View from the Sidelines: Over the Hump
Remember the third quarter?
Michigan State scored off a trick play, after a turnover, tying a game in which it had been outplayed and it was like every iteration of this rivalry amalgamated into a five-minute span. It felt like you knew exactly how the rest of this thing was going to go, because we had seen this movie before.
When Michigan went three-and-out on the ensuing drive, Khari Willis dropping a surefire interception, it seemed like a prelude. Instead, it was another break in a game full of them, ending in a narrative-changing 21-7 victory.
If some of those breaks go a little differently — if the Spartans come down with a first quarter tipped ball instead of Nico Collins, if they do the same in the third quarter instead of Zach Gentry, if Willis doesn’t drop that pick — this might be a column about how the Wolverines still can’t get over the hump. Those plays have gone Michigan State’s way of late in this rivalry. And being able to win that weird, intangible element — clearing the “everything always goes against us” hurdle — might say more about Michigan than anything else it has done.
“Our team never blinked the entire time,” Jim Harbaugh told reporters. “They played hard, they played smart. From the pregame shenanigans, there was no backing down today by our guys. From then on.”
[After THE JUMP: A column]
The Wolverines kept the Spartans to 94 yards. Brian Lewerke averaged all of 2.64 yards per attempt. The weather and trick plays and Mark Dantonio juju that was the talk of Schembechler Hall this week — all it did was keep the score close.
This may not have been the best win of the Harbaugh Era, but it was, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the most important. It stops those stats — no wins against a ranked team on the road since 2006, 1-5 in rivalry games since Harbaugh’s arrival — from circulating, and it proves Michigan can win one of those games that Michigan has gained a reputation for losing just because.
Last year’s game was a textbook example. A deluge of rain, breaks going the wrong way, a loss to a team less talented on paper that celebrated on the Wolverines’ field. This week, Michigan’s coaching staff put pictures of that scene all over the building, a not-so-subtle reminder of what happens when you don’t play up to the moment.
“We were reminded of that every single day this week,” Tyree Kinnel said.
On Saturday, the Wolverines did play up to the moment. Shea Patterson and Donovan Peoples-Jones broke through the slog of turnovers and three-and-outs late in the third quarter, connecting on a 79-yard rainbow, five-star to five-star. And with that, the mental stumbling block on which Michigan had fallen so many times had been cleared.
“When we get that moment to break through, just, we’re not gonna give it back,” Patterson said. “Donovan in 1-on-1 coverage, good luck with that. Just threw it up to him, he made a hell of a play after the catch.”
On fourth-and-2 at the Michigan State 41 the next drive, Harbaugh went to zone read and Patterson kept the ball, fooling even the cameraman, scampering for 11 yards and a crucial first down. After a first half of conservative play-calling on both sides, the Wolverines gaining field position and coming up short, this was a welcome reprieve. And it paid off.
Ben Mason’s ensuing five-yard touchdown all but put the game away. Michigan’s defense finished the job. Cue the celebration, right on the Spartans’ logo.
“That’s what we wanted to do,” Kinnel said. “Coach gave us the clear, if we win this game, with the trophy and make the field our field. That’s what they did to us last year. It felt good doing that.”
A wholesale change in attitude — towards this game and towards its position in the college football zeitgeist — has been apparent with the Wolverines since Chase Winovich declared a revenge tour after beating Wisconsin. This is not Brady Hoke’s team, apologizing for planting a stake at midfield. This is a team that plans its celebration on Michigan State’s logo in advance.
This is not a team trying to get in the discussion for the playoff. It is a team that is in the discussion, and wants you to know that it is in the discussion.
“Every week it seems that people with the playoff rankings and whatever the case may be find a reason to critique us,” Higdon said. “Or talk about why we don’t deserve to be a top-ranked team. Last week it was, we don’t show up in big games. This week it was, Michigan State got the number-one run defense. Blah, blah, blah. We showed up, we did our job. That’s all that matters.”
Later, he added: “We knew they didn’t want to play us.”
Neither should anyone else.
October 21st, 2018 at 4:05 PM ^
They’ve spent so much time begging us to hate them as much as they hate us.
Well man, you got.
Hows it feel?
October 21st, 2018 at 6:27 PM ^
It doesn't matter....Sparty already considers this game their Super Bowl. They are obsessed with M all year anyway. Might as well bring the swagger.
October 21st, 2018 at 3:24 PM ^
Aside from the incompetent coaching, one of the most infuriating things about the Hoke regime was that dumb apology for the stake planting on the MSU field. I love knowing that Harbaugh told the guys to go out and celebrate on the logo. State and Dantonio already hate Michigan as much as possible, they already play dirty, a little “disrespect” won’t change anything.
October 22nd, 2018 at 5:30 AM ^
I gotta say, the most frustrating aspect of Hoke was his incessant clapping regardless of play outcome.. Speaking of which, poor Northwestern has their own Hoke in Fitzgerald. He was clapping like mad in the NU lowlights last week. Brought back seriously sour memories.
