Category: Uncategorized

August 10^th, 2014, was a day designed to present the 135^th edition of the Michigan Wolverines Football team to the media in the morning and to the fans in the handsome confines of Michigan Stadium in the afternoon, where they could obtain autographs and photos.  Nice opportunity for kids in that regard.  A team picture is taken with the team seated together in the stadium.

The media got its stock in trade sound-bytes, photo-ops, a nice brunch, and this year, an opportunity to interview and question the head football coach, and the offensive and defensive coordinators.

Upper classman football players were available, with freshman unavailable.  Hoke said that RB Jabrill Peppers, OL Mason Cole, and  DL Bryan Mone, and perhaps another two freshmen, would get playing time.

Personally I missed having all the coaches available for interviews as I wanted information on the progress of the special teams, but Coach Hoke did stress the work special teams is putting in, including mention that Norfleet, and Peppers, among others were fielding punts.  Said having Drake Johnson back is a plus.

Mentioned the nice job that Matt Wile is doing, and Will Hagerup, and that Ken Alan is a good punter.  I interviewed Hagerup, and it is clear that he is taking his remaining time with the Wolverines seriously and wants very much to contribute as the clock winds down.  He handled the questions nicely, and appropriately.

Jabrill Peppers was mentioned by Coach Hoke in his comments as loving to compete and play football.  It seems as though he is slotted as the nickel defensive back.

Hoke indicated that the receivers are a group that has improved.  I asked DB Jourdan Lewis about Slot Receiver Freddie Canteen’s skills.  No football slouch himself, he was impressed with Freddie’s abilities and with Darboh’s skills and toughness.   It seems that Darboh is fully recovered and ready to go.

More than one mentioned Darboh’s toughness, including Coach Nussmeier.  Coach Hoke mentioned Canteen as ahead of his time.  RB DeVeon Smith was pointed out as good and tough as anyone, Hoke saying “that’s his identity”.  When I told Smith that in a later interview, he beamed and said, “I am glad he said that.”

Hoke appears happy with the seemingly interchangeable parts in the defensive backfield, feeling it will be more aggressive. There is probably not a fan that wouldn’t buy into that. Jourdan Lewis, stood out in the spring and fall, among others in this very competitive group.

The LBs will benefit from the move of Jake Ryan to Mike.  They are responsible for defensive communication and Hoke cited a couple of practice instances where that didn’t happen, but should have.  Adequate communication is highly important.

Desmond Morgan is contributing.  James Ross III.  Bolden.  More aggressive, and developing.

The efficacy of whether the division of duties will benefit the team this year seems on its way to positive proof.

Everyone wants to know at this time who the OL starters will be.  All will have a better idea at the end of next week.  For example at Center, will it be Glasgow or Miller etc.?  Replaced after four games last year, Jack has apparently done very well this year, has grown his weight, and according to Hoke has done a “nice job” with good consistency.  Glasgow will rest on the bench for Appalachian State, while considering his former shortcomings regarding team rules. He will eventually secure a solid position somewhere along the line.  Maybe at center, maybe not.   Hoke also mentioned “Mags” positively.

There are a number of interchangeable parts along the defensive front such as Glasgow, Godin, Strobel, Godin, and Wormley. and the competition continues.   Ondre Pipkins is returned, Maurice Hurst Jr., and Poggi are standing by.

Coach Hoke said again that there will be the needed running game, and the necessary toughness developed.  He indicated the change up regarding coaching duties has been positive.  To me the addition of Coach Nussmeier as a game time sideline QBs Coach is an extremely positive change.  Last year Devin seemed to be sitting on the sidelines without counsel at his side at critical game times.  Devin didn’t think that would happen this year.

It doesn’t appear that Coach Nussmeier is just dedicated to running back by committee, but wants to discover the best backs.  Coach Hoke said the “best guy” first. But if it is discovered the Wolverines have many effective horses, and it seems likely they will, you can bet they are going to use them. But they have to be good or they will be out of there.

Coach Hoke indicated that expectations never change for Michigan Football.  The bar is never lowered, and the identity of this team should be…..you guessed it: toughness on the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball..

