Michigan 28, Akron 24 Comment Count

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This afternoon in front of a late-arriving, non-sellout crowd at the Big House, Michigan faced off against an Akron team that went 1-11, 1-11, and 1-11 in the last three seasons, started the year with a 38-7 loss to UCF, spent last weekend getting outgained and nearly outscored by FCS James Madison, and is considered the worst team in the FBS. This was a game to work out the kinks in the playbook, get in some good reps for the backups, and give a good show for the fans who probably paid $5 for a ticket from their friend who likes to sleep in on Saturdays.

OR NOT.

At first, it looked like all would go as expected; Michigan forced an Akron punt on their opening drive, and after Fitz Toussaint rushed for a two-yard loss, Devin Gardner completed five consecutive passes, capped by a 48-yard toss to Devin Funchess, who outran the entire Akron secondary en route to the end zone.

Concern started to grow when Michigan's next drive netted zero yards. The first quarter ended with the score at 7-3, Wolverines; surely, Michigan would pull away any time now.

Then Brendan Gibbons missed a 45-yard field goal to start the second quarter, snapping his streak of 16 consecutive makes. After the defense forced a three-and-out, the Wolverines drove deep into Zips territory, only for Devin Gardner to fumble away the possession on a speed option—a play in which Fitz Toussaint had a clear touchdown if Gardner would've pitched. The defense again picked up the offense, as Blake Countess intercepted a Kyle Pohl pass and returned it all the way to the Akron 20-yard line. Any time now...

Three plays later, Gardner forced a pass into coverage that Akron's DeAndre Scott intercepted easily. The Zips were able to mount a plodding drive that oozed into Michigan territory; after taking a delay of game on fourth-and-one, however, Robert Stein's 45-yard field goal clanged off the left upright. Any time now...

Two plays later, Gardner threw the ball to a well-covered Jeremy Gallon; Akron's Justin March came away with the interception. Luckily for Michigan, only 29 seconds remained on the clock. Stein's 55-yard attempt with 0:05 left in the half went wide left, and the Wolverines were happy to kneel out the clock and regroup at halftime. Any time now...

The second half began inauspiciously, with the Wolverines gaining just one yard on three plays before a Matt Wile punt. Akron's ensuing possession went 75 yards in eight plays, ending in a 28-yard touchdown from Pohl to a wide-open Zach D'Orazio, who went unmolested up the seam as the linebackers failed to get depth on their drops and the safeties couldn't close the gap. Akron 10, Michigan 7. ANY TIME NOW...

Devin Gardner bounced back from his turnovers and gave U-M fans a brief respite from PANIC on the next possession, scoring on a 36-yard inverted veer keeper—for seemingly the first time all day, Michigan got great blocking up front, and Jeremy Jackson guaranteed the score by wiping out three Akron defenders downfield. The defense held up their end, too, forcing another three-and-out, and the Wolverines took a 21-10 lead when Jehu Chesson took his first career reception on a crossing route, broke through a few (poor) tackling attempts by the Akron secondary, and jetted into the corner of the end zone. After Michigan came up with another stop, disaster averted, right?

Wrong. Two plays into the fourth quarter, Al Borges tried to set up a screen pass on third-and-9. Facing heavy pressure, Gardner sidearmed a horribly ill-advised throw directly into the arms of Justin March; as noted earlier, March plays for Akron. He waltzed 27 yards untouched into the end zone. ANY TIME NOW...

Michigan's next drive went nowhere, and Wile didn't help matters by booting a 35-yard punt—not even among his two worst on the day—to set up the Zips on their own 39. A 43-yard pass from Pohl to L.T. Smith set up Akron at the Michigan seven. The Wolverines caught a huge break two plays later, when Pohl threw a play-action pass right to Jarrod Wilson (above, Upchurch). Wilson smartly took a knee in the end zone, giving Michigan the ball on the 20. Time to run out the clock, yes?

Well, not quite. Fitz Toussaint started the drive with a 16-yard run, but his two ensuing carries netted a lone yard. After Gardner's third-down pass to Gallon came up just short of the sticks, Wile shanked a 22-yard punt. The Zips went on an 11-play march down the field, and after getting stuffed twice at the goal line, scored the go-ahead touchdown when they spread the field—Pohl rolled right and found receiver Tyrell Goodman all alone. 24-21, Akron. 4:10 left on the clock. Full-blown PANIC.

