Shelter from the Storm

Team X ___, Michigan less

	Bob Dylan - Shelter from the Storm
	Found at skreemr.com

So.

Oh, I'm sorry. I'm supposed to say more? I figured just listening to Bob Dylan would've been enough. What would like me to say? The offense is young, and will be good. The defense is terrible, just as it was last year, and honestly, nothing has been shown from anything or anybody to suggest that anything will be different moving forward. For the third straight year, Ohio State will lay an aborted Michigan season to rest. All the crybaby Ohio State fans bawling and moaning about Tressel and his conservative approach to football: shut the fuck up. I hope one day you're in our shoes, where the Michigan/Ohio State game doesn't bring anticipation and excitement, but the sweet release of the end of the season so you don't have to dedicate your Saturdays to watching your team harm you in ways that seem almost deliberate. Boo hoo, Tressel played it close to the vest and got us another Big Ten championship and we're going to the Rose Bowl, waaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh. Sit on it and rotate.

Okay, here's some new material: Jay Hopson and Tony Gibson should not be back next year. One of these is a no brainer. Hopson is not an RR guy, and the two players he's responsible for - Mouton and Ezeh - have been terrible all year. They were bad last year too, but showed marginal improvement at the end, giving us reason to be hopeful for 2009. Didn't happen. They've been consistently bad almost every week with no sign of getting any better. Whether that means Hopson's style of teaching just doesn't fit in Robinson's scheme or if Hopson is just out of his element coaching linebackers is irrelevant. He has to go.

Gibson, on the other hand...we're going to see what our head coach is made of. Gibson is Rodriguez's boy, on the level of Debord and Carr. This was supposed to be one of the positives about Rodriguez, that he was so obsessed with winning he put personal allegiances aside and put the best man for the job in charge. Well, and West Virginia fans (the sane ones) warned us about this, Tony Gibson ain't the guy. Unlike Hopson, Gibson is one of our better recruiters, so if you want to shift him to recruiting coordinator, fine, but he cannot return as DB coach. He's just bad at it. And you better believe Greg Robinson knows it. So after the season, when Robinson goes into Rodriguez's office and says "Look Rich, if you want this thing to work here, you have to let me make some changes...I know Tony's your boy, but we need to get somebody else in here", Rodriguez better listen. If he decides to ignore his defensive coordinator's advice, this thing is destined to fail.

Last year I wrote about how I never wanted to experience this feeling again. Well, here we are, a year later, and the same shit. The feeling of inevitability, of helplessness. That sick, cold feeling deep in your stomach? I have the same one. It's the one that says Ohio State's coming into our house on Saturday, and at the end of the game, for the 6th year in a row, they're going to have shown us just how large the gap is. The rational, logical side of me says that this obviously won't last, eventually the day will come that we beat Ohio State again, that we return some semblance of balance to the rivalry. But the pessimistic, devil-may-care side of me says "When the fuck is that going to happen, huh?" And when you look at the disaster on the field, you truly have to think...how are we going to reach their level?

I'll leave that for more positive people to debate. For now, I'm just going to sit back, put on some Blood on the Tracks, and wait for the sweet relief of the offseason.

Run Chart: Purdue

Could've sworn I set this to be posted this morning. Ugh.

Your offensive line: Ortmann - Schilling - Moosman - Omameh - Huyge.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun split slot left	Minor	Zone read stretch	10	Huyge, Omameh, Shaw	-
1-10	Shotgun split slot left	Shaw	Zone read dive	2	-	Ortmann, Omameh
1-10	Shotgun split slot right	Minor	Zone read stretch	29-TD	Ortmann, Schilling, Shaw, Roundtree (+2)	-

1st and 10: Shaw is the "fullback" here, and he's kind of reckless as the lead blocker, but he obstructs the linebacker enough for Minor to zip through. Huyge turned the strongside DE away, and Omameh showed the good speed he's been hyped for getting to the second level.

1st and 10: Snap is a bit high, but not detrimental. What is detrimental is the DT shedding Omameh with ease and meeting Shaw as he gets to the line of scrimmage. The weakside DE also bursts inside against Ortmann, leveraging past him to finish the tackle.

