Category: Football

The Scarlet Knights blew into M Stadium Saturday riding the ill wind of a 48-10 loss to the Badgers of Wisconsin, an earlier one TD loss to the Spartans, a blow-out loss to the Scarlet and Gray, and Penn State got 28 on them for another loss, and so on this season.

So far it had been a rough Big Ten season for the Knights. Their armor was dented and pierced prior to Saturday’s trip to Michigan Stadium and they suffered more dents Saturday. Even so, their return game was certainly not rusty.

Saturday the Wolverines won the joust as Jake Rudock had his best day as a Wolverine. He was 18 of 25 for 377-yards and 2 TDs.  He seemed in tune with his receivers, and was poised.  He consistently fed the ball in there with precision.

Even though the Knights had trounced a Hoosier scoring machine (sans defense) by a couple of points in Hoosier land 55-52, Rutgers Head Football Coach, Kyle Flood, who had been suspended for cheating previously, had to be desperate to shore up the dam against the flood waters that are trying to deep six his regime. A Michigan tsunami flooded Rutgers.

The Knights had a sometimes explosive offense, three good running backs, and some great receivers.

Unfortunately for them, they also had the second worst defense in the Big Ten, and their best offensive player, WR Leonte Carroo did not play due to injury. He has missed about half of this season’s games this season because of injuries and discipline. The explosiveness of Rutgers did come within 7 of beating then unbeaten MSU.

It seemed that the Wolverine’s defensive backfield had learned from the sometimes poor effort that they displayed against the Gophers.

That that effort was poor was indicated by Secondary Coach Zordich in a prior interview, who said that the back end of the defense (the DB’s) did not play aggressively, or well in the Minnesota game. Against the Knights, that was remedied.

Those DB feet, hands, and eyes got coached up this week. Aggressive, they held Rutgers to 95-net yards passing on 11 completions in 27 attempts. Even well into the second quarter, Rutgers had not a single pass completion yard.

The same could not be said regarding the Wolverines problematic kick return coverage. Knight return man Janarion Grant ran 4 kick returns for 155-yards, including a stunning 98-yard TD. He also had a 67-yard punt return.

Several things energized the Wolverines, not the least of which was Harbaugh, who was incensed by half time tunnel talk in which the Knights said that they were game finishers, blah, blah, etc.  Jabrill Peppers mentioned trash talk in a post-game interview. Some Rutgers players were ignited by their late first half field goal.

Harbaugh apparently lit a fire under his team for the second half as they came out roaring. It was interesting JH went for a two point conversion after the first M TD of the half to drive the score from 35-16 to 42-16. Post-game, he cited “percentages”, and the venerable two point authorization chart as justification. Hmm. Could be.

Whatever the reason, more than one player cited Harbaugh’s fury at the half over two calls and the trash talking. One call was an overturned targeting call. This is the third such (targeting) call that has not gone the Wolverines way.

The other was an unsportsmanlike penalty, or “intention to deceive call”. Jake Butt with no intention of going off the field or to deceive, inadvertently trailed the players going off the field, but lined up. Noting the open receiver, Jake Rudock did what he was taught to do, toss to the open receiver. Harbaugh said he was “offended” by this call.

More incentive was that Rutgers came into the friendly confines of Michigan Stadium owning a winning record against the Wolverines. The Wolverines had never beaten them, and the Wolverines loss to them last year constituted another very low point for the last year’s team. I had not forgotten that Janarion Grant provided the FG block that provided the misery of defeat for last year’s Wolverines.  He burned them again Saturday.

Last year’s team did not have this year’s Jabrill Peppers advantage. Earlier, Coach Zordich recently had indicated that the coaches had to do a better job of getting him (Jabrill) into position, and he had to make the plays, noting his near interception against the Gophers.

While not an interception he had an outstanding TD run. It was rumored that Jabrill was somewhat dinged, and Jourdan Lewis supplied two kick returns for 59-yards with a long of 35. He likes to have the ball in his hands and ran well. Jabrill gave no indication of being dinged in the TD run, and had, overall, a very good outing.

