I break down interesting plays - schematically, technically, and from an execution standpoint - from the 2021 Western Michigan at Michigan football game.
Flood coverage vs an empty formation. Good job presnap stemming to cloud the picture, miscommunication though between Ni and CB pic.twitter.com/CBn4JNeU6J
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 7, 2021
Michigan still running a version of trap. Playing more off now like you would expect from this coaching tree. Great job triggering down and making the tackle pic.twitter.com/6c35Q7xU9i
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 7, 2021
A lot of fans concerned about giving up the go route. This is good coverage on an island, just finish the play pic.twitter.com/PiO595cqiY
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 7, 2021
Should say that you’re gapped out (defender for every gap) with the safety dropping down. The fold back inside and vertical penetration inside of him gives you a free hitter
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 7, 2021
Michigan showing a lot of coverages early, and pressure from various places. Ends in a safe Cover 3 and a throw they don’t mind forcing more often than not.
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 8, 2021
I talk in this about giving up the field side out and the philosophy of stopping it pic.twitter.com/gG532bfcfy
Talking run fits and great play by the DL and LB on this play pic.twitter.com/J4yIYeLflc
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 8, 2021
Windows a little too big here. Still some room for improvement in the area of zone match and getting to the man from the zone pic.twitter.com/MqSpSo32TM
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 8, 2021
NHG is physical and instinctive. Has some things to clean up, but I like where the RS FR is already for Michigan
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 8, 2021
Good use of pre snap disguise, execution post snap needs to be cleaned up pic.twitter.com/7I5SgJsVu5
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 8, 2021
Subtle change in leverage upon motion of RB gives a win on the screen pic.twitter.com/qeJGJW0eco
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 8, 2021
So much happening with presnap disguise from MacDonald. 2 high shell to 1 high cov. 1 high look to 2 high defense. Multiple in how the fit and match on the outside. There is a learning curve, and will probably be some busts as the opponent gets better. But it’s a lot to process pic.twitter.com/aWJzeWPqYC
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 8, 2021
Again, major emphasis on disguise for the rush. This is pretty clearly C1 behind it, but they put both OLB into coverage and bring the ILBs. Doing that change up is enough to get pressure and maintain the threat that pressure can come from anywhere pic.twitter.com/z6aoWjKBAE
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 8, 2021
Man down in the box. Control the OL with the ends and fold back inside once the RB commits pic.twitter.com/dnWkXAg52F
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 8, 2021
Probably will stop focusing on all the different looks a bit, as that point has been driven home. So leave you with this example of OL looking dizzy with who to block pic.twitter.com/wT4tfnrvTy
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 8, 2021
The last resort of an OL that feels confused on assignments: 7 man full slide protection pic.twitter.com/6Y5vmjXd4Q
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 8, 2021
So maybe some communication issues on this play. Someone is wrong between the safeties and the front, because they have an extra defender on one side and leave Ross defending two gaps pic.twitter.com/rF1VO6wHYR
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 8, 2021
We have a mint front appearance and a bust between the DE and the ILB pic.twitter.com/viWJlMHybG
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 8, 2021
Want to run RPO and hard set to sell the run, better figure out how to still protect the QB pic.twitter.com/BXrkvN1Mw2
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 8, 2021
2) Of 2 primary ILBs, felt they simplified things for the WILL and put more on Ross's plate. I liked the foundation of NHG's game, some rough edges to clean up. Thought Ross had some rough plays early but settled in, but probably not a game changing LB that covers up DL mistakes
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 8, 2021
4) Overall, I think there is a lot we still haven't seen. But you saw the pre-snap picture regularly change, both down-to-down and pre and post- snap. There will be a lot of fronts and a lot for opponents to have to scout.
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 8, 2021
For my OL brothers out there, yes, the RB can help the OL here as well. He commits inside before the OL can get into his block. Keep your spacing off the OL, keep patience, and let the OL force the DB to move before committing to a gap
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 9, 2021
Missed assignment early on. Struggling to set zone combos with the way WMU is aligning pic.twitter.com/NHgHBIEpbf
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 9, 2021
Stumble out of a combo and fail to seal the backside LB. Difference in about 5 yards pic.twitter.com/hRTSBYxVHP
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 9, 2021
Again communication or missed assignment, something not right here as it leaves a man unblocked in the hole pic.twitter.com/dySNtIqYpt
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 9, 2021
WMU is in 5-0-5 and sending 2-3 LBs plugging at the snap, another folding back inside, and UM is leaving the fold player unblocked in the hole. They aren’t down numbers. Better of running gap and figuring out the kick.