A final note from Hoke regarding injuries:  “There are some guys that are beat up a little bit.   Delonte Holloway …he’s got a cast on his hand. We have a couple guys we held out —  Ondre Pipkins… on two-a-day days we try and not overwork. We’re doing a lot with the GPS tracking that we’re into. I think the first time around doing all that stuff, you’re trying to get some baselines and some data, and I think that’s helping us in how we go out to practice.”

While the college football scene is quickly changing:  Rutgers and Maryland now part of the B1G, Legends and Leaders are now (fortunately) defunct Divisions, being replaced by East and West Divisions, and with the NCAA losing an anti-trust lawsuit contesting payments to players for their images, and attempts being made to form unions because players are argued to be employees of the school, who knows what comes next.  Changes continue. The litigation continues.  Maybe an appropriate modern slogan should be death, taxes and litigation.  There will be solid legal answers, but not immediately.

While not the subject of litigation, the new football playoffs will be interesting. Interesting if the Wolverines can become part of them, just don’t expect them to resolve any more controversies than the current system.

Whatever the scene, the goals of the Wolverines remain eternal in spite of those or any other any changes.  The need to win the most games they can, as skillfully and honestly as they can, will always be there. I think they will give it their best effort this year.

Right now the most important game of the year will be on August 30^th according to Coach Mattison. How would another loss to you know who play in Ann Arbor?  It is not going to happen.

Team 135 will be a most interesting team to watch.

 

Go Blue!

 

 

Like the New” Scotland Yard,  the “New” Schembechler Hall is a step up over the older version, a cut above, on several levels.

First and foremost it lauds Michigan’s Football program, and its long tradition of notable players and coaches, and their accomplishments, in most interesting ways.

The most striking feature is the larger than life statue that greets visitors at the new entrance which no longer faces State Street.

Of course it is of the late and great Michigan Football Coach, Bo Schembechler.  While Bo may or may not have been Michigan’s greatest football coach (some would argue Fielding H. Yost), he is up there with the best.  He has certainly been preeminent in the modern era.  It is safe to say the modern era of Michigan Football started with Bo.

Fans today rightfully hark back to his era with awe.  It is ironic that a coach that did not seek stardom, sometimes made fun of stars (Elvis Presley), abhorred the limelight himself, and stood for the team, the team, the team, himself became an absolute Michigan Football icon.

The brass statue effectively evokes Coach Schembechler’s bigger than life personna, and it is done in stunning detail.  The head set he carries has Bo written on it, the ring he wears has an M on it, and the finely decorated watch much detail.

In the museum area, there are vintage helmets on display, uniforms, a Heisman Trophy, footballs denoting victories, and more.  The slightly serpentine display cases will allow the crush of game day crowds to weave effortlessly among the displays for the best views.

It is all done in a most classy manner, with two big electronic boards, one of which displays a big blue M that can be seen from outside at night I’m told, and one giant board that has a half dozen or so options, one of which is the usual banner that you see as background as you watch a video press conference. So the museum area can serve a number of needs and functions.  It is well thought out, and worth the time of a Michigan Football fan wanting to recall memories, or to learn more of M’s football history.

Among other things, there is a new players lounge with TVs, pool table, lounge chairs.  I failed to ask if the eight ball was scarlet and grey, but it should be.  There is a new entire football team auditorium sporting upholstered theater seats with lift up note boards- and mottos on the walls.  There are mottos for a football team to live by everywhere.  Where the office area meets the field in the Hall there is an elevated balcony to overlook the field from one end zone.

The renovation of Crisler gives a good idea of how this one was done.  There is everything but a waterfall and escalator.  It is absolutely first class.  Phil Callihan’s photos will prove the point.

If, as a cynic once said, history is but a tale well told, the same could be said of tradition.  The Michigan tale is getting well told.  This is probably because the facts support the tale.

Go Blue!

 

The Wolverines traveled to Tempe, Arizona to confront the Big 12’s Kansas State University Wildcats, in Sun Devil Stadium and played poorly on defense. They were flat and seemingly without much enthusiasm for much of the contest. Offensively, they could only produce a single late game touch down.

The Wolverine defense simply looked inept for large portion of the game, especially early. The offense was dealt a blow when Devin Gardner’s injury in the Ohio game lingered and Shane Morris had to make his first start at QB. For the most part, Shane acquitted himself well in a tough first start bowl game situation, but TDs, not field goals were needed.

