UFR GLOSSARY is here. Also apologies for the 2009-level quality on some of these recordings—my copy of the game was in low-res for a chunk of the 2nd quarter.

FORMATION NOTES: Mostly basic stuff we've been charting since Loeffler was a Michigan assistant. Michigan broke out an odd formation from its nickel with the WDE (Moore, at the bottom) playing inside the RT. I called it Nickel Tite.

A few notation reminders: parentheticals mean the player is covered. I'm still using hyphens for motion so if you see "H-SB" that means the slot receiver (H) motioned to a splitback (SB) position. "Offset" means the RB is at least a yard behind the QB, not to be confused with "Offset I" which is an I-formation with the FB offset—BGSU used both. "Ace" is another notation that means something different if it's first (QB under center with a single back) as in "Ace TTE" or later in the descriptions (TEs to either side of the formation) as in Gun Ace. I do not know why I am this way.

SUBSTITUTION NOTES: DT was the usual rotation with Benny getting more snaps to rest Jenkins. Freshman Trey Pierce came in before Reece Atteberry. At DE the top four split all the (relatively) combative snaps; TJ Guy came in late with the 3rd stringers. Junior Colson went almost the whole way at MLB with Barrett and Hausmann splitting WLB. At safety still no Rod Moore or Zeke Berry. Sabb again played the most snaps of anyone on the team. Paige started and played until the penultimate drive, with Quinten Johnson only subbing in for a couple of drives (one he ended abruptly by himself). Jyaire Hill got some competitive snaps at CB. Sainristil played outside when they went to a 5-2, with Keshaun Harris coming off for an extra DT. Also of interest: the backup nickel was Josh Wallace. Ja'Den McBurrows did not play.

THIS WAS A TREAT: Also before we begin, a quick shout out to the broadcasting team.

I spent years grousing about football announcers who talk to their listeners like they're idiots. Butt and Provus love the game, think you love it too, and act like you're as curious as they are. Gardner's another one. That two of the guys this space used to chart are now leading the trend towards greater intelligence in football commentary probably doesn't say anything about this space, but both of these facts combined probably do say something about the fans who are lapping it up, so thank you for that.

[After THE JUMP: People who are not taking this seriously enough.]

Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O25	1st	10	Empty 2TE	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 bdy	Pass	4	Z Fly	Harris	30	2.60
Again with the blitz where M brings the nickel and drops the opposite edge; I'm calling this "Nk Amoeba" from now on. Harris(+1, cov+1) in man with no help so they arm punt. He's in phase the whole way and forces a circus catch by Hilaire (Hat+3) that's ruled so (correctly) on review.
M45	1st	10	Offset 2TE Z-fly	4-2-5	4-3 Split	2 bdy	PRO		Split Flow TE	Colson	4	-0.12
Trap coverage with a slant means Harrell is wiped out (RPS-1) and Wallace(+1) is the force player. He gets a good chip on the slot and flies up to force a throw falling back. Colson(+1) has to deal with an OL who released well beyond 3 yards to interfere with him (Refs-2 this is why the rule exists) and tackles at the sideline after a short gain with a helpful shoulder from Paige(+0.5).
M41	2nd	6	Gun 2TE Tight RB	4-2-5	4-3 Over	2 off	Pass	4	F Out	Harris	2	-0.58
Harrell(+1, PR+1) around at 7 but BGSU is playing GET-IT-OUTball and dumps to the move TE in the flat before we can see if he can pay it off. Harris(+2, cov+1, tackling+1) is in a Cov2 zone and sticks immediately.
M39	3rd	4	Ace TTE (Y) F-offset	4-2-5	4-4 Under	1 press	Play-Action	4	PA Tommy Rees	Sabb	-12	-2.84
BGSU should be grateful for this outcome. Stunt is picked up by max pro but Sabb(+2, PR+3) blasting through a TE. Orth comes out of PA looking at a TE out that Harrell(+2, cov+2) is in position to intercept if thrown. Whether Sabb or Harrell causes Orth to let go of the ball mid-windup is hard to tell but either way--Whoopsiedaisy!--it's a Tommy Rees. Ball bounces directly back to him (Luck-2) but now Sabb is coming to sack and Jenkins(+1) is in his face so he goes down. Refs-1 miss a spectacular hold by the RG on McGregor.
Drive Notes: Punt. 0-0. 12 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O25	1st	10	Offset TTE	5-2-4	5-3 Under	1 off	Play-Action	1	ARO	Barrett	1	-0.59
M brings Paige(+1, PR+1) late to force a quick dumpoff that Barrett(+2, tackling+1, cov+2) sticks immediately. Refs-1 give BGSU a pathetic pity yard; this ball never crossed the LOS.
O26	2nd	9	Gun Twins Z-In	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 off	Pass	4	Sack	Sainristil	-7	-0.65
Nk Amoeba. Orth wants a quick smash that Harris(+1) and Colson(+1, cov+2) have taken away. There is no 3rd read because Sainristil(+2, PR+2, tackling+1) has hopped over and around a sad cut attempt by the RB and now he and Orth are sharing a phonebooth so Mikey buries him.
O19	3rd	16	Gun Wk Z-In	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 off	Pass	4	Scramble	Colson	7(-5)	-0.04
Twist gets Grant(+1, PR+1) through. He misses but Orth has to step up, finds nothing worth throwing because only three guys are behind the LOS vs 7 men in the pass protection (cov+1, RPS+1). He starts running downfield until Colson(+1) arrives, and instead of taking a hit he tosses an illegal forward pass to his RB. Takes the refs 15 seconds to realize it, but they do.
Drive Notes: Punt. 7-0. 9 min 1st Q.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O20	1st	10	Offset Trips	4-2-5	Nk Over	2 fld	Run		ZR Duo	Hausmann	0	-0.56
Just ideal run defense. M has Colson stepping out to take away a slot despite not being read, which I technically have to RPS-1 that because with a QB reading that's 8 vs 6 in the box, but if you can get away with it you're not wrong. Jenkins(+1) stands up a double so Harrell(+1) can pinch after forcing the give. Hausmann(+0.5) fills the only gap so the RB bounces to the other, where Graham(+1) has a double stood up as well and McGregor(+1) planted his T in the backfield as well so Colson's hypothetical gap doesn't exist and there's no escape. Harrell flows and tackles behind the wall. Chefs kiss.
O20	2nd	10	Gun Str Bunch	4-2-5	Nk Under	2 fld	Pass	n/a	Slip Screen	Graham	Inc	-0.26
Fans wanted a hold for Harrell but he just tripped a little. Graham(+2, cov+2) reads the screen and hops back. From the way the ball falls I think he did get his finger on it. Harris(+0.5) and Sainristil(+0.5) were past their blockers so this probably wasn't getting far. Refs-2 allow a CSU-level late hit by the RG on Sainristil. Craig, you gotta tell your friend to come get his boy.
O20	3rd	10	Gun Wk H-In	4-2-5	Nk Over	2 bdy	Pass	4	Fade	Sainristil	33	3.59
Motion reveals m2m (RPS-1) and they launch. Sainristil(-1, cov-1) does get dinged here despite making up the ground because WR has 2 steps on him and ball is shorted to allow him to come up and get his hands on it. Ibrahim (Hat+2, Luck-1) catches it off the tip while on the ground. WYGD?
M47	1st	10	Ace TTE Z-Fly	5-2-4	5-2 Odd	2 off	Pass	5	PA Sack	Goode	-8	-2.69
Grant(+3, PR+3) causes this by ripping past the C and soaking up the RB, and is actually in the process of sacking the QB, but Goode(+2) also beat the LG clean and comes to collect it. Refs-2 miss the RG holding Jenkins by the facemask.
O45	2nd	18	Gun Trips Bunch	4-2-5	Nk Split	1 off	Pass	4	Mesh	Sabb	3	-0.25
Clean pocket as both DEs around too high (PR-1, Stewart(-0.5) and D-Mo(-0.5) and DTs haven't dented the line so Orth can step up and get rid of it. Sabb(+1, cov+2, RPS+1) is among an entire blue line of defenders lined up to prevent this zone entry, TE falls forward for a couple YAC (tackling-1) which is why Keon got 1 not 2.