1st and 10: Beauty right here. Ortmann turns the DE outside, giving Minor a hole to hit as he follows Shaw. Shaw does another decent job of obstructing, and Minor's at the second level. Schilling wildly dives at a pursuing linebacker and gets just enough to cut him down, and Minor cuts back against the grain. Downfield, Roundtree absolutely blows a motherfucker up, just sprays his gray matter all over the field. From there, Minor rumbles to the pylon and stretches for the TD.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun split slot left	Minor	Zone read stretch	5	Huyge	Minor
1-10	Shotgun split slot right	Minor	Triple option pitch	-5	-	Forcier

1st and 10: I'm probably being very unfair on this play. Huyge stands up the DE, allowing Minor to go through and eventually fall forward for five, but there was an enormous, absolutely gaping hole right up the middle. The OL creased the defensive front obscenely, and the linebackers were split far apart. If Minor saw it and made a cut, he probably rumbles for a first down. With that said, there are very, very few backs who have this kind of vision. So I'm probably being nitpicky.

1st and 10: This design of this play bugs me. Well, first, Forcier misreads it, as the read end stays at home. This should be given off to Shaw up the middle, but to my point - why is our speed back the dive man and our power back is the pitch man on the perimeter? Seems backwards to me. Minor excels bursting right up the gut. Granted, even Shaw isn't going anywhere on this particular play, but the basic premise is backwards.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
2-6	Shotgun split slot right	Robinson	Zone read stretch	-3	-	Minor (?)
1-10	Shotgun 4 WR	Minor	Zone read dive	8	Ortmann, Schilling, Omameh	-
1-15	Shotgun split slot right	Minor	Zone read stretch	55-TD	Ortmann, Schilling, Moosman, Mathews, Kev. Grady	-

2nd and 6: Eh...I'm not too thrilled with this, but okay. If we plan on expanding Denard's role and putting him at RB, or slot, or wherever, I think we should start with faking it to him. The defense expects him to get it when he's in there. Anyway, on this particular play, the linebacker knifes in immediately and blows it up. I can't tell whose responsibility he was. Minor is the lead blocker and just runs right past him without looking, and Roundtree is coming in from the slot; that seems wrong that the slot receiver would be responsible for the linebacker who's showing blitz all the way. Minus to Minor.

1st and 10: This looks like the "pin and pull" play. Ortmann turns the DE inside out, and Schilling blocks down, creating a sizable gap with Omameh as a lead blocker when he pulls around.

1st and 15: This looks almost exactly like Minor's long TD vs. Purdue last year. Ortmann blows the DE out, Schilling nudges the DT and then bumps the linebacker while Moosman finishes the DT, and Grady leads the way, popping the safety, which coupled with Mathews' block on the corner turns Minor loose for the touchdown.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Ace 2 WR	Minor	Off tackle left	-1	-	Schilling, Omameh
2-10	Shotgun slot left	Forcier	QB draw	18	Kev. Grady	-

1st and 10: Guards fail here. Schilling gets to the second level but misses the block, Omameh isn't quick enough getting to the second level, and the linebackers they were responsible for get the TFL.

2nd and 10: Generally QB draws aren't conducive to much charting because it's a deceptive play by design in that the OL is pass blocking. That's the case here, but Grady gets a nice block downfield for Forcier.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun split slot left	Smith	Zone read stretch	7	Huyge	-

1st and 10: The blocking actually isn't that great here, in fact Huyge gets away with holding the playside DE, which allows Smith to get to the edge.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	???	Minor	???	6	Moosman	-
2-4	Shotgun split slot left	Minor	Zone read stretch	3	Kev. Grady, Omameh, Moosman	-
3-1	Ace 3 WR	Forcier	QB sneak	2	-	-
1-10	Shotgun split slot left	Minor	Zone read stretch	0	-	Schilling, Shaw
2-10	Shotgun split slot left	Forcier	Triple option fail	fumble	-	Forcier

1st and 10: Jesus I hate BTN. We miss the start of this play because BTN is showing us the empty luxury boxes. Amateurs. I see Moosman basically piledriving a guy, so yay for him.

2nd and 4: Grady submarines a linebacker, Omameh zips to the second level, Moosman pins the DT inside....and inexplicably, the refs don't give Minor a first down.

3rd and 1: First down.

1st and 10: Shaw gets blown up by a blitzing corner, disrupting the stretch play a bit. Schilling is too slow getting out to the linebacker, and said linebacker tackles Minor on the perimeter for no gain.

2nd and 10: Same as before, for some reason Shaw is the dive man and Minor's the pitch man. I'm actually hesitant to minus Forcier here at all, it's just a great instinctual play by the Purdue guy to get a hand on the ball when it's pitched. Ugh turnover.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	???	Minor	???	1	-	-
2-3	Shotgun slot right	Minor	HB dive	3	Huyge, Omameh, Koger/Schilling	-
1-G	Shotgun twin right	Forcier	Zone read keeper	6-TD	Webb, Forcier	-

1st and 10: The Big Ten Network can suck it.

