Michigan 56, Nebraska 10 Comment Count

Adam Schnepp

[Upchurch]

On a day that featured the actualization of the Platonic ideal of a Harbaugh-led offense, a legitimate argument can be made for the defense being the most impressive unit on the field. In other words, Scott Frost, so used to disputed titles, couldn't even find one phase of the game to hang his hat on. Michigan outrushed, outpassed, and, yes, outhit Nebraska en route to their most complete game of the young season.

Which Michigan unit was the star of the day is largely a question of aesthetics. Do you prefer drive charts that begin TD, TD, TD, punt, FG, TD, TD before ending on downs despite a gorgeous throw, or ones that begin INT, punt, punt, punt, fumble, punt, punt, safety?

Michigan’s defense allowed a 32-yard reception on the third play of the game, as an overloaded half of the line led to Jordan Glasgow almost chasing down Nebraska QB Adrian Martinez only to see him heave the ball up to Stanley Morgan. Martinez’s pass was tipped on the next play by Lawrence Marshall, and Josh Metellus secured the ball as it looped toward the ground. The yardage of drives allowed by the defense from that point forward: -13, -3, 13, 0 (a fumble by punt returner Tyjon Lindsey that would have been returned for a touchdown if not for an odd rule that disallows advancing the ball on a fumble recovery on punts), 2, –20, –10, and 0. And that was just the first half.

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[Upchurch]

Offensively, Michigan did what they were unable to do last week and put points on the board early. Karan Higdon, returning from injury after a one-game absence, got things going. He caught a seven-yard pass on Michigan’s first offensive play of the game, then juked Nebraska safety Tre Neal to turn an already big gain into a 46-yard run on the second play from scrimmage. Two yards on another Higdon run got Michigan inside Nebraska’s 10-yard line, and Ben Mason took over from there. The fullback dragged defenders on his first carry for six yards, then pushed ahead for two yards and again for one and his second touchdown of the season. Mason finished with three touchdowns on six carries, reliably dragging defenders with him whether he was lined up alone in the backfield or as a fullback.

Michigan’s following drive lasted one play. Higdon got the ball, popped through a lane opened by Ben Bredeson kicking out the end, and jetted 44 yards for the corner of the south end zone. Higdon carried 12 times for 136 yards and was shelved before halftime. Other contributors to the ground game included Tru Wilson, who finished with six carries for 43 yards, and Christian Turner, who took advantage of garbage time snaps to show some wiggle and power in the 10 times he carried the ball for 55 yards. Michigan finished with 294 sacks-removed rushing yards for an average of 6.7 per carry.

The passing game was also reliable, with Shea Patterson shaking off one bad drive at the end of the first quarter to finish 15-of-22 for 120 yards and one touchdown. Patterson played through the first drive of the third quarter before he was removed in favor of getting live reps for Dylan McCaffrey, who has emerged as the clear no. 2. McCaffrey’s conventional stat line doesn’t pop—he finished 3-of-8 for 86 yards and a touchdown—but his passer rating of 169.1 hints at what he showed today. McCaffrey dropped dime after dime, putting passes where only his receiver could make a play on the ball or dropping them into buckets. He also showed good pocket awareness, taking the lanes given him when Nebraska’s rush got too far upfield.

Nebraska’s quarterbacks were all too familiar with upfield rush by the time the clock mercifully hit quadruple zeroes. Michigan finished with four sacks (one each from Devin Bush, Rashan Gary, Chase Winovich, and Jordan Glasgow), 14 tackles for loss, and four QB hurries (one each for Winovich, Glasgow, Noah Furbush, and Khaleke Hudson [who was ejected again for targeting in the second half]). Michigan’s swarming rush also put Nebraska in untenable third-and-long situations, with Nebraska finishing 3-for-13 on conversions. The only time Nebraska faced third-and-short before the third quarter ended in a loss of ten yards on a sack by Gary.

The defense placed guys in gaps where Nebraska thought there would be none on the regular, and their offensive line subsequently looked downright confused. Michigan held Nebraska to 39 net rushing yards on 30 attempts for a cool 1.3 yards per rush. Michigan’s coverage wasn’t tested often, but they did hold Nebraska to just 93 passing yards on 24 attempts. Perhaps the most remarkable feat of the day defensively is that 80 of Nebraska’s yards came during a fourth-quarter drive during which I was receiving texts from friends who are devoted followers of Michigan football wondering who were some of the players Michigan was fielding on defense.

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[Upchurch]

Michigan’s special teams units didn’t want to be left out of the fun and put on shows of their own. Will Hart continued his dazzling aerial display, coffin-corner punting gems and launching bombs with equal ease. Quinn Nordin showed off his power as well, drilling a 50-yard field goal that would have been good from at least 55. Then there was the aforementioned return by Ambry Thomas on a fumble recovery that would have stood if not for one of college football’s weirder rules, which was followed on the next drive by a 60-yard Donovan Peoples-Jones punt return touchdown that he took near midfield, arced to the right, cut back across, pulled a spin move that I can’t even get to work in video games, and finished on a nearly horizontal angle that was punctuated with a flip into the end zone.

Frost’s offense is going to take a while to install, and his starting quarterback was hobbled by injury. Even so, this was the type of three-phase domination not seen since 2016. Not a bad way to start the Big Ten portion of the schedule. 

Comments

LeCheezus

September 22nd, 2018 at 5:45 PM ^

I hope a Michigan beat reporter asks Scott Frost in the post game presser: “So Scott, if you were a coach with your job on the line would you rather play Michigan or Nebraska?”

markusr2007

September 22nd, 2018 at 5:46 PM ^

Nebraska got destroyed today. Michigan put them away decisively in all facets.  If this improvement continues and the Harbaugh playbook opens up even more each week, then this UM team will gain a lot of momentum like a train.  Northwestern is already in big trouble next week.