O48	3rd	15	Gun 3x1	4-2-5	Eagle D	2 off	Pass	4	TE Seam	Hausmann	15	3.50
Loeffler(RPS-2) spots the TE uncovered and has the QB check to two skinny posts. Hausmann(-1, cov-3) needs to read the RB staying in and get over to his hole faster--when he gets older in this system he'll know this is what they left open by alignment and react faster I bet. Think Paige's alignment way off the TE was the coverage giveaway if you want to mentally give one of the RPS minuses to him instead of Minter. Neck Sharpied.
M37	1st	10	Gun Wk RB	4-2-5	4-3 Over	1 off	Pass	4	Hitch	Sabb	Inc	-0.75
Another quick throw to negate any pressure. Would love to see a replay. Sabb(+2, cov+3, RPS+1) is stepping in front of this route, QB tries to fit it behind him but he still gets a hand on it. Wallace also had it read and was going to intercept.
M37	2nd	10	Offset TTE	4-2-5	Nk Over	2 off	Run		ZR Power Trey	Hausmann	11	1.08
Dangerous as the read holds Colson and Harrell backside. Hausmann(-1) gets swallowed by the TE's downblock, Graham(-0.5) is moved out a yard by a double. McGregor(-0.5) is spilling, gets turned, but he got upfield which slows down the pull to give Harris(+1) time to step up and set a new edge despite being way undersized. This gives Paige(-2, tackling-2) a shot at a tackle, which he whiffs. Colson(+1) quickly covers a lot of ground and holds it down to a modest gain. Nobody was left if he didn't.
M26	1st	10	Gun Wk	4-2-5	Nk Over	2 off	Pass	4	PA Sluggo	Wallace	Inc	-0.47
Sabb leaves the Y uncovered and this elicits another check from the sidelines. Max pro vs Cov 3 and then Hiliare puts a double-move on Wallace(-3, cov-3) and is gone until he lays out and drops it (Hat-3) in the endzone. BGSU burns a timeout after this.
M26	2nd	10	Gun Str	4-2-5	Nk Over	2 off	Pass	4	Scramble	Goode	5	0.05
Orth wants a quick whip route that Sainristil(+1, cov+1) has covered. Harrell(+1, PR+1) gets free on a spin move and it's time to bail. Goode(-1, tackling-1) can't accelerate fast enough to contain but Colson(+0.5) and Barrett(+0.5) arrive quickly to keep it to a 3rd & long. EO1Q.
M21	3rd	5	Gun Ace Z-fly	4-2-5	404 Tite	2 fld	Pass	3	RB Flat	Wallace	3	-0.20
Stewart(+1) dropped into the area of the Flood (RPS+1) and joins Wallace(+2, cov+1, tackling+1) who up and halted this two yards short of the sticks.
Drive Notes: FG(36). 7-3. 14 min 2nd Q. Expected points calculator says a FG here is just a 0.20 difference but still What Are You Doing Loeffler? Bredeson fumbles the kickoff so defense is right back on the field.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
M33	1st	10	Offset TTE	4-2-5	Nk Over	2 off	Run		ZR Power GT	Grant	3	-0.20
BGSU has a new RG and Grant(+1) puts him 2 yards in the backfield. RT is slow to release; Hausmann(+0.5) waited for him but then the guy glances off. D-Mo(+1) clunks the pulling G to create a wall and render the pulling T useless. Pile lurches forward because the RG jumped on Grant's back (Refs-1, tackling-1).
M30	2nd	7	Gun Wk	4-2-5	Nk Tite	2 fld	RPO		Bash/Slant	Barrett	6	0.22
Goofy play where Harrell(+1, RPS+2) cuts off a run that's supposed to get to the edge and the RB just stops like "Uh, what am I supposed to do here?" Barrett(-2) doesn't realize the RB has the ball (or thinks it's a trick play?) and sits waiting for a pass until the window closes and the TE doubling Benny comes off and turns Barrett out. Hausmann(-0.5) has to babysit the soft edge that D-Mo was playing but waits to long--needs to come down to take away the backside edge so he can flow to the ball.
M24	3rd	1	Offset TTE (Y) H-SB	5-2-4	5-2 Odd	1 off	Run		3O Pitch	Wallace	0	-0.70
Before this: M shows Cov0 and BGSU expends a timeout. Now this: M runs a twist (RPS+3) that delivers Grant(+0.5) and Graham(+0.5) past three blockers and should have this dead. Harrell(-2) wastes it by crashing when he's left unblocked. Sabb(+0.5) flies up and slows the read a little but this is getting there until Wallace(+2) breaks past the WR blocking him and gets under Hiliare's feet, with Paige(+0.5) flying up to prevent a half yard of YAC.
Drive Notes: FG(42). 7-6. 12 min 2nd Q. BGSU burns their last timeout trying to get M to jump offsides. EP calculator says this was 0.61 points in favor of going for it, and that's just math. You have a chance to go up on Michigan in the 2nd quarter and you'd rather try a 42-yarder? Loeffler, what are we doing here?
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O34	1st	10	Gun Wk	4-2-5	Nk Over	2 off	Pass	4	RB Flat	Wallace	2	-0.48
Timosciek in from here. McGregor(+2, PR+2) has the LT defeated inside so this gets immediately dumped to the flat. Wallace(-1, tackling-1) has a chance for a TFL but gets whooped for a couple-yard gain.
O36	2nd	8	Offset Wk	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 off	RPO		IZ/Z-Out	McGregor	0 (-10)	-1.30
Low snap (Hat-1) means the read can't be made--it was there for 5 yards under Wallace fwiw--and now they're running into a Double-A gap blitz (RPS+1). Lots of +'s to give out as Barrett(+2) blasts the C back two yards and is about to harass the RB until the guy he beat tackles him. McGregor(+1) is set up on the edge and the LT grabs his arm to create an edge...that the RB can't take because Sainristil(+2) flew up, set up, and wrapped up. Very late flag comes out after McGregor ask for one.
