I decided to do this a little differently than the normal breakdowns. Since there were only 3 TDs, I thought I'd breakdown what each player did on those plays instead of a paragraph on each play. I encourage you to rewatch these plays while reading my breakdown. ya know. for fun.
1st TD: 1st & Goal Ball on the Michigan State 3-yard line 4:39 1st Qtr
WildPeppers formation with Chesson to Peppers’ right and Smith behind him, sort of a pistol/power I look. Double TE to the right (Butt inside and Asiasi outside) Single WR (Darboh) to the formation left.
Darboh: He is opposite of play side, so he just does a shake move and runs a fake route that takes him off the screen, so I’m not 100% what else he does here.
Braden: the defense is slanting down, and Braden slides right to block and sort of gets a forearm into the defenders back, but doesn’t really get much contact.
Bredeson: See Braden
Cole: Slides right and turns the DL that was lined up to his right. Another DL runs into him and he occupies two guys.
Kalis: He steps right to try to wall off a DL, but Cole already has those two guys, So Kalis goes looking for an LB. He doesn’t really touch anyone, but gets in Ed Davis’ way.
Magnuson: He pulls right to lead the play, as he runs out to lead, he pushes the man that Butt is already blocking, then he goes out to block – and doesn’t really touch anyone, he does have nifty footwork to go celebrate, though and is the first to congratulate Jabrill.
Butt: Blocks down to his left to make an edge. The defender spins but Jake sticks with him as Jabrill runs by.
Asiasi: Takes a step down to the inside (left) then quickly redirects to his right to block a defender, he gets a piece of him, before the defender dives harmlessly at Peppers’ feet.
Smith: Runs a fake swing pass pattern to the left. No one pays any attention to him.
Chesson: at the snap he immediately sprints out in front to lead the play, he cut blocks the man furthest outside – who keeps his feet, but is now too far away to have a realistic attempt at stopping the insanely fast Jabrill Peppers.
Peppers: Takes the snap and this is a straight run, no fakes, no anything. Just run as fast as you can to the corner. After all the above takes place, Jabrill just has to turn on the jets – which he does. The only one left to try to get him is Riley Bullough. Can Riley come from his MLB spot to beat Jabrill to the pylon? Bwahahahahahahahahhaha. No. Jabrill makes a beautiful dive to hit the ball on the pylon for the TD and an awesome camera shot from pyloncam.
Result: 3 yard gain and a MICHIGAN TOUCHDOWN!
2nd TD: 1st & Goal Ball on the Michigan State 1-yard line 12:28 2nd Qtr
This is a goal line formation with 3 TEs and a FB. Two TE (Wheatley and Asiasi) to the right and one (Butt) to the left.
Asiasi: Goes left to block down, but there’s nothing for him to do as Magnuson has cut block the only defender in the vicinity. So, Devin jumps over the guy and plays a nice little half game of leapfrog with Magnuson.
Wheatley: Runs straight ahead and gets a good initial pop on the Gatekeeper. OR the key master… IDK which one is in charge of locking Michigan inside the stadium, at any rate he gets the good first pop, then gets another shove and there’s no way he can get over to make the play in time from there.
Magnuson: As previously mentioned, he cut blocks his man and gets him to the ground.
Kalis: He is also cut blocking, as he and Magnuson are backside on this play. His Man, is Malik McDowell. McDowell was trying to engage with Cole, but Cole was on his way to block someone else.
Cole: Trying to slide left, but ends up fighting off McDowell getting enough of him to ensure he’s not in the play. (not sure by letter of the law if he and Kalis got away with a chop block or not)
Bredeson: Gets a good first step out to the left and turns to wall his man, and pushes him to the ground.
Braden: Slides left and With Butt doubles the DE, they get a good push on him and shove him back into the endzone
Butt: Double teams the DE with Braden and at the last moment comes off the double to try to get a piece of the MLB, Riley Bullough who is coming to try to make the tackle. He gets just a bit of him.
Speight: Takes the snap and reverse pivots out and pitches the ball on a toss sweep. After pitching he gives lip service to a fake pass – then turns to watch Smith run the ball. Because, he was about to see something Awesome.
