Michigan 41, Florida 7
[File photo: Patrick Barron/MGoBlog]
Through the first half of the season Jake Rudock looked more like a liability than a solution at quarterback.
That felt like a distant memory as Rudock picked apart the vaunted Florida secondary, becoming the second Michigan quarterback (John Navarre) to surpass 3,000 single-season passing yards in the process. Rudock connected on 20/31 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns and looked like a completley different player from the one that threw three picks at Utah to open the season.
Even with Jabrill Peppers sidelined due to a hand injury, Michigan looked like a team peaking in bowl season and ready to carry that momentum into 2016. De'Veon Smith, perhaps unencumbered by the turf toe he'd dealt with all season, had some extra pep in his step; more importantly, he knew where to take that step, showing much-improved vision on his way to a 109-yard afternoon.
The O-line stymied a Florida pass rush that ranked among the best in the country. Jehu Chesson repeatedly won one-on-one battles with balleyhooed cornerback Vernon Hargreaves, a projected top-ten NFL draft pick, including a hitch-and-go touchdown that broke the game open. Grant Perry emerged with a couple big grabs and his first career score. If Rudock can be satisfactorily replaced, all the pieces are there for the offense to break out in 2016.
The defense, meanwhile, limited an overmatched Gators offense to 262 yards. Florida couldn't hit a big play—their longest gain went for 27 yards—and didn't have a means to stay ahead of the chains outside of a few scattered scrambles by quarterback Treon Harris, who had to deal with plenty of pressure from Michigan's front four. When Harris lost his composure, the Wolverines took advantage, most notably on a Jarrod Wilson interception in the end zone with the Gators threatening to answer Chesson's long TD.
The special teams battle hardly came into play, but Michigan won that, too. Channing Stribling intercepted the holder's pitch when Florida faked a field goal on their opening drive; long after the game had been decided, a cavalcade stuffed a fake punt in the backfield.
Rudock teared up in the televised interview following his final collegiate game. Jim Harbaugh is done working his magic with Rudock, who guided a limited team to ten wins in their first year in a new system. When this team reconvenes in the spring, most of the talent from today's blowout will be back, and if Harbaugh has coaxed similar improvement from the other quarterbacks on the roster, they'll be poised for a run at the playoff.
January 2nd, 2016 at 8:11 PM ^
We were the second best team in the B1G, we shoulda played Stanford.
January 1st, 2016 at 5:13 PM ^
all you have to do is point to Jake Rudock. Resilient, tough, and a battler. The kid forever has my thanks and profound respect.He has taken a lot criticism in his college career, but he worked though it and left a winner.
January 1st, 2016 at 5:18 PM ^
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January 1st, 2016 at 5:13 PM ^
Didn't see this coming but damn that was a fun afternoon.
So much for the most awesome defense in the SEC
January 1st, 2016 at 5:13 PM ^
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January 1st, 2016 at 5:15 PM ^
What a game and what a season! There were many surprises, but the biggest ones were QB and WRs. We never thought we would have a deep threat and there it was in the second half. The OL improvement in the bowl game is very noticeable. Our future is bright and looking forward to an awesome 2016, where we I expect M to beat both rivals.
THANK YOU HARBAUGH, RUDOCK and the SENIORS.
Can't wait for Spring Game.
January 1st, 2016 at 5:45 PM ^
PLEASE keep this offensive staff together for a loooong time.
January 1st, 2016 at 5:16 PM ^
I wish we could keep Jake Rudock for another year or two (or three).
He's pretty awesome.
Go Blue!
January 1st, 2016 at 6:14 PM ^
Introducing 5-Star Recruit, Steak Brudock, now committed to Michigan #4MoreYears pic.twitter.com/eEls1HgGYi
— Oliver Queen (@Dylazershow) January 1, 2016
January 2nd, 2016 at 1:49 AM ^
Pure awesomeness.
January 1st, 2016 at 5:16 PM ^
A great way to finish the season, Now it's time to recruit.
January 1st, 2016 at 5:20 PM ^
Rudock is night and day compared to the player we saw in the Utah game.
Can't wait for next year. If O'Korn can be the guy we want him to be, this team will be dangerous.
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January 1st, 2016 at 5:22 PM ^
after the way he finished the season I'm almost sure someone will take him in the 6th or 7th
January 1st, 2016 at 5:22 PM ^
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January 1st, 2016 at 5:26 PM ^
January 1st, 2016 at 5:26 PM ^
January 1st, 2016 at 5:28 PM ^
January 1st, 2016 at 7:53 PM ^
& Jim Hackett. I had serious doubts about Schissel, an ivy league academic with no background in athletic leadership. The butterflly effect for sure.
