Minnesota vs. Kent State: Film Breakdown & Play Recaps by Derek Burns

Last week I featured the fine film study and breakdown tweets of former Minnesota lineman Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns). As I expected, this post was very well received by everyone at TDG and I've gotten Derek's permission to repost his Kent State Twitter breakdown as well. If you're on Twitter and haven't already followed Derek, please do so now!

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Class is in session.

A few play recaps & some comments about the #gophers vs Kent State game yesterday:

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

Defending the pistol:

#Gophers defend power run out of pistol with a boundary stunt & ILBs come over the top. pic.twitter.com/u6HzEmPMYO

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

Ekpe disrupts guard pull & takes two blockers. Lynn comes over the top and is in good position. pic.twitter.com/smOcfLsYhv

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

Play results in no gain. pic.twitter.com/Y00qARkQVB

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

One of my favorite offensive plays from Saturday:

Here #Gophers will run a swing pass to Smith & catch Kent St ILB & SS jumping Wolitarski on the in route. pic.twitter.com/VUfxEV8MQv

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

Nice aggressive route by Wolitarski gets the SS to bite & Smith is left open in the flat. pic.twitter.com/dI8kTKVMhd

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

#Gophers end up with a big gain on 3rd down pic.twitter.com/y5UzLRwQv8

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

On to less enjoyable offensive things:

#Gophers really struggled to block this look from Kent St all game. Kent will pinch DE & bring 2 off edge vs power pic.twitter.com/z3ZW3tfUJp

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

Here Pirsig & Maye get it blocked but Thomas passes up the blitzing OLB. pic.twitter.com/Kh0oBSVCx0

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

#Gophers end up with 2 blockers on the ILB & the OLB is unblocked making a TFL pic.twitter.com/hcrN6pd6sE

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

The play where everything clicks, except for the last part:

#Gophers come back to the same play they converted on 3rd down earlier. Leidner's primary reads r in & flat routes pic.twitter.com/KokuW8BNHP

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

Notice the Kent CB in 1 on 1 plays with inside leverage vs Still pic.twitter.com/IWQUSnjGLY

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

This time Kent zones off coverage & has routes sniffed out. Leidner continues progression & throws to Still up top pic.twitter.com/lOIA8hrHHJ

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

Good blocking, good routes, good read progression but ball is underthrown & CB makes a play on the ball for an INT pic.twitter.com/fvaWQ0MUmr

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

A missed opportunity:

This play is designed to throw to the right but watch the backside safety come on a blitz leaving the post 1 on 1 pic.twitter.com/BmhtOdd7fV

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

Carter makes nice move to gain inside w no safety. To be fair FS would have shrunk the window but it's still there pic.twitter.com/P4hG6naFkB

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

Mitch does hit the open playside read but he's stopped short. pic.twitter.com/X0eU0oqFJM

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

Running against an overloaded box, part 1:

Here's a good example of trying to run vs an overloaded box. #Gophers have 7 blockers for 8 defenders pic.twitter.com/CzbnBUnLem

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

On this play all #Gophers blockers end up on a defender but it still leaves one defender unblocked pic.twitter.com/6CYee95jsd

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

Ends up in a 4 yard gain pic.twitter.com/4a1SzK9W2p

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

Running against an overloaded box, part 2:

Power run on 1st & 10. Campion will down block up to the middle LB pic.twitter.com/SFBf42JgWC

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

Campion is a little shallow w his angle & credit the LB for making a nice read over the top pic.twitter.com/bv8OOo0lbN

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

All others are blocked up, with the middle LB blocked clean this is a huge gain, instead gain of 4 pic.twitter.com/1w0vK9o89A

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

The benefit of strong pass blocking:

If blocking can hold on play action vs overloaded box, you will end up w 1 on 1 coverage. Here Kent ILBs bite on PA pic.twitter.com/0joJjM6V4f

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

Kent ILBs bite on PA fake & #Gophers get 3 receivers behind them pic.twitter.com/Juo6SMXFN2

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

Wozniak ends up 1 on 1 vs the FS and makes a nice catch. Good blocking, read & throw pic.twitter.com/KVCvUJXrwZ

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

Your weekly reminder that Steven Richardson is great:

2nd & 10 for the #gophers D and they will run a twist with the interior d-line pic.twitter.com/tIOB2CK1u4

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

Steven Richardson bull rushes right through the guard & puts the center on roller skates pic.twitter.com/tO6D0K6Y5M

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

QB is flushed & the pass is incomplete pic.twitter.com/mARZNJXK47

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

A little more defensive goodness:

Kent State wants to run a sprint out pass on 3rd & 3 which means the RB must block the DE pic.twitter.com/kuoPYMw5jL

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

Keith squeezes down on the offensive tackle then blows by the RB block pic.twitter.com/geiyzHCqcv

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

Keith ends up deflecting the pass incomplete pic.twitter.com/XmlEmHXhP9

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

Additional thoughts you'll want to read:

Some comments: Kent State offense over matched against #Gophers D. #Gophers physically dominant w DL, LBs & secondary

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

Kent State put an extra defender in the box on virtually every running situation. #Gophers could have had 1 on 1 routes w PA every time

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

Lack of success in run game was 2-fold IMO. 1. OL not clean w their blocks, physically beat by Kent (disappointing), need help at TE

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

2. Running against extra defender (sometimes 2) in box is very tough, uphill battle.

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

Vs Kent scheme you need to connect 1 on 1 routes to force a change. #Gophers tried early but after 2 INTs they abandoned

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

IMO (just speculating) #Gophers coaches made conscious decision in 2nd half to run into overloaded box & accept 1-4yd gains

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

Have to give some credit to Kent D coaches. Had #Gophers scouted well by formation tendencies & kids played physical

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

Enlightening follow up conversations with followers:

A thought, @Derek_S_Burns: Kent State's run defense might actually be somewhat good pic.twitter.com/pnm7lrTuUE

— Matt Humbert (@MVofDT) September 21, 2015

@MVofDT Ha! Was just tweeting some credit to their D. Not a ton of speed but very physical & well coached

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

.@Derek_S_Burns Banged up OL/TE + conservative gameplan played right into their hands. It was a trap. Good thing we have Claeys

— Matt Humbert (@MVofDT) September 21, 2015

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Vs Kent scheme you need to connect 1 on 1 routes to force a change. #Gophers tried early but after 2 INTs they abandoned

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

@MVofDT Yes. They seem to like Wolitarski inside. Need guys on outside to get off press coverage & double move

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

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IMO (just speculating) #Gophers coaches made conscious decision in 2nd half to run into overloaded box & accept 1-4yd gains

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

@kirkrunner Yes. IMO they recognized Kent couldn't move the ball & punting was exceptional

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

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@ScoopsMcCracken Yes. First 1.5yrs Kill was here they were wider but had trouble vs fast teams & interior pass blocking

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

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Kent State put an extra defender in the box on virtually every running situation. #Gophers could have had 1 on 1 routes w PA every time

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

@gophervan They tried early but after 2 INTs & game situation they largely abandoned

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

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Last 2 things: #Gophers punting was exceptional & also played a role in game decisions IMO

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

@jjwall14 This year they've used zone & zone read as a change of pace & more in 2nd half. Depends on D scheme & I think ur right about qb

— Derek Burns (@Derek_S_Burns) September 21, 2015

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Thanks as always to Derek! If you have questions, make sure to share them in the comments and connect with Derek on Twitter (@Derek_S_Burns)!