Category: Football

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M FOOTBALL 2012-WILDCATS NO LONGER MILDCATS-WOLVERINES PREVAIL IN OVERTIME WITH 38 TO NORTHWESTERN’S 31.

 

A LOSS TO THE WILDCATS WOULD HAVE HAD THE WOLVERINES BATTLING FOR SECOND PLACE IN THE LEGENDS DIVISION. THEY ARE STILL IN THE HUNT.

Saturday, the Wolverines returned to the friendly confines of Michigan Stadium to confront the Northwestern Wildcats for the first of a critical two game home stand, that could play a big part in determining the course of the their season. The Wolverines needed to win to get into position to achieve a shot at the Legends title game, which they will have, if they can win out, and Nebraska losses again.  Unfortunately, Nebraska owns the head to head tiebreaker.  After the ‘Cats, the Iowa Hawkeyes come next, and then Ohio in Columbus.  All three games are of equal importance, except for bragging rights, but first things first, and that was hosting, and trying to best the Wildcats.  The ‘Cats made it a game.  The Wolverines dramatic finish made it one to remember.

Game Photos

THIS YEAR’S WILDCATS:  Coach Pat Fitzgerald brought a pretty decent Big Ten Football team to Ann Arbor.  Seven wins and two losses through nine games is a good record, and three wins and two losses in the B1G is also decent. Their rush defense was fourth in the B1G prior to Saturday.  Statistically they were more susceptible to the pass defensively only ranking 8th in the B1G, and the Wildcats were not in the top 100 in pass offense nationally. Actuality: They proved again their vulnerability in that area Saturday yielding 286-yards passing to the Wolverines.

Arriving in Ann Arbor tenth in total B1G defense seemed encouraging to the Michigan cause because M could stop the run.  Actuality: The ‘Cats played a very good football game, moving the ball against the Wolverines with monotony, and converting far too many third downs (8 of 16).  But the Wolverines moved the ball to counter. The Wolverines managed 7 of 10 third down conversions. NW cashed in on a controversial late 1st down that seemed to seal the Wolverines doom in regulation.  There was more than one situation in this game that portended doom, but this is a team that does not quit and it saved them.

Unlike some past NW teams, this year’s edition is a rush first team, relying on the legs of Kain Colter, and tail back Venric Mark.  Both Colter and Mark had admirable games Saturday, but both ended up nicked.  Late in Saturday’s game Mark had the misfortune of providing a cushion for Frank Clark, and that ended his participation. Mark had rushed for 1,072-yards previously and he added 104 net yards on 23 carries Saturday, with one TD. He demonstrated he is a special team whiz that can return kick offs and break the big one, and he proved that Saturday, but his longest and a potential game breaking return of a  KO to pay dirt was fortunately called back due to penalty.  That play could have sealed M’s fate.

The Wildcats wanted to control the clock and dominate the line of scrimmage with the running game, and for much of regulation they did, and they did totaling 431 net yards to M’s 419, while establishing a time of possession for the game of 34.28 to M’s 25.32. In the face of Michigan’s pregame great pass defense statistics, NW wreaked a little havoc though the air at times, getting a couple of TDs, and securing 8 of 16 1st down conversions by air and ground. Kain raised Cain with M’s defense at times. QB Colter shared the task with Trevor Siemian.  Siemian completed a just before the half two minute drill with six, which after the point, tied the game 14 up at the half.

NW threw 13 times and hit 21 for 183-yards.  M completed 16 of 30 for 286-yards with 2 TDs.  NW ran 58 times for 248-yards, but only one TD.  M ran 32 times producing 133-yards and 3 TDs.

NW’s Colter was 8 of 14 for 89-yards and 1 TD, and Siemian was 6 of 7 for 87-yards and 2 TDs.  Colter on the ground carried 24 times for 106-yards.

M’s Devin Gardner was 16 of 29 for 286 passing and 2 TDs. He ran 9 times for 49-yards with 3 TDs and a long of 17.   That run of 17-yards on third down saved the day.