The depth of the Wolverine’s pre-game fan ennui was revealed by the return of almost half of Michigan’s pregame ticket allocation. The defense seemed to catch some of that. Three first half TDs by the Wildcats sealed the game. The Wolverines were really never into it.

The bridled enthusiasm of some Michigan Fans for this Bowl was engendered by several factors. How can you get too enthused by a bowl that is called the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl? Any astute real estate subdivision developer knows enough to put exotic names on properties to sell. Nothing romantic about Buffalo Wild Wings, even if it is several steps up from the “Motor Bowl”, at least in weather. Further, it wasn’t a New Year’s Day game. Or a BCS game. It wasn’t a reward for a championship season.

Nor was it against a fabled football program.

The Kansas State team had not embodied many elite football characteristics prior to 1989, when Wildcat Coach Bill Snyder first took over some twenty or so years ago for his first stint at KSU. He has turned a program that was known as one of the worst in D-1 into a consistent competitor.

This year they arranged a win/ loss record every bit the equal of that of the Wolverines. The Wolverines managed a 7-5 (Big Ten 5-3) record, and the Wildcats also managed a 7-5 (Big Twelve 5-3). Statistically, the Wildcat and Wolverine defenses seemed somewhat similar in capability. It seemed that the Wolverines were on a par to compete with the Wildcats. These delusions proved wrong.

Here is the rub. KSU was headed up, and where M was headed no one knew for certain as they struggled mightily in November when faced with the tough part of their schedule. Up hasn’t been their recent trajectory as moral victories don’t count, and unfortunately that trajectory continued Saturday. They have now lost 5 of their last six.

The Wolverines finished a dismal fifth in the Legends Division. Now I understand a little better why. The Wolverines expected season fortunes disappointed in what was thought to be a weaker than usual Big Ten. Their fortunes were disconcertingly up and down. When the defense produced, the offense often slumbered. When the offense produced, the defense couldn’t get off the field. Special teams added to their troubles as make able FGs to win were missed (as in the PSU game).

In most games the Wolverines kept it close, but managed to lose though errors, leaky pass protection. Devin Gardner took a real beating being sacked a record number of times, and defensively maintained no consistent pass rush while M was 123^rd in the country in allowing TFLs. They were 10^th in the Big Ten in sacks allowed.

They showed a too consistent inability to run the football because of remarkably poor line play, with an apparent lack of offensive line communication and cohesion, and that condition was evident again Saturday. Saturday they could not run the football from the tail back position. The running backs ran eight times. The offense ran for 65 total yards, mainly on the legs of Funchess and Morris. The longest run of the day was a forty-yard Shane Morris gallop which eventually resulted in the Wolverine’s only TD, a late consolation score. RBs Smith and Green were not effective.  There were no holes.

During the season pass protection failed at critical times (recall Ohio State). This continued Saturday. Al Borges was inventive in trying to overcome the lack of the ability to run from tailback position. Justice Hayes started at tail back. Reverses, screens, and sweeps assisted Morris in having a fairly successful debut as M’s QB.

Morris was not the problem in this game, although the dearth of TDs was. M scored only one late in the game. Shane was 15 of 19 for 121-yards in the first half, driving to two FGs. The problem was that the Wildcats were scoring 3 TDs in the first half. The game was over at half time, if not by the end of the first quarter. He was 24 of 38 for 196-yards, no TDs and one interception.

The defense had little or no ability to stop the Wildcats. It was necessary in the absence of Devin Gardner that the defense would come to play its best game of the year. They played their worst game of the year. If not, its close.

Fitz Toussaint showed far more courage in recovering from his serious injury, than consistent yardage production, and ability to block backside rushers. Saturday he did score M’s only TD, a late consolation effort that was nice to see.

Severe yardage deprivation at the TB position obviously continued Saturday. This is fatal to effectiveness of a West Coast offense predicated on a run first premise, or probably any other offensive scheme.

In this Bowl, Mattison’s Maulers were not as efficient as, say McCartney’s Monsters of yore. The Wolverines were outplayed and out coached.

Receivers got behind M’s DBs, and big plays resulted. KSU’s offensive attack was slower than the OSU blitz, or the Wildcats margin of victory would have been even worse.

