Manuel Excel
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Mike Hankwitz was pretty important to Fitzgerald’s NU teams. The D had a league average floor from like 2012 to 2020 (Hankwitz retired after) while the O had a league average ceiling and a truly execrable floor.
D was like 10 pts a game worse after he retired.
D was like 10 pts a game worse after he retired.
December 1, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Mike Hankwitz was pretty important to Fitzgerald’s NU teams. The D had a league average floor from like 2012 to 2020 (Hankwitz retired after) while the O had a league average ceiling and a truly execrable floor.
D was like 10 pts a game worse after he retired.
D was like 10 pts a game worse after he retired.
One thing I think was a big problem all year on O—which I largely really liked—is they just could not protect and create shot plays off PAP all year. I don’t really get what they weren’t doing right but it was a huge drag on the O to completely miss out on run game complementary explosives.
November 29, 2025 at 10:06 PM
One thing I think was a big problem all year on O—which I largely really liked—is they just could not protect and create shot plays off PAP all year. I don’t really get what they weren’t doing right but it was a huge drag on the O to completely miss out on run game complementary explosives.
There’s a very choice that Sherrone has to make this offseason.
Does the standard he set for the O this year apply to the D and the STs and the in game decisions?
The O got MUCH better across the board this offseason. Those guys did the work. Everybody else must be held to that standard.
Does the standard he set for the O this year apply to the D and the STs and the in game decisions?
The O got MUCH better across the board this offseason. Those guys did the work. Everybody else must be held to that standard.
November 29, 2025 at 8:26 PM
There’s a very choice that Sherrone has to make this offseason.
Does the standard he set for the O this year apply to the D and the STs and the in game decisions?
The O got MUCH better across the board this offseason. Those guys did the work. Everybody else must be held to that standard.
Does the standard he set for the O this year apply to the D and the STs and the in game decisions?
The O got MUCH better across the board this offseason. Those guys did the work. Everybody else must be held to that standard.
Yeah this should’ve been an 8-man spacing D that used stunts to keep the ball from rolling off the table with lots of C3 and QQH variations.
Instead line games + 7-man spacing that the LBs were never coached up enough to handle and the DL weren’t ass kickers to play down a gap or stunt constantly.
Instead line games + 7-man spacing that the LBs were never coached up enough to handle and the DL weren’t ass kickers to play down a gap or stunt constantly.
For Michigan, it’s year 2 where the D plan was extremely flawed. The DL last year covered a ton of sins. Outside Moore, this year’s DL is average to above average but not more. But plan was a ton of disguise behind leaning on a great front. That last OSU possession and an indicative of overall issue
November 29, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Yeah this should’ve been an 8-man spacing D that used stunts to keep the ball from rolling off the table with lots of C3 and QQH variations.
Instead line games + 7-man spacing that the LBs were never coached up enough to handle and the DL weren’t ass kickers to play down a gap or stunt constantly.
Instead line games + 7-man spacing that the LBs were never coached up enough to handle and the DL weren’t ass kickers to play down a gap or stunt constantly.
The DL not holding up is pretty grim. This OSU OL is a good unit but we’ve been in 3-4 or plugging backers to prevent this kind of thing.
November 29, 2025 at 7:57 PM
The DL not holding up is pretty grim. This OSU OL is a good unit but we’ve been in 3-4 or plugging backers to prevent this kind of thing.
I don’t think Marshall can carry the ball in his right hand
November 29, 2025 at 7:33 PM
I don’t think Marshall can carry the ball in his right hand
C2 weak, probably Stump strong. Strong safety has 3 vertical, 3 eliminates, hr needs to bracket 2 vertical with Nickel matching vertical.
Metcalf doesn’t realize there’s a 3x1 check on after the TE shifts strong.
Our most common call vs 3x1. Busted by a simple COS shift.
Metcalf doesn’t realize there’s a 3x1 check on after the TE shifts strong.