The last time the Wildcats took down the Wolverines, it was November of 2008, and Nick Sheridan was the QB, and Saturday it was too close for comfort again.  NW played a good hard hitting game of football.  None of that Mildcat stuff applies this year.

THE WOLVERINES DEFENSE:  Looking at the stats from M’s first nine games, it seemed that the Wolverines matched up well with the Wildcats defensively.  Actuality: the Wolverines gave up 31 points. What else needs to be said? The Wildcats managed 431-yards against the Wolverines yesterday.  NW took the measure of the Wolverine defense.  Yet, when crunch time came, it was the Wolverine’s defense that stared the Wildcats down, enabling a win, by stopping the ‘Cats cold in the late 4th quarter, and overtime. Kenny Demens and Desmond Morgan each had 9 stops.

Again, while Michigan’s defense struggled with the fine option running of Colter and Mark, they came alive in time, when the game was on the line.  Late in the game, in regulation, a late hit by Beyer almost torpedoed the Wolverines.  It was a possible game changer, but fortunately Beyer did not become a goat.

THE WOLVERINES OFFENSE:  Pregame the continuing question was the offense.  Could anyone other than Denard (if he played), or Devin (if he played) rack up significant yardage overland?  Actuality:  Denard wore headphones and Devin played an outstanding game. Would they be able to score in the red zone? Yes. By land and air.  Would they avoid offensive errors? Actuality:  Devin played a fine game, with only one interception.  The Wolverines had a single fumble, after a 50-yard run.  Devin was poised, knew when to throw the ball away, took some shots and hung onto the ball, and passed and ran well. His bootleg TD run in overtime provided the winning margin. On his one interception he may have misread man when it was a zone defense.  He is my player of the game. He threw for 286-yards and 2 TDs, and also ran for two TDs, winning the game with the last one, and stretching for the pylon on the first one.  He is a great athlete in his own right that has stepped up and out into the limelight.

Coach Hoke on Devin: “I think Devin was very consistent. I thought he stayed in the game and managed the offense. He had the one bad throw, probably two of them during the course of the game. He’s just got to see the field a little better, but he moved our offense. I thought he did a nice job on third down; I think we were 7-of-10, which is pretty good.”

Devin was chased hard for my player of the game accolade by Roy Roundtree.   Roy caught well going 5 for 139.  The hands were there.  Roundtree’s opportunistic 4th quarter catch in regulation, where he snagged a pass re-directed by the defensive back, and no doubt saved the win. Late in the game and down three points M’s chances of winning the game seemed slim if not impossible.  Impossible until Gardner hit Roundtree for a 53-yard gain, and Roy made his improbable catch.  That set up Brandon Gibbons FG to send the 31-31 game into overtime, with only a pair of seconds left on the ticker.  Gibbon’s kick was for 26-yards. Jeremy Gallon caught 7 for 94-yards.

Coach Hoke on Roundtree’s catch: “We had to get ourselves into field goal range. We used the three timeouts in the right manner earlier. It was one of those things, we got some good field position because of the punt return, so that really helped us. It got us into a good area. Then, it kind of fell into Roy’s hands. He did a tremendous job fighting for it, keeping his eye on the football, and he came down with a big one.”

Without Denard the Wolverine rushing game has been spotty at best this season.  It is a shame that at this late date in the season the offense is unsettled because of an injury to Denard, and the fact that the ground game has not lived up to either expectations or last year’s effectiveness.  I hoped to see Denard at full rushing capacity, if not full passing capacity.  His injury is a shame.

The Wolverines were attempting to go 12-0 at the Big House under Coach Hoke, and that’s the way it was-finally.

THE GAME AND BRIEF SCORING RECAP: The Wolverines received, stalled and punted.  The Wildcats went to work advancing with a spectacular one handed catch.  This for a team that the statistics said could not pass.  Venric Mark scored on a three yard run.  M-0, NW- 7.

