Film breakdown: What went wrong

[Sure Shot]

There's a big set of YouTube videos available of last Saturday's game, especially thanks the the contributions of this "JediASU" character who has put up several entire ASU drives. So let's take a look back, and break things down.





This video is the second ASU series of the game, after the one where they fumbled at the goal line.

#1 (0:02 in the video): 1st and 10 at the ASU 35
The Play: A read option play action to a bootleg and a little tight end dumpoff. No one is in the vicinity, and he rumbles for a 20-yard gain.

What Happened: Justin Staples, Houston Bates, and Earnest Thomas all bite WAY too hard and way too late on the run fake. Tough to tell which one of them had the assignment for the flat (it's most likely Bates) but all three of them are flowing downhill to the ball carrier when Kelly is already rolling the other direction, and none of them can see the tight end. As soon as Thomas really commits to the run fake, it's all over, there's no one that can make the play except for our corners 15 yards down the field.

The Takeaway: Gotta be sharper and more disciplined with your eyes and your feet on play fakes against a read option team. You're not reading them, they're reading you, when you think you've gotten a jump on the play, you've just taken yourself out of position.

#2 (0:27 in the video): 1st and 10 at the Illinois 45
The Play: A straight ahead zone run play stopped by Jonathan Brown for no gain.

What Happened: Akeem Spence blows up the left guard forcing him into the backfield. That changes the route of the ASU running back, making it relatively easy for Brown, who is unblocked on the play, to fill the hole and make the tackle. Glenn Foster also stood up a double team well, leaving Brown free to roam. Also interesting to note, Houston Bates cheats toward the flat this play, perhaps because he got burned to that side on the last play.

The Takeaway: We have a good interior of the D-line, which will help us a lot if we can get the other stuff figured out.

#3 (0:51 in the video): 2nd and 10 at the Illinois 45
The Play: Shotgun pass in which the running back swings out into the flat and is wide open heading up the field for about 20 yards.

What Happened: We can't really tell. Someone blew an assignment in the secondary, either Jonathan Brown or Justin Green. Without a different angle we can't tell. However, we can tell that Glenn Foster totally collapsed the pocket and drove the left guard back into Kelly's grill. Bad couple of plays for that guy.

The Takeaway: There's no defense on the planet where the RB swing pass isn't accounted for. Somebody left their post.

#4 (1:19 in the video): 1st and 10 at the Illinois 22
The Play: WR screen to the far side goes for about 5 yards.

What Happened: This is just a well blocked little quick-hitter, bread and butter stuff for a spread team, and hopefully something we will do better as our players get more experienced. Jonathan Brown is not an easy player to block, but the split out TE does very well. Justin Green should read this faster, he's dropping off into coverage even as his man turns back towards the quarterback, and those couple of steps are all it takes to turn the frustrating 1-yard pileup we're so used to seeing on offense into a useful 5-yard chunk.

The Takeaway: Read. React. Fast.

#5 (1:44 in the video): 2nd and 5 at the Illinois 17
The Play: A play action swing pass to the man in motion picks up a first down after Jack Ramsey misses a tackle out on an island.

What Happened. So many problems. First, it's pretty clear that Ashante Williams doesn't know the play call. He's looking around for help as the ball is snapped. Houston Bates bites badly on the play fake once again, and is left chasing the play. Either one of those things goes differently and Jack Ramsey, who was alert to the play and got into position well, would have had inside help and could have just come downhill and made a big hit. Instead he's on an island and even though it's a nifty move by the receiver, he should have done better. Good hit by Earnest Thomas to clean up the mess, though.

The Takeaway: The tempo of ASU is starting to ramp up, and our defense looks at sea.

#6 (2:12 in the video): 1st and Goal and the Illinois 9
The Play: An inside zone read give to the back stopped by Jonathan Brown for about 4 yards.

