Wisconsin 35, Michigan 14
That felt like a game of a bygone era, and not the one Jim Harbaugh constantly evokes. Michigan lost to Wisconsin in a start-to-finish debacle that'll shake even the most steadfast optimist's confidence in the program, at the very least until they can play on a big stage without getting stunted on.
Nothing went right. For the third straight game, Michigan lost a fumble on their opening drive, this time Ben Mason deep in Badger territory. There was no running game. Dylan McCaffrey replaced an ineffective Shea Patterson at quarterback until getting knocked out of the game by a dirty hit to the head. Wisconsin back Jonathan Taylor hit the century mark before the first quarter ended. Their quarterback, Jack Coan, completed 13 of his 16 pass attempts.
I’m gonna cry after the halftime show #BigNoonKickoff
— Charles Woodson (@CharlesWoodson) September 21, 2019
The rumored walking wounded, Donovan Peoples-Jones and Zach Charbonnet, suited up but made little impact until well into garbage time. Even on the shutout-breaking touchdown, Sean McKeon appeared to hurt his knee after landing in the end zone. A desperation Wolverine touchdown was overturned just before yet another lost fumble.
This was coming off a bye week.
— Ace Anbender (@AceAnbender) September 21, 2019
Okay, I slightly overstated things. The onside kick was lovely, even if it failed to provide the final score with an unearned veneer of respectability. Patterson's pitch to Jon Runyan Jr. provided a much-needed moment of levity. The late eff-it bombs to Nico Collins and Tarik Black provided a blueprint for what this offense should have been doing all along, for the love of all things sacred and holy.
Sorry.
203 yards on 23 carries. [Bryan Fuller]
A disaster of this magnitude brings with it major questions, the most pressing of which is: where is the offense we were promised in the offseason? And there are so many others. How do we distribute the blame for the offense's performance? When (if?) both quarterbacks are healthy, who starts? What the hell happened to the offensive line? What defensive alignment can be effective with this set of personnel? What the hell happened to those guys, too?
When does this stop? If it doesn't, when do we ask The Big Question that it's still too soon to ask no matter what's said on sports talk radio this week?
I certainly don't have the answers. Jim Harbaugh, Josh Gattis, and Don Brown are going to need to come up with some.
[Hit THE JUMP for the box score.]
September 21st, 2019 at 7:04 PM ^
Precisely. The play has has lack luster, uninspiring, and simply awful.. Look at his las five games:
1) 62-39 blowout loss to ohio
2) 41-15 blowout loss to florida
3) 40-21 mistake prone win against Middle Tennessee
4) 24-21 mistake prone, nail biter against Army
5) wisky debacle
To say, “We’re back,” or “on the right track,” or any other sunny superlative after five years of JH at the helm is simply insane. The program has 4-5* recruits playing on the level of IU or NW. Michigan Football is in serious trouble from top to bottom.
September 22nd, 2019 at 4:17 AM ^
we held wisconsin to 20 points under their season average on defense
and scored 14 more points than their average on offense.
michigan is back.
September 23rd, 2019 at 1:38 AM ^
The last five games have been pretty bleak, but using that as one's frame of reference is cherry picking.
It's also true that Michigan is 7-3 in their last 10, with 3 wins over ranked teams.
And 12-3 in their last 15.
IMO the most accurate measurement is we're 2-1 this year, without looking very good in any of them.
Last year we were 10-3, with highs and lows.
September 21st, 2019 at 4:15 PM ^
Great post. The only way back from this is to win out, which looks like an impossibility.
The defense was bad. The offense was probably worse. There wasn’t nearly enough passion, and there was even less execution. We have better athletes at 21 positions and we got ham blasted.
Not ready to say “Fire Harbaugh” after game three, but this game is a complete coaching failure. Is Gattis spread Al Borges? Where did Brown’s defense go? Why wasn’t this team playing absolutely on fire in the biggest game of they’ve played since getting their butts handed to them in Columbus?
If the ship isn’t righted fast, then message board “fire Harbaugh” comments won’t matter, because Warde will have no choice.
September 21st, 2019 at 6:51 PM ^
Warde won't fire Harbaugh even with a gun held to his head.
September 23rd, 2019 at 1:56 AM ^
Really? The season and Harbaugh's tenure are doomed if we don't win all our remaining games?
That's not true as far as I'm concerned.
- If we lose another game I'll consider the season a success.
- If we lose another game AND beat OSU, I'll consider the season a HUGE success.
- Hell, if we lose a couple more games and beat OSU, I'll be happy.
- Even another 10-3 season if it includes a NY6 Bowl win would be ok.
I'm not saying things look good so far; there's a huge need for improvement and beating OSU is a tall order - but there's still a lot of football to be played.
