Tag: Luke Schoonmaker

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2021 Michigan Football — Playbook — The Leap — Hassan Haskins

Let’s break down Hassan Haskins’ leaping 50 yard run versus Nebraska.

There are some nice plays on both sides of the ball. The Wolverines nearly scored a touchdown if not for some backside pursuit by Nebraska. It was crucial point in the game, with the Cornhuskers leading 49-26 with 6:27 remaining in the 4th quarter.

This is what Cade McNamara sees as the Michigan offense lines up. The Wolverines are attacking the right side the Nebraska defense. It’s 2nd down and 3 yards to go, the Cornhuskers are expecting pass, they have a safety deep (practically in the the next county) to stop the big play– they’re conceding a first down on this play call.

#25 Hassan Haskins is lined up behind Cade to take the hand-off post snap. The play will be led by #86 Luke Schoonmaker and #52 Chuck Filiaga who are pulling to point of attack.

The key players to watch on Nebraska are #9 (safety), #8 (defensive back), and #42 (linebacker).

#3 AJ Henning blocks #8 all the way downfield, #86 Luke Schoonmaker and #52 Chuck Filiaga pull and engage defenders, opening a gap for #25 Hassan Haskins after taking the handoff from #25 Cade McNamara.

At this point, #9 (the safety) moves up to tackle Haskins (note the block by #66).

And then this happened.

Credit #42 Nebraska for shaking the block by #66 Filiaga and catching Hassan Haskins. If Filiaga had been able to get his head on the other side during the block, Haskins may be scored a touchdown. But Filiaga made a great play, not only did he delay #42 he also avoided a blocking in the back penalty when which would have erased the play. The Nebraska linebackers key on the players pulling which reveals the point of attack, making Filiaga’s task more difficult.

#42 chased Haskins and eventually made the tackle. While Haskins’ leap got the raves deservedly so) the play was made possible by pulling of #86 Schoonmaker and #66 Filiaga.
It was great play by #42 to catch Haskins after the leap.

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2021 Michigan Football — Playbook — Blake Corum’s 51 yard TD Run

Let’s break down Blake Corum’s 51 yard TD run in the 3rd quarter versus Northern Illinois.

First, I love this formation. The Wolverines line up with trips to the wide side of the field. In this case the receivers are in a trips diamond alignment but they also could have used a stack (all in a row). We’ll look for both of these options as the season progresses.

Why do Iove this formation? Well, the trips formation gives the offense numerous options and warps the defense to match the offense. With proper blocking the offense can play 3-on-3 or as in case effectively take 3 defenders out of the play.

Pre-snap, the first thing to notice is how how room to run the trips open up on the left side of the field.

Michigan snaps the ball, the trips execute their patterns, but the key on Saturday was what happened on the other side of the formation.

Michigan QB Cade McNamara hands off the RB Blake Corum and fakes a pass to one of the the retreating receivers from the trips formation. #99 Pierce Oppong for Northern Illinois is unblocked, and despite being untouched is no match the speed and agility of Blake Corum. #77 Trevor Keegan bounces the defensive tackle and seals the linebacker while #86 Luke Schoonmaker engages and the Northern Illinois corner back #12 Eric Rogers and blocks him off the field.

With the playside defenders blocked, Blake Corum only needs to contend with the safety who can’t make the tackle. Corum streaks to a 51 yard touch run.

https://youtu.be/WFfPopd5kh8

Meanwhile across the field the two of the trips receivers have tangled with the Northern Illinois defenders, showing that the Wolverines had other options for positive yardage from this formation.