Early Preview: Michigan - Minnesota analysis and game strategy
Objective: Understand how Minnesota beat Auburn, PSU & Purdue and understand how they lost to Wisconsin and Iowa
What did Minnesota do better in their notable wins (Auburn, PSU, Purdue) that they did not do in their losses (Wisconsin, Iowa)?
Minnesota Wins - on average
Minn Ran the ball for 73 more yds / game than the losses
Minn Ran for 3.5 yds/carry in wins vs 2.3 yds / carry in losses
Minn Threw for the same number of yds/game as in the losses
Minn Completed 82% of their passes (not a misprint)
for 14.8 Yds/ Completion (not a misprint)
Opponents completed 56% of their passes
Minnesota Losses - on average
Minn Completed 59% of their passes for 8.7 Yds/ Completion
Opponents ran for 25 more yds on average (4.4 yds/carry vs. 4.0 yds/carry)
Opponents completed 68% of their passes
Opponents threw for 43 FEWER yds, but more efficiently (10.1 yds/att vs. 6.7 yds/att)
My Conclusions:
When Tanner Morgan is comfortable in the pocket he can hit his receivers all day long, highly accurate
When Tanner Morgan is hitting a high percentage of his passes the run game opens up
Minnesota uses the passing game to setup the running game
Minnesota would love this to be a "shoot-out"
Michigan Strategy:
Defense:
Go all "Don Brown Blitz Madman" on Tanner Morgan, make him uncomfortable all day long and GET THERE.
If we don't get to Tanner Morgan, it could be a long day.
No Big Plays.
Offense:
Slow the game down, drain the clock
Establish a strong running game to take pressure off Joe Milton
Use running game to setup the passing game, Play action,
Quick throws on 1st down
Short passes behind the LOS that are like "long-handoffs"
DO NOT put Joe in situations where he needs to make 8yds to 15yds throws. "sigh"
Give Joe a couple of shots early where he can show off the arm to everyone, throw it 60yds down field
Objective: Understand how Minnesota beat Auburn, PSU & Purdue and understand how they lost to Wisconsin and Iowa
What did Minnesota do better in their notable wins (Auburn, PSU, Purdue) that they did not do in their losses (Wisconsin, Iowa)?
Minnesota Wins - on average
Minn Ran the ball for 73 more yds / game than the losses
Minn Ran for 3.5 yds/carry in wins vs 2.3 yds / carry in losses
Minn Threw for the same number of yds/game as in the losses
Minn Completed 82% of their passes (not a misprint)
for 14.8 Yds/ Completion (not a misprint)
Opponents completed 56% of their passes
Minnesota Losses - on average
Minn Completed 59% of their passes for 8.7 Yds/ Completion
Opponents ran for 25 more yds on average (4.4 yds/carry vs. 4.0 yds/carry)
Opponents completed 68% of their passes
Opponents threw for 43 FEWER yds, but more efficiently (10.1 yds/att vs. 6.7 yds/att)
My Conclusions:
When Tanner Morgan is comfortable in the pocket he can hit his receivers all day long, highly accurate
When Tanner Morgan is hitting a high percentage of his passes the run game opens up
Minnesota uses the passing game to setup the running game
Minnesota would love this to be a "shoot-out"
Michigan Strategy:
Defense:
Go all "Don Brown Blitz Madman" on Tanner Morgan, make him uncomfortable all day long and GET THERE.
If we don't get to Tanner Morgan, it could be a long day.
No Big Plays.
Offense:
Slow the game down, drain the clock
Establish a strong running game to take pressure off Joe Milton
Use running game to setup the passing game, Play action,
Quick throws on 1st down
Short passes behind the LOS that are like "long-handoffs"
DO NOT put Joe in situations where he needs to make 8yds to 15yds throws. "sigh"
Give Joe a couple of shots early where he can show off the arm to everyone, throw it 60yds down field
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