I acknowledge not everyone feels the same way.
September 21st, 2019 at 4:36 PM ^
I don’t think anyone here is giving up on being a fan or supporting “the team” in the general sense.
People are giving up on A) Harbaugh and B) THIS specific team this specific year. After today, we’ll be lucky to be bowl eligible
September 21st, 2019 at 4:47 PM ^
I'm having more fun grading essays, which is saying something.
September 21st, 2019 at 5:20 PM ^
I ignored the game. Big game, on the road, after a bye week. All of these factors have led to games similar to what we saw today. Call it feelingsball, fuckit, I figured it was coming today. So I didn't watch.
And I made the right call. The lawn looks good, and it was a better use of time.
Thanks, Michigan, and thanks, Harbaugh. The time I have lived and died with for almost 40 years is unwatchable. I just can't fucking do it right now.
September 21st, 2019 at 5:28 PM ^
I went to Home Depot before halftime to get supplies to hang shelves in my wife’s craft room. Thanks Michigan football for making me into a good husband on football Saturday.
Also I saw many Tennessee fans at Home Depot also.
September 21st, 2019 at 6:08 PM ^
I will never quit watching a Michigan game before it’s over out of principle. But I feel what you’re saying about the emotional detachment. Not there yet but I can see it on the horizon. It’s just not fun anymore.
September 21st, 2019 at 8:46 PM ^
Harbaugh has taken something that we looked forward to and turned it into something we dread. And it didn't have to be this way.
September 23rd, 2019 at 2:07 AM ^
HP, Do you really feel Harbaugh did that? Why?
I'm not picking a fight, I'm sincerely interested.
Is it because your expectations are higher for JH than they were for RR or Hoke?
Or do you feel like those teams were more fun to watch? Man, I sure don't.
I'm a born optimist, but the one game I truly dreaded was RR's last OSU game. I just didn't think we had a chance in hell.
Last year's OSU game was awful, but before the game I held out hope we could win. Silly me.
September 21st, 2019 at 6:21 PM ^
I wish I could get there. Some insane need to hurt myself won’t let me give it up ?
they talked afterward about lack of fire and player leadership. It’s certainly not the answer, but I think losing Chase’s fire and antics is not helping.
September 21st, 2019 at 6:54 PM ^
Please send this to Warde.....everyone on this this thread that agrees should do the same. It’s the ONLY thing that will bring about change.
September 21st, 2019 at 8:44 PM ^
Something died in Kinnick Stadium that night!
September 22nd, 2019 at 12:32 AM ^
Didn't watch a minute of the game today and don't regret that decision at all. Chuckled morosely to myself whenever I got a score update on my phone while Michigan was being slaughtered. Been going to Michigan football games since 1982. Much happier being less invested in it now.
September 21st, 2019 at 4:01 PM ^
Start McCaffery if he's healthy. He was the only player that had fire down 28-0 and his energy brought others along with him. Shea looks broken with little confidence and no swagger. Dylan is clearly a fighter and is ultra competitive. Maybe he can light a fire under Harbaugh? Harbaugh looks listless, too. Maybe a few 15 yard spaz out penalties would help. Dylan was the lone bright spot before the cheap shot hit on him.
September 21st, 2019 at 4:08 PM ^
Agree. Shea shouldn’t start again if Dylan is healthy.
September 21st, 2019 at 4:43 PM ^
I’d be shocked if Dylan is healthy after that decapitation.
September 21st, 2019 at 6:09 PM ^
I agree that looked like a multi week concussion. Too bad because he needs to get settled in against a team like Rutgers.
September 22nd, 2019 at 12:14 PM ^
I don’t buy this “settled in” stuff. While it’s likely preferable, it’s certainly not essential as evidenced by so many inexperienced players on other teams shedding it out of the gates. So this whole succession and break-em-in slowly theory is no longer relevant.
September 21st, 2019 at 4:55 PM ^
Harbaugh has to be on something to act like he acts right? The guy was engaged and into it his first couple of seasons. He literally looks tranquilized. Somebody said “we gotta calm you down coach, try this.” Well maybe they need to dial back the prescription. Competitiveness was always the word about Harbaugh. I don’t see it.
September 21st, 2019 at 5:15 PM ^
That’s what I don’t get! The dude we got in years 1 and 2 was the dude we all wanted, he brought a fire and passion that had been missing for a long ass time. And then...something happened. Because he’s positively Hokian now, and his team reflects the more lazy, passive personality that Hoke’s teams brought. Like you can just feel that the team doesn’t have the fire.
