tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544267494643079726.post7680009833395905111..comments2023-07-06T11:41:56.909-04:00Comments on Breakdown Sports: Coaching Points: Michigan vs OSU, 2018Space Coyotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11525412240793969593noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544267494643079726.post-91725143872060347082019-01-02T11:24:29.946-05:002019-01-02T11:24:29.946-05:00I know this is late, but I appreciated the write u...I know this is late, but I appreciated the write up. It helped me understand the game more and also think about things with a level-head. These take A LOT of time to write, and I thank you for it.dakotapalmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06707278852720652605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544267494643079726.post-71046842684672962002018-11-30T09:03:25.531-05:002018-11-30T09:03:25.531-05:00Michigan ran quite a bit of Nickel in the game, bu...Michigan ran quite a bit of Nickel in the game, but when Long got hurt it limited their ability there.<br /><br />It's kind of a damned if you do, damned if you don't. You put a DB in instead of a LB and OSU has an advantage in the run game. But a DB out on a RB then a LB has to cover someone else.Space Coyotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11525412240793969593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544267494643079726.post-21730295081056255552018-11-30T09:01:48.803-05:002018-11-30T09:01:48.803-05:00I know in that past Harbaugh would often send in m...I know in that past Harbaugh would often send in multiple plays and have the QB kill plays where they didn't like the alignment. I didn't see much of that this year (though I believe it happened in certain situations). <br /><br />Brown is known for checking with the "check with me", so from that standpoint, Michigan's D is usually pretty sound. Movement is great when it works, but it also tends to leave you in a disadvantageous spot at the snap. So it's a balance. Don't think that would have made a huge difference.<br /><br />I would like to see more pace added to the offense. I don't hate the huddle like a lot of people, think it has its usefulness. But it would be nice to alter the pace a little from down-to-down to dictate terms a little more.Space Coyotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11525412240793969593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544267494643079726.post-25390364155805838062018-11-30T08:58:52.299-05:002018-11-30T08:58:52.299-05:001. No Solomon. Chase didn't look 100%, and I&#...1. No Solomon. Chase didn't look 100%, and I'm guessing Gary still isn't. But think OSU executed really well as well.<br /><br />2. Didn't really look for more opportunities for Q run. Wasn't really a huge part of the game plan, as it typically isn't. Think the score prevented them getting into it more (Michigan typically ran it on 3rd and short and in the 4th quarter, so lack of runs isn't completely surprising).Space Coyotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11525412240793969593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544267494643079726.post-51957754306717135562018-11-30T08:57:10.783-05:002018-11-30T08:57:10.783-05:00Not sure what Brown has against quarters, but trap...Not sure what Brown has against quarters, but trap-2 is effectively a Cover 2/4 hybrid, so it's not like he's abandoned it all together. MSU did have more success against OSU, but OSU also made strides during the season to continue to improve. They were the #2 offense in the country, so it's not like they were bad in the rest of the games.<br /><br />As far as talent, they just need to continue to build depth. Better athletes at CB will help. I don't think it's a talent issue on the DL as much as they just need to get better, but talent always helps.Space Coyotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11525412240793969593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544267494643079726.post-38504167296429704292018-11-28T17:40:19.617-05:002018-11-28T17:40:19.617-05:00Great article. Loved the depth of it which is well...Great article. Loved the depth of it which is well beyond the drivel you read on ESpin. Thank you.BigDrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16962456598054047135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544267494643079726.post-38280844994495805912018-11-27T22:02:20.684-05:002018-11-27T22:02:20.684-05:00Great article well explains what happen thank you ...Great article well explains what happen thank you now I seeRick Montaguehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15880781494426323357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544267494643079726.post-34577310794280770952018-11-27T21:52:50.455-05:002018-11-27T21:52:50.455-05:00Great article! In addition to the issues Watson h...Great article! In addition to the issues Watson had, I was alarmed to see OSU RBs routinely match up against UM linebackers. While watching the game, I was horrified to see OSU's P. Campbell or M. Webber motion out of the backfield and a UM lineback (Gil or Ross) follow him out in man coverage. Did Michigan move to a Nickel or Dime look during the game? I just could not understand all the linebackers playing man in pass coverage. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10147128047185918855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544267494643079726.post-90954329909138344502018-11-27T13:56:30.773-05:002018-11-27T13:56:30.773-05:00Great writeup SC, follow your comments regularly a...Great writeup SC, follow your comments regularly and always feel well informed, always helping instill a good sober attitude about things. <br /><br />One thing I've wondered about for a while is the whole "check with me" thing OSU has done for years (as have other teams like PSU recently, etc). Basically seeing our D alignment/personnel and then adjusting the play as necessary. I generally find this to be a somewhat lame and annoying way to play football, but in certain situations I do think it can potentially help gain an advantage, especially when you have 20 year olds out there who can only remember so many things. So my question is, do you think this is a useful approach that Michigan has stubbornly refused to experiment much with (outside of the Rich Rod era), and that it inherently disadvantages the defense? I get that you don't want to overthink things and you can get overly into a cat and mouse game (as Al Borges would say), and I do love when they make some long check only to be stuffed once again, but it is pretty frustrating when its working so well against your supposedly top defense in a game like last Saturday. Does Michigan need better disguising of the D? Moving around/stemming more? Should their offense be doing more of this, and they are wasting too much time in the huddle? Any thoughts you have on the topic would be appreciated.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544267494643079726.post-55459313360860524592018-11-26T19:52:04.167-05:002018-11-26T19:52:04.167-05:00Space Coyote, a couple of questions:
1. I am still...Space Coyote, a couple of questions:<br />1. I am still puzzled by the lack of a pass rush. Chase didn't look right to me. Gary seemed non-existent. I would have thought Michigan would have picked on Isaiah Prince. Solomon didn't play either did he?<br /><br />2. Zone read -- I think Shea ran twice all day (the second was when he was injured?). Was it me or did he not pull the ball a few times when it appeared he could have? Perhaps I misread it, but it seemed like at least twice he had situations where if he pulls the ball he has 10 - 15 yards of green space, Thoughts?<br /><br />THANKKS!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10173772980145738777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544267494643079726.post-22205714070366805102018-11-26T17:56:48.773-05:002018-11-26T17:56:48.773-05:00Who were teams that had better success against the...Who were teams that had better success against the OSU O (MSU?) and I guess they ran quarters and played better? Why does Don B hate Quarters and what talent upgrades do you think M need to make on the Defensive side of the ball? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03114873144901138735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544267494643079726.post-70812917837748150552018-11-26T17:18:25.695-05:002018-11-26T17:18:25.695-05:00In this case it's a robber scheme. For a cross...In this case it's a robber scheme. For a crossing route, the outside DB will replace the deep middle safety. The deep middle safety, when he identifies the crosser, will break forward in an effort to "cut off" the crossing route. It keeps you in a single high, Cover 1, but depending on the route structure, a different player will be that middle defender.<br /><br />That's what I'm showing in the "Mesh Out" diagram above, two players seeing the inward breaking route, reacting, and then the play breaking back outside.Space Coyotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11525412240793969593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544267494643079726.post-33574810605204461752018-11-26T16:45:36.404-05:002018-11-26T16:45:36.404-05:00Can you explain what you mean when you say Michiga...Can you explain what you mean when you say Michigan "cut some crossers"?rainmkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12550281720468284470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544267494643079726.post-41736424682741805092018-11-26T15:05:49.328-05:002018-11-26T15:05:49.328-05:00Thanks again Space Coyote- I suspected quite a bit...Thanks again Space Coyote- I suspected quite a bit of what you wrote, but it is always nice to have confirmation from a such a knowledgeable source. It sucks to say it every year, but if we continue to move forward and improve, the gap will narrow enough that we will eventually get a win.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17201362830375856202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544267494643079726.post-36954498964157421642018-11-26T14:54:34.187-05:002018-11-26T14:54:34.187-05:00They ran their version of Saban's Rip/Liz, a s...They ran their version of Saban's Rip/Liz, a single-high pattern match scheme. It wasn't really any more successful. Think they would benefit from looking at a two-high version. Brown isn't a fan of quarters, so not sure how that will go. They have some bracket coverages that help, but those don't work as well on standard downs. Space Coyotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11525412240793969593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544267494643079726.post-39305793305627989892018-11-26T14:40:12.597-05:002018-11-26T14:40:12.597-05:00Great article.Great article.irvinebluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07056027395908537984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544267494643079726.post-34451138928686455702018-11-26T14:17:11.470-05:002018-11-26T14:17:11.470-05:00Great post! Quick question, What is your opinion o...Great post! Quick question, What is your opinion on the match-up zone as a defense (similar to what Wade Phillips has done in Denver, Dallas and LA)? Does Michigan have the personnel to run this scheme? Has Don Brown ever run match-up zones in the past?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544267494643079726.post-39084656013373577772018-11-26T14:15:15.796-05:002018-11-26T14:15:15.796-05:00This was a *fantastic* article. Thank you for tak...This was a *fantastic* article. Thank you for taking the time to break everything down like that. Understanding where M failed helps me feel a little less hopeless about the outcome. Heading into the game, I felt that M was about to get exploited through the air and lose a shoot out. I enjoyed getting a deeper understanding of the X's and O's and the specific match-ups that OSU targeted. Thanks again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com