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Michigan Football vs Michigan State — Looking Back — 2007

The fifth installment of this year’s series looking back at the football rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State takes us back to 2007. Michigan entered the season with too much confidence that year, and it showed when the Wolverines lost to an up-and-coming Appalachian State squad that has proven to be the East Coast’s answer to Boise State. Still, Michigan rallied, and by the time the Michigan State game rolled around, the Wolverines felt like their old selves again.

However, Michigan State had a new coach, with an old philosophy. Mark Dantonio believed in the I-formation, and focused on using blocking to run the ball. With less than eight minutes to go, Michigan was trailing by 10, and senior quarterback Chad Henne was forced out with a knee injury, putting true freshman Ryan Mallett right in the middle of the storm. When Mallett was hit, he fumbled the ball, and senior tailback Mike Hart alertly picked it up and fought his way for a first down. Henne then re-entered the game and connected with Greg Matthews on a beautiful touchdown pass. With less than three minutes remaining, Henne threw a jump ball into the end zone that was caught by Mario Manningham for an amazing touchdown, and Michigan’s defense held, giving the Wolverines a 28-24 win.

Still, there was something ominous about the victory. Michigan State had gotten back to basics, with running back Jehuu Caulcrick repeatedly pounding the middle of the Michigan defense. Then Mike Hart made the infamous postgame comment in which he referred to Michigan State as “Little Brother.” That was all the ammunition that Dantonio needed, and he’s used it quite effectively to motivate the Spartans over the years.

This brings us to the current contest. How will this year’s game turn out? What direction will the two rivals take after the game? We’ll just have to watch and see.

Thanks to YouTube, ESPN, and YouTube poster WolverineHistorian for the videos below. As always, I own nothing, and I do not profit from this blog post in any way.

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Podcast– Jim Harbaugh Press Conference – Penn State Week, Shea Patterson has been the best quarterback on the field in every game Michigan has played this year

Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh Monday Press Conference, Harbaugh talks about his team after its 42-25 road win over Illinois and preparations for Penn State.

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Michigan Football Game 6 – Game Grades – Michigan 42 Illinois 25

“Have you ever had to talk to the person you love most?
To tell them it’s going to be all right, when you know that it’s not?”

Two-Face (Harvey Dent)

Phil’s Game Grades

OffenseA/D
DefenseA/D
Special TeamsB
CoachingIncomplete
OverallIncomplete


So Michigan was cruising along up 28-0 at halftime and then roof fell in…only to wake-up in the 4th quarter to make it appear like a more comfortable win then it was…

Offense-  The first half looked like a Michigan clinic on running the football, but the wheels fell off until a 4th quarter surge put the game away. Another bad turnover gave Illinois life…The Wolverines are 126th in nation in lost fumbles (only one team has lost more).

Defense –  The Michigan defense allowed Illinois to score 18 points between 0:55 of the 2nd quarter and 12:50 of the 4th quarter. This was the first start for redshirt freshman QB Matt Robinson.

Special Teams –  The wind played havoc with the kicking game but field goals weren’t needed in this game.

Coaching –  Michigan needed an easy win, they need to get backup players some reps in the 4th quarter. Instead a disappearing act in the 3rd quarter only raised more questions about the focus of this team.

Comments – The first half of the season is over. Next up is a 6 game gauntlet unlike any in recent Michigan football history. Michigan’s 5 wins are versus teams with a combined 12-14 record, the next 6 teams they play are 27-9. Those games include 3 teams who are ranked in the top 10 nationally and an instate rival who would like nothing better than to upset the Wolverines at home (again). Michigan’s offense and defense have been inconsistent from game to game and even quarter to quarter.

Each of the next 6 games will be a measuring stick for Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines. There is nowhere to hide and nowhere to run but straight through the fire…

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Michigan 42 Illinois 25 – Week 7 Recap

WEEK 7 PROJECTION vs. RESULTS

Final Score: 42-25, Michigan by 17 over Illinois
SP+ Projection: Michigan by 15.4 (+1.6)
CD Projection: Michigan by 21 (-4)

FIVE FACTORS

WEEK 7 RECAP @ Illinois

I answered the question I heard most this week consistently. When I heard, “What do you want to see against Illinois?”  I said a clean, fast start on the road.  Be careful what you wish for.  We definitely saw a fast start. Michigan jumped out to a 28-0 lead in the second quarter.  The Wolverines had doubled Illinois’ total yardage at that point. Then the third quarter arrived, and fans remembered suddenly that Michigan still has issues.  I don’t think most of the fan base is going to feel any better after that 42-25 victory over the Illini.

Offensively, there was a clear commitment to running game from the start.   Michigan ran on 66% of their 68 plays. That represents the highest run ratio of 2019.  It seems the offensive line was challenged to steady the struggling offense, and they answered the call.  The 6.5 yards per rush today is nearly a full yard more than the previous high of 5.8 versus MTSU in Week 1.  When we pair that explosiveness with a 56% success rate on run plays, the Wolverines had a clear identity today.  Shea Patterson added 194 yards passing and 4 touchdowns (1 rush).

Reading that text implies that it was a great day for the offense.  Unfortunately, that is not the case. The fumbles continue to plague Michigan. They put it on the deck officially 3 more times today and lost 2.   A fourth fumble by Christian Turner didn’t make the box score because he was ruled down by contact. At a minimum, this offense was more explosive, but fumble-itis still appears to be a potential fatal flaw.

For the defense, Michigan was again dominant for 3 of the 4 quarters of this game.  Coming out of half time, while the offense could not move or hold onto the ball, the defense wore down.  Illinois was on the field for 24 plays in the third quarter, and Michigan only 11. During that stretch and into the fourth quarter, Illinois scored 25 unanswered points and cut the lead to just a field goal.  Finally, multiple senior leaders stepped up and made big plays to save the Wolverines. A strip sack by Jordan Glasgow, another strip sack by Mike Danna evened the turnover margin. That response allowed the offense to take advantage of the short field and create some breathing room.  

Michigan has now completed half the regular season.  I predicted the Wolverines would be 5-1 at this point, but something still feels off.  So far, this season feels like driving a car with the check engine light on, and the smell of burning oil in the air.  We are still moving forward toward the destination, but there is an ominous feeling that this thing could blow up at any moment.  The coming week is absolutely gigantic, and will be pivotal for the 2019 season. This staff and these players must get under the hood and tighten up all the loose connections and seal the leaks.  These Wolverines will need all systems functional to have any chance against Penn State. Once we get to the White Out on Saturday night, Michigan must press the gas pedal to the floor and pray for the best.