In reviewing the second half, I couldn't help but feel that this was not necessarily a game where Northwestern beat us, as much as it was a game we failed to win. It was there for the taking ... and we didn't take it.
That was reflected in the blocking grades for the second half -- 83% run blocking, 86% pass blocking. A pretty average performance, which isn't going to cut it when you're playing the division champ, even if they are banged up.
Out of 33 plays from scrimmage in the second half, there were 11 plays where at least one of our three subjects failed to get the job done, and those breakdowns almost always exacted a toll. Sometimes a lineman can get beat silly, but the ball is going the other way, so it doesn't really matter. Not against Northwestern. We got beat at or near the point of attack -- or allowed disruptive pressure on the QB -- way too often.
As an old friend of mine used to say, "You can't be consistent every now and then."
A good example: Andries was 81% pass blocking in the second half. While that's not acceptable, it's not horrendous. But on two of the plays he pretty much whiffed on the block, and the QB would have been eaten alive if RB Ibrahim had not alertly stepped up and chilled the DT. And on the second of those, Ibrahim was called for hands to the face, negating a TD pass. We still managed to score a minute later, making it 24-14, but that TD came with 4:32 remaining instead of 5:37. Certainly not a determining factor, but losing a minute at crunch time doesn't help.
• Schlueter had another complete whiff in pass protection, making it the second I noticed, and I wasn't even watching him. I have nothing against this kid, and certainly wish him all the best, but he sure as hell didn't look like he's been practicing at TE for two minutes, much less two weeks. On both of the plays in question, his footwork was nothing short of atrocious, dooming him to failure.
• On the sack we gave up near the end of the game, Faalele, Andries and Olson ALL failed on their blocks.
• A gentle reminder to Faalele: YOU GOTTA KEEP MOVING YOUR DAMNED FEET! On most of the plays he failed, it was because he was reaching instead of getting into position.
• I found it shocking the number of times I saw one of our linemen simply driven straight back by a defensive lineman. I think that happened more often in this one game than it had in the 5-6 others I've reviewed.
I hope the staff keeps the film from this game handy. Over the winter, whenever our young linemen get to feeling fat and sassy about being starters in the B1G, they should be forced to re-watch it ... and contemplate what might have been.
For the game:
• Faalele: 81% run blocking, 86% pass blocking
• Andries: 78% run blocking, 84% pass blocking
• Olson: 85% run blocking, 84% pass blocking
JTG
That was reflected in the blocking grades for the second half -- 83% run blocking, 86% pass blocking. A pretty average performance, which isn't going to cut it when you're playing the division champ, even if they are banged up.
Out of 33 plays from scrimmage in the second half, there were 11 plays where at least one of our three subjects failed to get the job done, and those breakdowns almost always exacted a toll. Sometimes a lineman can get beat silly, but the ball is going the other way, so it doesn't really matter. Not against Northwestern. We got beat at or near the point of attack -- or allowed disruptive pressure on the QB -- way too often.
As an old friend of mine used to say, "You can't be consistent every now and then."
A good example: Andries was 81% pass blocking in the second half. While that's not acceptable, it's not horrendous. But on two of the plays he pretty much whiffed on the block, and the QB would have been eaten alive if RB Ibrahim had not alertly stepped up and chilled the DT. And on the second of those, Ibrahim was called for hands to the face, negating a TD pass. We still managed to score a minute later, making it 24-14, but that TD came with 4:32 remaining instead of 5:37. Certainly not a determining factor, but losing a minute at crunch time doesn't help.
• Schlueter had another complete whiff in pass protection, making it the second I noticed, and I wasn't even watching him. I have nothing against this kid, and certainly wish him all the best, but he sure as hell didn't look like he's been practicing at TE for two minutes, much less two weeks. On both of the plays in question, his footwork was nothing short of atrocious, dooming him to failure.
• On the sack we gave up near the end of the game, Faalele, Andries and Olson ALL failed on their blocks.
• A gentle reminder to Faalele: YOU GOTTA KEEP MOVING YOUR DAMNED FEET! On most of the plays he failed, it was because he was reaching instead of getting into position.
• I found it shocking the number of times I saw one of our linemen simply driven straight back by a defensive lineman. I think that happened more often in this one game than it had in the 5-6 others I've reviewed.
I hope the staff keeps the film from this game handy. Over the winter, whenever our young linemen get to feeling fat and sassy about being starters in the B1G, they should be forced to re-watch it ... and contemplate what might have been.
For the game:
• Faalele: 81% run blocking, 86% pass blocking
• Andries: 78% run blocking, 84% pass blocking
• Olson: 85% run blocking, 84% pass blocking
JTG
