This game was originally looked at here in more detail
This is a high level look at Michigan State vs Northwestern in the 2021 season.
MSU
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 8, 2022
6T DE executes push-pull on TE. Cuts off puller pic.twitter.com/JRxJCDstZr
Northwestern
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 8, 2022
Good use of RB in a dirty stack with TE to execute Z-Snag. RB wide open. QB not reading his keys properly pic.twitter.com/AfzSGmdhTl
MSU
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 8, 2022
Double mugged LB, late movement into two high look, rotate into a version of Cover 3.
My recollection is that this largely dropped out of the playbook over the course of the playbook over the year. Will keep an eye out pic.twitter.com/OntV879jBd
Northwestern vs MSU
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 8, 2022
Not a huge fan of Down G to the 2 man surface because any move from that DE is really hard for puller. But puller is too high and skinny, too much bend at the waist, so he can’t really throw the DE beyond the play. Possibly because he’s in a rush to get out pic.twitter.com/mSHNfDyfWF
Northwestern
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 8, 2022
Here’s one of those things I love on paper. Start FIB. Shift to quads to field with condensed bunch inside RB. Zig zag motion the inside WR. Run a NT read sweep. Puts a lot of stress on communication and width of field. But NU can’t block the edge, so… pic.twitter.com/0UXJMg6ftg
FWIW, this is one of the strength of the pressure. Overload away from the RB. Force the LG to widen and play in space
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 8, 2022
Northwestern
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 8, 2022
Simple 3 man, double In concept. #3 on the LOS runs a bender (or dig or COP route) to clear out coverage. Double In underneath. Read just like double slant, but provides a little more vertical threat and allows vertical to clear out coverage. Good 2-high beater pic.twitter.com/mxYCiSOLIt
Northwestern
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 8, 2022
Good example on kick out/split flow blocks, why cutting should only be the answer vs hard charging edge defenders. Better to stay on feet if uncertain (watch RG) pic.twitter.com/6MWTOO4QUw
MSU
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 8, 2022
Good example of “ROBOT” (roll over and back) technique vs play action. Turns and gains depth to get under the deep over route pic.twitter.com/UIJxuxP4MI
Northwestern
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 8, 2022
Good example of a second level cut block by the center.
Rips to get helmet and shoulder through playside hip of defender. Whips butt around and rolls back to make sure defender gets put on the ground.
Defender definitely not expecting to take on cut with his tech pic.twitter.com/wGGsVZnEw0
MSU
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 8, 2022
Gotta understand how coverage structure dictates how to take on lead block. Safety is Sky support (he’s the force defender). When H inserts, the safety moves his gap inside, but still outside the H. LB confused on how to to take on lead block, has hat on outside pic.twitter.com/zrioHt18fV
MSU vs Northwestern
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 8, 2022
Triple Gut Cover 0 blitz. Northwestern has on a TD play call with the outside slant under vertical. But OL doesn’t believe both LBs and Safety are coming. Leaves two for RB instead of blocking most dangerous. Sack pic.twitter.com/MYDNa2HxSG
Northwestern vs MSU
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 8, 2022
Northwestern confused with 3 DL to one side of Center. MSU again trying to isolate LG. This time they execute the twist, with an assist from the chip block.