What Happened: Jonathan Brown saved a touchdown. Justin Staples is the man being read on the zone read, he stays home and forces the handoff. Akeem Spence gets off the ball well, but the guard fights hard to make a nice block. Austin Teitsma gets blown off the ball and Houston Bates is just a litte uncertain, having been gashed on the zone read action so many times in this series. The center gets a clean release and comes right for Brown, but he over-pursues and Brown niftily sneaks around him to make a shoestring tackle. The ASU back would have ran over Jack Ramsey into the endzone if not for that play by Brown.

The Takeaway: Though are team defense fails us a number of times on this drive, there were some very nice individual efforts. But you've gotta have 11 guys working together to make those individual moments possible.

#7 (2:34 in the video): 2nd and Goal at the Illinois 5
The Play: An outside running play gets foiled by a blitzing Ashante Williams on the backside.

What Happened: The right play call at the right time. This is a student body right running play, and with Williams blitzing off the opposite corner there is no one to stop him from dragging the back down from behind. Tough to say what might have happened otherwise, it looks well blocked at the point of attack, but it's a nice play by Williams regardless. This is one of those situations where you are rewarded for aggressiveness.

The Takeaway: Not much, really.

#8 (3:01 in the video): 3rd and Goal at the Illinois 5
The Play: Play action fake, with a wide open TE behind it for an easy touchdown.

What Happened: One of the linebackers had as assignment to play a middle zone, taking anything that cuts toward the middle of the formation. None of them did it. Bates looks like he's reading the back, Brown looks like he's covering the flat, that leaves Ashante Williams who looks to be playing classic "Cover Who?" defense. He releases the guy that catches the touchdown to his inside and just stands there with no depth at all. Who or what does he think he's covering? He's got safety help behind him so he can't be worried about the guy to the bottom of the screen, he's just stationary in a position much to shallow to do anything.

The Takeaway: Another blown coverage. That's like 5 on this drive alone.


Okay, that's one series, there's several more, I'll put them up later when I have some more time.

[KBLEE]

Just from reading that, the name Houston Bates seems to jump out on almost every play...

[quhawks12]

Here's my view and it's pretty similar to yours. Sometimes is too hard to tell if they are in an under coverage or not. And honestly it's hard without knowing the play call. We don't know if they are in an 8 or 9 which is zone on one side and man on the other. But, overall great post.

PLAY 1 - Agree with what you have. Hard telling but might have been Thomas' guy if they are actually in 0 or 1. Though Bates does love reading run

PLAY 2 - Spence and Brown are REALLY REALLY GOOD.

PLAY 3 - For some reason this play looks like the back is Bates' guy. But that's a hard cover for him in man being on the opposite side of the field? Makes me wonder if this was a play we were mixed up on?

PLAY 4 - JB looks tired. He gets lazy too by walking into the block. Goal against this trips set is to blow up the point man and drive him back into the play.

PLAY 5 - Ramsey needs to make that tackle. BUT, Williams has no idea what the call is and I'm pretty sure the motion man is his guy. Looks like he and Thomas are trying to figure out who has the h-back and who has the motion guy. And by the looks Williams should have the motion guy.

PLAY 6 - Teitsma doesn't move much. Through 2 games I'm actually more worried about Teko and Vontrell Williams...can they really not beat out Teitsma?? But a nice play by JB and everyone seems to be doing there job really.

PLAY 7 - Guessed right on the blitz. But it's still a helluva a play by 25.

PLAY 8 - This play is tricky. 1st take was that we are in 0 coverage and Thomas and Williams screw up by not running with the TE. BUT, the more I watch it looks like originally we are lined up to "Banjo" the Trips set that ASU starts in. Plus no one moves at the time of the motion which is strange if we are in 0. So, let's assume man...then it looks like 25 blew the coverage. If we are talking man then 25 did an absolute horrible job of making any contact with the TE at the start of his route. I guarantee they are told in practice to knock receivers off their routes. 25 just lets him run his route and passes him off to no one. The other think is in zone... technically you are still in man. Because what's the point of covering your zone if no one is there...so in this case 25 should have ran with the TE at least a few steps instead of passing him off to no one. This is by far the most confusing play of the 8.