Gardner went back to what he'd done best all game, run the football, taking off for a 35-yard gain to move Michigan into Akron territory on the next possession. He found Gallon on the sideline for a 20-yard gain on the very next play, and Michigan got another first down when Gardner's throw to Jake Butt in the end zone drew a pass interference call. Toussaint found a big hole on the left side of the line and took advantage for a two-yard touchdown on the next play. 28-24, Michigan. 2:49 left. Now was the time, yes?

Well, kinda. First, Pohl found Jerrod Dillard for a 24-yard gain, and the Zips moved into Michigan territory two plays later when Blake Countess jumped offsides on a blitz. A 19-yard run by Conor Hundley on third-and-five gave the Zips a first down at the Michigan 27. Despite a holding call moving them back ten yards, Akron kept pushing downfield, with Pohl finding Smith all alone at the 11-yard line after escaping the pocket. Another pass to Smith gave Akron a third-and-one on the Michigan two as the clock ticked down to 0:15. An ill-advised toss play to Jawon Chisholm moved the ball back two yards; the Zips burned their final timeout. Fourth down, five seconds left, ball on the Michigan four.

Greg Mattison dialed up a heavy blitz, and Pohl's desperation pass found only fieldturf, perhaps helped by a missed holding call in the Michigan secondary. The time had finally come, with zero seconds on the clock. Michigan 28, Akron 24, The Horror II narrowly avoided.

In the end, Michigan outgained the worst FBS team outside of Georgia State by seven yards—seven very critical yards, as it turned out. Gardner's 248 passing yards and 103 rushing yards were offset by his four turnovers, including his second pick-six in as many games. The offensive line struggled to open up holes against a very small Akron defensive front. The defense, for their part, allowed far too many passes over the middle and couldn't muster a good pass rush until the game's final play; they gave up big plays, too, as both Raymon Taylor and Jourdan Lewis were beat for big gains over the top.

"This is an embarrassment," Taylor Lewan said after the game. Even with the victory, there's no argument here.

Comments

DonAZ

September 14th, 2013 at 6:46 PM ^

It's been a while since I've attended a game in Ann Arbor.  Back in those days it used to be fairly common for games such as today's to score tickets on the street for not much money.  Back then (1991) I was able to get "two for $20" fairly often for games like this*, or bad-weather games.

What's the environment like in this day and age for on-street purchases?  I would think tickets were available.  How much they were going for I can't begin to say.

* The lowest I ever saw was back in 1975 where for a miserably cold, rainy day tickets were going for "two for a buck" and "buy a cider and get a ticket for free."

DonAZ

September 14th, 2013 at 10:30 PM ^

"aren't comfortable arriving at the Stadium without a ticket in hand"

Yeah, I understand.  Particularly with a family in tow.

Back in the 1989 - 1992 timeframe I lived in Ann Arbor and usually it was just me and a buddy.  We took the attitude that if we couldn't get a ticket it wasn't the end of the world.  I'll confess I did not always hold out for the absolute cheapest ... if some good seats came up for a reasonable price, I normally took 'em.

snarling wolverine

September 14th, 2013 at 8:38 PM ^

The stadium was pretty much full (at least from the 2nd quarter on).  The announced crowd was around 107,000 and it didn't seem that off the mark.

The much bigger issue was that a lot of people arrived late.  It was particularly bad in the student section, which was maybe 50% full at kickoff but ended up being close to full by halftime.  It seemed to gradually fill over the course of the first half.  

 

Rabbit21

September 14th, 2013 at 5:15 PM ^

It seems every team has the scare game and I hope that's what they just got out of their systems.  That said I'm worried that the interior O-line could not get a push and the D-Line still can't seem to rush the passer.  A couple of Akron's long passes were right on the money from what I could tell in the stands, so I'm not worried about those.  The three interceptions and two weeks in a row of pick sixes terrifies me.  At least I am no longer worried about Gardner going pro.  

 

TakeTheField

September 14th, 2013 at 5:28 PM ^

was never a concern, except among the insane and the deluded.  He's just not that good.  After today, I'd be more worried about him NOT going pro.  5 INTs in two games against horrible teams?  Some starting QBs will barely get that many all season.

tsbilly

September 15th, 2013 at 12:48 AM ^

Worried about him not going pro? Hell no. Devin is in no way ready for the NFL. He is not going pro this year, unless he gets bad counsel. The sheer number of bad decisions he has made are unacceptable at the college level, let alone in the NFL.

TakeTheField

September 15th, 2013 at 7:36 AM ^

When he's killing us with 2 or 3 INTs against State, OSU, Nebraska or NW. We will never win even the division championship with a QB who averages 2 Interceptions a game, let alone anything else that matters. If he's going to be the same kind of turnover machine that Robinson was, we may as well just move one and try Morris.

