Sunday, May 23, 2010

Little Boston

The times have made us crazy. We want wins, conferences titles, national titles; we want them now now now. We want the program to just start blowing gold all over the place. Sometimes it's not that easy.



















Sometimes you've just got to let it all burn. Watch it billow up into the sky, marvel at its destructive power and note that such a force could only have been necessary to destroy an equally awesome structure. Watch it burn because it is the only thing you can do. Watch it carefully and calmly, letting the ashes settle so that you can finally see everything that is and everything that needs to be done to fix it. Woe is us, for now. We're all trying to drink from the same milkshake; the only certain conclusion is that, amidst the shouting, the contents of that cup containing said milkshake will find its way to the floor, decorating it in a sad display, prompting the purchase of a new milkshake without ever having even enjoyed the first one.


But don't let the flames and the smoke infiltrate your mind. We must not allow the the plumes of darkness to slither in between the synapses that allow us to make decisions that don't fill us with regret and shame.


























We all want this. We all want the wins. We all want to be the favored son. We all want the major media outlets to praise Michigan while we currently despise the network's kowtowing to the Standard Oil's of the world.





















That's okay. The words ring hollow now, as I say them aloud: we will be back. Say it to yourself. Say it again and again. Forget about Rich Rodriguez. Forget about 3-9 and 5-7. Forget about minor violations and lawsuits and defections and non-qualifiers and everything else. Just think about Michigan.

















Whether you support him or not (and for the record, I do...but that's not the point) just think about Michigan. Think about what is good for Michigan. Think about what it could be if given time to rebuild. If we continue to raise our voices, screaming across the room, spittle and words flying like poison-tipped arrowheads, we will all become deaf.


I'm telling you to remain calm, and maybe you don't need such advice. But, if you do, listen: wait. As hard as it is to do, as unsatisfying as it may be, wait. Tune out the world if you have to, for the world is not as understanding as we would hope. The world sees numbers and headlines when we see lackluster depth charts and injuries and a coach that can do the job if given a little time, as he's proven in the past. We must retreat into The Fort and examine ourselves before we say "But what about USC?" That's not to say that we've done anything worse than USC, but, in the end, who cares about them?


I'll be honest when I say that the total sum of the Michigan fanbase worries me. The booing during the 2008 Wisconsin game was a moment that shook me. Michigan completed one of the greatest comebacks in Michigan history, and I forgot about the booing for a while. But it happened, and it still simmers under the surface, living in my subconscious like a subtle reminder that maybe things could in fact collapse. I can only imagine how the players felt. I understand that playing and watching football often involves primal, knee-jerk reactions. I've been there. After The Horror, I said some things that I wish I hadn't. But that day against Wisconsin, amongst the litany of potential reasons supporting the idea that this center cannot hold, reigns supreme; that moment, as the team ran into the locker room, showed me that even the ostensibly key jinglin', down-in-front Michigan fanbase has a little Plainview in 'em. Perhaps it was one instance that thousands of people regret today in retrospect; maybe they don't regret it at all. It's likely that many do not. I am not against criticism. But that...that was something foul, something objectionable.


Don't let the end make you crazy. Don't let the goal fray the neurons that make you sane. Absord the pangs of defeat like a haymaker to the chin. Let it sting and pain you. Allow the wounds to scar over and become immortal reminders of where we've come from. College football fandom is sadistic in this way. But it is also glorious when the time comes for it to be so.




















All I know is there's oil under there somewhere. We just have to wait and be honest to ourselves and those that strive to make the program better the best way they know how. They feel like we do. Indeed, they feel more than we ever could.
















































Saturday, May 22, 2010

Terrelle Pryor: 2010 Rose Bowl

[ed.: Not sure what happed to the right side of the last drive chart...it was fine when I checked it yesterday. Regardless, that drive was all run-out-the-clock Tresselball, so y'all aren't missing much.]


Alright, so I got bored and decided to just put this up today. I went through every offensive series that the BTN showed yesterday, primarily watching Pryor. Did he show signs of legitimate improvement in this game, and should we, as Michigan fans, be even more worried about 2010's version of The Game even more than we already might be?

Well, "improvement" is somewhat vague and subjective. Pryor will probably never put up Troy Smith-type stats through the air, and he likely won't ever have to. Even Pryor's stats in this year's Granddaddy (23-37, 266 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT) aren't mindblowing, especially given that this performance is supposedly an indicator of things to come for Pryor. Make no mistake, Pryor had a great game; however, I'm not sure if the performance wasn't more attributable to solid offensive gameplanning and Oregon's defensive deficiencies. I'll now go through and do my best to analyze each play that the BTN showed (some were assuredly skipped over), looking at the types of passes TP was throwing, and the types of situations in which he excelled/struggled.


































































First Half, Drive 1

OSU 26



1st & 10



Shotgun, 1 back



A dangerous pass at the sticks that’s almost intercepted…not
the best start.



