Metro Detroit Public High School Football Map

After hearing about the demise of the Michigan Mega Conference I got curious as to what new conferences were formed and which schools went where. That, coupled with my obsession with maps has produced the map below. I marked all the public High School football teams in Metro Detroit by conference. Hopefully the quality is good enough that it can be blown up.

The schools themselves are not marked, because the map would be too crowded and while the dots which represent schools are not necessarily in the correct location, they should be in the correct cities.

Teams can be extrapolated here.

Run Chart: Eastern Michigan

O-Line: Ortmann - Schilling - Molk - Ferrara - Huyge.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun 4 WR	Brown	Zone read stretch	30	Huyge, Koger, Mathews	-
2-10	Shotgun split slot left	Brown	Zone read stretch	4	Schilling	Ortmann
3-6	Shotgun 5 WR	Forcier	QB draw	-2	-	-

1st and 10: Huyge contains the DE, allowing Brown to get outside. Koger just DECKS the linebacker inside, and Mathews gives a good block on the corner. A phantom tackle somehow throws Brown off balance and prevents a 51 yard touchdown.

2nd and 10: Kind of a mucky play as the OL just battles the DL down the line. Schilling does a good job getting to the second level and putting his helmet on a linebacker, but Ortmann fails to adaquately cut the read end, who comes down and tackles.

3rd and 6: This would be a -2 or -3 for the coaches if I charted playcalling, because nobody misses a block or anything, the linebacker just makes a great read and shoots in. I really dislike this playcall, partly because I don't like exposing our freshman quarterback - who is the key to an 8-9 win season - to unnecessary damage against a MAC team, but more because it just seems like a give up call, almost as if the coaches settled for three.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun 4 WR trips left	Brown	Zone read dive	6	Ortmann, Schilling	-
3-1	I-form twins right	Brown	Power O	14	Huyge, Kev. Grady	-
1-10	Shotgun 4 WR	Minor	Zone read stretch	13	Webb, Mathews, Schilling	-
1-10	Shotgun 4 WR trips right	Minor	Zone read dive	5	Huyge, Ferrara	-
2-5	Shotgun slot right	Minor	Zone read stretch	3	-	Molk
1-G	Shotgun split slot right	Brown	Zone read stretch	-4	-	Brown
2-G	Ace 4 WR	Brown	HB dive	9-TD	Molk, Huyge	-

1st and 10: The mesh freezes the read end, and Ortmann just shoves the tackle away, giving Brown plenty of room. Schilling gets to the second level with ease again, sticking a linebacker.

3rd and 1: This is a staple of the Michigan State playbook where the guard pulls around and serves as another lead blocker on an off-tackle-ish type of play. In this case the pulling guard (Schilling) isn't really needed, as Huyge and Kevin Grady provide great blocks, and Brown cuts back nicely.

1st and 10: More quickness by Schilling getting to the second level, and solid blocks by Mathews and Webb (flexed out in the slot). Note how the wideouts have been infinitely better at downfield blocking this year after being unmitigated disasters a year ago. The teeth gnashing about Soup Campbell's dismissal and the doubting of Tony Dews seems comical now.

1st and 10: Good enough job by the right side of the line here, Huyge effectively seals off the edge on the zone block, and Ferrara gets to the second level. Not as fast as Schilling does, but good enough.

2nd and 5: This one is sketchy. Molk doesn't really lose his guy, but at the same time, he knifed into the backfield and despite having Molk blocking him, it forced Minor to cut upfield, which allowed the read end to come down the line and hold the play down.

1st and goal: I can't figure out why Brown cuts back here. There isn't an exceptional push from the OL here, but Brown doesn't wait the stretch play out, instead choosing to cut back when, as is almost always the case in a zone blocking scheme, there is no backside help. If Brown shows more patience, this is a positive play.