January 1st, 2016 at 5:31 PM ^
A couple of them:
41-7.. Sheesh.
— Dontavious Jackson (@DJACKV_) January 1, 2016
Michigan crazy man
— Justin Ademilola (@justin4747) January 1, 2016
— Justin Ademilola (@justin4747) January 1, 2016
Wolves playin' in the swamp.
— David Long Jr. (@dee_knowz) January 1, 2016
January 1st, 2016 at 6:01 PM ^
these games do matter ....
January 1st, 2016 at 6:45 PM ^
I would think this dominant win will help alot with the top recruits we are after. Gives us hype heading into NSD.
January 1st, 2016 at 9:24 PM ^
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January 1st, 2016 at 8:53 PM ^
I like your style, Dontavious.
January 1st, 2016 at 9:46 PM ^
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January 1st, 2016 at 5:40 PM ^
I LOVE playing Florida in Florida on New Years Day. They are just so welcoming to us.
3 and 0 and undefeated all time against Florida. They are our bitch.
Not Vandy. Not Kentucky. Florida.
January 1st, 2016 at 5:47 PM ^
January 1st, 2016 at 5:49 PM ^
because we have so many kids who'll be back next year. Just keep approaching every day with an EUTM and we're going to be even better next year. Playoffs? Playoffs!
January 1st, 2016 at 5:51 PM ^
Go Blue! The future is bright.
January 1st, 2016 at 5:53 PM ^
Just think how well we would have played with Peppers in the game!
January 1st, 2016 at 6:22 PM ^
January 1st, 2016 at 5:54 PM ^
better than the one that finished the season. Don't know if that is a product of a few more weeks of practice under Harbaugh and staff or guys getting healthy, or both. But I like it and it bodes well for 2016.
January 1st, 2016 at 6:02 PM ^
That was some Gator stompin'!
Amaizing to see the offense get it together and end the season on a high note.
January 1st, 2016 at 6:05 PM ^
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January 1st, 2016 at 6:14 PM ^
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January 1st, 2016 at 6:36 PM ^
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January 1st, 2016 at 6:34 PM ^
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January 2nd, 2016 at 9:29 AM ^
OLs. Never thought I would say that about this one, but it is so.
January 1st, 2016 at 6:09 PM ^
January 1st, 2016 at 6:10 PM ^
January 1st, 2016 at 6:13 PM ^
January 1st, 2016 at 6:18 PM ^
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January 1st, 2016 at 6:23 PM ^
Grant Perry looked like an entirely different player than the confused Freshman that we saw in the Utah game. I think he will be a star.
January 1st, 2016 at 6:45 PM ^
January 1st, 2016 at 9:20 PM ^
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January 1st, 2016 at 6:42 PM ^
Intelligent, athletically-limited QB who could have a long career as a backup/occasional starter.
January 1st, 2016 at 6:47 PM ^
January 1st, 2016 at 6:58 PM ^
What a fantatstic way to wrap up this wonderful season.
I was most impressed at how after the first quarter we knew we could out-tough them
and kick their asses the rest of the way.
Great Job all the way around, so excited to see what recruits we pick up and I can't
wait until fall ball.
Go Blue! And thanks again Jim Harbaugh for coming home.
January 1st, 2016 at 7:00 PM ^
What an enjoyable game to watch....a complete domination.
I especially like going for the long pass up 24-7 (or was it 31-7?) in the second half. I commented to my Dad that in the old days, Michigan would have sat on the lead, perhaps letting our opponent back in the game. Not any more!!
And seriously, what top recruit wouldn't want to play for this team, all other things being equal? JH was even showcasing players such as Houma for NFL scouts.
The quality of the Big Ten East, mostly that team in Columbus, is really the only roadblock. With apologies, the future's so bright, we gotta wear shades.
January 1st, 2016 at 7:02 PM ^
that the defense was not good in the first half, but they were decent once Florida got near the red zone. In the second half the defense was awesome!
It was great to see the running game do so well against a really great defense. The O Line played pretty well, especially in pass protection. Chesson destroyed Hargreaves.
The best cover corner in college football is Jourdan Lewis, not Hargreaves or King at Iowa.
Next season can be really awesome if they can stay healthy and develop another QB.
Go Blue!
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