October 21st, 2018 at 3:32 PM ^
This season is fun.
This is a strange feeling.
October 22nd, 2018 at 9:16 AM ^
Why though? 3 out of 4 Harbaugh seasons have been super fun. I think MSU 2015 and OSU 2016 have ruined peoples thoughts on those seasons. Both were really good, fun teams imo.
October 21st, 2018 at 3:42 PM ^
I think it was the disrespekt sparty showed pregame that absolutely threw gas on the flame. Nice move sparty.
October 21st, 2018 at 3:46 PM ^
Michigan is now winning the big games in front of us.
Its weird how we act like we weren’t in this kind of situation 2 years ago. Michigan had talent, high expectations, and good performances.
Is there a difference? We played a harder game at the beginning of the season and lost.
And we look considerably better against Wisconsin and State.
The way is open. Michigan belongs, and they can do this.
October 21st, 2018 at 4:17 PM ^
Yes, I keep thinking of the similarities.
One thing I hope is not a repeat is our QB getting hurt--that definitely changed things for the worse and Speight wasn't the same after that.
Fingers crossed for a healthy Patterson from here on out.
October 21st, 2018 at 4:57 PM ^
Critical difference: Mccaffrey >>>>> JOK
October 21st, 2018 at 5:37 PM ^
Peters with a year of experience under his belt has to be better as well.
October 21st, 2018 at 6:52 PM ^
A lot of similarities, yes. The big difference I see, though, is the offense. In 2016, we knew Speight was playing out of his head - better than we all thought he was capable of. We also knew that we couldn't run the ball to close out a win whenever we needed that drive. This year... This year we know Patterson still has room to improve. And when we need that drive, we get it - and we know we're going to get it. Hell, we get that drive all game long!
This team has the offense that is capable of closing out a tough game, on the road, with a grinding, demoralizing, punishing drive. The 2016 team didn't have that.
October 21st, 2018 at 5:05 PM ^
When Harbsugh was hired and shortly after, I like many of you, looked ahead and thought, this year would be the season. We had success the first couple seasons (more then I thought we would) then the huge let down last year. I'll be honest, I didn't think this o-line had it in them especially given the recruiting misses and the injuries.
With every game I am starting to believe this IS the year (and by "IS", I mean this is the year we are able to compete realistically with anyone.) If this really IS it, I believed recruiting would get somewhat on par with OSU and Bama and we could at least be in the mix for the foreseeable future. After last year and what I saw with Notre Dame, I had all but given up on that dream. And now I am starting to wonder again, could this really be IT?
October 22nd, 2018 at 10:58 AM ^
Warinner has been absolutely huge. I'm sure Drevno was a fine OL coach, regardless of last season, but Warinner has been a huge upgrade.
October 21st, 2018 at 6:14 PM ^
Negatives:
Punts. Hart shows signs of mortality. 3 touchbacks while punting from midfield.
Nordins brain. 33/34 on XP's but I can count about 10 of those that looked like one of the Dr. Pepper - throw the footballs into the can participants, tossed it over the crossbar. 50/50 on FGs from 40+ and >100 from >40.
Slow starts on the road. Face it, Michigan is a different team away from home. Have been since Lloyd era. First 3 quarters yesterday anyone could see that game going either way.
Playbook. To me DPJ is the biggest playmaker on the field. Stunned as I just looked this up that he is #2 in receptions at 22. Wouldn't know it. Total of 1 yesterday was the biggest play of the game. Him, Gentry, and Nico are all averaging 3 catches a game. Gentry had 2 yesterday but I only remember the deflection.
Shea deep. Wouldn't consider the TD to DPJ a deep ball (it was in the air for 22 yards). Have heard lots of praise from Brian and others on Shea's passing. I haven't seen one deep ball thrown on time all year. They are all short. He is holding it too long. Even the announcers yesterday were commenting on it. Is it better than Speight throwing a ball 5 yards out of bounds to a wide open receiver? O'Korn not seeing receivers 10 yards open? Hail yeah it is. But needs improving.
Positives:
D. Can we please get pictures of Don Brown in a hotel room with dead hookers? Or put something in his contract that says he will always be the highest paid DC? Will have fresh chowdah flown in from Bahstin daily. Need to make sure he never leaves.
Breaks. In a complete role reversal Michigan did get what seems like all the breaks yesterday. If someone can please explain the ref holding Lewerke back from snapping the ball for 5 seconds - then calling delay of game - I really need to hear it. Couple other phantom calls against MSU that put them way behind the chains. Stuff Michigan fans are all too familiar with.
Shea wheels. Element of the offense that hasn't been seen in quite some time. DRob obviously had legs, but cant compare him and Shea. Seems to me to be best part of his game. Escapability we've been seeing all year has been HUGE for not taking losses and continuing plays/series.
