Michigan Football Game Commentary– Michigan Falls Wisconsin- Ground Control To Major Jim
MICHIGAN FOOTBALL 2017: BADGERS BOUNCE WOLVERINES 10 TO 24
The Wolverines trekked to the other side of Lake Michigan to Madison, Wisconsin to battle the undefeated Badgers of the University of Wisconsin in their most significant contest yet this season.
The Wolverines played a decent first half, but could not present an effective offense or defense for the last third of the third quarter, and in the fourth quarter. This has been a symptom of their play all year long. Complete games have been rare against better opponents.
Both sides had great expectations and motivation in this battle, but the Badgers prevailed to remain undefeated and on top of the Big Ten.
BADGERS: Foremost in the Badger’s immediate expectation was to hammer the Wolverines. All time, the Badgers had suffered at the hands of the Wolverines, but they have had their moments, as the M record of 50 wins includes 15 losses, and Saturday’s win.
One of those moments was an early season 1980’s contest against the Wolverines in Camp Randall. In a season opener, the Wolverines featured their great running back Butch Woolfolk, and went into the game ranked Number One in the country. They were convincingly toppled by the Badgers, demolishing M’s expectations and momentum.
This time around the Badgers were ranked Number Five, and had a shot at another step towards an unbeaten season. They had the advantage of playing on home turf at a frenzied Camp Randall Stadium in front of a packed house of over 80,000.
Representing the much-maligned West Division, which they had already won, they wanted to teach the higher profile East Division a lesson by taking another step up the ladder in esteem. They were already destined for the Big Ten East/West game in Indianapolis.
If the right circumstances occur, the Badgers could possibly get a shot at NCAA football’s football final four. It’s a long shot, but a shot. These were compelling expectations and motivations.
A victory over the nineteenth ranked Wolverines is just the ticket to eliminate criticism that the Badgers had not beaten a ranked opponent, and had played an easy schedule. That discussion is now diminished, if not at an end.
WOLVERINES: The Wolverines still desperately needed a “signature” win. Coach Harbaugh and his Michigan program have not routinely knocked off a member of upper football echelons in a meaningful game. I think one out of six in his Michigan Head Coaching career is the correct number. This season has been no exception to date.
M also wanted to maintain the slim chance of a shot at the Big Ten Championship. They needed to combine a win over the Badgers at their home burrow, with a clobbering of the Buckeyes in their regular season finale to maintain that chance. That is gone now, except for wanting to clobber the Buckeyes.
They also wanted to play spoiler. They did not want the Badgers to continue to sniff an undefeated season, but couldn’t stop them.
BRIEF STATS: Offense: The Wolverines managed a dismal average rushing yardage of 1.6-yards a carry. Chris Evans led the pack hauling 10 for 25-yards with a long of 10 and a 2.5-yard average. Karan Higdon, who was dinged during the game and left it, toted 7 for 20-yards with a long of 8 for 2.3 average. Donovan Peoples Jones ran once for twelve yards.
Donovan Peoples Jones led the receivers. DPJ had his best day as a Wolverine receiver gathering in 4 passes for 64-yards with a long of 48-yards. Zach Gentry had a thirty-five yard completion that put the Wolverines at the five early, before the DPJ no TD call and Peters lost fumble.
Defense: K. Hudson had six solo tackles. He had 1.5 sacks and 1.5 TFLs. Josh Metellus had the same stats minus the sacks and TFLs.
Michigan had 58 net yards rushing, and 143 net yards passing to Wisconsin’s 176 net yards rushing and 183 net yards passing.
HOW THEY SCORED; First Half: The odds were against the Wolverines but they stayed determined, and played hard and smart for much of the game on offense and defense, especially in the first half.
A costly first half special teams gaffe was an exception. An M punt hit the ground and laid there unpossessed for a second or two. An alert Badger scooped it up for a 50-yard TD.
This lackadaisical punt return effort allowed the first TD by either side for the day. Did the Wolverines think the ball was dead when it hit the ground? Whatever the case, it was a major error.
