Category: Football

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M FOOTBALL 2012-WAS LAST SATURDAY’S SLUGFEST AT MICHIGAN STADIUM MSU’S BOWL GAME?-WOLVERINES 12, MSU 10

M’s 900th WIN, AND BRADY HOKE’S FIRST WIN OVER MSU IN TWO ATTEMPTS, WAS A DEFENSIVE STRUGGLE RESULTING IN A SATISFYING, EVEN IF NAIL BITING, LAST SECONDS WIN. 

The Green and White played somewhat like this was their Bowl Game, and a year- end Bowl for them may now be beyond reach, even if, as Lansing newspapers said, it was their best game of the year. Their options are becoming more limited with every loss. 

After rolling into Michigan Stadium expecting to teach the Wolverine’s Football team another lesson in humility as they had the last four years, they got a loss. 

Humiliation of the Wolverines had become a Spartan expectation, with Coach D’Antonio tactlessly pointing out early this year that: “We’ve beat Michigan the last four years so what is the threat?”  

Spartan players recently ripped Denard for his lack of success against them using Twitter as their club.  Denard has breached 10,000-yards of total career offensive production, but he has had little success against the Spartans, with an average of 3.3-yards gained against them prior to Saturday.  Not much for Denard to crow about there, and he hasn’t.  In contrast, consistently, the Spartans do not need much ammunition to crow, and they have. 

Game Photos

The Wolverines were able to restore some of that concern Saturday in the friendly confines of an energized Michigan Stadium.  Seeking a spot representing the Legends Division in the Big Ten title game in Indianapolis, this was a game with bigger meaning than just Michigan/Michigan State bragging rights.  It left Michigan’s title quest intact, and destroyed that of an arch competitor by giving the Spartans another Big Ten loss, bringing them to three Big Ten losses, while the Wolverines remain undefeated in the B1G. 

STILL A SPECIAL GAME 

The pregame hype out of East Lansing this year has been at an unexpected low in comparison to some prior years.  Possibly because early season hype regarding visiting the Rose Bowl etc., has evaporated along with MSU’s national ranking as unexpected losses were acquired-Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Iowa. This lack of yak is not the usual pregame stance for Michigan State as on many occasions they have had a tendency to laud their team (talk smack) as much before the game as afterward. When they were usually losing, the smack was always pregame. 

Rest assured hard feelings by fans remain on both sides of the ball, and they go back quite a ways and are sincere.   It goes back long before this happened, but MSU fans felt spurned and aggravated by Michigan who opposed their entry into the Big Ten in their Biggie Munn era.  Michigan fans hated MSU Athletic Director Smith who voted for Ohio State to go to the Rose Bowl after the M/OSU 10-10 tie in the Bo era.  Bo threw a magnificent rage that M fans considered righteous indignation. The Spartan’s 1990 tripping of Desmond Howard in the end zone as he attempted to score a late game winning TD facilitated a 27-28 victory over a highly ranked M team, thus igniting M fans in the Moeller era. The 2001 “clockgate” game at Spartan Stadium, enabled another late MSU victory (24-26) in the Carr era that was enabled by homer timer Spartan Bob, who displayed official timekeeper’s deceit.  

This competition has been a monument to hotly contested football as much as founded and unfounded billingsgate, but there has been as much bilge as attends some nasty political campaigns, and it is every year, not every four. 

Michigan State usually plays well and aggressively in this contest regardless of prior season performances, and they always play hard. Very hard.  Sometimes they are a little overly enthusiastic as harmful penalties hurt them.  Some consistently rough play results in suspensions.  An example was Sparty Gohlston’s week’s suspension last year for punching Wolverine Lewan.  His twisting of Denard’s helmet did not draw official wrath, but certainly was not unnoticed by the TV cameras. 

Once in a while a Michigan player has gone awry in this game, too.  I remember our DE Cecil Pryor kicking a State player who was on the ground at the end of a play many years ago. They correctly threw him out.  But the recent stuff has had more Spartan ownership than Wolverine. 