Closing. Team seems like it is at its peak in Qtr. 4 when it counts most. There is no bend. O picking up critical 1st downs. D just straight smothering and smashing.
October 21st, 2018 at 6:24 PM ^
I think it already was delay of game when they held Lewerke from snapping and just needed a few seconds to confer and make sure?
October 21st, 2018 at 6:33 PM ^
I can help with the delay of game. Late subs on offense means they have to give the defense the ability to also substitute, so the refs hold the snap for a certain amount of time. It’s a legit call even though the refs were holding up the snap. If Sparty hadn’t subbed so late they would have gotten the play off in time.
October 21st, 2018 at 8:22 PM ^
Yep. This was explained on twitter by Mike Pereira almost immediately after it happened, so it’s not a mystery. MSU actually only had 10 men on the field, then ran a guy out late. Refs have to give the defense time to sub when that happens. It was a legit call. If you sub late, you need to call a timeout or take the penalty.
October 21st, 2018 at 10:11 PM ^
Gotcha. So it was explained on-line? It certainly wasn't on the broadcast unless I completely whiffed it.
October 22nd, 2018 at 10:29 AM ^
I wouldn't say that Michigan got all the breaks.
It rained. Big advantage for the home team and the less talented team - Sparty in both cases.
Also, unless I'm not remembering something, they recovered fumbles at twice our rate, and one of their recoveries happened inside our own 10 yard line. That's enormous luck for them right there.
Some of the personal foul calls on us were debatable at best.
And all those offsetting calls were disgusting because it was usually Sparty instigating; the guy bending Ruiz backward should have been ejected. I can't tell about the guy grabbing JBB's ankle or not - the replays I've seen I'm on the fence - but given Sparty's past, I would easily believe they were trying to hurt JBB. They're lucky they don't get called out for that.
And they're lucky as hell the NCAA has completely abdicated enforcement duties, otherwise they wouldn't be allowed to have an atheletic department and compete with civilized institutions.
October 21st, 2018 at 7:25 PM ^
"A wholesale change in attitude — towards this game and towards its position in the college football zeitgeist — has been apparent with the Wolverines since Chase Winovich declared a revenge tour after beating Wisconsin. This is not Brady Hoke’s team, apologizing for planting a stake at midfield. This is a team that plans its celebration on Michigan State’s logo in advance."
Michigan football is back y'all
October 21st, 2018 at 7:46 PM ^
I really like these View from the Sidelines columns. Perfect way to bask in the afterglow of victory.
October 21st, 2018 at 8:12 PM ^
I haven’t stopped smiling and looking at the stat sheet all day.
October 21st, 2018 at 8:59 PM ^
I know a few people have mentioned the two passes that were caught on ricochets as being lucky plays but if Sparty didn't have the luck of recovering the fumble on the seven yard line, I don't think there's any chance they even point any points on the board. Given our luck over the past few years however, while the Wolverines pretty much dominated, there was that specter of a crazy play giving Sparty the break they needed (especially given the weather).
My favorite part of the last two games has been watching our offensive line and running game get better in the second half. I was wondering if Bucky was just beat up but to do the same thing to MSU yesterday was impressive.
I'm going to be interested in the offensive UFR if Patterson had more opportunities to keep the ball and run in the first half. It almost seemed like he was waiting for a few key plays in the second half to run where it had more of an impact.
October 21st, 2018 at 9:25 PM ^
Fucking A ... all I can say is thank you. These UM players and coaches are on a roll. Keep it up and goals can be met. One day at a time, practice like champions. All things are possible.
Go Blue !!!
October 22nd, 2018 at 6:55 AM ^
Willis didn't drop the pick; Perry ripped it out of his grasp. The tipped catches were also some hard-effort, heads-up plays. They weren't breaks. This was still a game where almost anything that could've gone wrong, did. Hell, even the weather wasn't neutral; we got rain and wind against a team whose only merit is rush defense. The difference is that Michigan outplayed the hell out of Sparty. The players went up and fought for those possessions.
I don't think the luck changed; what changed is that it didn't matter. That's pretty much what it takes, but no mistake -- this team understands that.
October 22nd, 2018 at 11:06 AM ^
I totally agree with you. The lack of that sort of extra effort and playmaking is what kept us from beating OSU and MSU in the past. Gentry's play, in particular, is a great example of the sort of play that top teams have historically made against Michigan.
Remember Iowa ripping the ball out of our receiver's hands after he made the catch? That play probably cost us the win in 2016.
October 22nd, 2018 at 8:49 AM ^
The gauntlet ain't over yet. Enjoy and savor this win, and then get back to work. We've got Penn State coming in two weeks. Everything is in front of us for the taking; just have to keep focused and keeping winning.
October 22nd, 2018 at 12:29 PM ^
This was a 63-0 game that got spartied down to 21-7. May the future hold many much more significant dominations.
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