2nd and 3: No read here, straight handoff with Schilling pulling. He doubles the DE with Koger, which gives Huyge free release to the second level while Omameh blocks down well.

1st and goal: Good read as the unblocked end crashes down on Minor. Webb blocks the readside linebacker, and Forcier twists and wiggles in (and then comes up limping badly). And you know what, it's not part of the chart, but Olesnavage gets a -10 for missing the PAT. Inexcusable, and costly. Fuck my Michigan-loving life.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun split slot left	Forcier	Zone read keeper	1	Forcier	Forcier

1st and 10: End crashes down, correct read, except there are still three guys unblocked around Forcier while a great hole was opening for Minor. Whatever.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun trips right	Minor	Zone read dive	3	Omameh	Moosman
3-3	Shotgun 4 WR	Forcier	QB keeper	4	Minor, Schilling	-
1-10	Shotgun 4 WR	Minor	HB dive	0	-	Omameh
2-10	Shotgun trips left	Minor	Zone read dive	21	Ortmann, Schilling	-
1-10	Shotgun split slot left	Smith	Zone read stretch	4	Shaw	-
2-6	Shotgun split slot left	Smith	Zone read stretch	1	-	Schilling, Smith

1st and 10: Omameh shoves the DT aside, but Moosman is a step slow to the next level, and the linebacker easily tackles.

3rd and 3: Minor lead blocker, Schilling nice push...whatever. I've made my issues with this type of playcall known. I'm not going to harp on it like a lunatic.

1st and 10: Straight handoff with Omameh pulling...except he ends up in the ground after doing nothing, and the play is stuffed.

2nd and 10: Whewwwww. This is a textbook zone play. I'll give Ortmann and Schilling the props for sealing it off and Minor runs through an arm tackle. This isn't a knock on Minor, but a faster back on this play, like Brown or Shaw (provided they could run through the arm tackle like Minor did, which isn't a given) blazes to the endzone with ease.

1st and 10: Lead blocker Shaw does a good job at the point of attack. This is just an average play, held down by the safety coming down into the box.

2nd and 6: Schilling whiffs on the cutblock on the linebacker...but for some reason Smith cut upfield instead of following his lead blocker (Shaw) all the way to the edge. Huyge did a nice job on the end, and Omameh got to the SAM linebacker on the second level. Poor judgment by Smith.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
2-8	Shotgun 4 WR	Brown	Pitch	6	Roundtree	-
3-2	Shotgun 5 WR	Forcier	ISQD	1	-	Huyge (-2)

2nd and 8: I like this play. Roundtree gets enough of his guy to give Brown room to pick up six.

3rd and 2: Gee, didn't see that coming on 3rd and short with five wide on the field. Doesn't help that Ryan Kerrigan throws Huyge aside like he's nothing.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun trips left	Minor	Zone read dive	11	Schilling, Moosman	-
1-10	Shotgun trips right	Minor	Penalty	-10	-	Huyge (-2)

1st and 10: Schilling stymies the DT, Moosman gets to the second level, Minor picks up 11. Textbook.

1st and 10: Holding on Huyge prevents a big gain from Minor.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun split 2 WR	Minor	Zone read stretch	2	-	Omameh
3-1	I-form heavy	Minor	Power O	1	Kev. Grady, Schilling	-
1-G	I-form heavy	Minor	Power O	1-TD	-	-

1st and 10: I'm being speculative here. Speculation #1: It seems like Omameh was supposed to get to the second level here and got caught up in the wash and couldn't do it. Speculation #2: This might've been a handoff all the way, because this would've been an easy keeper for Forcier here if he's reading anything.

3rd and 1: Schilling pulls and leads the way for a first down along with Grady. If one of them had picked up the corner, Minor probably scores, but after last week's fiasco, getting a yard down here cannot be frowned upon.

1st and goal: Same thing. Schilling actually trips as he pulls, but it's a mass of humanity and Minor dives ahead. Charting ceases, as this is Michigan's final run of the day.