Thanks for posting Sure Shot...and good breakdowns of the plays.

[AHSIllini32]

Originally Posted by KBLEE

Just from reading that, the name Houston Bates seems to jump out on almost every play...

Like I said before...

[KBLEE]

Originally Posted by AHSIllini32

Like I said before...

Ahh...missed your posts in the other thread,

[illynifan34]

Originally Posted by KBLEE

Just from reading that, the name Houston Bates seems to jump out on almost every play...

Originally Posted by AHSIllini32

Like I said before...

The only problem is that 2 were clearly something Bates did wrong and 2 were maybe Bates, and only mentioned in 4/8 plays.....something isn't adding up here.

- Going off SureShot's assessment, I didn't watch this video.

[quhawks12]

I do not think a lot of these are Bates. I do believe Bates is VERY AGGRESSIVE towards play-action. BUT, it almost looks as if he's been coached to be that aggressive against the run. Also, on 2 of the plays I'm almost certain they are all running different coverages. And Bates and Williams seem to be the main two that get caught up in it.

[KBLEE]

Originally Posted by illynifan34

The only problem is that 2 were clearly something Bates did wrong and 2 were maybe Bates, and only mentioned in 4/8 plays.....something isn't adding up here.

- Going off SureShot's assessment, I didn't watch this video.

Well - 2 of the 8 plays were positive for the Illini, so it's actually 4/6.

[Ron Zooks Barber]

Its not uncommon for a team to get off on the wrong foot, then get "blown out" even if they are evenly competitive with the opponent.

I think IL made a few mistakes in the beginning of the game that created a more tense situation the rest of the game. Several years ago another team, I think it was NWSTRN, played hurry up ball. It caught a lot of teams off guard early on. I suspect that if IL has 2-3 games of tape showing how this team plays and who does what, that the D would have looked a lot better. ASU will probably go into the PAC12 and decline rather rapidly as people catch on to their game plan. All they did against IL was delayed runs and delayed passes. There were a ton of plays in the first half where ASU handed the ball off, then the runner paused for a moment, then ran. There were also a ton of plays where the QB faked the handoff, the runner ran and then the QB paused, then pulled out the ball and passed. People are going to catch on to this, but IL did not start really reacting to it all that well until the second half. Just my observations and interpretations. It could be very in accurate. I'm kind of surprised there was not more made of the WMU Interception in the end zone and touchdown. I was at the game and the interception was literally right in front of me. He was very obviously juggling it on the way out of bounds, but the video shown does not show it. The TD looked like it was a fumble to me. But, it was at the other end of the field. Otherwise, WMU game I had few complaints with. 1 bad coach call (reverse) and two questionalbe refing calls is not a lot in a game.

[Sure Shot]

Alright, drive number two (actually drive number 3 of the game for ASU)





#1 (0:05 of the video): 1st and 10 at the ASU 40
The Play: An outside zone play give to the back, with Darrius Caldwell making a nice tackle from behind for a 2-yard gain.

What Happened: First of all, Glenn Foster gets blatantly chop-blocked and is very fortunate to avoid some sort of an injury. That's a 15 yard penalty, and it doesn't get more textbook than that. That call should have been made. Anywho, Darrius Caldwell is the guy getting read on the play, he moves down towards the back, but it looks as if Jonathan Brown is wrapping down to cover the quarterback. Either Kelly saw Brown or maybe it was just a straight give to the back, because Kelly hands it off despite Caldwell's pursuit. Now Caldwell has to make the play, because with Brown moving with the QB there is a numerical advantage for ASU on the other side (and Mason Monheim overran the play). Caldwell makes a nice athletic play to bring the guy down, it was Steve Hull or the end zone if he didn't.

The Takeaway: Nice to see a freshman flashing some athletic talent out there.

#2 (0:30 of the video): 2nd and 7 at the ASU 43
The Play: An inside zone play to the back goes for an 8 yard gash.