It appeared as the season progressed Coach Mattison’s zone blitz was solved. The enemy ground game was a culprit, too. The problem Saturday was not holding a lead as it has been too often this season, as they never had one.

Here’s how it went:

First Quarter: KSU went 75-yards after the opening KO, with outstanding receiver Tyler Lockert grabbing the first of his three TDs. M-0, KSU-7.

Matt Wile answered with a 22-yard FG after a drive deep into Wildcat territory. M-3, KSU-7. Shane did a nice job, but did not find the end zone. Hope still lingered

The Wildcats answered with a five play drive, culminating in a 29-yard TD to the prolific Lockert. M-3, KSU-14. The handwriting was beginning to appear on the wall in stone. We could not contain them.

Second Quarter: Again, the Wolverines could not answer with a TD. Morris journeyed on another long drive, hitting 9 of 10 passes, but the drive fell short of the end zone. Matt Wile hit a 26-yard FG. M-6, KSU-14.

Again Lockert proved productive, and M’s defense proved unproductive, as Lockert snagged a third TD, an eight yard pitch and catch. M-6, KSU-21 at the half.

Third Quarter: Neither team scored. The Wolverines punted after each of their first five possessions of the second half. KSU missed a makeable FG. Michigan’s defense got a little edgy, and Jake Ryan forced a fumble recovered by Mario Ojemudia late in the quarter. Nothing came of the opportunity.

Fourth Quarter: KSU hit a 22-yard field goal to make it M-6, KSU 24. Things were looking bleaker after their 12-play 60-yard drive. The Wolverine defense could not stop them. A Morris interception was returned to the M 7. Two plays later the ball crossed the plane. M-6, KSU-31. Shane Morris then went on a 40-yard jaunt, and Fitzgerald Toussaint ran it in from three out. Justice Hayes caught the two point conversion from Jeremy Gallon. Final M-14, KSU-31.

Ho Hum Bowl or not, this game was an important one for the Wolverines to win. Make no mistake, the Wildcats were the better team Saturday and deserved to win, but it is a nasty surprise the Wolverines could not make it competitive. The problems that have plagued this team, offensively and defensively all season, were not corrected.

The absence of Devin Gardner was contributory, but not an excuse. The defense was clueless.

The good feelings surrounding the program after the Ohio State near miss have evaporated, as has the good feeling and optimism that was created after Coach Hoke’s surprisingly successful first season as Michigan’s head man.

Wins have declined each of the two years after Brady Hoke’s fast start three years ago. The Michigan coaches needs to gaze long and critically in the mirror in the off season to locate and remedy its persistent weak points. Team 134 has been instructive by demonstrating real concerns. 

Into Coach Hoke’s fourth year, Team 135 has to have answers, or the downward spiral will continue.  A tougher schedule looms, and by the fourth year of a program it is reasonable to expect improvement.

Win or lose, I want to thank those who will never put on the winged helmet again. Certainly they did not want to leave under the shadow of a loss, and have endured much: Jabreel Black, Drew Dileo, Jeremy Gallon, Brendan Gibbons, Jareth Glanda, Thomas Gordon, Erik Gunderson, Jeremy Jackson, Joe Reynolds, Michael Schofield, FitzGerald Toussaint, Quinton Washington, Courtney Avery, Cam Gordon, and Taylor Lewan. Thanks for your effort, skill and all you endured. I hope you find success and satisfaction in life outside and after college football.

Jeremy Gallon distinguished himself in Saturday’s game passing Braylon Edwards to set a single season receiving record at Michigan. He earned 1,373 yards to go with 89 catches and 9 TDs.

Thanks for all you gave, Gentleman, Good Luck and….

Go blue!

The Wolverine’s annual football collision with their neighboring and vaunted south of the border team, happened Saturday in the friendly confines of Michigan Stadium. The ricochet will be heard for a long time.

This season Michigan had stubbornly maintained an offensive malaise, particularly since its game with Indiana. M simply had not consistently run the football this season, moved the chains to rest the defense, converted sufficient third downs, or scored TDs in sufficient quantity to overwhelm anyone. Sometimes TDs were as scarce as moisture on the desert. This is just a partial list of offensive difficulties this past season.