2nd and goal: Lol, Huyge gets away with a blatant false start, allowing him to clear a defensive tackle out. Molk also seals, and Brown zips right through to the endzone. Amazing really that they didn't call Huyge, he clearly moved before the snap.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun 4 WR	Forcier	Zone read keeper	2	Forcier	Huyge
3-1	Ace 2 WR	Shaw	HB dive	22	Webb	-
1-10	Ace 2 WR	Shaw	HB dive	7	Webb, Ortmann, Schilling	-
2-3	I-form twins right	Shaw	Power O right	5-TD	Schilling, Kev. Grady, Koger/Huyge	-

1st and 10: Correct read by Forcier to keep it, but the linebacker is too fast for Huyge, otherwise this is probably a first down.

3rd and 1: Webb mashes the DE on the inside, but this is almost all on Shaw, who makes a beautiful cut.

1st and 10: Another good block by Webb, while Ortmann mauls the defensive end and Schilling turns the defensive tackle completely away. Oh, and Wayne Larrivee is a clueless twit. "Michigan showing a lot of no huddle here." ORLY?

2nd and 3: Same power O play as last time, only this time Schilling is integral, and he destroys the safety. Grady sticks a linebacker, Koger and Huyge team up to neutralize the end, and Shaw muscles into the endzone.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun slot left	Brown	Zone read dive	90-TD	Molk, Schilling, Ortmann, Webb	-

1st and 10: Ahhh. Webb is the H-back, and counters to the weakside at the snap, where he blocks the defensive end. Schilling basically piledrives the tackle into the turf, and Ortmann and Molk blow up linebackers at the second level. From there, it's the Ron English special, as the EMU safety steps up toward the hole tenatively (at the wrong angle) Brown is hitting, stops, hesitates, and hurls himself uselessly at Brown's feet as Carlos zips past him at full speed. 90 yards later, we celebrate. Nice to be on the opposite end of one of these for a change. Seriously, I don't think Ron English knows what he's doing when he's coaching safeties. The play by his safety here looked exactly like the plays Michigan safeties made time and again under English's tenure as DB coach/defensive coordinator.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
2-10	Shotgun 4 WR	Robinson	ISQD	11	Shaw, Ortmann	-
1-10	Shotgun 4 WR	Shaw	Zone read stretch	-1	-	Robinson, Ortmann, Schilling

2nd and 10: Ortmann does a great job turning the DE outside, providing a big hole for Robinson to hit, and Shaw throws a great fullback-like block to spring him into the secondary.

1st and 10: Oh my goodness. Okay, first, the OL. Ortmann gets muscled backward, forcing Shaw to cut up, and Schilling is actually too fast to the second level, and a linebacker gets past him to make the tackle. But the key to this play....oh my god keep the ball. The defensive end crashes down toward Shaw. If Robinson keeps this, ohmygod open spaces for our 4.3 40 quarterback against MAC players. This is quite possibly a 76 yard touchdown if Robinson pulls it out of Shaw's stomach.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
2-19	Shotgun slot left	Brown	Zone read dive	14	Webb, Ortmann, Schilling	-

2nd and 19: Webb with another good block as he counters out of the H-back position against the read end. Ortmann also does another good job of escorting the tackle down the line on the zone block, and Schilling sticks the linebacker again on the second level.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	I-form slot right	Brown	HB blast/fake end around	7	Kev. Grady, Ortmann, Schilling	-
2-3	Shotgun slot left	Brown	Zone read stretch	3	Molk	-

1st and 10: The weakside defensive end is left uncovered as Ortmann gets to the second level to handle a linebacker. This is taken care of by Grady at fullback, as he cuts the end to the ground. Schilling escorts the tackle away with ease.

2nd and 3: Ehhh. There aren't really any misses by the OL here, it's just kind of a "meh" play. Molk does get a powerful block. The end crashes down and eventually chases Brown down the line to tackle, but Forcier made the right move handing it off - the linebacker was eyeing him via the scrape exchange.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun split slot right	Shaw	Zone read stretch	-1	-	Molk
2-11	Shotgun split slot right	Forcier	Zone read keeper	3	Forcier	-

1st and 10: Molk is overpowered by the defensive tackle slanting into the backfield, which disrupts the stretch play and allows the weakside end to chase Shaw down behind the LOS.