You know what one play I think of? It was 14-0 I believe, Wisconsin lines up with 4th and goal from the 1 after a timeout. Our defense just casually lines up, and the QB finds the gaping hole in the line and hits it with zero resistance. Where’s the fire? Get your asses up to the line and get ready to fight for that damn stop! Pounce at the snap! But...nope, they basically said “here ya go, have a TD”. That was sad.
September 21st, 2019 at 8:20 PM ^
Bacon's book tries to chalk up Harbaughs demeanor to the new rule the NCAA instituted (for Harbaugh) with an automatic 15 yard penalty for bad behavior by a coach. I have a different theory - he's been on an anti-depressant since the 2016 off season. That would at least explain the radical change in passion and energy on the sideline.
September 21st, 2019 at 11:48 PM ^
The 2016 ohio state game, in other words.
September 22nd, 2019 at 1:58 AM ^
My guess is hopped up on pain meds for his arthritic hips.
September 21st, 2019 at 5:07 PM ^
Better to invest time in McCaffrey than give more chances to Shea.
September 21st, 2019 at 10:10 PM ^
Start Dylan? He's going to be in the concussion protocol.
September 22nd, 2019 at 5:04 AM ^
For weeks...
September 21st, 2019 at 4:01 PM ^
This game was completely on the coaches, I think this is a 7-5 season and it’s time for harbaugh to go, kids aren’t improving, no one could tackle, they can’t run routes, cant block, can’t pick up blitzes, can’t hang onto the football, all coaching and need a change, big ten is owned by osu for the foreseeable future
September 21st, 2019 at 4:07 PM ^
It feels like the players seem confused and dispirited. Maybe JH isn’t getting thru to them anymore.
September 21st, 2019 at 5:11 PM ^
I don’t think Harbaugh ever got through to any of them over the last five years. The Amazon Prime season debacle showed me a coach that had no idea how to connect with, or inspire a football team. There was zero connection between them. The mental toughness has been / is completely missing on both sides of the ball.
Where have all of the Steve Everitts gone? The guys who wire their broken jaws shut and play the following week?
Someone needs to step up and lead this team.
September 21st, 2019 at 4:03 PM ^
Gattis is out. This is Rich Rod v2
Harbaugh is officially on the hot seat.
September 21st, 2019 at 4:07 PM ^
Harbaugh beats OSU this year or he's fired. Make it happen Warde!
September 21st, 2019 at 4:40 PM ^
There is a better chance that Harbaugh quits than there is of that wet noodle warde firing him.
September 21st, 2019 at 4:58 PM ^
I brought quitting up to a buddy during the game, half facetiously. Harbaugh has “integrity” right? What does someone with “integrity” do when he’s embarrassing himself and his university? When he knows he’s not earning those millions of dollars? He should step aside.
September 21st, 2019 at 4:23 PM ^
At least Rich Rod had some legit excuses.
Harbaugh can't play the "These aren't my recruits" card, or "They didn't give me enough time to revolutionize the program" card the way Rich Rod could.
What's Jim's excuse? The numbers (both dollars and stats) seem to point to him having everything he needs for a team that shouldn't struggle against lower-ranked opponents, let alone unranked opponents.
September 21st, 2019 at 4:38 PM ^
This right here.
Harbaugh was given the total royal treatment, has had five years to build a roster, five years to develop an O-Line, a QB, everything.
There’s literally nothing left to place the blame on except the man himself.
September 21st, 2019 at 4:42 PM ^
It wasn't true before, but it is now.
September 21st, 2019 at 5:07 PM ^
Maybe I'm alone on this, but I was over the moon when the pictures of Harbaugh arriving at DTW started floating around. "This is the return of Bo ball," I thought. After the previous debacles with Rich Rod and Hoke, who couldn't help but romanticize Jim coming home to set things right?
It was a slow climb, but I came to recognize that Bo ball doesn't work against Alabama, most of the SEC, and anymore, Ohio. But that same recognition seems to elude Jim.
Similarly elusive is meaningful changes to the game plan over the past two years. Gimmicks like two QB's on the field aside, we're seeing the same thing that didn't work last game recycled into the next game. The other teams have watched Michigan and figured out the few tricks we have. Why isn't Michigan doing the same -- and if they are, how are they so catastrophically bad at it?
September 21st, 2019 at 8:50 PM ^
Bo ball lives-it’s at Wisconsin it just beat us
September 21st, 2019 at 4:04 PM ^
This game was Rich Rod bad on the Defensive side of the ball. Teams have figured out that Don Brown does not play any Zone and that enough pre snap motion will provide a seam or a bubble in the defense that can be exploited.
I saw way to many times players leaving their gaps and trying to make the hero play and not doing what made this defense good, which is doing your assigned job and trusting those around you to do theirs.
