Michigan 51, UCF 14
Tyree Kinnel got his hand on not one, but two punts. [Eric Upchurch/MGoBlog]
I can't sum it up any better than this guy did:
@AceAnbender @mgoblog
— Mike Wint (@gbMWint) September 10, 2016
my wife: "hey they punted and it didn't get blocked"
Me: "that was a throw"
Tyree Kinnel deflected two UCF punts, Chris Wormley blocked two field goals, and Khaleke Hudson demolished a kick returner who appeared to be going out for a light jog. The Knights took an illegal block penalty on a kickoff touchback, sent out 12 players for a punt return, and muffed a short kickoff for a Jordan Glasgow recovery.
So that covers the special teams.
Wilton Speight took advantage of a UCF defense intent on loading the box against the run with several pinpoint throws downfield, finishing 25-for-37 for 312 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. The usual suspects led the way among the receivers; Jake Butt had two touchdowns among his seven catches, Amara Darboh cross the goal line twice and broke the hundred-yard mark, and Jehu Chesson needed only four receptions to tally 84 yards. That more than made up for the running game, which couldn't get much going agianst eight- and nine-man boxes; even with sacks and a punt gone wrong removed, Michigan averaged only 3.7 yards per carry. Fullback Khalid Hill plunged in for two touchdowns, at least, so it wasn't all bad on the ground.
Upchurch
The defense, meanwhile, limited quarterbacks Justin Holman—who exited the game in the first half with an apparent injury—and Nick Patti to a combined 6-for-22, 56-yard performance. A few errors—one of which may have been on the officials—led to an 87-yard touchdown run for Adrian Killins, and the Knights were able to rack up 275 yards on the ground, with a healthy chunk of that coming when the QBs broke contain.
While many fans were concerned about the line play, one Jim Harbaugh didn't share that worry.
"I thought the lines really took care of business today," said Harbaugh. "Both the offensive and defensive lines did a very good job."
Quarterback contain, he admitted, was an issue, but one that he believed Don Brown made the proper adjustments for in the second half.
Rashan Gary had his first big game as a Wolverine, tearing off the edge for his first career half-sack (Ben Gedeon arrived simultaneously) and had two more tackles for loss. Seven different Michigan defenders tallied tackles in the backfield, and Jabrill Peppers was everywhere—he led the team with eight tackles (two for loss), had two QB hurries, and returned a line-drive punt 35 yards deep into UCF territory to set up Butt's second score.
If there's any indication that Michigan has returned to form, it's that the crowd didn't seem satisfied with a 37-point win. Against an overmatched opponent that couldn't even reliably get a kick in the air untouched, the coaches had no need to utilize much of the playbook, which led to some ugly plays but won't reveal anything to Colorado, next week's opponent and Michigan's first that appears to have a pulse.
September 10th, 2016 at 4:29 PM ^
for 2.5 quarters and still won the game by 37 points...
And while I don't like the fact that Michigan looked quite sluggish at times in this game, I have o smile at the fact that I am bitching about this game a bit...like the good ol' days.
September 10th, 2016 at 4:31 PM ^
most are willing to concede or both sides of the ball need more improvement. The QB run is a major concern and thankfully we will not face this issue again until we play Indiana. The offensive line was being push back and I don't know how any coach can say he was happy with that.
Even our skill positons had a bad day. Many dropped passes.
September 10th, 2016 at 4:48 PM ^
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September 10th, 2016 at 5:19 PM ^
September 10th, 2016 at 6:01 PM ^
September 10th, 2016 at 4:51 PM ^
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September 10th, 2016 at 4:32 PM ^
but that being said, I couldn't help but watch our defense and think UCF was opening up big running lanes with their scheme and not talent. That was the one thing that wasn't supposed to happen under Don Brown: he is not going to get beat on the X's and O's by running spreads. Sure, the bulk of the yards came on a few plays, but there seemed to be consistent issues on defending the edge on the read option.
Being mad about a 51-14 win is exactly where I'd hoped this program would be this year.
September 10th, 2016 at 4:53 PM ^
No matter how good a DC you get, transition costs still exist from one scheme to another. Only the 2nd game.
Add to that 2 new linebacker starters and a true freshman on the line....if Harbaugh is not worried maybe we should not be either?
September 10th, 2016 at 5:19 PM ^
They should have productive film sessions. Should be a good learning experience particularly for all the new players in key roles.
September 10th, 2016 at 6:54 PM ^
Provided the practice we needed and it gives future opponents jack squat video cues. Pure Harbaugh, and we're in great shape. Expect similar for Colorado and Penn State. Thereafter we'll open up.
September 10th, 2016 at 4:54 PM ^
Keep in mind, it's week 2 and this was an opponent that was winless last season. I would imagine that we did not see the expanded defensive playbook.
