The Clowney-Lewan battle

People (SC fans especially) were extremely confident about Clowney, saying he would get multiple sacks. Not only did he not get a single sack, I don't remember him ever getting to the QB. Sure he gave Lewan some problems but if that's all you can say for arguably the best defensive player in college football thats a very decisive win for the offensive lineman.

and probably earned a couple of million extra bucks over the course of the afternoon.  

On the optimistic side, Schofield came in and did a pretty decent job for a couple of series.  Is the thinking he goes to LT next year and Magnusson or another RS Frosh goes to RT, or something else?

It was good, yes, but of course the first play we take Lewan off of guarding Clowney, the man goes and kills Vincent Smith which earned him MVP honors and will probably be replayed incessantly on ESPN.  Lewan-Clowney matchup of the ages?  Check.  Clowney with the game-changer?  Also check.

It seemed very much like a draw to me, both played very well and both improved their draft stock.

Also, how Manti T'eo was voted as the best defender in college football over Clowney is absurd, this guy would be dominating the NFL right now

Besides the total farse of giving the player of the game to Clowney over Ace, it was a very good battle. Lewan did well and cemented himself as a top 8-10 pick...HE gone

However...that hit was amazing. I wasn't even mad when that went down...reminded me of B. Graham vs State...but WAY better!

Clowney getting player of the game was a joke.  Dude had four tackles.  Sure he forced the fumble, but are you telling me he was more valuable than the guy with 3 TDs?  I think not.  But what do you expect from sports?  Objectivity is not exaclty highly-valued.

I think Clowney was held in check for the most part.  Yeah, he had a huge play on the forced fumble.  I still don't agree with the decision to give him the player of the game award.  I though Connor Shaw played out of his mind.  And he was playing hurt. 

That Vincent Smith's head was still in his helmet when it went flying off?

For keeping Clowney in check, but I'm not gonna lie. Having a DE like Clowney would be incredible for our defensive line. Kid is a straight beast.

Lewan seemed to have kept him in check. Which worries me.

Sadly Lewan seems as good as gone. I hope to God I'm wrong for next year's OL. Only Schofield remains if he goes pro, which really worries me. 

Clowney was mostly held in check, but unfortunately his decapitation of Vincent Smith is what's going to be remembered, despite the fact that it was not Lewan's fault. People will look at that and assume Clowney just had his way with our offensive line all day. It was one missed assignment that just proved to be very costly.



If you ask me, holding arguably the best defensive player in the country to 3 tackles and 1 TFL tells me Lewan won the matchup. But tomorrow morning, all ESPN will talk about is how Michigan just can't handle the speed of the SEC, that we're not any good, blah blah blah more ESPN sucking SEC dick.

Both players only helped themselves today. I'd give it a push.  Taylor was solid all day minus the 2 penalties and Clowney made big plays when it mattered most.  

They did show some brief matchups of Lewan and Clowney and they did mention that Lewan was holding his own and keeping Clowney in check.  But then he had the one big hit and immediately everyone forgot how up to that point he was a nonfactor.

Clowney is good, but he's no Tom Gholston.



/s

Isn't the play ruled dead as soon as the helmet comes off? In that case, he shouldn't have had a forced/recovered fumble. And it is still michigan ball. Is that not right?

But really karma for the bad call by the refs saying we had a first down. Great hit, but should not have been player of the game. At all

But really karma for the bad call by the refs saying we had a first down. Great hit, but should not have been player of the game. At all

full South Carolina games this fall and Clowney was pretty much as he was all year.  He was a factor most plays either in busting one up or the offense staying away from him.  I thought did an excellent job on him compared to most tackels in the SEC games I watched.  But he has strangely long stretches where he does nothing, sits on the sidelines looking tired.

Then the 4th Q comes and he makes 2 or 3 plays you've never F'ing seen before in your life and you suddenly think you've just seen the best damn defensive linemen to ever play  the game.

I just got home from work, watched the game on dvr, saw the hit by Clowney and thought one thing. WTF Borges? Clowney is stupid athletic and talented and Borges decided part of the game plan was to allow him to be unblocked mulitple times. When Lewan was assingned to block the guy across from him, that guy was blocked 99% of the time. And when you can say Clowney is just that guy being blocked, you block him every play. Once again our OC was the reason we lost the game. /end rant/continue drinking.

What if I told you Lewan was staying?

Nothing against Vince Smith, he took that hit like a champ considering he was outweighed by  almost 70 pounds and a foot of height and didn't show a bit for wear from it but...I can't wait until Clowney tries that against Green.  Here's to looking forward to the day we roll out a power front combo like LTT/Magnuson/Kalis/Kulger/Dawson/Fox/Bosch and push guys like Clowney 5 yards back off the ball.

the MVP before he supposedly earned it. I am sure there are several Michigan defenders who were more deserving than him, at least statistically wise." South Carolina Deserves to have it and they do" WTF. They won it with 11 sec. on the clock. Congradulations you beat a good but not great UM team. For me, next year can't get here fast enough I know the loss of Denard is sad but the promise and potential of new recruits is really exciting. Bring on spring practice and as always GO BLUE!.