Michigan 33, Minnesota 10
[Fuller]
For the second time this season they turned on the lights at Michigan Stadium, and for the second time this season nature showed its unabashed disapproval. Unlike last month, though, Michigan avoided throwing caution to the wind and, for the most part, avoided throwing at all. Michigan’s running game put up 371 yards, a performance Michigan fans haven’t seen the likes of since…well, I’d probably have to ask the people I saw in front of the stadium with commemorative Rose Bowl canvas tote bags.
The ominous been-here-before feeling that hung over the stadium lasted three plays. Demry Croft hit slot receiver Phillip Howard for 25 yards on a busted Josh Metellus coverage on 3rd-and-7; they then rushed for no gain and passed for eight before Maurice Hurst tipped a Croft pass and nearly intercepted it himself, forcing Minnesota to punt.
Brandon Peters got his first career start for the Wolverines and, on their first play from scrimmage, hit Donovan Peoples-Jones for an easy eight yards. From there Karan Higdon carried for 47, a Khalid Hill dive converted a 3rd-and-1, and Peters hit Sean McKeon on a throwback screen for 20 yards and a touchdown. The drive accounted for 32 of Peters’ 56 passing yards on the night, including his lone touchdown. Michigan was largely able to shelve the passing game before the midpoint of the first quarter.
Minnesota responded with a well-executed drive, first hitting Howard—who was again uncovered in the slot—for 16 before calling nine consecutive rushes, including a 10-yard toss to Rodney Smith that Brandon Watson closed hard on but was unable to keep out of the end zone.
Two plays later, Karan Higdon needed one cut and a nice seal of the edge from Khalid Hill to go 77 yards for a score. The ominous feeling had lifted, replaced by an offense averaging 18.3 yards per play.
By the midpoint in the second quarter, Don Brown had made his adjustments, Khaleke Hudson had already racked up seven tackles, and Chris Evans had started to trade long runs with Higdon. Evans put up back-to-back runs of 18 and 60 yards to put Michigan up 20-7, and Michigan finished the half with 266 yards on the ground; Higdon had 163 on nine carries, while Evans had 111 on six.
[Upchurch]
Michigan came out flat after halftime, going three-and-out on their first two drives of the third quarter. Minnesota took advantage of a short field and a couple of successful runs from their backs to creep into Michigan territory. Croft then dropped back to pass on 2nd-and-10. Hudson went over a cut block and lived up to his “Hitman” twitter handle, ripping down Croft’s arm and forcing a fumble that was recovered by Chase Winovich. The backs alternated carries again, Peters never had to look off his first read in Peoples-Jones to get 10 yards on a dig on 3rd-and-6, and Higdon then twisted his way into the end zone from five yards out. Michigan’s score off the turnover put them up 27-7 and essentially ensured that the Little Brown Jug would stay safely in Ann Arbor, spared from having to endure another Stanley Cup-esque tour of the land of 10,000 lakes.
The rest of the game played out in uniform fashion for Michigan. Don Brown’s unit was no longer surprised by Minnesota’s sweep action, while the offensive line continued to open holes for the running backs. Cesar Ruiz stepped in for the injured Mike Onwenu and showed that he could pull and target well in the run game in his first career start; he was yanked from the game after a pass-pro mishap resulted in a sack of Brandon Peters. The rest of the line had similar difficulties with Minnesota’s stunts, but they more than made up for it with their ability to gap-block; counters, power, and dives were enough to put Minnesota away.
The most eventful bit of the second half came at the end of the third quarter, when a Minnesota player appeared to punch a Michigan player after the play. Minnesota’s Donnell Greene was called for unsportsmanlike conduct and tossed from the game, as was Josh Metellus. Metellus acquired his penalty for reasons that remain unclear; asked what explanation the referees provided, Harbaugh said “it really didn’t have a lot of logic to it” but that it involved there being a scrum and Metellus walking toward it; he followed that with a low “womp, womp.”
[Upchurch]
Michigan’s defense, led by Khaleke Hudson’s 6.5 TFLs and 2 sacks, looked like it usually does: excellent 90% of the time, in need of adjustment 5% of the time, and cursed in coverage 5% of the time. The story tonight, though, was Michigan’s offense emphatically demonstrating that they, too, have an identity, a new usual.
“Looked up at one point and the statistics looked like we were Air Force. Thought we were Air Force the way we were running the ball,” Harbaugh said. And poor damn Don Brown thought he was done with them weeks ago.
November 5th, 2017 at 7:41 AM ^
Peters looked right pissed after he got straight up demolished by that big-ass, fat DL. The play we thought he was concussed on. (Admit it - we ALL thought he was done on that play...) I think he was pissed at the obvious missed assignment, and he should have been. But from that point on, his throws were junk - they were all a mile short.
And if Ruiz got pulled, then JBB should have been pulled after he matador'd someone right into Peters. Ugh... But we know what happens when JBB gets pulled.
Can we get to next years tackles, please?
November 5th, 2017 at 8:09 AM ^
November 5th, 2017 at 8:28 AM ^
I'm not sure why that hit wasn't reviewed for targeting. It looked like it was crown of the helmet to chin.
Oh wait. Big Ten refs are generally incompetent, that's why it wasn't reviewed.
November 5th, 2017 at 8:49 AM ^
Nope. It was a good, clean, old-fashioned slobberknocking hit. Guy came clean and totally destroyed the QB on a dream rush. The helmets were side to side, and DT's shoulder pad went right under the chin. Guy landed on top of Peters, full weight - textbook murderation.
That is why Ruiz got pulled.
November 5th, 2017 at 10:41 AM ^
November 5th, 2017 at 10:47 AM ^
November 5th, 2017 at 12:51 PM ^
I saw Shane Morris for a moment. It was not a nice feeling, that play.