O26	2nd	18	Empty TTE	4-2-5	Nk Even	2 fld	Pass	4	Slant	Wallace	Inc	-0.17
Jenkins(+2, PR+2) puts the RG in Timosciek's lap and Graham(+1) is also pushing a double deep into the pocket so this is flung at a well-covered slant. WR slows to try to draw a cheap PI, Wallace(+2, cov+2) rakes it out clean, and WR Sparts about it.
O26	3rd	18	Gun Str	4-2-5	Nk Over	2 off	Run		ZR Power	Stewart	7	0.06
GUAP. Weird Counter that's more like a P&P because the pulling TE was inline. Not gonna RPS that because it's 3rd and 18 but am gonna ding Hausmann(-1) for going inside the TE instead of funneling. RB hops outside but the bounce is enough for Stewart(+2) to catch up and end this before it gets interesting.
Drive Notes: Punt. 7-6. 7 min 2nd Q. M scores and BGSU basically shuts it down.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O25	1st	10	Gun Wk	4-2-5	Nk Over	2 off	Pass	4	Yackety Snap	Benny	2	-0.35
Another low snap (Hat-2) and Timosciek decides to just run. Benny(+1) and Harrell(+1) come off blocks to drag him down after a short gain. M timeout.
O27	2nd	8	Gun Wk RB	4-2-5	Nk OVer	2 off	Pass	4	RB Flat	Hill	8	1.19
D-Mo(+2) explodes through the LT and bangs into Timosciek, who dumps it to the RB in the flat. Hill(-2, cov-1, tackling-1) is late to react then whiffs the tackle, getting the RB OOB at the sticks.
O35	1st	10	Gun Wk	4-2-5	Nk Over	2 off	Run		ZR Power GT	Sainristil	-1	-1.18
Another low snap (Hat-2) that Timosciek drops and picks up, which kills the read. No read anyways since M was Nk blitzing Sainristil(+2) off the edge, but could have been a play if Mikey doesn't take on the RB's block and wrap up in the backfield. Grant(-1) got thunked way down and a WR is holding the f out of Sabb (Refs-2) which makes this look like a lane for a second despite Benny(+1) coming through dragging the C and getting a paw on the QB.
O34	2nd	11	Gun Wk RB	4-2-5	Nk Split	1 off	Pass	4	Snag	Hausmann	7	0.41
D-Mo(+1) beats the RT but again the throw is out immediately. Benny(-0.5)/Harrell(-0.5) stunt gets nowhere so there's space to move into. Throw is timed well but want to see Hausmann drive on this faster since the TE he was carrying is already passed off, but this is picking nits not a score.
O41	3rd	4	Gun Wk	4-2-5	5-1 Odd	1 press	Pass	4	Fly	Q.Johnson	INT	-3.72
Both edges drop and Barrett(+2, PR+2) comes, getting held to prevent QB murder. Grant(+2) donkeyed a C who wants out. Timosciek thinks he has Harris beat down the sideline but a) shorts it and b) didn't see this week's cyan Q-Jo(+3, Cov+3) flying in from his Cov 2 zone to yoink, fortunately after Harris whiffs at it.
Drive Notes: Interception. 14-6.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O15	1st	10	Gun Str RB Y-Out	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 fld	Pass	3	Slip Screen	Jenkins	INT	-6.17
Need to give some love here to Harrell(+2, PR+2) who blew past the LT and is mid-sack when Timosciek horks it up, which is probably one reason he didn't notice that Jenkins(+3, cov+3) read the play, set up in front of the RB and skies for the interception. Then he rumbles down to the 2 with endzone eyes.
Drive Notes: Interception. 14-6. 12 min 3rd Q. Corum scores and the game is pretty much over from here but it's only 9:15 on Monday night as I get here so let's get our money's worth.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O25	1st	10	Gun TTE RB	4-2-5	404 Tite	2 off	Run		ZR Power GT Keep	Colson	0	-0.70
I guess this has had a split flow on the backside all along. Who knew? Long mesh gets Sabb to bite and BGSU has numbers (RPS-1) but Sainristil(+2) pops a WR to set an edge and take away the TE dumpoff, leaving Colson(+1, tackling+1) to track down the QB in space and end him.
O25	2nd	10	Gun TTE RB	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 off	Pass	4	Strip Sack	Harrell	-1	-4.28
Harrell(+3, PR+1) comes in hot from a wide-9 and gets a piece of Timo's arm as he's trying to hit a TE out that Sainristil(+1, cov+1) is driving on. Barrett(+1) shoves the umpire out of the way and collects it.
Drive Notes: Fumble. 21-6. 11 min 3rd Q. Next drive is the Hardamon injury. BGSU, averaging 1.5 ypc on 10 called runs thus far, goes to the all-Counter offense.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O25	1st	10	Offset TTE RB	5-2-4	5-2 Under	1 off	Run		ZR Power	Jenkins	-1	-0.80
M has Paige blitzing to induce a give as they slant playside did I turn RPS off screw it I'm turning it back on RPS+1. Morgan Freeman good luck.gif. Jenkins(+2) blasts a TE into the backfield. Grant(+2) chucks the LG to the ground and intercepts the TE lead. Kickout can't even get to Harrell(-1) who gets bopped, so the RB tries to go that way and now Jenkins swallows him with Colson(+0.5) superfluously on his back.
O24	2nd	11	Offset Trips	4-2-5	4-3 Even	1 off	Run		Counter GT	Hausmann	3	-0.13
This has a bubble tag the QB isn't looking at, might be Timo got this wrong (Hat-1). Grant(-1) gets moved a bit by an OL who's then grabbing his head but Hausmann(+1) sticks the lead blocker and Goode(+1) flows from the backside to end it early.
O27	3rd	8	Gun Twins	4-2-5	Eagle D	1 off	Run		Power	Colson	2	-0.15