In a turnaround that surprised everyone, the offense performed very productively against the Bucks, featured innovative play calling most of the time, and showed some ability to run the football (152-yards on 33-carries). Derrick Green did most of the damage, lugging 12 times for 47-yards. De’Veon Smith had 7 carries for 57-yards. Derrick Green and third down back Fitz Toussaint each had a TD.

The offensive star of the game for the Wolverines was Jeremy Gallon as illustrated by 9 catches for 175-yards, and a TD. Early in the first quarter Jeremy took a catch 84-yards to the tOSU two. He now has had receptions in 36 straight games. His only bad play of the day was a transcontinental pass back to Gardner that sailed well over Devin’s head. He is now the number two receiver in M history for yardage.

Tight End Jake Butt buttressed his fine day with five catches for 85-yards and a TD.

During the season there were goofy penalties, numerous interceptions, fumbles, bad play calls and field management, as the offense laboriously worked down the Division ladder. There were also a few miscues Saturday and they always hurt. Neither that, or a first half melee, got in the way too much, as football mimicked hockey briefly.  One Wolverine and two Bucks were thrown out of the game, with one Buckeye too expressive gesturing to be consistent with good sportsmanship.

Saturday, while a Devin Gardner fumble was lost, he did not take his now usual beating from the team that led the nation in sacks and TFLs. He had been taking nasty beatings in previous games. It was not all easy for him Saturday, but easier. He still ended up in a foot in a boot after the game.

At times this year, the offense had played down to the level of their competition. The Wolverines were far too egalitarian in that they sometimes played the same unproductive way offensively whether the competition was elite or not. Note Akron, Connecticut, Penn State, Michigan State, and Nebraska.

This Saturday the offense gave the Buckeyes all they could handle, hitting the Bucks with 603-yards of total offense, 41 first downs, eight of 14 first down conversions, and 7 of 7 red zone conversions. They were 32 of 47 for a whopping 451 passing yards, with four TDs, and but 3 sacks.

Over the season, it seemed that in spite of sometimes contributing to the losses with poor pass protection, non-existant effective pass rush, and the failure to stop big plays, the defense had shown improvement over the course of the season, while the offense deteriorated in efficiency. The defense was clearly not what it wanted to be yet, but there was a sense of personnel development that was not easy to recognize on the offensive side of the ball. This is still true but the inability of the defense to corral the OSU running game was the difference in the game.

The tables had turned around Saturday. Now the offense was not failing to score TDs, and was not laying the defense out to dry. Carlos Hyde skinned the hide from Michigan’s rushing defense. He had 27-carries for 229-yards, a TD,  and a fumble. The Bucks totaled 393-yards on the ground. Braxton Miller had three TDs. Michigan’s defense was inconsistent, making stops and then letting receivers get behind DBs to convert either TDs or third and longs, or otherwise move the chains.

Michigan’s pass defense was abysmal, although OSU only completed 6 of 15 for 133-yards, but that included a 53-yard TD and another TD.

Earlier in the season the Wolverines had been striving to be in the competition for a Legends Division title, and have a shot in the Big Ten Championship game. Instead they sank to near the bottom of the Division.  In his post game presser Hoke stated that they had not won the Big Ten championship so this season had to be considered a failure, like any other where they did not win it.

Earlier I thought about the only good thing about that was they avoided playing the foreign team twice. But, looking at Saturday’s results, that might have been fun. A win Saturday could have saved M’s season. They came ever so close, coming within a razor thin margin of producing a victory over the Bucks. About an improbable a victory as Bo’s in 1969.

During the season, sometimes special teams misfired, and sometimes they produced. Saturday, Wile put several KOs out of the end zone, but late in the fourth quarter as Ohio was trying for the game winning score, he hit one too hard. It went into the end zone, and came out to the OSU 25, erasing no time off the clock.

Also a spectacular KO return by fleet Dennis Norfleet was well on his its way for 6, when the yellow flag fluttered, and the Wolverines were called for a very stupid penalty that negated a certain TD.

This season, the The Wolverines seldom had defense, offense, and special teams all at peak production in the same game. On Saturday, the defense, not the offense, was the most consistent problem, as the suddenly robust offense traded places with the suddenly problematic defense.

As so often this season, there were late game fireworks. With only 2:20 on the clock Ohio scored on a 9-yard Hyde run to go ahead 35-42. This answered 14 straight points by the Wolverines.