What Happened: Just good old fashioned power football. A guard releases clean and gets a great block on Jonathan Brown, Jake Howe fights hard but can't quite make the play, Glenn Foster gets driven off the line of scrimmage but recovers to make the play. Just mano-a-mano and ASU won the battle.

The Takeaway: Meh. We did an okay job of shedding blocks in this game, but ASU is a good team that forced us to respect their ability to spread the field. They're gonna get you occasionally.

#3 (1:02 of the video): 1st and 10 at the Illinois 49
The Play: Some sort of pitch play that gets stopped before it ever gets started.

What Happened: #5 and #87 for ASU block absolutely nobody, our defense reacts aggressively to the ball, and there's a 10-car pileup behind the line of scrimmage. I'm not real sure what was supposed to happen here, but whatever it was, ASU executed poorly. Another good solid tackle by Darrius Caldwell.

The Takeaway: Not EVERYTHING they did on offense went according to plan.

#4 (1:31 of the video): 2nd and 13 at the ASU 48
The Play: A play action dumpoff to the TE goes for a bunch of yards.

What Happened: Alas, the clock strikes midnight and Darrius Caldwell turns back into a pumpkin. He's got the flat on this play, which is fairness is a pretty tough cover for a young D-lineman who's used to having his hand on the ground. But he's sucked into the play fake for just an instant too long and by then it's too late, the TE has released and is free to turn upfield with the ball for a big gainer. It's tough, that's half a second from being a 2-yard gain, but that's spread football.

The Takeaway: If Darrius Caldwell is going to be the kind of complete player that draws a paycheck on Sundays, his ability to read the play will have to improve. He's a youngster, it will get better.

#5 (2:00 of the video): 1st and 10 at the Illinois 32
The Play: A shotgun pass with a little jet sweep fake goes for a big gainer when a guy gets wide open after Kelly has all day to throw.

What Happened: In the secondary, it's almost impossible to tell. It's really hard to cover that many guys for that long, but the H-back who makes the play ends up in 20 yards of space. Obviously the initial coverage was good, because this might have been the longest Kelly held the ball all night, but someone blew a gasket back there. From the replay look, both Justin Green and Tommy Davis should have been closer to him. Let's discuss the rush, because the real culprit here is the time the QB had to throw. Darrius Caldwell does fine and just misses making the play. He was disciplined on the fake sweep and then fought off the OT well. Glenn Foster gets double teamed, no much he can do if he's not Warren Sapp, Jake Howe does a decent job but he's not the kind of athlete that's going to be able to make that play with a back in to chip him. Tim Kynard does a very poor job. He's one-on-one against an OT, he comes off the play very high and just gives up when he's blocked. If he brings some edge pressure, maybe Caldwell has that extra instant to make a play. Was he gassed from the tempo? Maybe, but we've got to be able to sustain effort in those situations.

The Takeaway: So close, yet so far. That's when football can be frustrating.

#6 (2:45 of the video): 1st and Goal at the Illinois 2
The Play: A classic I-formation trap play gets stopped at the line by Jonathan Brown.

What Happened: Foster gets doubled down, Caldwell gets run right into the trap guy, the blocking is good, but if you double someone, that means someone else is free. That guy is Jonathan Brown, and he reads the play perfectly and shoots in to make the stop. Good execution meets better execution plus a talented football player and sure tackler.

The Takeaway: Big Ten offensive coordinators, I would suggest getting a hat on #45.

#7 (3:18 of the video): 2nd and Goal from the Illinois 1
The Play: A straight-ahead I-formation give intended for the right side, but Marshall cuts it back and just barely reaches the ball over the goal line.

What Happened: This play was actually blown up by who else but Akeem Spence. Foster also won his battle. But the backside blocking was perfectly executed, Jake Howe got cut down by a good cut block, Houston Bates had to shed a block, and it's hard to really say Bates and Justin Green are late to the play when they basically bring him down for no gain, but there ya go. Great vision and balance by the ASU running back, and for a guy who fumbled at the goal line about 15 minutes earlier, it takes some balls to reach that ball out. Again, good execution meets better execution and a talented player.