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 9, 2021
4th and 1, need some movement, the left side does work pic.twitter.com/pVcErS3yXo
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 10, 2021
Well designed swing screen to get 4 strong quick with an arc blocker leading the way. 1 v 1 on the safety and this time the RB wins pic.twitter.com/w2zJD9JxUl
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 10, 2021
Very good protection on the first drop back pass vs pressure pic.twitter.com/TPuGnb2zrT
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 10, 2021
Defenses have gotten smart with defending the backside of the play for RPO. You can mitigate this by getting a presnap read of the defense and determine which side is your read side based off defensive formation pic.twitter.com/Pa2DRfFN0K
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 10, 2021
Same play design OSU ran against Minnesota, but they’re reading it differently and it’s leaving them vulnerable to bad plays pic.twitter.com/gqqY8rg4sp
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 10, 2021
Point being they are either reading wrong, blocking screen wrong, or blocking run wrong. But how they ran or executed it left them handicapped
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 10, 2021
Missed block in protection probably took away two open TD throws pic.twitter.com/q8OSq1YgYd
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 10, 2021
Michigan looks much more confident blocking a 4 man front. Good movement and good blocks to the second level here pic.twitter.com/c3gyx4C60I
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 10, 2021
Great play by the RT here on the swing screen. Same as the TD earlier, WMU better prepared, still nets 7 yards pic.twitter.com/EG3N1klBCz
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 10, 2021
For some reason WMU moved away from their 5-0-5 to more 4 down and Michigan OL looks much more comfortable. Great job moving the first level and getting out to the second level. May want to consider blocking this +1, but with split zone I’m ok with how they did it pic.twitter.com/M2lMxVGELK
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 10, 2021
Need to clean up how they want to block nub side power. Combo and TE both block to backside LB, leaves MIKE free in the hole. Play is there, have to get on the same page
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 10, 2021
Great movement on the combo block and great work by the WR to get into his block. Now just clean up departure path and we are talking untouched to the safety pic.twitter.com/Gr3Gotfc0u
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 10, 2021
Some thoughts on short motion into split zone: I’m no longer an advocate, not just based on Michigan, but I feel other teams have struggled communicating presnap to actually see the benefit. But OL does a great job here nevertheless pic.twitter.com/lhoXwmxL5P
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 10, 2021
LT confused here, for play wrong. Otherwise you see the improvement happening up front in the game pic.twitter.com/Q4mGb9Q0qj
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 10, 2021
I am pumped, PUMPED you guys. A thing Michigan failed to execute repeatedly in 2020 they executed well and I’m telling you it’s margins away from being 6 pic.twitter.com/ZtIFCJe3bj
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 10, 2021
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 10, 2021
Two back to back plays and showing you the difference why one works and the other doesn’t. 11P split zone from gun is bad near the GL. Need to widen the front because of threats off the edge and get downhill faster pic.twitter.com/3nHwf9HBbK
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 10, 2021
One of the reasons you see that quick motion into split flow is this slide RPO off of it. Prevents Defense from modifying leverage to account for this route, so tou bluff the split flow and it’s an easy 6 yards at minimum pic.twitter.com/5BSjkW0FqV
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 10, 2021
Michigan continues sequencing off split zone, this time with the end around pic.twitter.com/76y7EEZ3RL
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 10, 2021
Small variation to the end around look, it goes to the up man as they pull two backside TEs from the other side of the formation. Gets a lead blocker all the way into the 3rd level pic.twitter.com/K8WsOfUpUu
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 10, 2021
My only thought is that it is a package and not deep, and basically once it proved "not enough" they didn't have enough in the bag to stick with it.
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 10, 2021
But despite the missed ID, Michigan OL moved WMU DL and got into the 2nd level, and that's why the RBs were able to make some guys miss in the hole, because the hole was wide and the defense was unable to consistently crash the LOS, but instead got put into levels or down field
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 10, 2021
They can still utilize motion, but probably need to limit the short/jet motion directly into run game for now, until they really understand how those things impact who they should be IDing post snap. Set the formation, get into your blocks
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 10, 2021
But it's game 1 vs a MAC team. People say Harbaugh doesn't leave stuff in the bag. It's true in the sense that he loves putting things on film. Firm believer in making teams scout prep for a lot. But he tends to do that in packages. So I'm confident there is more there
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) September 10, 2021