Category: Football

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By the Numbers: Game 4 vs. USC

LAST WEEK RECAP

Michigan handled their business early, but still didn’t look sharp in the passing game.  The Wolverines overcame 3 interceptions and a -2 turnover margin to defeat the Arkansas State Red Wolves 28-18. 

NEXT UP: vs. USC: SP+ 17th, 16.0

PREGAME SP+: Michigan by 3.9, Michigan Win Probability 60%

The SP+ model is blind to the QB switch to Alex Orji.  We shall see if the offense ticks up from 57th nationally with the added dimension to the run game.  USC meanwhile is climbing as a defense, but with only two games of data to add atop their preseason ranking.

Michigan Offense (57th) vs. USC Defense (70th) 

The switch to Orji as the starting quarterback will get the majority of media attention.  But, the real test is how much continued improvement we see from the offensive line.  LT Myles Hinton has been good, but nobody else up front has stood out for positive performance.  At a minimum, this unit needs to clean up the mental mistakes.  For the Wolverines to be successful, they need to be successful on standard downs, especially 1st & 10.  Consistently putting 2nd & 5, or 3rd & 1 in front of Alex Orji will allow coordinator Kirk Campbell to utilize any page from the playbook that they’ve installed. 

Michigan Defense (4th) vs. USC Offense (4th)

Very similarly to the Texas matchup, this is strength-on-strength.  Lincoln Riley knows how to maximize his QB’s talent.  Miller Moss is not a serious run threat, but they will look to pick on the linebackers with RPO’s, as well as attacking Jayaire Hill down the field.  Wink Martindale showed that he can turn the dial down last week versus Arkansas State.  Early in this game, we want to see Michigan hang back and force USC to hand he ball off into light boxes.  The Wolverines’ defensive line should be able to win one-on-one matchups inside, allowing the linebackers to stay in passing lanes. 

PREDICTION: Michigan needs their best performance of the season to beat the Trojans.  There are a handful of 50/50 what-if matchups, and I think Michigan needs to win three or four of those coin flips.  We need Orji to threaten the safeties with his legs (good blocking) and with his arm (stretching deep when they creep forward).  We also need to move the chains consistently enough that USC is forced to drive 70+ yards on each of their possessions.  Keep the game close, and look to wear the Trojans down in the 4th quarter.

More bad news for Michigan as we hear that tight end Coleston Loveland will be sidelined with a shoulder injury.  This puts more pressure on Kirk Campbell to scheme up plays that will give Alex Orji a chance to hit an open receiver.  When in doubt, pull the ball down and run!  It just feels like there may be too many what-ifs for Michigan to overcome.
Michigan 20 USC 24 (PRESEASON Michigan 27 USC 10)

MICHIGAN RESUME UPDATE 09/17/24, 2-1

CFP Rank: N/A

SP+ Overall: 12th (↑1), 17.4
SP+ Offense: 57th (↑10), 28.4
SP+ Defense: 4th (↓1), 11.3
SP+ Special Teams: 11th (↑13), 0.3

AP Poll: 18th (↓1), 447

Coaches’ Poll: 17th (↓1), 439

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Big Ten Openers – – Michigan State — Looking Back – 1998

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins

The fifth and final installment of this week’s series looking back at Big Ten openers takes us to 1998. The year started out perfectly. The national economy was roaring and our beloved Michigan Wolverines were national champions, having just completed a perfect season. If that wasn’t enough, Michigan added 5,000 seats to Michigan Stadium in the offseason to reclaim the title of largest on-campus football stadium in the United States, and the team had just signed the top-ranked quarterback recruit (Drew Henson) and top-ranked running back recruit (Justin Fargas) in the nation. It sure was great to be a Michigan Wolverine!

It was so great, in fact, that the party never seemed to end for the Wolverines. Many a back was patted, and many a drink enjoyed. Unfortunately, the new season arrived with all the charm of a hangover. Charles Woodson was gone, off to the NFL. Marcus Ray was suspended for a few games for communicating with an agent. Quarterback Brian Griese had graduated, and he was replaced by some new guy. Hey, what happened to the party? Where did everybody go?

Yes, things started off so poorly that Michigan violated one of Bo Schembechler’s cardinal rules, allowing one loss to become two losses. Michigan woke up against Eastern Michigan, but the Big Ten opener would bring a much more challenging foe.

