Most Underrated Play of the Night?
My vote is the long pass play to Hemingway that set up the fumble/touchdown. The defender is literally pulling Denards jersey to the ground, but he just stands there calmly and jump throws the ball 20 yards downfield perfectly.
What a game, what a night, GO BLUE!
September 11th, 2011 at 2:10 AM ^
I think we stopped ND 3 times on run plays on 3rd and very short. M run defense stepped up as the game went on.
September 11th, 2011 at 3:55 AM ^
On the drive after the Denard end-zone pick, we got a three and out. BWC made an appearance on 3rd and short obliterating the line and redirecting the back in the backfield. Ryan flew in to make the tackle, but BWC made a huge play at a huge moment.
Props where props are due.
September 11th, 2011 at 7:17 AM ^
I yelled out "Was that BWC?" on one of those 3rd and short stops. I think he manhandled the ND lineman, pushing him a few yards upfield to create the much-needed mayhem for other to clean up on the play. Pad level, baby.
September 11th, 2011 at 8:54 AM ^
Was that him that made the fumble recovery, too? I couldn't tell, but on the play when Cierre just dropped it, looked like it was BWC who pulled it in.
September 11th, 2011 at 10:03 AM ^
BWC ate that ball up good amidst a lot of bodies.
September 11th, 2011 at 11:18 AM ^
I bet Kelly wishes he would have thrown a short pass to Floyd each time instead of trying to play manball.
September 11th, 2011 at 2:11 AM ^
The final play. Everyone assumed the game was won and forgot that we had just pulled a small miracle out of our hats, and ND was capable of doing the same thing. When we picked up the ball I went from six to midnight.
September 11th, 2011 at 2:14 AM ^
That was a hell of a hit to force that fumble as well.
September 11th, 2011 at 11:41 AM ^
You were at six? I was at 11, or maybe even 11:30.
September 11th, 2011 at 2:12 AM ^
The 3rd down after Denard threw the pick to Blanton late in the 4th (like 4 min left). Notre Dame had a 3rd and 1 and had they converted could have run down the clock pretty far and Michigan stuffed Cierre Wood for a loss of 2 forcing a punt.
September 11th, 2011 at 2:28 AM ^
I think the play before that- 2nd and 7 and Woolfolk makes a great tackle on the receiver to keep it 3rd and 1 rather than 1st and 10.
(although the TFL was a pretty great play too)
September 11th, 2011 at 2:30 AM ^
That was probably the biggest cheer in the bar all night before final 2 minutes INSANTIY TIME!
September 11th, 2011 at 3:56 AM ^
Bingo. This gets my vote.
September 11th, 2011 at 2:13 AM ^
Kovacks something...
September 11th, 2011 at 7:08 AM ^
Moar Grit
September 11th, 2011 at 2:17 AM ^
Tommy Rees having a "whoopsie" and dropping the ball deep in the red zone.
September 11th, 2011 at 4:42 AM ^
Agreed. To me, that will always be the "karma play" after the phantom PI call on Avery the play prior to that.
September 11th, 2011 at 2:21 AM ^
I thought the Kelvin Grady reception really bailed us out.
September 11th, 2011 at 2:26 AM ^
The Gallon catch and run at the end of the game was pretty huge. Plus he got out of bounds to stop the clock, which did not matte because UM had two timeouts left, but is still head up thinking.
I also thought ND managed the game very poorly from a time perspective, calling timeouts and not ever really seeming to be ready when a play should already be set and ready to run.
September 11th, 2011 at 5:33 AM ^
Is responsible for all the wasted ND timeouts...and 114,000+ screaming fans
September 11th, 2011 at 2:26 AM ^
The defense did it's job when it had to, despite giving up too many big plays. The offense obviously came through in the clutch (sorry for the cli`che). It was a great team effort and special teams really turned things around after last week.
Great halftime adjustments and great effort led to a great win.
September 11th, 2011 at 2:30 AM ^
Wile's tackle on kickoff after the denard planned out fumble run td score.if he did not make that tackle he is gone and we lose momentum.
September 11th, 2011 at 3:21 AM ^
didn't notice this but that's actually a solid pick for truly underrated play.
September 11th, 2011 at 2:33 AM ^
I think our defense's stop of Cierre Wood's run on 3rd and short late in the 4th was one of the most important plays of the game. It was an absolute must stop situation and we pulled it out. Had ND gotten a first down on that play, I seriously doubt we would have won. While I'm on the subject of the defense, I have to give them major props. They were atriocus for the first quarter or so but really stepped it up a few notches after that and kept us in the game until Denard went nuts. We still need to tighten up some things defensively, but I really like our potential on that side of the ball.
September 11th, 2011 at 2:33 AM ^
I also have to give props to Mattison for the defensive play call allowing ND to score at the end of the game. That play call gave Denard and company just enough time to take it back down the field and put together a second game winning drive.
September 11th, 2011 at 2:37 AM ^
It overwhelms.
September 11th, 2011 at 3:14 AM ^
I read similar sentiments on the game on the liveblog and your statement here. Do you and some of the people who commented on the Liveblog really believe Mattison called a defense that positioned the safety and the corner 8 yards away from the receiver? WTF man. Have you ever heard of a "blown coverage?"
September 11th, 2011 at 12:44 PM ^
No I do not believe that our defense intentionally let ND score. The post was meant to be sarcastic and nothing else
September 11th, 2011 at 2:36 AM ^
Jake Ryan's stop on third down and 2. We took the lead for the first time on the next drive. I was in shock. After the past 3 years I didnt know anyone besides Brandon Graham was capable of doing that.
September 11th, 2011 at 8:54 AM ^
Jake Ryan has a great first step, very quick off the snap.
September 11th, 2011 at 2:38 AM ^
The commitment of 2013 Ohio DB Dymonte Thomas!!
(Reported by TomVH over on ESPN's Wolverine Nation.)
September 11th, 2011 at 2:46 AM ^
Page.
September 11th, 2011 at 2:37 AM ^
I believe the school girl throw backs are being under rated.
September 11th, 2011 at 2:46 AM ^
Looked sexy as hell.
September 11th, 2011 at 2:41 AM ^
The Mich ND game just had the top 3 plays on Sportscenter plays of the night
September 11th, 2011 at 2:58 AM ^
Brandin Hawthorne...I mean wow. A safety turned LB turned safety turned spur turned LB. The kid came to play, he had some big moments and when they threw him out there...he rose to the occassion after being nothing more than a special teams player.
What a win, what a TEAM win.
The "play" of Hawthorne will always be underrated in my mind.
September 11th, 2011 at 3:00 AM ^
I'd have to go with the first time we got a stop. It put an end to the 3-and-out, ND TD, 3-and-out, ND TD, and came right after we had 4 plays but got INT'd. Keeping them from moving the ball at will and getting a three-score (-TD) lead was big.
September 11th, 2011 at 3:09 AM ^
All of these are great choices! I agree with everyone what a great game! The play that did it for me however, was the screen pass to vincent smith late in the fourth to go up for the lead. Great play, well executed, and vincent does the rest. Love seeing Smith do well, not a kid that should be seeing the field in a 'pro style' attack, but id take him over a bigger back any day.
September 11th, 2011 at 3:23 AM ^
was yanked after the second TD drive, and didn't go back
Not blaming the kid, he just got here. He looks like he can be very good. But starting him when he just wasn't ready was a questionable coaching call. There were plenty of those tonight
But neg me for complaining, this was the best night of football I've ever seen. Sublime and unforgettable.
September 11th, 2011 at 4:08 AM ^
On the positive side Hawthorne seemed to emerge as someone we can get some plays out of.
September 11th, 2011 at 4:08 AM ^
On the positive side Hawthorne seemed to emerge as someone we can get some plays out of.
September 11th, 2011 at 11:42 AM ^
on Hoke's BTN interview he specifically called out Hawthorne as coming in for the second half and playing well. Hopefully he can lock down that spot
September 11th, 2011 at 3:54 AM ^
I'll give my vote to any one of the defense's 3rd down stops in the 4th quarter. The defense didn't play well on the whole, but they came through when it mattered.
September 11th, 2011 at 4:08 AM ^
September 11th, 2011 at 4:17 AM ^
Denard does have a hell of a strong arm... now if he can just learn a bit more touch on those long balls...
My vote is BWC's fumble recovery...yeah it didnt lead to anything but it stopped a ND drive and was nice to see 73 finally make something happen
September 11th, 2011 at 8:57 AM ^
but I believe the endzone passes are intentionally underthrown. He really puts a lot of air under those jump balls. The long one to hemingway down the middle I think was a true underthrow, but the those corner fades are short by design, and the WR run their routes to set it up. Roy mentioned "getting on his toes" or something like that.
September 11th, 2011 at 5:01 PM ^
Like the seemingly underthrown TD passes in the end zone were by design, which seem to be a variation of the back shoulder throw. Denard also threw a couple of "jump" balls. A QB is going to have a few off target passes in every game, but I'll buy the team's two minute drill everytime.
September 11th, 2011 at 4:18 AM ^
BTW whats up with Tay Odoms...is he still injured?
September 11th, 2011 at 6:23 AM ^
Why didn't Toussaint have a carry? Is he ok?