Film room: Underrated aspects of Michigan offense’s performance against Minnesota (‘terrific’ tight ends)

Michigan Wolverines football decimated Minnesota in a 52-10 victory Saturday night in Minneapolis. Wolverines on each side of the ball put up big numbers, but there were also some unsung heroes.

U-M’s tight end blocking has been great most of the season, and the group may have had its best day against the Gophers, laying key blocks all game long.

“Yeah, really terrific,” Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said when we asked about the tight and blocking. “As a group, been great. [Senior] AJ Barner is really doing it at a really high, elite level right now. Been a great addition to the team. [Junior] Max Bredeson continues … I thought he only had like one missed block in the game. [Sophomore] Colston Loveland … the whole group is really excelling at a high level. Especially in blocking, and receiving.”

Barner and Bredeson have been special. Among the nation’s tight ends that have 55 or more run-blocking snaps, Barner leads the group with an 82.1 PFF grade, while Bredeson ranks third at 81.4.

Let’s get into some plays from Michigan vs. Minnesota:

1Q, 12:46, 1st and 10

Michigan’s first offensive snap of the game was a nice 10-yard gain by senior running back Blake Corum. This is the first of many examples from this game that Barner is very strong with pin-down blocks. Graduate left guard Trevor Keegan pulls around and gets enough of the defensive end. Bredeson leads the way and gets a nice piece of Minnesota stud safety Tyler Nubin, who was crashing in.

2Q, 13:26, 1st and 10

This was Michigan’s biggest run of the night, a 40-yarder from Corum. He scored a few plays later, which we’ll show. Again, Barner with a beautiful down block. Keegan and senior right guard Zak Zinter pull to the left, and Corum already had a nice head of steam. The defensive end goes too far up field to do anything considering how fast Corum was already moving. Zinter lays a perfect block on the front-side linebacker.

If you fast forward to the tail end of the play, you might think that Michigan graduate right guard Karsen Barnhart had pulled and was a lead blocker. Nope. He’s the right tackle on the back side, took off down the field and got the piece of two defenders. Those are the extra effort plays that can make a huge difference.

“I think that’s an offensive lineman’s dream to do,” Barnhart said after we asked him about the play. “I remember last year playing Michigan State, I had an opportunity to make a big downfield block, and Blake made three guys miss and the last one got him, so it was nice to be able to have a nice downfield block this time.”

How about those wheels? Barnhart said he considers himself one of Michigan’s fastest linemen, but that senior tackle Trente Jones is probably the swiftest.

2Q, 12:07, 2nd and 4

Michigan gets senior wideout Roman Wilson involved with a reverse. Watch Bredeson’s footwork to get a great angle on his man. His leg drive does the rest, springing Wilson for a first down. Barner is great at the in-line stuff, but Bredeson is fantastic while on the move. They’re both weapons for this Michigan offense.

2Q, 11:34, 1st and goal from the 6

Guess who? Bredeson in motion, Keegan pulls — both have great blocks. Barner frees up room with his down block. Sophomore Colston Loveland with a nice block on the front-side linebacker, and Keegan comes flying in to help. Michigan sophomore running back Donovan Edwards nearly scores his first touchdown of the season.

2Q, 5:58, 1st and goal from the 5

Several minutes later, Michigan is back down near the goal line. Barner, lined up in-line, does enough. Loveland with a nice crack-back block. Now watch Michigan graduate wideout Cornelius Johnson. He took a couple peeks back toward the play and realized junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy had kept on the read option. To stay on a block that long in that kind of space is impressive. McCarthy doesn’t score his first of 2 rushing touchdowns on the night without Johnson’s help.

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