No Michigan player or Coach was critical of the style or intensity of Spartan play this year before the game.  They just said football was a rough game and said that is why they like to play it.  

It is amazing that both the Spartan defensive coach Narduzzi, who lauded the rough play after the game last year, and their head coach, recently publically challenged this year’s officials to stop the rough stuff.  Say what?  To a Michigan fan this is like Al Capone challenging the Chicago cops to enforce prohibition.  

In spite of all these things, or maybe because of them, this is always a special game.  Its not Ohio, but its close in intensity.  Players and fans often know each other.  Coaches are recruiting the same schools and players.  Everybody lives with the results for an entire year. 

PREGAME KEYS:

  • Would the Wolverines be physically over matched again this year? Actuality:  The Wolverines at least matched the Spartan intensity.
  • Could the Wolverines keep their cool, and not make jittery mistakes, especially early, as has happened from time to time in Denard’s career? Actuality:  For the most part the Wolverines were poised, and they never gave up.  In crunch time, they crunched.  Denard did toss up a late 2nd Quarter interception.
  • Taking an early lead would be of immense value to the Wolverines. Actuality:  While they did lead 6 zip at the half, they did not take a significant lead until the last 5 seconds of the game.  
  • Could they establish an other than Denard running game?  Would it be Toussaint or Rawls?  Fitz has not been as productive as he was last year. Actuality:  As usual, DRob was the leading ground gainer with 96 net yards on 10 carries, and a long of 44.  Vincent Smith had one carry.  Thomas Rawls did not carry.  Fitz Toussaint had 52 net yards on 10 lugs, with a long of 38.  M had 52 carries for a net yardage of 163-yards with a 5.1 average.
  • Could they stop the run and would the ground game belong to the winner? Actuality:  Yes, MSU gained only 112 net yards on 31 carries.  L. Bell had 26 for 68 net yards.
  • Would the Wolverines have a successful passing game?  Actuality: Drew Dileo was outstanding.  He made the tough catches when they were needed including the one that enabled the winning field goal.  He snagged 4 for 92-yards.  This was his most significant game as a Wolverine, and it made Wes Welker comparisons live on.  The rest of the receivers caught one or two, including a 22-yarder by Jeremy Gallon.  The receivers totaled 14 for 163-yards.
  • Most importantly of all, could the Wolverines possess the ball and avoid interceptions, and fumbles?  Are they now vaccinated against turn overs?  Actuality:  Probably not, but the most significant TO of the game was owned by the Spartans as Jordan Kovacs picked one off just as it appeared the Spartans were driving to seal a victory.
  • Would special teams contribute? Actuality:  When four field goals provide all the scoring in the game and the winning margin special teams have done something right.  Will Hagerup  hit punts for 218-yards averaging 43.6-yards.  Matt Wile had 2 for 77-yards.
  • Would the seemingly effective Michigan secondary be able to cover effectively?  Actuality: State caught 21 passes for 192-yards, and one TD.
  • Could they stop big plays and Sparty trickeration? Actuality:  They did not and it almost bit them.  Sparty significantly advanced its cause with a gem of fake punt run for 26-yards. At the time it seemed to seal the Wolverines fate, enabling a 90-yard drive. 
  • Would one of the least loved trophies, the Paul Bunyan, finally return to the warmth of his Ann Arbor home?  He is home, and intends to stay awhile. 

GAME AND SCORING SUMMARY 

The 1st quarter was a defensive standoff and a boring quarter if one was ever invented.  The offenses moved with the alacrity of refrigerated molasses. 

The second quarter did not yield the expected Wolverine TDs, but fortunately the Wolverines collared a pair of field goals by Gibbons and Wile.  Gibbons for 24-yards and Wile (Coach Hoke said he has the stronger leg) for 48-yards. 