A 10-play, 78-yard drive featuring a 32-yard catch by Roy Roundtree on the NW half of the field, and an eight yard gallop by Devin Gardner in which he stretched for the pylon, and scored, resulted in a 7-7 game.  It was reassuring to know that the offense could move the ball without Denard against this group in a critical game.

Fitz Toussaint showed some life in the second quarter with a nifty fifty-yard run, but the ball was poked out, and recovered by the ‘Cats.  M’s Joe Bolden saved the day, when NW returned the favor and donated the ball back.  On the foundation of a 17-yard Devin Gardner scramble, Thomas Rawls plowed into the end zone for six on a one-yard run, and suddenly it was M-14, NW 7.

But those pesky ‘Cats would not leave well enough alone and tied the score before the half.  Coach Fitzgerald inserted passing QB Trevor Siemians, and he produced a 56-yard drive culminating in a 19-yard TD pass.  At the half it was knotted a 14- all.

After that it was worrisome as the ‘Cats would receive to start the second.  Those worries were justified.  10 plays and 75-yards later they had another TD. M-14, NW-21.  Then they hit a 34-yard field goal, and it was M-14, NW 24, and it was looking like we might be out of the race.

But when Gardner hit Jeremy Gallon on a 42-yard pass, and then Fitz Toussaint on 28-yard scoring pass, a semblance of order was again restored.  M-21, NW 24.

In the final quarter, the Wildcats made some mistakes that hurt.  There was a costly a block in the back penalty.  The Wolverines were buried at their own nine-yard line, but not in despair, having had the benefit of two back to back passes to Roy Roundtree.  Then came the TD strike to Freshman TE Devin Funchess with under 10 minutes in the game. Great throw and catch.  The ever improving Funchess is definitely earning his scholarship. M-28, NW-24.

The wily Wildcats set off on a journey of clock domination which lasted about five minutes and ended with a 15-yard scoring pass.  The receiver was so open it was painful, and Michigan was behind again M-28, NW 31.

Enter Dennis Norfleet, who hauled the ensuing KO 37-yards to the M 42.  Seemingly trapped he reversed direction and scampered up the side line.  Gardner then threw an interception and I thought for sure, this time it was over.  The ‘Cats ran the clock down to 18 seconds, and the Wolverines had it at their 38.

Enter Roundtree, as he became the recipient of the spectacular 53-yard grab described above, which Gibbons promptly flew the ball thru the uprights for three, and it was 31 all and overtime was on tap.

NW won the toss and forced M to go first.  Devin Gardner finished the game with a roll out around end for a third and one, one-yard score. M-38, NW-31 and it was up the defense. They rose to the occasion, and by stopping the ‘Cats cold, preserved the win.

Both teams played well in a very competitive and exciting game that was worth the price of a ticket on a decent football day, in a beautiful setting, played when some feel a football game should be played.

It looks like Devin Gardner can carry the load, and he is a great athlete. He has restored confidence in the belief that there will be an experienced candidate for the position in the QB competition next year.  The injury to Denard has a real downside in almost all respects, but it has not hurt a thing that Devin has had the chance to acquire real game winning experience.

Hopefully Denard will be back at the helm next week and at 100%, for his last fling in Michigan Stadium.  Crowd appreciation for him should be as momentous as it is deserved.  Will we ever see his like again?

Bring on the Hawkeyes!

Go Blue!

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M-FOOTBALL 2012: MINNESOTA’S GOPHERS GO FER IT, BUT FALL WAY SHORT AS RESERVE QUARTERBACK DEVIN GARDNER EXCELS IN FIRST START: MICHIGAN 35; MINNESOTA 13.

INJURIES SIDELINE ROBINSON, BUT THE LITTLE BROWN JUG IS ON ITS WAY HOME BECAUSE OF THE WOLVERINE’S DEFENSE, AND DEVIN GARDNER AND FRIENDS.