Our most common call vs 3x1. Busted by a simple COS shift.
November 29, 2025 at 7:30 PM
C2 weak, probably Stump strong. Strong safety has 3 vertical, 3 eliminates, hr needs to bracket 2 vertical with Nickel matching vertical.
Metcalf doesn’t realize there’s a 3x1 check on after the TE shifts strong.
Our most common call vs 3x1. Busted by a simple COS shift.
Metcalf doesn’t realize there’s a 3x1 check on after the TE shifts strong.
Our most common call vs 3x1. Busted by a simple COS shift.
Nice to see Metcalf traveling with the COS motion. Something we’ve neglected to do under Wink.
November 29, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Nice to see Metcalf traveling with the COS motion. Something we’ve neglected to do under Wink.
Think that punt checks the last point on the Stupid Shit We’ve Done All Year list
November 29, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Think that punt checks the last point on the Stupid Shit We’ve Done All Year list
Creeper there from Wink on 3rd down with the safety buzzing strong. Plug the Mike, safety comes down into the zone he vacated.
Wink starting to run a lot of plug blitzes from his LBs to create 5-down fronts and kill this run game.
November 29, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Creeper there from Wink on 3rd down with the safety buzzing strong. Plug the Mike, safety comes down into the zone he vacated.
Wink starting to run a lot of plug blitzes from his LBs to create 5-down fronts and kill this run game.
November 29, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Wink starting to run a lot of plug blitzes from his LBs to create 5-down fronts and kill this run game.
Marshall and Haynes being out is obviously a huge cost in this game, I think we very plausibly have an extra 3-7 points and we feel pretty alright about things.
Have to cut down on the stupid on D and then try to get some work done on early downs with Marsh and McCulley.
Have to cut down on the stupid on D and then try to get some work done on early downs with Marsh and McCulley.
Yeah the guy is absolutely giving everything he’s got, it’s going as good as you could possibly expect.
But we’re just missing these shots at explosives that are there when Marshall or Haynes are available. The OL obviously providing room to get them.
But we’re just missing these shots at explosives that are there when Marshall or Haynes are available. The OL obviously providing room to get them.
Kuzdzel has been a solid RB3 for Michigan because he has pretty good vision and the OL is blocking in a way for plays to develop longer. What makes him clearly a walk on is that every time he gets hit it looks like he gets absolutely destroyed
November 29, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Marshall and Haynes being out is obviously a huge cost in this game, I think we very plausibly have an extra 3-7 points and we feel pretty alright about things.
Have to cut down on the stupid on D and then try to get some work done on early downs with Marsh and McCulley.
Have to cut down on the stupid on D and then try to get some work done on early downs with Marsh and McCulley.
Right, even with Young in, this is tough to defend in this call. We’ve played some 1 Double and Double Double in this spot so Day is just going away from Tate and Smith.
Zig zag motion into stack from the slot. LB didn’t have good leverage on the point man, can’t let him push vertical there and form that rub. But the motion makes it difficult as they are thinking quick route to the flat with the initial motion and not communicating
November 29, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Right, even with Young in, this is tough to defend in this call. We’ve played some 1 Double and Double Double in this spot so Day is just going away from Tate and Smith.
They have so much on their plate in run fits and getting their checks right and they just haven’t been coached up enough to match the demand.
Why I think the secondary has been much worse. They have simplified that stuff for their benefit and they still don’t look well repped.
Why I think the secondary has been much worse. They have simplified that stuff for their benefit and they still don’t look well repped.
OSU really starting to go after the LB level, both in pass and in misdirection. They just do not execute early assignments well or recognize structures of route stems to help DBs behind them in coverage or actually position themselves to at least flash color to the QB
November 29, 2025 at 6:40 PM
They have so much on their plate in run fits and getting their checks right and they just haven’t been coached up enough to match the demand.
Why I think the secondary has been much worse. They have simplified that stuff for their benefit and they still don’t look well repped.