The Takeaway: Don't let the ball get to the 1-yard line. It's awful tough to keep a clever RB out, even when you have the advantage inside.

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by quhawks12

PLAY 1 - Agree with what you have. Hard telling but might have been Thomas' guy if they are actually in 0 or 1. Though Bates does love reading run

Given that Bates already played the run and took the gap, why was Thomas charging in way late into the same gap from 10 yards deep in the secondary?? I don't know if the TE was his responsibility, but he sure took a long time to read the play.

[Groundhogday]

One thing worth noting: we were playing a lot of defensive reserves early in the game. This is a big change from the past two years and will hopefully pay off in the long run, though I do worry about the quality of our backup DTs.

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by quhawks12

PLAY 5 - Ramsey needs to make that tackle. BUT, Williams has no idea what the call is and I'm pretty sure the motion man is his guy. Looks like he and Thomas are trying to figure out who has the h-back and who has the motion guy. And by the looks Williams should have the motion guy.

Look at Hawthorne as the WR goes in motion. He is looking right at Williams and pointing to the motion guy. Thomas also points Ashante to the motion man as the ball is snapped. Given that Thomas is lined up deep, I can't believe he was suppose to pick up the motion. What is more, Ashante just hangs out in no-mans land when the ball is snapped. I have to believe Ashante didn't have a clue as to his assignment, five plays into the second ASU drive.

Overall, I see Bates and Caldwell as too aggressive on some plays, but more disturbing is that the safeties and "star" don't seem to know their coverage responsibilities very well. Beckman himself coaches the star, while the DC coaches safeties.

[CARPET]

Watching the AZ state game initially was painful, I can't force myself to look at any more replays of that game.

I sure hope that Beckman does not turn this team into the Toledo Rockets on Defense, the similarities in looking at his past team and present team on pass defense was eerily similar.

[Sure Shot]

Okay, ASU touchdown drive #3. By the way, all I've got in a format I can really break down is ASU's scoring drives and all of our interceptions. I wish I had the rest, but oh well, we'll just stick with what went wrong I guess. There was definitely some very good run blocking by us that I wish I could show.





#1 (0:00 of the video) 1st and 10 at the ASU 16
The Play: A fake jet sweep pass play breaks us down again and the TE breaks a bunch of tackles for a big gain.

What Happened: I think Houston Bates is blitzing here. I think. Either way, he and Justin Staples let ASU's big running QB Eubank break contain without any trouble whatsoever, like the old NCAA video games where it was way to easy to score with a running QB. But if Bates was blitzing, who has the flat? Who knows. But it's a big breakdown, which is then compounded by missed tackles by Williams, Hull, Tommy Davis who wouldn't even have tackled him in one-hand-touch, Ramsey, and then finally Svetina makes a shoelace stop 25 yards down the field.

The Takeaway: WHO HAS THE F&%$!#@ FLAT???

#2 (1:22 of the video) 1st and 10 at the ASU 37
The Play: Same look as before, but they give to the jet sweep guy, who is hauled down by Ashante Williams for a gain of 4.

What Happened: Great play call by ASU, who now have us leaning back against the pass, and show the same look as the previous play. Houston Bates reads the play, but is just half a step slow and can't string the play out. Ashante Williams does brilliantly, he reads the handoff instantly, engages and stands up his blocker, keeps contain, and sheds his block to make a solid tackle. That's textbook. This was a perfect play that exploited a good matchup (Bates chasing down a fast RB), it's a win for our defense that it only went four yards.

The Takeaway: If four yards is a win, the other offense has probably got you on the run pretty badly.

#3 (1:46 of the video): 2nd and 7 at the ASU 40
The Play: An interesting read option/trap thing goes for a first down when we fall for the fake.

What Happened: This is an interesting play. It's like the classic inside zone read, except the H-back on the strong side comes back to kick out the guy getting read on the backside. I'd like to see this play when a defense plays it well. That's not here, because Michael Buchanan and Mike Svetina both get totally depantsed by the fake. Mike Svetina is a true freshman. Michael Buchanan is a senior with NFL asperations. I know who I'm expecting more from.