2nd and 11: There's no scrape exchange, and the end crashes down, so correct read by Forcier to keep it.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun split twins left	Brown	Zone read dive	4	Kev. Grady, Molk	-
2-6	Shotgun split twins left	Brown	Zone read stretch	2	Ferrara	Koger
2-3	Shotgun slot right	Shaw	Zone read dive	18	Koger, Ferrara, Huyge	-
1-G	Shotgun slot right	Shaw	Zone read stretch	0	-	Ortmann
2-G	Shotgun split slot right	Odoms	Reverse	13-TD	Kev. Grady, Ortmann, Savoy	-

1st and 10: Another impressive cut by Kevin Grady on the uncovered defensive end. The tackle seems to get inside of Molk, but Molk manages to turn him away from Brown on the dive play.

2nd and 6: Ferrara does a nice job against the end (while holding?), but Koger doesn't block the linebacker long enough; said linebacker sheds the block and tackles.

2nd and 3: This play is basically the bread and butter of Michigan's running game so far. Koger, lined up at the H-back position, counters to the other side of the formation at the snap, eliminating the read end from the play. Good blocks from Huyge and Ferrara then spring Shaw to the next level. This has worked pretty much without fail so far this year.

1st and goal: BTN misses the snap basically because they have no way to cope with Michigan running the no huddle offense despite always running it....Ortmann is pushed backwards, forcing Shaw to cut upfield on the stretch, which allows the unblocked defensive end from the weakside to come down and tackle.

2nd and goal: Beautiful. Perfectly set up reverse that features a crushing block by Savoy, a good block by Grady (set up by Odoms), and Ortmann all the way out there on the corner(!). This is the old Darius Reynaud play from RR's WVU days.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
2-10	Shotgun slot right	Brown	Zone read dive	8	Ferrara, Huyge	-
3-2	Shotgun 4 WR	Robinson	ISQD	13-TD	Schilling, Ortmann, Webb	-

2nd and 10: Ferrara basically carries the defensive tackle away and deposits him somewhere near the sideline. Huyge shows great speed getting to the second level. This play is overshadowed by the (temporary) impending sense of doom that was accompanied with Tate Forcier being crumpled on the field on the previous play.

3rd and 2: The left side of the line does a great job turning the end and tackle outside, giving Robinson a big gap up the middle. Webb just drives the nickelback backwards, and Robinson goes in standing up.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Ace twins left	Shaw	HB dive	5	Ortmann, Schilling	-
2-5	Ace 2 WR	Shaw	HB dive	-2	-	Schilling

1st and 10: Ortmann with good quickness to get to the linebacker on the second level, and Schilling again just mauls the tackle. This is the type of physical dominance a Big Ten team should exert on a crappy MAC team. Of course...

2nd and 5: ...on the next play the tackle overpowers Schilling, Shaw sort of runs into them, and the play is busted.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun 4 WR	Smith	Zone read dive	10	Robinson	-
1-10	Shotgun 4 WR	Robinson	ISQD	36-TD	Huyge, Webb, Smith	-

1st and 10: Backups starting to appear, but the 1st team OL is still in. Vincent Smith shows freakish vision (for a freshman) with a cutback to daylight (/Musberger). Robinson...sort of...throws a block here. It's enough to spring Smith for 10.

1st and 10: Huyge turns the end away excellently, and there's a huge hole. Smith serves a lead blocker and throws a nice pop. Downfield, Webb occupies the corner. Good day from him run blocking.

Four TD lead in the latter half of the 4th quarter against a MAC cupcake = end of charting.

Chart:

	Yay	Nay	Total
Ortmann	9	3	6
Schilling	10	2	8
Molk	4	2	2
Ferrara	4	0	4
Huyge	7.5	1	6.5
Koger	2.5	1	1.5
Webb	7	0	7
Kev. Grady	5	0	5
Brown	0	1	-1
Shaw	1	0	1
Smith	1	0	1
Mathews	2	0	2
Savoy	1	0	1
Forcier	2	0	2
Robinson	1	1	0
TOTAL	57	11	+46

And by reader request, a cumulative chart:

Chart:

	WMU	ND	EMU	TOTAL
Ortmann	5.5	1	6	+12.5
Schilling	0.5	-1	8	+7.5
Molk	1	6	2	+9
Moosman	5	6.5	N/A	+11.5
Ferrara	N/A	N/A	4	+4
Huyge	2.5	4	6.5	+13
Koger	0.5	2.5	1.5	+4.5
Webb	-2.5	0	7	+4.5
Kev. Grady	3	-1	5	+7
Kel. Grady	-1	N/A	N/A	-1
Moundros	N/A	1	N/A	+1
Mathews	N/A	1	2	+3
Odoms	1	-1	N/A	0
Stonum	2	-0.5	N/A	+1.5
Hemingway	1	N/A	N/A	+1
Savoy	1	N/A	1	+2
Shaw	N/A	N/A	1	+1
Smith	N/A	N/A	1	+1
Brown	-2	N/A	-1	-3
Forcier	0	-1	2	+1
Robinson	N/A	N/A	0	0
Sheridan	1	N/A	N/A	+1
TOTALS	18.5	17.5	46	+82

Run Chart: Notre Dame

O-Line: Ortmann - Schilling - Molk - Moosman - Huyge. Huyge slides to RG and Dorrestein is at RT when Moosman leaves injured.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun slot right	Brown	Zone read stretch	-2	-	Koger

1st and 10: Koger serves as a lead blocker from the H-back position, but Manti Te'o is unblocked by him and stuffs this play in the backfield.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun slot left	Forcier	Zone read keeper	8	Forcier	-
1-10	-	-	Penalty	-10	-	Ortmann
1-10	???	Minor	???	2	Koger	Huyge
2-8	Shotgun slot left	Minor	Zone read stretch	22	Huyge, Molk/Moosman, Schilling	-
1-G	I-form 2 TE	Minor	HB dive	2-TD	Moundros	-

1st and 10: As is the usual when the QB keeps, there's no blocking involved here to free him up. Forcier just makes the correct read when the end crashes down.

1st and 10: ABC is slow with their camerawork, so we miss the formation and actual playcall. Koger does a good job turning the DE out, but Darius Fleming gets leverage on Huyge and is able to tackle for a minimal gain.

2nd and 8: Huyge muscles Fleming to the outside while Molk and Moosman team up to seal Ian Williams inside, springing Minor on the stretch. At the second level, Schilling cuts Toryan Smith. Nice first level blocking aside, this is a perfect example of a play Michigan failed at spectacularly last year. In 2008, in the rare event that the OL got good blocks in the zone game to begin with, they almost never reached the second level to cut linebackers and safeties and produce big runs like this.

1st and goal: Always hard to single out any offensive linemen down near the goalline, as it's usually just a mass of humanity. Moundros sticks out here, as he picks up Kyle McCarthy coming off the edge and cuts him to the ground. Minor spins off an initial tackle and falls forward for the touchdown.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun split slot left	Brown	Zone read dive	0	-	Schilling (-0.5), Forcier

1st and 10: Schilling gets pushed back a bit, but this is mostly on Forcier. John Ryan crashes down on Brown with abandon; it's a keeper situation, but Forcier hands it off, and Ryan tackles Brown for no gain.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun slot right	Robinson	ISQD	1	-	Stonum (-0.5)

1st and 10: I'm going to take half a point off for Stonum here, simply because he gives a lazy block that Robert Blanton easily sheds, and he makes the tackle, but there was no surprise here. Forcier motioned out to WR, and Notre Dame immediately stepped forward at the snap. They were expecting the quarterback draw, they got it, and they stopped it.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun slot left	Robinson	QB keeper	14	Huyge, Moosman, Molk	-
1-10	Shotgun slot left	Forcier	Zone read keeper	3	Webb	Forcier (-2), Odoms
2-7	Shotgun slot right	Odoms	Reverse	-4	-	Webb (-2)

1st and 10: This is almost like some type of "QB stretch" play. It's a keeper all the way, but Robinson sort of drifts to his right, waiting for a crease to appear. It does, created by the right side of Huyge, Moosman and Molk. Robinson zips through.

