Florida State 33, Michigan 32
Dalvin Cook lived up to his billing. [Bryan Fuller/MGoBlog]
Sometimes you make it a game despite yourself and the human lightning bolt that is Dalvin Cook and then a freshman receiver who looks like a tight end turns a dumb play into a game-swinging kickoff return and a 5'11" guy beats Jourdan Lewis for a touchdown because sure why not and a series of improbable events occur and a laugher turns into a heartbreaker.
For most of the game, Florida State showed why Michigan is on the wrong side of the playoff bubble. Michigan's offense couldn't overcome a shaky offensive line to put any sort of consistent attack together, mustering only 83 first-half yards. Florida State's couldn't either but for the notable exception of Cook. The future Pro Bowl running back had 141 yards and a score on 16 touches. Nyqwan Murray exploited a busted coverage for a 92-yard touchdown. The rest of the FSU offense had 22 yards on 17 plays. The Seminoles held a 20-6 lead at halftime.
Neither team did much of anything in the third quarter until Kenny Allen, for seemingly the umpteenth time, backed up FSU deep in their own territory with 1:12 left in the quarter. Facing second-and-ten from his own eight-yard line, quarterback Deondre Francois rolled right to escape pressure and threw a pass directly to Mike McCray, who ended his short trip down the sideline with a dive into the end zone to make it 20-15. Michigan had pulled within a score for the first time since the opening quarter, setting up one of the wildest finishes of this college football season.
Chris Evans, flying. [Fuller]
Cook once again pulled the game almost out of reach, breaking a 71-yard run on third-and-22 to set up a three-yard touchdown run by his backup, Jacques Patrick. After the teams traded punts, Wilton Speight capitalized on great field position with a third-and-goal touchdown pass to Khalid Hill. The Wolverines returned to the end zone less than four minutes later, forcing a three-and-out before Chris Evans juke-posterized an FSU safety on a 30-yard touchdown scamper. Before you could say "Captain America," Michigan had taken a 30-27 lead.
The ensuing kickoff looked as innocuous as could be. FSU freshman Keith Gavin fielded Allen's boot a couple yards deep in the end zone, surveyed the field, and paused. In football, when you pause on a kickoff return, you kneel for a touchback. That is the only play. Except for this play. This play, Gavin belatedly took off despite the protestations of fellow return man Kermit Whitfield, burst through a tackle, and was finally dragged down 66 yards later by Jourdan Lewis.
The winning touchdown. [Fuller]
Cook got the Seminoles to the 12-yard line on a screen pass. Two plays later, Murray rose over Lewis to haul in the go-ahead touchdown. As if this game wasn't frantic enough, Michigan blocked the extra point and Josh Metullus, filling in for an injured Jabrill Peppers, brought it all the way back for two points. With 36 seconds left, down a point, Michigan had the opportunity to give this meandering game one final twist.
Instead, the Seminoles held strong, intercepting a desperation fourth-and-ten heave by Speight forced by instant—perhaps too instant—pressure by DeMarcus Walker.
It may be coachspeak cliché, but it's true: Florida State made more plays. The better team, at least tonight, won the game. Cook showed Michigan what they lack: an offensive playmaker that makes opponents sigh with relief every time the ball goes elsewhere. That, or an elite quarterback, can overcome a porous offensive line. The Wolverines had neither.
Maybe next year.
December 31st, 2016 at 1:39 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 31st, 2016 at 12:52 AM ^
The most heartbreaking season imaginable.
Not the most disappointing, but definitely the most heartbreaking.
Very proud of this team; feel horrible for the seniors more than anyone.
Forever and always, GO BLUE!
December 31st, 2016 at 1:06 AM ^
2005 - a.k.a. the "Year of Infinite Pain" - may have been even worse. We lost five games in the fourth quarter that year.
But this one stings because it was really close to being a special season. Not quite national-championship good (we wouldn't beat Bama), but should have been a Big Ten title and playoff year.
December 31st, 2016 at 1:12 AM ^
Sorry, in 2005 we were coming off back to back Big Ten Championships. Not meeting expectations is a lot easier when you have recent success to hang your hat on. Also, the hope for the year after was a lot higher than it is now.
The entire context of 2016 makes it much worse.
December 31st, 2016 at 1:18 AM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 1:34 AM ^
enough pieces were there. Busted plays on defense and missed throws/shoddy playcalling cost us. These are not talent issues.
December 31st, 2016 at 2:57 AM ^
And that's what makes it hurt too. With the talent and the schedule, this season was setup for great things. And they fell just short of that. With a big time reload ahead next season, its going to be a lot of "what if's" until the next good chance comes around in 2018 or so.
And I'm not writing them off next season at all -- football is a weird sport -- but its sure as hell going to be a much steeper mountain to climb than it was this year.
