Michigan's 2019 season turnover margin: even
Strange statistically oddity alert.
Michigan's final 2019 season turnover margin is 0.
The last time that happened was 1995......also a 9-4 season where we faced Nick Saban.
1995 is the only other time that has happened since turnover margin statistics are available (MGoBlue database for opponent stats only goes back to 1984).
Turnover margin by era
Schembechler (since 1984): +55
Moeller: +12
Carr: +15
Rodriguez: -32(!)
Hoke: -13
Harbaugh: +4
January 2nd, 2020 at 1:28 AM ^
What's interesting is that we averaged +1 over years 1-4 and then were at 0 this year. not that far off from the trend under JH
January 2nd, 2020 at 1:47 AM ^
It’s probably directly correlated with having mediocre at best QBs
January 2nd, 2020 at 5:26 AM ^
Okay, except our “mediocre,” QBs haven’t turned the ball over much under Harbaugh. So that doesn’t make much sense. For example, Shea threw 14 picks in his two years as a starter. DRob threw 24 in his final year and a half as starter, Gardner threw 26 in his final two years.
It’s probably more attributed to Brown’s man-to-man defense. Without looking at the numbers, Playing with your back to the QB typically leads to a lower number of interceptions. Zone defenses are better suited for jumping routes. Fumbles usually offset because they’re weird and typically luck.
January 2nd, 2020 at 9:18 AM ^
A lot of picks happen when the QB is confused by a look or alignment.
With Michigan, rarely does that happen. Chuck it deep down the sidelines, like 'Bama did yesterday. It makes Cover 1 essentially a 10 man defense.
January 2nd, 2020 at 1:30 AM ^
11 fumbles recovered, 9 interceptions
11 fumbles lost, 9 INT thrown
January 2nd, 2020 at 9:23 AM ^
I'm actually shocked given the Fumble-palooza that was the start of the season. Getting back to even after that aberration means we actually did pretty well.
January 2nd, 2020 at 2:33 AM ^
Michigan has turned my stomach over a few times.
January 2nd, 2020 at 5:14 AM ^
Good stat - there it is! No doubt this has a lot to do with our bewilderment on results. Opponents protect the football better now that what is coached @ Michigan.
January 2nd, 2020 at 6:53 AM ^
A turnover on the first play of the season & the last play of the season. Yes, I’m counting the interception when we still had a chance.
January 2nd, 2020 at 11:47 AM ^
The actual last play of the season was an interception.
January 2nd, 2020 at 8:36 AM ^
Interestingly it took a meaningless interception as time expired to make it happen.
January 2nd, 2020 at 9:16 AM ^
Imagine where we would be without 5 fumbles from Shea and his 8 interceptions...
January 2nd, 2020 at 10:31 AM ^
The thing about the Carr number that sticks out is that it includes the 1997 and 2006 teams. I would assume we had at least a +10 TO margin those years. I wonder what it would've been if you remove those years.
January 2nd, 2020 at 10:59 AM ^
Not surprising. I never got the vibe that the outcomes were abnormally skewed by turnovers. At most they turned close games we were gonna win anyway into blowouts, or blowouts into close games. FWIW, we're not choking away the games we're expected to win.
Michigan's bigger issue going back the past few seasons was just how they kept punching themselves in the face when a heavyweight's in the ring. If we were in a fight with a superior opponent, instead of flipping the script with an outstanding play, you could practically bet money that someone was going to earn their week's worth of hate tweets because they pulled a Buckner. I ain't questioning effort but they were strangely anti-clutch.
It's to the point that I'm thinking Harbaugh ought to consult a sports psychiatrist in the offseason. Either his neurosis is rubbing off on the players or he's not doing a good job toughening them up mentally, but either way it's happening too consistently and too far across the roster to chalk it up to luck or a few bad eggs. It seems every pivotal play is a Michigan player doing something boneheaded or having an on-field freakout. That's not talent or strategy and Imma throw a fist down the Internet and punch your face if you dare accuse the players of lacking want-to. No, it's a mindset problem. And it should be fixable.
January 2nd, 2020 at 8:48 PM ^
It does make me wonder if Harbaugh is demanding too much perfection-which, in coaching, virtually assures the opposite. There should be turnovers on even a well-coached team-related to extra effort in running the ball and the QB not being afraid to push the envelop by passing into some tight windows.