There was only one Wolverine near the ball as it lay on the ground before being picked up by a Wisconsin player, and toted to 50-yards into the end zone. The M player overran the ball, and could not get back to make the tackle. Another player wearing Maize and Blue missed his tackle, and the Badger was home free.
This special team’s gift made it 0-7 Badgers at 8:52 of the first quarter.
It was not the Wolverines lucky day. There was some first half bad luck for the Wolverines. A great Peters throw to Donovon Peoples-Jones for 48-yards was captured by a leaping DPJ in the end zone.
While in the air, he was being pushed to the boundary by the defender. He had control of the pass as first his left, and then the right foot came down. I thought the replay showed the left foot in bounds and the right out a split second later as it touched the line.
It was the judgement of the officials after review, it was not a catch. That TD was still born.
Next came Peters first turnover as the M QB. On the subsequent play, it looked like the Wolverine’s red zone woes were in the past, as Peters sprinted to the goal line down the sideline. A little short of the flag (pylon), he tried to switch the ball from his left to right hand to score by stretching stretch over the pylon. Jostled during the switch, he dropped the ball, and a Badger recovered.
Before those two plays, the Wolverines had earlier enjoyed some good luck when an apparent Badger third and 14 first down conversion was overturned on review.
Donovan Peoples-Jones contributed to positive passing stats with a 48-yard grab of a perfectly thrown Peters’ pass. DPJ had his best day as a Wolverine receiver..
On third and eight, Peters then checked down to Chris Evans for a 19-yard first down. TE Sean McKeon then nabbed another nifty Peters pass of 14-yards and the ball was on the Wisconsin one.
Harbaugh got inventive, and lined up K. Hill beside Ben Mason. Mason got the call, and the one-yard TD, which was the first of his career.
Despite of the special-teams gaff, the Wolverines had bettered the Badgers in the first half. Wisconsin had not scored an offensive TD, and the Wolverines had allowed the Badgers just 99-yards of offense.
HOW THEY SCORED; Second Half: The first two-thirds of the third quarter were good for the Wolverines. M Punter Brad Robbins set the Badgers on their own ten after the Wolverines held to begin the third quarter. The defense stood tall, and the special teams stood tall. M’s Robbins dropped a punt on the Wisconsin ten.
M’s Viper, Devin Bush, stood especially tall as he collared an errant Badger pass on the first play of the drive to put the M offense at the Wisconsin 29. The Wolverines offense stalled and they had a Quinn Nordin field goal of 39-yards. M-10; Wisc.-7.
Nordin was relieved and happy after his score on the sidelines. In a big game, under pressure of previous misses, he knocked it through to aid his team, and preserve his job. Harbaugh had warned him after the last game not to miss another.
Even though the later loss of Peters was also very significant, I believe that not scoring a TD after the sudden change was a serious turning point of the half, and the game.
The wind seemed to go out of the Wolverines defense. The Wolverines helped the Badgers by means of a Tyree Kinnel 15-yard pass interference penalty. The Badgers took it to the house from there. A 24-yard pass capped a 7 play, 77-yard drive that produced all that was needed to win, as Wisconsin went ahead to stay, 10-14, at about 3:32 of the third.
The Wolverines went three and out, and Peters was downed by what I considered a late hit that could have been called, but wasn’t. It was close. Peters was lost for the game.
After the game Harbaugh said he seemed OK, but was getting checked out. He also said O’Korn was ready.
Hopefully, Peters will be back to face the wrath of the Buckeyes, but possibly not if it is a head injury instead of a shoulder injury. Then the concussion protocol could rightfully apply.
John O’Korn took over, and the offense could score no more points. John made no mistakes, but the Wolverines were not effective offensively from that point of the game on.
Meanwhile, the Badgers were super charged, and went up 10-21 on the strength of a 32-yard TD run.
With 2:22 left Wisconsin hit a 30-yard field goal to make the final 27-10.