Yes, by late September, Michigan knew it had to start playing serious football again, and just in the nick of time, because Nick Saban was leading a bunch of angry behemoths in green helmets down the Michigan Stadium tunnel. All the accolades that Michigan had received the previous season seemed a distant memory now; reality was setting in.

Fortunately for Michigan, facing Michigan State proved to be just the tonic for the Wolverines. Michigan State jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, but the Wolverines wasted no time answering. Anthony Thomas received the ensuing kickoff, and kept running, all the way into Spartan territory. Quarterback Tom Brady taught everyone his name, as he started throwing pinpoint passes that penetrated the Michigan State defense.

Still, it wouldn’t be easy. Plaxico Burress hauled in a touchdown pass to give Michigan State the lead, and he gave the Spartans possession of the ball on the ensuing kickoff when he hit Grady Brooks and caused a fumble. Unfazed by the Michigan State theatrics, the Michigan defense stopped the Spartans, and then Brady responded by handing the ball to Anthony Thomas, who rumbled 70 yards for the tying score. Suddenly, Michigan State had to respect Thomas and the counter trey run, which left the Spartans’ secondary vulnerable. Brady responded by throwing a fade in the corner of the north end zone to Tai Streets, who outjumped a cornerback to pull down the ball, giving Michigan a 17-10 lead. Jay Feely extended Michigan’s lead to 10 points, but this was still a Michigan vs. Michigan State game. There was still some drama left, and it occurred when James Whitley fumbled a punt, which was recovered by State’s Aric Morris. A few minutes later, Michigan State QB Bill Burke snuck over from the 1-yard line, and Michigan went to the locker room at halftime nursing a 20-17 lead.

The drama ended in the second half. Michigan went back to basics in all three phases of the game, gradually establishing unmistakable control. A long drive by the Wolverines resulted in another Feely field goal. Michigan led by six points in the fourth quarter when Brady threw a 48-yard dagger to Marcus Knight that was ruled short of the goal line. Undaunted, Brady snuck over the goal line on the next play to give Michigan firm control of the game.

The Michigan defense then shut door on the Spartans, stifling the last of their opportunities, as Michigan held on to win, 29-17.

The 1998 season started out in rocky fashion, but the Wolverines made the best of things, finishing with a 45-31 win over Arkansas in the Florida Citrus Bowl.

Many thanks to ABC Sports, YouTube, and YouTube poster Pizza Pizzichetti for the video of this game. As always, we own nothing and this blog post is provided strictly for the enjoyment of readers.

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Michigan Wolverine Football Podcast — Game 4 Preview — USC

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Tune into the latest podcast as @pcallihan and @Clint_Derringer dive into Michigan’s crucial upcoming matchup against USC, highlighting the switch to Alex Orji at quarterback. The game promises to be a tight contest. Key players like Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards will be essential, while Michigan’s defense faces a stiff challenge against a rising USC team.

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Big Ten Openers – – Maryland — Looking Back – 2015

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins

The fourth installment of this series looking back at Michigan’s Big Ten conference opening games takes us to 2015. The previous seven years had been frustrating by Michigan standards, and the fan base desperately sought a return to the glory days. Jim Harbaugh returned to his alma mater as head coach, bringing an air of optimism that had been missing for many years. Suddenly, Michigan alumni and fans everywhere immediately felt better about the Wolverines’ prospects.

Of course, the landscape of the Big Ten had changed considerably since Harbaugh played for Michigan. Several new schools had been added to the conference, and the 2015 Big Ten opener was at Maryland, representing the first time that Michigan would open its Big Ten slate against the Terrapins. Michigan was a prohibitive favorite, but the Wolverines started the season looking sluggish, and fans could be forgiven if they felt a little concern about any opponent.

Sure enough, the Wolverines got off to a slow start against Maryland, causing a pretty fair amount of angst among the Michigan faithful. Fortunately, while the offense took a while to get untracked, the defense picked up where it ended the previous game against BYU. Michigan turned the ball over several times in the first half, but the defense never yielded any points. Finally, on 4th down and three yards to go, Jake Rudock provided the spark that the Wolverines needed, scrambling for 20 yards and a first down. The drive stalled, and Michigan was forced to settle for a Kenny Allen field goal.

Midway through the third quarter, it was only 6-0, and Michigan fans were feeling anxious. Dreams of dominance under Harbaugh were replaced by fears of mediocrity.