LT can be patient with chip, LG needs to get contact with 3T and push him on so he can pick up loop pic.twitter.com/np4aJ6EhJB
Here’s the TE-Wing Down G scheme they sequenced the pop pass off. Wing on the BOSS block off the LOS, TE on the down block. pic.twitter.com/EQHbwqQV0h
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 8, 2022
Northwestern
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 8, 2022
Bite route from stack. The middle hook with inside stem pushes the coverage inside, the “Bite” route (corner hook) pushes into outside leverage over the stack, widens it, and then works back into the void in coverage pic.twitter.com/R5StnUaskR
NU vs MSU
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 8, 2022
If an O is going to run condensed splits, you have to threaten with CB blitz, esp from boundary. Easiest, fastest way to add box numbers vs run or get to QB pic.twitter.com/VESRDGNCGd
Michigan State
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 9, 2022
This is a little too deliberate, so he doesn’t get back to the looper. But between the RG-RT vs the Ex Stunt, watch how the RG literally puts the first through onto the OT and then working back to the looper. Good conceptual example of what you want pic.twitter.com/ZelmQTxzRG
MSU
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 9, 2022
LT79. This is how you want to finish the block. Starts to lose the block late, applies circular force, puts the defender on the ground pic.twitter.com/1QKVclhzDr
Northwestern
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 9, 2022
Cover 1 pressure. 3 DL to one side, LBs mugged in A and B gaps to RB. LBs go first, DT loops. Blocking assignments confused by personnel, is my guess, as OL think he needs to react to DL looper, but RB also works to him, leaving LB free pic.twitter.com/Bxy87rD3Qh
MSU
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 9, 2022
I like how MSU gets into a sail concept here. Wing opposite slides across formation as if blocking and the releases through LOS inside the Tackle.
You see how this insert threat messes with the MIKE, and forces the WILL to react to flat coverage, opening up route behind pic.twitter.com/E6BmrrfuoW
MSU
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 9, 2022
Crack Slow Screen. Nice job getting a 2-for-1 with the crack block vs a Cover 1 look pic.twitter.com/zehGfc9w1B
MSU
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 9, 2022
This is something I noticed a few times early in the year that MSU has their count wrong. Either WR has apex and you have 6 on 6, or backside DE is left unblocked and OL works out to apex.
Anyway, LG too early on his cut, so he misses. RG… pic.twitter.com/JsvooqzLGN
That’s if they are blocking the box. If blocking out to apex, then issue is on backside. Regardless, C needs to get much more depth on his first step to each the 2i without help
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 9, 2022
I’d like RG being more patient on combo. There is no backside, drive that DT way out of the play
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 9, 2022
That DT rips to escape the RT block about 10 seconds too late (but clear example of rip escape). But that’s risk of not maintaining combo if he does it early pic.twitter.com/Ly0E3cggDm
MSU
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 9, 2022
So this isn’t the longest run, but it’s a good example of LT79 gaining great depth with his first step. Opens his hip, gets his path in a line, and pushes through the LG. Gets great momentum out to the 2nd level and movement on 1st level. Helps spring that cutback pic.twitter.com/I6GVq7F2SR
MSU
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 9, 2022
Zone wind back with on-line WR acting as the wrap block pic.twitter.com/Oqtxl37AU3
MSU likes this double insert from double wing. Intent of backside insert is that you get Big-on-big and back-on-backer blocks that are more favorable and can really widen that cut back lane if H gets there. The block back also can hold backside LB a bit to give H a chance
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 9, 2022
To be fair, I love the movement they get. RG gets him pinned inside and they just take him to a different area code. But don’t need to be in a hurry
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 9, 2022
MSU
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 9, 2022
I call this a China concept. It’s a misnomer I picked up somewhere, it doesn’t have what is commonly known as a “China” route that you see in a Smash concept. But at end of the day, the corner-flat is just inverted the Smash concept and getting same High-Low read pic.twitter.com/3ORYMvN9Vp
MSU
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 9, 2022
Zone wind back again with WR wrapping. Northwestern decides to go without an edge which I think just kind of confuses the H. But RB able to outrun the LB anyway.
I’m noticing some unique aspects of how MSU blocks this compared to most that run it pic.twitter.com/Se4OkPme2n
Northwestern
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 9, 2022
DE does well to take on (not great) cut block. Gets hands out and shoved back right into the ground. Prevents block from striking through hip and makes it difficult to whip butt around. Step over and make a play pic.twitter.com/fBMkEXw8cg
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 9, 2022
MSU
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) February 9, 2022
NU blitzes backside of OZ, which slants the DL hard to the zone blocks. RT does well to see his combo running away from him. Once “color is covered” he works straight vertical to cut the defense in half
Hard block for the H. He doesn’t really make it, but RB makes a miss pic.twitter.com/A2TUm6atPM