Lewis also set a M record for pass break ups, eclipsing the former record of 18 by one in bettering Marlon Jackson and Leon Hall.

Peppers has reinforced his stature as Michigan’s best player this season. He is becoming a legend at Michigan. Ninety-two plays against the Gophers on offense, defense and special teams was a remarkable performance. And while he shared the load some with Jordan Lewis on kick returns Saturday, he had that outstanding 18-yard TD run after a lateral on what looked like it was going to become a wheel route, but was cut up field. This was as nifty a run as you will ever hope to see as he made tacklers miss. The usually more restrained Harbaugh was justifiably effusive in his post-game praise for both Jordan Lewis and Jabril Peppers.

The Wolverines received to start the game and botched the first play. What was called a fumble on the field, was the result of an awkward Rudock attempt to push the ball to Drake Johnson. The call was fortunately reversed and considered an incompletion. Then a ten play drive resulted in nothing as Kenny Allen missed a 37-yard field goal wide left.

FB Sione Houma got it started for the Wolverines with a 32-yard catch and run to the Rutgers 14, and Chesson caught a 13-yard TD for the Wolverines first points of the game. M-7, R-0.

Rutgers answered with a FG, but the Wolverines pushed in another score on with Jake Butt contributing to the drive by catching one for 20-yards. Butt was the Wolverines leading receiver with four catches for 102-yards.

The just recovered from injury Jake Ruddock ran it into the corner of the end zone, catching the pylon, on a play characterized afterwards by Harbaugh as Rudock exhibiting toughness. Harbaugh’s comment “As tough as a two dollar steak” fit Jake on this play and.  M-14, R-3.

The Wolverines got another first half TD to start the second quarter. Jake Butt had catches for 17 and nine yards and Jabril Peppers took it from there on a remarkable 18-yard scamper for 6. Seemingly trapped, he escaped and speedily made a beeline to score. Harbaugh lauded his remarkable ability after the game saying he did not know there was another rung to that (Peppers talent) ladder. M-21, R-3.

Rutger’s talented returner, Janarion Grant then took the ensuing KO 98-yards for Rutgers first score. He had two long TDs in previous games this season. It was M-21, R-10.

Drake Johnson made a nice run to score from the one, after a beautiful catch of twenty by Armara Darboh. M-28, R-10.

Rutgers then hit a 29-yard FG after a holding call on Jabrill, and it became M-28, R-13. The Knights kept hanging in there.

Dymonte Thomas provided the spark for the next Wolverine TD with a 28-yard return to the Rutgers forty. The Wolverines piled their score to 35 after an 8-yard Darboh end zone catch. Jake Rudock was on.

A pass interference penalty on Stribling preceded a Jarod Wilson interception at the M 15. This over the shoulder catch in traffic was an outstanding play by Wilson. Then happened the “unsportsmanlike” penalty. Coach Harbaugh and the Michigan crowd were understandably upset.

A 67-yard Janarion Grant punt return preceded another Rutger’s FG of 27-yards.

The Scarlet Knights brayed about that FG in the tunnel. The half ended at M-35, R-16.

The Wolverines kicked to start the second half, and came out energized. A personal foul on Rutgers was applied to better M’s good field position at the 50. A Chris Wormley 12-yard sack aggravated Rutgers problems and they punted to the put the ball at the M 40.

A 56-yard Jake to Jake pass took it the Rutgers 4. De’Veon Smith hammered it home. M-43, R-16.

M converted two FGs by Kenny Allen, and it was finally 49-16.

The Wolverines kept their foot on the gas in the second half offensively and defensively.

While individual football games have an ebb and flow of their own, this one seemed long.

Most fans are pretty consistent in what they want.

Some simply want their team to catch the opposing whippersnappers and belt them into an appreciation of the moral beauty of being Michigan, preferably while winning. Not always is this desired result an easy accomplishment.