On the offensive side of the ball these WR's need to learn that if the first route is not there then work to get open, most big plays occur not when you win the first time but by making yourself available for your QB when things break down. They need to watch Jeremy Gallon in the ND game on the big play at the end. He worked his way to an open area and Robinson found him and that was the big play needed to have a chance to win.
Really sad performance and Gattis has a lot of work to do and some hard decisions to make, and why the hell was Ben Mason in running the ball on that first drive? Was Charbonet that hurt or were they trying to get cute at the wrong time of the game.
Finally they have to grow up and stop making stupid mistakes. DPJ's personal foul in the second quarter was just stupid and imature that play basically flipped the field in the Badger's favor for the rest of the quarter.
September 21st, 2019 at 4:11 PM ^
I don’t get the d line alignment. There are huge gaps in the middle and linebackers are getting blasted. Then the safety’s are running away from line at the snap. It’s like they’re intentionally making it hard on themselves.
September 21st, 2019 at 4:47 PM ^
IIRC people spent a significant amount of time complaining about Mason not getting the ball in short yardage in weeks 1 & 2.
September 21st, 2019 at 6:18 PM ^
Exactly. When it works, they called for it. When it doesn't, they just forget about it and blame the coaches.
This thread is a perfect example of Jim Mora's rant about most people "not understanding football and never will."
First off, kudos to Wisconsin who is looking like a potential national title contender after 3 weeks. There's a chance they are just really fucking good.
Secondly, the defense was going to take a step back this year. That part was pretty obvious especially considering the DT situation. I can't imagine a worse team to play than Wisconsin when you have both talent and depth issues at the interior tackle spots. It might be an issue all year, but I'm not sure any other team can exploit it like the Badgers.
Third, a lot of commenters hyped up Patterson as some all-world QB when it's been clear for awhile now he doesn't process fast enough to make enough throws against good teams. He's a game manager and a very good one at that when the running game is rolling. If it's not and he has to drop back, throw it and read the defense he becomes very, very ordinary. He holds the ball too long and has since he's been here.
What I, and everyone else on this board for that matter, don't know is who is pulling the strings on offense. Because I will concur with most that this doesn't look like the offense that was "promised" when Gattis was hired. It looks like a bad amalgam of manball with some spread concepts thrown in for good measure. There's a saying in coaching, "either you're coaching it or allowing it to happen." So either Harbaugh still has hands all over the offense (my best guess) or he's allowing Gattis to run it and he's just not ready yet. Either way, it's Harbaugh's hire and it ultimately falls to him. Why hire a 35 year old OC at a Top 10 program with zero play calling experience that DOES NOT coach the QBs? Is it so you can still have control?
Lastly, I think Jim Harbaugh is a very good coach. He's probably not an elite one. He has Michigan back to the Carr/Moeller era of 3 loss seasons. The question for me--is that the realistic ceiling of the program barring a transcendental head coach? The program has been in this same zone for roughly 40 years now (discounting the RichRod/Hoke years). You can always put together a 1997 run and if Harbaugh's here long enough he will win the B1G and make a playoff berth or two. But the program's baseline seems to be right around 10-3 with a good coach at the helm. At some point it's not about who the coach is, but the school's understanding of what it takes to get above that. Cue the joke about bagmen, but it's not just that.
September 21st, 2019 at 9:27 PM ^
Carr/Moeller era of 3 loss seasons? You've been watching a different team this season if you think this is a 3-loss team. In 2017, we went 8-5. Right now it looks like we will lose at least 5 games 2 out of 3 years.
September 22nd, 2019 at 7:55 PM ^
I still think this team wins 9 (including the bowl game). You, and everyone else on the planet disagrees, but I think Harbaugh is still a good football coach. I believe he will right the ship enough to grind out 9 wins. It won't be pretty and it will feel like 2017 but that's my guess. They will beat the teams they should beat and probably grab the home "toss up" games.
I also think Wisconsin is a playoff contender and that this loss will look "better" in two months.
This game is a disappointment because of the modern spread offense hype the fanbase has been fed for the past 6-7 months. It's a bit more understandable looking at it as the growing pains of an offensive transition with a QB I think has been overrated by everyone since his arrival OR the meddling of a head coach in an offense he ultimately just doesn't believe in. Combine that with a defense that was destined to take a few steps back after the last few years of being near the top of the country and this game at least looks understandable even if it's in no way acceptable.
September 21st, 2019 at 6:45 PM ^
I hear what you're saying, but if that run was actually short yardage, Mason would have been in the endzone before fumbling. It was 1st and goal from the 8 or so. And even though it was Mason, the situation just reveals the general incoherence of the offense.
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