Michigan 33, Minnesota 10 Comment Count

Adam Schnepp

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[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.

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[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.”

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[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.

Comments

Bill22

November 6th, 2017 at 12:09 AM ^

If Speight makes it back for a 5th year next season I will be very happy to have him as a BACK UP. I would rather allow Peters to continue mastering the playbook while throwing a tight spiral and making good decisions. Speight’s inability to look good early in the season was concerning to say the least. Peters has tremendous upside and I would much prefer to see his continued growth and development.

DaJimmer

November 5th, 2017 at 2:21 AM ^

Harbaugh has a chart of when to go for two and when not to. I assume the variables are score and time remaining. He's referenced it before and abides religiously. His chart must have said go for two in that situation. I doubt it had anything to do with Fleck. The two seemed relatively complementary toward one another this past week.

stephenrjking

November 5th, 2017 at 4:18 PM ^

19-7 in the first half is a different animal and many think it's too early to go for 2. Makes sense when you think about it--in theory, one team can stall on offense, and it's plausible for another team to use a combination of a TD and field goals to tie in a reasonable span. Similar for 26-7 (two field goals, two TDs, four scoring drives--not implausible). It's a reasonable game strategy for a conservative offensive team. At 33-7 later in the game field goals cease to be a factor and the only threat is a flurry of TDs.

MMB 82

November 5th, 2017 at 1:58 AM ^

just didn't make sense, he didn't throw a punch or anything from what I could see. Question- this ejection doesn't carry over to the next game like it does with a targeting penalty, is that correct?

1VaBlue1

November 5th, 2017 at 7:28 AM ^

Right?  I couldn't believe he was saying all that about Kinnel!  Let alone Metellus!!  But Metellus probably said something that didn't sit right, I dunno.  But he'll run a few circuits of the stadium steps and not rush into the next melee he sees...

For the most part, I thought the announcers were pretty darn good.  Except for that part about tossing Kinnel...

HAIL-YEA

November 5th, 2017 at 2:17 AM ^

what I want to know is when is the universiity going to support Harbaugh and get something done about these refs. The Metellus ejection was so dumb, and Harbaugh said it had no logic to it. I can tell you for a fact the refs hate Harbaugh, the head of referees even said so during a review his first year here. I remember Perara basically calling Harbaugh a douche for yelling at a ref...these punk ass zebras need a reality check.  

Blue 4 Life

November 5th, 2017 at 4:03 AM ^

I agree about the refs not liking Harbaugh his first year but he's come a long way. His first year he was having some pretty epic meltdowns on the sidelines and giving the refs an earful. 

He looks like he could go psycho at any minute but he's much more calm now. He looks like Banner has learned to control the Hulk when he wants to.

Steve333

November 5th, 2017 at 4:07 AM ^

Hoosiers coach (can’t think of his name right now) chases the referee down the sideline in the game against Wisconsin, called a timeout in the game against Michigan to berate the ref over a call- But Harbaugh is the bad guy. Stupid

war-dawg69

November 5th, 2017 at 7:53 AM ^

When you bring out jealousies and insecurities in people you will become a target. Harbaugh and Michigan have the referee's and I have talk behind your back snitches types. It really aquates to the same thing. A little yellow flag or tattle tailing. Same type of pathetic cowards.

Sorry to bring myself into it, but I see the same type of behavior everytime I watch a game. Just realized why I get so pissed at the bias officiating.

EGD

November 5th, 2017 at 9:16 AM ^

There was also that kick return on which DPJ got face-masked OOB and the officials called a penalty...on Michigan.

I just hope we don't draw that crew again in a close game. Turrible.

I Bleed Maize N Blue

November 5th, 2017 at 2:21 AM ^

Licensed to kill gophers.

Good to see the runs for big yards. Opponent caveat applies, but it felt good. And Onwenu was out. (Wishing him and our other injured players a swift and full recovery.)

I wonder if Peters is trying to make the perfect touch throw and takes way too much off, leaving it short. If so, perfect is the enemy of the good. Doesn't have to be full throttle, but put some zip on the ball and get it to your receivers, so they can catch it and get some YAC.

"Don't drop it!" - Dierdorf, upon seeing Winovich hoist the Jug one handed.

Squash34

November 5th, 2017 at 3:45 AM ^

Minny was the 23 ranked defense and despite the run game being by far their worst aspect, they sold out to stop the run and could not do it.
This is mist likely inflated by playing in a the weaker side of the big, but the last 2 opponents have have much better defenses than most would expect based off their record.

1VaBlue1

November 5th, 2017 at 8:42 AM ^

I'm going to be honest with you, here - the short throws were only after the face full of body slam.  He looked very different after that hit.  Not saying he's injured, but he wasn't the same throwing it.  His world got rocked for the first time in game action.  If he's not injured, he'll be okay.

BTW, after that timeout, Fox showed JOK slapping his helmet.  No doubt saying 'welcome to my world, kid'!!

ST3

November 5th, 2017 at 10:36 AM ^

Misspelled that. Brando quickly corrected that. I understand the criticism of Spencer Tillman. He was horrible. But it felt like Brando was orgiastic at finally getting a chance to call a game at Meeechigan Stadium. I can't blame him for that.

OkemosBlue

November 5th, 2017 at 7:30 AM ^

Peters looks liket the real deal except he seems tentative some times as if he is trying to put too much touch on it.  That should work itself out, and Ruiz was great in general.  Getting pulled after a major pass pro mistake is a signal to the whole OL.  We need to protect the QB because we only have so many! :-)  Go Blue!