The Michigan Wolverines football team traveled to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis St. Paul, to meet the Minnesota Gophers in their still new TCF Bank stadium on Saturday. The Wolverines were looking to improve their suddenly uncomfortably uncertain football prospects, and in so doing had to kill Gopher Coach Jerry Kill and Company’s dreams of improving their own bowl prospects with a signature win.

The Gophers must have yearned for the football respectability that a win over the University of Michigan would afford them. They were coming off their most solid win of the season, having destroyed Purdue 44-23 last Saturday. This improved their expectations and gave some probability, but not certainty, to obtaining the object of their quest. Sitting at 5 wins, and 3 Big Ten losses, they critically needed another win to go bowling.

Understandably, they wanted to lay their Gopher paws on our Little Brown Jug again. One of the most venerable and venerated “trophies” in the history of college football, it has dwelt most of its time in Ann Arbor, at home in the home of the Wolverines, and it is difficult to categorize any season that ends with its absence as a success.

Even though M leads the series 71-24-1, the Gophers have had their moments. Rickey Foggy laid a memorable loss on the number two ranked Wolverines in 1986, and for those of us in attendance, that was bitter. And there was that miserable playing surface at the Metro dome, where the fleet and shifty Tony Boles ran up the sideline for a nice gain, but twisted a knee, and lost his playing career, due it was said, to a miserable Metro dome rug. Among those 24 prior Wolverine losses there were some stunners.

The Wolverines set out, as they always do, to provide the Jug with a round trip ticket. But there were obstacles in the way, not the least of which were some aspects of the Wolverine’s team itself.

PREGAME KEYS:

When Denard Robinson fell on his elbow in the second quarter of last Saturday’s Nebraska loss, it illustrated like nothing else could how dependent the Wolverines offensive productivity is on his many athletic skills. Some had suspected that M’s offense was a one act pony, and the Nebraska game seemed to prove the point. This injury changed the course of Michigan’s offense, just as it made Nebraska change its very conservative, contain Robinson at all costs, defense. They went to a hell for leather blitzing scheme which took its toll on Denard’s replacement, Freshman Russell Bellomy.

Russell suffered the growing pains of inexperience, the slings and arrows of some fans, and too little help from his friends as catchable passes were dropped, blitzers were coming free, and nearly everything else that besets QBs in ineffective debuts, beset Russell. It was as intense a baptism and learning situation as it was dismal. Russell was 3 of 16 for 38-yards and three interceptions.