Michigan replied with an 11-play, 84-yard drive to make it 41-42. Dileo, Fitz Toussaint (29-yarder to the OSU two) contributed catches. Devin Funchess scored on a two yard TD receptions and it was 41-42 with about thirty seconds left. Devin’s Gardner’s two point conversion pass to Drew Dileo was intercepted. An onside kick was recovered by the Scarlet and Grey and it was over.

I do not question going for two to win. Gardner was now gimpy. The fact that Gibbons was unavailable due to injury in practice made no difference per Hoke, citing Wile’s competence. He said they had planned all week to try to win it if a similar circumstance arose. Hoke on his certainty about going for two points: … “No, like I said, we weren’t doing a good job slowing them down. We wanted to go win the football game.”

On Michigan’s effort to get into a position where one play would have won it:
“We talked about it all week. We’ve got to play our best football. We also want to take the game into the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter we got it there and thought the kids played awfully hard the entire day, and in the fourth quarter we played even better.” There will be questioning of where the right play was called for the two point conversion. It didn’t come close to working.

They had given up three points by earlier attempting a fourth and short conversion which failed. In retrospect, those were the winning points. Some will question this call, too. I liked the aggressiveness, but…

Brief scoring recap:

First Quarter: M struck first, and right away with a bubble screen to Jeremy Gallon that got to the OSU two. Devin ran it in to cap a 99-yard drive. M-7, OSU 0.

An 53-yard OSU TD pass made it 7-up. M produced a scoring drive with Jake Butt collaring a 33-yard pass to the OSU 22. Fitz Toussaint ran four yards to put the Blue up 14-7. Then Braxton Miller ran scored on a 53-yard run. It was 14 up.

Second Quarter: Jeremy Gallon caught a 17-yard TD pass. M-21, OSU-14. Funchess leaped over a defender on a 17-yard pass to enable the score. Braxton scored late in the second on a 21-yard run. M-21, OSU-21 at the half.

Third Quarter: OSU grabbed the lead on another Braxton run of 3-yards. A Devin Gardner fumble helped enable the 55-yard OSU drive. The M defense could not contain Miller. M-21, OSU-28. Late in the quarter the Buckeyes struck again on a 22-yard TD pass. M-21, OSU-35. At the time it seemed it might be over.

Fourth Quarter: Things were looking bleak, but Drew Dileo snagged a Gardner pass of 11-yards to make it 28-35. Desmond Morgan recovered a fumble on OSU’s 41. With just 5:01 left, Jake Butt caught a 2-yard TD pass and it was 35 up. Carlos Hyde put the Bucks up for good with a 1-yard run. M-35, OSU-42. A Devin Funchess 2-yard TD left M a point behind, and as already described, M went for a two point conversion which was not converted resulting in a final of M-41, OSU 42.

While it would have been sweet to win this one, and it could well have been won, the Buckeyes have a gifted offense, which perplexed our defense. If Braxton Miller had an arm as good as his legs OSU would definitely be the best team in the country. Their play against Michigan did not prove them to be so Saturday. This was hardly a game in which they proved their superiority, while it did show their vulnerability.  OSU’s presence in the national title game will be elusive for them.

They will go on to Indianapolis to combat the Spartans in the Big Ten title game.. Will offense or defense prevail? While I can’t wish either one of them success, it ought to be an interesting game.

As for Michigan, they acquitted themselves well on this occasion. Their backs were to the wall and they had skill and fortitude enough to give the Buckeyes all they could handle. Although some of the Bucks are braying how they knew they would win if it went to OT, OSU let two late drives come within a point at crunch time. Despite their expected post game bravado, it is likely some of the Scarlet and Grey had to change their Depends.

Players, coaches, and fans all needed at least a competitive game. It stood to reason that Urban Meyer would want to run it up, if possible, to beautify his team’s chances at the National Championship game. The departing seniors, such as Lewan and Schofield, nearly slew the dragon, and they did recapture and restore some Wolverine pride.

Close moral victories may be meaningless, but they are far easier to live with than out and out butt kickings.

Whether or not Coaches Borges and Funk are entirely off the hook for the next season may now depend on the Bowl game results. I never thought Coach Hoke was in danger of any early release from his contract, believing he would get to serve it out, and likely renew. But Coaches Borgess and Funk have been in a more susceptible category. If they can produce good bowl performances, much of the noise will likely go quiet for a time.

