Well, now. That's more like it. For the most part.
Let's take a look at the OL's first-quarter numbers, then break down a few things.
RER - Rushing
Schlueter (9) 92.6%
Andries (8) 91.7%
Olson (9) 100%
Schmitz (1) 100%
Dunlap (9) 96.3%
Faalele (9) 95.8%
RER - Passing
Schlueter (6) 88.9%
Andries (5) 100%
Olson (6) 94.4%
Schmitz (1) 100%
Dunlap (6) 88.9%
Faalele (6) 94.4%
Since it now appears we're using a rotation (of sorts) on the OL, I've included the number of plays the percentages are derived from in parentheses.
I didn't catch it in real time (and the TV announcers never caught it at all), but we began rotating Schmitz into the OL mix right away in the first quarter. I noticed it later in the game, and wondered if it was planned or if Dunlap was dinged up a bit. But the fact they started working Schmitz in during the first quarter probably indicates it was pre-planned.
A couple interesting plays from the game-opening drive:
<iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/KZA9mKLxZKpE7BIxn4" width="480" height="250" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/gopher-football-KZA9mKLxZKpE7BIxn4">via GIPHY</a></p>
It's seldom we "pull" a lineman, but we used Andries to good effect in that capacity on first-and-goal. The rest of the OL (and TEs Paulson and Kieft) also block well, but this is a good example that when you're outnumbered it's hard to open a clean hole. Purdue only has seven in the box initially, but both safeties come up quick in run support, leaving our wide receivers singled up. Still, we managed two yards on a run that could have gone nowhere.
And below is the drive-capping TD run on the direct snap to RB Smith, with QB Green getting a nice kick-out block to clear the way.
<iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/U6RNzPMaBilrYCwNWX" width="480" height="272" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/gopher-football-U6RNzPMaBilrYCwNWX">via GIPHY</a></p>
A few other notes on the first quarter:
• I've remarked before that it's surprising we don't get more "ineligible receiver" calls on RPO action, because we tend to block those aggressively, as if it's a straight-up run. Well, we get flagged for it on the second play of the game ... and it was a total BS call. Olson made contact with a LB one yard off the LOS, took him back about two yards, and then the LB took off downfield when the ball was thrown. Olson was still within three yards of the LOS, which is legal. (And I believe it would be legal to be more than three yards off the line if contact is made within three of the LOS and maintained, anyway.)
• When we get stuffed on 3rd-and-2 on our second possession, it was a clear case of being outnumbered 7-to-6. Every offensive lineman executed his block (and apparently according to plan), but the untouched LB made the tackle for loss. In retrospect, would have been a great play to audible out of.
• I've long maintained that broadcast media should be forced to read transcripts of themselves, so they're fully aware of the inane things they say. In this case it was the play-by-play guy talking about Purdue defending "in the shadow of their own goalline." First of all, dipstick, goallines don't cast shadows. They're flat. The expression, which was hackneyed and worn out back when Damon Runyon was first starting out, is "shadow of their own goal post." And it should never be used again.
More later.
JTG
Let's take a look at the OL's first-quarter numbers, then break down a few things.
RER - Rushing
Schlueter (9) 92.6%
Andries (8) 91.7%
Olson (9) 100%
Schmitz (1) 100%
Dunlap (9) 96.3%
Faalele (9) 95.8%
RER - Passing
Schlueter (6) 88.9%
Andries (5) 100%
Olson (6) 94.4%
Schmitz (1) 100%
Dunlap (6) 88.9%
Faalele (6) 94.4%
Since it now appears we're using a rotation (of sorts) on the OL, I've included the number of plays the percentages are derived from in parentheses.
I didn't catch it in real time (and the TV announcers never caught it at all), but we began rotating Schmitz into the OL mix right away in the first quarter. I noticed it later in the game, and wondered if it was planned or if Dunlap was dinged up a bit. But the fact they started working Schmitz in during the first quarter probably indicates it was pre-planned.
A couple interesting plays from the game-opening drive:
<iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/KZA9mKLxZKpE7BIxn4" width="480" height="250" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/gopher-football-KZA9mKLxZKpE7BIxn4">via GIPHY</a></p>
It's seldom we "pull" a lineman, but we used Andries to good effect in that capacity on first-and-goal. The rest of the OL (and TEs Paulson and Kieft) also block well, but this is a good example that when you're outnumbered it's hard to open a clean hole. Purdue only has seven in the box initially, but both safeties come up quick in run support, leaving our wide receivers singled up. Still, we managed two yards on a run that could have gone nowhere.
And below is the drive-capping TD run on the direct snap to RB Smith, with QB Green getting a nice kick-out block to clear the way.
<iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/U6RNzPMaBilrYCwNWX" width="480" height="272" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/gopher-football-U6RNzPMaBilrYCwNWX">via GIPHY</a></p>
A few other notes on the first quarter:
• I've remarked before that it's surprising we don't get more "ineligible receiver" calls on RPO action, because we tend to block those aggressively, as if it's a straight-up run. Well, we get flagged for it on the second play of the game ... and it was a total BS call. Olson made contact with a LB one yard off the LOS, took him back about two yards, and then the LB took off downfield when the ball was thrown. Olson was still within three yards of the LOS, which is legal. (And I believe it would be legal to be more than three yards off the line if contact is made within three of the LOS and maintained, anyway.)
• When we get stuffed on 3rd-and-2 on our second possession, it was a clear case of being outnumbered 7-to-6. Every offensive lineman executed his block (and apparently according to plan), but the untouched LB made the tackle for loss. In retrospect, would have been a great play to audible out of.
• I've long maintained that broadcast media should be forced to read transcripts of themselves, so they're fully aware of the inane things they say. In this case it was the play-by-play guy talking about Purdue defending "in the shadow of their own goalline." First of all, dipstick, goallines don't cast shadows. They're flat. The expression, which was hackneyed and worn out back when Damon Runyon was first starting out, is "shadow of their own goal post." And it should never be used again.
More later.
JTG