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2016 indiana

Michigan 20, Indiana 10 Comment Count

Ace


De'Veon Smith's diving touchdown put Michigan up for good. [Eric Upchurch]

For 40 minutes, Senior Day at Michigan Stadium couldn't have gone much worse. The offense had nothing going with John O'Korn, who looked hesitant and flustered in Wilton Speight's stead. Indiana led 10-6 and looked poised to upset Michigan for the first time since 1987.

O'Korn had thrown for all of 46 yards when he dropped back on third-and-eight from the Michigan 36 with five minutes left in the third quarter. Indiana got instant pressure and O'Korn broke the pocket, jetting down the sideline for 30 yards, Michigan's longest play from scrimmage to that point.

"The opportunity presented itself. I thought I was going to score," O'Korn said, cracking a smile. "Then I got tackled from behind."

De'Veon Smith would not be denied in such fashion. He broke through the line, fended off a tackler, and scraped the ball along the top of the pylon for a spectacular 34-yard diving touchdown.

Following a short Indiana punt against the wind two drives later, Smith burst untouched into the secondary, and tiptoed down the sideline past a dominating block from Kekoa Crawford for a 39-yard score.

"Grinding out first downs. Grinding meat. De'Veon," said Jim Harbaugh, succinctly describing Smith. "It felt like old-fashioned, slobber-knocker football."

Smith accounted for over half of Michigan's total yardage with a career-high 158 yards on 23 carries. As Michigan Stadium turned into a Winter Wonderland in the fourth quarter, his punishing runs salted the game away on a 15-play, 51-yard drive that took nearly nine minutes off the clock and left Indiana with no shot at a comeback.


Michigan Stadium as snow globe. [Bryan Fuller]

While Michigan's offense scuffled early, the defense and special teams kept the Wolverines close enough for the eventual comeback. The defensive front, led by seniors Taco Charlton and Ryan Glasgow, ran rampant in the Hoosier backfield; those two accounted for 5.5 of Michigan's 12 tackles for loss. Ben Gedeon and Mike McCray both had excellent games, and the secondary shut down the passing game, holding the Hoosiers to 6.4 yards per attempt.

While Jabrill Peppers couldn't get much going in his few snaps on offense, he made his presence felt in the other two phases. He repeatedly gave Michigan great field position by fielding IU's line-drive punts, and a pad-popping stop on Richard Lagow in the backfield for one of his two TFLs helped hold the Hoosiers to a field goal on what would be their only scoring drive of the second half.

Special teams played a big part in this victory beyond Peppers's returns. Kenny Allen used the elements to his advantage, pinning Indiana inside their 20-yard line on four of his six punts, and he calmly connected on both of his field-goal attempts. When Peppers wasn't fielding punts, Michigan was blocking them; Michael Jocz and Khaleke Hudson got their hands on a punt apiece to help swing the momentum in Michigan's favor.

That proved enough for Michigan to avoid an upset. A much larger test looms next week in Columbus, of course, with the stakes about as high as they could be. It's yet to be seen if Michigan will have their starting quarterback on the field for the program's most important game since 2006.

"We'll see," Harbaugh said regarding Speight's status this week. "He's day-to-day."

Comments

aiglick

November 19th, 2016 at 8:39 PM ^

I know people are down on O'Korn but hopefully he has gotten the jitters out and Harbaugh can work with him in the film room to correct as many mistakes as possible. The 30 yard scramble was nice as well as the the missed down field throw that I believe Darboh almost had. It may not be Speight or bust. Would have liked to see more from O'Korn but there were a few silver linings. Beat Ohio. Go Blue.

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Rasmus

November 20th, 2016 at 8:13 AM ^

First, zero interceptions, zero fumbles. That right there is job one for a backup taking meaningful snaps late in the season. And let's not forget -- this was not a low-pressure situation. Michigan's season was on the line in this game. A loss and they are depending on MSU to best PSU. Second, took them a while to adjust to the pressure they were getting. He made some frustrating mistakes, but by the second half the Indiana defense started to wear down and he started to remember his footwork and that led to finding his ability to run. He's a classic pocket scrambler, very different from Speight. If he has to play Saturday, he will be improved and the offense will have a better idea of what they are trying to do. They will need to. But people using words like "disgraceful " and "despicable " for this performance against a defense that has played well in college football's toughest division are clueless.

