Iowa 14, Michigan 13
A Murphy's Law game.
Any number of individual plays could've changed the outcome. Most of the ones that come to mind involve Wilton Speight, who had his worst game of the year, then had injury added to insult at the end.
Speight wasn't alone in his struggles, however. Jehu Chesson missed a chance to bail his quarterback out, instead getting a third-down pass ripped from his hands by Manny Rugamba, costing the Wolverines a chance to put the game away. Khalid Hill missed an assignment that led to an early safety and lost a fumble returning the opening kickoff of the second half. Chris Evans was the only running back who could consistently get anything going. The playcalling, personnel usage, and late-game clock management will be nitpicked to death this week, and not without justification.
While the defense played well on the whole, they couldn't contain Akrum Wadley, who accounted for 167 yards on 28 touches. And, yes, there were multiple questionable calls by the notorious officiating crew led by John O'Neill.
"Not every little thing is going to go our team's way," said Jim Harbaugh. "To win, you've got to make it go your way. We didn't."
Michigan still has everything to play for, but they've lost all margin for error if they want to keep their Big Ten title and playoff dreams alive. Before they even get that far, though, they have to figure out what went wrong tonight. This game should not have been close, let alone a loss, but a number of underwhelming performances occurred in conjunction at the wrong time. There's no sugarcoating tonight.
November 13th, 2016 at 12:34 AM ^
November 13th, 2016 at 1:17 AM ^
November 14th, 2016 at 9:18 AM ^
...because this is a professional coaching staff, as opposed to the previous two staffs. if you think one loss (home or road) is a counter-indication of that you're an idiot.
November 13th, 2016 at 12:46 AM ^
November 13th, 2016 at 12:02 AM ^
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November 13th, 2016 at 12:28 AM ^
that and the defense not being able to stop the run and very bad special teams play. Special teams was a killer. A fumbled kick off return to start the second half and very short punts really sucked. The last punt was like 32 yards.
The OL play was basically hot garbage I think. I would watch the game again to verify, but I don't want to. I will wait for the UFR, but my guess is that it will show that Braden, Bredeson and maybe Cole had bad games.
November 13th, 2016 at 12:50 AM ^
November 13th, 2016 at 1:43 AM ^
Thrilled is too strong (remember, Iowa could only muster 14 points against Rutgers and Minnesota), but I would've been satisfied.
Offense, special teams, playcalling lost us this game with some assistance from the refs.
November 13th, 2016 at 3:09 AM ^
think we gave up 12. I know it's nitpicking but when discussing the defense I only count the ones the defense was on the field for. Regardless, I agree with your assessment. I really thought the offense was going to put up at least 40. Honest and truely believed it.
November 13th, 2016 at 1:03 AM ^
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November 13th, 2016 at 1:12 AM ^
playcalling was fine, Speight missed 10 or so wid eopen touchdown passes, just go 10% and we win.
November 13th, 2016 at 1:56 AM ^
November 13th, 2016 at 2:00 AM ^
November 13th, 2016 at 9:14 AM ^
just be around "how did we look so bad and barely beat Iowa."
November 13th, 2016 at 11:52 AM ^
November 13th, 2016 at 12:03 AM ^
We just need some trick plays and more aggressive play going after the punter on special teams. Also, Peppers should always keep the ball when he's in on the Wildcat, that way the defense will never be able to predict what will happen. If Jehu Chesson could play with a blindfold and put novacaine in his hands before kickoff that would help too.
November 13th, 2016 at 12:05 AM ^
November 13th, 2016 at 12:03 AM ^
Harbaugh lost his mind in this game, being dead-set on forcing a very obivously off-kilter Speight to try to win it. Just take what was there and this was a simple win.
Being stubborn cost Bo dearly in some of his most promising seasons. This looked a lot like that.
November 13th, 2016 at 7:18 AM ^
What was "there"? I did not see anything "there" to be taken. We had a hard time running the ball and they were all over our receivers on the short routes. Deep ball was open but we missed them all. They played great Defense and made it very difficult for us. Needed to make a play to get a first down and we didn't do it. Darboh and Chesson both had shots to make a tough catch to win the game and didn't get it done tonite.
November 13th, 2016 at 12:03 AM ^
I give up. You win, universe.
November 13th, 2016 at 12:39 AM ^
Best comment tonight
November 13th, 2016 at 12:04 AM ^
November 13th, 2016 at 12:21 AM ^
I advise you to drink heavily.
November 13th, 2016 at 8:19 AM ^
November 13th, 2016 at 12:29 AM ^
November 13th, 2016 at 1:27 AM ^
November 13th, 2016 at 12:04 AM ^
November 13th, 2016 at 12:15 AM ^
November 13th, 2016 at 12:06 AM ^
With the caveat that the game should never have been that close, I am so sick of this referee crew shit all over us. A ghost facemask, and then they give Iowa that last first down when Beathard bounced two yards. He was at least half a yard short when his knee hit and they spotted it where he landed. This is a pattern throughout football of officials being fucking incompetent and costing teams games. Clemson got the shaft earlier. I thought Speight had turned a corner and I hope to God they play angry to close it out, I just don't see it.
November 13th, 2016 at 12:14 AM ^
Honestly don't think that facemask call changes anything. Michigan couldn't stop Iowa at all on that final drive, so another 15 yards doens't change a whole lot. Iowa likely picks that up anyways since they ran out the clock at the end to kick the FG.
Outside of that? Bullshit calls flowed both ways. Only reason Michigan was in a position to win was becasue of a bullshit running over the snapper call.
November 13th, 2016 at 12:53 AM ^
November 13th, 2016 at 12:53 AM ^
November 13th, 2016 at 9:26 AM ^
November 13th, 2016 at 1:05 AM ^
November 13th, 2016 at 12:08 AM ^
Yes, Speight missed some deep balls, the playcalling was very questionable at key moments, the refs made some bad calls, but I'm pretty sure this is James Comey's fault, that motherfucker.
November 13th, 2016 at 12:10 AM ^
he missed plenty of short balls too
November 13th, 2016 at 12:08 AM ^
November 13th, 2016 at 12:14 AM ^
We'll be lucky to stay within 2-3 scores of those guys.
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November 13th, 2016 at 12:20 AM ^
November 13th, 2016 at 2:26 AM ^
plz don't make this twitter. i already deleted that.
November 13th, 2016 at 12:32 AM ^
November 13th, 2016 at 12:48 AM ^
Speight does not. He looked good against UCF and Maryland, and this blog acted like he was Tom fucking Brady. Barret has already whooped our ass twice and is looking to go 3/3.
November 13th, 2016 at 1:48 AM ^
November 13th, 2016 at 2:13 AM ^
Sorry JT Barrett is 240590x better than Wilton Speight.
November 13th, 2016 at 2:27 AM ^
November 13th, 2016 at 9:29 AM ^
November 13th, 2016 at 12:25 AM ^
November 13th, 2016 at 12:40 AM ^
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November 13th, 2016 at 12:31 AM ^
Because there is no chance that a team has a bad game once in a season?
I'd tell everyone to stop drinking and go to bed, but whatever.
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