Hill: From the I in front of Smith, he goes into shuffle motion to the left. He is out front lead blocking and my oh my, the CB #9 is thankful that Sparty is wearing green pants and not white ones, because I’m certain he soiled himself. Hill gets his hands on him at the two and shoves him to the ground a yard and a half deep into the endzone. The CB might as well fade away and classify himself as obsolete.
Smith: Runs left and takes the pitch at about the 8 yard line. He outruns Ed Davis to the corner and the only thing between him and paydirt is Riley Bullough who is shaking off Jake Butt. There is a collision at the half yard line between Bullough and Smith. Bullough is the nail to Smith’s hammer, the Marty to Smith’s Shawn. Which is to say Bullough meet the ground, Smith is meeting the goal line.
Result: 1 yard gain and a MICHIGAN TOUCHDOWN!
3rd TD: 1st & Goal Ball on the Michigan State 5-yard line :43 2nd Qtr
Shotgun formation RB (Smith) to Speight’s right. Darboh split right, with a TE (Butt) to the left. Two WRs (Chesson and Harris) split wide left.
Darboh: Shimmies and fakes a route before engaging in some nice stalk blocking.
Chesson: Not visible on TV
Harris: See Chesson
Butt: Turns to the inside and stands up the DE. Nice job keeping him out of the play.
Magnuson: Steps inside and reaches for McDowell – but whiffs as Malik is looping around. Recovers enough to turn around and get a small shove on McDowell.
Kalis: He does false start on this play, but it’s not as egregious as I originally thought. Still got away with one, though. Let’s ignore that part, however, because what he does after that is spectacular. He slides down, with not DL in front of him he goes to find an LB. The one he finds has made certain promises about locking a certain team in a stadium. The MSU LBs (Bullough and Frey) have done a twist stunt, with Bullough shooting down inside. Kalis picks up Frey at the 5 yard line and drives, nay, MAULS him back into the endzone and doesn’t stop blocking him until he buries him to the ground four yards deep into the endzone. Just outstanding.
Cole: Catches the stunting/blitzing Bullough and carries him well out of the play pushing him to the left. Really good job by Cole, here.
Bredeson: Initially I overlooked this effort with what Kalis did on the other side, but this was also awesome. He steps out to the left and engages the DL across from him. He gets into him and pushes him back a yard or two. The DL is disengaging trying to scramble back to help make a tackle, but Bradenson will have none of that. The whistle hasn’t blown, so he’s still blocking. He continues pushing his man into the endzone. Sparty DL stupidly tries to do some sort of Greco roman wrestling throw to pull Bradenson down, but he ends up just getting squashed under Brandenson.
Braden: Steps out and chips on the DL Bredenson has under control – so he moves to the next level to find someone to block. Frey has stunted away so he is trying to get at the safety. He can’t get there in time without making an illegal block so he tries to fling himself into the pile and pick off a guy tackling Smith – those guys have fallen off and Braden just ends up tackling Smith into the endzone.
Speight: Takes the handoff and gives to Smith. Takes a bit of a cheap shot from the DE after the handoff.
Smith: Take the handoff around the 9, and is running right up the gut. The blocking is so that he isn’t touched until he bounces off Kalis around the 5, no Sparty touces him until LB Davis and the Safety Braden couldn’t reach converge on him around the 2 ½ . Smith Bulls and plows and efforts his way forward. He reaches the ball out over the plane as the defenders fall off and Braden falls on him into the endzone.
Result: 5 yard gain and a MICHIGAN TOUCHDOWN!
BONUS Play: 2-pt conversion try MSU ball on the Michigan 3-yard line :01 4th Qtr
Sparty offense. Shotgun formation 3 WR bunched to the left. 1 WR to the right – no TE. One RB to the right of the QB. Michigan has 4 down lineman and 3 LBs in an “over” look.
O’Connor takes the snap and starts right running the option. Taco Charlton dives at him forcing the pitch. At this moment in time the voices in O’Connor’s head tell him that they lost, but kicked Michigan’s ass. He thinks the diving Charlton said it, so he decides that’s the story he’s going to give the press, because – he not crazy, afterall. The pitch is behind and high, and Holmes can’t handle it. The ball is loose on the ground and bounces into Jabrill Peppers’ hands around the 13-yard line. O’Connor limps half heartedly towards Jabrill. Even if he sprinted, it wouldn’t have mattered anyway – because Peppers is off to the races. A bolt of lightning the other way and Michigan scores 2.