TAKE AWAY: The Wolverines offensive line and its backs do not shield the QB very well, so it is no surprise whatever that Peters was knocked out of the game. In fact, it was predictable, and predicted.
The Wolverines are a team that has not yet this year played a full game effectively against the better teams they faced. While the defense shines for a longer period and is more remarkable, they too finally bite the dust late against the better teams.
The offense is significantly ineffective in producing points against the better defenses. For a team the relies on its running game as a staple, they often can’t move the chains at crunch time as runs are stifled with the box loaded with defenders. The pass pro is so rudimentary that they can’t consistently move the chains through the air. Michigan’s QB is too often harassed. They suffered well over a dozen QB hurries.
The Wolverines game management is too often suspect. Why did they have to use so many time outs so early in the first half? It didn’t burn them this time, but could.
Almost everyone forecast that this game was a true litmus test of the Wolverines fortunes and capabilities this year, and forecast that at this we would be able to measure this edition of the Wolverines.
These results show that they look like they fit well into an 8-4 season.
They can change that perception as the big, ugly shadow of the Buckeyes looms over them. It will take a lot of fight for sixty minutes. Ten points will not do the trick. We will see if the Wolverines can do it.
Go Blue!
Michigan Football– Jim Harbaugh Wisconsin Week Press Conference Iron Jock Edition
Michigan Football Game Commentary– Maryland falls; It’s Exam Time
MICHIGAN FOOTBALL 2017: M DOMINATES SCOREBOARD IN 35-10 WIN OVER MARYLAND
The Wolverines traveled to College Park, Maryland Saturday afternoon to confront the Maryland Terrapins in a 3:30 PM football game.
The Wolverines were fresh from a soggy, but very necessary victory over the Golden Gophers in Michigan Stadium in their last outing, while the Terrapins suffered a humiliation by the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, 31-24 in their last outing. The Wolverines are 6-1 against the Terrapins.
MARYLAND’S QBs HAVE BEEN SUFFERING INJURIES THIS SEASON: The Terrapins have lost three QBs this year, and are now on their fourth with Ryan Beard. The Wolverines were not in as much of a bind in the quarterback department as Maryland Saturday, but the position has also been a problem this season for M.
As you know, the Wolverines lost their season starter, Wilton Speight, to injury. His understudy, John O’Korn played himself into a starting position against Purdue, and then out of the starting position two games ago. He was replaced the game before last by last Saturday’s starter, Brandon Peters. It appears Peters has cemented that role, as he started against the Terrapins. He has solidified his future somewhat against the Terps. He was solid, but not spectacular. His big chances loom in the immediate future.
While he may or may not develop into the last word in college quarterbacks, he has displayed poise and a knack for the position.
His fakes are better than his predecessors, he has decent wheels and escape ability, and can throw accurately on the run. He appears to have great poise. The question remains as to whether he is a master at tossing the long ball. He hit a beautiful thirty-three yard TD. Still, it will take more time to satisfactorily answer that question.
Time and action will tell that story. It will be only a short time before we get a positive answer. He had a nice game against the Terps. He threw for 145-yards passing, threw no interceptions, and tossed two TDs. He had a calm, workmanlike game, and took his licks without flinching. It appears he is ready for more, as the Big Ten money games of the regular season are immediate.
Peters tossed for 145-yards and two TDs, with no interceptions.
All the musical quarterback chairs didn’t belong to the Terrapins, but the depth at the position seemed definitely in the Wolverine’s favor Saturday. For three quarters of the game the Terp offense was stifled by the Wolverines’ ability to stuff the run, hurry the QB, and prevent completions.
It seemed at the end of the first half the Wolverines defense was going to pitch a shut-out, and they also owned 200-yards of offense, plus a 4-touchdown lead. It proved out that the Wolverines had scored more than enough points to win, but the third quarter took some of the polish off their win. The wheels came off the both the Wolverine’s offense and defense for much of the third quarter. The Terrapins held the ball for 11 minutes of the quarter.