What the coaches want is improvement in all aspects of the game weekly, preferably while winning. Nor is this always an easy accomplishment.

This was a hard hitting game for some of three quarters, with the Knights doing just enough to hang in there for a half or more. When you hit FGs instead of TDs, or don’t score during a half, it is hard to win.

Michigan’s defense held the Knights to 128 net yards rushing, and 97 passing. Chris Wormley had two sacks, and the two middle LBs, Bolden and Morgan, had 15 tackles (solos and assists) between them.

The Wolverines are still a work in progress, but you can see improvement each week, and they now are getting ready to face the aerial fireworks of the Indiana Hoosiers.

Go Blue!

Minnesota’s Gophers, led by their Mascot Goldie Gopher, left their Minnesota burrows, and settled into their football home Stadium with full intentions of finally nipping the Wolverine’s dreams of a shot at Big Ten prominence this year. They had many reasons to dispense another Big Ten loss to the Wolverines. The Gophers translated those reasons to the field as the they almost toppled the Wolverines.

At times, the defense did not play like the premier defense in the country or even like a top ten defense as they struggled to stop the pass and run. They let three interceptions slide through their hands. Their porous defense allowed the Minnesota offense to control much of the game, and make big plays. The Wolverines yielded 458-yards, including many significant pass plays over 20-yards.

Finally, the defense proved its mettle by conserving a victory with a last seconds stand at the half yard line. Not once, but twice. The M defensive line and linebackers controlled.

This was set up by trailing M DB Channing Stripling catching the Gopher receiver from behind, and getting his knee down a half yard from what would have been the winning TD. It looked like this 74-yard drive might be a game winner, with no time for M to answer offensively.

With 19 seconds left, the Gophers lined up, shifted, wasting time and perhaps losing a third opportunity at a TD. Seventeen seconds evaporated, and there was only time for one more play during the remaining two ticks on the clock.

According to a player after the game, the Wolverines knew that it would be a QB sneak by the 240 pound Gopher QB, Mitch Leidner.

They submarined, and pushed Leidner back just enough to not break the plane. The call on the field was no TD, the review confirmed the call, and the final score of M 29, Gophers 26, went into the record book.

While the Wolverines were 75-25-3 against the pesky rodents coming into Saturday’s game, they also owned a recent 30-14 thrashing that the Gophers doled out last year. As Keith Jackson would have said it was a “Whuppin”.

The Gophers also out gained the Wolverines this year with 141-yards rushing, and 317 passing.

What was called by many pre-game the Number One defense in the country was embarrassed by the hard charging Gophers. It came down to the unlikely scenario of M QB Wilton Speight tossing the game winning pass to the emerging playmaker Jehu Chesson, who caught two TD passes. One thrown by Speight and one from Rudock. Chesson has become a weapon  on the ground and in the air. He also had a 22-yard run.

After the game Coach Harbaugh praised Rudock’s game, perhaps more than I thought he would. Jake left the game after a nasty hit as he was sliding. He was 13 of 21 for 140-yards and a TD, but also had a fumble and an interception.

Speight afterward said the coaches worked with him, and he got snaps just like a starter. He was 6 of 29 passing, hitting a leaping Chesson for the final, go ahead TD, and nailing a throw to Amara Darboh for a two point conversion to complete M’s scoring.

Speight did not have a prior completion in a game, but completed his first three in game time Saturday.

Michigan’s ground game was nothing special. The running game struggled. For example, D. Smith had 9 carries for 1.7 yards. Drake Johnson came on some though, hauling 10 times for 56-yards and a 5.5-yard average.

This year the Wolverine’s had to travel to Minneapolis to again possess one of the college football’s most venerable and storied collegiate football trophies, the Little Brown Jug. M now owns a 70-23-2 edge in the Jug series.

