<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0u4But_0vjFAhe700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0u4But_0vjFAhe700" width="1210" height="806" ></figure>After South Carolina boat raced No. 6 Tennessee, 63-38, two years ago, Gamecock defensive back Cam Smith was asked about what second-half adjustments were made to lead to this outcome in the postgame. “Nothing,” Smith said. “Just drop your nuts. Really that’s all it is.” Concise, accurate, and perfect. Reading between the lines, Smith was inferring that nothing changed schematically — instead, South Carolina just imposed their will through physicality and…well…intestinal fortitude. A winning formula that has existed since the creation of football and a formula that has been embraced by Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore as evidenced by his “SMASH!” mantra.Now, if you currently hate the lack of passing offense in the NFL because of Cover 2, then this style of football is not for you. But if you have been following the Michigan Wolverines for even a few years, this brand of football feeds your soul. It’s like chicken noodle soup on a cold day; watching The Mummy hungover; catching up with an old friend over some beers; enjoying a rival losing to a MAC school. It’s been a while since we have seen it to the degree that we did against USC on Saturday, but as not as far back as some may think.In Michigan’s 31-10 victory over Washington in 2021, the offense only completed seven passes (two in the second half) for 44 yards while rushing the ball 56 times for 343 yards (6.1 YPC). Against USC, the Wolverines only completed seven passes (one in the second half) for 32 yards while rushing the ball 46 times for 290 yards (6.3 YPC). In both instances, Michigan relied on stingy defense and field position to help seal the win. But instead of facing an eventual 4-8 Washington team fresh off a loss to Montana, the Wolverines had to face an undefeated playoff-hopeful team in USC coming off a bye last weekend. The game was a must-win, but not in the traditional sense. It was a must-win for a program struggling in the shadow of a national championship. A must-win for a new core of players and coaches searching for a foundational win upon which to build a contender. A must-win for a team with its back against the wall before and during the game.Before the game, it was announced that quarterback Alex Orji would be making his first career start for the Wolverines. Some, myself included, wonder why Moore announced this five days before the game, but in hindsight, Moore was challenging USC to a fight and was confident his new signal-caller would get the job done. Even if the offense was taking the field without the best tight end in the country, Colston Loveland, who was ruled out with an injury.During the game, Michigan lost All-American corner Will Johnson before the fourth quarter due to a suspected injury, and, beyond personnel, the Wolverines turned the ball over twice (resulting directly in 14 USC points), lost the critical time-of-possession battle, and only mounted nine second-half yards of offense before its final drive.Michigan’s performance against USC was far from perfect, but Team 145 showed resiliency in an unconventional 27-24 victory. With the game and perhaps the season on the line, the Wolverines marched 89 yards on the ground to win the game. Nothing schematically changed, the team just imposed its will through physicality and a little intestinal fortitude in a way they had not shown this season. However, a film study has to be more than “drop your nuts,” so let’s take a closer look at how the Wolverines got it done on their three offensive touchdowns against USC.<h2>Kalel Mullings’ First Touchdown</h2>11-Personnel Escort Motion Split-Zone ReadA split zone is when a player — usually a tight end in Michigan’s case — comes across the formation and blocks the defensive edge player, while the rest of the offensive line zone blocks the other direction. Hence the term “split.” When it was announced that Orji would be the starting quarterback, it was presumed that Michigan was going to incorporate reads onto most of their runs and this play is no different. If the edge defender blows up the tight end or undercuts the block, Orji will keep this ball and attack the perimeter. To bolster its contingency plan, Michigan brings wide receiver C.J. Charleston in motion, which also drags a safety to the other side, to act as a lead blocker in case Orji tucks and runs. However, in this instance, it is a give-read to running back Kalel Mullings all the way.USC