Game Chart:

	Yay	Nay	Total
Ortmann	4	1	3
Schilling	7.5	3	4.5
Moosman	4	1	3
Omameh	5	4	1
Huyge	4	3	1
Koger	0.5	0	0.5
Webb	1	0	1
Kev. Grady	4	0	4
Mathews	1	0	1
Roundtree	3	0	3
Minor	1	2	-1
Shaw	3	1	2
Smith	0	1	-1
Forcier	2	3	-1
TOTAL	40	19	21

Some thoughts:

• A good performance all-around, making the end result even more disappointing. Omameh held his own in his starting debut, at least run blocking. Excited to see him in the future.
• Honestly...go fuck yourselves, Big 10 refs. There's no goddamn way Brown's pitch to Huyge was indisputably forward. It was called a lateral on the field, and none of the replays conclusively showed that it was in fact a forward pass. Botched call, FU.
• My guess is Minor sees limited (or even no) time against Wisconsin and they save him for Ohio State. Yeah, that worked wonders in 2007. Whatever.
• Off-topic from the Run Chart, but in a league where there are quite a few douchebag coaches, Danny Hope might be the biggest. What a complete and utter clown. RR's a better man than I, I probably would've slugged Hope in the jaw for that bushleague shit he pulled after the game. Tool.
  

Comprehensive chart:

	WMU	ND	EMU	IND	MSU	Iowa	Ill	Pur.	TOTAL
Ortmann	5.5	1	6	7.5	1	6.5	2	3	+32.5
Schilling	0.5	-1	8	7	-1	3	1	4.5	+22
Molk	1	6	2	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	+9
Moosman	5	6.5	N/A	3	0	8	1.5	3	+27
Ferrara	N/A	N/A	4	N/A	-1	N/A	N/A	N/A	+3
Huyge	2.5	4	6.5	2	-2	0.5	0	1	+14.5
Dorrestein	N/A	N/A	N/A	2	-2	3	-1	N/A	+2
Omameh	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	-1	1	0
Koger	0.5	2.5	1.5	3	-1	1	-1	0.5	+7
Webb	-2.5	0	7	-0.5	N/A	N/A	N/A	1	+5
Kev. Grady	3	-1	5	N/A	N/A	5	-3	4	+13
Kel. Grady	-1	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	-1	N/A	N/A	-2
Moundros	N/A	1	N/A	3	N/A	N/A	5	N/A	+9
Mathews	N/A	1	2	1	N/A	1	-1	1	+6
Odoms	1	-1	N/A	1	N/A	1	N/A	N/A	+2
Stonum	2	-0.5	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	-2	N/A	-1.5
Hemingway	1	N/A	N/A	2	1	N/A	N/A	N/A	+4
Savoy	1	N/A	1	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	+2
Roundtree	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	1	3	+4
Shaw	N/A	N/A	1	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	2	+3
Minor	N/A	N/A	N/A	1	-2	-2	N/A	-1	-4
Smith	N/A	N/A	1	N/A	N/A	N/A	1	-1	+1
Brown	-2	N/A	-1	N/A	-1	N/A	0	N/A	-4
Forcier	0	-1	2	-2	2	-2	-2	-1	-4
Robinson	N/A	N/A	0	-4	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	-4
Sheridan	1	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	+1
TOTALS	18.5	17.5	46	28	-6	24	0.5	21	+149.5

You Never Hear the Shot that Kills You

Purdue 38, Michigan 36; 5-5, 1-5

From my seat 87 rows up in one of the endzones at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, I noticed a curious little phenomenon before the game. There was a very noticeable lag between the impact on the Purdue drum when the band members hit it and the actual sound of said impact reaching my seat. Like almost a full second. I dunno, I just thought it was interesting. My father commented, "Well, you never hear the shot that kills you."

Roughly three and a half hours later, that was the main quote going through my mind. I mused to myself that I should give a shoutout when someone else provides me with a title for a blog post. Thanks, Dad.

So. Here we are. Prospects of a bowl game look bleak, as Michigan will be heavy underdogs in their final two games, and they have shown nothing that makes any of us think they are capable of putting a full game together. If it's not the offense (Michigan State), it's the defense (Illinois). If it's not the defense (Purdue), it's the special teams (...Purdue). Sometimes it feels like this team, and program as a whole, is secretly out to inflict pain on its followers. They find the most perverse and heinous ways to lose. We scored five touchdowns on Saturday, the offense hummed for most of the day, and even when the defense was gouged, slashed, gashed and chopped to itty bitty pieces again, there it was, the game right there for the taking, just like the MSU game, and just like the Iowa game. And what happens? We miss a two point conversion that we had to go for because our kicker missed an extra point earlier in the game and our head coach went for it on 4th down with 5:00 to go down by eight.

