Michigan Football: Scouting Colorado State’s offensive line

Colorado State Offensive Scheme

With all reports indicating that new head coach Jay Norvell will once again be running the Air Raid attack, we took a look at the pass protection and run game scheme he deployed at Nevada, with the fair assumption it’ll remain quite similar this Saturday.

In pass protection, the Air Raid means a lot of empty protection, just the five offensive linemen matched up with whatever five “most dangerous” defenders are threatening the quarterback. They will occasionally leave a running back in the formation to chip rushers off the edge as well, but tend to prioritize putting more pass catchers out into routes, rather than keeping them in to block.

With fewer players protecting the QB, it then becomes up to the QB and C to communicate times when the defense appears to be bringing more players than the offensive line can block.

The QB recognizes that and then throws what is called a “hot route”, a quick route designed to create early separation and allow the QB to get the ball out before the blitz can get to the QB. This is a staple of the Jay Norvell-Matt Mumme offense.

For Michigan’s DL, this likely will not be a game they wrack up significant snaps, as the whole aim of Norvell’s offense is to get the ball out quickly and avoid asking his OL to pass protect for 7-and 9-step drops. However, that does not mean they won’t get any opportunities to sack the quarterback, as movement and blitzes are certainly going to free up rushers against lighter protections that Norvell’s offense employees.

In the run game, they do keep it a bit simpler, always out running out of shotgun and tending to prefer a simple gap scheme attack. The most common play charted was a simple power concept, with a backside guard pulling to the playside as everyone else blocks down.

The key to beating power is for the playside defensive tackles to hold up and not give ground against the playside double team. For example, if the play is Power Right, the RG and RT traditionally double team the 3-technique DT to that side, and aim to create movement there. When they fail to get movement, that throws the entire play off, making it harder for the pulling guard to wrap around to the linebacker, allowing them to come down and fill the gaps needed and make tackles.

Thus, a big key to this game from a rushing standpoint will be seeing how Michigan football’s non-nose tackle interior linemen (Kris Jenkins, Mason Graham, George Rooks and co.) handle the double teams at the point of attack. If they (and Mazi Smith as well) can absorb double teams on the playside without giving much ground, Michigan’s linebackers will be free to make tons of tackles for no or minimal gain and shut down any attempted run game from Colorado State.

Overall, Michigan football and its superior talent, athletes, and strength should prove too much for this CSU offensive line to overcome, especially this early in the season.

However be aware, the Rams love to play with a fast tempo, something that did catch Michigan football off guard in their lone regular season loss last fall to Michigan State.

However, the Wolverines will almost certainly be more prepared for that tempo this Saturday, as it is a staple of Norvell’s Air Raid offense. CSU should see a solid turnaround under their new head coach, but don’t expect that to start until next Saturday. Michigan should win this one quite thoroughly as Colorado State breaks in so many new pieces, especially up front.