  • Could Denard shake off his injured elbow, start and play at his usual high level of performance shaking off the injury? Actuality: No, the injury has persisted. Good luck trying to find out if Denard will be ready for next week until game time. 
  • If Denard was not available, would Devin Gardner or Russell Bellomy replace him? Prior to Nebraska, Coach Hoke said in a presser that Russell was the back up, and that he was taking most of the snaps. Now the scenario had changed a little and they were saying that Devin Gardner would get more snaps at QB, and that there was competition at the position. Actuality: Devin Gardner started and after a dismal first quarter, got going. The ice breaker was a third and seventeen pass play in which he rolled to his right, circled back left, and heaved a perfect pass to Drew Dileo waiting by himself in the end zone. Devin held the ball for nine seconds before the toss. That play set the Michigan offensive wheels in motion. Devin’s career day included 12 completions, 2 TDs, and one interception. He hit 67% of his passes, hitting 12 of 18, for 234-yards. He had a very athletic run down the sidelines. 
  • Could the Wolverines run the ball with no Denard? Actuality: Late in the game, on fourth and one, Fitz broke up the middle late in the game for a 41-yard score. Almost collared, he put an arm down, regained balance and sped to six. He had 70-yards on 13 carries. Thomas Rawls ran 16 times for 43-yards, and played early in the game. Devin Gardner had 44-yards on 10 carries. Jeremy Gallon rushed twice for 21-yards. The total of 182-yards and a 3.9-yard average rush is nothing to write home about considering the struggle of the competition’s defense against the rush, but its better than some recent results. Could M throw it? Actuality: The passing was not effective in the first quarter. The offensive line did not hold its own in that quarter. The passing game was great the rest of the game. As mentioned Devin had some good runs. On his TD run, he ran as tough as any back and stretched for six . It was a remarkable play that was the game’s turning point. The receiver’s cooperated with Devin. Dileo, Roundtree, and Gallon all making outstanding catches. Gallon was a little inconsistent, fumbling a punt return, and getting a silly block in the back penalty, but he redeemed all by snaring a 47-yarder with a beautiful catch. Relatively short, Gallon showed remarkable elevation making that catch, as he has others. Gallon had four with a score. Drew Dileo had 69-yards on four catches and a TD. Roy Roundtree caught two for 64-yards with a long of 47-yards. This was a spectacular grab he as he wrestled with the defender. The catch was upheld on review. Michigan “won” all its reviews.
  • Would the defense continue to improve? Get off the field and stop big plays? Actuality: The defense did well overall. They snuffed a critical fourth and ones and were great in the red zone, once backing short and goal back up to the twenty. They held Minnesota to 144-yds rushing and 147-yards passing, maintaining another 13 point effort. Jake Ryan had nine tackles, three of which were TFLs. Kenny Demens had 10-tackles with one of those being a TFL. The Gophers were limited to 49-yards offense in the second quarter. Outstanding. But with room for improvement per Coach Hoke.  Probably he was thinking of third and long conversions, and that first drive.
  • Would special teams again be special? Too often the Gophers had good field position on KO returns, and Will Hagerup was less spectacular punting than usual, hitting 3 for 88-yards. His 29.3 average was surprising. Gibbons missed an extra point but got a re-try on a Minnesota gift, keeping his made string intact.
  • Penalties? Michigan made some stupid penalties, but Minnesota hurt themselves, once getting charged for two penalties on the same play, and an ill- advised fake kick was effectively snuffed out be the Wolverines.

BRIEF GAME AND SCORING RECAP:

The Wolverines received and it looked like a replay of last week’s troubles at Nebraska would materialize again as the offensive line and Devin struggled, tossing an early interception, but the defense proved solid and the quarter ended zip to zip. A short punt put the Gophers at the M 43 and they took full advantage of the good field position, driving 43-yards on a 6 play drive ending with a 6-yard TD pass. M-0, Minn.- 7.

The Wolverines put together a sweet 91-yard, 12-play drive featuring the 45-yard end zone reception by Drew Dileo that marked the emergence of Devin Gardner and the resurgence of the Wolverines offense. Dileo knows how to get open and he catches the ball reliably all the time, and spectacularly some of the time. The TD drought was over. M-7, Minn.-7.

The Wolverines showed they meant business by producing a 13-play, 90-yard drive. Roundtree, Funchess, and J. Robinson, caught passes and Gardner contributed a nice run. Thomas Rawls finished the drive with a two-yard TD run and it was 14-7 and halftime.

In the third quarter, Minnesota drove to the M 14, but turned the ball over on downs, and during a 7 play 86-yard drive, Gardner hit Jeremy Gallon for a 47-yard completion. M-21, Minn.-7.

In the 4th quarter Minnesota got 3 back on a 26-yard FG. The defense held them to a FG, after they had got to the M 3-yard line. A good example of the defense’s effectiveness when and opponent is in its red zone. M-21, Minn-10.

Soon Devin Gardner was at it again conducting an 8-play 70-yard scoring drive with Roy Roundtree gathering in a 47-yard reception at the Minnesota three. What a reception that was. Roy caught the ball as well as the arm of the defender, and replay verified that the call of a catch on the field was valid. M-28, Minn-10.

Minnesota produced another long drive of 13-plays and 69-yards, which ended at fourth and goal at the M 2. It was another great defensive stand. M-28, Minn-13.

