INFORMATION IS POWER. HOW ONE USES IT DETERMINES IF HE OR SHE IS GOING TO SUCCEED OR FAIL. SO JUDGE WISELY.
BREAKING DOWN THE FILM
The Game
Illinois receives the kickoff
1-10 I 20 Sideline pass complete 19 yards to Brandon Lloyd
Marlin Jackson was playing in zone coverage taking away the deep pattern and there was
a safety playing underneath (see diagram)
1-10 I 39 Fade to sideline pass incomplete
Marlin Jackson was playing man to man. Beutjer was supposed to take 3 steps and deliver the ball. He hesitated and that mistake cost him a completion.
2-10 M 20 Crossing pattern complete for 29 yards
Braylon Edwards was 1 on 1 with Christian Morton and Morton had to try and tackle him from behind
3-7 I 48 Crossing pattern complete for 42 yards
Same matchup as above but Morton is playing 10 yards off of Edwards. He misses the tackle and Edwards gets a big gain.
1-G I 06 Fade pattern for TD
This time the matchup is Ronald Bellamy vs. Christian Morton. Unlike Beutjer, Navarre takes 3 steps and releases the ball and as a result a touchdown. He didn’t take 3 steps, shuffle his feet, and then throw the ball. There was no indecision on his part.
1-10 I 49 Incomplete to Walter Young
The ball was overthrown but Marlin Jackson was covering him.
START OF 2nd QUARTER
3-9 I 46 Incomplete pass o Edwards
It was Braylon Edwards on an out pattern but Eugene Wilson came up to make the pass break up
3-2 I 06 Slant patter to Edwards for the TD
After the touchdown was scored, the commentator mentioned that the Illinois defense had the line stacked up anticipating run and all this space for Navarre to makean easy pass that anyone could have caught for the TD. Yes there was a lot of open area but as you will find out it could have easil went the other way. On the snap of the ball Eugene Wilson cheated insidebut then turned his head towards Edwards. The problem wasn’t when he turned his head it was when he stopped his feet at the same time. He had the inside position. It was a slant pattern. If he didn’t stop his feet he could have scored an easy TD on interception. However, when he stopped his feet Edwards didn’t. Wilson slightly moved out of his inside position to move a little outside. When you look at the one on one matchup it was like Wilson wanted to bait Navarre to throw the fade but he jumped back out because he thought the fade was coming.
One other note about this. I only have seen a couple of catches made by Edwards in this game but it seems like he tips off his routes either by his head or his body lean in either direction. For example, when Edward ran the out pattern that Wilson broke up his body lean and his head was in the direction that he was going to cut.
1-10 M 31 Navarre pass down the sideline to Edwards
Another Edwards vs. Wilson matchup. This time the ball was thrown down the sideline. From my view it looked like the ball was catchable but Edwards didn’t make the catch.
3-2 I 28 Marlin Jackson playing man to man defense on Walter Young. Young is in the slot. Young outmuscles him to the inside and Jackson falls down. Walter breaks to the outside and gets a 20 yard gain.
2nd HALF
1-10 I 29 Pass incomplete to Young in the slot
Jackson plays about 9 yards off of him. Beutjer takes a 3 step drop, shuffles his feet, and throws the ball. Jackson breaks on the ball and makes the deflection. This was a smart move by the defensive coordinator. If he plays off of him he can’t get pushed around like he did before. If you want to beat Marlin Jackson make him play you close. A physical receiver will have the advantage because he isn’t as strong.
2-5 M 50 Pass complete to Edwards
Edwards was running a crossing pattern but Illinois was playing zone. He recognized this and sat in the open area. The result was a 24 yard gain.
This is why I hate commentators and I didn’t think he would say this since he was a former receiever in the NFL. He said something like “This is a big game for Edwards. He’s a young receiver going up against a guy who was a preseason All-American. Are you watching the same game as I am? Illinois was playing zone not man to man.
LAST DRIVE BEFORE 4th QUARTER
1-10 M47 Incomplete pass
Slant pattern to Braylon Edwards but Navarre threw a bad pass. Wilson was guarding him.
3-3 I 08 Interception
Marlin Jackson gets his second INT of the day. Although it was from a teammate that tipped the ball in the air. However, Jackson seems to always be in the right place at the right time.
Advantage: Tie
CB Marlin Jackson vs. WR Brandon Lloyd and Walter Young
If you look at the box score one would assume that Brandon Lloyd might have dominated the matchup between him and Marlin Jackson. You would be assuming incorrectly. With the score 45-13 and 10:27 left to play in the game Michigan was in control. They started substituting in their younger players. This is where Lloyd did most of his damage. From the 10:27 mark in the 4th quarter this is what he accomplished.
3rd down and 3 Complete for 4 yards
1st down and 10 Complete for 6 yards
1st down and 10 Complete for 46 yards
In the next drive he didn’t touch the ball. With 2:36 remaining in the game:
3rd and 10 Complete for 19 yards
1st down and 10 Complete for 12 yards
1st down and 10 Complete for 17 yards
If you add those statistics you get 6 receptions for 104 yards when Michigan substituted their younger players and the outcome was already decided. In essence when the game was on the line Lloyd had 4 receptions for 52 yards . In the first quarter he was thrown to five times and only had one reception which isn’t a good thrown at to reception ratio.
Advantage: Marlin Jackson
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