BraveWolverine730

September 15th, 2013 at 10:02 AM ^

Yeah screw that Denard guy. He didn't do crap here other than single handedly deliver us bowl eligibility, end the OSU streak and win a BCS Bowl game, end the MSU streak, and have us driving to take the lead in the de facto Legends division championship game last year before injury. I wouldn't want a QB who could accomplish any of that. 

M-Dog

September 14th, 2013 at 10:25 PM ^

Face it folks, we go as Gardner goes this year.  Even more than with Denard the last couple of years.  It should be an, um, interesting year.

You can win an NC with a single rock-star player, ala Cam Newton or Vince Young.  You can also flameout if your rockstar gets hurt, ala Dennis Dixon, or he goes south under pressure, ala Geno Smith.

As a Michigan fan, I am not comfortable with the concept of a single rock-star player carrying everyone else . . . The Team, The Team, The Team, and all.  But that's where we are.

Devin uber alles.

TakeTheField

September 14th, 2013 at 5:26 PM ^

This game highlights what I've said since this summer-we have no star-caliber players on defense..zip..zero. We have basically the same defense we've had the last two years without much improvement...decent...solid at times, but not that athletic and not many players that are going to win a lot of one-on-one matchups.

How much do we blame Gardner?  Give Akron credit..their coaches had the perfect game plan and their players executed it well.  They took advantage of our inability to run-block up front, and got Gardner rattled, frustrated and forcing things.  He made some really, really poor and stupid plays.  But also blame horrible pass protection.  And a fairly mediocre group of receivers that had a lot of trouble getting open.  And blame hideous play calling by Borges.  Way, way too many runs when it was clear that wasn't working, putting Gardner in a lot of 2nd/3rd and longs.  On top of that, far too many pass plays in the second half requiring difficult throws by a QB that was clearly not on his game.  Starting with our first drive of the third quarter.  Short, easy passes were the way to keep Gardner in the game and to keep our offense moving.

This performance leaves a lot of concerns going forward in this program.  Not just for this year, where we basically have 8-4 talent, but for the future.  None of the players that we need to emerge as stars of the future have shown much of anything so far, and I have serious doubts about this coaching staff's ability to develop elite on-field talent from highly rated recruits.

BlueinLansing

September 14th, 2013 at 5:35 PM ^

ohio 35 California (3-9) 28

ohio 29 Alabama-Birmingham (3-9) 15

ohio 52 Indiana (4-9) 49

ohio 17 Michigan State (6-7) 16

ohio 29 Purdue (6-7) 22

 

It happens, even to good teams loaded with talent

snarling wolverine

September 14th, 2013 at 8:40 PM ^

This game highlights what I've said since this summer-we have no star-caliber players on defense..zip..zero.

Jake Ryan and Blake Countess disagree with you. Ryan just hasn't been able to play yet. Countess is a stud and is already being avoided by opposing QBs. We need the spot opposite him to step up.

AZBlue

September 15th, 2013 at 1:14 AM ^

step back from the ledge a bit.  For Better or worse - I only think Gallon and Countess (of the DBs and WRs) would have a chance of starting on this team in 2 years when all of our fresh talent gets in place and experienced/bulked up.  Those positions and the O-line are the most apparent weaknesses on this team.  I hope that the game today will give the coaches a push to try some substitutions on the interior line.  Also, I am still concerned about LB depth/experience - Ross and Morgan are decent-to-good at this stage -- and we are still missing a game-changer on the D-end positions IMO .. (Would love to cross Mario's head/instincts with Frank C's body for example).. but mainly we lack experienced depth in those positions.  We seem to have the best talent/experience in the interior DL so GMat may have to figure a way to keep those guys on the field more in the nickel.  If this team goes into Happy Valley and proves it can win a true, tough, road game - I think 10-2 or 11-1 is still realistic.  Until then 9-3 is also very possible.

ND Sux

September 15th, 2013 at 10:48 AM ^

Carr's record at M was damn respectable, not to mention doing things the right way, etc. He was, and continues to be a great community guy also.

All you Carr bashers please FUCK OFF. Ask mom for a new basement couch to improve your outlook.

jim48315

September 14th, 2013 at 5:29 PM ^

Two or three plays before New 98's red zone fumble, a Toussaint run to the Akron 1 was wiped out by a holding penalty when Jake Butt inexcusably and lazily threw his left arm onto the back of the defender he had (actually, very nicely) driven into the middle of the field.  Later Gallon was nicked for holding on what would have been another nice gain for Fitz.    Holding penalties on running plays have driven me nuts since rule changes about use of hands allowed Jay Riemersma  to specialize in it.  What's so hard about keeping one's head up, elbows tucked inside, and feet beneath one's self and moving?