M slanting at this (RPS+1), gets D-Mo(+1) standing up the kickout well inside and nobody blocking Colson(+1) who scurries in from the side.
Drive Notes: Punt. 24-6. 8 min 3rd Q. Everyone watching this game "There's still 8 minutes left in the 3rd quarter?" Next drive it's 31-6 with 6 minutes left in the 3rd quarter.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O25	1st	10	Gun Str	5-2-4	4-3 Split	1 fld	Run		Counter Trey	Jenkins	1	-0.59
Harrell at 4-3 SAM, Jenkins(+1) at WDE and they run this at him; he comes in and crumples the kickout. Slant (RPS+1) at this gets Goode(+1) through the intended gap where he eats the lead. This gets both OL he came through to turn around and create a gap but Colson(-0.5) is now unblocked in the hole and surprised to see the RB pop through it after all; Hausmann(+0.5) hops in and it's over.
O26	2nd	9	Gun Wk RB	4-2-5	Nk Tite	2 fld	RPO		ZR IZ/Z Smoke	Graham	-2	-0.51
Reading a smoke route but the read holds the backside end anyways. Doesn't matter because Graham(+2) worms past the C before the RG realizes he might want to help (Hat-1) and ropes the RB down in the backfield by himself. LBs were twisting into the backside, probably expecting another Counter (RPS-2) so there was no help if this got through. McGregor(+1) two-gapped the RT so there was no escape. This might be a +3 for MG in other circumstances but BGSU has no fucks left.
O24	3rd	11	Gun Wk	4-2-5	Nk Over	1 fld	Pass	4	RB Flat	Waller	2	-0.07
McGregor(+2, PR+2) is clean around the LT and hitting on the throw--if this isn't a dumpoff immediately it's a thundersack. Again, discount for no fucks given. Waller(+1, cov+1) wisely breaks down and waits for help to keep this 4th and long instead of risking a play. Doesn't have to wait long for Barrett(+0.5).
Drive Notes: Punt. 31-6. 4 min 3rd Q. The chartings will continue until I've collected all the Jenkins +'s.
Ln	Dn	Dst	OForm	DPack	Front	Hi	Type	Rush	Play	Player	Yds	EPA
O20	1st	10	Gun Twins	5-2-4	5-2 Over	1 off	Run		Buck GC	Benny	0	-0.56
Benny(+2) blows this up by slipping through his downbock, shoving back both pullers, and getting his hands on the RB until the TE jumps on his back and tackles him (Refs-2). Goode(+1) flowed well to the POA and Hill(+0.5) got outside just in case and Barrett(+0.5) was around as well. All form a Katamari Damacy. Na, na-na-na-na-na-na-nah na-na na na na-na naaah.
O20	2nd	10	Gun TTE	4-2-5	Nk Even	2 off	Run		Power GT	Stewart	-1	-0.29
Wallace at nickel. M runs a scrape exchange (RPS+1) that murders this as Stewart(+2) arrives at the mesh with Colson replacing. Frontside was also a mess as D-Mo(+2) walzed in and captured both pullers. Graham(+1) shucked his downblock and was waiting with Hill(+0.5) in case the RB with a Stewart on his back got any funny ideas.
O19	3rd	11	Gun Wk	4-2-5	Nk Split	1 off	RPO		Buck GC/Bubble	Barrett	12	1.63
Benny(-1) is washed down by the downblock, backside bubble read holds four defenders backside. Graham(+1) got into the backfield past a G who hauls him down (Refs-2). Barrett(+1, tackling-2) gets a lot of credit for hopping past two blockers looking for him, but misses the tackle at the LOS. Then Hill(-2) misses as well and they get the sticks.
O31	1st	10	Gun Twins	5-2-4	5-2 under	1 off	Run		IZ	Goode	7	0.68
BGSU running the clock down to 2 seconds on these fyi. Colson(+1) pops the C immediately but Goode(-2) is put on skates by the RG and this plows behind that.
O38	2nd	3	Offset Wk RB	4-2-5	Nk Under	1 off	Run		ZR Belly	Jenkins	0	-1.17
Jenkins(+2) immediately through an attempted double, RT who whiffed him grabs onto his leg like a toddler. Goode(-1) wasn't so lucky then his guy sumo tackles him. (Refs-2 these guys are completely asleep). D-Mo(+1) also hopped past an OL who grabs him. Colson(+2) bats away the LT and sticks.
O38	3rd	3	Gun Wk RB	4-2-5	5-1 Odd	1 off	Pass	4	Slant	Waller	12	2.26
D-Mo(+2, PR+2) is through the RG and into Timo's face so there's time to throw to read 1 or die. That's a slant that Waller(-2, cov-1, tackling-1) doesn't bump at the LOS and then he misses the tackle.
50	1st	10	Gun Wk	4-2-5	4-3 Over	1 off	Run		Counter Trey	Colson	2	-0.48
Paige rolls down late to a 4-3/1-high look. Goode(-1) blown down by a double but keeps fighting and Colson(+1) is able to get around and into the gap, and Jenkins(+1) shoves the C back so a pile forms and lurches down after a couple.
M48	2nd	8	Offset Wk RB	4-2-5	Nk Over	2 fld	Pass	4	Fly	Waller	Inc	-1.26
Blitz WLB (Hood) drop DE. Goode(+1, PR+1) is past the C and soaking up the RB. QB chucks a moonball well over a fly that Waller(+2, cov+2) knocks out even though he's already run the guy OOB so full credit.
M48	3rd	8	Gun Wk	4-2-5	Nk Split	2 fld	Run		Counter Trey	D.Moore	0	-0.86
Oh lol. D-Mo(+2) pops off the kickout and swallows the RB. Guy can't escape because Hood(+2) came in like a wrecking ball, leveling the TE supposed to be lead blocking.
Drive Notes: Punt. 31-6. 9 min 4th Q. Last drive is the deep backups and not charted. Relevant events for chartable guys: Benny(+1) killed a p&p by dancing across a T, hopped through the OL for another kill, and got blown off the line on a late counter. Trey Pierce hopped around a block. The 23-yard run outside was just a ton of uncalled holding but look at Hillman go.