The fifteen extra practices that the Bowl affords ought to help the many youngsters that comprise much of Team 134. The near miss will help restore fan appreciation of a 7-5 regular season, if there is a bowl win.

Team 134’s regular season is history. If it hasn’t produced as many wins as expected, it has still been very interesting. The seniors have endured unprecedented coaching changes and global schematic changes. They have faced change and uncertainty to become solid Michigan men.

Thanks for reading this, and as always,

Go Blue!

The Wolverines rolled into the University of Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium Saturday for a rare noon start on a cold and windy 23 degree day.  They were an underdog seeking to secure a much needed eighth win this season. That would have put them above 500 in Big Ten wins at 4-3, and would have helped solidify M’s bowl prospects.

They lugged this season’s considerable offensive baggage with them to Kinnick, but did not display it graphically until the second half. The offense needed the benefit of two first half interceptions of the Hawkeyes to produce short field situations, which facilitated posting 14 of their 21 first half points . The Wolverines intercepted three times during the game, and turned the first one into a TD. But the third and last interception, in the second half, was wasted.

The Wolverines were held scoreless in the second half where they simply could not move the sticks, or take advantage of a Hawkeye miscue. Credit Iowa’s defense to be sure, but M’s own offensive ineptness also contributed a great deal. The lack of an consistently effective running game, and consistently iffy pass protection is mind boggling. Most teams will lose games if producing a puny158-yards of offense. That the game was close was assisted greatly by M’s three interceptions.

Lack of field position stressed the defense in the second half, as the offense often could not move the sticks.  Unfortunately the D flailed around to no avail on Iowa’s first possession of the second half. Iowa hit a 55-yard TD pass, and it was suddenly Michigan 21, Iowa 14, and the air was whistling out of the Maize and Blue balloon on both sides of the ball. It was a game changer.

This was especially true on the offensive side, as the Iowa defense was suddenly recharged. The defense subsequently made a few good plays, especially in the form of Frank Clark, but they could retrieve a lead. Iowa now played over their mistakes. Clark had 2.5 tackles for loss. Raymon Taylor made a great diving interception which was reviewed with the interception being sustained.

The consistently inconsistent offense displayed that in spades in the second half.

The usually very sure handed Devin Funchess dropped a few critical passes. Devin Gardner turned the wrong way on a hand off to Derrick Green. Gardner fumbled on the sideline (the result of a rake by the Hawk’s alert defense, and Devin’s lack of ball security) with minutes left in the game. The recovery of Devin’s fumble by the Hawks ended M’s chances once and for all.

Devin threw for 98-yards, completing 13 of 28 and two TDs, with a long of 28-yards. Although his rushing yardage was limited to 12 net yards on 12 attempts (21-yards of losses subtracted), his rushing helped-sometimes. Devin Funchess nabbed only one pass for 2-yards and dropping several others. Jeremy Gallon had a TD catch, as did Tight End Jeremy Williams.

M’s offensive line had still not jelled in regulation against Northwestern, and provided only a basically effective running game in Evanston. The stunning last second reprieve provided by the field goal team, and the suddenly revitalized overtime Wolverine offense, did not hide the fact that the Wolverine’s offense has struggled remarkably since putting up 63 on the Hoosiers, and since Michigan State discovered the benefits of stunting A gap blitzes.

To recap offensive woes: Zero TDs against MSU. Zero TDs against Nebraska. Zero TDs against Northwestern in regulation. Zero TDs against Iowa in the second half. That’s 14 full quarters.  That  hurts their chances of achieving many of this season’s goals, even if they are gaining experience. The opponent’s defense overwhelming the M offense has happened too often this season. In the second half, Gardner was often hurried, although the stats say he was sacked only once. He sometimes couldn’t get his eyes down field as he was the subject of attack. No other offensive football team in the nation has lost as many yards this season as the Wolverines.

The OL did rise to the in the first half, enough to put up 14 points.

The miracle finish at Northwestern let Team 134’s character and fortitude shine through in three exciting overtimes, but the continuing inability of the OL to open running lanes, pass protect, and score against good defenses,continues to be a pertinent issue.

