Florida 41, Michigan 15
ATLANTA — Just over a month ago, Michigan rolled into Columbus, the season still bright with limitless potential. On Saturday, two games later, the Wolverines left Mercedes-Benz Stadium having lost every bit of it.
The Peach Bowl, even after a loss at Ohio State, was a chance to end the season on a high note. Michigan could have come out of it with an 11th win for only the third time since 1986, having given Jim Harbaugh his first New Year’s Six bowl win in his tenure with the Wolverines. Instead, after a 41-15 loss to Florida, Michigan has all the same questions with no answers.
[After THE JUMP: gamer]
Things started to fall apart for the Wolverines in the third quarter. Looking for Nico Collins on a deep ball, Shea Patterson failed to see Gators’ safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. Not only did Gardner-Johnson pick off Patterson — he returned it to Michigan’s 44-yard line.
In the postgame, Gardner-Johnson was asked about the Wolverines. The answer, just one sentence, cuts deep for Michigan.
"I don't know how they prepared," he said, "but I don't think they prepared too well."
In Florida's locker room, a team that had prepared hard — wanting to win this game to put a cap on its season — emerged.
"We had a week and a little minute to study them," Gator defensive lineman Cece Jefferson said. "I just feel like everybody bought in and watched film good. ... We just knew what was coming sometimes."
After the interception, Michigan forced the Gators into fourth-and-1, but quickly fell apart from there. Sophomore Kadarius Toney took a jet sweep for 30 yards and Lamical Perine punched it in from five yards out, extending Florida’s lead to 10 with 8:06 to go in the third.
The Wolverines followed that with a three-and-out, giving Jordan Scarlett an opening to provide the dagger for the Gators. The running back broke off a 30-yard carry, going through tackle after tackle to get Florida inside the five-yard line. Then, he took a speed option into the end zone, bringing the lead to 17.
Michigan cut it to 14 with a field goal, and seemed to have momentum after an ill-fated double-pass forced the Gators into third-and-20. But on the very next play, Perine ran straight past the Wolverines' defense for a 53-yard score, ending any hope of a comeback.
Patterson’s numbers — 22-for-36 for 236 yards — weren’t bad, but the throws he missed, including two interceptions, will dominate memory of his performance. As for the run game, replacing Karan Higdon proved tough, as five rushers led by Christian Turner and Chris Evans averaged all of 2.27 yards per carry between them.
"We were moving the ball at times and close to getting into a rhythm, but we didn't get the run game going effectively enough," Jim Harbaugh said. "Or the passing game, the protection, and the rhythm in that area to make it -- we got outplayed, really, on that side of the ball."
Without Rashan Gary or Aubrey Solomon — and with Chase Winovich playing hurt — it was apparent that Michigan’s defensive line was missing something. It sacked Feleipe Franks just three times, failing to play up to a standard that has been set higher than that. As a whole, the Wolverines’ defense — vaunted all year — coughed up big play after big play, giving up 427 total yards.
"They were just a better team," Chase Winovich said. "At the end of the day, they seemed like they had us. I think this is an observation, but for the most part, they had us figured out. They knew what we were in and how to manipulate it."
December 30th, 2018 at 10:12 AM ^
Wow, the trolls really came out for this one. What did anyone expect with so many players out of the game. It played out exactly as I expected (and I blame coaching):
Shallow defense broke down in the second half since depth and key starters were out.
Offense was predictable and easily sniffed out. Patterson had to be elite to keep us in the game. He was not.
Poor game management has become a staple of JH’s tenure thus far.
I said it earlier, but I don’t have any issue with players sitting out, life changing money awaits them. However, as a fan, it made me not care, and honest to God, forgot the game was even on until around kick off.
December 30th, 2018 at 10:44 AM ^
Long time reader, first time poster.
To me, until JH changes his offense and defense strategy to adjust to the core talents he recruits every year, we should expect more of the same. This year's Ohio State game opened up my eyes to it.
Recruits have core talents, stuff that can be coached better, and other stuff that's just locked in. Just like the rest of us. They get a couple of years of game time play, for the most part. There are DPJ-like exceptions, but still. The rest of the time they're down the depth chart, practicing and waiting. Practice time is part time for a student athlete, which is appropriate. They can be coached to be much more productive versions of themselves, but not to take on talents they don't have. There isn't enough time and mother nature doesn't work that way.
I believe Saban, Swinney, and Meyer get that. I picture their office shelves with multiple offensive playbook binders for different recruiting classes--run first, pass first, dual threat, etc. You get the point. Same for defense. Each year they pull the one that best fits what they've recruited and decided to field.
True, they don't recruit randomly. They have position targets and talent targets. But when dozens of schools compete for less than dozens of talent, you don't always get what you want. You have to adjust. They do. So has Beilein, which we all know and praise extensively.
JH is different. He's on record saying we will execute a run first pro style offense. No matter the talent he recruits that's it.
While he's jamming square pegs into non square holes, the other coaches are working with what they have. Same story on defense.
Yes there is game prep. Yes there are stronger and weaker recruiting classes. Yes there are terrible refs. But those are true for all teams.
As for the Michigan way of doing things, that MUST include adapting to changing times. There is no way our great University got to the top and has stayed at the top by doing things the same way, without change, since it's founding. Why is football different? To be clear, this does NOT include any slime-y recruiting practices.
Today's game has more competition, faster and stronger players, and the path to number 1 goes through a playoff. All upside down from the 80s when JH and Bo reigned.
Until JH realizes that and builds adaptation as the core of his strategy, expect more of the same.
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