As you have heard by now, the competition for the oldest college football trophy originated after an M water jug was left in Minnesota hands by accident. M wrote a letter asking for it back and the Gophers replied by issuing a challenge to come and win it back. This inspired the Wolverine to do just that, and they met the challenge by claiming it back the ensuing year.

The trophy has gained lasting fame by ignoring its accidental origins. It is not abandoned or reclaimed by accident, or by re-enacting Caddy Shack gophers, but by being a visible representation of a serious football competition. The Gophers played some serious football against the Wolverines Saturday night.

It is a competition that had been improving under Minnesota Coach Jerry Kill and his resignation fueled their noisy home crowd which probably stirred in Coach Harbaugh residual memories of losing to the Gophers in the middle seventies.

Last Wednesday, the unwelcome and stunning news that Coach Kill was resigning before their game with the Wolverines on the advice of his medical advisers was announced.

Published reports said Coach Kill had long endured epilepsy, had suffered significant seizures during football seasons, had fought that serious disease tooth and nail, and avoided problems during a successful 2014 last, but sadly it had come to the point the that the situation was best fought without the chain of football coaching around his neck. Respected everywhere, he has endured over the course of a long and successful head coaching career. It was thought that his retirement might energize the Gophers and did it ever.

Kill was the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2014, and had a 29-29 record as the Gopher head man.

The Minnesota DC, Tracey Claeys, had coached Minnesota during a prior Kill absence and again during Saturday’s game against the Wolverines.

Coach Kill’s rough and tumble approach to football, and his great defensive backfield, were much in evidence last Saturday. It was thought this resignation would add some extra emotion to the Gopher’s cause, and did it ever.

It was also thought that it was time for Jake Ruddock to make some plays. He did, but poor pass protection afforded a fumble, and an ill-advised, hurry up shovel pass which was tipped, provided a Gopher interception and early three point lead.

The game teetered back and forth in the first half, and ended with a late Gopher FG, securing a 16-14 lead at the half.

Offensively the Wolverines put up two TDs in the first half.  Harbaugh went to FB Joe Kerridge to squeeze out some yardage to jump start a sluggish running game and he scored.  Jake Butt had collared an 18 yard pass to enable the first TD drive, of the game .

Rudock hit a TD to Chesson, and Michigan had 14 points for the half. While the defense gave up a 1^st half 52-yard TD run to the Gophers, they made three stops that resulted in Minnesota 1^st half FGs.  Holding the Gopher offense to FGs was also critical to the win.

M received to start the second half and produced a great 75-yard drive culminating in a Jabril Peppers run of six yards.  What a run with a great burst to bull into multiple defenders at the goal line and into the end zone for his first offensive TD as a Wolverine.  The lead was now 21-16.  

Minnesota’s QB Mitch Leitner ran 24-yards for a TD to make it 21 to 23 Gophers. Then they hit a 45-yard FG, and it looked like M might be going down as they gave up a 5 point lead with about 10 minutes left, with their starting QB on the bench, injured.

Unexpectedly, inexperienced Wilton Speight was equal to the task, tossing a TD to the improving Chesson for a 12-yard TD, and another to Amara Darboh for a two-point conversion.  This produced a final score of  29 to 23.

Then, the defense came through with its finest seconds of the game, and the lead stood.

There were a number of up sides to this game. The Jabril Peppers saga is just getting going at Michigan. He ran for 16-yards for a TD in impressive fashion, made a 41-yard punt return, had a 43-yard kick return and played fine defense. He was in action for an impressive 92 plays. Kenny Allen hit three of five KOs for touch backs. Blake O’Neill punted 5 times for a 44-yard average.

The offense and defense both did enough to preserve the win, notwithstanding too many penalties, defensive lapses to yield big plays, offensive errors and the lack of an effective running game.

After a severe disappointment two weeks ago, and a uniquely energized Gopher team this week, suffice it to happily tuck this one into the record books and return to the friendly confines of Michigan Stadium to confront Rutgers.

Go Blue!