Iowa won the battle of statistics, as well as the game, by running and passing for 359-yards, to M’s 118. Iowa mistakes kept the score close.

First Quarter
M received, stalled, but the defense immediately put points on the board, as the Wolverines collared the Iowa QB and deflected a pass that Brennan Beyer intercepted.  He ran it in from the Iowa 7 for six. All EPs were converted on the day. It was M-7, Iowa 0.

Iowa’s FG holder mishandled a snap to prevent a three, but late in the quarter the Hawks evened it up on a five-yard pass, and it was 7-up. The defense could not hold the lead.

Second Quarter:
Then came a defensive stop on 4^th down for the Wolverines, and a Blake Countess interception. In perfect position, Blake nabbed his 5^th interception of the year and zipped to the Hawkeye 28. On a beautiful play, Gardner ran right, and stopping abruptly just before the LOS, tossed a 2-yard TD pass to a wide open A.J. Williams for his first collegiate catch and score. M-14, Iowa-7.

Taking advantage of a short field, M produced a 47-yard drive ending in a 9-yard laser shot to Gallon for a TD. M-21, Iowa-7.

With only 4-seconds remain in the half. Iowa got a 60-yard kick return, eventually resulting in a muffed Hawkeye FG attempt. Halftime score: M-21, Iowa-7.

Third Quarter: The second half belonged to the Hawkeyes. After receiving the KO, it took just three plays for the Hawks to score. The dagger was a 55-yard pass from Rudock to Smith, and old mo was theirs and never relinquished, with a quiet crowd exploding to life. M-21, Iowa-14.

The offense could not move the ball at all and Matt Wile got tired punting five times. A Ramon Taylor interception was wasted by the offense. The Hawkeyes didn’t waste time as the quarter ended.

Fourth Quarter:
Shortly, it was 21-21 on a 9-yard TD run.

It was over at about the six minute mark, as Iowa kicked the game winning 34-yard FG. Final M-21, Iowa-24.

M’s last ditch effort was depending on the capable legs of Devin Gardner.  Gardner struggled for every last yard, and the ball was stripped. Coach Hoke said afterwards he wished Devin had just stepped out of bounds. Not stepping out of bounds and Devin’s habit of not covering up the ball proved fatal to any last second field goal hopes, and another overtime game. Make no mistake, this was not Devin’s best game. Also, make no mistake regarding the effort and courage he puts into his role in M football.

It is remarkable that in the 11^th game of the season that obtaining rushing yardage would be a question. That converting any third down, short or long, would still be problematic. That pass protection is still looks it was built like a sieve.

Is the problem play calling? Sometimes it appears to be. Is it a failure to take what the defense gives, a stubborn adherence to a philosophy? Something along the line of its my strategy, and I’m sticking to it? Is the scheme too complicated? Or is it poor technique by the offensive line, or their execution of the plays? If the execution is bad, scheme, or little else matters.

I suspect when a play fails, it may be a combination of factors. Scheme, technique, play calling, player execution, talent level, lack of experience, field conditions, even equipment failures such as wrong cleats, or injuries can all contribute. All are responsibilities of, and in the purview, of the coaches.

There is no excusing, hiding, or diminishing the mess that is the Wolverine offense. Lack of experience no longer is an excuse in the 11^th game. In season tinkering with the offensive line continued through the Iowa game, and has not worked.

There is also no question whose responsibility that is. The responsibility of determining the how, the why,  and what to do to fix it, belongs to the boss, Head Coach Brady Hoke, and to OC Al Borges, and OL Coach Darryl Funk.

It will be the off season before the situation can be repaired. It appears there has to be some soul searching at that time.

I am not uneasy that Coach Hoke will not be able to solve the problem, and that he will have the will, the time and the opportunity to do so. The immediate concern is what can they do now, this late in the season?

Because next is the test by which Michigan footballers choose to measure themselves.

They of the expensive tattoos, and expansive record of consecutive wins, and a very storied, and only slightly stained program (according to them) are visiting.

I hope not to see a stadium filled with the Scarlet and Gray because M fans pedaled tickets because of the team’s struggles.

No doubt the Wolverines will be fired up, and will do their best to defend their pride, and ours. Still, the name Biakabutuka echos enough to wish he was still on the roster this season.

Hope to see you there.

Go Blue!