Fitz Toussaint then ripped off the 41-yard TD jaunt described above and it was over. FINAL: M-35, Minn.-13.

In Coach Jerry Kill’s second season, the Gophers have been a much improved team over the one that the Wolverines destroyed in Ann Arbor last year 58-0. With five wins and three losses, they are hunting for a bowl berth in spite of playing musical chairs at QB and on the offensive line. That said, most teams have not had to pass much against them as rushing yardage has been readily available. The Wolverines rushing game again still struggled somewhat, but with Gardner’s contributions, it was enough for a very needed win.

Congratulations to Devin Gardner who had a spectacular first start, and bring on a good Northwestern team.  And thanks to you for perusing these pages.

 

Go Blue!

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M FOOTBALL 2012-SEA OF RED NO TSUNAMI, BUT ENOUGH TO DROWN WOLVERINE WINNING STREAK-MICHIGAN 9, NEBRASKA 23

OFFENSE AGAIN STRUGGLES TO SCORE TOUCHDOWNS

Michigan’s football team visited the unfriendly confines of Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium Saturday, carrying in a 3-0 Big Ten record, and intent on wresting control of the Big Ten’s Legends Division race from the grasping and capable hands of the Nebraska Cornhuskers.  They had the same goal in mind.  The evening belonged to the Huskers as the Wolverines played their worst offensive game of the year, lost the services of Denard Robinson during the second quarter, got some goofy calls, perpetrated some foolish penalties, and could not manage a TD for six consecutive quarters, even with Denard at the helm. Additionally, they went without  TDs for two more quarters with a besieged redshirt Freshman Russell Bellomy at the helm.  Bellomy threw 27 times for 43-yards, and was intercepted 3 times.  He made a nice tackle after one of the interceptions which prevented a score.

TEAM COMPARABILITIES: The teams were comparable in many respects.  Both are storied football powers.  Both have hordes of dedicated and loyal fans. Both have won multiple National Championships the latest being shared in 1997 by both.  Both have had storied Coaches such as Tom Osborne and Bo Schembechler, with Nebraska sporting a Bo of its own in current Coach Bo Pelini.

They both play in major stadiums with Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium holding over 81,000.  They both had offenses directed by mobile quarterbacks, both with prolific offensive capabilities.  It was Denard Robinson at the helm of the Wolverines and Taylor Martinez leading the Huskers.  Denard’s accomplishments are well known and oft repeated to Wolverine fans, and Taylor Martinez has led the Nebraska offense to Big Ten leadership prior to this game, with a total offense of 512 -yards, a rushing offense of 279-yards, and a scoring offense 41.6 points.  And at that point some divergence is evident.

SOME TEAM DIFFERENCES:

Michigan has primarily been a running team this season, with Denard’s legs the main weapon.   Running back success has been scattered.  They have not had an overly effective red zone offense.  Their primary scoring device lately has been the field goal. Coach Borges stuck with a basic offense against Michigan State, one reason the Wolverine’s total offensive statistics were far less gaudy than the Huskers’.  Nebraska’s was in 3rd place in the Big Ten, passing for 293-yards a game.  Michigan’s 10th place in passing was far less spectacular, but sometime the passing game has been highly effective in winning.  As when needed in last Saturday’s MSU contest.   Nebraska had run back a punt for a TD, the Wolverines hadn’t.  Michigan was undefeated in the Big Ten owning 3 victories and Nebraska 2-1, having endured a 63-38 pasting by Ohio.  Now they are both 3-1 in the Big Ten, but Nebraska’s path to the Championship game now seems less foggy than that of the Wolverines.

WHAT WAS AT STAKE:

No less than the driver’s seat in the Legend’s Division.  The winner has the tiebreaker, and thus if similar Legend’s records happen, the winner has a leg up toward the title game.  All year Coach Hoke has preached that every game is a Championship game and this one was just that in all aspects.  A win was a big step toward controlling one’s own championship destiny.