If you haven't heard Frost's post game press conference comments, then you should.

He was highly complimentary of the Michigan defense, offense and of coach Harbaugh today. Repeatedly saying so. 

A lot of UM fans hate the guy for the 1997 disputed championship comments and the "outhit" comment from 2016, but Frost is just a partisan competitor, and considering that I wouldn't expect anything less from the man.  It was disrespectful to say such remarks then perhaps, but he was humbled today. 

Nebraska has to dig itself out of multiple years of substandard recruiting and overall niceness from the Riley regime. Frost is the perfect coach to do that. But it will take him time.  Frost also admitted that their Thursday practice this week was full of problems and attitude issues, but he refused to mention it to the media at the time.  Hopefully they pull it together. I'd like Nebraska to pull out some upsets down the line this year.

I also listened to the IMG Nebraska radio broadcast while watching the game. Nebraska's football media did not think Michigan was a good team at all, and they were shocked and despondent.  No idea this would be the outcome.

 

 

jmblue

September 22nd, 2018 at 6:04 PM ^

Well, after getting utterly annihilated today in all phases of the game, and having now lost by a combined 83 points (could have been more) in two games to Jim Harbaugh, I'd hope he would be a bit more humble now.

I think the jury's out on Frost.  The circumstances at UCF were more complicated than the simple "0 wins to 0 losses" narrative that has been advanced.  They were in fact a good program, winning three straight conference titles from 2012-14, before the team quit on George O'Leary for whatever reason in 2015.  

Bando Calrissian

September 22nd, 2018 at 5:46 PM ^

Is the not-forwarding-a-muffed-punt rule really that surprising? It's always been on the books. Seems to me if Tim Brando/FS1 had known the rule instead of calling a touchdown and putting the points on the board, no one watching the game at home would have been outraged.

schizontastic

September 22nd, 2018 at 5:50 PM ^

At the Big House today, Nebraska fans certainly made a case for nicest fans in the BIG--very gracious even during the beatdown. I did see a few rapidly drowning their sorrows in alcohol outside the stadium.

MZNBLUE

September 22nd, 2018 at 10:01 PM ^

Couldn't agree more.  Had a great football discussion with a Nebraska fan in front of me at halftime.

Happy to say that the Nebraska fans were treated well also.

The best college football fans know how to conduct themselves, win or lose - something a lot of folks need to learn.

yossarians tree

September 23rd, 2018 at 10:21 AM ^

We've been conditioned over the last 15 games or so to expect a superior Michigan team to come out conservative and tentative to start the game and allow Nebraska to stick around for a half or so. I was pleading for this team to come out throwing haymakers and that is exactly what they did. It is the Big Ten season now and there should be no "working on base plays" or worry about what we are putting on tape for future opponents. Ben "Bench" Mason is quickly becoming my favorite player. He goes all out on every play with supreme aggression. The whole team and the coaches should learn from that kid. Love it.

DeepBlueC

September 22nd, 2018 at 5:52 PM ^

I counted three non-calls on blatant pass interference by Nebraska (all of which would have been called on us last week, and all of which would have gone for big yardage if not TDs).  Nebraska's best rushing play of the day only came about as the result of a blatant hold.  Worst of all, the laughably blatant face mask on Bell would have gone uncalled if they hadn't plastered it all over the big screen and shamed the refs.

You Only Live Twice

September 22nd, 2018 at 9:06 PM ^

That was a thing of beauty, holding the refs accountable on the screen...  

and yes watching the game live the non-call PI on Nebraska were so evident, and there was also a very soft PI call on us, with a comfortable lead at least these weren't game changers.

blue90

September 22nd, 2018 at 5:56 PM ^

Incredible outing, poor Mr. Frost, he seems like a nice guy.  The only bad thing from the entire game if I'm being nit-picky was the small amount of throws Shae had. I think that when we play some good, good teams like PSU, Wisky, OSU, we are going to need to sling the ball a lot and will not be able to run much against them.  I think and want to see Shae use these games to throw 30 times a game at least and practice getting dimes to his receivers. Plus our o-line still needs plenty of reps to be able to protect Shae from good big-ten d-ends.  Other than that, great game.

CFraser

September 22nd, 2018 at 6:00 PM ^

Are you guys seriously content with winning by 46?! Am I doing this right? (Sarcasm)

i cant even remember a game UM was more impressive in but I think Nebraska may just be THAT bad.

s1105615

September 22nd, 2018 at 6:13 PM ^

Great win in all three facets of the game and on the scoreboard today for UM.  I too, think this was a case of just how bad Nebraska is verses just how great UM is.  As the announcers brought up with every other breathe, Nebraska was pretty close to taking a lead early in the game if not for the deflection at the line on the interception.  UM was clearly better, but this Nebraska team lost to a Sun Belt team last week.  I'm pretty sure that Akron would have beaten them too if they played like this had that game happened as well.

One of the most encouraging aspects of the game was the pocket the O line was able to create for Patterson.  Plenty of plays where Patterson had time to go through his progressions and step into a throw.  Didn't Nebraska have a bunch of sacks over the last two weeks too?  

At any rate, I will reserve any enthusiasm for after the MSU game.  The pieces are coming together, but I'd like to see a complete effort against a team with a pulse before I let myself believe this year might be different from the last 10 or so.

mGrowOld

September 22nd, 2018 at 6:07 PM ^

Best thing today for me was going on a beer run shortly after game ended wearing all my M gear here in Northern Ohio.  No snide comments, no pity head shakes and smiles.  Just a couple of "you guys looked pretty good" and a dude who I think wanted to flip me off.

Just like the good old days....