26



2nd & 10



‘Gun1B, Trips right



A
swing pass to Sanzenbacher


goes for 4. Look for a lot of passes like this to him throughout the game.




30



3rd & 6



‘Gun1B



TP drops back and decides to take off, running through the middle of the line for 24. He comes up hobbling somewhat near the end of this play.




46



1st & 10



‘Gun1B (?)



Another short pass, this time to Posey for 4 near the right sideline.




UO 42



2nd & 6



‘Gun1B



TP hits Posey, who is running a slant on the left side. The corner is playing WAY off (sound familiar?), so the throw is relatively easy. Musberger
swoons: “Terelle Pryor may be growing up right in front of us on this Rose Bowl afternoon.” We are 2:00 into the
game.




UO 29



1st & 10



‘Gun1B



Flanker
screen to Sanzenbacher

for 7.




UO 22



2nd & 3



‘Gun1B



TP
hands it off to Saine,

who cuts it back up the middle for a solid 9 yards.




UO 13



1st & 10



‘Gun1B



Sanzenbacher runs a slant

from the slot position, and TP quickly aims to hit him but the pass falls of

#12’s fingertips. God coverage from UO’s Paysinger.




UO 13



2nd & 10



‘Gun2B (Boren and Saine)



Quick
drop; TP throws a good looking ball to Posey

in front left corner of the endzone.
Posey drops it…this

one’s on Posey.




UO 13



3rd & 10



‘Gun1B



TP drops back, finds no

one, and hits the checkdown
to Saine

about 5 yards down the right sideline; Saine
walks

the tightrope and muscles his way into the endzone

for 6.







































































1H2D

50



1st & 10



‘Gun1B



Boren and Saine on either sie of TP; TP easily sidesteps a
rusher with a clean shot at him and launches a parabolic touch pass down the
right sideline to Saine, who has slipped out on a wheel route, reminiscent of
the same play in the 2008 BCS Title Game against LSU. Play goes for 46.



UO 4



1st & Goal



‘Gun1B



Bad snap; Pryor has trouble bringing it in and does well
to get it back to the 6.



UO 6



2nd & Goal



‘Gun1B



Pryor fakes the handoff, dances up the middle for 3.



UO 3



3rd and Goal



‘Gun 1B



OSU runs what appears to be an option play. TP doesn’t
seem to ever want to pitch it, which is wise as Oregon has got the pitchman
covered. OSU Field Goal (OSU 10, UO 0)



























1H3D

OSU 16



1st & 10



‘Gun1B



OSU runs the option play again; seemingly awkward pitch
relationship, plus TP’s indecisiveness, leads to a minimal gain.



17



2nd & 9



‘Gun1B



TP drops back, begins to move around and eventually is
brought down at the LOS.



17



2nd & 9



‘Gun1B



TP is sacked for a loss of 2. Sanzenbacher
seems to come open across the middle right as TP begins to scramble, but TP
doesn’t notice him as he is already concentrating on avoiding the swarm of UO
defenders. Ducks are bringing heat.































































































































1H4D

OSU 20



1st & 10



‘Gun2B



Pryor dumps to Herron in the middle for a modest gain.



24



2nd & 6



I-formation



Some old-school Tresselball.
Herron for 4.



28



3rd & 2



‘Gun2B



Herron picks up the first as Herbie
discusses UO putting 8 and 9 in the box to “test” TP. Boren leads the way for
Herron, who picks up the first.



32



1st & 10



‘Gun1B



Quick pass to Sanzenbacher
across the middle; decent pass, should’ve been caught but careens off of his
fingertips.



32



2nd & 10



Under center, 1B



Run; Herron for 5.



36



3rd and 5



‘Gun2B



Pryor scans the field and takes off after abut a second; tackled for a gain of 1, but a personal
foul penalty gives OSU the first.



UO 48



1st & 10



‘Gun1B



False start



OSU 47



1st & 15



‘Gun 1B



Pryor takes a couple steps to his right and hits Posey
near the sideline.



UO 48



2nd & 11



‘Gun1B



Pryor drops back and lofts a pass with a little too much
arc to Herron on a screen; loss of 1.



UO 49



3rd & 12



‘Gun2B



TP drops back, moves to his right and hits Herron who
eventually slips open. Herbie notes that Pryor
wants to hit Posey on the left side, but sees that he’s covered and thinks
better of it.