1st and 10: If Forcier hands this off to Minor, it's a huge gain, as Michigan's offensive line creates an enormous hole up the middle. But Tate keeps it, and while Webb, the H-back, peels back to the weakside to take out the linebacker on the scrape exchange (detailed here), Tate then tries to go outside instead of straight upfield. This problem is compounded by Odoms missing a block, which allows Raeshon McNeil to hold this down. Freshman mistake on this play, particularly in thinking he can make it to the corner like he did in high school. These will fade away as Tate's career progresses.

2nd and 7: This is actually going to be a big play. You can see the Notre Dame defense caught by surprise, the left side of the offensive line is at the second level ready to block the secondary...but Webb totally whiffs on the counter block out of the H-back position on John Ryan. Ryan forces Odoms to cut upfield, right into a wave of tacklers, destroying the play. If Webb picks up Ryan, Odoms has only a safety to deal with.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
2-3	Shotgun slot left	Forcier	QB keeper	4	Minor/Koger	-
1-10	Shotgun slot right	Minor	"Zone read" stretch	16	Moosman, Molk	-
1-10	Shotgun slot right	Minor	"Zone read" dive	32	Koger, Huyge, Moosman, Molk	-
1-G	I-form 2 TE	Minor	HB dive	0	-	Huyge
3-G	I-form 2 TE	Minor	HB sweep	-2	-	Koger, Kev. Grady

2nd and 3: Minor as a lead blocker, helps Koger with the DE, giving Forcier enough room to fall forward for the first.

1st and 10: I put "zone read" in quotes because I believe this is the first play of the halftime adjustments Calvin Magee mentioned where the coaches took the "read" out of Forcier's hands. They wanted Minor to get more touches, so they told Tate to hand it off regardless. He gives the appearence of a zone read, but I think Minor was getting this the whole time. Molk and Moosman excel here, providing a nice hole for Minor to go through.

1st and 10: This is beautiful to watch, really. Koger is the H-back, and peels back to the weakside to mash Fleming, while Huyge cuts off Brian Smith at the second level. Moosman manhandles Ian Williams, and Molk stands up Toryan Smith at the second level. Just excellent execution of the dive play, turning Minor loose for a big play.

1st and goal: Kapron Lewis-Moore gets inside of Huyge here and trips Minor on the dive play up the middle.

3rd and goal: I absolutely hate hate HATE this call here. The point of calling a sweep play, especially in a situation like this where your opponent has loaded up in their goalline set, is to catch the defense off guard with speed to the edge when they expect power up the middle. So while the playcall itself is not flawed, calling it with Brandon Minor is a bad idea. Minor's at his best going north-south. This is a play for Carlos Brown or Michael Shaw, guys with oodles of speed. Minor just isn't fast enough to get to the corner. Kevin Grady overrunning this as the fullback and Koger missing a block help doom this play.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun slot left	Minor	"Zone read" stretch	6	Huyge, Moosman, Molk/Schilling	-
2-4	Shotgun slot left	Minor	"Zone read" dive	13	Moosman, Molk, Schilling, Ortmann	-
1-G	Shotgun slot left	Minor	"Zone read" stretch	"-1"	-	-
2-G	Shotgun 2 TE 3 WR	Robinson	QB keeper	5	Koger, Huyge	-

1st and 10: Huyge turns the DE out, while Moosman absolutely owns Ian Williams again. Molk and Schilling don't really put their hands on Toryan Smith, but they help clear him out just by being there.

2nd and 4: Moosman again, this time taking out Fleming while Molk gets the honor of mashing Ian Williams on this play. Ethan Johnson gets turned away by Ortmann, and Schilling gets to the second level to neutralize Toryan Smith.

1st and goal: I'm not giving out and pluses or minuses here, because this should've been a 3-4 yard gain, but for some reason the referees ruled that Minor fumbled and recovered a yard behind the line of scrimmage when his knee was clearly touching the ground before the ball came out. Why was there no review here???

2nd and goal: Koger laughably demolishes Brian Smith on this play, tossing him aside like a rag doll. Harrison Smith makes the tackle on this play, but Huyge occupied him at the second level long enough for Robinson to pick up five (before Darrin Walls hit him out of bounds, but I'm not going to complain. This isn't a Notre Dame blog.)