I might be a bit unfair with that last point. In hindsight, it's easy to criticize RR for going for it on that 4th down. If we make it, we might go in for the TD. If we kick the FG and Purdue goes right down the field and scores to make it 45-33, it's game over and RR is criticized for trusting a defense that is entirely untrustable. And let's be honest...who here trusts this defense? The weird thing is, this defense has gotten stops in the 4th quarter against Notre Dame (HT: Pear Bryant), Michigan State, Iowa and Purdue, all while trailing. It's a schitzophrenic unit, and I don't blame Rich Rodriguez for not exactly having faith that we could've just kicked it and counted on the defense to not give up points.

For me, it breaks down like this. There are certain things that fall on the head coach, and certain things that don't that are blamed on him anyway because that's the nature of being a head football coach. Things like clock management are almost always on the coach. I didn't like that they let Purdue kill the clock at the end of the first half. There were around 30 seconds left, and it was 4th down. At least make them punt, maybe we block it. At the same time, it's never a bad idea to go into halftime up two touchdowns. There was also the "fiasco" of rushing the punt team onto the field on 4th and 1 in the 4th quarter. I was aghast at first, but after calming down, there is no fiasco here. The fiasco would've been going for it or wasting a timeout to preserve five yards. Whether it's 4th and 1 or 4th and 6, that was a punting situation.

Things that AREN'T the coach's fault are things like your kicker shanking an extra point. Save all the nonsense about "it's the coach's job to prepare the players." Okay, that's bunk. The kicker is asked to do only a handful of things. Making an extra point should be basic, and when it fails, it falls on one person: the kicker. Olesnavage yakety sax'd the PAT. That's on him, and him alone. The coaches didn't rush them out there, they didn't have to scramble to get it off because the coaches didn't have the right personnel on the field or anything like that. It was a good snap, a good hold, and a shanked kick. It happens, and it cost us.

It's also not Rich Rodriguez's (or Greg Robinson's) fault that this defense sucks like it does. At least not 100%, because the whole Shafer debacle does factor in to an extent. The whole "Lloyd left the cupboard bare" argument has returned with a vengeance in recent weeks, and guess what? It's hard to argue that it isn't true. They're operating with what they have, and what they have isn't much. The coaches were left with linebackers who are slow to react, can't shed blocks, and blow assignments. The coaches were left with safeties who are slow and can't tackle. They were left with a situation that puts a walkon on the field when a cancer is removed from the team. Guys like Emilien and Turner are waiting in the wings, and their time will come. But if they aren't ready, they aren't ready. Robinson, and Hopson and Gibson, even with all the ire directed at them, don't just sit around twiddling their thumbs at practice. They coach their asses off with the kids they have available to them. In a year, they'll have more, whether it be Cullen Christian and Dior Mathis and Tony Grimes and Aramide Olaniyan and Josh Furman and Marvin Robinson or whoever else comes along. They inherited a hot mess of garbage, and the results are such. If Rodriguez is wise, he'll give Greg Robinson free reign after the season. Robinson has been in RR's ear for months now about defensive recruiting, and RR has gotten the message. If Robinson says changes need to be made on the defensive staff, so be it. That will be a test for Rodriguez, to see if he employs Lloyd-like cronyism.

A week ago I was in a black hole of despair, and penned this. It was mostly out of frustration and breaking the 24 hour rule. At the same time, I chuckle at some of the comments I left unpublished. Like I care what someone who doesn't even leave their name thinks about my credibility. Don't be popping off when you're too cowardly to say anything under the "Anonymous" veil. That's weak fucking shit. WEAK.

So yeah, I was a sad panda a week ago. This week, I'm a bit more stable. So to the "fire the coaches" crowd, I ask: And do what? Can you name a defensive coordinator who would do better with this roster? There just isn't much to work with. When Robinson plugs one hole (run defense was solid against MSU and Iowa), another one opens (wide open receivers on playaction). He simply doesn't have the talent or experience on that side of the ball to put together a sturdy unit in all phases. And the offense...well, remember what Beilein said about the roller coaster last year after Michigan basketball was BACK against UCLA and Duke? When you're rebuilding, there will be ups and downs. Penn State and Illinois were downs. Purdue was an up. The offense did its job on Saturday.

People can talk all they want about how "this is MICHIGAN" and all that jazz. These same people held masturbatory orgies over Stanford's game against Oregon on Saturday. To this, I say: hypocrites. You exult the virtues of this university, the tradition and excellence of this football program...and then you suck off a man who took a big steaming shit on all that. Maybe you people don't remember what Jim Harbaugh said. Well, I guarantee you the people in the athletic department in Ann Arbor remember.

And Les Miles? Ask Lloyd Carr what kind of a man Les Miles is. Or better yet, ask Gary Moeller. There's a reason Bill Martin was conveniently out of contact when Les's agent tried to reach him during the coaching search. It's a puzzle, but it's a pretty easy one to solve. Go back to Excalibur in 1995 and connect the dots from there. Les will never be the Michigan coach. Deal with it.

RR's the guy. Whether or not that's a good thing or not cannot be determined yet. That doesn't mean I'm "accepting" what's going on or that I'm not really fucking depressed. It just is what it is. Saturdays aren't very fun for Michigan fans right now. But misery today doesn't necessarily mean misery tomorrow.

Run Chart: Illinois

Doing this one first to coincide with MGoBlog's Offensive UFR. Penn State Run Chart will follow either Thursday night or sometime Friday.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
2-5	?	Brown	Off tackle?	3	-	-
1-10	Shotgun 4 WR	Forcier	Zone read keeper	4	-	Forcier
2-5	Shotgun slot right	Brown	Zone read stretch	10	Dorrestein	-
1-10	Shotgun split	Brown	Zone read stretch	4	Schilling, Ortmann	-
2-6	Shotgun 4 WR trips right	Brown	Zone read stretch	5	Schilling, Moosman (.5)	-
3-1	I-form heavy	Brown	Power O	3	Schilling, Moundros (2)	-
1-10	Shotgun slot left	Forcier	QB keeper	4	Brown	-
1-10	I-form twins right	Brown	Off tackle (power O?)	-1	-	Schilling, Kev. Grady
1-G	I-form heavy	Brown	Zone right	2-TD	Moundros, Koger, Dorrestein	-

2nd and 5: ABC's game coverage has gradually degenerated into shit as the year has progressed. They almost completely miss this play.

1st and 10: This might not be a mistake I guess. I can't tell where the read is, as the normal readside end is blocked here, while the backside end is uncovered. If Brown gets the handoff, he's going full speed against a defensive end who's flat footed. Instead Forcier keeps and has to wiggle to pick up four.

2nd and 5: Dorrestein escorts Clay Nurse away from the play on the zone block, and Huyge clears out Ian Thomas, giving Brown an alley to cut into.

1st and 10: Huyge pulls around from RG, but doesn't really do anything. Schilling stalemates and then squashes the playside DT while Ortmann scoots to the second level to get the linebacker.

2nd and 6: Schilling goes heads up against Corey Liuget here, and Liuget eventually gets inside of him to shed the block, but Schilling got him long enough for Brown to get past him. At the second level, Moosman's cut block on the linebacker isn't really successful, but it holds the LB up enough for Brown to get close to the first.

3rd and 1: Schilling pulls around here and pops the linebacker, but Moundros is the star here, as he submarines Garrett Edwards and destroys him, allowing Brown to easily get the first down.

1st and 10: Brown picks up the blitzing linebacker, which probably saves Forcier's life and allows him to squirt through, but I mean.....bah. Whatever. I've made my thoughts known about the relative wisdom in sending our 180-pound already-dinged-up freshman QB up the middle for opposing defensive linemen, linebackers and safeties to lower their helmets at. Hopefully when Devin Gardner does this, defenders are afraid instead of salivating.

1st and 10: It looks like Schilling is trying to pull around on a Power O again, but he is too slow around the line this time. Grady is the fullback here, and does not impress like Moundros does. Somebody should ask RR what the deal is with the fullbacks. Grady's been pretty good, but Moundros has been a beast whenever he's been in there. I know he got shaken up in the season opener, and I think it was a concussion, so maybe they're playing it safe with him? Beats me.

1st and goal: Speak of the devil. Moundros returns at FB and leads the way in, while Dorrestein seals the inside and Koger kicks the end out. Brown walks in.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun split slot left	Brown	Zone read stretch	8	Smith, Ortmann	Stonum
2-2	I-form twins right	Brown	Iso	4	Moosman	-
1-10	Shotgun slot right	Forcier	Zone read keeper	2	-	-
2-8	Shotgun 4 WR	Brown	Pitch	2	-	Brown

1st and 10: Vincent Smith (!) is the fullback here, and he really sticks the blitzing nickel. Ortmann once again shows good foot speed getting to the second level, springing Brown, who is then tripped up by the corner who shed Stonum's block. Brown would've gotten 10-12 if Stonum was able to hold the corner. Not charted here because it didn't affect the play but was still pretty badass: Roy Roundtree with an excellent cut block on the safety.

2nd and 2: "Meh" play. Moosman nudges the DT enough and gets to the linebacker, and Brown falls forward for the first. Seemed like it was just designed to move the sticks.

1st and 10: Eh. Ok. Our rock, their paper, as they have two uncovered defenders just waiting at the mesh point, making this an easy one to kill. Why have we gone away from the scrape exchange counter with Koger as the H-back countering against the formation to KO the read end? It seems like it's been weeks since we used that.

2nd and 8: This isn't on Roundtree; he's a slot receiver, and is not expected to bury the man he's supposed to block. This is on Brown for trying to stretch this out when he should just run straight up field. He gets 3-4-5 yards if he runs straight. Instead he strings it out and gets two.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun split slot right	Brown	Zone read stretch	5	Omameh, Roundtree	-
2-5	Shotgun split slot left	Smith	Zone read stretch	4	Smith	Omameh (-2), Stonum
3-1	I-form heavy	Brown	Power O	2	Moundros, Ortmann	-
1-10	-	Brown	-	-	-	Mathews
1-10	Shotgun split slot right	Smith	Zone read stretch	-1	-	Smith
2-11	Shotgun 4 WR	Forcier	Zone read keeper	5	-	Forcier

1st and 10: Welcome to the Run Chart, Patrick Omameh! Our highly touted (in practice) redshirt offensive lineman makes his debut, replacing Perry Dorrestein at right tackle, and on his first play he turns the playside defensive end outside, giving Brown an alley to hit while Roundtree occupies the safety.

2nd and 5: ....Blergh. On his second play, Omameh whiffs totally on Clay Nurse, and the corner charges in and beats Stonum. Improbably, Smith stays up, spins away and somehow picks up four. Note to stargazers: Martavious Odoms is one of the best, hardest working players on this team, and Vincent Smith is showing flashes of Mike Hart every time he's in the game. Both of these guys were given a resounding "and?" by the recruiting services. They are undersized and lack elite speed, and I'll take them on my football team every day, and twice on Saturday.

3rd and 1: Ortmann mashes Antonio James inside, but again, Moundros is a sight to see here. He doesn't engage with Ian Thomas; he just pushes him and Thomas basically explodes. Moundros is an awesome fullback.

1st and 10: Holding.

1st and 10: Looks like a misread in vision by Smith here. He seems to give up on the stretch too soon and tries to cut upfield, but cuts right into a tackle behind the LOS.

2nd and 11: Once again: It's Carlos Brown in motion against a flat-footed defensive end if Forcier hands it off...

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Shotgun slot left	Brown	Zone read stretch	-7	-	Moosman, Ortmann
3-1	I-form heavy	Brown	Power O	3	Moundros, Schilling	-
1-10	Shotgun split slot left	Brown	Zone read stretch	5	Moosman, Huyge	-
2-5	Offset I 2 WR right	Brown	Off tackle	1	-	Huyge

1st and 10: Dios mio. Doug Pilcher and Josh Brent destroy Moosman and Ortmann here. Losing seven yards on a standard running play, jesus.

3rd and 1: Seriously, it's Moundros again, sticking the blitzing Ian Thomas at the point of attack as Schilling pulls and Brown gets the first with ease.

1st and 10: Moosman walls off the defensive tackle, making the cutback an easy one for Brown. Huyge battles Josh Brent to a stalemate, springing Brown ahead for five easy ones.

2nd and 5: Huyge is demolished here by a redshirt freshman defensive end, just completely driven back and then buried. This blows up the entire play.

Down	Formation	Runner	Play	Yards	Yay	Nay
1-10	Ace 2 WR	Brown	Off tackle	-2	-	Koger (-2)
1-G	I-form heavy	Brown	Iso	FAIL	-	Schilling (-2)
2-G	I-form heavy	Brown	Power O	FAIL	-	Kev. Grady, Dorrestein (-2)
3-G	I-form heavy	Brown	Zone right	FAIL	-	Webb, Dorrestein
4-G	I-form heavy	Minor	Off tackle	FAIL!	-	Kev. Grady

1st and 10: Koger completely whiffs on Thomas, who tackles for a loss. Blah.