September 10th, 2016 at 5:29 PM ^
September 11th, 2016 at 12:57 AM ^
not sure it was UCF's scheme as much as Michigan's defensive schemes. I guess we will find out in the UFR. I know on the 34 yard TD, Gedeon ran to the playside B gap and the play went into the playside A gap. That seemed like a bust on Gedeon since there is no safety behind him. UCF had trips to to the boundary side, so Delano Hill was lined up as the inside defender. The other safety, Thomas, was lined up as the edge defender on the field side. It seems that they may have been misaligned and that at least one player (Gedeon?) missed their assignment.
September 10th, 2016 at 4:34 PM ^
Cool story bro
September 10th, 2016 at 5:07 PM ^
Who is John Faulk?
September 10th, 2016 at 6:15 PM ^
September 10th, 2016 at 6:22 PM ^
we're not talking about Jon Falk?
September 11th, 2016 at 9:44 AM ^
except he died in 1990.
I assume you had a conversation in passing?
September 10th, 2016 at 4:35 PM ^
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September 10th, 2016 at 4:36 PM ^
September 10th, 2016 at 4:37 PM ^
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September 10th, 2016 at 4:40 PM ^
It's the 2nd week. People already saying "this is not a playoff team" need to get a grip.
September 10th, 2016 at 4:49 PM ^
True dat' but you can't say that they are a #5 team either.
September 10th, 2016 at 4:50 PM ^
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September 10th, 2016 at 4:53 PM ^
Why not? Clemson has struggled with a mediocre Auburn and Troy, Ohio State is looking pedestrian so far against Tulsa. Other than Bama and FSU, I'm not sure which teams have looked definitively better than Michigan.
September 10th, 2016 at 4:56 PM ^
Look at the rest of the top 20
September 10th, 2016 at 5:03 PM ^
We're #5 in the polls, so yeah, actually we can say that we are.
September 10th, 2016 at 5:21 PM ^
September 10th, 2016 at 4:50 PM ^
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September 11th, 2016 at 8:54 PM ^
Danny Kanell has Michigan at #2.
September 10th, 2016 at 5:38 PM ^
September 10th, 2016 at 4:38 PM ^
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September 10th, 2016 at 8:44 PM ^
I hope they do well this season.
September 11th, 2016 at 12:02 PM ^
September 10th, 2016 at 4:40 PM ^
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September 10th, 2016 at 4:47 PM ^
We were playing with one hand tied behind our backs by design.
Banged up players got a week to recover, and mercifully, injury bug didn't get us.
We had control. No need to show our hand on either defense or offense. Playing mostly straight up limited offensive and defensive adjustments, too.
Very happy with this game. Will DEFINITELY take it.
This team is ramping up nicely, so enjoy the ride, people!
September 10th, 2016 at 4:54 PM ^
Agreed and it was smart to rest the injured players. It was great seeing Speight open up a bit and make some better passes including those down field. Still, there are some question marks and if we want to compete against the tough teams in the B10 and nationally, we need to establish a run game (in spite of loading up the box) and defend against the run better. The kicking and special teams have solidified and the secondary and receiving core look great. Now we have to tighten up the rest of the issues and playoffs, here we come.
September 10th, 2016 at 5:21 PM ^
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September 10th, 2016 at 5:36 PM ^
September 10th, 2016 at 10:30 PM ^
Too soon.
September 10th, 2016 at 4:49 PM ^
Harbaugh will never bad mouth a player or coach in public, and, at the moment, it's impossible to tell exactly what wrong (if anything) with offensive line. They might have been too many UCF players in the box, and Speight needed to check to another play on occasion, but too many UCF players came free to be comfortable and there was litttle push, especially in first half. The Defense was missiing three starters and lost contain on QB and got edged once (probably a hold on McCray, but where were the other defenders?. Still QB and that one WR were fast and Brown plays a gambling defense. Same with play up middle. All in all, a perfect victory!
September 10th, 2016 at 4:54 PM ^
Most of all hurray that we didn't have a nail-biter against a vastly inferior team.
But boy, some sloppy play out there today. Two long runs where McCray couldn't get off blocks. Speight not very accurate on long throws. Running game/run blocking woes.
On the other hand, osu is looking like they will take a big 6-3 lead over Tulsa into the locker room at halftime.
September 10th, 2016 at 5:20 PM ^
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September 10th, 2016 at 5:27 PM ^
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September 10th, 2016 at 5:54 PM ^
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September 10th, 2016 at 10:36 PM ^
70% of his passes, has 7 TDs and averaging over 200 yards per game. He has shown the ability to scramble, hit passes on the run and take a hit. QB is not a problem position.
September 10th, 2016 at 4:56 PM ^
A fairly satisfying win overall, but we have pretty high standards these days. A couple years ago we'd be grinning more than analyzing what we need to improve. That's a good thing. Can't complain too much about a game that was never in doubt, especially with what other decent teams did this week and last.
September 10th, 2016 at 5:07 PM ^
This wouldn't have happened a few years ago and we haven't seen this since the Lloyd years. I am glad that the program appears to be on solid footing and IS improving. We're not there yet and still, I'm grinning.
September 10th, 2016 at 4:58 PM ^
I'll take our 37 point cover and move on..
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