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun slot left	Minor	"Zone read" dive	1	-	Schilling (-2)
1-10	Shotgun slot right	Forcier	Zone read keeper	4	Forcier	-
2-6	Shotgun slot left	Robinson	QB keeper fake sweep	1	-	Molk

1st and 10: ...YIKES. Schilling gets absolutely bulldozed by Ethan Johnson, blowing up the play immediately. This is startling to watch when you see it. Just completely blown backward and buried.

1st and 10: Well, after handing it off to Minor on the "read" plays all quarter, this is an easy decision to keep for Forcier, but the correct one.

2nd and 6: I think this is supposed to be a fake to Kelvin Grady, who sweeps in from the slot. If it is, Robinson does a terrible job selling it. Regardless, Ethan Johnson gets inside of Molk and tackles.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Ace twins left	Minor	HB dive	6	Koger, Huyge, Moosman	-
1-10	Shotgun slot left	Forcier	Zone read keeper	2	Forcier	Forcier
2-8	Shotgun slot right	Brown	Zone read stretch	6	Huyge, Molk
3-2	Shotgun slot left	Minor	"Zone read" dive	-1	-	Schilling (-2)

1st and 10: Koger manhandles Fleming again. Huyge nails Toryan Smith on the second level, and once again, Moosman just pushes Ian Williams around.

1st and 10: Plus to Forcier for keeping when John Ryan crashed down (even though Koger popped Ryan on the counter). Minus for again trying to go wide and get the corner against an opposing cornerback. He'll learn this, but it's still frustrating when he could've gotten 4-5 if he had gone straight upfield but instead got just two.

2nd and 8: Huyge escorts Kerry Neal away, and Molk hammers Ian Williams, allowing Brown to follow lead blocker Koger through the hole. If there was a Notre Dame UFR, Ian Williams would be at about minus a billion.

3rd and 2: Schilling is owned by Ethan Johnson again, and again the play is disrupted in the backfield. Schilling visibly frustrated as he gets up. Can't tell if it's just general annoyance or if he was expecting help from somebody.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
2-1	Ace twins right	Minor	Off tackle right	5	Webb, Mathews
2-10	Shotgun slot left	Minor	Zone read stretch	-1	-	Huyge

2nd and 1: Webb does a good job keeping Brian Smith to the inside while Minor goes off tackle. Also a good job by Mathews, lined up in the slot, occupying Darrin Walls.

2nd and 10: Huyge gets to the second level, but whiffs on Kyle McCarthy. Minor was stretched all the way to the sideline, but would've gotten a small gain if Huyge had gotten the block.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
2-1	Shotgun slot left	Minor	Zone read dive	6	Ortmann, Schilling, Molk	-

2nd and 1: Final run of the game, as the Tate Show commences after Minor picks up this first down. Ortmann gets enough of Johnson, Schilling gets to the second level and sticks Brian Smith, and Molk totally outmuscles - who else? - Ian Williams.

Chart:

	Yay	Nay	Total
Ortmann	2	1	1
Schilling	3.5	4.5	-1
Molk	7	1	6
Moosman	6.5	0	6.5
Huyge	7	3	4
Koger	4.5	2	2.5
Webb	2	2	0
Kev. Grady	0	1	-1
Moundros	1	0	1
Mathews	1	0	1
Odoms	0	1	-1
Stonum	0	0.5	-0.5
Forcier	3	4	-1
TOTAL	37.5	20	+17.5

Thoughts:

• Molk and Moosman were absolutely dominant. Ian Williams was every bit the movable object he was last year. Might as well have been wearing iceskates.
• I have been surprisingly unimpressed with Schilling so far. He hasn't been a huge liability (despite being owned by Ethan Johnson twice), but I thought the move to guard would immediately make him our best lineman. Not a lost cause, obviously.
• Koger is a much better blocker than Webb, both at the traditional TE spot, and flexed out at the H-back position.
• We all have huge expectations for Patrick Omameh, the coaches have raved about him about how athletic he is and how he's caught on in the system, etc...Mark Huyge has been really good so far. Seems logical that Huyge will shift to LT next year to replace Ortmann and Omameh will get on the field at RT. In the short term, assuming Moosman misses a week or two, I wonder what the coaches will do. In the heat of battle with a game-winning drive needed, Omameh obviously was not an option, you had to go with the player who's actually seen time (Perry Dorrestein). But with a full week to prep knowing Moosman probably won't be in there, and considering the relative cupcake-ness of the opponent, do you throw Omameh into the fire at RT while shifting Huyge to RG? Or do you go with Dorrestein? Personally, I'd put Omameh, based on my entirely-outside observations. If the practices reports were accurate that Omameh was just barely behind Huyge in their position battle, why not put him in there to get game experience. But hey, that's why I'm on the couch at home and Rich Rodriguez and Greg Frey make money to make that decision.
• Oh yeah....Darius Fleming, please pick up your jock:
  

Revolution

	The Beatles - Revolution
	Found at skreemr.com

Michigan 38, Notre Dame 34; 2-0

There were many, many good qualities about Michigan Football before Rich Rodriguez arrived. Bowl games were a certainty. Dominance of Michigan State was a guarantee. Breaking even against Notre Dame and Ohio State was commonplace for the most part, and they reached a level of excellence and dominance to the point where they were placed in their own echelon along with Ohio State - The Big Two and the Little Eight/Nine.

And there were comeback victories. Minnesota in 2003 and 2004. Penn State in 1999 and 2005. Michigan State in 2004 and 2007. The one thing about these comebacks though, and this isn't necessarily a bad thing, they seemed...scripted. They seemed robotic. The final 7:30 of the 4th quarter of the 2007 Michigan State game felt as if you were a young boy sitting by the fireplace curled up with some hot chocolate while your grandfather read you a story. The knives that Chad Henne stuck in the Spartans with every single deep out he completed almost seemed predetermined. There will be a wide receiver in this spot, and when he reaches this spot, a ball shall be there. That was one of the subtle and yet dominant aspects of that era of Michigan. There was structure; a strict inside-the-box type of going about things that sometimes made you appreciate the machine-like efficiency aspect and sometimes made you rip your hair out because we were such a bunch of squares and sometimes the oblongs made us look prehistoric. There was never any place for any kind of improvisation.

Well, things have changed. We wanted a revolution. For some of us, we embraced the revolution the moment it arrived. For others, it took some time. Many joined the cause on Saturday. Others remain unconvinced because they don't want to be. These types of people frequent the comment sections on Youtube videos, or yell "down in front" at football games. Well, in case you didn't hear on Saturday, the revolutionaries have the upperhand. And if you couldn't hear...well, you must be Jimmy Clausen, and you must be burning timeouts because the Michigan fanbase has been stirred to life in every facet, and is turning Michigan Stadium into a hornet's nest. At the end of this season, we're going to thank Michael Rosenberg, ironically. His irresponsible witchhunt has galvanized the supporters of this revolution. The silent majority is finding its voice. They were heard late in the second quarter of the opener, and they were heard relentlessly against the Irish, elevating the Big House to decibel levels unheard of (no pun intended) in Ann Arbor.

A quick message to the "old guard", whether they be crotchety old fans, foolish internet loons, know-nothings paraded out on ESPN or other media outlets, or actual people inside the athletic department trying to sabotage this because you're too close-minded to see how good it is and how good it will be: You're not going to win. This is a battle you will be on the losing side of. Why? Because Rich Rodriguez is going to win. Because the quarterback who plays for Michigan is outside of the box you have confined yourself to for 40 years. You will expect him to go one way, and he will go another. You will pressure him, and he will escape. You are Darius Fleming. He is Tate Forcier. And soon, you will eat the dust left in his wake.

(HT: UMGoBlue)

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	Yay	Nay
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	Yay	Nay
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	Yay	Nay
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	Yay	Nay
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	Yay	Nay
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	Yay	Nay
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	Yay	Nay
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	Yay	Nay
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	Yay	Nay
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	Yay	Nay
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	Yay	Nay
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:

	Yay	Nay	Total
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
TOTAL	44	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: