Upon Further Review: WVU Offense vs Rutgers

Generally on these the reader knows what happens before the UFR hits the page, so: West Virginia beat Rutgers 31-3. Total yards for RU: 314. For WVU: 398. Turnovers, inopportune penalties, and missed field goals hurt Rutgers badly.

I picked out this game because 1) it was available, 2) Rutgers was a slightly better than average run defense that looks just average because it had to play West Virginia, and 3) Greg Schiano is reputed to be a fine defensive mind.

No video; I'm having trouble getting VirtualDub to recognize whatever these files were encoded in and thus can't slice out individual plays.

Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Type	Brief	Player	Yards
M33	1	10	Shotgun 2-back	Run	Zone read handoff	Slaton	5
Schmitt used as a lead-blocker on a zone stretch play that looks eerily familiar minus the whole shotgun thing. Rutgers is doing a weird blitz where the WLB/SS guy blitzes off the slot receiver and the DE flows down the line instead of attempting to deal with the zone read. He ends up overrunning the play – jammed pretty well on the frontside – as Slaton cuts back; the threat of White caused the blitzer to delay just enough for Slaton to pick up a decent gain. Does Steven Threet inspire the same respect?
M38	2	5	Shotgun 5-wide	Run	QB Draw?	White	4
I won't know what the personnel is on any of these so I can only give you formations. I'm sure Slaton's still in so “five wide” is not right. I'm not sure if this is a read or a draw or what, but this appears to be a screen to Reynaud – WVU bunched four guys to the bottom of the screen. White pulls it down and takes off, scrambling for a few yards.
M42	3	1	I-Form Twins	Run	Iso	Slaton	-2
Ur? On fourth and what looks like a foot – sneak distance – they hand it off and get stuffed. The DT shed the center and shot into the backfield as Rutgers sells out to stop this.
Drive Notes: Punt, 0-0, 10 min. Fireworks not so much yet. Schiano was asking for a bubble screen in his face on first down. High risk, high reward here.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Type	Brief	Player	Yards
M38	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide	Pass	Slip Screen	Jalloh	5
This is set up very well and looks like a potential big play but for two issues: White's a little late and upfield with the throw (just a little), and the defensive end did not get chopped by the OT, reads the screen, and makes a great play backtracking downfield. (CA, 3)
M43	2	5	I-Form Twins	Run	Inside Zone	Slaton	8
Reynaud comes around on an end-around fake. Slaton's already taking it up the gut. A double from the C and G blows the undersized Rutgers NT back; the other DT is cut and Schmitt obliterates the MLB. A diving tackle attempt from the unblocked DE is stepped through and Slaton's got his first chunk of the day.
O49	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide	Run	Zone read handoff	Slaton	6
Rutgers with only seven in the box here, one of them nominally covering the slot guy, both safeties back. Backside scoop on the DT works well enough and gets an OL into the second level, causing the Rutgers WLB to start cheating over there in case Slaton takes it directly up the middle. He bounces it between the G and T instead, where there's a crease. Rare instance of passive D from Rutgers.
O43	2	4	Shotgun 3-wide	Run	QB Draw	White	-2
It's actually pretty interesting to watch the Rutgers D at work here. They're stunting and blitzing like mad from all angles; here they get the TE blocking no one as the DE stunts inside and through; White can't take it outside because of another blitzer and gets hit for a loss. I have no idea what happens in this game other than a WVU win... I get the feeling there are going to be some big plays when Rutgers rolls the dice and comes up craps.
O45	3	6	Shotgun 3-wide	Pass	Circle	Reynaud	7
Man free for Rutgers as they bring another blitz, with a catch: it looks at first like there are seven blitzers but two peel off to cover receivers... poorly. Reynaud is nominally covered by a safety rolling up to the line but is open and darts for the first. (CA, 2, protection 1/1)
O38	1	10	Shotgun 2-back	Run	Zone read handoff	Slaton	38
Uh, check on the ol' big plays. Rutgers is consistently shooting the backside DE down the LOS and bringing the slot-covering WLB in as the contain guy. It's been pretty effective, as the weakside DE shot into the backfield and caused a cutback on an otherwise very well-blocked play. Problem: the backside contain decides to plow White and trip over his prone body. Slaton is – WOOP – gone.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 7-0, 4 min 1st Q. No wonder Bo liked this guy: one real pass so far, and that because of a third and medium.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Type	Brief	Player	Yards
M39	1	10	Shotgun 2-back	Pass	PA Flare	Schmitt	13
Same late shift with the slot blitz and DE shoot; this time WVU goes play action, faking the same frontside zone read they've run a couple times before. This time Schmitt releases to the backside. He could pick up the blitzer but instead dummies him and slips into the flat; White hits him and it's beer truck time. (CA, 3)
O48	1	10	Shotgun 2-back	Pass	Bubble Screen	Reynaud	5
Good job by the Rutgers corner here to cut down on the gain here; Rutgers had again blitzed off the corner. (CA, 3)
O43	2	5	Ace 3-wide	Run	Inside Zone	Slaton	4
Slaton's got a nice hole up the middle as a scoop block seals one DT and gets a lineman out to a linebacker; Schmitt kills a DE and wipes out a weakside blitzer in the process. If you get your hands on these guys they crumple. Also: another end-around fake.
O39	3	1	Shotgun 4-wide	Run	QB Lead Draw	White	4
Schmitt in the backfield with White; Slaton split. ISQD is the call. A Rutgers DE zips right past the WVU RT and into White's path; White jukes past him and the unblocked weakside blocker to pick it up.
O35	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide	Run	Zone read keeper	White	3
Same slot blitz gets in an unblocked player; he tackles Slaton, leaving a major gap in the middle of the field. Unfortunately for WVU, the OL on the second level does not have an angle on the MLB. He meets White at the LOS. White spins out of it; the delay allows a safety to fill.
O32	2	7	Shotgun 3-wide	Pass	Flare	Slaton	Inc
Bad snap and a bad block from the RT allows the DE to knock it down. (BA, 0, protection 0/1, RT). I don't think this RT is very good.
O32	3	7	Shotgun 2-back	Run	ND-style fiasco	--	-23
Snap flies over White's head.
Drive Notes: Punt, 7-0, 11 2nd Q. White is all like “dude, snap it to me.” Punt hits a gunner and goes back to WVU.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Type	Brief	Player	Yards
O31	1	10	Shotgun Trips	Run	QB Draw	White	19
Again, I'm not sure if White actually has an option to throw a screen here or if it's just a decoy. In any case, both Slaton and White take off towards the trips side of the field. The weakside DE gets way too far upfield – the proper angle if this was a zone read with White peeling out to his side of the field, but it ain't – and opens up a huge cutback lane that White exploits.
O12	1	10	Shotgun Stack?	Run	QB Sweep	White	2
Two WR, a TE, Schmitt and Slaton lined up approximately over the TE. This turns into something kinda like the sweep that was so deadly with QB Eagles in Techmo Super Bowl. Good contain from two separate players on Rutgers forces it back up inside for a minor gain.
O10	2	8	I-Form Trips	Run	FB Dive	Schmitt	1
Jammed in the center. Schmitt does what FBs do, which is run directly forward until they've hit the ground.
O9	3	7	Shotgun 2-back	Run	QB Sweep	White	8
Rutgers is blitzing from the weakside and bailing a safety out into a robber zone on the playside, leaving three guys chasing uselessly and one running his way out of the play. Almost doesn't matter as the RT gets beat again, forcing Schmitt to pick his guy up and allowing the DT to continue flowing down the line against a not-so-effective reach block. Schmitt gets enough of a push on the other guy to create a hole; the diving DT causes White to stumble but does not bring him down.
O1	1	G	Ace	Run	QB Draw	White	1
I think I need some differentiation between QB draws here. On this one, Schmitt is the single setback and White looks like he's going to give him a zone handoff before keeping the ball, using Schmitt as a lead blocker, and hopping into the endzone.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 14-0, 9 min 2nd Q. White actually fumbled into the endzone but recovered his own fumble.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Type	Brief	Player	Yards
M15	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide	Run	QB Sweep	White	22
Schmitt the only setback. This play is actually gap blocked with the TE and LT blowing the Rutgers DE way off the ball – sort of like the Navy offense, when you get these guys expecting not to get blocked and then they get hammered the results are not pretty – and pulling the backside guard around. Schmitt picks the corner off and a filling linebacker gets swallowed by the guard; White lopes into the secondary.
M37	1	10	Shotgun Trips	Run	Zone read handoff	Slaton	5
Nice zone block by the center to carry the DT out of the play; big hole in the middle is filled by a couple meh second level blocks.
M42	2	5	Shotgun 4-wide	Run	QB Draw	White	0
Well-timed blitz from Rutgers gets a guy into the backfield, as two OL were scooping a DT and did not get out on him in time. Result is a mess.
M42	3	5	Shotgun 4-wide	Pass	In	Jalloh	11 + 5
Jalloh comes open in man, as the lack of safeties cause the cover guy to be cautious. Easy pitch and catch for the first. (CA, 3, protection 2/2). Incidental face mask tacks on five.
O42	1	10	I-Form 3-wide	Penalty	False Start	Some Guy	-5
O47	1	15	I-Form 3-wide	Pass	Waggle!	Jalloh	13
They fake an iso or inside zone to Slaton then roll White out of the pocket. Schmitt, releasing into the flat, gets a hit on a linebacker and gives White enough time to fire a strike in front of rapidly-closing defender. (CA+... aw... DO, 3, protection 1/1)
O34	2	2	Shotgun 4-wide	Run	Zone read handoff	Slaton	1
Two guys come up to the wide side of the field and a guy backs out into zone on the other; WVU zones away from the rolled-up secondary. This should be a good gainer or at least a yard or so and a really short third down but Slaton decides to cut back needlessly and ends up losing ground.
O35	3	3	Shotgun 2-back	Run	QB Sweep	White	13
Rutgers sends the house with six guys coming through the LOS and a seventh trying to clean up. One cut block is quite effective and White sets up blocks from both Slaton and Schmitt before bursting upfield and picking up the first down and considerably more.
O22	1	10	Shotgun 2-back	Pass	Bubble Screen	Reynaud	Inc
Zone read fake to the bubble screen; White throws it well over Reynaud's head, possibly in an attempt to get it over the hands of onrushing linemen. (IN, 0)
O22	2	10	Shotgun 2-back	Pass	Seam	#4	Inc
There are 30 seconds left in the half now, so WVU is pressed for time and Rutgers is kinda expecting pass. White throws this into coverage, unwisely. (BR, 0, protection 0/2)
O22	3	10	Shotgun 2-back	Run	QB Draw	White	-2
Rutgers sends two guys right up the middle and almost right past White, who is this close to breaking a tackle and shooting into the secondary for at least a first down and very probably a touchdown when he goes to the ground. Roll them dice, Schiano.
Drive Notes: FG(42), 17-3, EOH.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Type	Brief	Player	Yards
M28	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide	Run	Zone read keeper	White	-7
Slot blitz as per usual, but no stunt. The DE shoots right into the backfield unblocked – unclear whether this was intentional or not – and tackles Slaton; Slaton doesn't have the ball. White keeps and starts rolling out; the tackle blocks the corner. Unfortunately for WVU the guard who moved directly to the second level does not get to the LB, who makes an excellent, quick read and shoots into the gap. White was planning on taking it up into the hole; he starts backing off and looks like he's going to throw the bubble screen, then hesitates and is lost.
M21	2	17	Shotgun 2-back	Pass	Bubble Screen	Reynaud	Inc
Poor throw; slot blitz and this was open. (IN, 0)
M21	3	17	Shotgun Empty	Pass	Corner	Jollah	14
Nice throw, though it's short of the sticks and Rutgers closes Jollah down. Rare dropback pass. (CA, 3, protection 2/2)
Drive Notes: Punt, 17-3, 14 min 3rd Q. Rutgers goes on a 7-minute drive that features a dropped touchdown pass and gets no points out of it.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Type	Brief	Player	Yards
M25	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide	Pass	FB Flare	Schmitt	Inc
Schmitt as an off-the-line TE. Same corner blitz; Zone read fake suckers in everyone and Schmitt shoots into a wide open flat. Big gainer but for the pass getting batted down. (BA, 0)
M25	2	10	Shotgun 2-back	Run	Zone read handoff	Slaton	-3
Corner blitz + DE stunt combo again. This allows the NT, who's shaded to the frontside of the play, to really shoot hard. He does so, and a poor cut-block on the backside plus the stunt leave Slaton surrounded.
M22	3	13	Shotgun Empty	Pass	Jailbreak screen	Slaton	51
Three man line and two blitzers up the middle; everyone rushes hard and takes themselves out of the play. Left side of the line releases; great cut block on an attacking safety by the LT, and excellent downfield blocks by the wide receivers. Slaton sprung, runs far. (CA, 3)
O27	1	10	Shotgun 4-wide	Run	Zone read keeper	White	1
The usual stunt-blitz. White pulls it out of Slaton's belly and attempts to shoot upfield past the CB; a diving shoestring tackle limits him to one yard; LB coming up may or may not have had an angle.
O26	2	9	Shotgun 4-wide	Pass	Bubble Screen	Sanders	6
Crappy block from the outside WR forces Sandesr to deal with the defender a yard or two after the LOS; he stiffarms his way for a number of yards. (CA, 3)
O20	3	3	Shotgun Trips	Run	???	White	15
This appears to be a flare screen for Slaton designed to exploit the corner-blitz-mad Rutgers D. White bobbles the snap, however, and he never makes the throw. So he's got four defenders in his face and one guy who's made an attempt at a cut block. White just sort of darts up through the crack and is loose in the secondary just like that. Bad cut downfield or this is a TD.
O5	1	G	I-Form 3-wide	Pass	PA Rollout	N/A	Inc
Iso fake to Slaton coupled with a White rollout. No one open, so he throws it away. (TA, 0)
O5	2	G	Shotgun 2-back	Run	Zone read handoff	Slaton	5
Hard to tell what Rutgers is doing on this play since we get a terrible camera angle and the replay's not much more helpful. This is another cutback from Slaton though, and one that picks up a block from White.
O1	3	G	I-Form Twins	Run	Off tackle	Slaton	1
Another excellent job by the LT to seal the DE and use his hands to delay pursuit from two separate players. Schmitt, leading, can't find anyone to plow until he's five yards into the endzone.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 24-3, 4 min 3rd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Type	Brief	Player	Yards
M27	1	10	Ace Twins	Run	Inside Zone	Slaton	3
Reynaud with the end-around fake. Excellent play from the MLB to shoot into an offensive lineman, get playside of his shoulder, and make a tackle around the LOS.
M30	2	7	Shotgun 4-wide	Run	MSQD	White	3
Schmitt the only setback; Slaton in the slot... and yeah, you can kind of see this coming. A Mildly Surprising QB Draw. Nice push froom the OL but the stunting DE gets in, as does the blitzing corner, and another LB... Schmitt sort of stops to set up a block on the outside guy; White runs into him.
M33	3	4	Shotgun 2-back	Pass	FB Flare	Schmitt	19
Woo! Zone read fake coupled with Schmitt shooting to the backside of the play. White keeps, draws attention, and dumps it to Schmitt, who McGuffies some kid ten yards downfield, rumbling for excellent yardage. Side note: you know what this play reminds me of a lot? Carson Butler shooting backside against Oregon for 50-some yards. (CA, 3)
O48	1	10	Shotgun 4-wide	Run	Zone read handoff	Slaton	-10(pen)
Schmitt now in the slot. Zone read handoff is well-contained; holding called anyway.
M42	1	20	Shotgun 3-wide	Run	QB Draw	White	3
Trap block blows up an OLB; slanting from the DL gets the playside DE in past his assigned blocker; he delays White long enough for help to converge.
M46	2	17	Shotgun Trips	Penalty	???	N/A	-5(pen)
I don't catch the call; either a false start or delay.
M41	2	22	Shotgun Trips	Pass	Scramble	White	0
Ton of time for White; he can't find anyone open. Eventually he scrambles out and gets back to the LOS. There's gotta be an outlet or something on second and long and any moderate gain significantly increases your chances of picking up the first, so... (BR, 0, protection 3/3)
M41	3	22	Shotgun Empty	Run	QB Draw	White	17
A give-up-and-punt; White's dangerously close to making this a first down.
Drive Notes: Punt, 24-3, 14 min 4th Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Type	Brief	Player	Yards
M34	1	10	???	Run	???	Slaton	3
We're watching some damn horse race instead of the game.
M37	2	7	Ace Twins	Run	End-around	Reynaud	6
Rutgers has this contained until Reynaud makes a jab step upfield and bursts outside; the containing DE took a step in and when he tried to come back out he slipped. Reynaud has the edge and a decent gain.
M43	3	1	Shotgun 4-wide	Run	QB Sweep	White	7
Schmitt lone setback... not quite a MSQD but close. This is a sweep play with Schmitt lead blocking. He crushes a linebacker, blowing him back on his ass and giving White a lane.
50	1	10	I-Form 3-wide	Run	Inside Zone	Slaton	0
No creases in the front; when Slaton bounces it out he's got an unblocked linebacker to deal with.
50	2	10	Shotgun 2-back	Run	Broken play	White	-6
Snap is high. White bats it in the air; when he comes down with it it's too late to do anything but get to the ground.
M44	3	16	Shotgun 3-wide	Run	QB Draw	White	50
Safety blitz comes up late; this is the Wrong Answer. White reads his blitz and zips past him with the help of a last-ditch push by an OL, and then there's one guy with a shot at him, a DE who's been blocked four yards off the LOS by Schmitt. Can he catch Pat White? No. A cutback turns a first down into a near-touchdown.
O6	1	G	I-Form Twins	Run	Off tackle	Slaton	6
Clearly running over the strongside tackle. After momentarily blocking the DE, the LT passes him off to Schmitt and heads downfield to seal off anyone with an idea of getting to Slaton, eventually cutting the last hope of preventing a touchdown.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 31-3, 8 min 4th Q. Up four touchdowns, WVU calls the dogs off. EOC.

Well, that was... different.

In many ways, yes. The most striking to me is the protection tally, which is 9/12. For a game. Michigan would do that on some drives last year.

And yet...

Not so different in all ways. The West Virginia run game is not much different than the zone stretch stuff Michigan ran the last two years under Mike Debord. The two major differences:

• The quarterback is in the shotgun, and
• said quarterback can reach a cruising speed of 600 kph.

That latter point is the difference between the West Virginia rushing attack (6.15 YPC) and the Michigan tepid advance (3.97 YPC), as it forces the backside defensive end into a no-win situation more often than not.

I feel conflicted about whether this was a dominant performance or a kinda meh outing rescued by a few huge plays.

You and I both, hypothetical guy who talks in bold. West Virginia got stuck in third and long twice only to be bailed out by 1) a screen that would have every Michigan fan howling until it reached the sticks, then muttering until it passed 30 yards, then grudgingly pleased, and 2) Pat White going "woop" past several blitzers on a broken play and gliding for days. Both plays went for better than 50 yards and turned what otherwise would have been limp, punt-terminated drives into touchdowns. Similarly, WVU's first touchdown was opened up by a colossal Rutgers screwup -- banging into Pat White, who obviously did not have the ball.

Without that, West Virginia's day was kind of a sputtery mess, and it's reasonable to question whether or not the offense relies on opponent screwups to function.

On the other hand, this was a remarkably short game. West Virginia had nine meaningful drives, only one of which started in opponent territory, and scored four touchdowns and a field goal. I should really go back and get a number for Michigan drives per game over the last couple years, but I can tell you nine is probably tied for a record low. More realistic numbers are 13 or 14, which likely would have seen WVU put up 40-some points against an opponent that went 8-5, was 17th in total yards ceded, and allowed opponents only 22 PPG.

Charts?

Charts. White's passing chart for the game; I've taken the additional step of breaking down his throws into screens (which also include little flares and the like -- anything that doesn't cross the LOS, basically) and downfield attempts.

White
Team	DO	CA	IN	BR	TA	BA	PR
Overall	1	9	2	2	1	2	0
Screens	-	7	2	-	-	1	-
Downfield	1	2	-	2	1	1	-

You can see why White isn't often tasked with going downfield: here his positive results are just three of seven throws. For comparison, Chad Henne's chart for all the games he played more than half of:

Henne
Team	DO	CA	IN	BR	TA	BA	PR
Purdue	3	20	1	1	1	1	2
Illinois (2/3)	5	15	4	0	1	1	3
MSU	5	14	9	3	1	1	3
OSU	1	13	12	1	1	0	4

The receiver chart is really boring and is omitted. There were no drops, and the only catch rated harder than an easy '3' was a third-down conversion early that was only tough because Darius Reynaud is a smurf.

So... is any of this replicable by Michigan next year?

Not much. The similarities between the two sets of personnel are a good, fast running back, -- we don't know who Michigan's is yet but there are six of them, someone will step up -- a good left tackle, and a bad right tackle. Things WVU has that Michigan does not:

• Pat White
• little slot buggers (maybe)
  
• Pat White
• a facemask-busting maniac fullback
  
• Pat White.

Things Michigan has that WVU does not:

• receivers the NFL will not laugh at
• sixty-five tight ends
• hypothetically, a strong-armed quarterback.

Michigan is going to be more balanced by necessity this year, and probably next year.

What was the deal with Greg Schiano's mad blitz-stunt scheme?

I don't want to steal too much of my own thunder here, since one of my articles in the upcoming Hail To The Victors 2008 is all about Schiano's response to the West Virginia zone read, but this is the basic concept:


Shooting the defensive end down the LOS as shown above makes him useful again, and allows the defensive tackle on the playside to have one-gap responsibility. It slowed West Virginia's attack down considerably. Many of their rushing yards came from a variety of White draws, and Slaton was a nonfactor outside of his... uh... 38 yard touchdown run and 50-some yard screen. So it's got a fatal flaw: the cutback. The HTTV article has much more.

Upon Further Review: Defense vs OSU

Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Def	Type	Yards	Brief
O34	1	10	I-Ginn(?)	Nickel	Run	-1	End-around
So last year Ohio State frequently lined up Ted Ginn just outside of the tackle or right end about five or six yards off the LOS. 90% of the time this was shotgun, and this was dubbed the “Shot-Ginn,” which is fine because jargon like that communicates complex ideas quickly. So OSU's first play is sort of that, except with Boeckman under center, Wells lining up in a standard tailback position, and Ray Small in the shot-ginn position, except of course this isn't the shotgun and this isn't Ted Ginn. But anyway, when OSU does this it will be noted as such. This is a three WR set that gets Michigan in a nickel; Harrison is actually playing as a sort of WLB to Small's side. OSU fakes a dive to Wells, then runs an end-around to Small out of said I-Ginn. Jamison(+1) is unblocked and maintains contain, forcing Small to take a long detour; Will Johnson(+1) uses the time Jamison buys him and takes Small down behind the LOS.
O33	2	11	I-Form	Base 5-2	Run	5	Iso
Player intros: Jim Cordle looks sixteen and Steve Rehring has a future in ogre-dom. Michigan shows eight in the box, then backs out; Ohio State runs it right up the gut. Taylor(-1) doesn't hold up well against a double and Ezeh(-1) is very hesitant, allowing Wells to move up in the hole despite Johnson doing a decent job and CGraham taking out the fullback early.
O38	2	6	Shot-ginn	Nickel	Pass	8	Scramble
Ezeh(+1) reads Boeckman's eyes and starts drifting over towards the slant that Harrison's covering; Harrison's gotten a bit of jam, too. He comes off it (cover +1) and takes off; Ezeh(-1) gives the point right back by overrunning it and allowing the conversion.
O46	1	10	Ace Bunch	Base 4-3	Run	6	Dive
A single back set with two TEs, both of them to the short side of the field; they are inverted; a WR is out there with them. Michigan shifts away from the strength of the formation a bit but has Crable as a sort of short-side corner obviously in zone. They run at the apparent gap in the Michigan formation; BGraham(+1) holds up pretty well and two Michigan players meet Wells for what should be a meh gain; Adams(-1) and Ezeh miss their tackles and allow him to spin three into six.
M48	2	4	Ace Twins	Base 5-2	Run	5	Iso
Taylor(+1) does a great job getting through his man, forcing the fullback to take him. (And take him he does with an absolutely crushing block; not really TT's fault). Still, this is an ISo play stripped of the FB by a DL and it works. Why? CGraham(-1) runs up into a blocker and gets his little stubby arms engulfed. Crable comes around from the backside.
M43	1	10	I-Form	Base 5-2	Run	3	Iso
Michigan stunting here and is unfortunate to be stunting right into a play set up to handle it; BGraham runs right into a guy who's doubled TT and moves to the second level. Ezeh's blitzing himself out of the play; CGraham(-1) is clocked by the FB; big hole. Wells makes a questionable read, cutting it back inside, and falls as BG(+1) gets off his block and forces a cut a bit harder than he wanted.
M40	2	7	I-Form	Base 5-2	Pass	3	PA TE Drag
First pass comes with token draw play action; corners bail out deep and Boeckman checks down. Adams(+1, cover +1) is right there to tackle for minimal gain. (Additional cover +1 for the deep routes.)
M37	3	4	Shot-ginn 5WR	Nickel Press	Pass	Int	Flag
Wow, M in press man with a single deep safety. A very Arkansas w/ Chris Houston thing to do. Boeckman calls TO; M and OSU line up in the same fashion when they come out of the TO. This play is all marginal: Jamo gets cut a bit but stays up, so does he hurry the throw? The throw is a terrible one, way short, on a flag route Trent got torched on. He recovers and manages not to draw a flag by whipping his head around and attempting to locate the ball when he notices Hartline slowing up. Could this be PI? Maybe. Hartline, OTOH, kind of tackles Trent in an attempt to prevent the INT.
Drive Notes: Punt, 0-0 10 min 1st Q. No surprises so far from the D: bad linebackers kill all. On replay I think Trent has the recovery speed to deal with Hartline on this. Tressel punts on 3rd and 4 from the 37 and gets what he deserves: touchback.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Def	Type	Yards	Brief
O32	1	10	Ace 3-wide	Nickel	Pass	6	Out
Trent in very soft coverage on Robiskie; OSU takes the easy out, though it's looped and this removes any YAC opportunity. (Cover -1)
O38	2	4	Ace Bunch	Base 5-2	Run	1	Delay Iso(?)
Same setup on both sides of the ball as the previous Ace Bunch play; M clearly has a gameplan for this. Crable(+1) is blitzing off the snap; since he's very nominally lined up as a corner the TEs ignore him and he's in unblocked, albeit from a position not often associated with success. He gets hand on the passing Wells; Johnson(+1) has fought inside his man and ends the play. Taylor effectively singled blocked by Cordle. As for Iso(?): there's no FB, but the play is a delayed handoff and the RG pulls around to act much like a lead blocker would.
O39	3	3	Ace 3-wide	3-3-5 Nickel	Pass	5	Short In
Play design is clearly a pick w/ the TE coming to rub as the WR takes a little in route. M is in zone, which should be advantage M. CGraham can't get there in time, but this was generally well executed by OSU and it's hard to blame him. Immediate tackle.
O44	1	10	Shotgun Empty 2TE	Base 4-3	Pass	-5	Fumbled Snap
Right, you're all like ??? about the formatioin, but yeah there you go: base personnel for OSU, Wells split wide. Would have been interesting to see what they intended to do with this, but this is the first Boeckman fumble pratfall. Probably irrelevant, as a clever blitz got Crable(+1) in unblocked in the interior. (Pressure +1)
O39	2	15	I-Form 3-wide	Nickel	Pass	-8	Free sack
Adams comes up as a seventh guy in the box, and again we don't know what would happen because as Boeckman drops to throw, presumably deep with his 7-step drop, he slips to the turf.
O31	3	23	I-Form 3-wide	Nickel	Run	-5	Counter
A give-up-and-punt playcall that doesn't even get the five or so yards it should because Michigan stunts into it; Jamison(+1) blows his guy into the backfield – his guy is an interior lineman! -- and forces Wells to change direction; he slips, too.
Drive Notes: Punt, 0-0 6 min 1st Q. I liked those plays.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Def	Type	Yards	Brief
O27	1	10	Ace 3-wide	Nickel	Pass	15 (pen)	Fade
Adams up as a blitzer, Michigan in an aggressive press again with a cover-one behind it. Warren(-2) does interfere here, getting behind Robiskie and grabbing him to prevent a completion. (Cover -1)
O42	1	10	I-Form Big	Jumbo 5-3	Run	2	Iso
Pollack in as the SLB. They again double Taylor and attack the gap between him and BG – part of the gameplan to go after BG, who was pretty shaky against MSU's power running? Ezeh(+1) manages to get the guard peeling off the double on his heels a bit, forcing Wells to slow in the hole. BG(+1) has beaten his guy to the inside and comes back to tackle; Adams also there. BG leaves the game, injured.
O44	2	8	I-Form	Base 4-3	Run	4	Delay
Adams brought as a late blitzer; both LBs charging at the snap. A lead delay; CGraham(+1) reads it well and avoids the peeling C, leaving two LBs against one blocker. CGraham makes contact at the LOS... and misses the tackle(-1). He did slow him enough for help to arrive relatively quickly.
O48	3	4	Shot-ginn	Nickel	Pass	-6	Free sack
Wells motions out; Boeckman drops to throw and drops the ball without provocation. Another free sack.
Drive Notes: Punt, 3-0, 15 min 2nd Q. They had a Clausen exorcism after this.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Def	Type	Yards	Brief
M44	1	10	Ace 3-wide	Nickel	Run	1	Delay
Same play as the Delay Iso earlier; this time CGraham(+1) attacks it well, getting to the FB in the backfield and making a tackle at the LOS.
M43	2	9	I-Form Big	Jumbo 5-3	Pass	5	Waggle
Delay fake and a Boeckman rollout; the TE has gotten outside Crable(-1); Adams(+1) reads it and tracks him down for minimal YAC. (Cover -1)
M38	3	4	Shotgun 3-wide	3-3-5 Nickel	Pass	9	Slant
Quick drop; Harrison(-1, cover -1) beat in one-on-one man.
M29	1	10	Ace Bunch	Base 5-2	Pass	7	Out
Trent in soft coverage and OSU takes advantage. (Cover -1)
M22	2	3	I-Form Twins	Base 5-2	Run	5	Iso
Taylor(-1) blown out and buried by a single block. Ezeh clubbed out of the hole by the FB; no chance to prevent the first.
M17	1	10	Ace 3-wide	Nickel	Run	12	Delay
Pulling guard takes out Crable blitzing from the outside and an ill-fated stunt gets Jamison out of the outside lane. result: acres. Englemon(-1) misses a tackle after a few yards; Adams tracks Wells down at the five.
M5	1	G	Shotgun Empty	Nickel	Run	4	QB Draw
Empty backfield inside the five? Not technically an ISQD, but as close as you can get. Ezeh(+1) actually does a great job of plowing the pullling guard and getting a hand on Boeckman to prevent the TD.
M1	2	G	Goal-line	Goal-line	Run	1	Iso
Well, when Wells meets Brandent Englemon head-on needing a yard we all know how that battle ends.
Drive Notes: TD, 3-7, 10 min 2nd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Def	Type	Yards	Brief
O39	1	10	I-Form	Base 5-2	Run	8	Iso
Big gap opens up between BGraham(-1) and Johnson(-1). Michigan's linebackers are on a stunt blitz; CGraham does a good job getting to the right side of the FB, but the hole's too big to close.
O47	2	2	I-Form Big	Base 5-3	Run	1	Iso
Jamison(+2) gets inside the tackle and forces the pulling guard to take him, then slips past said guard to make a tackle for no gain.
O48	3	1	I-Form Big	Base 5-2	Run	2	Iso
Well played by M; Wells bowls over Banks for the first.
50	1	10	Ace Twins	Base 5-2	Pass	Inc	Deep comeback
Plenty of time as M rushes four (pressure -1); Taylor is particularly ineffective. Boeckman waits, then throws awkwardly off his back foot; ball is off target. Coverage evidently good. (Cover +1)
50	2	10	Shotgun 3-wide	Nickel	Pass	Inc	Screen
Either well-read or poorly executed; Crable reads this and makes the throw a bit difficult by leaping in the passing lane; tough catch for Wells and it's dropped. Wasn't going anywhere anyway. (Cover +1)
50	3	10	Ace 3-wide	3-3-5 Nickel	Pass	3	Scramble
Jamison(+1) swims outside the tackle, then slashes up past the TE to get to Boeckman before the play can develop. Boeckman scrambles out as Jamison misses the tackle, but this drive's over (Pressure +2).
Drive Notes: Punt, 3-7, 5 min 2nd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Def	Type	Yards	Brief
O4	1	10	I-Form Big	Jumbo 5-3	Run	3	Iso
Standard: distressing hole, good FB block and decent LB play; Adams comes up to tackle.
O7	2	7	I-Form Big	Base 5-3	Run	1	Iso
Taylor(+1) plows his guy back and into the path of the FB; Wells cuts behind and has unblocked players up the wazoo. Good job by Banks to flow down the line, too.
O8	3	6	Ace 3-wide	Nickel	Run	0	Draw
Taylor(+2) shoots past his guy and is hog-tied to the ground, drawing a holding flag. Wells falls over the mess, ending the drive.
Drive Notes: Punt, 3-7, 2 min 2nd Q. Tressel has already pulled in the horns, no?
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Def	Type	Yards	Brief
O20	1	10	Ace 3-wide	Nickel	Run	4	Draw
Should really be a no-gainer as both linebackers have shown up in the approximate hole well and there's only one blocker. CGraham(+1) cuts off the inside; Ezeh(-1) somehow manages to get shoved and contrives to let Wells between himself and the OL.
O24	2	6	Ace 3-wide	Nickel	Run	7	Delay
Warren comes up, forcing Wells inside of him; Graham(-1) has gotten blocked out of the play but Ezeh has beaten his blocker... just in time to get run over by Wells. Is this his fault? I dunno.
O31	1	10	I-Form	Base 5-2	Pass	15	Stop
Boeckman has all day despite a blitzer (pressure -2), eventually finding Robiskie open for a 15-ish yard gain in front of Warren, well off. (Cover -1)
O46	1	10	Ace 3-wide	Nickel	Pass	-2	Sack
CGraham is flaring out to cover a short TE out and in doing so looks like he's about to cover Boeckman's slant; Boeckman hesitates. (Cover +1). Jamison(+1, pressure +1) bowls over Wells and Boeckman decides to attempt to scramble, getting nowhere.
O44	2	12	???	???	Pass	Int	Duck
Tape only has a replay of this. Crable(+1) shoots in on a blitz, inducing Boeckman to fling a duck off his back foot that Englemon makes an easy interception off of. (Pressure +2)
Drive Notes: Interception, 3-7, 30 sec 2nd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Def	Type	Yards	Brief
O38	1	10	I-Form Twins	Base 5-2	Run	62	Iso
A simple iso play is the game-killing dagger, and the fault is all on the safeties. Adams(-2) is coming forward at the snap but fails to fill the hole between Crable and Banks, instead getting caught inside where Ezeh is taking on the FB. Banks gets a -1 for getting driven back badly and making this a more difficult play for Adams. So this puts Wells into the secondary for what should be a 20-yarder or so; Englemon(-2) is in position to make a tackle but overruns it, falling, and Wells runs to the endzone.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 3-14, 14 min 3rd Q. Sadly, the main thought in my head was “this game's over” and that didn't seem like unwarranted pessimism to anyone around me.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Def	Type	Yards	Brief
O32	1	10	Ace	Base 5-2	Run	6	Iso
Taylor(-1) gets a bit of a bump from a second man after standing up the first guy; this knocks him off kilter and he ends up pancaked. BGraham(-1) failed to take advantage of the opportunity to get inside the tackle and there's a gaping hole that linebackers can only close after a significant gain.
O38	2	4	I-Form Twins	Base 5-2	Run	12	Iso
Ezeh(-1) stood up by the blocker; BG(-1) completely dominated by the LT. Adams misses a tackle and Wells looks like he could be headed for the endzone until he slips to the ground.
50	1	10	I-Form	Base 5-2	Run	1	Iso
Englemon an additional guy in the box, allowing both linebackers to come up into the hole, which is between the C and G. CGraham(+1), unblocked, sticks Wells in the hole.
M49	2	9	I-Form Twins	Base 4-3	Run	4	Iso
Saine in. A Crable blitz blows up the FB in the backfield and forces Saine outside, where CGraham(-1) should have an angle for a no-gain tackle; he overruns it and misses it. The Crable-induced delay means this is only a mediocre gain anyway.
M45	3	5	Ace 3-wide	Nickel	Run	6	Delay
Taylor(-1) crushed backwards by a double team; Michigan is blitzing Ezeh from the outside leaving only CGraham to combat this run up the middle. He actually does a decent job given the situation – Taylor's inability to hold the POA has made it impossible to flow to the ball. It's still a first down as Saine manages to fall forward.
M39	1	10	I-Form Twins	Base 5-2	Run	2	Iso
Slocum in, getting decent push. Ezeh is submarined by the FB; Slocum(+1) peels off to tackle after a small gain.
M37	2	8	Ace 3-wide	Nickel	Run	3	Delay
Both safeties moving to the LOS at the snap. Englemon fills a hole near the LOS; OSU simply doesn't have enough blockers to get a hat on him.
M34	3	5	Shot-ginn	3-3-5 Nickel	Pass	Inc	Throwaway
Harrison(+1) sent on a corner blitz and is roped to the ground; no call. Since Boeckman doesn't know Harrison's going to get tackled, he starts scrambling around, eventually throwing the ball away. (Pressure +1)
Drive Notes: Punt, 3-14, 8 min 3rd Q. The remote defensibility of this OSU punt is sad, sad, sad.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Def	Type	Yards	Brief
O36	1	10	I-Form	Base 5-2	Run	23	Iso
Will Johnson(-2) is momentarily doubled, then hurled to the ground. He was caught out as the NT on this play as OSU switched the strongside by motioning the tight end and Michigan didn't do their customary tackle flip. CGraham has to deal with the Johnson chipper and cannot – no surprise at this point in his career. Wells into the secondary.
M41	1	10	Ace Bunch	Base 5-2	Run	4	Iso
TE from the bunch comes in motion to act as a lead blocker; another Iso. This one goes better as Johnson manages to hold up decently, though not exactly spectacularly. The chip guy is delayed and can't get out in time to block Ezeh; Johnson dives at Wells' feet near the LOS; the two combine to tackle.
M37	2	6	I-Form	Base 5-2	Run	0	Iso
Taylor(+1) stands up a couple blockers, jamming up the intended POA, and Ezeh fills the weakside hole at the LOS. Wells slips trying to cut.
M37	3	6	Ace 3-wide	Nickel	Run	-2	Draw
Michigan blitzing right into this; Ezeh(+1) evades Cordle and is into the backfield, as is Adams.
Drive Notes: Punt, 3-14, 4 min 3rd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Def	Type	Yards	Brief
O19	1	10	I-Form Twins	Base 5-2	Run	-1	Iso
Safety blitz from Englemon forces Wells to cut away from the FB. Taylor(+1) has stood up a single block and Ezeh cuts in to make a TFL.
O18	2	11	I-Form Big	Jumbo 5-3	Run	1	Iso
Patterson(+1), slanting, occupies one blocker and plows him into a second; Wells soon follows. He bounces off, then meets Crable.
O19	3	10	Ace 3-wide	Nickel	Pass	Inc	Waggle
Jamison(+1) maintains QB responsibility – not hard on third and ten – forcing Boeckman to chuck it into the ground. (Pressure +1)
Drive Notes: Punt, 3-14, 14 min 4th Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Def	Type	Yards	Brief
O9	1	10	I-Form Big	Jumbo 5-3	Run	3	Iso
Right, same thing as before. Ezeh scrapes well and Englemon fills.
O12	2	7	Ace Bunch	Base 5-2	Run	0	Delay
Nine guys near the LOS, Michigan swarming to the ball as OSU runs the only run play they've used out of this formation today.
O12	3	7	Ace 3-wide	Nickel	Run	3	Zone left
Give up and punt.
Drive Notes: Punt, 3-14, 11 min 4th Q. Tressel has packed it in, obviously.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Def	Type	Yards	Brief
O26	1	10	I-Form Twins	Base 5-2	Run	5	Iso
Good job by Johnson; Ezeh(-1) crushed downfield and pancaked.
O31	2	5	I-Form	Base 5-2	Run	4	Iso
Okay. I don't care. I just don't care. Something happens on this play and Ohio State gains four yards.
O35	3	1	I-Form Big	Base 5-2	Run	0	Iso
Still don't care.
Drive Notes: Punt, 3-14, 8 min 4th Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Def	Type	Yards	Brief
O33	1	10	I-Form Big	Base 5-2	Run	4	Iso
Good job by Crable(+1) to cut off the outside; Ezeh defeats the FB block and tackles.
O37	2	6	I-Form Big	Base 5-2	Run	-1	Iso
Slocum in; pushes his guy back into the backfield and tackles for loss.
O36	3	7	Shot-ginn	Nickel	Run	-6	Counter draw
Jamison shoots in unblocked and ends this in the backfield.
Drive Notes: Punt, 3-14, 4 min 4th Q. This game has ended.

You don't care?

Uh... sorry. This enterprise has seemed irrelevant, though. What does it tell us about Michigan's future? Virtually nothing, as the coaches are gone and this 3-3-5 stack is coming in. What does it tell us about Michigan's game against Florida? Virtually nothing, as Florida runs an offense diametrically opposed to Ohio State's. Pants.

Well, the performance seemed okay.

The defense gets an incomplete, IMO. A couple first-half drives were stopped by (literal) pratfall instead of any swarming viciousness on the part of Wolverine defenders; Tressel packed up shop after the Wells touchdown run, figuring that an obviously-broken Henne and an offensive line that couldn't block anyone (this, on one particular play, was also literal) was not likely to throw up two touchdowns in the second half. And it's just not that hard to stop an offense that doesn't complete a pass, as anyone who read the offensive UFR knows.

Chart?

Chart.

Player	+	-	T	Notes
Jamison	7	-	7	After a dismal performance versus Wisconsin, was the D's best player.
Johnson	2	4	-2	Ineffective.
Taylor	6	4	2	Positive day, but a disappointing one nonetheless. Given his status as Michigan's most consistently disruptive DT and the steady diet of iso plays, he should have had a bigger impact.
B. Graham	3	3	0	Meh.
Crable	4	1	3
Slocum	2	-	2	Shaping up to be a force next year.
Ferrara	-	-	-
Patterson	1	-	1
Banks	-	1	-1
Thompson	-	-	-	DNP, I think.
Ezeh	4	5	-1	Needs to make a leap next year.
C. Graham	4	5	-1
Logan	-	-	-
Trent	-	-	-	Gave up a couple outs, otherwise not tested much.
Harrison	1	1	0	Mostly watched.
Warren	-	2	-2	Just the one PI.
Adams	2	3	-1
Englemon	-	3	-3	Critical missed tackle on the long Wells TD.
Brown	-	-	-
"Pressure"	7	3	4	Hardly any throwing, but a decent job of getting to Boeckman when he did.
"Coverage"	6	6	0	Meh.

Heroes?

Jamison was a standout, frequently getting to guys in the backfield and not being directly liable for any of the long Wells runs.

Goats?

Taylor should have done better against a steady diet of interior running; the linebackers were meh; the safeties combined to yield OSU's second touchdown.

What does it mean for Florida?

As noted, not much.

Upon Further Review: "Offense" Vs OSU

Just don't. I know it's here. That doesn't mean you have to read it. Every play found worthy has a video clip associated with it.

Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Type	Yards	Player	Brief
M20	1	10	Ace 3-Wide	Pass	Inc	Manningham	Bomb
OSU in a base set; Michigan gets tricky by not running zone left on the first play of the game. It's a straight go route and it's well covered and it's badly underthrown and to the inside and it is not, in fact, all that clever. (IN, 0, protection 2/2) Good coverage everywhere, btw.
M20	2	10	I-Form	Run	6	Hart	Draw
Neither is the second-and-ten draw particularly clever, and Ohio State has a safety rolled up so he's nearly in the box at the snap, and he's moving forward, and just... well. I think it's kind of fitting the Carr-Debord era ended with these two shocking playcalls Michigan had clearly set OSU up for all season – we run left first play always lol – and they just didn't work. Fish. Anyway, this probably shouldn't work but Mitchell (+1) gets a great, crushing block on his guy and drives him downfield and Laurinaitis gets caught up in wash he shouldn't and Hart has a seam.
M26	3	4	Shotgun 3-wide	Pass	Inc	Manningham	Circle
Or a zag or something. This doesn't actually have a circle but it's a slant-out, and it's open for the first down. Henne overthrows it. (IN, 1, protection 1/1)
Drive Notes: Punt, 0-0, 10 min 4th Q. This will quickly become the story of the day: Henne is just broken. Well. There are competing stories, the other being “AAARGH SCHILLING”.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Type	Yards	Player	Brief
M36	1	10	Ace 3-Wide	Pass	8	Manningham	Out
Wide open out that should probably go for a first, looped out all Clausen-like, though, and kept down. Henne obviously has no arm strength. (CA-, 3, protection 1/1)
M44	2	2	?	Run	5	Hart	?
We miss this play recapping Michigan's season.
M49	1	10	Ace Twins	Pass	Inc	McLaurin	Waggle
Butler kept in to block on the waggle side, so Henne has plenty of time. He fires well high of a covered McLaurin, but it appeared everyone was completely covered and he had nowhere to go; the decision here was probably the best available: try to make a near-impossible throw to a well-covered guy. This is sad. (IN, 0, protection 1/1)
M49	2	10	Ace Twins	Run	9	Hart	Inside Zone
Very well blocked. Long crushes the nearside DT; Kraus gets his head across the weakside DT, and Boren, executing a zone double w/ Long, helps kick out the Dt then crushes Freeman. Hart bursts into the secondary, spinning through Freeman for near first-down yardage. (+1 for all! They're not tracked, but who cares!)
O42	3	1	I-Form Big	Pass	5	Arrington	Long handoff
Arrington's brought in motion and, as is often the case in these situations, the corner is forced to loop around his defense to follow and is not able to press at the LOS. This gets Arrington the room to catch this ball and make first-down yardage. I like this call and how aware it is of little football fobiles. (CA, 3)
O37	1	10	Ace Twins	Run	6	Hart	Iso
We come to this play late, but just in time to see it happen. Kraus(+1) is doubling a DT with Mitchell as two OSU LBs fire into the hole; Moundros chops Freeman as Kraus does a fantastic job to make a late peel and pick off Laurnaitis, allowing Hart a cutback lane behind him and a significant gain.
O31	2	4	Ace	Pass	6	Butler	Stop
A number of short zone stretch routes designed to pick up the first down by providing Henne easy targets; Butler comes open and Henne hits him. Ver' nice pickup from Hart on Gholston on a protection slide. (CA, 3 protection 1/1)
O25	1	10	I-Form Twins	Run	12	Hart	Inside Zone
I was informed by a couple people that the block previously termed “handoff” in a bit of made-up jargon was actually a “scoop” block; this is a scoop blocked play. Boren fires off in to the DT and hands him off to Kraus; Kraus then pounds the guy backwards. Mitchell(+1) gets a nice downfield cut on Freeman and once Hart pops through the scoop-created hole he's got room to motor.
O13	1	10	I-Form Twins	Run	-1	Hart	Zone left
OSU blitzes right into this with perfect timing; Freeman into the backfield unblocked, forcing a cutback. Hart slips and falls; if he hadn't there was the possibility to pick up a few yards.
O14	2	11	I-Form Twins	Pass	-6	--	Sack
Gholston completely destroys Schilling(-3). Gholston then sacks. No chance for Henne, who would have had a shot at Arrington on a post for a TD otherwise. (PR, 0, protection 0/3)
O20	3	17	Shotgun 3-wide	Pass	5	Butler	TE Out
Pretty bad decision here spurred by an OSU blitz. It's picked up and there's man cover all over the field. Henne takes the dumpoff that gets Michigan very little. Tenuously CA, but suspicious. (CA-, 3, protection 3/3)
Drive Notes: FG, 3-0, 1 min 1st Q. Goodbye, scoring.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Type	Yards	Player	Brief
M18	1	10	Ace 3-Wide	Run	-1	Hart	Zone counter
Difficult to tell what happens here, but Butler pulls around a la those plays against Oregon, but Hart does not cut back, instead running into Gholston, who's beaten Schillng at the line. Failure there was irrelevant though, as Freeman was unblocked due to the TE pull. Misread by Hart, IMO.
M17	2	11	Ace 3-Wide	Pass	Inc	Manningham	Out
Hart offset and Butler out wide; pass all the way. Henne throws an out to Tacopants that's nearly intercepted. It's at this point his ain't-rightness is an obvious factor. (IN, 0, protection 1/1)
M17	3	11	Shotgun 3-wide	Pass	-7	--	Sack
Long(-1) not infallible! OSU sends the two guys on the right side of the line on a late developing stunt that gets the DT in through a gap between Long and Boren. Falling, the DT sacks Henne, though he had time to survey the field for a bit previous. (TA, 0, protection 1/2)
Drive Notes: Punt, 3-0, 14 min 2nd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Type	Yards	Player	Brief
M20	1	10	I-Form Big	Run	3	Hart	Zone left
OSU's DT shoots past Boren(-1); Hart manages to move past him. Mitchell's lost his block on the backside, otherwise Hart might have a hole on the interior. As it is he's forced to run up Long's back a nd get what he can.
M23	2	7	I-Form	Run	1	Hart	Zone left
A late cut to the play because we're focused on the band. Anger! Hard to tell what happens as a result, but one of the OSU DTs has dove forward and taken out a couple of Michigan OL. Freeman is unblocked, and Hart gets nowhere.
M24	3	6	Shotgun 3-wide	Pass	10	Manningham	Comeback
This might have been an out or something. As it is, it's a comeback that floats out to Manningham. It's short; Manningham does a good job to dig it out. (CA-, 2, protection 2/2)
M34	1	10	Ace	Run	-10 (pen)	Hart	Zone left
I don't know what Hart's thinking here, as the Buckeye LB is clearly set up outside of Butler here and there's a potential lane to cut up in. He takes it outside, where Butler(-1) duly holds his guy, still doesn't block him very well. Washington comes up for the TFL.
M24	1	20	Ace 3-Wide	Run	0	Hart	Draw
Hey, guess who's not fooled even a little bit by this? Those guys. Freeman bolts into the backfield unblocked.
M24	2	20	Ace 3-Wide	Pass	Inc	Manningham	Out
Thrown well upfield and glances off Manningham's diving hand. (IN, 0, protection 1/1)
M24	3	20	Shotgun 3-wide	Pass	Inc	--	Throwaway
Schilling(-2) owned by Gholston. Henne rolls out and throws it away. (PR, 0, protection 0/2)
Drive Notes: Punt, 3-7, 7 min 2nd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Type	Yards	Player	Brief
M21	1	10	I-Form Twins	Run	2	Hart	FB Zone counter
We shoot the FB to the backside DE, so this is sort of a counter. Problem: eight guys in the box; Mitchell is blown back by the DT here, allowing Laurinaitis in unblocked; the eighth guy in the box comes through the weakside hole. Hart has nowhere to go.
M23	2	8	Ace 4-wide	Pass	5	Manningham	Out
Hart lined up at WR but motions in; M takes an out to Manningham. No zip on these. (CA-, 3, protection 1/1)
M28	3	3	Shotgun 3-wide	Pass	Inc	--	Throwaway
Gholston owns Schilling(-2); Henne hit as he throws. (PR, 0, protection 0/2)
Drive Notes: Punt, 3-7, 3 min 2nd Q. Zoltan murders a punt.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Type	Yards	Player	Brief
50	1	10	Shotgun 3-wide	Pass	Inc	Manningham	Stop
Stop route right in Manningham's hands is dropped, though it was going for five at most as someone was shooting out into the flat. (CA, 3, protection 1/1)
50	2	10	Ace 3-Wide	Pass	5	Mathews	Circle
Completed for a decent gain, but again looped out and little YAC opportunity. We're also avoiding the middle of the field like whoah. (CA, 3, protection 2/2)
O45	3	5	Shotgun 3-wide	Pass	Inc	Manningham	Skinny post
Henne's best throw of the day so far, a skinny post that's a little behind Manningham but for good reason, as it needs to fit in a place in the zone. Eminently catchable all the same; Manningham drops it. (DO, 2, protection 2/2)
Drive Notes: Punt, 3-7, 2 min 2nd Q. A truly killer drop there, and a truly killer missed opportunity going into the half.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Type	Yards	Player	Brief
O36	1	10	Ace 3-Wide	Pass	Inc	Manningham	Out
Thrown late, giving Jenkins an opportunity to break on it, and sailed. (IN, 0, protection 2/2)
O36	2	10	Shotgun 3-wide	Pass	Inc	--	Throwaway
Good protection; Henne pumps once then throws it to no one in particular. (TA, 0, protection 2/2)
O36	3	10	Shotgun 3-wide	Pass	3	Manningham	Drag
Checkdown; OSU has it well covered and there's no YAC. (CA, 3, protection 2/2)
Drive Notes: Missed FG (48), 3-7, EOH.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Type	Yards	Player	Brief
M14	1	10	I-Form	Run	-1	Hart	Zone left
Kraus(-2) gets driven back into the path of the FB, who piles into him; Hart soon follows. Result: loss.
M13	2	11	Shotgun 3-wide	Pass	Inc	Hart	Screen
Freeman is all over this, actually batting it down like a DB. We used to be good at these, right? (CA, 0)
M13	3	11	Shotgun 3-wide	Pass	Inc	Arrington	Out
Thrown wide, well into the sideline. No chance for Arrington. Well covered, FWIW. (IN, 0, protection 2/2)
Drive Notes: Punt, 3-7, 14 min 3rd Q. Well, that's an inspiring way to start the second half. Wells goes for a touchdown on the next play from scrimmage and Michigan is looking at a two-score deficit.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Type	Yards	Player	Brief
M19	1	10	Ace 3-Wide	Pass	8	Butler	Stop
The multiple-stops we run with some frequency. Henne comes off Arrington and eventually finds Butler for a moderate gain. Good protection. (CA, 3, protection 2/2)
M27	2	2	Ace 3-Wide	Run	-1	Hart	Zone left
Excellently timed corner blitz gets Jenkins in unblocked and turns this play into no gain. It's like they have some idea what we'll run. Without the blitz this is meh but likely enough for the first down.
M26	3	3	Shotgun 3-wide	Pass	Inc	Mathews	Slant
Completely overthrown. Hello, Tacopants. (IN, 0, protection 1/1)
Drive Notes: Punt, 3-14, 12 min 3rd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Type	Yards	Player	Brief
M18	1	10	Ace Twins	Pass	5	Butler	Waggle
Standard TE dumpoff that looks open for a nice gain; OSU closes quickly. (CA, 3)
M23	2	5	I-Form Twins	Run	-3	Hart	Inside Zone
Must be some miscommunication, because Mitchell doubles down on Gholston as Kraus moves to the second level, leaving a DT wholly unblocked; he engulfs Hart.
M20	3	8	Shotgun 3-wide	Pass	Inc	Manningham	Drag
Woo! Tacopants! Not going for more than two yards even if completed. (IN, 0, protection 2/2)
Drive Notes: Punt, 3-14, 6 min 3rd Q. Next drive is Mallett's.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Type	Yards	Player	Brief
M20	1	10	???	???	0	Hart	Zone left(?)
We're watching Henne trot off the field as the play snaps, and so miss the privelige of watching Carson Butler (probably) whiff badly. Hart snowed under after no gain.
M20	2	10	I-Form	Pass	8	Arrington	Out
Good protection; Mallett provides a throw with actual velocity, but it's behind Arrington, forcing him to the ground to catch this ball and removing any YAC possibilities. (CA-, 2, protection 2/2)
M28	3	2	I-Form Big	Run	6	Hart	Zone right
OSU slants right tat the snap and attempts to shoot a linebacker between Gholston and a blitzing Jenkins, but Helmuth manages to get enough of Jenkins, Gholston's slant takes him out of the play, and Butler actually gets a good block. There's a hole, and Michigan gets the first down.
M34	1	10	I-Form	Pass	15 (pen)	Arrington	Out
Well, sort of. Jenkins is all over Arrington here, drawing an obvious PI... except that the ball is ten yards past the pair as it looks like Mallett's throwing a flag and Arrington's running an out. Probably should have been uncatchable, though you might have gotten Jenkins for holding anyway.
M49	1	10	I-Form	Run	-8 (pen)	Hart	Zone left
So Michigan's actually got something resembling a drive started, Hart finds a crease and goes for eight on first down, and what brings it back? If you said “Carson Butler holding penalty,” give yourself a pat on the back. But a small one: this trivia is strictly $200 Jeopardy! stuff.
M41	1	18	Ace 3-Wide	Pass	-6	--	Sack
Gholston destroys Long(-2) this time and sacks Mallett. Michigan's run the “everyone stop” routes again, which OSU has covered well, and Mallett's hesitation ends poorly. (PR, 0, protection 0/2)
M35	2	24	Ace 3-Wide	Pass	Inc	Mathews	Seam
Hey, Mallett, if we wanted our QB to overthrow his receiver by yards we'd have Henne in. Mmmm. Bitter. (IN, 0, protection 2/2)
M35	3	24	Shotgun 3-wide	Pass	Inc	Arrington	Wheel
Arrington's beaten Washington downfield here and actually has a shot at a catch and run for the first down; Mallett throws it well behind him. (IN, 0, protection 2/2)
Drive Notes: Punt, 3-14, 1 min 3rd Q. Henne returns.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Type	Yards	Player	Brief
O46	1	10	Ace Twins	Pass	Inc	Manningham	Waggle
A bit of a variant here with the TEs staying in to block the weakside DE. Henne has all day to throw and tries for Manningham deep; well underthrown. (IN, 1, protection 2/2)
O46	2	10	Shotgun 3-wide	Run	-1	Manningham	End-around
Mark Moundros 1) doesn't line up on the LOS out at WR and 2) completely whiffs his block on Washington. Result: loss.
O47	3	11	Shotgun 3-wide	Pass	-2	--	Fiasco
Oh, I'd forgotten about this one. Henne believes he's doing a check, lifting his leg then approaching the center to bark out an audible; the center snaps the ball into his chin. Fumble.
Drive Notes: Punt, 3-14, 13 min 4th Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Type	Yards	Player	Brief
M30	1	10	I-Form	Pass	15 (pen)	Manningham	Waggle
Similar setup to the last waggle bomb; this time an OSU DB takes a flagrant PI.
M45	1	10	I-Form Twins	Run	-1	Hart	Zone left
Vijay's infamous screenshot play.
M44	2	11	I-Form	Pass	Inc	Arrington	Deep cross
And, of course, when Henne actually finds an open receiver downfield and hits him the guy drops it. (CA+, 2, protection 2/2)
M44	3	11	Shotgun 3-wide	Pass	Inc	Arrington	Drag
An attempted dumpoff, as Henne has sat and surveyed but now things being to collapse. Well behind Arrington, not going for the first anyway. (IN, 0, protection 2/2)
Drive Notes: AAAAAAAAAARGH AAAAAAARGH AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH AAAAAAAAAAARHG
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Type	Yards	Player	Brief
M32	1	10	I-Form Twins	Pass	-8	--	Sack
Eight minutes left in the game, two score deficit, we still have a fullback around. We run play action; Henne drops to throw deep; Gholston owns Schilling(-2) and clubs Henne to the ground. (PR, 0, protection 0/2)
M24	2	18	Shotgun 3-wide	Pass	7	Manningham	Slant
Accurate; OSU playing off. (CA, 3, protection 2/2)
M31	3	11	Shotgun 3-wide	Pass	Inc	Arrington	Post
Gholston crushes Schilling(-3), knocking him over, and pressures Henne. Henne nearly throws an interception as a result. (BR, 0, protection 0/3)
Drive Notes: AAAAAAAAAARGH AAAAAAARGH AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH AAAAAAAAAAARHG. With 6 minutes left in a two-score game and Michigan punting, this charting bullshit is over.

Let's get this over with.

Amen.

Charts?

Charts.

Mallett
Team	DO	CA	IN	BR	TA	BA	PR
Oregon (1/2)	3	7	2	3	1	1	2
ND	2	7	4	1	0	2	0
PSU	3	12	6	3	6	1	2
NW (1/2)	2	5	4	1	1	1	1
Illinois (1/3)	0	4	2	2	0	1	0
Minnesota	3	9	7	1	3	2	1
Wisconsin	3	13	11	6	2	1	2
OSU	0	1	2	0	0	0	1
Henne
Team	DO	CA	IN	BR	TA	BA	PR
The Horror	2	22	8	2	1	0	2
Oregon (1/2)	1	13	6	3	1	0	3
NW (1/2)	1	19	4	1	1	1	0
EMU	4	16	1	0	1	2	1
Purdue	3	20	1	1	1	1	2
Illinois (2/3)	5	15	4	0	1	1	3
MSU	5	14	9	3	1	1	3
Wisco (Brief)	0	3	2	0	0	0	0
OSU	1	13	12	1	1	0	4

(Hennemallettchart Legend)

Despite missing a drive, Henne set a new UFR record for INs; collectively Michigan QBs piled up 14 between them. Applying our standard Metric of Suck -- remove screens, add CA + DO, put in a ratio with IN + BR + TA -- yields 12 good results and 14 poor ones, a 46% success rate. This sucks butt, but not quite as much as Mallett's Wisconsin game; Henne's 2005 Wisconsin game remains his low point.

Of course, there's one obvious reason this happened: Henne's separated shoulder. He was obviously broken and it's hard to blame him for that performance.

Argh! Gholston!

That guy has got to be on roids.

Protection: 40/55. Schilling -12, Long -3.

Awful, and every minus received was because of Gholston.

Receivers?

Ye observe balls flying ten yards over your head!

	This Game					Totals
Player	0	1	2	3		0	1	2	3
Manningham	4	0/2	1/2	4/4		35	3/18	14/18	55/59
Arrington	2	-	1/2	1/1		17	6/14	20/25	33/36
Mathews	-	-	-	1/1		4	1/7	3/7	25/27
Hemingway	-	-	-	-		3	-	-	2/2
Massey	-	-	-	-		2	0/3	1/1	3/3
Butler	-	-	-	4/4		1	0/2	1/1	17/17
Webb	-	-	-	-		2	-	-	-
McLaurin	1	-	-	-		1	-	-	-
Hart	-	-	-	-		4	-	-	9/9
Minor	-	-	-	-		1	-	0/1	3/3
Moundros	-	-	-	-		-	0/1	1/1	1/1

Basically irrelevant, though the two opportunities Michigan receivers had to make big catches were dropped.

Goats?

Everybody.

Heroes?

Pfffft.

What does it mean for Florida?

If Henne is not healthy we have no chance. If he playing at his apex we have a shot. Our running game is uncreative and full of fail and, like everything Mike Debord does, makes babies cry. We should use our killer wideouts and attack the Florida secondary, the Gators' weak point, but we might have to do so with the burned out husk of Henne or Mallett's suck festival.

Upon Further Review: Defense vs Wisconsin

Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Def	Type	Yards	Brief
O34	1	10	I-Form	Base 5-2	Pass	Inc	Dig
M sends five and does not get there (pressure -1); Crable picked up. Stocco [Yes, I called him "Stocco" here and had to mentally correct myself several other times. Wisconsin quarterbacks all look alike. -ed] throws behind a well-covered Hubbard. (Cover +1, Englemon +1)
O34	2	10	Ace Twins	Nickel	Run	3	Off tackle
ABC is in a really wide view here as they introduce the offense and I can't pick out anything specific. Taylor(+1) with a tackle two yards downfield.
O37	3	7	I-Form 3-wide	Nickel	Pass	22	Dig
BG stunts around both a DT and a DE as CGraham blitzes into the spot he vacated. They pick up the CGraham blitz but not the looping stunt; said stunt takes so long to loop around that Donovan has just enough time to get off a throw to a decently covered Hubbard. BG pounds him just after the ball is released. No, on replay Warren(-1) gave up position right away and was beaten easily. (Cover -1)
M41	1	10	Ace Twins	Base 5-2	Pass	Inc	TE Seam
Actually goes to the non-Beckum UW TE as Michigan sends seven(!) guys. BG gets cut but gets up; Ezeh(+1) in unblocked on a well-timed delayed blitz; both get there just as Donovan throws. The resulting throw is long and uncatchable. (pressure +1)
M41	2	10	Ace	Base 5-2	Run	1	Zone right
Taylor(+1) holds up against a double team and Crable(+1) takes a momentary double without getting sealed; Crable's push and disconnect slows the RB long enough for help to close from the backside.
M40	3	9	Ace 3-wide	Nickel	Pass	2	Cross
Michigan again blitzing heavily; both linebackers come. Ezeh gets in unblocked due to a UW miscommunication, hitting Donovan as he releases the ball. Adams(+1) reads Beckum's crossing route and comes up to tackle immediately. (Cover +1, pressure +1)
Drive Notes: Punt, 0-0, 12 min 1st Q. A couple of impressive plays on the part of Donovan already. I think this might be the hidden story of the game: Donovan playing his ass off.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Def	Type	Yards	Brief
O18	1	10	I-Form	Base 5-2	Run	-9 (pen)	Counter Trap
Adams comes up very hard right in the intended gap between the FB, who's crushed Crable(-1) inside, and the pulling guard. This forces Brown outside and should give Michgian time to react; Ezeh(-1) is late. Good reaction from Trent(+1) holds the play down. Hubbard, who came down to block Adams, picks up a holding call.
O9	1	19	Ace 3-wide	Base 4-3	Pass	25	Improvisation
Base personnel; Crable lined up in zone over the slot receiver. BGraham(+1) gets quick pressure from a four man rush but in doing so gives up contain as he's fought inside of the OT. I have a hard time blaming BG here, as the alternative is to sit around not getting pressure, something we've seen a lot of against mobile QBs. Donovan rolls out, finding Hubbard open for a big gainer and a first down. (Cover -1.) Another excellent play from Donovan.
O34	1	10	I-Form	Base 5-2	Pass	Inc	Flag
Wooo for getting CGraham in coverage against a WR. The outside WR runs a fly, driving Trent off and creating a huge pocket for Hubbard to find another 20-yarder; Donovan overthrows it. (Cover -2, pressure -1). Adams blitzed and was through, but was forced to his knees and could not get to the QB.
O34	2	10	Ace 3-wide	Nickel	Pass	Inc	Stop
The pocket starts collapsing from all sides as Donovan finds Beckum open on a stop route. He can't step into the throw and sails it. Um... pressure +1.
O34	3	10	Ace 3-wide	3-3-5 Nickel	Pass	Inc	Slant
Trent(+2) jumps a slant, breaking up the play and nearly intercepting the ball. (Cover +2)
Drive Notes: Punt, 0-0, 8 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Def	Type	Yards	Brief
O45	1	10	I-Form Big	Base 4-4	Pass	0 (penx2)	Interception
Donovan gives Henne's INT back as Crable shoots into the backfield and forces a horrible throw; Adams picks it off. (Cover +1, pressure +1). A stupid, legit roughing the passer call follows. Crable(-3). A late hit on UW evens out the yardage.
O45	1	10	I-Form	Base 4-4(!)	Pass	14	Out
Are you kidding me? Michigan is in a 4-4 with two safeties as UW comes out in a big formation, then splits Beckum out. The man covering Beckum: Tim Jamison. It's irrelevant, as Trent(-1) has given Hubbard a huge cushion, which UW exploits for an out; Trent can't make an immediate tackle and Hubbard drags him for another five yards. (Cover -2)
M41	1	10	I-Form Big	Base 5-2	Run	5 + 15	Option
Crable levels Donovan, picking up a completely garbage PF; meanwhile the pitch is out and the FB makes a nice cut block on a charging Adams; linebackers are nowhere to be seen. Adams had a really tough assignment here and I'm not sure what he could have done other than this.
M19	1	10	I-Form Big	Base 5-2	Run	7	Iso cutback
Englemon at the LOS for another guy in the box. Stunt gets Jamison(+1) right in the intended POA, forcing a cutback. On the backside Taylor has gotten a little penetration but not much. BGraham(-1) left unblocked, is owned by the fullback, creasing the backside and getting Smith into the secondary. Ezeh(-1) again late and cannot tackle at the hole.
M12	2	3	I-Form Big	Base 5-2	Run	2	Iso
UW unbalances its line, tipping run with a covered up TE. Also no Beckum. Ezeh(+1) blitzes from the corner and gets stood up by the FB, but disengages as the RB passes and makes a diving tackle.
M10	3	1	I-Form Big	Base 4-3	Pass	10	Waggle throwback
We do have extra guys in the box on these last two plays, evening up the blocking. UW goes with the waggle, shooting Beckum out to the backside of the formation. CGraham(-1) loses him and whoever the safety is is just gone. Appears to be Englemon(-1). (Cover -2)
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 0-7, 4 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Def	Type	Yards	Brief
O25	1	10	I-Form Twins	Base 5-2	Run	5	Iso
Both DTs single blocked and pretty much controlled; Taylor avoids a minus by flowing down the line and tackling. Johnson(-1) however, was pancaked and blown out of the play.
O30	2	5	I-Form	Base 5-2	Run	6	Off tackle
Taylor(-1) can't take on a double, crumpling on contact and allowing the second guy to get out on Ezeh. CGraham(-1) runs up into the hole, meeting the FB and getting plowed backwards. Result: first down.
O36	1	10	I-Form 3-wide	Base 4-3	Pass	34	Flag
Beckum is the third “wideout.” He's a matchup problem, that guy. Crable lines up over him in zone; they run the flag again, it's wide open again, and this time Donovan makes the throw. Getting bludgeoned by this route. (Cover -2). Crable is basically a DE now and he's trying to cover the best receiver on UW. Wait... is this man? I think it might be man. Oh god. I can't tell.
M30	1	10	I-Form	Base 5-2	Pass	11	Scramble
Crable(-1) blitzing into this play action; he comes up too far inside and gives up contain. Donovan scrambles for good yardage.
M19	1	10	I-Form	Base 5-2	Run	3	Off tackle
Same power off tackle they've run much of the day; this time Crable(+1) blitzes and stands up the fullback in the backfield, forcing Smith to bounce it outside. Ezeh(-1) gets caught up way to the inside, turning a potential TFL into a three yard gain.
M16	2	7	Ace Twins	Nickel	Pass	5	Dumpoff
Crable knifes through the line but can't keep his feet; the extra moment or two allows Donovan to hit the other UW TE, who's slipped out of the backfield to provide a late option. CGraham(+1) tackles immediately. (Cover +1)
M11	3	2	I-Form	Base 5-2	Run	1	Off tackle
Johnson(+2) drives into the backfield, picking off the pulling guard with his man's butt and creating a huge mess at the POA. Brown attempts to cut back behind it but falls and the drive ends.
Drive Notes: FG(27), 0-10, 12 min 2nd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Def	Type	Yards	Brief
O41	1	10	I-Form Big	Base 5-2	Run	3	Iso
Johnson(+1) again drives his guy backwards, fouling the hole and causing a cutback. Taylor(+1) has also driven his man back a bit and disengages to tackle; Adams(-1) had an opportunity to stick this for a small loss or no gain but whiffed.
O44	2	7	Ace	Base 5-2	Pass	Inc	Middle screen
The middle screen that's killed us the past couple years against Wisconsin re-emerges; we have apparently figured it out. (“Killed us” in last year's game == got a couple first downs.) Ezeh(+2) reads this and is there as the ball shows, breaking it up. (Cover +1)
O44	3	7	Ace	3-3-5 Nickel	Pass	18	Scramble
As soon as Ezeh(-2) gets chopped and flies wildly past the QB, we're dead meat. CGraham has shot into the line and Jamison has stunted around him, leaving acres of space as Michigan mans up. Donovan can run for days. (Pressure -2)
M38	1	10	Ace	Nickel	Run	9	Zone counter
Yeah, you know those effective runs from the Oregon game that we shelved? This is that. Other UW TE comes in motion and sets up over the guard, looking like he's going to help on a frontside run. The play starts and the blocking looks like a zone stretch; the TE comes to the backside and cuts Crable. A slow-reacting CGraham(-1) doesn't scrape(!) correctly, allowing an OL to get out on him. Bam, Smith into the secondary.
M29	2	1	I-Form	Base 5-2	Pass	24	TE Post
No pressure(-2) on Donovan at all. He has a huge pocket and can step up unfettered; this he does, finding Beckum just in front of Warren, who is draped on him and ready to rake as the ball arrives. A perfectly placed ball prevents him from making a play.
M5	1	G	I-Form Big	Base 4-4	Run	4	Off tackle
Crable does a good job crashing down on this but Ezeh(-1), even though he's seen this play like a half-dozen times already, just waits to get blocked by an OL. He gets off it and since Crable's crashing delays the RB he has a chance to make a play near the LOS, but he whiffs on the tackle. Also -1 to BGraham, blown way off the ball.
M1	2	G	Goal-line	Goal-line	Run	1	Bootleg
Waggle bootleg to give Donovan a run-pass option. He might have the TE open but decides not to chance throwing over Crable and heads for the corner. BGraham can't quite get there in time.
Drive Notes: Touchdown,0-17, 7 min 2nd Q. Impressive drive from UW here.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Def	Type	Yards	Brief
O35	1	10	I-Form	Base 5-2	Run	1	Inside zone
No pull from the guard and the FB shoots off to cut the unblocked backside DE: this is a zone play. Taylor(+1) absorbs a double team and flows down the line to tackle after the G gets a tardy release; BG and Johnson also do well to cut off any room.
O36	2	9	Ace 3-wide	Nickel	Pass	Inc	Fly
Both TEs in two point stances. Delayed blitz from CGraham doesn't get there, Taylor bullrushes a guy back into Donovan, which might cause him to shorten up his stride and sail it a bit. No plus but no minus on pressure. Donovan tries a bomb to Beckum that's well covered by Warren(+1, cover +1)
O36	3	9	Ace 3-wide	Nickel	Pass	27	Improvisation
One of the many plays that make me scream profanity during the game. BG gets a break here as Brown, trying to pick up a blitzing CGraham, picks off the guy blocking him; he gets in for what looks like a drive-killing sack but Donovan spins free and miraculously manages to keep his balance, split through the mess of OL and DL and roll out. He signals Hubbard downfield and hits him for a 30-some yard completion. I find it hard to blame anyone in particular on this except maybe BG. I mean, what is Harrison supposed to do here after six seconds covering a guy a foot taller than him? I dunno. BG(-1) for missing the tackle. Pressure(-2) for losing contain.
M37	1	10	Ace Twins	Nickel	Run	5	Zone right
Slocum in; he takes a momentary double, then stands up the OL and closes what looks ike the intended crease. Johnson's(-1) single blocked and handled, creating a crease between the two DTs. Ezeh(-1), unblocked, does not react. CGraham was trying to deal with a huge Wisconsin OL and managed to not give ground.
M32	2	5	I-Form	Nickel	Run	6	Off tackle
Slightly different blocking scheme here as Crable's blocked on the first level whereas before he has been let free for the FB to handle. Maybe this is designed to go outside? Think so. Crable(+1) beats his guy and eventually draws attention from three badgers; Ezeh(-1) overruns to the frontside and CGraham(-1) is obliterated by an OL; a cutback lane opens and Smith takes it.
M26	1	10	I-Form Big	Base 5-2	Run	12	Iso
Johnson(-1) crushed out of the hole and way to the outside, creating a cavernous gap CGraham can't hope to fill. Taylor(-1) also blown back by a double. He gets blocked by the FB; Ezeh(-1) is caught inside waiting for a cutback that never comes and can't close him down to the outside. Englemon(-1) whiffed on a tackle downfield.
M14	1	10	I-Form Big	Base 5-3	Run	-10 (pen)	Pitch sweep
UW shifts before the snap, pulling TEs to create huge overload to one side. Jamison drops off the line and lines up as a WLB. They run a pitch play which gets down to the two, but largely because Crable(+2) had shot into the backfield and was held to prevent a major TFL.
M24	1	20	Ace Twins	Nickel	Pass	Inc	Wheel
Adams blitzes and doesn't quite get there; the two linebackers, delayed, do, forcing a throw from Donovan. (Pressure +1) It's way overthrown and just as well for UW as Warren(+1, cover +1) has Beckum blanketed.
M24	2	20	Ace 3-wide	Nickel	Run	2	Draw
Taylor(+1) reads the draw, fighting inside to close down the desired gap between the DTs; CGraham also does a good job of coming up. As Brown cuts it outside Taylor fights back to the other side of the OL and dives to make a tackle at the LOS.
M22	3	18	Ace 3-wide	Nickel	Pass	Inc	Post
Five guys blitz but no one gets there; Donovan has a nice pocket. (Pressure -1) He finds Hubbard open enough (cover -1), but misses.
Drive Notes: FG(39), 7-20, EOH.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Def	Type	Yards	Brief
O20	1	10	Ace Twins	Base 5-2	Run	8	Off tackle
Sort of on the formation. Beckum not quite on the line in a two point stance. One WR lined up just to the outside and back of him; TE offset behind him. Wisconsin then flips the formation, moving the TEs to the other side of the field, then bringing in the other WR as the RB goes from offset to directly behind the QB: they've moved from an obvious pass formation into a run formation that overloads the other side of the field. Crable switches sides, then starts motioning for a timeout that the refs don't give him. Jamison and Johnson get split but Johnson's absorbed a double team so there's no one to block Ezeh(-2), who sits back , fails to attack the hole, and lets Hill – in the game for a couple carries – burst by him.
O28	2	2	I-Form Big	Base 5-2	Run	2	Inside zone
Odd alignment by the D with Jamison in a two point stance; he passively accepts a Beckum block. Weird, but looks like his assignment. Johnson slants into the backfield but is taking Donovan on a rollout fake; Crable shoots into the backfield from the other side as Michigan brings a run blitz; the FB takes him out but Hill's path is altered. Taylor(+1), doubled, holds up and makes a diving tackle as Hill passes. Still a first down.
O30	1	10	I-Form Twins	Base 5-2	Run	2	Draw
Adams brought as a blitzer. He's taken out by the fullback; Taylor's gotten some penetration but allows the RB to slip behind his block. Ezeh(+1), unblocked, makes a tackle after a small gain.
O32	2	8	Ace 3-wide	Nickel	Pass	7	Scramble
Harrison sent on a blitz; Wisconsin has a wall of blockers out there and Donovan has tons of time. (Pressure -2). Can't find anyone (cover +1), starts rolling out towards Harrison then flips around and starts running for it. Crable can't track him down... Donovan's a fast dude.
O39	3	1	I-Form Big	Base 5-3	Run	2	Iso
Pure straight ahead power from a FB as UW puts out a huge set in the backfield. Good job by Johnson to penetrate but he can't get there in time; Slocum in but not able to make a play.
O41	1	10	I-Form	Base 5-2	Pass	-10 (pen)	TE Out
No pressure(-2) at all; excellent pocket and Donovan has plenty of time to step up and fire. The TE runs an out in front of Warren in zone coverage; Warren is close enough to take a diving stab at the ball and attempt to rake it out but it's just beyond his reach and a completion. Carimi gets called for holding; BG(+1) drew it but it was unnecessary.
O31	1	20	Ace 3-wide	Base 5-2	Run	10	End-around
Same flip UW executed on the first play of the drive. Ezeh(-2) gives up contain immediately; Adams(-1) comes up hard but too hart, allowing Jefferson to beat him to the corner.
O41	2	10	Ace 3-wide	3-3-5 Nickel	Pass	19	Hitch
Blitz from Michigan; Ezeh(+1) plows right into the center and starts driving him back, forcing Donvan to throw; he finds Hubbard on a comeback route in front of Warren(-2, cover -2), who compounds the meh coverage by whiffing on a tackle and yielding significant YAC. (Pressure +1)
M40	1	10	Ace Twins	Base 5-2	Pass	7	Waggle scramble
Waggle action from UW; they use a pulled TE to block the backside DE and give Donovan some time. Coverage(+1) is good and Donovan decides to scramble. Ferrara(-1) overruns the play and Johnson(-1) was pancaked, so there's no one to clean up as he cuts back and scrambles.
M33	2	3	I-Form Big	Base 5-2	Run	-2	End-around
End-around to Beckum(!); this time Crable(+2) is shooting in from the strongside unblocked. He's past the FB – who seems to let him go – and the RB, almost too far upfield to make a difference on the play but he grabs Beckum's leg and eventually hauls him down for a loss.
M35	3	5	Ace	Nickel	Pass	15	Comeback
Again with the long-looping stunt of Graham around the DT and DE; it is about to get to Donovan but it's too late as he finds Jefferson wide open on a comeback route in front of Englemon. (-1, Cover -1, pressure -1)
M20	1	10	I-Form Big	Base 5-3	Run	4	Iso
Mouton in the game as an extra LB. Taylor(+1) drives into the backfield towards the hole, closing it just as the FB passes. Smith has to cut it back; the linebackers have all run themselves to the frontside of the play and gotten blocked, so it takes Englemon coming up to make this tackle. I should hand out a -1 somewhere... Mouton.
M16	2	6	I-Form Big	Base 5-3	Pass	8	Stop
Mouton out, Jamison in in Crable's usual place over the TE; he drops into coverage. Crable playing as a WLB. Beckum motions out to be a second receiver and runs a simple stop route in front of Trent(cover -1).
M8	1	G	I-Form Big	Base 5-3	Run	5	Naked bootleg
Hey, wow, haven't seen this in a while. Run all the way here with no one in a route. Crable(-1) gets cut to the ground, opening up the backside; Warren makes an adequate tackle to prevent a TD.
M3	2	G	Goal-line	Goal-line	Run	2	Iso
Hill in, and we send out the big boys: NT Taylor, DT Slocum, DT Kates. Our DEs are usually DT Johnson and sometimes DT Graham. They run at Slocum(-1), who's stood up by one blocker. Taylor(+1) has burst into the backfield and delayed the progress of a couple pulled guys, forcing a Hill cutback and an eventual tackle just short of the goalline.
M1	3	G	Goal-line	Goal-line	Run	0	Iso
Full credit to CGraham(+2), who launches himself forward, plowing into the FB, stoning him, and driving back as Hill arrives, eventually sticking him short of the endzone. Taylor(+1) also helps make this play, eventually driving the center back and preventing Hill's added momentum from driving the pile forward. At the time I just thought “oh, god, put me out of my misery” but if things go a bit differently in the fourth quarter this could have been a deciding play.
Drive Notes: FG(18), 7-23, 5 min 3rd Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Def	Type	Yards	Brief
O23	1	10	I-Form Big	Base 6-2	Run	3	Iso
Johnson(+1) slants past his blocker into the desired path of this play, forcing a cutback. Patterson disengages to tackle as the RB passes him near the LOS, but can't prevent him from falling forward.
O26	2	7	I-Form	Base 4-3	Pass	10	Out
No pressure(-1) from a four-man front; Hubbard wide open in front of Trent(-1, cover -1).
O36	1	10	I-Form Big	Base 6-2	Run	7	Off tackle
Greg Banks(-1) is doubled, immediately crumbling and getting pancaked. Crable(-1) stoned by the FB as a guard and Beckum pull around from the strongside of the formation. Taylor's again fought to get himself into the hole – I can't believe what a monster game he's having given the results on the field – but Johnson(-1) is easily handled by his guy and can't do likewise; there's a major gap between them.
O43	2	3	I-Form Big	Base 5-2	Run	3	Iso
Jamison(-1) is stunting around the DT and right into this hole; he should at least take out the FB and allow a linebacker to close unblocked; instead he shoots upfield uselessly. Ezeh(+1) and Taylor do a good job of closing the hole, but the momentum of the back bowls them over and he sqeezes out near the first down.
O46	1	10	I-Form Big	Base 5-2	Run	5	Inside zone
Michigan slants hard to the left, which means Taylor takes himself out of the play and Ferrara(-1) is slanting into a double team that crushes him. Ezeh, blitzing up the middle, comes up hard but the back can slant away from him because of the large gap. Adams makes an arm tackle as he passes.
M49	2	5	I-Form Big	Base 4-3	Run	4	Delay
Highlight of this one provided because I'm not sure exactly what to term it and not precisely sure what everyone's responsibilities are. Anyone who can chip in, please do. We're laying back and blitzing hard at the snap; Ezeh(+1) meets the C and stands him up, making this hole smallish – think Brown should cut back here into big space as Ferrara's run himself way out of the play and into trouble, but he does not – but Adams(-1) does not fill it, instead moving outside to follow the fullback, which appears to be Crable's responsibility. Result is that the RB can slip up this crease for four as Ezeh and Slocum disengage to tackle.
M45	3	1	I-Form Big	Base 5-2	Run	0	Iso
Johnson(+1) slants hard inside as Jamison(+1) loops around behind him on what's not really a stunt but a sellout to stop the hypothetical iso. Both guys get there, stuffing this at the LOS and forcing a punt.
Drive Notes: Punt, 7-23, 14 min 4th Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Def	Type	Yards	Brief
O30	1	10	I-Form	Base 5-2	Pass	Inc	Out
Taylor(+1) gets interior pass rush and nails Donovan as he releases the ball(pressure +1); it's a bit of a duck. Warren(+1, cover +1) is there to rake the ball out as it arrives. Stevie Brown in the game.
O30	2	10	Ace 3-wide	Base 5-2	Run	-1	Off tackle
Same formation UW ends up in after the flip, but they just line up in it this time. M shows man press. And end-around draws two players two it, potentially opening up a running lane. Crable(+1) blitzes from over the WR and is not blocked; BG(+1) slashes past his blocker and into the backfield; the pair tackle for loss.
O29	3	11	Ace 3-wide	Nickel	Pass	Inc	Middle screen
Adams is creeping forth at the snap – a spy, maybe? -- but not blitzing, so he's in perfect position to read this screen and break it up(+1, cover +1)
Drive Notes: Punt, 14-23, 12 min 4th Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Def	Type	Yards	Brief
O24	1	10	I-Form Twins	Base 5-2	Run	2	Draw
Johnson(+1) does a good job holding up against a double team; Ezeh sort of comically plows into the back of one of his teammates and falls as the running back approaches the LOS, which forces a spin and eventually a fall due to the traffic the immobile Johnson has created.
O26	2	8	Ace	Nickel	Run	12	Zone left
Crable(+1) shoots past a blocker but is flat-out tackled, opening up a huge gap for the RB to exploit. No call. Ezeh(-1) got blocked right out of the play and ther was no second-level help.
O38	1	10	I-Form	Base 5-2	Run	3	Iso
BGraham(+1) fights outside of his blocker and gets into the hole the FB is running up into. He gets blocked out of the play but he's successfully stripped the RB of his crease and his lead blocker. Johnson(-1) gets blown back by a double, forcing Ezeh to go around the guy still blocking Johnson and whiff an arm tackle; he gets pushed a couple yards downfield and turns this from 0 into 3.
O41	2	7	Ace Twins	Base 5-2	Run	0	Inside zone
Actually more of a 6-2 as CGraham comes to the LOS and Adams moves up to be a second linebacker. Crable gets upfield and Jamison is doubled, creating a large crease between the two; Adams(+2) comes up and fills with authority, tackling for no gain.
O41	3	7	Ace	Base 6-2	Pass	Inc	TE Out
Michigan crowding the line, threatening major blitz. They come with seven guys and have Brown come up to play spy, leaving three downfield recievers in man coverage. No one nears Donovan (pressure -2). He finds Beckum; Adams(+2, cover +2) is all over him, diving to break the pass up near the sticks.
Drive Notes: Punt, 14-23, 9 min 4th Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Def	Type	Yards	Brief
O26	1	10	Ace Twins	Base 5-2	Pass	29	PA Flag
Adams comes up as an eighth man in the box; Wisconsin runs a play-action fake and sets up as Michigan shows man free. Warren(-1) gets beaten on a flag route by Hubbard; Donovan hits him on it. Nice pocket this time (pressure -1, cover -1)
M45	1	10	I-Form	Base 5-2	Pass	Inc	PA Out
Ezeh sent on a blitz that the UW FB screws up real bad, moving out to block Crable, who's already dealing with an OT, and allowing Ezeh a free shot on Donovan. The resulting, hurried throw is well wide. (Pressure +1) Donovan bangs his finger on Ezeh's helmet; Allen Everidge comes in. Question: why was Donovan, who had clearly hurt his finger, allowed to sit on his butt in the middle of the field? I've seen neck injuries that took less time. Obvious gamesmanship by Bielema; it's up to the refs to get Meathead under control.
M45	2	10	I-Form	Base 6-2	Run	2	Off tackle
Michigan stacks the line and comes; Jamison stunts into the gap that's attacked but is blown out of there by an OL. Johnson(+1) has driven into the backfield and disengages to tackle at the LOS.
M43	3	8	Ace	Base 5-2	Pen	-5	False start
M48	3	13	Ace 3-wide	Nickel	Pass	Inc	Out
BG(+1) nearly gets past the OG and is very close to being held. He doesn't get to Everidge, but does convince him to scramble out into an onrushing Jamison(+1). Everidge just gets rid of it. (Pressure +2)
Drive Notes: Punt, 21-23, 6 min 4th Q.
Ln	Dn	Ds	Form	Def	Type	Yards	Brief
M33	1	10	I-Form Big	Base 5-2	Run	1	Inside zone
Adams comes up for an eighth guy in the box; both Johnson(+1) and Taylor(+1) stand up to double teams, Johnson splitting his and leaving an OL in the hole looking for someone to block. As the RB reaches the hole he bangs into the OL and Taylor reaches over to tackle and finish the play.
M32	2	9	I-Form Big	Base 5-2	Run	19	Iso
Taylor(-1) gets effectively scooped; there's a crease between the two DTs as Johnson gets some penetration that might be voluntary on the OL's part. CGraham(-1) comes up to fill and gets pwned by the FB. Brown(-1) misses a tackle, turning this into 10 additional yards for UW.
M13	1	10	I-Form Big	Base 5-2	Run	7	Off tackle
BG(-2) obliterated by the OT, falling flat on his ass immediately. Ezeh(-1) and CGraham(-1) get blocked out of the resulting hole; another big gainer.
M6	2	3	I-Form Big	Base 5-3	Run	6	Off tackle
Same play; this time Brown cuts it to the backside. Jamison(-1) ran himself out of the play; Johnson(-1) blown back by a double team, and woop touchdown.
Drive Notes: Touchdown, 21-30, 3 min 4th Q. Charting stops here, as the rest of the game is academic.

That was horrible.

Pretty much. Wisconsin had 12 drives and scored on six of them. Two of UW's field goals were chip shots; Michigan was fortunate to hold in the redzone. Early on, I was just "oh, okay, Donovan is making some great throws." Late, though... ugly.

It is worth mentioning, though: Donovan did play a great game and Travis Beckum is an impossible matchup.

It seems to me that some of the blame on the UM defense is related to the offense's lack of production. When the offense is constantly going three and out the defense gets tired and tends to reach to make big plays. This leads it open to both missed tackles and big plays. It seems when the offense is able to move the ball the defense can stiffen up and hold the other team in key situations. But when the offense is ice cold the D seems to give up more ground.

Is this fair? Or are they unrelated?

[Actual question from actual reader. -ed]

I think there's some blame to be assigned to things that aren't the defense, but it's not due to fatigue. Look above: after a couple stops Michigan gives up five consecutive scoring drives of significant length, both in terms of yardage and plays, one of which is right after halftime. If we were seeing an exhaustion effect it wouldn't start in the first quarter and end midway through the third. And if there is an exhaustion effect, it's just as much on the D for being unable to get on the field as the O for being unable to get off it. Maybe if Michigan started off with a series of three-and-outs and put together a noble front before crumbling, I could see it. But not here.

The item that might mitigate the D's performance: Zoltan's suddenly crappy punting -- the past two weeks he's regressed badly -- and Michigan's consistent inability to stop any kickoff return before it reaches the 35. Look at UW's drive starts early: 34, 18 (bad pooch punt), 45, 25 (bad punt), 41, 35. That's losing the field position battle.

Chart?

Chart. This one's a doozy.

Player	+	-	T	Notes
Jamison	3	2	1	No pass rush at all. What happened to this guy?
Johnson	8	7	1	Caved several times; several other times made nice plays. Confusing day.
Taylor	11	3	8	I thought he was great, but grant you that you might be skeptical. Nine tackles is a hell of a number for a DT, though.
B. Graham	5	5	0	Meh.
Crable	9	7	2	Stupid PF was a huge turning point.
Slocum	-	1	-1
Ferrara	-	2	-2
Patterson	-	-	-
Banks	-	1	-1	A hidden source of damage: sparsely used backups, collectively -4.
Thompson	-	-	-
Ezeh	8	15	-7	Not ready for prime-time, IMO.
C. Graham	3	6	-3	Is who he is.
Logan	-	-	-
Trent	3	2	1	Gave up a couple outs, otherwise not tested much.
Harrison	-	-	-	Mostly watched.
Warren	3	4	-1	Relatively tough day.
Adams	6	3	3	Should he be playing LB?
Englemon	1	3	-2
Brown	-	1	-1
"Pressure"	10	18	-8	This should color your views of the DL significantly.
"Coverage"	15	17	-2	Okay, not great; flag routes killed them.

A huge positive score for Taylor and a huge negative score for Ezeh jump out. Taylor I'm pretty confident on after checking the box score and seeing the aforementioned nine tackles. That's outstanding for a DT, especially since AFAIK every one of them was at or near the LOS. He was a standout.

Ezeh... well. Is UFR presdisposed to hate linebackers? I don't think so. I went back to a few games last year and found no negative scores except a 1-2-(-1) put up by a wounded Burgess in the OSU game. Is it reasonable that he's playing really poorly? Yes, he's a redshirt freshman in a run defense that's consistently gotten gashed up the middle; Michigan was so worried about their linebackers they brought in their first JUCO in ten years. So the ugly number above is legit, IMO. Ezeh is the Ryan Mallett of the defense, forced on the fiwaeld a year (or two) early.

Arrrgh Crable aaaargh.

Yes, pretty much with the personal fouls and the containment issues and all that jazz, but do note he was positive for the game despite taking a -3 on the first PF (the second, being complete bullcrap, did not draw UFR-scorn). He remains a net positive on the defense and will be important against Ohio State. If he can make Boone look as silly as Florida's southern-speed laced DL did, we might have a chance.

I would also like to point out that Meathead has a basic lack of football knowledge if he thinks Crable would get ejected for two personal fouls.

Heroes?

Taylor and Jamar Adams.

Goats?

Ezeh, Crable, and everyone assigned to rush the passer.

What does it mean for Ohio State?

If Michigan's performance against Michigan State was a "please ask again later" in re: Michigan's run defense versus a pounding, between-the-tackles ground game, the Wisconsin game was "outlook not so good." Beanie Wells is way better than anyone Michigan's faced the past two weeks and the Ohio State offensive line is likely to be at least the equal of MSU and UW. Unless we have some magic schematic mushroom in our pocket, expect Wells to go nuts.

The passing game will be more even, IMO, and will require Ohio State to play off the run -- note that this is not "set up" the run; a first-snap play action bomb would terrify me -- to neutralize a Michigan DL that's highly effective at getting to the quarterback when there is no threat of a handoff but could not get to Hoyer or Donovan on play action or even just your average run-pass down. If Boeckman makes a mistake here or there or a blitz gets in or one of our DBs makes a play or two... but it'll take a fluke event or three to keep Ohio State from moving the ball effectively.

Yes, despite the Illinois game. Illinois has J Leman. He is a real American hero. Do we have real American heroes? Not on defense. Not at linebacker.