The half ended M 6-MSU 0, and there was a reasonable expectation that since the Wolverines received to start the half, half time adjustments would get the offense moving and keep the defense effective.  Didn’t happen. 

The offense stalled and the defense allowed the aggressive Spartans to produce an 80-yard, 10-play drive culminating in a two-yard TD pass.  M-6, MSU 7. 

The teams traded punches for most of the third quarter with little result. 

Suddenly with a couple of minutes left in the third, a dull ball game got interesting, as Michigan began to drive.  Jordan Kovacs intercepted an MSU pass to stop what could have been a game winning MSU drive.  Instead M got an opportunity. Robinson ran, Roundtree caught a 15-yard pass, and the drive continued into the 4th quarter, finally stalled and Brandon Gibbons hit  a 21-yarder and Michigan held a precarious lead 9 to 7. 

MSU produced a drive of 8-plays and 90-yards, enabled by the fake field goal, and hit a FG of 21-yards.  M-9, MSU 10. 

Denard than skittered for 44-yards, and it looked like a score was in the bag. A holding call and an inability to convert a third down attempt added to the drama as M punted at about 3:07.  

I thought it was likely over, but the defense forced a three and out.  Jake Ryan caused a fumble that MSU recovered, but it stopped their drive. 

At the 2:00 mark, M had the ball and began a drive.  Vincent Smith had a 12-yard run, MSU contributed a 5-yard off side penalty, Denard ran for a short 1st down, and pass to Fitz Toussaint was completed but he was thrown for a loss, and the drive was stalled, but suddenly the Wolverines had a field goal chance. Brendan Gibbons struck a 38-yarder which angled a little to his right. I wondered at the time if it would be wide right.  I had a good look at it as I was standing by the left upright.  It was a happy moment when that baby sailed through.  After the goal, 5 seconds remained on the clock.

Coach Hoke on execution of the final drive … “You teach those situations, you talk about those situations. I really thought that Denard (Robinson) handled it well. He ran the offense, the other guys hurried back to the line of scrimmage. As far as Drew (Dileo) goes, he isn’t the biggest guy in the world, he’s not the fastest, but I can tell you one thing. Drew Dileo is a football player and he is a tough, little football player.”

I was standing next to former Wolverine center Steve Everett, who was also elated, and I got quite a celebratory bear hug and back slapping there.  Like the rest of us Steve was mighty happy to see his Wolverines prevail, but probably more so.

It was a wild finish to what for most of three quarters had been among the dullest offensive games I have seen. 

What a beautiful and impressive scene it is from ground level in M Stadium.  There are bands blaring on either side, scoreboards loud, activity everywhere, at times it seems to border on bedlam, and a collision sporting competition is in progress.  I did not think the old bowl could be improved, but it has been.  Even the lights enhance the ambiance. 

But the Wolverines have to leave all that behind and travel to Lincoln, Nebraska to try to husk the Huskers.  They may not face again this year defense on the level of Alabama, Notre Dame, and Michigan State but all their remaining schedule can bite the Wolverines.  Stopping that productive Husker offense will be the next challenge.

Go Blue!

 

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Game Day- Michigan Wolverines vs The Michigan State Spartans

Michigan Helmet
#23 Michigan vs. Michigan State

Date: Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012   |   Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Michigan Stadium   |   Location: Ann Arbor, Mich.
TV: Big Ten Network (Channel Finder)
Radio: Michigan Sports Network (Affiliates)

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(4-2, 2-0 Big Ten)
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Game Notes  | Depth Chart 		 All-Time Series
U-M leads, 67-32-5Last Meeting
Michigan State 28, Michigan 14
(10/15/11 – East Lansing, Mich.)		 Michigan State
(4-3, 1-2 Big Ten)
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Michigan State Celebrates at the Big House

 

Michigan State Celebrates with the Paul Bunyan Trophy

 

Michigan State Fans Taunt Wolverines

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The Michigan QB Dilemma, More Kirk, less Picard

Michigan Offensive Coordinator Al Borges loves to diagram offensive plays for hour on end.

