(Photo via si.com)

Through his first three years at Michigan, Jim Harbaugh and his coaching staff have been carried by a successful (and often dominant) defense. At the same time, inconsistent quarterback play has plagued the offense.This has prevented the Wolverines from taking the next step of competing for Big Ten and national titles.

Without a top-tier signal-caller, the coaching staff has had to get creative in the passing game. Creating easy reads and finding ways to get the first read in the progression open have been a focal point the past couple of seasons in Ann Arbor.  

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Here are a few ways Michigan creates open receivers for its quarterback while giving him a simple read.

Fake jet sweep

Michigan will use the jet action in its run game often. The Wolverines will hand the ball to the jet sweep runner, or fake it and give it to the tailback. The quick motion forces defenses to adjust horizontally. If there is hesitation, the offense can gain leverage on the jet sweep. If the defense adjusts and flows horizontally, the inside run action can hit quick. This gives the offensive line time and space to get up to the linebacker level.

The video clip below shows a jet sweep hitting fast, and an inside run off it.

 

In the first clip, the linebackers hesitate and cannot help the buzzing safety on the jet action. In the second clip, the defense hesitates with the jet motion. This hesitation allows the offensive line time to get double teams and move to the second level.

With all of this side-to-side hesitation, the offense can take advantage with flood concepts to the other side of the field. If the inside linebacker(s) react to the jet motion, the offense can gain a numbers advantage to the other side of the field. The diagram below shows a creative rollout play Michigan uses to flood the other side of the field.

The flood concept is an easy read for the quarterback, especially while he is rolling out. The video example from 2016 shows how the offense outnumbers the defense, giving the quarterback an easy read. A key coaching point for the quarterback is to make a quick decision. Getting rid of the ball early allows for the back to get yards after the catch.

 

Michigan will also use a slow screen opposite the jet motion. The next video shows a well-designed tight end screen to the boundary. The play is set up well, but needs a better block from the wide receiver. With a stronger block from the wide receiver, the play really has some traction. TJ Watt (No. 42) makes a great effort to chase down the screen from behind.

 

Downhill play action

The first video clip shows one of Michigan’s staple run concepts. The play features down blocks from the offensive line and tight end, with a kick out from the fullback. Off this action, Michigan gets to one of its favorite pass concepts: “Spider 2 Y Banana.” The Wolverines will run it out of countless formations, in any situation. For the first few seconds, the play looks identical to the inside run action. The fullback will bluff his block and run the flat route. A receiver or tight end on the side of the play fake will run the “banana,” or corner route. The third route is either a spot route (like in the video example below), or a drag route from the other side of the field.

The play action should hold the inside linebackers for a split second, allowing the fullback and corner route to high-low the cornerback. The video below shows the run action, and the play action concept off it.

 

When you have a struggling quarterback, it is the coaches’ job to find him easy completions. Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan coaching staff have done this over the past few seasons.

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Follow Bobby Peters on Twitter: @b_peters12

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