MARYLAND’S THIRD QUARTER SURGE WON BATTLE OF THE STATS: Maryland produced 340-net yards rushing and the Wolverines 305-yards. The Terrapins passed for 160-yards and 1 TD and the Wolverines passed for 145 and 2 TDs. The Terps totaled 340-yards, and the Wolverines 305-yards. This can be a source of pride to the Terps, and a source of wonder and concern to the Wolverines, but it is still the final score that counts.
THE TERRAPINS HAD NOT PROSPERED AT DEFENSE LATELY, AND THE WOLVERINES HAVE: One of the Terrapins’ own writers offered that opinion regarding the state of their defense pregame.
The Wolverines, on the other hand were ranked fourth nationally in total pass defense (an unexpected pleasant surprise), and their defense had been hell against the run. Pass has pro remained a work in progress, and to some extent this was still true Saturday. In the game against the Terps in the first half, M’s defense held the Terp offensive to 112-yards.
For three quarters their dominating mode prevailed, but that inexplicable third quarter reared its ugly head to raise the sparse productivity of the Terrapin offensive and defensive efforts for three quarters to 340-yards. That total surpassed the Wolverines total for the day by 35-yards.
On the scoreboard, the Wolverines were never in real trouble during this game. Maryland never led.
THERE ARE NO SECRETS FOOTBALL WISE BETWEEN MARYLAND’S HEAD COACH DJ DURKIN AND COACH HARBAUGH: They know each other well with DJ having acted as M’s defensive coordinator in Jim Harbaugh’s inaugural season.
Durkin is well acquainted with M’s schemes, preferences, and roster, or at least the better part of them. Both are dedicated competitors, with an iron will to win.
Durkin wanted a signature win, and Harbaugh could only want to avoid a signature loss. A win over the Terps was mandatory, but a win over the sometimes- struggling Maryland Terps simply could not qualify as a signature win for the Wolverines this season, however necessary it was.
The Wolverines could have added to the misery of Maryland with a late TD, but Harbaugh called off the dogs, oops, Wolverines, and they settled the game with some good last- minute sports-man ship by taking a knee rather than taking a shot. DJ and his staff are to be complimented on their good half-time adjustments against the Wolverines.
LEST WE FORGET: Kaleke Hudson, Michigan’s so-called Viper (hybrid LB and safety), bit his team’s last opponent, the Gophers, to the tune of 8 TFLs. This went with 15 tackles, 3 sacks, and a forced fumble.
This defensive tour de force earned a unique grade at of 99.9/100 from Pro Football Forum (a.k.a PFF). He was also on the PFF team of the week. 8 TFS set a new Big Ten record and tied the NCAA record. He was co-Big Ten defensive player of the week.
The above stats are the latest official rendition of Michigan statistics regarding Hudson’s performance against the Gophers. Post-game tape review showed some TFLs and tackles credited to others in error. The stats now stand corrected.
While it is not surprising that he did not match his heroics of last week, he had a very solid performance against the Terps, and contributed to the victory. His late interception sealed the win.
His best is yet to come. It looks like he will be a Viper to remember.
M’S DEFENSE STOOD TALL FOR THREE QUARTERS: They produced two game changing interceptions, a remarkable goal line stand, and produced an outstanding first half performance. David Long changed the game with his critical first half interception and 80-yard return, and otherwise contributed. Tyree Kinnel has 6 solo stops and 4 assisted, for a total of 10. Hurst had 5 solos and 4 assisted for a total of 9. He had the Wolverines’ only sack on the day. Chase Winovich had 3 TFLs, and the team had 7 TFLs. They harried the Terp QB for three quarters, and caused him to hurry and inaccurately throw the ball to M’s Long.
THE OFFENSE PROVIDED 35 POINTS WHICH MEANS THEY HAD A GOOD DAY: In the air: Zach Gentry led the receivers and TEs with three snags for 63-yards with a TD long of 33. Karan Higdon caught 2 for 40-yards, with a long of 35.