He’ll sit drawing up play after play with multiple options, against different defensive looks and tendencies looking for the perfect call to give his offense the advantage.

His ideal quarterback is someone tall, who can survey the field and pick apart the defense, exploiting the mismatches that Borges identifies.

Denard Robinson isn’t his ideal QB.

Since Hoke and Borges arrived they’ve done their best to put Denard Robinson in a box. A lesser player would have grown frustrated by now. But Denard soldiers on.

Sometime its helpful to look a problem through a different lens.

This week is the 25th anniversary of Star Trek: The Next Generation and once again fans are debating incarnation of Star Trek i best.

One of the most heated arguments is which captain is best, Kirk or Picard?

Kirk is the gambler, flying by the seat of his pants, surviving and thriving by natural skill and gut intuition.

Picard is the calm, cool, and collected manager, carefully analyzing every situation.

Both have their strengths, but you would never confuse one with the other.

It’s clear that Borges is a Picard fan.

Given the choice of a playmaker versus the game manager at quarterback, he’d go for the later every time.

But that’s Denard.

Denard is at his best when plays break down he chooses to make things happen with his amazing speed.

You can’t draw that up on the play sheet. You can quantify it. You just acknowledge the truth.

Next year Al Borges will get his game manager at quarterback.

But for now he needs to let Denard be Denard.

No defensive coordinator fears Denard’s passing game.

But him running free in the open field is a nightmare.

Borges needs to realize that’s it’s been a mistake trying to stop Denard from being the playmaker.

He needs to make adjustments before this season ends up like an odd numbered Star trek movie.

 

 

 

 

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M FOOTBALL 2012: EVERY BIG TEN GAME A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME-MICHIGAN 45, ILLINOIS 0.

By Andy Andersen

FINALLY MSU, THE BIG TEST, IS NEXT!

The Wolverines avoided what well might have been a “trap” game in pounding the University of Illinois late Saturday afternoon.  Sandwiched between what was considered at the time to be a very good Purdue team in last Saturday’s Big Ten opener, and just before the game of the year against the Green Meanies from the East, Illinois was considered easy pickings by some. Quite probably because of their lackluster 2-4 win/loss record prior to arriving in Ann Arbor, with an offense generally considered to be ineffective, and a talented but underachieving defense. 

Game Photos

The Wolverine Coaches and player spokesmen all reiterated the mantra cited in the title, which is another, if more elegant, way of stating the oft used coach speak of “one game at a time”.  No Michigan State talk was allowed prior to the Illini’s appearance, although some media tried mightily to evoke a response regarding the Spartans, but only succeeded in trying Hoke’s patience on the subject.  When Hoke was asked about the subject post Illini, the answer from him, and the players was tomorrow. 

Saturday’s results proved the team must have realized the wisdom of that counsel, and must have realized that their opponents would bring their “A” game, if the Wolverines allowed it, no matter the hype or lack of hype preceding the competition.    

No doubt some M players remember participating in that dreadful 2009 loss at Illinois which deep sixed a season, 13-38.  It was a watershed game which helped destroy the Rodriguez regime by setting up a disastrous season, and some certainly remember the remarkable game a year later that broke scoring records in M’s triple overtime win, 67 to 65.  While it was entertaining and an exciting game to watch, both teams proved that defense was a thing of the past for each of them that year.   

 

It is remarkable how far M’s defense has come from 2009 to last Saturday.  And a great deal of that improvement is in the form of a determined defensive Wolverine, Jake Ryan.  Credit him with 7 solo tackles, and four assists, for a remarkable total of 11 tackles, and 4.5 tackles for loss.  He is a remarkable blend of speed, agility, and the desire to hit.  But it is his motor that may be most obvious.  Jake takes his football seriously.  LB Kenny Demens played well, gathering in an interception, making 3 solo tackles with 5 assists for a total of eight tackles.  

