EIU did a lot of blitzing indeed, and the gave a good accounting of themselves on the LOS. This will happen again, of course, and hopefully the boys get better at picking those attacks up. Still, if defenses are gonna bring it like that we gotta be ready to see it and take advantage. Just lining up in the I-formation for another 32 smash is not going to work. My plan would more option plays designed to go outside the tackles with a crack back block/route by the W/R against the play side linebacker. St. Johns did this to great effect over the years with a pulling guard to lead the blocking. If that LB brings it you just feed it off to the W/R as a quick slant. Quick strike 6 to 10 yards. The double option - it is basic and it is nothing new, but it will keep a defense honest if you can learn to execute it.
I agree with TrapperDoo, this is where Mitch Leidner has to come in and change things up at the line a little bit and help out his lineman and H-backs along with Tommy Olson too(he cannot be afraid to change it up and give Mitch another call to go to thinikng ahead if there showing you that continued look). Hopefully he get's more comfortable at the line of scrimmage in calling audibles or Olson can help Mitch out, when the defense is overloading there linebackers off the edge and your in a stacked "Maryland I" or smash 32, you have to adjust because your making it very difficult for the tackles, and H-backs full backs to be able to pick up more than one guy off the edge. This is where you can exploit the blitzers with a pulling guard and trap these suckers these zero dogs, but you need to get out of that tight formation in order to do so. Mitch is still a young guy for a quarterback even if he seems like an upper classmen now, and one thing he has going for him is if in doubt he can escape and take off running.
Coach Mason was right though you cannot completely whiff like Plesk did, you have to at least face guard a guy a little bit with your body or get some hands in the way. Not to single out Plesk because everyone was having trouble getting to the blitzer.
I have to imagine that Limegrover did not want to give to much away last night and really it was Bush and Pirsigs first start so they get the benefit of the doubt and a chance to get better. With that tight to line of scrimmage Maryland I your going to open yourself up to the edge rusher unless the QB can change it up sooner. I would like to see some middle screens from Mitch to get him used to those dump off plays like he did on the swing pass to Roderick Williams that was heck of a nice play by both the QB and RB to pick up the first down and beat the blitz. It was a fun game to see the Gopher defense play hard and for the most part tackle well. There not going to see as many dual threat quarterbacks that are as quick as #2 last night with the exception of the Michigan guy or the new guy at Wisconsin.
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