Michigan 45, Colorado 28
Jabrill Peppers left the Buffaloes (and his coach) in awe. [Patrick Barron/MGoBlog]
After one quarter, Colorado had a 21-7 lead, outgained Michigan 195 yards to 66, and flat-out looked like the better team.
"We knew it wouldn't be a fairy tale all year," said Jake Butt. "We knew we'd get punched in the face."
Michigan punched back, hard. The Buffaloes gained 130 yards for the rest of the game. Michigan had 331. If Kenny Allen hadn't missed a pair of field goals, the Wolverines even would've covered the 20-point spread.
Early on, Colorado's up-tempo offense and athletic defense caught the Wolverines by surprise. Jabrill Peppers was caught out of position on a deep post for Colorado's first touchdown, then the Buffs went up by 14 less than a minute later when Chidobe Awuzie forced a Wilton Speight fumble that Derek McCartney took back 18 yards for a score. Speight, either shaken or hurt on the hit, had a tough time dialing in after that. If not for a blocked punt by Michael Jocz that Grant Perry took in for a touchdown, Colorado would've exited the first quarter up by 21 after another Sefo Liufao touchdown pass.
Then Michigan adjusted. The defensive front got to Liufau time and again, eventually forcing him out of the game with an apparent ankle injury, though not before Liufau somehow bombed a 70-yard touchdown off one leg to Shay Fields to open the second-half scoring. They shut down the Colorado running game entirely, and the Fields touchdown was the only big play after a first quarter full of them. Don Brown is paid good money for a reason.
[Bryan Fuller/MGoBlog]
The offense slowly but surely picked it up, too. With Khalid Hill leading the way in authoritative fashion, Jehu Chesson got the corner for a 17-yard jet sweep touchdown. Amara Darboh gave Michigan the proverbial momentum swing they needed on a 45-yard screen, stiff-arming a defender to the ground on his way to the end zone with only 33 seconds left in the half. Despite a disastrous start, Michigan led 24-21 at the break.
Colorado landed another big shot with the Fields touchdown. Michigan responded in kind with a pitch to De'Veon Smith on the second play of the ensuing drive; Smith hardly had to do anything on a 42-yard jaunt down the sideline on perhaps the best-blocked run play of this young season. The Wolverines finally grabbed control of the game when a long catch-and-run by Grant Perry set up a one-yard touchdown for Ty Isaac to give M a 38-28 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Then Jabrill Peppers, having a remarkable all-around game, launched his Heisman campaign. Peppers already had three punt returns and a kickoff return that were a block or two away from reaching the end zone when Colorado lined up to punt from deep in their own territory; a line-drive kick went right to Peppers's chest, and he exploded up the middle, overcoming a cramp at the five-yard line to at long last tally his first return touchdown in a Michigan uniform.
"It was definitely a sense of relief," said Peppers. "If I don't score there, then they needed to put someone else back there."
Peppers's overall stat line boggles the mind: two rushes for 24 yards, four punt returns for 99 yards and a TD, two kickoff returns for 81 yards, nine tackles (six solo), 3.5 TFLs, and a thunderous sack.
"Above all, Jabrill Peppers proved that he was the best player in today's game," said Jim Harbaugh, who praised the talent level on both teams. "We don't win that game without Jabrill Peppers."
"That's a team effort, but... wow," Harbaugh added.
Peppers wasn't the only Paramus Catholic graduate to provide some honest-to-god wow experiences. Rashan Gary recorded 1.5 TFLs and a pair of QB hurries; even better, he eliminated the mental errors that allowed UCF to pick up big gains on the ground last week.
Michigan leaves this game with plenty to work on. Dymonte Thomas, Delano Hill, and Peppers all had coverage busts that led to big plays. Speight's performance didn't equal those he had in the season's first two weeks. Allen, who looked either injured or overwhelmed by his workload, struggled in all phases of the kicking game.
"To be honest I think we did [need a game like this]," said Butt. "We can look back and learn from this."
With Penn State and Wisconsin up next on the schedule, it won't take long to find out how well they've learned those lessons.
September 17th, 2016 at 8:04 PM ^
Win is a win.
September 17th, 2016 at 8:05 PM ^
We're gonna need Kenny Allen to rechannel his inner Kenny Allen before then season is over. He's too good to play as poorly as he did today.
September 17th, 2016 at 8:19 PM ^
To be fair they all just seemed...off today. Save Peppers.
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September 17th, 2016 at 8:32 PM ^
was the only player to have a good game. We dominated after the first quarter and it wasn't all Peppers.
September 17th, 2016 at 8:58 PM ^
This. I've seen a lot of doom and gloom from fans. We almost covered the spread. Apart fron a very bad quarter to start we dominated the game.
We have a coaching staff that is able to make the adjustment necessary to win a game. It has been a while since that had been the case.
September 17th, 2016 at 10:30 PM ^
Excellent perspective, and everyone needs to keep this in mind. They adjusted, they performed, and they played quite well afterwards. This staff knows what they're doing.
September 17th, 2016 at 11:55 PM ^
I was actually more impressed with what I saw today than last week, because we made adjustments, got better and then dominated. Speight came back down to earth big time, but CU has excellent corners and this was the first time he wasn't looking at wide open guys all game. He'll get better.
The defense was great save for the safeties getting torched three times. I feel like that's correctable. I feel much better after completely dominating the run and screen game today.
September 18th, 2016 at 9:38 AM ^
In fact, he got better. He was 7 for 9 in the second half. That was encouraging.
September 18th, 2016 at 10:31 AM ^
I agree with you that we clearly settled down after the first quarter, but it should be noted that after their starting QB went out their offense was not at all the same. That doesn't prove that we didn't make any adjustments or didn't improve, but the backup came in and went 0-7. I'm sure we'll be fine as the team is in the process of learning the Don Brown defense but it still makes me a little concerned.