Desmond Morgan’s stats were almost as good.  He has been assigned the Legend’s Number 48, which honor’s a great Wolverine center, Gerald Ford.  That Desmond calls Grand Rapids home as did Gerald Ford, is a coincidence. Quinton Washington is seriously contributing as are the DBs.    And so is Greg Mattison, obviously providing extensive experience and grey matter to the defensive success.

The 13 points allowed in the three prior games seems valid proof of team defensive progress.  Before Saturday the Wolverines led the Big Ten in pass defense, and were seventh nationally.  I haven’t checked, but I assume they still do.

Coach Hoke on the defense…”The guys were well prepared. Part of that was Kenny Demens on his interception. We had worked the route. He had seen the formation. (Linebackers coach) Mark Smith did a great job with him, teaching. He jumped the route. He knew what the play was going to be. It tells you about the kids and the teachers they have as coaches, who are doing a great job with them. I think we played hard. We will look at film tomorrow, or even tonight, and we’ll know a little bit more. But, I thought we were a very physical football team.”

PREGAME/POSTGAME

If there is a lack of Illinois offensive capability, it was not in the form of Nathan Scheelhasse as he is their bright spot, as he was in 2010, and prior years.   He can throw to their best receiver, Ryan Lankford, and there are other offensive players that can help the experienced Big Ten quarterback.  But that offense  was generally thought to not be enough to whip the Wolverines at home.  Prior to Saturday, the Illini were outscored 82-28 in the second half. Actuality:  The Illinois nightmare continued, with the Wolverines putting 45 to zip on the board.  Now it is 127 to 28. 

Nathan has put up tons of points in his career, but Illinois is in the first year of Tim Beckman’s head coaching tenure, and there is a new offensive coordinator. Some Illini are missing former Head Coach Ron Zook. Actuality:  Scheelhasse’s influence on the out-come of this game was limited because of injury in the second quarter.  Both Illini QBs managed to throw 7 completions for 29-yards.  On the ground they had 37 attempts for 105-yards.  Their receivers dropped catchable passes. 

Coach Beckman has been beleaguered in his earl tenure at Illinois.  First for trying to benefit by gathering strays from the distraught Penn State herd of incumbent players when they were first beset by their program’s well-advertised misfortunes. More recently he was caught with a “chaw” during a game, which is strictly verboten. He has apologized, but the Big Ten remains firm, and will not install spittoons, brass or otherwise, on the sidelines, even in the cause of sanitation.  Actuality:  Saturday’s loss to the Wolverines did little to enhance his coaching resume at Illinois.  It appears the Illini are struggling as much as any team in the Big Ten, right now, and probably more. 

Their defense is experienced and talented, but its players have been labeled underachievers this year.  Would they break out this game?  Actuality: The Wolverines ran 51 times for 353-yards and 4 TDs.  Robinson got two of them, Rawls one, and Toussaint got one. The Illinois defense did not break out, but continued to struggle the entire game.  Underachievers still describes their defense. 

There was speculation as to the type of passing game M would deploy.  Would they try to throw downfield and abandon the basic passing game they used against Purdue, or use both.  Actuality: Jeremy Gallon streaked 71-yards to a TD in his only catch early in the game. Roy Roundtree had a single 33-yard catch, and could have had more had he not dropped a couple. Gardner, Toussaint, Dileo, J. Robinson, Funchess, Esterline and Rawls all had one catch.  Funchess scored on an 8-yard catch near the corner of the south end zone, and a thing of beauty it was.  Seldom used Dylan Esterline had a 7-yard catch near the end of the game, and his teammates were still patting him on the back as they approached the tunnel. 

