
Forcier
-
2-1
Shotgun slot left
Forcier
Zone read keeper
14
Forcier, Hemingway
-

3rd and 1: THIS is the kind of QB run that is a great call on 3rd down. MSU sells out 100% on the running back, giving Forcier ample running room after he keeps it.

2nd and 1: Exact same thing, with Hemingway giving a nice block on the perimeter.

Down
Formation
Runner
Play
Yards
YayNay
1-10
Shotgun 4 WR trips right
Forcier
Zone read keeper
5
Forcier
-
1-10
Shotgun slot left
Forcier
Zone read keep/dive
4
Minor
-
2-6
Shotgun slot left
Minor
Zone read dive
1
-
Forcier

1st and 10: Simple again, an easy decision to keep as the end sells out on Minor.

1st and 10: This is a bizarre play. Forcier keeps it on the zone play, but it's instantaneous and he follows Minor right up the middle. Minor delivers a good pop as the lead blocker. This looks designed, similar to a play Robinson ran against Indiana, but I dunno.

2nd and 6: Misread. If Forcier pulls this out, it's a pass to the flat and a walk in touchdown for Koger (or a TD run for Tate if Koger blocks the safety). I suppose it's possible there was no read here and it was a run to Minor all the way, but then Koger would've blocked the read-end when he countered back from the H-back position instead of scooting past him into the flat.

Game Chart:

YayNayTotal
Ortmann
2
1
1
Schilling
0
1
-1
Moosman
0
0
0
Huyge
0
2
-2
Ferrara
0
1
-1
Dorrestein
0
2
-2
Koger
0
1
-1
Minor
2
4
-2
Brown
0
1
-1
Hemingway
1
0
1
Forcier
3
1
2
TOTAL8
14
-6

Some thoughts:
  • This is one of the most frustrating Michigan games I've ever seen, because we were so badly outplayed, and yet it was right there at the end. So many little mistakes: failing to score after the INT, Minor and Brown running into each other, Moosman's low snap, the crappy playcall before The Worst Decision by a Punter Ever, The Worst Decision by a Punter Ever, the ill-fated Denard series in the 4th, Stonum's fumble, the whole two-point debate, the questionable runs in OT, and finally the INT and defensive meltdown. So many mistakes. I guess it balances out, since at the end of the day the team that played better for the vast majority of the game was the team that won.
  • On Denard: It is truly a double-edged sword. You have to keep giving him touches and working him in the offense so he gets comfortable...but at the same time, he just isn't enough of a passing threat to keep teams honest, and more often than not right now, we're wasting plays with him in there. It doesn't matter how electric he is, when the opposing defense knows what's coming, it's not going to work.
  • It's really gutwrenching watching the final drive, because it was borderline legendary, and ended up just delaying some agony.
  • Molk's absence cannot be understated. He is one of the most important players on the entire team, and that was shown in brutal fashion last Saturday.
  • While I agree with the thought that the defense did well overall.....the first quarter drive was a killer in every way possible. A 10-minute drive that ends with a touchdown is exactly what Mark Dantonio wants every time. By not making any kind of stop (despite MSU doing its best to help with some personal fouls), we allowed MSU to set the tone for the entire game. Getting dominated in time of possession is not a bad thing - if you're scoring 70 yard touchdowns. If you're getting dominated in TOP because you can't run the ball and can't get first downs and your defense can't get off the field, you're in big trouble.

Comprehensive chart:

WMU
ND
EMU
IND
MSU
TOTAL
Ortmann
5.5
1
6
7.5
1
+21
Schilling
0.5
-1
8
7
-1
+13.5
Molk
1
6
2
N/A
N/A
+9
Moosman
5
6.5
N/A
3
0
+14.5
Ferrara
N/A
N/A
4
N/A
-1
+3
Huyge
2.5
4
6.5
2
-2
+13
Dorrestein
N/A
N/A
N/A
2
-2
0
Koger
0.5
2.5
1.5
3
-1
+6.5
Webb
-2.5
0
7
-0.5
N/A
+4
Kev. Grady
3
-1
5
N/A
N/A
+7
Kel. Grady
-1
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
-1
Moundros
N/A
1
N/A
3
N/A
+4
Mathews
N/A
1
2
1
N/A
+5
Odoms
1
-1
N/A
1
N/A
1
Stonum
2
-0.5
N/A
N/A
N/A
+1.5
Hemingway
1
N/A
N/A
2
1
+4
Savoy
1
N/A
1
N/A
N/A
+2
Shaw
N/A
N/A
1
N/A
N/A
+1
Minor
N/A
N/A
N/A
1
-2
-1
Smith
N/A
N/A
1
N/A
N/A
+1
Brown
-2
N/A
-1
N/A
-1
-4
Forcier
0
-1
2
-2
2
1
Robinson
N/A
N/A
0
-4
N/A
-4
Sheridan
1
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
+1
TOTALS18.5
17.5
46
28
-6
+104

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