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Ciarán Bourke

November 20th, 2016 at 9:33 AM ^

I prepped myself for "don't care about style points, just win - ugly if needed" both based on the PITA that Indiana is to all teams, the QB situation, and the disappointment of last week.  And to be fair to O'Korn I once again scratch my head at the play calling for a new QB. I get the idea of cutting the play book down, but at least give the kid some high % plays to try out - bubble screens and the like. And I'm sure it's just me but do we have a good old fashioned bootleg in the playbook? You know, the one we rode Griese to Tuman toward the 1997 fun?  You got Jake Butt, "if he's not open chuck in the seats kid, you're out of the pocket anyway".

 

TL:DR I think O'Korn did just fine considering everything and the gameplan needs to put him in a better position to succeed (ugh, management speak outside of work)

Joined: 11/25/2015

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Amaznbluedoc

November 19th, 2016 at 8:42 PM ^

We drove in to A2 from a long way away. It was great being back and we knew that IU would play us tough. They have a mini Big Ben qb a gray slot guy Paige, an NFL caliber WR Westbrook, and a decent running back. Their defense has been 1000% better this year and they've put in good games against the big guys. Plus they're healthy. So we knew that the game would be interesting. Sure, we won. Yes, Smith went beast mode and won the game for us. Yes, the D shut down the ohio running back Redding. Yes, our kicking game and special teams looked solid. But overall our guys looked flat again and without emotion. They're not pumped and I've watched a slow slide since we played sParty. The O'Korn debut was Hokesque and simply embarrassing. It's not as though he came in cold off of the bench and the O has heard his cadence for the first time? He's taken snaps in many games and has worked solidly for the week. It's unfortunate what happened to SP8 but the rest of the O should have stepped up and this is what separates good teams from great teams. They have one week to prepare for ohio and better figure out how to play outside themselves.

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HenneGivenSunday

November 19th, 2016 at 9:01 PM ^

I was in my seats with fists held high as they salted the game away. Snow was pouring down on top of me and I embraced the person at the game with me, and said, "this is FUCKING B1G FOOTBALL!!!"



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HenneGivenSunday

November 19th, 2016 at 10:02 PM ^

A little subdued for a lot of the game. Great energy while our boys were on D throughout, especially in the second half. I hate to be this guy, but I was extremely disappointed in the student section today. It was only about 1/3rd full in the second half. Also, I know they pack in, but has looked 10-15% empty all season.



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MGoStrength

November 19th, 2016 at 9:13 PM ^

Granted, he's great with the ball in his hands, but they know we're running it when he's a wildcat QB.  Why not put him in the slot if for no other reason than to open up the running game or throw to someone else?   Pretty please

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BrightonB

November 19th, 2016 at 9:26 PM ^

Really thought we ended the game well and it turned out like we all hoped.

With that said, it just amazes me how many people during the game lose their minds and just plain over react.  It's like if it doesn't go perfect and we are not ahead by 30 then this person sucks, that person sucks, etc etc.

Yes the offensive play calling was bland especially for 3 quarters and I think we can all agree on that and not sure why it has been for the last few games. Jumping on O'Korn or others and saying WTF this and that.  Sheeeeeesh

Personally I think they should of done more roll-outs and gotten Butt involved or maybe some shovel passes since they were coming in so fast etc..  Everyone was jumping on O'Korn but man he had like 1 to 2 secs tops to pass many times it seemed like.  The Defense did their job yet again.  Any D holding any team to 14 and under as far as I am concerned did their job enough for the day.  I also think that deep ball he threw should of been caught and was a well thrown ball (hit his fingertips).  Also glad he did NOT throw that ball when ( I think it was Drake ) fell down as that would of probably been an INT for sure.