Could they run by getting Fitzgerald Toussaint revved up, or would they in desperation try Thomas Rawls earlier in the game. Hoke made a reasonably plausible excuse for Fitz’s non production at West Lafayette stating Purdue chose to stop Fitz, and let Denard go because of Fitz’s 170-yards against them last year.  Time will verify or deny the plausibility of that premise. That Fitz would start is reinforced by the stated policy of Coach Borges which endorses one designated tail back to get most of the carries, but that doesn’t mean the clock isn’t ticking for Fitz as crunch time is now. Actuality: Fitz started and both Fitz and Thomas Rawls had carries.  Fitz gained 66-yards on 18 carries and had one TD. Thomas had 9 carries for 90-yards, with a 63-yard TD run.  I hope we see Rawls more in short yardage situations as Fitz did not score twice on one series from about the two.  Vincent Smith did not play, suffering from a tweaked hamstring. 

Coach Hoke on the improved play of the tailbacks:  “(Thomas) Rawls is a difficult guy to tackle. In the spring, he punished us a bit and in fall camp. I think Thomas is improving and he’s really grasped more of the offense, when you get into protections and passing games. Then you get to Fitz (Toussaint). There were two runs, to be honest with you. I thought that he maybe danced a little bit, but there were some runs where he really went vertical, north and south, made a cut and went downhill.” 

Will there be offensive line issues?  Did they adequately run block, and pass protect?  Avoid penalties?  Actuality:  They were adequate, and workmanlike. 45 points helps prove it, as does 527-yards of total offense.  

THE GAME IN BRIEF: 

The Illni received and the Wolverine defense slowly forced a punt.  On their 5th play Jeremy Gallon snared a Denard pass and galloped 71-yards for the game winner.  This reception was Gallon’s career long and longest scrimmage play of the season.  M went up 7-zip.  

Then the Wolverines produced a 65-yard, 9 play drive, ending in an 18- yard field goal. 10-zip. 

After Illinois missed a 50-yard FG, Denard went magic and produced a 33-yard run and a TD from 6-yards out. M 17-Illini 0.  Denard injured a hand during the quarter, but returned for the second half. 

Denard celebrated his return to action by engineering a six play drive that ended with Denard scampering 49-yards for his second rushing score.  This was a remarkable run featuring his ability to escape with quickness, agility, and speed. M 24-Illini 0. 

Early in the third quarter,  Kenny Demens stepped up and grabbed his first career interception on a magnificent play in which he appeared to recognize exactly which route was coming. Denard hit TE Devin Funchess with a high and highly accurate pass that Devin collared, and managed to get the necessary foot down in bounds. M 31-Illini 0. 

The Jake Ryan freight train then caused a fumble, and Mario Ojemudia recovered. Fitz Toussaint finished with a dive into the end zone.  M 37- Illini 0. 

Thomas Rawls rolled round right end for a 63-yard score, and that’s all there was.  Game over.  M 45- Illini 0. 

This was another good step up the championship ladder with disaster averted by a wide margin, on a rainy, dreary, cloudy day, with a constantly slippery football due to conditions.  The weather did not hamper the Blast From The Past. 

Again it was a Denard Robinson day. With 41 rushing TDs, Denard became the eighth player in NCAA history to rush for 40 TDs and throw for 40 TDs. 

Many off the bench played.  Among them were offensive players Esterline, Kwiatowski, Williams, Mateus, Burzynski (Barnum injured), Gunderson, Bellomy, Kennedy, Hayes, Kerridge, Glascow, Houma, Jackson and Reynolds. 

Defensively they were: Clark, Ojemudia (fumble recovery), Pipkens, Ash, Black, Heitzman, C. Gordon, Bolden, Ross, J.Wilson, and M. Robinson (a leader on special teams he blasted down a return man before the ball got there, thereby achieving the moarre spectacular penalties of the day). 

This is great for both team morale and individual technique. 

Finally, the slug fest that is the Michigan State game is at hand.  They will roll into Ann Arbor smarting from their usual perceived slights from the University of Michigan, and their most recent loss at Iowa.  Last year MSU won its many close games.  In a couple of instances that has not been true this year.    

It is up to the 133rd edition of the Wolverines to keep it that way.

 

Go Blue!