stacks seven players near the line of scrimmage anticipating run, but it doesn’t matter. <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3TFDIN_0vjFAhe700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3TFDIN_0vjFAhe700" width="600" height="278" ></figure>Tight end Zach Marshall comes across the formation and beautifully kicks out the edge. Right tackle Evan Link oversteps, but recovers and seals off his assignment’s pursuit. Giovanni El-Hadi (right guard), Josh Priebe (left guard), and Myles Hinton (left tackle), all win their matchups at the line of scrimmage with ease. Center Dom Giudice effortlessly works to the second level and eliminates the linebacker. On the perimeter (bottom of the screen), wide receivers Kendrick Bell and Tyler Morris seal off their defenders and prevent any backside tacklers from making a play. Lastly, it’s very subtle, but what Mullings does here shows his growth as a runner. When he takes the hand-off, Mullings sets up his blocks by taking two steps toward the near-side B-gap before cutting through the A-gap. This little hesitation helps the offensive linemen secure their assignments and spring Mullings for the touchdown.Mullings scores, but this is a team touchdown.Expect to see a ton of split-zone reads this season. When Michigan needed a big play most against USC, this is the play it returned to for Mullings’ 63-yard scamper in the fourth quarter.<h2>Donovan Edwards Touchdown</h2>13-Personnel Unbalanced Over Motion Power ReadMichigan brings in an extra offensive lineman (No. 75 Andrew Gentry) and seldom-seen sophomore tight end Jalen Hoffman for this one. Fellow tight end Marlin Klein is aligned next to Gentry on the left side and this play screams run all the way.USC stacks nine players near the line of scrimmage, but it doesn’t matter.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=12gaTI_0vjFAhe700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=12gaTI_0vjFAhe700" width="600" height="278" ></figure>Before the snap, Hoffman goes in motion to get a head start on sealing the edge. At the snap, Orji again reads the weak side just in case he needs to pull it. Link misplays the edge who heads straight for Orji, but the young quarterback made the right read and gave the ball to tailback Donovan Edwards. Ahead of Edwards, the players got to work. Alternating center Greg Crippen and Priebe both beautifully block down and seal the backside three-tech and one-tech defensive tackles, respectively. Klein and Hinton both work to the second level, while a pulling El-Hadi — who had a season-best day — double teams the USC edge with Gentry to pave a perfect lane for Edwards.Edwards is exquisitely patient on this play drawing the linebackers to the weak side as the hole is being opened up, and then EXPLODING through the hole like a rocket leaving the atmosphere. Or Diddy evading the Feds. On the outside, Morris again seals the touchdown by continuing to block more than 10 yards downfield. Edwards scores, but this is a team touchdown.Power has been a staple run play of Michigan football since the 70s and you could honestly probably trace it back to the late 1800s if you look closely enough. The oldest of ol’ reliables and a play Sherrone Moore returned to with the game and potentially the season on the line.<h2>Kalel Mullings’ Second Touchdown</h2>23-Personnel PowerOh, baby, it’s beautiful. With potentially Michigan’s season on the line, facing fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line, the Wolverines returned to “God’s play.”Despite being without tight ends Loveland or Klein (who was injured on Mullings’ 63-yard scamper), Michigan uses tight end Marshall and sixth offensive lineman Gentry again, and trots out true freshman tight end Hogan Hansen on the near-side.In the backfield, it’s the best fullback in America, Max Bredeson, Mullings at tailback, and Orji under center in an old-school Power I formation. USC stacks 11 players near the line of scrimmage, but it doesn’t matter. It’s 11 vs. 11 in a phone booth for the game.