The corps of receivers were quiet for the most part, as the tight ends and backs carried the load.
On the ground: Chris Evans had an effective day with 13 carries for 80-yards and a TD. His long was for 17-yards. He carried the load in the absence of the banged-up Karan Higdon later in the game. Higdon had 10 carries for 50-yards, with a long of 16. Kareem Walker had 7 efforts for 23-yards.
HOW THEY SCORED: Only the Wolverines scored in the first quarter. Peters conducted an impressive 9-play 67-yard, 9-play TD drive on the Wolverines second possession.
The big play was a Peters 21-yard pass to TE Gentry who roared down the sideline to the Terp five. Henri Poggi finally got the ball across the goal as he bulled it in from the two. M-7, Terps-zip. This had to be a big moment for Henri. He hails from Maryland.
A Peters scramble resulted in a vintage Karan Higdon catch of a short pass. He turned it into something memorable. Evading tackles he cut to the opposite side of the field and sped for 35-yards. In addition, Maryland earned a 15-yard penalty for roughing the passer. Then it was up to Chris Evans who contributed 4 runs to complete the TD drive of 5-plays for 66-yards. In a nice display of toughness and ability, Chris jumped over, and into the pile at the goal line for the much needed six. M-13, Terps-zip.
Next the Terps tried a fake punt that turned out non-productive due to recognition by M’s punt return team. Great field position is often rewarded, and this was no exception. Peters threw a beautiful pass to a sprinting and open Zach Gentry, who produced the 33-yard TD. M-21, Terps-zip.
After a review of a stunning Terp reception on a third down long pass, it was confirmed it was not a catch. This was a controversial call to Durkin and Maryland fans. This multiplied Durkin’s blood pressure elevation, while it was therapeutic to mine, and other M fans pressure.
The Wolverines got the ball back, and a little later Josh Metellus blocked a Terp punt. M’s Devin Gil covered it at the Terp 29. Karan Higdon, bulled through three tackles, toting the ball 16-yards to the 19-yard marker. A 3-yard toss to McKeon got six. Suddenly it was half time with the Wolverines leading 28-zip, and all was well with the Wolverine Nation.
Late in the first half it appeared the Terrapins were about to snap up a late half TD via their best drive of the half, which was an 11-play drive. David Long put this worry to rest by snagging a Terp pass in the end zone, and running with it 80-yards.
The Wolverines did not score because the slumping Quinn Nordin missed a 31-yard field goal. A golden opportunity for six had been lost as well as for the three.
Nordin is into a recent habit of missing FGs he should convert. This comes at a very inconvenient time for the Wolverines, as they head into their last two, and most critical games of the season. Nordin drew Harbaugh’s ire, or at least his intense commentary, after this miss.
Maryland received the ball for the second half, and their offense and defense did an about face. They were moving the chains with a change in scheme offensively, and holding the ball. But when they got to the M one yard line, and had possessed the ball for nearly 11-minutes in the quarter, the Wolverines held and relinquished only a 20-yard FG. M-28, Terps-3. The shut out had vanished, but the win still looked good.
The Terps then got a TD on a 10-yard pass to make it 28-10.
Peters faced a critical third and 12 in Michigan territory and solved the problem by hitting Chris Evans for 20-yards and a first down. This was the beginning of the end for any Terp hopes of victory, and M’s situation was aided by a pass interference call on the defense on third down.
From the 33-yard line, Chris Evans hurdled a would-be tackler, to get 14-yards. Next, he broke three tackles and completed a tough 17-yard run for the capper. The final score was M-35, Terps-10.
Kaleke Hudson’s interception slammed the gate shut.
TAKE AWAY: Crunch time has arrived. The Wolverines’ trip to Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin next Saturday will be a battle of somewhat similar styles, and will likely be a bruising contest in which the Wolverines will be significant under dogs to the undefeated Badgers.
The Wolverines will need to put all together for four quarters of their best football on offense, defense, and special teams, in order to trap the undefeated Badgers in their own lair.
Go Blue!