The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Western Michigan

Finally after 243 days football has come back to Madison, and we have a lot to talk about. With a final score of 28-14 against an overmatched MAC school once again the groans"worst team/coaching staff since Don Morton" ring out the loudest. Let's get into the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from Week One vs. Western Michigan.

The Good

This is going to be a very bland answer, but I thought overall the offense played a solid fundamental game within the confines of the game plan. The game plan was to be methodical and not show too many cards too early. The offense played within the structure that the Western Michigan defense dictated. From a football fundamentals standpoint there is a lot to be encouraged by in this game. The blocking was solid and in particular Tucker Ashcraft showed a ton of improvement fueled by an early pancake block on a 4th and 1 play. Tyler Van Dyke looked comfortable both sitting in the pocket and on the move. Sure there were a couple throws he wished he could have had back, and a couple missed opportunities but all and all a not spectacular but solid performance.

The Bad

There were some golden opportunities that were missed that need to be addressed quickly, because when even Mr. Dependable Will Pauling is making poor decisions. There was a play in particular early where Pauling converted his route to a curl when clearly Van Dyke was expecting him to continue on the sail route leading to a pass that was dangerously close to being picked off. Then there were instances where Bryson Green wasn't on the same page with an access throw that by the corner's initial footwork and alignment should have been a quick out. Instead the corner squared up and turned in which lead Bryson to hitch up leading to the pass sailing wide. Little things that are going to be obvious on film that can/should/need to be cleaned up.

The Ugly

Phil Longo didn't take any real shots down field largely due to the shell coverage that Western Michigan was playing, but some of the same issues from last year are still a work in progress. Outside of Bryson Green the wide receiver position was pretty much none existent. Again to be fair Van Dyke often quickly went to the first open read in his progression (as he should) but I would still like to see better separation on the outside. But someone has to step up and demand the ball based on his play on the field and we just didn't see that outside of Green. We had a solid game enough game from the rest of the skill positions and better WR play could have made the difference.

PLAY OF THE DAY - Big Green 772 Duck H-Leak

note: terminology is my own and not an accurate representation of how Phil Longo calls plays.

8 yard completion pass to Tucker Ashcraft

Situation- 10:08 left in the 3rd Quarter. 2nd and 8 on Western Michigan's 14 yard line

Personnel- 11 personnel (X Anthony, Y Pauling, H Ashcraft, Z Green, F Mellusi)

Concept- Play action (power boot protection) to the Bow concept with an H leak to the backside

Progression- Play action then semi roll to the pulling guard. If we like the front side then read corner to out otherwise come backside and read leak to wheel to post.

Defense- 4-2 Nickel defense playing an over front. The secondary played quarters coverage with the Will ILB blitzing.