Why Michigan Failed to Establish the Run

MGoBlog has published an illustrated analysis showing each of Fitzgerald Touissant’s 27 runs in the Penn State game. As you will recall, he was held to 27 yards. ??? ??? ????? Thus, the post is called “27 for 27: A Document.”

Its author states:

Fitzgerald Toussaint set a Michigan record for sustained futility on Saturday by running for 27 yards on 27 carries. Since 1949, no other back has gotten as many carries without gaining at least twice as many yards. ????? ?? ?????? Posterity demands that someone detail what happened.

A note: blame is apportioned. When things are designated playcall it’s because I don’t believe it’s reasonable to expect Michigan to block player X, either because he’s an extra guy in the box or he’s tearing towards the line of scrimmage on the snap because he has no fear of a pass. ??? ???? You can adjust your personal indignation levels on this based on how reasonable you thought running into stacked boxes was vis-a-vis Devin Gardner’s 13 YPA and constant turnover threat; I’m just trying to figure out how much of the run splat was preordained by playcalls.

Unlike some analyses you’ll see around the Internet, these guys are not merely trying to show off their knowledge pointlessly; they show us a lot about our defense that as casual viewers our eyes were probably not keen enough to spot. Each play lists the formation and the play call, then analyzes why it didn’t work.

It is done with a sense of humor as evidenced by the author’s quandary over the formation on run nine:

Play: Zone stretch
Formation: WTF
Yards: –2

Why it didn’t work:

1. Michigan runs a stretch into the boundary with an unbalanced line.
2. Six blockers against eight defenders.
3. LOL

Blame: 100% playcall

Now, you have an excuse to stay at work and read this after 5, avoiding happy hour.

Thanks to reader Joe for the link.