1st and goal: Liuget eats Schilling alive, basically lifts him up and throws him at Brown. For some reason, Kevin Grady is the fullback.

2nd and goal: Once again, Grady is the fullback (...), and he misses the block on Aaron Gress, who wraps up Brown's legs. Meanwhile, Liuget mauls Dorrestein this time, who is back in at RT. Destroys him. Mashes him backward so much he takes out the pulling Schilling too, just totally sprawls him out.

3rd and goal: The interior OL - Huyge, Moosman and Schilling - actually gets a great push here. Why? Because Liuget is on the outside this time, and has blown up the stretch play. When I think of the ideal zone play on the goalline, I think of the final play of UM's opening drive in Columbus in 2006. When executed properly, the corner is wide open and the running back walks in untouched. Here, Webb and Dorrestein get blown up, taking away the corner, forcing the running back to cut right into backside and blitzing help.

4th and goal: Kevin Grady doesn't block Garrett Edwards, who hits Minor and causes his elbow to hit the ground before the ball breaks the plane. I'm trying my goddamndest to avoid being one of those guys that questions everything the coaches do, because I hate those people and I want to fight them....but why? Why did Moundros not see one play on the goalline? I don't have a problem with four straight runs. I don't have a problem with Brown on the first three carries, or Minor on the fourth...but Moundros blew motherfuckers up everytime he was in the game. Why does he not get in? Why does the universe have a vendetta against Michigan football? FUCK THIS SHIT.

I'm killing this goddamn thing here, because for all intents and purposes, the rest of the game consisted of decapitated Michigan chickens chasing Illinois around the field uselessly. Sue me.


Game Chart:

	Yay	Nay	Total
Ortmann	3	1	2
Schilling	4	3	1
Moosman	2.5	1	1.5
Huyge	1	1	0
Dorrestein	2	3	-1
Omameh	1	2	-1
Koger	1	2	-1
Brown	1	1	0
Kev. Grady	0	3	-3
Mathews	0	1	-1
Stonum	0	2	-2
Roundtree	1	0	1
Smith	2	1	1
Moundros	5	0	5
Forcier	0	2	-2
TOTAL	23.5	23	0.5

Some thoughts:

• Not much to say. A great first drive, some bumbling and sputtering afterward, one of the most infuriating sequences in history, and a bunch of irrelevant nonsense after that because the team mentally checked out. Just....ugh. A bad team lost to a bad team, and at this moment I honestly question where the 6th win comes from. If they lose to Purdue, we're staring 5-7 right down the barrel.
  

Comprehensive chart:

	WMU	ND	EMU	IND	MSU	Iowa	Ill	TOTAL
Ortmann	5.5	1	6	7.5	1	6.5	2	+29.5
Schilling	0.5	-1	8	7	-1	3	1	+17.5
Molk	1	6	2	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	+9
Moosman	5	6.5	N/A	3	0	8	1.5	+24
Ferrara	N/A	N/A	4	N/A	-1	N/A	N/A	+3
Huyge	2.5	4	6.5	2	-2	0.5	0	+13.5
Dorrestein	N/A	N/A	N/A	2	-2	3	-1	+2
Omameh	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	-1	-1
Koger	0.5	2.5	1.5	3	-1	1	-1	+6.5
Webb	-2.5	0	7	-0.5	N/A	N/A	N/A	+4
Kev. Grady	3	-1	5	N/A	N/A	5	-3	+9
Kel. Grady	-1	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	-1	N/A	-2
Moundros	N/A	1	N/A	3	N/A	N/A	5	+9
Mathews	N/A	1	2	1	N/A	1	-1	+5
Odoms	1	-1	N/A	1	N/A	1	N/A	+2
Stonum	2	-0.5	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	-2	-1.5
Hemingway	1	N/A	N/A	2	1	N/A	N/A	+4
Savoy	1	N/A	1	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	+2
Roundtree	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	1	+1
Shaw	N/A	N/A	1	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	+1
Minor	N/A	N/A	N/A	1	-2	-2	N/A	-3
Smith	N/A	N/A	1	N/A	N/A	N/A	1	+2
Brown	-2	N/A	-1	N/A	-1	N/A	0	-4
Forcier	0	-1	2	-2	2	-2	-2	-3
Robinson	N/A	N/A	0	-4	N/A	N/A	N/A	-4
Sheridan	1	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	+1
TOTALS	18.5	17.5	46	28	-6	24	0.5	+128.5

Like I said, PSU Run Chart will be out either later today/tonight or sometime Friday.