We won and honestly that 4th qtr I saw some fire again that I personally have not seen for the past 2 or 3 games.   Hoping that carries forward to the OSU game. 

The Indiana game ( I said this after the MSU game ) was the one game I was worried about because they did hold tough with many teams. Turns out if was the Iowa game that was the "trap" game I guess if you will.

Anyway .. glad for the win.  The passing game as a whole (lineman and QB and recievers not fighting for it) was just bad and I think we can all agree on that.  If you can't even take a 3 step drop it's tough.  Again I feel they should of rolled him out ( he is MUCH faster than Speight ) as I feel that is a strength for him (O'Korn).  He wasn't great but he also didn't get sloppy with the ball and throw and bunch of INTs either.  I feel this was a nice game for him to make his first start with Michigan (yes .. I know he started for Houston) and if he plays next week he can build off this game.  2 weeks of true 1st team preperation and a real game under his belt will help.  I put the issues with the offense today 50% on the O-Line .... 50% QB today.  It wasn't entirely the QBs fault on every pass play.

If we can hold OSU to 17 or less ( I truly feel our D can ) we absolutly have a chance to beat them.  If we don't, please people (some of you) don't fall apart and ruin it for all of us by saying .. omg .. put this guy in ... fire Harbaugh or any other nonsense.

I am sure many of us who truly understand football believe that year 3 / 4 was when we really would see what Harbaugh is about because then the team would be most of his players and will truly be "his" team at that point.  As far as I am concerned, we are VERY competative and are a top 10 team all day long even with a not so perfect offense.  We won and really we ran away with it at the end.  We controlled this game and Indiana was NOT (IMO) a pushover / terrible team. Scary thing ... we are still on the rise, please think about that.  Year 2 with Harbaugh and we are #3.  Year 2 !  Come on .. enjoy it!

I really hope people on this thread stop freaking out 1st / 2nd quarter like they do when it's not going perfect and expecially when we are not getting blown out.  If we keep it close (within 7 to 10 points) I feel personally we have the upper hand going into the 2nd half.

OSU ..... man .... looking forward to it win or lose .... after seeing how they played against MSU I 100% think we have a chance to take them this year.

Needed this win and we got it.  

Enjoy the night all !

 

 

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1VaBlue1

November 19th, 2016 at 10:26 PM ^

I really hope the lack of fire we've noticed is a sympton of waiting for OSU, and not a result of peaking too early.  That would just suck.  But I really do think they'll be ready to play.  I think they've been looking ahead, even the coaches.  Speight or O'Korn...  I don't care, I just want them ready to play thier best game of the season.  So far...

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plamonge

November 19th, 2016 at 10:37 PM ^

No INTs. A win. Guys getting open. Running looking good. Bland on purpose, I think. D looks good. OSU almost lost again to a terrible team that we beat strong. 

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killerseafood3

November 19th, 2016 at 10:50 PM ^

Very happy to see the team win. I would like someone with a higher understanding of football to explain the little things about this team... like, why is the offense so obvious with peppers? Are they saving him? Is it just lack of practice / reps due to him playing two other roles? Same with defense - the guy is freaky athletic, seems you could set up a bit more to exploit that, or am I an idiot in not really understanding what he's doing? Seems the other offense is negating him a lot lately.



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You Only Live Twice

November 19th, 2016 at 11:03 PM ^

He has not started a game in how long?  The difference in game experience between him and Speight was striking.  However, O'Korn stayed in it for all 4 quarters enough to contribute to the win.  His breakout run changed the momentum and set up the Smith TD.  In short, he delivered a victory much as Speight did last year against Minnesota, when people were down on Speight.  I don't understand people expecting O"Korn to start a game so late in the season and do any better than what he did.  Don't use Cardale Jones as a counter example.  

O'Korn got us where we needed to be heading for The Game.  Don Brown's unit took care of their end.  Onwards!

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