November 5th, 2017 at 7:48 AM ^
Bring on McCaffery.
November 5th, 2017 at 8:29 AM ^
November 5th, 2017 at 8:09 AM ^
Peters will get more comfortable as he gains experience. Kids got more fire than people realize. The o-line still have no clue how to pick up a stunt and better figure it out. The good thing is they are all big and strong and the talent is there. I would think practicing against our d-line they would be able to pick up blitzes and stunts.
Anyways Peter's needs to get more chances next game. I mean my god was Minnesota ripe for a play action pass. In the end we were running into a nine man box.
If we had a passing game the games would be over a t halftime. We passed on the first drive and it looked quite easy to me. Michigan is a top five team if they had a passing game. Really hopes it develops.
November 5th, 2017 at 9:53 AM ^
November 5th, 2017 at 8:38 AM ^
November 5th, 2017 at 9:23 AM ^
November 6th, 2017 at 6:31 AM ^
Either way, Iowa showed that there is a way to not only beat OSU but absolutely dominate them.
November 5th, 2017 at 8:44 AM ^
November 5th, 2017 at 8:55 AM ^
That Army defense must be good.
November 5th, 2017 at 9:28 AM ^
They run the same offense as Air Force. That helps.
November 5th, 2017 at 12:09 PM ^
November 5th, 2017 at 12:22 PM ^
were fast, ran hard with great vision, and broke tackles. There were good holes, and they made the most of them. Michigan improving, and imho, our best game of year last night.
Looking forward to getting Perry, Issac, and Walker back in for the physical stretch run ahead.
November 5th, 2017 at 9:10 AM ^
November 5th, 2017 at 9:54 AM ^
November 5th, 2017 at 11:43 AM ^
If that's the worst you've seen, I really do envy you.
November 5th, 2017 at 7:17 PM ^
November 5th, 2017 at 9:13 AM ^
Beredson had a hell of a game. His block and reaction on the TD pass to McKeon was about as good as it gets.
November 5th, 2017 at 9:17 AM ^
November 5th, 2017 at 9:22 AM ^
Don't think so... The vast improvement in the run game is based on power - gap blocking. Frey is the inside zone expert. The gap blocking from the interior line is all Drevno.
November 5th, 2017 at 9:58 AM ^
November 5th, 2017 at 12:14 PM ^
November 5th, 2017 at 12:20 PM ^
Maybe there's Chris Balas speculation to the contrary, but he's not going to be forced out.
November 5th, 2017 at 10:30 AM ^
It's going to be a pretty sight when this team plays a full game to its potential. I guarantee you they will do it once this year and I just hope it is November 25.
November 5th, 2017 at 11:45 AM ^
Yes, hopefully we cash in that game one of the last two weeks.
With our luck, we will use our perfect game next week @Maryland, when it isn't needed. In 2016, Maryland was arguably our most complete team game as well (Rutgers was significantly worse than MD last year; MD was a bowl team).
November 5th, 2017 at 11:45 AM ^
November 5th, 2017 at 10:37 AM ^
November 5th, 2017 at 11:00 AM ^
Welcome to the passing party!!! A little late is fashionable, right?
Yeah, more than just the QB. The OL has been horrific all year in pass pro, and the WR group is the youngest I think I've ever seen playing on a routine basis. Not sure that either of them will improve much in the next couple of weeks. Maybe by the bowl game we can see some noticeable improvement, after all of the bowl practices. But it needs some rudimentary work the next couple of weeks, before the UW game.
If Peters can hit a TE up the seam on play action, life would be just a bit easier against UW and OSU...
November 6th, 2017 at 12:59 AM ^
November 5th, 2017 at 10:54 AM ^
Really hoping that pass protection gets better asap, otherwise I feel that OSU will break Peters in half.
November 5th, 2017 at 11:14 AM ^
November 5th, 2017 at 12:24 PM ^
If you want to see more O'Korn, then yes, more pass plays should have been called.
November 5th, 2017 at 1:52 PM ^
November 5th, 2017 at 12:34 PM ^
I get the narrative- wet conditions, running game was destroying Minnesota, young QB, injuries to WR’s ect ect.I think the bigger issue was our lack of pass protection. That hit he took on the last sack was scary.
November 5th, 2017 at 5:35 PM ^
He went over the middle to Schoenle in the 2nd, just missed him by a yard on a hurried throw. He hurried the throw because Matador Bushell-Beaty let the DE get a cushioned fall to ground. Cushioned by Peters' body. Pass Pro needs work in practice before it can be applied in games. We don't need Peters getting killed, he's the only QB that can play right now.
November 5th, 2017 at 8:45 PM ^
November 5th, 2017 at 11:51 AM ^
going both ways..10-2 as the passing game under wraps until Wisconsin then a home win over a deflated Ohio St..or 8-4 with losses to W and OSU its just impossible to gauge either way?
November 5th, 2017 at 12:34 PM ^
Hudson was unstoppable in this game. One of the best defensive performances Ive ever seen in a winged helmet.
He reminds me a little bit of Ian Gold, but faster....and Don Brown uses him in more creative schemes than they used Gold in back in the day.
November 5th, 2017 at 12:56 PM ^
November 5th, 2017 at 1:17 PM ^
we finally got a fumble recovery. It seems like every fumble has come right back to the fumbler.
November 5th, 2017 at 2:26 PM ^
how the hit on Peters was different than the one Mo Hurst got flagged on a couple weeks back for "driving the QB into the ground." Looked to me like BP got "driven" quite emphatically.
November 5th, 2017 at 3:06 PM ^
November 5th, 2017 at 5:38 PM ^
Yeah. I don't think that rule applies... At all.
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