Is JJ going to the keep throwing interceptions or was that just a one-time thing?

Wrong UFR. This is the defense one.

Oh.

I see you're still not reading the play-by-play.

Um, no. I read your Ohio State one, though. That was interesting…how they countered Ryan Day's NFL offense with switch coverages and such. Did they do any of that in this game?

You didn't read this week's Neck Sharpies either?

I am sorry, I know this is your job and everything, but Bowling Green's offense was ass before their starting quarterback got injured in practice last week. I don't really need to know how Michigan fared against a gutted MAC team's 2nd string quarterback.

Actually the backup QB left the game in the 2nd quarter when Michigan went up 14-6 and Bowling Green decided to pack up shop. They rolled with a walk-on who kept dropping snaps and might not have known which side of the play his read was on for most of the game.

Dude…

I didn't make the schedule. Can we take this seriously?

Was anyone on that field taking this game seriously?

Yes. Jayden Hood.

Other than 3rd string linebackers?

No, but can we make like Michigan and pretend we were taking this game seriously so we can extrapolate the little data it provided to actual football games?

Give me one reason.

We only have so much longer with Kris Jenkins.

That's a good reason.

And Mikey Sainristil.

Okay let's do this.

Do you need to get in character or anything?

hnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnNNNNNAARRRRGGHHHH WHY DID THEY KEEP COMPLETING BOMBS?

So like Michigan's previous opponents, BGSU was trying to get the ball out before the pass rush could matter. This means flooding zones and dinking it underneath when the coverage plays off, and chucking arm punts down the sideline when they come down to press. BGSU's particular flavor of dumpoff was to get it to RBs and TEs leaking into the flats. Michigan adjusted by playing more Cover 2, which was an opportunity for the cornerbacks to finally show off some of their tackling skills. Keshawn Harris's was so nice I yelled "Sainristil!"

#36 at the top

As for the chucks, Michigan gave them three opportunities during the competitive portion of the game, and they connected on two circus catches. Those are high-variance plays, however, so outcomes are less useful than likely outcomes. Ranking by how much they bothered me from least to most, we start with the first play of the game, which was a completion by only the barest margin.

Harris is in phase with Odieu Hiliare—the one guy on this offense with a likely NFL future—the entire way. You maybe want him to put Hiliare a bit more into the sideline to further constrict the space the QB has to throw it to, but look where Hiliare has to catch this.

If you have covered everything but the receiver laying out and getting a foot down at the sideline, you have decreased the likelihood of a catch to something like 10 percent, IE if they run it on you 10 times the offense is getting 3 YPA.

The second bomb they brought in was a similar story. Sainristil looks beat here until he makes up ground at the last second and gets his hand on the ball.

Dangit. Wrong play. Let me try again.

Still? Okay, this one is definitely correct.

Obviously we've seen Sainristil make up those steps before, but this ball was underthrown, allowing Sainristil to make up that ground without putting on the burners. He tips the ball, which 95% of the time is going to be an incompletion. Then the receiver catches it while on the ground. I gave Sainristil a –1 here for letting the receiver get behind him by that much, gave the QB a mental IN for shorting it, gave the receiver props for catching it after all, and left the rest to the fickle nature of oblong spheroids.

The incompleted bomb…that was a little worrying.

watch the top of the screen

Wallace has help inside from Sabb so biting on that inside move is a choice. Perhaps he was hunting a turnover to undo McCarthy's. I looked for a move that Hiliare might have used to set this up earlier, but the BTN director was tight cutting to the box all game so I missed most of the routes. Anyway, Wallace needs to not do that.