The Takeaway: This is what Tim Beckman means when he talks about "eye violations"

#4 (2:13 of the video): 1st and 10 at the 50
The Play: The EXACT SAME play as #1, with the same coverage breakdown, but a better tackle.

What Happened: My hair was pulled out, that's what happened. Again both Staples and Bates allow Eubank to break contain. Again the TE leaks out. Again no one has the flat. By this time Ashante Williams has seen this movie before, so he gets his shoulders turned back around in time to stop the play for 7 yards. But still. Clearly there is a misunderstanding of assignments here.

The Takeaway: It will be an interesting week of film for our defensive front 7.

#5 (2:37 of the video): 2nd and 3 at the Illinois 43
The Play: A designed pass that Eubank tucks and runs for the first down.

What Happened: Glenn Foster overpursued. He got too far up the field and as soon as Eubank saw it he was off, and with all the ASU receivers releasing vertically, there was no way to stop him before he got to the sticks. I played DE in high school. It's hard not to just stay on that outside shoulder of the OT and drive upfield. But you've gotta be smart. Against a running QB, containment is more important than instant pressure.

The Takeaway: Just to kind of put the shoe on the other foot for a second, ASU's execution has been absolutely surgical to this point. We've handed them a lot of easy stuff, but they have gobbled it up with no hesitation.

#6 (3:17 of the video): First and 10 at the Illinois 39
The Play: Four verticals by ASU, we bring pressure, in the nick of time Eubank throws and connects for a big gain.

What Happened: First of all, great poise by Eubank. How many other freshman running quarterbacks would stand in and keep their eyes down the field? We bring Terry Hawthorne off the edge, and if he had had one instant more, it's a sack and maybe a fumble. So why didn't he get that instant. Houston Bates plays poor coverage. He's overaggressive towards the line of scrimmage with his first step, he doesn't get his hands on the receiver to alter the route, and he doesn't get any depth on his drop when he releases the receiver behind him. Any of these things happen and we've got a negative play and a chance to stay in the game. Instead, they are knocking on the doorstep again and it's just about game over. This was high-risk, high-reward by both teams, and we got burned.

The Takeaway: A game of inches, as they say.

Quick side point: The next play was an Akeem Spence offsides that didn't really hurt us because it was just half the distance from the 1/2 yard line. But he got away with a couple other early movements elsewhere in the game. Gotta be careful.

#7 (4:36 of the video): 1st and Goal at the Illinois 1
The Play: A play action pass that looks like an intended bootleg, but why bootleg when no one's covering anyone? Touchdown.

What Happened: The line gets a good burst, with Michael Buchanan firing off the ball and almost blowing up the whole thing. But Earnest Thomas and Mason Monheim overreact to the play fake and then don't get any depth and that leaves two receivers wide open in the back of the end zone. When you read play action pass, you've gotta get backwards, and fast. Still, a good quick throw by Eubank.

The Takeaway: Same as it ever was, breakdowns in coverage.

[danielb927]

While it's frustrating to see the word breakdown so much in a single post, it's at least good to see the names of some backups that I'm not familiar with getting time. Getting experience and playing well are always mutually exclusive to some degree.

[Hoppy2105]

I can't wait until we start dictating a games pace. It'll be nice to one day here about how such and such a team couldn't keep up with all the offensive strategy and tempo changes of the Illini. I'd rather be the proactive team than the reactive one.

[aiwpfan]

Sure Shot, this is great analysis, painful as it may be. Thanks!

[Sure Shot]

Okay, let's keep going with the analysis here.





#1 (0:06 in the video): 3rd and 6 at the Illinois 44
The Play: A shotgun passing set with 5 guys out in the pattern ends with a Miles Osei interception on a late, short-armed throw into blanket coverage.