Result: lol, Dantonio an 87-yard fumble return and a MICHIGAN D2P!
1st TD: 1st & Goal Ball on the Michigan State 3-yard line 4:39 1st Qtr
WildPeppers formation with Chesson to Peppers’ right and Smith behind him, sort of a pistol/power I look. Double TE to the right (Butt inside and Asiasi outside) Single WR (Darboh) to the formation left.
Darboh: He is opposite of play side, so he just does a shake move and runs a fake route that takes him off the screen, so I’m not 100% what else he does here.
Braden: the defense is slanting down, and Braden slides right to block and sort of gets a forearm into the defenders back, but doesn’t really get much contact.
Bredeson: See Braden
Cole: Slides right and turns the DL that was lined up to his right. Another DL runs into him and he occupies two guys.
Kalis: He steps right to try to wall off a DL, but Cole already has those two guys, So Kalis goes looking for an LB. He doesn’t really touch anyone, but gets in Ed Davis’ way.
Magnuson: He pulls right to lead the play, as he runs out to lead, he pushes the man that Butt is already blocking, then he goes out to block – and doesn’t really touch anyone, he does have nifty footwork to go celebrate, though and is the first to congratulate Jabrill.
Butt: Blocks down to his left to make an edge. The defender spins but Jake sticks with him as Jabrill runs by.
Asiasi: Takes a step down to the inside (left) then quickly redirects to his right to block a defender, he gets a piece of him, before the defender dives harmlessly at Peppers’ feet.
Smith: Runs a fake swing pass pattern to the left. No one pays any attention to him.
Chesson: at the snap he immediately sprints out in front to lead the play, he cut blocks the man furthest outside – who keeps his feet, but is now too far away to have a realistic attempt at stopping the insanely fast Jabrill Peppers.
Peppers: Takes the snap and this is a straight run, no fakes, no anything. Just run as fast as you can to the corner. After all the above takes place, Jabrill just has to turn on the jets – which he does. The only one left to try to get him is Riley Bullough. Can Riley come from his MLB spot to beat Jabrill to the pylon? Bwahahahahahahahahhaha. No. Jabrill makes a beautiful dive to hit the ball on the pylon for the TD and an awesome camera shot from pyloncam.
Result: 3 yard gain and a MICHIGAN TOUCHDOWN!
2nd TD: 1st & Goal Ball on the Michigan State 1-yard line 12:28 2nd Qtr
This is a goal line formation with 3 TEs and a FB. Two TE (Wheatley and Asiasi) to the right and one (Butt) to the left.
Asiasi: Goes left to block down, but there’s nothing for him to do as Magnuson has cut block the only defender in the vicinity. So, Devin jumps over the guy and plays a nice little half game of leapfrog with Magnuson.
Wheatley: Runs straight ahead and gets a good initial pop on the Gatekeeper. OR the key master… IDK which one is in charge of locking Michigan inside the stadium, at any rate he gets the good first pop, then gets another shove and there’s no way he can get over to make the play in time from there.
Magnuson: As previously mentioned, he cut blocks his man and gets him to the ground.
Kalis: He is also cut blocking, as he and Magnuson are backside on this play. His Man, is Malik McDowell. McDowell was trying to engage with Cole, but Cole was on his way to block someone else.
Cole: Trying to slide left, but ends up fighting off McDowell getting enough of him to ensure he’s not in the play. (not sure by letter of the law if he and Kalis got away with a chop block or not)
Bredeson: Gets a good first step out to the left and turns to wall his man, and pushes him to the ground.
Braden: Slides left and With Butt doubles the DE, they get a good push on him and shove him back into the endzone
Butt: Double teams the DE with Braden and at the last moment comes off the double to try to get a piece of the MLB, Riley Bullough who is coming to try to make the tackle. He gets just a bit of him.
Speight: Takes the snap and reverse pivots out and pitches the ball on a toss sweep. After pitching he gives lip service to a fake pass – then turns to watch Smith run the ball. Because, he was about to see something Awesome.
Hill: From the I in front of Smith, he goes into shuffle motion to the left. He is out front lead blocking and my oh my, the CB #9 is thankful that Sparty is wearing green pants and not white ones, because I’m certain he soiled himself. Hill gets his hands on him at the two and shoves him to the ground a yard and a half deep into the endzone. The CB might as well fade away and classify himself as obsolete.