UO 34



1st & 10



‘Gun1B



Hits Posey on the left with a quick slant (DB playing way
off again)



UO 25



2nd & inches



I-form



Run up the middle; Saine picks
it up.



UO 25



1st & 10



Under center, 1B



Illegal shift



UO 30



1st & 15



‘Gun 2B



Fakes sweep to Saine,
avoids
defender and hits Posey.



UO 20



2nd & 7



‘Gun2B



Waits and takes off for no gain. UO’s bringing pressure
and TP has been forced to run often.



UO 20



3rd & 7



‘Gun1B



3-step drop and takes off, chased by several defenders.
Does his standard “make everyone look like they’re running in mud” deal but
comes up just short.



UO 14



4th & 1



Maryland-I



Handoff to Saine for the first.
BIG TEN FOOTBALL AHH WENWONWO NQWN!!11!!1



UO 10



1st & Goal



‘Gun1B



TP drops and looks to Posey in the corner of the endzone but overshoots him.



UO 10



2nd & Goal



Empty trey



Flanker screen to Sanzenbacher.
Sniffed out nicely; UO swarms and stops it for a loss of 3.



UO 13



3rd & Goal



‘Gun2B



TP sticks in the pocket for a good while and slings a dart
to Posey in the middle of the endzone; he’s
well-covered and the pass falls incomplete. Field goal; OSU 13, UO 10.






























1H5D

UO 46 (after Homan interception: 25 seconds left in 1st
half)



1st & 10



‘Gun2B



Deep drop, has all day to throw.
Eventually tosses it away at the turf near Saine’s
feet 5 yards downfield.



UO 46



2nd & 10



‘Gun1B



TP throws a dart near the left hash to Sanzenbacher
for 18.



UO 28



1st & 10



Under center



Spike



UO 28



2nd & 10



‘Gun 2B



Feels pressure, scrambles and throws it out of bounds. :02 left; OSU opts for 3. OSU 16, UO 10.


































































2nd Half, 1st Drive

OSU 20



1st & 10



‘Gun1B



Hands off to Saine for 5.



24



2nd & 5



‘Gun1B



Yet another flanker screen to Sanzenbacher;
picks up the first. Another “safe” throw for Pryor…



33



1st & 10



I-form



Run up the middle.



35



2nd & 8



I-form



PA rollout (to his left); TP goes deep to Posey. Throws a
legitimately great ball. Only really the second deep try
all game. Big gain
here.



UO 29



1st & 10



‘Gun1B



PA; rolls rights to hit Sanzenbacher.



UO 24



2nd 5



I-form



Saine picks up most of it here.



UO 20



3rd & 1



I-form



Saine pounds through for the
first.



UO 18



1st & 10



‘Gun1B



Zone read is stuffed by UO…at least we’re not the only
ones having problems running the zone read!



UO 21



2nd & 13



‘Gun 1B



UO brings the house but TP calmly hits Sanzenbacher,
who catches it then drops it after the DB takes out his legs.



UO 21



3rd & 13



‘Gun1B



Token fake, shoots for Sanzenbacher
and man coverage. Sanz. runs
the post, TP throws way behind him. Miscommunication? Field goal; OSU 19, UO 17.
























2H2D

OSU 13



1st & 10



I-form



Saine for 5.



18



2nd & 5



I-form



Saine again for 2; Tressel reverting to old playcalling
habits? (3Q ends).



20



3rd & 3



‘Gun1B



UO again brings several blitzers.
TP’s pass to Sanz. falls
incomplete; good coverage by the UO defensive back. OSU Punt.




















































































2H3D

OSU 19



1st & 10



Single back, Boren offset left



Herron for 2.



21



2nd & 8



‘Gun1B



Pryor does his thing and scampers for the 1st
after a DL gets his hands on him. As usual, he is too big and too fast to be
taken down by arm tackles.



32



1st & 10



‘Gun1B



Herron for 1.



33



2nd & 9



‘Gun1B



PA, rolls right to hit Sanz. for 4.



37



3rd & 5



‘Gun1B



Hits Sanz. on
quick slant. Good throw, but Herbie notes that
Casey Matthews (yes, related to that Matthews) doesn’t get back in time after
trying to show blitz pre-snap, leaving the lane open. Good throw, even if
somewhat pitch-and-catch.



48



1st & 10



I-form



PA rollout right…nothing open so TP scrambles left and is
caught by the shoestring for a loss.



46



2nd & 12



‘Gun1B



Another option-esque play…TP
cuts it back and slips.