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1qMfwU_0vjFAhe700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1qMfwU_0vjFAhe700" width="600" height="278" ></figure>At the snap, every Michigan player on the line down blocks to their right except El-Hadi, who pulls around. The blocking is far from perfect — Hinton and Preibe both end up way out of position — but every player across the front does just enough to prevent the defense from making a play. In an ideal world, Bredeson would kick out the edge defender, and El-Hadi would be the first man through the hole. However, El-Hadi sees leakage from the left side of the line of scrimmage and offers reinforcement. After the handoff, Mullings takes a little hop step as he sees El-Hadi improvising and then recommits to following Bredeson who has opened a lane (with one arm while he looks for more work) for his tailback to reach the end zone.Mullings scores, but this is a team touchdown.Some (USC fans) have pointed to Marshall’s over-aggressive hand (singular — his left hand was bandaged into a club) and bemoaned the lack of a holding penalty being called. One, stop being soft. Two, keeping in mind that Gentry’s head was also being taken off by a defender’s illegalities on this play, the decision to swallow the whistle on the one-yard line in a fourth-and-goal run situation is one all players support. Grow up.Michigan still has A LOT to clean up on both sides of the ball and has to develop an entire passing offense over the next two months. However, despite being negative-six in turnover margin, making a quarterback change a quarter of the way into the season, and playing the hardest opening four-game schedule in the country, Michigan is 3-1 and controls its destiny in the Big Ten. Of course, adjustments and alterations have been made since Week 1, but Michigan stands where it does today because when the game and season were on the line, the Wolverines imposed their will through physicality and intestinal fortitude.<h2>Week 4 Superlatives</h2><h2>The ‘You’d think there were 10 of me’ Award </h2>Josaiah Stewart’s performance against USC was the best game by a Michigan edge defender since Aidan Hutchinson’s Ohio State, three-sack performance in 2021. Stewart finished the afternoon with two sacks, three TFLs, four total tackles, and one forced fumble, but his impact went beyond the box score.Every time USC quarterback Miller Moss dropped back to pass, Stewart was there. In the second half, USC shuffled its offensive line in a desperate attempt to stop Stewart, but it merely inconvenienced him for a few snaps. Even on run fakes, Stewart was in the backfield haunting Moss with a push or a shove as a reminder that he was smoking whatever left tackle was lined up in opposition. Stewart, currently the Big Ten leader in sacks and TFLs, was unblockable on Saturday, and it was as if there were 10 of him out there harassing Moss on every snap.<h2>The Block, Still No Rock Award</h2>A sign that hangs in Michigan’s wide receivers’ room reads, “No block, no rock.” The message serves as a reminder that if receivers do not run block, they will lose the opportunity to touch the football. However, sometimes, it is a thankless task for the deserving.The wide receivers totaled four catches for 11 yards against USC. Afraid to take too heightened of a risk, quarterback Alex Orji left some throws on the table to the understandable frustration of the position group, but that didn’t deter them from blocking their asses off every chance they got.Every big Michigan run was aided by a receiver scratching and clawing on the perimeter to help provide the running backs with an extra inch of daylight. Semaj Morgan, C.J. Charleston, Tyler Morris, Frederick Moore, Kendrick Bell, and Peyton O’Leary all mixed it up on the outside for zero individual rewards. Without the receivers blocking on the outside, Michigan does not rush for 6.3 YPC and does not win this game.<h2>The ‘Look at me, I’m the captain now’ Award</h2>Alex Orji is the new starting quarterback at Michigan. Orji showed his strengths (rushing) and weaknesses (passing) on Saturday, but most importantly, he showed that he can protect the football. One fumbled snap and Michigan loses this game. One interception against the Trojans and Michigan loses the game. One Davis Warren at quarterback and Michigan loses this game (sorry, Davis).Orji can only grow as a passer from this performance. If the junior can develop and pass for 150 yards a game with zero turnovers, the Wolverines have a chance to beat every team on their schedule. However, if the threat of the pass remains absent or if Orji starts to gamble, Michigan is likely to lose two to three more games this season.</div></body>

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Michigan Film Study: The beauty of physicality and running the damn ball

After South Carolina boat raced No. 6 Tennessee, 63-38, two years ago, Gamecock defensive back Cam Smith was asked about what second-half adjustments were made to lead to this outcome in the postgame. “Nothing,” Smith said. “Just drop your nuts. Really that’s all it is.” Concise, accurate, and perfect....