In classic Michigan fashion, the defense provided the remedy. Maryland quarterback Caleb Rowe sensed that the entire Michigan defensive line was about to converge on him, and he threw a risky pass that Michigan DB Jourdan Lewis caught on his shoulder for his second interception of the game. Sensing blood in the water, Michigan wasted little time attacking the Maryland defense. Rudock tossed a screen pass to Drake Johnson, who followed a convoy of blockers to the end zone. Suddenly, a tight, hard-fought game had just been blown open. Jehu Chesson followed that with a 66-yard touchdown run on a jet sweep, and the route was on. Michigan went on to defeat Maryland 28-0, the Wolverines’ second of three consecutive shutouts. Michigan finished its season by trouncing Florida, 41-7, in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl.

Thanks to the Big Ten Network, YouTube, and YouTube poster WolverineDevotee for this video of the game. As always, we own nothing and do not profit from this blog post, which is provided strictly for the enjoyment of readers.

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Big Ten Openers – – Wisconsin — Looking Back – 2008

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins

The third installment of this year’s series looking back at Michigan’s Big Ten opening games takes us back to 2008, the beginning of the Rich Rodriguez era. Landmark victories were few and far between in the Rodriguez era, but for one glorious day, Rodriguez led the Maize and Blue to one of their most unlikely triumphs, making him the toast of Ann Arbor, if only for one game.

Rodriguez never enjoyed complete support in Ann Arbor, and it showed from the beginning. After the first three games of the 2008 campaign, Michigan limped into the Big Ten opener vs. Wisconsin with a 1-2 record. Making matters worse, the game started out poorly for the Wolverines, who made repeated mental errors throughout the first half. By halftime, boos rained down from the Michigan Stadium crowd as the home team went to the locker room trailing 19-0.

Things continued in much the same way throughout the third quarter. If there was a slight glimmer of hope for the Wolverines, their effort was excellent. Their performance of details wasn’t nearly as strong.

Late in the third period, quarterback Steven Threet began to repeatedly probe the Wisconsin secondary with long passes. Finally, with more than two minutes remaining in the third quarter, Threet connected with tight end Kevin Koger for a touchdown pass that swung the momentum solidly in Michigan’s favor. The Wisconsin players, specifically on defense, had been extremely confident all day, but Threet’s scoring pass changed the feeling of the game for both teams.

Slowly, Michigan began to establish confidence, and started producing consistent gains. The spread option offense, largely a mystery to the Wolverines throughout their first three games, suddenly unveiled its potential. The momentum swing reached its zenith when John Thompson intercepted a tipped pass and weaved his way through several players for a touchdown that gave Michigan the lead and sent shock waves throughout the stadium. After Sam McGuffie punched in a short touchdown run, Michigan had a 27-19 lead, yet plenty of drama remained.

With 1:19 left, Wisconsin got the ball for one final possession. The Michigan Stadium faithful turned up the volume as loud as possible, and the defense braced for a dramatic ending. When David Gilreath pulled in a 13-yard touchdown pass from Allan Evridge, The Big House fell silent. Suddenly, Wisconsin was the team playing with nothing to lose. Michigan supporters, accustomed to four decades of stability, were getting used to a new way of life.

Moments later, Evridge connected with Travis Beckum for what looked like the game-tying conversion. Except for the flag on the field.

Wisconsin was penalized for having an ineligible receiver downfield. Michigan, which had committed penalties and unforced mistakes throughout the first half, was suddenly the beneficiary of Wisconsin’s mistake. The ensuing pass sailed high and incomplete, leaving Wisconsin with one final hope: An onsides kick.

Fittingly, Wisconsin’s attempt at an onsides kick didn’t go the required 10 yards, rseulting in a penalty that sealed the decision, and Michigan held on for a 27-25 win.

Rich Rodriguez never went on to achieve much success at Michigan. He beat Notre Dame twice, but he never led Michigan to a Big Ten championship, or to a National Championship. In fact, the greatest moment of his era probably occurred when Brock Mealer led the team out of the tunnel, coming all the way back from a car accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down.

Still, for one day, Rodriguez made good on his promise to make Michigan an exciting, winning team. The memory of that game will last a lifetime.

Thanks to ESPN, the Big Ten Network, and YouTube poster RXwolverine2 for the video of this game. As always, we own nothing and do not profit from this video, which is provided strictly for the enjoyment of readers.