Why I think the secondary has been much worse. They have simplified that stuff for their benefit and they still don’t look well repped.
It sure looked like the first timeout was because Michigan had their 3-4 on against 11. If they did it twice this half that would be pretty impressive even for them.
November 29, 2025 at 6:36 PM
It sure looked like the first timeout was because Michigan had their 3-4 on against 11. If they did it twice this half that would be pretty impressive even for them.
Sullivan playing the wrong technique, think he got a bunch check wrong.
November 29, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Sullivan playing the wrong technique, think he got a bunch check wrong.
Just can’t stand 3-4 vs 12
November 29, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Just can’t stand 3-4 vs 12
Rolder whiffs on the re-route
November 29, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Rolder whiffs on the re-route
Anderson has not played well all year. He cannot play in this game.
November 29, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Anderson has not played well all year. He cannot play in this game.
Reposted by Manuel Excel
Yeah the guy is absolutely giving everything he’s got, it’s going as good as you could possibly expect.
But we’re just missing these shots at explosives that are there when Marshall or Haynes are available. The OL obviously providing room to get them.
But we’re just missing these shots at explosives that are there when Marshall or Haynes are available. The OL obviously providing room to get them.
Kuzdzel has been a solid RB3 for Michigan because he has pretty good vision and the OL is blocking in a way for plays to develop longer. What makes him clearly a walk on is that every time he gets hit it looks like he gets absolutely destroyed
November 29, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Yeah the guy is absolutely giving everything he’s got, it’s going as good as you could possibly expect.
But we’re just missing these shots at explosives that are there when Marshall or Haynes are available. The OL obviously providing room to get them.
But we’re just missing these shots at explosives that are there when Marshall or Haynes are available. The OL obviously providing room to get them.
Bash Q Counter and Bryce messed up the read. Not great.
November 29, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Bash Q Counter and Bryce messed up the read. Not great.
That’s a pretty decent first test for Marsh. Could see the MOD tech from Matthews. Marsh sold it nicely.
Think we need to get to drop back early and try these MOD corners. Getting some chunks prob isn’t going to push Patricia out of 1-high. But we need to figure out what’s out there for us.
Marsh and McCulley are probably the best bets for explosives w Marshall out.
Marsh and McCulley are probably the best bets for explosives w Marshall out.
Underwood has felt pressure all year, there or not. Gonna continue to be difficult for them to generate straight drop back when he gets off his spot after his first read
November 29, 2025 at 6:20 PM
That’s a pretty decent first test for Marsh. Could see the MOD tech from Matthews. Marsh sold it nicely.
In this case it was both. Zeke has struggled vs double moves all year. Not sure what the call was but I don’t understand how we ended up there at this point.
Back to coverage, I think my biggest concern is just how uninspiring we’ve been with the ball in the air this year. Lots of examples of our corners and safeties getting turned around.
After that, I wonder if pushing the coverage to Zeke at least a bit isn’t better than pushing it to Smith.
After that, I wonder if pushing the coverage to Zeke at least a bit isn’t better than pushing it to Smith.
November 29, 2025 at 6:13 PM
In this case it was both. Zeke has struggled vs double moves all year. Not sure what the call was but I don’t understand how we ended up there at this point.
Think we need to get to drop back early and try these MOD corners. Getting some chunks prob isn’t going to push Patricia out of 1-high. But we need to figure out what’s out there for us.
Marsh and McCulley are probably the best bets for explosives w Marshall out.
Marsh and McCulley are probably the best bets for explosives w Marshall out.
Underwood has felt pressure all year, there or not. Gonna continue to be difficult for them to generate straight drop back when he gets off his spot after his first read
November 29, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Think we need to get to drop back early and try these MOD corners. Getting some chunks prob isn’t going to push Patricia out of 1-high. But we need to figure out what’s out there for us.
Marsh and McCulley are probably the best bets for explosives w Marshall out.
Marsh and McCulley are probably the best bets for explosives w Marshall out.