September 18th, 2016 at 11:30 AM ^
Let's go over this again. Colorado scored 21 points in the first quarter (14 on offense). The starting QB played a 2nd quarter and 1-2 drives in the 3rd. They scored 7 points in that time. We won by 17.
After the first quarter, their offense was not at all the same.
September 18th, 2016 at 12:38 PM ^
I have to go back and watch but didn't they have a couple of missed field goals in the 2nd and 3rd quarters? All I'm saying is there is no denying that they took a step back when their starting QB went down.
September 18th, 2016 at 6:02 PM ^
Once we finally started getting pressure on Liufau his throws were not accurate at all. Yes, we adjusted and shut them down after the first quarter, but I think that game ends up a lot closer if he plays the whole game.
September 19th, 2016 at 10:22 AM ^
Colorado missed a single field goal in the 2nd quarter.
We held their healthy QB to 16 yards passing in the entire second quarter and shut them out that quarter.
The game had already shifted well before he went out.
September 18th, 2016 at 6:35 PM ^
I thought we did very well during the Brandon Era...
September 17th, 2016 at 8:24 PM ^
The kicks today we're subpar to say the least. If we want to make it deep at the end of the year we need a dependable kicker
September 17th, 2016 at 8:29 PM ^
I do not understand how kickers are not more accurate. I know I'm underestimating the difficulty, but it's the same motion over and over again. How do they practice it 10,000 times and then miss?
September 17th, 2016 at 8:34 PM ^
played golf?
September 18th, 2016 at 8:10 AM ^
but I'd wager this poster never was a starting D1 kicking specialist at the greatest university in the world.
September 17th, 2016 at 8:39 PM ^
Ever shot a free throw?
September 17th, 2016 at 9:10 PM ^
Or played pool.
September 17th, 2016 at 10:14 PM ^
Played school?
September 18th, 2016 at 1:40 AM ^
Started to drool?
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September 18th, 2016 at 7:50 AM ^
Misplaced a tool?
September 18th, 2016 at 8:18 AM ^
Pitied a fool?
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September 18th, 2016 at 8:31 AM ^
Eaten gruel?
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September 18th, 2016 at 10:07 AM ^
Never the same.
September 17th, 2016 at 8:49 PM ^
By that reasoning, PKs in soccer should be automatic.
September 19th, 2016 at 9:27 AM ^
Huh? There's a goalie in that situation.
September 19th, 2016 at 4:20 PM ^
Yes and a ball can be placed where the goalie has zero shot at a save if 1,000 practice reps meant that everthing were 100% consistent on game day.
September 17th, 2016 at 9:40 PM ^
It's not always the kicker's fault. Sometimes his timing gets screwed up by a bad snap or hold.
September 18th, 2016 at 6:53 AM ^
Otherwise, wow.
September 18th, 2016 at 6:19 PM ^
It's possible Allen had an off day. He is handling all kicking duties.
September 17th, 2016 at 9:57 PM ^
He did stop that one return.
Though he was off for some reason, maybe injured.
September 17th, 2016 at 9:57 PM ^
He did stop that one return.
Though he was off for some reason, maybe injured.
September 18th, 2016 at 6:38 AM ^
I would chalk it up to just a bad day. It happens. I expect him to be fully dialed in next week.
September 17th, 2016 at 8:07 PM ^
they said last week
Just an excuse for lack of preparation and lack of motivation
Hoping for some big time improvement for next weeks game against PSU
September 17th, 2016 at 8:22 PM ^
Please explain. Did you not see the post 1st quarter game? You are a Crab Person.
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September 17th, 2016 at 9:05 PM ^
I'm happy.
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September 17th, 2016 at 8:09 PM ^
amazing athlete - amazing performance.
September 19th, 2016 at 11:15 AM ^
Am I the only one not impressed by his coverage skills? In space he is great, but asking him to cover a guy at the line is like a free 8 yard play.
September 17th, 2016 at 8:10 PM ^
Good teams get back up after they are knocked down. Happened to Alabama too today.
We showed we can do that also, with authority. Colorado will make some noise in the PAC 12 and is probably in the top 5 teams we will play this year.
Definitely areas to work on, but proud of this win!
September 17th, 2016 at 8:18 PM ^
If Liufau comes back healthy the PAC-12 South is in for some interesting times this year.
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September 17th, 2016 at 8:37 PM ^
You're both overrating CU, and by association overrating Michigan. I'd be surprised if CU makes any noise. They're shitty.
September 17th, 2016 at 8:47 PM ^
They beat the shit out of CSU, Liufau looked dangerous, they put scares into a lot of teams last year, they clearly have Pac-12 #Chaosteam potential, the PAC-12 South this year has no good teams unless USC manages to play up to its talent, so yeah, if Liufau is healthy I have no problem standing by my statement. But thanks for the feedback.
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September 18th, 2016 at 11:26 AM ^
I said this week. Was telling the board CU is a decent team and this would not be an easy game. I've been saying CU is better then PSU and I stand bye that. The difference in this game was special teams and I'm glad we are through this game and hope team continues to grow and improve
September 17th, 2016 at 8:55 PM ^
And who will make noise then?
The Los Angeles and Arizona schools all look horrible. Utah doesn't look as good as usual. That's the entirety of the division.
September 18th, 2016 at 7:55 AM ^
Their ex-coach, Bronco Mendenhall, is now 0-3 at Virginia. Hmmm. Hope he's at least enjoying a huge raise in pay.
September 18th, 2016 at 8:33 AM ^
Mendenhall coached at BYU.
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September 18th, 2016 at 10:09 AM ^
He's on a roll.
September 18th, 2016 at 10:50 AM ^
Germans?
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