December 31st, 2016 at 9:23 AM ^
The schedule doesn't look demonstrably harder next year; home games against MSU and OSU offset going to Wisconson and PSU. I actually think Wiscy takes a step back from this season, as Chryst seems like a step back as a HC. They'll have to reload on defense heavily, but UM played five top-15 teams this year and went 3-2. Looking at next year's schedule, I don't see it being any tougher than that.
December 31st, 2016 at 3:23 AM ^
enough pieces aren't there. The OL is not championship caliber. The play calling is not to blame. The play calling looks much better when the OL executes simple assignments. Play calling is very tough when they can't run block or pass block.
Bredeson in particular appeared to have a rough game.
December 31st, 2016 at 8:24 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 31st, 2016 at 12:34 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 9:00 PM ^
was watching the game where Michigan's OL couldn't run block or pass block. Since that was clearly the case, then the play calling doesn't matter too much, does it. Football is won and lost on the LOS. They ran a screen for no yards, they ran flares to the RB for no yards or lost yards. They ran quick outs that got defended. They couldn't run the ball.
December 31st, 2016 at 1:36 AM ^
Couple plays here and there, UM playing in the playoffs with a shot to beat everyone except Bama. Most heart breaking season in history.
December 31st, 2016 at 12:53 AM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 12:54 AM ^
SHUT UP.
December 31st, 2016 at 3:58 AM ^
The reason no one is jumping on the offsides like some of the blown calls vs osu, is I don't think too many people think we were just about to break a big play if we only had one more chance...
That was a disappointing performance any way you slice it. Yes, losing Pep very late in the planning obviously hurt, but that was not an intensely competitive circling of the wagons in his absence.
December 31st, 2016 at 12:57 AM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 1:00 AM ^
With 3 new oline starters (not that the outgoing seniors were all world) I don't see the oline taking a big leap forward next year. Hopefully in 2018 when we should have 4 returning olinemen we'll finally start to see an oline that holds their own, if not wins the battle of the trenches against the better teams.
December 31st, 2016 at 1:37 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 31st, 2016 at 3:10 AM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 3:29 AM ^
of the OL are Hoke recruits. I think they improved dramatically in the last two years, but they hit their ceilings at slightly above average.
December 31st, 2016 at 8:28 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 31st, 2016 at 10:56 AM ^
and the offensive staff are what we hope they are, having 4 returning olinemen who are all Harbaugh recruits and have only been coached in college by Harbaugh and his staff should mean something. If it doesn't...then we'll need to question whether this staff is the staff we want to continue to coach at Michigan.
December 31st, 2016 at 9:03 PM ^
can't necessarily make that jump. Michigan may have a very good OL next year. They will be young for sure.
December 31st, 2016 at 12:57 AM ^
On the positive side, so many plays this season the team was so close to pulling things out only to have it slip away. Maybe that means the team is close to becoming really, really good and just need a few more pieces?
On the flip side to that, waiting for the next year improvement to elite status frustrates as the "next year" is eight years in the making.
December 31st, 2016 at 1:07 AM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 1:12 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 31st, 2016 at 3:18 AM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 1:13 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 31st, 2016 at 1:26 AM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 1:35 AM ^
we shouldn't have to use up the lucky fountain on those teams.
December 31st, 2016 at 1:38 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 31st, 2016 at 3:31 AM ^
Harbaugh? Michigan has lost close games since I started watching them back in the mid-1970's.
December 31st, 2016 at 7:41 AM ^
Been a Michigan for over 40 years myself. There have been some (actually a lot of) tough losses along the way. I suppose that's the priveledge of playing at the highest level. Three losses by a total of 5 points - all coming down to the wire - is tough to take but Harbaugh definitely has things trending in the right direction.
December 31st, 2016 at 4:06 AM ^
Master Baits, I'd ban you if I could for that. Seriously. Brian? Seth? Ace? LSA?
"Michiganing"??!! Can this be allowed to stand?
December 31st, 2016 at 10:18 AM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 3:48 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 1:07 AM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 3:27 AM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 1:13 AM ^
if we could keep all the pieces this year. Then adding a couple pieces would make us elite. Unfortunately, we lose the whole starting defense, starting pass catchers, and half the O line.
We probably have two more years before we can reasonably hope to be better than this year.
December 31st, 2016 at 1:15 AM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 11:42 AM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 2:06 PM ^
Great summary.
December 31st, 2016 at 3:15 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 3:53 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 4:38 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 5:33 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 7:43 PM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 1:00 AM ^
December 31st, 2016 at 1:01 AM ^
Lewis had an off game and is in part responsible for 2 touchdowns. I say that because if Dymonte didn't stick with the guy running a post pattern on their long TD, he would have been even more open. Lewis had to stick with the guy running up the sideline.
Taco was beastly again.
I'm looking forward to some fresh meat on the OL.
Today showed how we desparately need playmakers on the outside. Nothing open downfield.
Ugh. oh well.
Comments