What Happened: This play was bad news as soon as Ted Karras gets eaten alive on the inside, letting his man have a free run to the inside right at Osei. Miles evades the man well, but then is immediately under pressure again from the other DT who has evaded a double team. It's now late in the play and he flicks the ball towards Ryan Lankford, who has defenders draped all over him, and it's an easy pick. Not sure why Millines and Lankford ran to the same area. It also appears that Spencer Harris is wide open behind them, but that can be tough to tell, there may be a safety lurking that we can't see.

The Takeaway: It's a throw a Big Ten quarterback must not make. Period, end of story. You buy more time or take the sack. That's a 40-yard mistake.

#2 (1:47 in the video): 1st and 10 at the Illinois 44
The Play: A shotgun stab down the field trying to get behind the defense is thrown just a shade long for an incomplete pass.

What Happened: Looks like the streak down the field was the first read for Kelly on this play, the blocking is good enough against a blitz, it looks like it might have been a hitch-and-go or something by the slot man trying to get Earnest Thomas to bite, and he must have because he's a little bit late getting over to the streaking wideout. They had it, the throw just wasn't quite there.

The Takeaway: Can't get lulled to sleep by stuff underneath. Pass defenses are built from back to front for a reason.

#3 (2:21 in the video): 2nd and 10 at the Illinois 44
The Play: A little shotgun play fake into a pass pattern and the slot receiver for ASU gets into acres of space and runs it down near the goal line.

What Happened: Either Justin Green or Earnest Thomas completely blew a coverage. They both take the receiver on the outside who runs across the middle of the field and neither of them even seem to notice the slot guy running into about 20 yards of open space. Just a total breakdown.

The Takeaway: This is another one that isn't an oops or a bad read. Someone did not understand what their assignment was on this play.

#4 (3:09 in the video): 1st and Goal at the Illinois 3
The Play: An I-formation slobberknocker to the right side gets stuffed for no gain by Mason Monheim and Akeem Spence.

What Happened: Everyone did their job and we out-physicaled them up front. Ashante Williams kept contain well, Tim Kynard and Glenn Foster got good push, Spence proved unblockable yet again and got around the back's waist just as Monheim was filling the gap and they combined for a good solid tackle.

The Takeaway: We won in the trenches this game. Every time it was straight-ahead power football, on either side of the ball, we won. That bodes well for Big Ten season, and informs how we ought to approach our offense. One wonders why ASU was even bothering with the under-center dive plays at this point, given how comically successful they had been with fooling us.

#5 (3:41 in the video): 2nd and Goal at the Illinois 3
The Play: Read option jet sweep with a little pass pattern behind it works to perfection as the H-back leaks out and is open for the touchdown.

What Happened: We kind of got caught with our pants down in a bad blitz here. Jonathan Brown is coming off the edge, and with that help next to him, Michael Buchanan smartly pursues the running back on the read option exchange. But ASU has an ace up their sleeve here, this isn't just a QB keeper, the H-back has come across the formation and leaked out into a little drag route. Mason Monheim is late with his read, but that's going to be an extremely tough play for him no matter what.

The Takeaway: Gambles dont always pay off. A moment's hesitation and this could be a sack and a forced field goal, but once again, ASU is just so crisp with their offense.


Let's do the next one in this post too, it's just a short little video:




#1 (0:01 in the video): 3rd and 16 at the Illinois 39
The Play: A shotgun dropback pass play results in an INT when Osei throws a duck across the middle.

What Happened: First of all, ASU brings pressure off the edge, leading to Justin Hardee releasing absolutely free off the line of scrimmage. Osei appears to see it, and I don't understand why the throw doesn't go straight there. That should be a hot read, but there's always the possibility there's something in the coverage the TV view isn't showing you. The pocket is OK, Karras has trouble with his block again, but Osei does well to step up and keep his eye level downfield. He's got Lankford streaking down the middle of the field, if he put the ball with some air on it to the opposite numbers he's probably got a touchdown. But Miles just doesn't have that kind of arm. The throw is weak, low, and behind the target, and is easily picked off.

The Takeaway: There are a lot of throws Miles can't make. And the trouble with that is, it allows defenses to just release guys streaking down the field once they reach 30 yards or so, because they know the ball can't get there. It shrinks the field.

