Inside the Playbook: Breaking Down Michigan's DL Scheme and Personnel

Brian recently wrote an article on MGoBlog in which he is waiting for protection while he waits. In recent days, he has also discussed the defensive line and has seen the recently released Michigan Depth Map . The question constantly pops up, is unconsciously answered, and then asked again. This is a common and understandable confusion when looking at football nomenclature.

photo AP

In this post, I'll take a look at the Michigan DL and why Henry plays 5-Tech (nominally called End) and Wormley 3-Tech (nominally called Tackle).


What is the race in Michigan?
I agree with Brian that the score is 4-3 short. Michigan won't go there with LOLB and ROLB, they won't go there and they won't take many steps (although 4-3 down often gives about two spaces). Sometimes 4-3 underfoot. On top of that, the defense won't constantly keep the Boys in a two-point position and will move the DL to either side, such as 3-4 ahead of Wisconsin .

Only 4-3. Let's all remember the tasks of gaps:

And let's see what par 4-3 less looks like, which most of you are familiar with from Mathison's early years.

Here, we'll call Weakside DE (WDE, 7-Tech) Buck (that's money, because "B" stands for "Backer" and MIKE stands for "medium to medium LB") to keep Darkin's terminology. This is actually more than LB, but can sometimes be lower (see picture below). We'll just call DE's forte (SDE, 5-Tech) The End. 3-Tech We'll call this DT (or Pen). 1-Tech We will call NT (Nose).

MGOBLOG

This is close to what works in Michigan, but not quite. In fact, the picture above is closer to what Michigan will rule now than what Michigan has done in the past with Mattison as D.C. Note that Beyer (SAM LB at the top of the screen) is in free mode. For the Michigan fans, it's like Greg Robinson put Stevie Brown in his run 4-3 under Stevie Brown when he managed to have a really good year. This is what we call a "free" extension, which means it's 5 and 5 (5 steps from LOS, 5 steps from EMOL attack). Ross, Will in the photo above, also uses free technology (in this case it allows DE to play or spy indoors, and Will allows you to play in a flat open area where you most likely have a direct threat in a running game).

With Ross, some SAM LB, Michigan will play more than lose 4-3.

Many 4-3 Under teams usually move FS into the penalty area as an eighth man and move SS to midfield. They do this because Buck and DT usually protect FS from any underwear, which is more common with ILBs (WILL and MIKE). It will look like this:

But Michigan won't do much this year. Instead, the SS man (who always stands in line to give the command) will be the eighth man in the box. It can be listed as follows:

But he will often come close to it.

In fact, this is done by another ILB missile. He is slightly defended until the end and the defense will not go unnoticed as the CC holds the lead and the SAM can work from above to provide additional support.

Rumley and Henry Primer
Wormley, for example, created SDE Design. Its price is expected to range from £270 to £300. He has good straight line speed for his height and shows a lot of explosions when he's comfortable with what's in front of him. Unfortunately for him (and in some ways happy), he is too tall and too tall. With the reluctance that sometimes comes when he has to take blocks from different angles, he often gets back on his feet. This makes him struggle with tasks.

Henry, on the other hand, has always been a DT. It is designed as a triple technology penetrator that can also slide and play with the nose when needed. He is squat, but he has the first step to beat OL to the level he needs. The speed of the first step gives him the ability to become a two-gap player, and his stockiness gives him a solid foundation so he doesn't get confused when he has to choose between two gaps. He also sometimes climbs very high, but he has the strength to fight him.

Brian expects these guys to perform well in the tutorial related articles above and there are videos showing these qualities in these players.

So why change position

dual purpose
Like I said, this has been explained but never answered. But the answer is very clear once you discern it. Wormley fights against doppelgangers more, technology will never give you 3 of these doppelgangers. 5 is likely to double in about half of the games, especially given how close Michigan is.

Please note that technology 3 is not repeated in its direction.

This means that 5-Tek has to hold off up to two teams at times, and it also means that 3-Tek can only release penetrating power inwards. If you can get him out of your three moves, you cut half the field and give Buck more chances than a pass because he doesn't have to worry too much about speeding up.

Whether SAM is in free range or indoors, tech 5 often doubles up initially against accelerated zone attacks.

Tech 3 multiplies here so he should be able to handle quite a lot, but the multiplier is unlikely to last as long as OL is trying to get out as he pleases and is in the background of Play.

Against human blocking schemes, it will multiply in any strong direction (e.g. Power O, Counter F).

He must remain in this position if the hasty defense succeeds. If he doesn't fight back, he bathes in ILB and big wrinkles as a defense, especially when SAM is playing a loose lane.

two way player
But there is one more thing that 4-3 Under-Teams usually do. From Pete Carroll to Will Mushamp (and I suspect Dworkin), these 4-3 deputies want 5 tech variations, which means they'll put him at the top of the OT (4-Tech).

From this point of view, in the end, Seattle put everything on Michael Bennett and why they created Frank Clark as his understudy. He is a boy who can slide inside or play outside. He's a guy you can play games with while still maintaining the same defensive base. Keep things simple for 3-Tech and let them attack, but get a 5-Tech who can do a little bit of everything.

This scheme is well described in some places ( here , here , here , here ). This is what Henry will have to do on normal landings and distances. Henry will probably dive a few times and miss a touchdown because Wormley is the most natural runner. Both can play indoors and the other goat can fold. But that's why the Michigan depth chart looks the way it does today.

So DE can get more involved in escaping from it.

He can also reverse the block in his own running direction, setting MIKE to break the barrier at the point where he wants to reach the sprint state.

The ability to leave both spaces allows Last to blow up block missions at the point of attack (imagine a blocked opponent trying to corner him, he can easily see it) or push inside the block and play in the backfield. (I think OG pulls in his direction and End explodes when he runs from behind.) Anyway, it could be more intuitive and more fun, and MIKE can fix that. It also helps him to be more flexible and instinctive in speeding up the transition. To do this, of course, you need a player who can play doubles, can read the tracks, and is athletic enough to play. Michigan is looking for Henry to play this guy.