And just before the long pass setting up Akron's 3d TD, Akron's QB was able to scramble for a 1st down on 3d and 10 when Frank Clark thought going inside the tackle might free him for a sack instead of what actually happened, giving up outside contain.

OTOH, it might have been a useful wakeup call.   A lot of these kids needed to find out they've been doing it wrong. I'd like to think Hoke and staff already knew it.

EZMIKEP

September 14th, 2013 at 5:30 PM ^

What could have been a momentum changer for the entire program, a loss much worse than Appalachian State, and just a flat out embarrassment a million times bigger than anything we've had happen before instead we got a gift.

A gift that still stings and embarrasses and hopefully resonates with every major figure involved with the program. This win should be the one that let's us know that we cannot continue to expect anything anymore. Ever.

Coach Mattison deserves just as much criticism as Devin does today because he was arrogant and stubborn. They almost beat us with the same game plan that App State used in 2007. Spread us out and pi I us apart with speed. The god damn linebackers should have been pulled on so many of those plays it is ridiculous that a man making a million dollars a year and has been so stellar since he got here could be so damn stubborn, or clueless for that matter. They needed more speed out there and we refused to do it for what reason I have no fucking idea.

I understand that I am a fan. I don't coach D-1 football. But I have common sense and that entire game plan or lack there of was terrible. The usual halftime adjustments were basically zero and because of it we almost lost.

Almost.

This game needs to be remembered like a death in the family. It is pitiful and we dodged a serious bullet to the perception of Michigan football. One that we've been trying to rebuild. I hope that I am not the only one who feels this way because if its just the fans this team, and program is in trouble.

Slippery Rock …

September 15th, 2013 at 12:50 AM ^

We're you a big fan during the horror? Nothing is worse than app state. Ranked #4. Coming off a season that many thought we should have played for the NC, senior star running back and quarterbacks that had been pegged to be national contenders for years, the future #1 overall pick. Bite your tongue, young man. Nothing is worse than the horror.

EZMIKEP

September 15th, 2013 at 3:39 AM ^

to know that this would have been much worse than App State. And part of the reason it would have been worse is because app state happened. Michigan lost due to complacency and arrogance in that game. They also lost to a team that would have obliterated Akron today. App State was no Bama but they sure weren't a shitty team like Akron was.

Considering the fallout from App State and the years it's taken to start building what we have now losing to Akron today would have been even more damaging to the program, it's reputation and the momentum the Michigan Football program has been busting its ass to build going forward. We'd have had to live this App State and Toledo all over again collectively and had to see it all season. A season that could haul in the possible consensus number 1 and 2 recruits in the entire nation.

Sometimes perception can change on a dime and this is one of those games that could have did it. Regardless of us being top 5 in 2007, or who was on that team, it would not have affected the programs reputation or stung quite like a loss today would have. It's an embarrassment even as a win.

Is App State a very close second? Yes. But today losing would have been much like Mike Tyson losing his last fight. Every last bit of mystique would be gone. We'd be the joke of college football. No other power program has ever had as much shit happen to us and stayed relevant in national perspective. Say what you want but losing to App State was a fluke thing. Now we've been warned. Losing to Toledo was terrible but there were legitimate circumstances for it. Today there was Zero reason for this to happen and we should feel blessed as fans that we didn't have to bear it in all it's ugly glory.

I'm fucking sick of being a large part of the overrated talks in college football. Wether Michigan fans wanna believe it or not we haven't done shit in a long time. And today would have made me feel like a permanent death in the family happened had we lost. It didn't and I'm greatful. We get a chance to bury this and redeam ourselves.

Drbogue

September 14th, 2013 at 5:35 PM ^

Perhaps the best takeaway from today is that games like this are typically wake up calls. You see good teams bounce back after terrible performances all the time. UConn will be a gut check game and we'll have a good idea of the character of this squad. If this team is the type of team we all believe it is, I would not want to be UConn. Go blue and God bless!

Dude Lebowski

September 14th, 2013 at 5:41 PM ^

That was hard to watch.  So hard I had to turn off the TV before the last play of the game. Still surprised they pulled out the win from the jaws of defeat.. Starting having flashbacks of the App St. game.  Their D got zero pressure on the QB and the DBs couldn't cover.  They should be counting their blessing they escaped with the W.  Hopefully this is a serious wake up call.