[Sure Shot]

Originally Posted by aiwpfan

Sure Shot, this is great analysis, painful as it may be. Thanks!

I wish I had some of our highlights, few as they were, or even some WMU tape that I could break down some of the more positive things, but I can't find any of that on YouTube.

The good news from ASU was that we won the battle in the trenches, funny as that may sound from the scoreline. And it was a big improvement in the run blocking area. You can play a power game from the spread, and we ought to be focusing on finding ways to do that, because whether it's bashing inside with Donnovonn Young, or stretching the play with Josh Ferguson, our offensive line can win battles when we execute and set them up correctly.

[quhawks12]

Originally Posted by Sure Shot

The good news from ASU was that we won the battle in the trenches

Except for Teitsma. After reading this thread I went back and watched the ASU game last night. Teitsma is consistently getting moved off the ball and rarely if ever gets penetration.

My biggest worry about that is what are Teko Powell and Vontrell Williams if they beat Teitsma out?? Or are we just trying to save those two's redshirt years?

[quhawks12]

Originally Posted by Sure Shot

What Happened: First of all, ASU brings pressure off the edge, leading to Justin Hardee releasing absolutely free off the line of scrimmage. Osei appears to see it, and I don't understand why the throw doesn't go straight there. That should be a hot read, but there's always the possibility there's something in the coverage the TV view isn't showing you.

Towards the end of the play you can see Hardee is covered by the safety over the top. BUT, you are correct if the throw goes directly there on a quick hitter Hardee gets 5 yards and much more if he breaks a tackle. Generally an outside WR is NOT a hot read it's the TE's and slot guys. But in this case I totally think if Hardee just turns straight to Osei he'll get the ball because Osei is looking right at him.

The throw is brutal but it almost looks like if he put some air on it and way towards the sideline Lankford may have a had a chance to run under it (though I'm not sure many NFL QB's could make that throw).

[AHSIllini32]

Originally Posted by quhawks12

Towards the end of the play you can see Hardee is covered by the safety over the top. BUT, you are correct if the throw goes directly there on a quick hitter Hardee gets 5 yards and much more if he breaks a tackle. Generally an outside WR is NOT a hot read it's the TE's and slot guys. But in this case I totally think if Hardee just turns straight to Osei he'll get the ball because Osei is looking right at him.

The throw is brutal but it almost looks like if he put some air on it and way towards the sideline Lankford may have a had a chance to run under it (though I'm not sure many NFL QB's could make that throw).

Didn't Reilly make this throw later in the game and Hardee showed some of his great speed and picked up like 10-15 yards?

Originally Posted by quhawks12

Except for Teitsma. After reading this thread I went back and watched the ASU game last night. Teitsma is consistently getting moved off the ball and rarely if ever gets penetration.

My biggest worry about that is what are Teko Powell and Vontrell Williams if they beat Teitsma out?? Or are we just trying to save those two's redshirt years?

IF they can't beat him out I'm not sure it's saying much about a couple of true freshman really. Teitsma has been here for 3 years now. However, I'm thinking we are rolling with what we have and trying to save some redshirts especially if those guys have only shown flashes and nothing consistent.

[AHSIllini32]

Originally Posted by KBLEE

Ahh...missed your posts in the other thread,

That wasn't directed at you...more just pointing it out because the last time I said it, I was corrected for saying by a couple posters. Sorry for the confusion.

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by quhawks12

Except for Teitsma. After reading this thread I went back and watched the ASU game last night. Teitsma is consistently getting moved off the ball and rarely if ever gets penetration.

My biggest worry about that is what are Teko Powell and Vontrell Williams if they beat Teitsma out?? Or are we just trying to save those two's redshirt years?

Yes, we need to restock the cupboard at DT. We have been spoiled with good DL play for a number of years, but the last two Zook recruiting classes were remarkably thin on the DL. I know the coaches like Teitsma's attitude and hustle, but he just doesn't appear to have enough natural strength and explosiveness to play well at this level.