(The fourth bomb in this game was at DJ Waller. It landed uncatchably out of bounds, but Waller a) had already put the receiver there, and b) was so in step that he raked it out anyways.

)

Balancing this out—for Wallace at least—was an opportunity to see the CBs do a lot of tackling. I've brought up Wallace's UMass scouting report every week—good at setting up tackles, bad at making them—but it was Wallace's tackling (and Loeffler's conservatism) that ended this drive:

It's a bit dodgy, but in this instance getting there was the big deal. He made a more authoritative stick on the other 3rd down and medium to bring up 4th and short not short enough for Scot Loeffler.

#12 CB on the top—ignore the marquee this was a 3rd & 5

Taken with Loeffler's decisions to kick after both of these plays, Wallace's tackling was arguably the difference between an annoying 1st half where Bowling Green was in the game, and Bowling Green actually taking a lead and all the sickos tuning in to watch. He had another good play as the force player, but did miss a tackle in the backfield later on that turned a 2nd & 11 into a 2nd & 8. I'll take it!

With McBurrows joining the injured secondary list, Wallace also got snaps at nickel. It wasn't enough to get charting, but I got a vibe, which was a major comedown from Sainristil, which was a little disappointing.

Ah ha!

What?

I've finally caught you underrating Sainristil.

I don't think I did?

You said it's "disappointing" that Wallace was a major comedown. You should have known that EVERYBODY is major comedown from Sainristil.

I remember saying something about taking this exercise seriously.

I am. This is my introduction to a bit you promised last year where we pick an underrated thing that Sainristil did to preserve the sense of wonder that he's a 3-star Massachusetts who converted from receiver as a senior.

Oh right. By all means, segue.

Did Sainristil do anything underrated but awesome this week?

So this play happened when BGSU was already well into the "Let's run some power and get out of here" phase, but they actually called a thing that worked—numbers-wise—but didn't because of what's going on at the bottom of the screen.

If you freeze that about 2 seconds in you'll see Michigan has every defender—including the deep safety—committed to the handoff. The guys left to deal with a quarterback, a tight end, and a receiver are Sainristil and Colson. The thought process here is the WR and Sainristil are going to cancel each other out, and the QB can make Colson choose between covering himself and the tight end. Sainristil isn't going to get canceled. He engages the WR and pushes him into the TE's route, staying in position until Colson is too close to Timosciek for the QB to throw it.

It was also nice, after ECU spent a chunk of that game upending Michigan blitzers from the slot, to see Sainristil force the RB to make his cut block first.

It's subtle, but slot blitzers are usually coming in as fast as possible. A tiny moment of patience is all the difference between getting chopped down and showing up in the quarterback's personal space. There were several other instances in this game where Sainristil had to close down a lot of space and wrap up. The way he makes it look easy is going to jar us when he graduates next year.

Combine that with his coverage—he blanketed a whip route, and delayed a throw to the TE that led to Harrell's strip sack—and Sainristil has taken a leap forward from even last year's excellent performance level. The competition level ramps up a notch next week, but if he keeps this up I think we should be talking about him as an All-American.

Keeps what up?

Grading out +10 every week.

Oh right, you do the table thing.

Chart.

Defensive Line
Player	Snaps	+	-	T	Notes
Kris Jenkins	26	13	0	+13	Presence was felt.
Mason Graham	28	8.5	0.5	+8	The usual.
Kenneth Grant	19	9.5	2	+7.5	More of the same.
Cam Goode	17	6	5	+1	Getting moved on late power a little alarming?
Rayshaun Benny	25	7	4.5	+2.5	Quiet day until late when he got to do Jenkins things.
Trey Pierce	7	2	0	+2	Saw him do some things late.
Jaylen Harrell	28	12	3.5	+8.5	Sack strip and some other pressures.
Braiden McGregor	23	7	0.5	+6.5	Actually hit a QB on a quick dump, wins at POA.
Derrick Moore	27	12	0.5	+11.5	Quiet until he got to eat counters at in the 2nd half.
Josaiah Stewart	20	5	0.5	+4.5	Made some plays on the backside.
TJ Guy	9	1	0	+1	One good edge, maybe next year.
TOTAL	240	83	17	+66	Time for a step up in competition.
Linebacker
Player	Snaps	+	-	T	Notes
Junior Colson	44	11	0.5	+10.5	WHAT DOES THIS MEAN!???
Michael Barrett	28	9.5	2	+7.5	This means he's a pretty good linebacker. Star soon?
Ernest Hausmann	24	2.5	3.5	-1	Had a JJ McCarthy against BGSU kind of day.
Jaydon Hood	11	2	0	+2	One marvelous stick in Garba--DON'T SAY IT
Jimmy Rolder	0	0	0	-	DNP
TOTAL	116	25	6	+19	Actually got to be useful this week.
Secondary
Player	Snaps	+	-	T	Notes
Rod Moore	0	0	0	-	DNP :(
Makari Paige	39	2	2	-	Welcome back. Except the missed tackles.
Keon Sabb	45	5.5	0	+5.5	Seems to be getting it now. Got to get after it some.
Quinten Johnson	14	3	0	+3	Did a thing.
Zeke Berry	0	0	0	-	DNP :(
Mike Sainristil	41	10.5	1	+9.5	Is he an All-American? Is there a better nickel?
Will Johnson	0	0	0	-	DNP
Josh Wallace	45	7	4	+3	Got to see him tackle. Also saw him beat deep once.
Keshaun Harris	28	5.5	0	+5.5	Only catch on him was the Hiliare reviewed one.
Ja'Den McBurrows	0	0	0	-	DNP
Amorion Walker	0	0	0	-	DNP
Jyaire Hill	16	1	4	-3	Flying around, except on the one RB flat.
DJ Waller Jr.	13	3	2	+1	Gave up a slant, hung with a fly.
TOTAL	282	37.5	14	+23.5	Half of this is Sainristil. The other half is encouraging.
Metrics
Player	+	-	T	Notes
Pressure	26	1	25/24	Why Loeffler pulled the plug when it was 14-6.
Coverage	27	9	+18	1st read day. 3rd&15 and Wallace getting beat only bads.
Tackling	5	10	-5	A little bit sloppy.
RPS	14	8	+6	Nobody wanted to show much.
Hat Tip	5	10	-5	Pair of circus catches for BG WRs vs lots of yackety snaps.

