In this FREE WEEK edition of the Michigan GIFs post, we take a look at the best of the Iowa game, featuring Blake Corum, more inside zone variations, the emotional range of Iowa fans and much more.
Before I continue, I should mention that this is going to be my final football season of full-time work. While I didn’t anticipate things would reach this point so soon, I can no longer maintain a regular work schedule and take care of my health. I’ll write more on this when I have the space; for now, I put up a Twitter thread.
I can’t begin to express how much I appreciate this place and the excitement I have for its future.
The Breakdown
Yes, we’re doing another inside zone variation this week. I can’t help myself with this offense. I loved this little inside zone wrinkle they called in the first quarter that was tailor-made to mess with the way Iowa likes to play defense.
For the most part, this is going to be a basic inside zone read. What makes this play work particularly well is adding some motion and having a special player at center. Here’s a clean look at the pre-snap setup:
Iowa is, as usual, showing two deep safeties. They’ve rotated their two linebackers over the strong side of U-M’s formation, then walk the strong-side linebacker down to the line of scrimmage just as Ronnie Bell — the near-side receiver — is cued to go into motion:
The motion reveals Iowa’s coverage scheme — shocker, they’re in zone — because the cornerback doesn’t follow Bell across the formation. It also causes their linebackers and safeties to shift towards the far side to respond to the double threat of an edge run presented by Bell and either Corum or McCarthy:
You can see the middle linebacker doesn’t even have his eyes in the backfield. With the possibility of a Bell sweep, he’s checking to see if the slot receiver is going to crack down to block him.
As Bell gets to the mesh point, Iowa’s defense is paying a ton of attention to the edge. Meanwhile, their front four is getting mauled and the lone linebacker who’s looking at the play doesn’t realize he’s got a tight end headed in his direction:
Michigan’s opens up a big hole while the Hawkeyes are still totally preoccupied by Bell, who’s passed the mesh point without the ball:
The middle linebacker realizes he’s way out of position to make the play only when Corum is halfway to the increasingly large gap in the line:
Schoonmaker doesn’t have a good angle to keep the strongside linebacker from getting to Corum, even if it’s a little ways downfield. That’s perfectly fine. Olu Oluwatimi is done helping Trevor Keegan maul a defensive tackle and has moved on to the linebacker at a rather terrifying speed given his size:
While the space is a little too tight for Corum to make the MLB miss entirely, his superior momentum creates a couple yards after contact and nearly a first down:
In motion:
Useful wire-cam replay:
Life as a Hawkeye
Let’s start with the good. This doesn’t get old.
The wave is so lovely, which makes what happens to these fans when they actually watch their football team feel even worse. The disappointment starts young, too:
I’m pretty sure this guy unhinged his jaw to protest a flag?
This is a lovely, literal twist on the surrender cobra:
The rare full chest-deflating sigh:
Watching Spencer Petras get away with a should-be interception:
When Iowa throws for one yard on fourth-and-two:
I’m sorry, Iowa fans. I’m genuinely sorry.
Screenshot of the Week
“No.”
The Top Five
5. THE BRIAN FERENTZ SPECIAL
A one-yard completion on fourth-and-two that Spencer Petras nearly skipped and would’ve negated by an offensive pass interference flag. Sweet tapdancing Jesus.
4. IN SOVIET MICHIGAN, THE BALL CATCHES YOU
The heat on this pass is absurd even before you consider that McCarthy is throwing on the run and can’t plant his feet.
3. DIP, GRIP, TAKEDOWN
I have no idea how Eyabi Okie held onto Petras to make this play. Five-star bend, five-star finish.
2. ON THE RUN AGAIN
Throwin’ passes that we’ve never seen/
Seeing things that we may never see again/
And I can’t wait to get on the run again
FRAMES OF THE GAME: SHAKE AND BLAKE
Goodbye.