That edge now belongs to Nebraska.  The road to the championship game now may include a must win in Columbus.  Since Ohio scored 63 points on Nebraska and we scored 9, how do you expect that to go now?  It seems its going to be tough, very tough, to sled through the rest of the schedule any way but downhill, but anything is possible, especially if Denard is soon serviceable again.  We are still 3 and 1 in the Big Ten.

GAME KEYS:

  • Would the Wolverines offense be able to take advantage of the defense of Nebraska to win in case this game turned into a shoot-out? Actuality:  This game did not turn into a shootout as I expected. Again whether Denard was in or out, the only Wolverine scoring consisted of field goals.  Russell Bellomy got a rough introduction to the big time.  3 interceptions and sacked twice. The offensive line did not help him by controlling the Husker blitz  the Huskers had been careful not to throw at Denard, and the backs didn’t pick it up effectively. The receivers helped precious little on a number of occasions, dropping critical passes, although they made some nice catches.  It was obvious that Russell and his teammates were not ready for a circumstance that was well anticipated to arrive sometime in a long, rough season, Denard’s injury.  Denard did not get the ball into the end zone, but had 46-yards rushing and 55 yards passing. The game was effectively over when Denard left the field of play.
  • The book on the Huskers was that they were vulnerable to pressure defensively. Acuality:  The defense did make a number of stops, sacked the Husker QB, but the offense was so inept a win kept moving just out of reach. ould the Wolverine defense create turn overs?  Actuality: they did create some turnovers but one was fumbled back, and M’s drives stalled. Wolverine Keith Heitzman recovered a fumble near the end of the second quarter to stop a Husker threat. Desmond Morgan deflected a Martinez pass into the hands of Mario Ojemudia on a great play by both.  But the Huskers balanced this, owning three interceptions.
  •  Nebraska had a great fleet of receivers, and Martinez owned an astounding completion percentage, really improving from last year.  Actuality: The Wolverines had one interception, but Taylor Martinez didn’t do anything to hurt his completion percentage Saturday night. Taylor was the most effective QB on the field throwing 24, and completing 14 for 166-yards, and an interception.  Jake Ryan sacked him once.
  • Which team would stop big plays?  Or produce them. Actuality: Both teams limited long scoring plays fairly effectively.
  • Would the offense be able to produce enough points to stay in the game, and adjust to a more open game without turnovers or penalties blunting the effort? Actuality:  No.  Denard’s injury did not help.
  • Could special teams contribute by effectively stopping punt returns and KOs, and produce some significant yardage of their own. Actuality: They did OK.  Jeremy Gallon let a 1st half punt, a low liner slip through his hands inside the M 10, but Denard and the offense recovered from it.  Could Norfleet contribute? Actuality:  He did not break one, but made respectable yardage returning.. Would Denard again hang out some on special teams?  Actuality: Injury probably prevented any of that. Could the FG kickers hit their attempts in front of a hostile crowd? Actuality:  Matt Wile missed one, but Brendan Gibbons hit three, with a long one of 52-yards among them.
  • Could M get ahead early and hold the lead against a team that had recently produced come-back victories against Wisconsin and Northwestern? Actuality:  M went up three, but they were held to another three late, before the half, and by that time the Husker had 7 points to the Wolverine’s 6.
  • The biggest question of all was whether M could finally produce a win over a good team on foreign territory, with the same kind of winning elan and effort they have produced under Hoke at home? Actuality: They played their worst offensive game of year in a very high stakes game, and that included the time that Denard was in the game as they scored no TDs.  That is the most obvious problem an offense can have. They have now gone 8 quarters without a TD. Four quarters against a great defense and four quarters against an ordinary Big Ten defense. The onus belongs to the Offensive Coordinator to fix this situation.  He has vast experience, so maybe he can. I have to wonder whether or not this hyper conservative offense is a function of the hurts Denard has piled up over the course of the season.  The hand has been an issue before.   Russell Bellomy was not ready, and one wonders why he did not get more                             seasoning against the likes of Massachusetts etc.  The whole world knows what the Wolverines are going to do on first down, and even if it has failed the last 15 times, here it comes again.  As a result they are often in the position of third and long, facing a blitz. The OL and backs can’t handle blitzers.  All that falls into the lap of Offensive Coordinator Borges.