45



3rd & 13



‘Gun1B



Musberger mentions how quiet
Ballard has been quiet all game. Of course, TP
scrambles and throws up a jump ball that the 6’6’’ Ballard goes up and gets
in traffic. “AND THERE’S OUR MAN BALLARD!” Indeed.



UO 31



1st & 10



Missed pre-snap as OSU picks up the pace



TP tosses incompletion, intended short for Sanz.



UO 31



2nd & 10



Under center, single back



Herron dances for 3.



UO 28



3rd & 7



‘Gun1B



Offsides on UO tackle. Facepalm. Either way, TP picked up the first with his
feet.



UO 20



1st & 10



I-form



TRESSELBALL.



UO 17



2nd & 7



‘Gun2B



TP throws a beautiful pass to Posey near the front left
pylon and Posey's backside shoulder. Touchdown
Posey, OSU 26, UO 17.













































































2H4D

OSU 27



1st & 10



I-form



Tresselball for -2.



25



2nd & 12



‘Gun1B



Option; TP finally pitches it. Saine
goes for a good gain.



35



3rd & 2



‘Gun1B



Option again; TP keeps it for the first.



40



1st & 10



I-form



Tressel. UO timeout.



42



2nd & 8



I form



Naked bootleg for 7.



49



3rd & 1



I-form



More Tressel. First down.



UO 49



1st & 10



I-form



Tressel.



UO 48



2nd & 9



I-form



PA bootleg to other side; TP runs
for another first.



UO 36



1st & 10



I-form



Herbie talks about TP’s
performance being a good indicator of things to come for OSU
and how Tressel will be able to “trust” him more. Herron for 3.



UO 33



2nd & 7



Victory formation



QB Kneel. Game
Over. OSU 26, UO 17.





Does all this mean anything at all?

Well, yes and no. Yes, this was arguably the best game of Pryor's career. The aforementioned numbers he put up are *insert any Texas Tech qb ever*-esque by OSU standards. The gameplan was classic Ohio State (i.e., ball control, whether via the run or the pass).

However, despite all of this, OSU only put up 26 points, 3 less than their season average. Oregon was not exactly a juggernaut on defense last year. Then again, OSU won, and that's all that matters. The deliberate, plodding style of offense that OSU employs limits opportunities to score, for either team, really. But about Pryor...

I will say that Pryor had a great game, and this post is in no way trying to discredit him or OSU's 2010 team. However, while reviewing this game, there are several obvious issues:

1) Decision time-Very few times throughout the game did TP hold on to the ball for more than a second or two; it was either quick pass or run. This tells me that Tressel perhaps simplified things, so that TP only had to look for 2, maybe even 1 receiver, before hitting the checkdown/running like heck. There's nothing wrong with this, because it worked, but I wonder if this is feasible against some of the better defensive teams in the country, especially if OSU hopes to make it back to the BCS Championship Game this year.

2) Short passes-I haven't gone back and counted, but a good majority of the passes were short ones, ten yards or less, and there were several flanker screens to Sanzenbacher. Of the 37 passes thrown, I counted only 10 that went 10+ yards (give or take a yard) in the air, and only 3 that went for 20+ (the Posey bomb, the Ballard jump ball, and the Saine wheel route). Then again, the fact that all 3 were completed is good news (for OSU, mind you).

3) Receivers-Pryor only hit Posey, Sanzenbacher, and the tailbacks (as well as the one to Ballard). It worked in this game, but if OSU faces a team with a good corner they may be in trouble (re: 2007 OSU-UF game). Take away the deep threat (i.e., Posey) and suddenly OSU could struggle, especially keeping in mind thethe lack of a superback like Beanie or an extremely accurate quarterback in Pryor. Then again, I guess that could be said about any team.

Conclusion: As frustrating as a conclusion it is to make after doing all that, I think that this game means very little in the grand scheme of things. Pryor looked great, running as well as passing. However, there's a difference between poise and Clausen-type poise...that is, hitting 4-6 yard passes is nice, but eventually teams are going to lock that up. The gameplan was crafted perfectly, and the OSU defense played as they usually do. Pyor was asked to make a quick read and run if it wasn't open, which is fine when you're up against an average defense. Against a top 10 defense, TP likely won't be able to just take off and run when his first and second options are covered. The Saine and Posey passes (the deep pass as well as the 4th Q touchdown) were all very nice passes, and TP showed consistent accuracy in the short passes as well, just as is to be expected of a D-I quarterback.

Either way, TP will be a handful for our Wolverines, regardless of how much the defense improves this season. 188 days till The Game.