Smith: Runs left and takes the pitch at about the 8 yard line. He outruns Ed Davis to the corner and the only thing between him and paydirt is Riley Bullough who is shaking off Jake Butt. There is a collision at the half yard line between Bullough and Smith. Bullough is the nail to Smith’s hammer, the Marty to Smith’s Shawn. Which is to say Bullough meet the ground, Smith is meeting the goal line.
Result: 1 yard gain and a MICHIGAN TOUCHDOWN!
3rd TD: 1st & Goal Ball on the Michigan State 5-yard line :43 2nd Qtr
Shotgun formation RB (Smith) to Speight’s right. Darboh split right, with a TE (Butt) to the left. Two WRs (Chesson and Harris) split wide left.
Darboh: Shimmies and fakes a route before engaging in some nice stalk blocking.
Chesson: Not visible on TV
Harris: See Chesson
Butt: Turns to the inside and stands up the DE. Nice job keeping him out of the play.
Magnuson: Steps inside and reaches for McDowell – but whiffs as Malik is looping around. Recovers enough to turn around and get a small shove on McDowell.
Kalis: He does false start on this play, but it’s not as egregious as I originally thought. Still got away with one, though. Let’s ignore that part, however, because what he does after that is spectacular. He slides down, with not DL in front of him he goes to find an LB. The one he finds has made certain promises about locking a certain team in a stadium. The MSU LBs (Bullough and Frey) have done a twist stunt, with Bullough shooting down inside. Kalis picks up Frey at the 5 yard line and drives, nay, MAULS him back into the endzone and doesn’t stop blocking him until he buries him to the ground four yards deep into the endzone. Just outstanding.
Cole: Catches the stunting/blitzing Bullough and carries him well out of the play pushing him to the left. Really good job by Cole, here.
Bredeson: Initially I overlooked this effort with what Kalis did on the other side, but this was also awesome. He steps out to the left and engages the DL across from him. He gets into him and pushes him back a yard or two. The DL is disengaging trying to scramble back to help make a tackle, but Bradenson will have none of that. The whistle hasn’t blown, so he’s still blocking. He continues pushing his man into the endzone. Sparty DL stupidly tries to do some sort of Greco roman wrestling throw to pull Bradenson down, but he ends up just getting squashed under Brandenson.
Braden: Steps out and chips on the DL Bredenson has under control – so he moves to the next level to find someone to block. Frey has stunted away so he is trying to get at the safety. He can’t get there in time without making an illegal block so he tries to fling himself into the pile and pick off a guy tackling Smith – those guys have fallen off and Braden just ends up tackling Smith into the endzone.
Speight: Takes the handoff and gives to Smith. Takes a bit of a cheap shot from the DE after the handoff.
Smith: Take the handoff around the 9, and is running right up the gut. The blocking is so that he isn’t touched until he bounces off Kalis around the 5, no Sparty touces him until LB Davis and the Safety Braden couldn’t reach converge on him around the 2 ½ . Smith Bulls and plows and efforts his way forward. He reaches the ball out over the plane as the defenders fall off and Braden falls on him into the endzone.
Result: 5 yard gain and a MICHIGAN TOUCHDOWN!
BONUS Play: 2-pt conversion try MSU ball on the Michigan 3-yard line :01 4th Qtr
Sparty offense. Shotgun formation 3 WR bunched to the left. 1 WR to the right – no TE. One RB to the right of the QB. Michigan has 4 down lineman and 3 LBs in an “over” look.
O’Connor takes the snap and starts right running the option. Taco Charlton dives at him forcing the pitch. At this moment in time the voices in O’Connor’s head tell him that they lost, but kicked Michigan’s ass. He thinks the diving Charlton said it, so he decides that’s the story he’s going to give the press, because – he not crazy, afterall. The pitch is behind and high, and Holmes can’t handle it. The ball is loose on the ground and bounces into Jabrill Peppers’ hands around the 13-yard line. O’Connor limps half heartedly towards Jabrill. Even if he sprinted, it wouldn’t have mattered anyway – because Peppers is off to the races. A bolt of lightning the other way and Michigan scores 2.
Result: lol, Dantonio an 87-yard fumble return and a MICHIGAN D2P!