BRIEF SCORING RECAP:

It is easy to recap the 1st quarter.  M received, punted, and then M and N traded punches with N held to around 34 yards, and a first down.  Not a fast start, but the defense looked solid.  The quarter was not without dramatics.  A Matt Wile FG was missed after a replay reversed a stunning 55-yard apparent catch by Roy Roundtree.

Nebraska’s offense showed life in the passing game to begin the second quarter producing a 6-play, 72-yard drive for six, and M was playing from behind.  M- 0, N-7.  Coach did not let the defense off the hook in his after game comments.

The Wolverines answered with two Bandon Gibbons FGs, one for 52-yards, and one for 24-yards, and the half ended 6-7.

 Nebraska received to open the third quarter. Mario Ojemudia spoiled the drive by intercepting a tipped pass at the Michigan 46.  But Russell Bellomy returned the favor tossing a pass intercepted at the Michigan 43, and returned 53-yards to the Michigan 4. The defense held, but N converted a 19-yard FG.  M-6, N 10.

The Wolverines offense was stagnant, and a 15-yard personal foul penalty enabled a 51-yard Big Red field goal.  Now hopes are descending faster than a hot air balloon with a hole in the top, and it seems over.  M-6, N-13.  Then came a 31-yarder and it was  M-6 ,N 16.

Finally the Wolverine offense showed a little life.  Bellomy drove them

58-yards on 8 plays.  With an assist from Husker penalties.  A 15-yard Nebraska personal foul and a 15-yard unsportsmanlike were the big plays. Naturally a field goal resulted, but Russell completed some passes.    One passing 1st down, 3 TO’s, and 0 for 4 third down attempts, tells the Wolverine story for the quarter.  M-9, N-16.

Nebraska put the game away early in the 4th quarter with a final drive for 6 over the tiring M defense.  3 plays and 47-yards capped a victory in a game with a strange feel to it.  M-9, N-23.

WHERE DOES IT GO FROM HERE?

The Wolverines are still in the Big Ten race, but Nebraska rightfully will be considered the front runner, having disposed of Michigan.  They are a decent, but not a great team, and I think that they will probably lose another game, as they play away form home.  It is notable that they lost their poise for thirty yards of penalties.  That could hurt in a competitive game.

The down side is that now the Wolverines might have to win out.  Perhaps they could beat emerging Minnesota without Denard, perhaps not, but from there on, if they do not have his full services, they certainly could lose to Iowa, Northwestern, and Ohio.

It will be interesting to see how they approach next week if Denard is in dry dock.  Bellomy or Gardner?  I think it will be Russell.  At a recent press conference I asked Coach Hoke how many snaps Gardner was getting, and he said some, and made it very clear that Russell, not Devin was the backup. I think Denard will probably play next Saturday, but who knows.

The Wolverines can suffer fisherman’s remorse for a little while as a big one got away, but it will soon be back to business for them.  They won’t quit, but they will have to deal with adversity, as it is at the door.  Hopefully, there will be some coaching innovation.

Whatever the situation next Saturday, they will be journeying up to Minnesota, to harass the pesky Gophers, while keeping an eye on that Little Brown Jug.

 

Go Blue!

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Game Day- Michigan Wolverines vs The Nebraska Cornhuskers

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#20 Michigan at Nebraska

Date: Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012   |   Time: 7 p.m. CT
Location: Lincoln, Neb.   |   Venue: Memorial Stadium
TV: ESPN2   |   Webcast: Watch ESPN
Radio: Michigan Sports Network (Affiliates)

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