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To be truthful I mostly just watched this game a second time like a regular fan, following the ball. However, I did stop to review each play in the 3rd quarter several times because I wanted to get my mind wrapped around what we did blocking-wise to get the dive established the way we wanted it. Obviously, MSU had a couple really good DTs. They are clearly what what makes their defense effective. They gave us a hard time early on with the standard dive plays we were throwing at them. CPJ is a master at putting in some wrinkles into every game plan each week. There is little doubt he saw the quality of their DTs on film and developed a special package, should they slow us down with our standard stuff. This package consisted of 3 special plays, as far as I could tell, all designed with taking playside DTs out of play, either through optioning them off or the double team.
The first was a play that looked a bit like a counter where the motioning AB would reverse himself after taking a couple false steps. Every time he did this the MLB would take the bait a move a couple steps in the wrong direction. On the play, our OG and OT pushed the play side DT inside while the back side OG pulled to kick out the outside defenders, usually the DE. The motioning AB (who reversed himself play side) was an extra blocker who usually took on the LB low. This play was run to the B gap just outside the doubled DT. The hand off was usually a reverse spin by the QB, amplifying the effect of the deceptive play action. I don't know what this play is called, but it worked really well. Just when it looked like MSU was starting to figure what they wanted to do with it, CPJ pulled the next play out of his bag of tricks.
This dive was also run to the B gap or outside but behind an unbalanced line as a change. We would add an extra OT to one of the sides and, on the play, both OTs would block back to the inside and the play side OG this time (not back side) would pull outside the extra OTs and clean up the edge. This play, more than any other IMHO, broke their will and crushed their spirit. We ran it a bunch.
After all that, we added some pretty standard midline and watched their brains explode. These plays went for great effect. After being doubled for most the half, the playside DT was now left unblocked and took the dive bait seemingly every time, leaving JT a huge lane as both ABs went flying into the hole ahead of him chopping people to the ground. JT even took a couple poorly blocked midlines way down the field after juking some kids out of their shoes.
I can't say enough about the precision with which these plays were executed. These kids were extremely well prepared. Not only that that, be these were exactly the right tactics to throw at that defense. We hadn't done a ton of this stuff during the year, so I doubt they really had a plan for it.
MSU's defense was throughly frustrated and confused. The game flipped in our favor during this time. They knew they weren't going to be stopping us. You could see it their body language and on their sideline. We gave up a ton of yards on New Year's eve, but there was no doubt who was in control of the game. None. They made plays here and there, we finished drives while relentlessly pushing forward. Our big plays finished in the end zone while theirs finished on the 30; big difference.
Our defense is a bit undermanned. I think it is perfectly fair to make that statement. However, our kids played really hard. If there is one thing I have noticed, it is that our tackling has steadily improved. So much so, that it really appears that opposing offenses have to earn everything they get. It didn't used to be that way. Guys like Isaiah Johnson, Jamal Golden, Quayshon Nealy and Chris Milton are playing the best football of their careers in recent weeks. They are hitting hard and always seem to be in the right place. Great effort, excellent preparation, and good tackling are just enough to mitigate the weaknesses we have. We have a lot of kids playing now and they all seem to know what they are doing. Our DL is nowhere close to being the most feared in the land, but you have to give Pelton some credit for improving their technique and developing them as the season wore on.
The season is over, but you have to love where we are headed. The entire program seems to be gelling. GT has never been able to maintain a level of elite performance during my 35 seasons as a fan. Special seasons have normally been followed by mediocrity or worse. The challenge for us is to capitalize on the momentum and continue to build this thing. We have some players to replace and a culture to maintain. Let's get it done.
The first was a play that looked a bit like a counter where the motioning AB would reverse himself after taking a couple false steps. Every time he did this the MLB would take the bait a move a couple steps in the wrong direction. On the play, our OG and OT pushed the play side DT inside while the back side OG pulled to kick out the outside defenders, usually the DE. The motioning AB (who reversed himself play side) was an extra blocker who usually took on the LB low. This play was run to the B gap just outside the doubled DT. The hand off was usually a reverse spin by the QB, amplifying the effect of the deceptive play action. I don't know what this play is called, but it worked really well. Just when it looked like MSU was starting to figure what they wanted to do with it, CPJ pulled the next play out of his bag of tricks.
This dive was also run to the B gap or outside but behind an unbalanced line as a change. We would add an extra OT to one of the sides and, on the play, both OTs would block back to the inside and the play side OG this time (not back side) would pull outside the extra OTs and clean up the edge. This play, more than any other IMHO, broke their will and crushed their spirit. We ran it a bunch.
After all that, we added some pretty standard midline and watched their brains explode. These plays went for great effect. After being doubled for most the half, the playside DT was now left unblocked and took the dive bait seemingly every time, leaving JT a huge lane as both ABs went flying into the hole ahead of him chopping people to the ground. JT even took a couple poorly blocked midlines way down the field after juking some kids out of their shoes.
I can't say enough about the precision with which these plays were executed. These kids were extremely well prepared. Not only that that, be these were exactly the right tactics to throw at that defense. We hadn't done a ton of this stuff during the year, so I doubt they really had a plan for it.
MSU's defense was throughly frustrated and confused. The game flipped in our favor during this time. They knew they weren't going to be stopping us. You could see it their body language and on their sideline. We gave up a ton of yards on New Year's eve, but there was no doubt who was in control of the game. None. They made plays here and there, we finished drives while relentlessly pushing forward. Our big plays finished in the end zone while theirs finished on the 30; big difference.
Our defense is a bit undermanned. I think it is perfectly fair to make that statement. However, our kids played really hard. If there is one thing I have noticed, it is that our tackling has steadily improved. So much so, that it really appears that opposing offenses have to earn everything they get. It didn't used to be that way. Guys like Isaiah Johnson, Jamal Golden, Quayshon Nealy and Chris Milton are playing the best football of their careers in recent weeks. They are hitting hard and always seem to be in the right place. Great effort, excellent preparation, and good tackling are just enough to mitigate the weaknesses we have. We have a lot of kids playing now and they all seem to know what they are doing. Our DL is nowhere close to being the most feared in the land, but you have to give Pelton some credit for improving their technique and developing them as the season wore on.
The season is over, but you have to love where we are headed. The entire program seems to be gelling. GT has never been able to maintain a level of elite performance during my 35 seasons as a fan. Special seasons have normally been followed by mediocrity or worse. The challenge for us is to capitalize on the momentum and continue to build this thing. We have some players to replace and a culture to maintain. Let's get it done.