I see why they were keen on getting the ball the hell away from the defensive line.

Keep in mind that I kept charting through the Power Hour, so some of the run scores got a bit inflated. I figured the starters were still in and BGSU was tagging those runs with reads, so this was chartable football. "Michigan is just too good for these guys" isn't actually a reason to not count what's happening.

But yeah, the first thing either team learned about each other in this game was that Michigan can play all day with a light box and still stuff the running game. This wasn't the first example but it's a graphic one. Michigan is going to have Colson step out over the slot receiver's route, and keep both safeties back. This leaves the defense with six defenders in the box, one of them a cornerback (Wallace on top), versus eight guys from BGSU involved in the run. That includes the QB since he's reading a defender.

And does it work out for them?

It does not. We've been talking about the play above since Michigan used it to bop Penn State over the head with it all day in 2016. Ohio State bopped Michigan with it in 2019. Michigan became experts at it in 2021 and 2022, and now have defenses overreacting to it. Duo is all about moving out the DTs so the RB can force the LB to choose one of the open gaps while the RB bounces to the other.

Well here's what you get when the DTs won't be moved out. Graham has his double in the backfield. Jenkins has his stalemated at the line of scrimmage. Hausmann, the lone LB, chooses the lane this creates between the C doubling Graham and the LG doubling Jenkins. The RB bounces to the gap that should be forming between the guy kicking out McGregor and the RG doubling Graham. You know…that gap.

There is no gap to bounce into because Graham and McGregor shoved the respective guys blocking them so close together it doesn't exist. When the DL are consistently able to win battles like that, linebackers are free to sit back in passing lanes and take away RPO reads (like last week).

At this competition level—and it's not a very high one but it's all we've seen—Michigan currently has three defensive tackles and three defensive ends performing at a "we can play two guys down in the box and win" level: Mason Graham, Kris Jenkins, Kenneth Grant, Jaylen Harrell, Braiden McGregor, and Derrick Moore.

Graham is probably the most consistent down-to-down. It's really easy to forget this guy is a true sophomore, not a senior.

#55 the DT on the hash mark

Graham actually defended a screen play before Jenkins, getting back and getting a finger on it. Much of Graham's day was spent shucking downblocks and popping into the backfield. He was a major reason BGSU's run game was moribund before and after they decided it was also their best means of long-term survival.

Not that Kris Jenkins was ready to let someone else be the star of this defense.

One thing we haven't gotten to see much this year is Jenkins playing DE, which was part of his role in past seasons and theoretically one of the things they could still do with him when their 5-2 morphs to a 4-3. When Michigan got a little sick of the constant backside power runs they morphed, and Jenkins mutant'd.

#94 the DE on the top

When I grade these plays one of the major keys is where that block takes place. The further out, the more run room the offense has. Jenkins put #75 so far inside his feet are almost on the hash mark.

Neither did Jenkins give up the edge—he's high enough that the RB can't bust outside of him. The only direction this run can go is into the gap that Goode hopped into (just under the 1 in B1G) as Michigan slanted the DL this way. Not a single linebacker has activated, and this run is already doomed.

When Bowling Green tried blocking Jenkins with a tight end the devastation was manifest.

#94 second down from the top

While we're watching this play, move your eyes down one spot to #78, Kenneth Grant, at nose. His size has a quality of its own, but Grant's long arms and athleticism are what make him impossible to deal with. Watch him get into the C's shoulder here and rip his way past.

#78 the nose

When they meet the center's hands are trying to get into Grant's chest, but the differenc