Michigan 59, Central Michigan 9
Eric Upchurch/MGoBlog
The feeling was boredom, interspersed with brief moments of Norfleet-related anticipation that ended an ankle-tackle away from being actual excitement.
Boredom, in this case, was a great feeling—a pleasant return to normalcy for Michigan. A home opener against a directional Michigan school, a 50-point lead heading into the third quarter, a fourth quarter spent looking up numbers of various freshmen and walk-ons while fretting about burned redshirts; this is how it's supposed to go, fergodsakes.
The Wolverines got on the board before the Big House crowd even got a chance to see the much-anticipated new offense, as freshman defensive back Dymonte Thomas screamed off the edge to block a Central Michigan punt on the opening drive of the game; senior receiver Joe Reynolds scooped up the loose ball and took it 30 yards to give Michigan a 7-0 lead.
A muffed punt by Dennis Norfleet, recovered by Delano Hill at Michigan's seven-yard line, led to an inauspicious start for Devin Gardner; after his first pass of the season was dropped by Devin Funchess, he telegraphed a quick out to Drew Dileo, and CMU's Jarret Chapman jumped the route for an easy interception.
Michigan's defense held strong, though, forcing the Chippewas to settle for a field goal. Gardner was in fine form on the subsequent drive, picking up a first down with his legs, then buying time for Drew Dileo to find a wide open hole in the Central defense on a 3rd-and-4 for a 36-yard catch-and-run. On the very next play, Gardner stood tall in the pocket, couldn't find an open receiver, and waltzed untouched into the end zone for a 22-yard score (right, Upchurch).
From there, the Wolverines didn't look back. A 38-yard run on a Dennis Norfleet reverse set up a one-yard touchdown run for Fitz Toussaint, who looked back to his old self—aside from missing a couple open cutback lanes—in rushing for 57 yards on 14 carries. After another Gardner hiccup—an overthrow to Gallon that resulted in his second interception—led to a second Jason Wilson field goal, cutting the lead to 21-6, the redshirt junior quarterback roared back with an 11-play, 76-yard drive capped by a 16-yard touchdown pass to his favorite target, Jeremy Gallon. After Raymon Taylor jumped an Alex Niznak throw to the perimeter, nearly taking the interception back for a touchdown, Gardner finished the first half with a four-yard scoring run, again making his trip to the end zone look downright easy. Despite the pair of turnovers—and a punt block for a touchdown that didn't count towards the yardage numbers—Michigan held a 243-139 edge in total offense and a 35-6 halftime lead.
The onslaught didn't stop there. Michigan's opening drive of the second half featured a 45-yard play-action pass from Gardner to Reynolds; two plays later, Toussaint tallied his second score of the day from two yards out. After another quick defensive stop, freshman running backs Derrick Green and De'Veon Smith combined to run on each of Michigan's ten plays, including a 30-yard Green scamper on a zone stretch and the five-star's first career touchdown on a goal-line scrum.
Sacks by Brennen Beyer and Mario Ojemudia forced another three-and-out, and from there the backups took over. Freshman quarterback Shane Morris quarterbacked the next drive, completing a 36-yard pass to Devin Funchess before Thomas Rawls rumbled into the end zone from five yards out, giving the Wolverines a 56-6 lead as the third quarter expired.
The rest, as they say, was academic. The fourth-quarter monotony was broken briefly by a 36-yard punt return by Norfleet, who was one man away from scoring; a Morris interception on a tipped pass; and a forced fumble by freshman cornerback Channing Stribling just two plays later, recovered by Delonte Hollowell. That third play led to a 30-yard Gibbons field goal—his 14th consecutive make, tying a school record held by Remy Hamilton*—that gave the game its final margin: 59-9, Michigan.
Funchess sporting his new Ron Kramer Legacy jersey (Bryan Fuller/MGoBlog)
Aside from the two picks, Gardner looked like the superstar he's expected to be in his first year as the full-time starter, averaging 10.8 yards per attempt and rushing for 52 yards on seven carries; CMU couldn't keep him in the pocket and couldn't stop him when he escaped, including one play in which Gardner comically olé'd an awaiting defender hoping to hit him on the sideline.
His ESP-level connection with Gallon showed, as well; Gallon caught four passes for 47 yards and had a second touchdown catch wiped out when Taylor Lewan wandered downfield illegally rode his donkey too far even from the generous blocking zone they give linemen on play-action these days. Funchess and Reynolds both impressed, as well, and while each left the game due to injury, those dings appeared minor. Brady Hoke said after the game that Funchess left the game due to a cramp (an unfortunately-placed one, given the rather sensitive area he clutched after his long catch), while there was no report on the status of Reynolds.
Defensively, Beyer was a consistent presence in the backfield as a lineman in Greg Mattison's nickel package, tallying a sack and another TFL. Cam Gordon, playing in place of the injured Jake Ryan, looked fantastic in tallying a pair of sacks among his 2.5 TFLs, lining up at both strongline linebacker and defensive end and playing both well. Desmond Morgan took to his new position as the MIKE with aplomb, leading the team with seven tackles despite heavy rotation in the front seven. While the much-balleyhooed Frank Clark recorded a lone QB hurry, his backup, Mario Ojemudia, came up with a sack and looked like a very solid option at weakside DE.
Of the true freshmen to see their first action—and there were many—it was Stribling who impressed the most; he was Michigan's field corner when they went into the nickel package, and while he gave up a couple catches, he showed off his playmaking ability by stripping CMU's Andrew Flory after one of those receptions. Linebacker Ben Gedeon also played well in his first career action, tallying four tackles; "The Freak" didn't look out of place at weakside linebacker.
The only major points of concern were Gardner's two picks—hopefully those can be chalked up to opening-game rust, as he otherwise looked like a Heisman candidate—and the play of the safeties. Jarrod Wilson and Josh Furman blew a couple assignments, though there's a good chance that neither is starting by mid-September—strong safety Thomas Gordon sat out the game for a "violation of team rules" and Courtney Avery could factor in at free safety when he recovers from knee surgery, hopefully in time for next week's game but more likely for Akron. The offensive line had its moments, good and bad; Al Borges called for a lot of zone running plays instead of asking for his two new guards, Kyle Kalis and Graham Glasgow, to pull; Kalis played a very solid game, featuring a bone-crushing body-slam on Gardner's first touchdown run, while Glasgow and center Jack Miller had their ups and downs.
Michigan's fans trickled out of the stadium throughout the fourth quarter, content that their team took care of a MAC opponent like Wolverines should: devouring them alive. There was little reason to stay, more competitive football games to watch, and celebratory beers to drink. Cheers to a new season, a 1-0 record, and zero heart attacks.
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*If you've just woken up from a three-year slumber, this is somehow not a joke.
August 31st, 2013 at 10:37 PM ^
August 31st, 2013 at 11:41 PM ^
/bigot'd
August 31st, 2013 at 9:28 PM ^
August 31st, 2013 at 9:33 PM ^
Refs blew a big one, then proceeded to start ruining the game with a bunch more flags, because of course they did.
August 31st, 2013 at 9:36 PM ^
Nope, doesn't matter. He was a good ways downfield when Gardner let go of the ball. Thus, the penalty. What can you cay? Sometimes the man just hates donkeys too much.
August 31st, 2013 at 9:38 PM ^
August 31st, 2013 at 9:40 PM ^
Can you imagine the film session? Lewan! Protect in a more feeble fashion so that you dont drive your man 5+ yards down the field. Got it?? YES COACH!
August 31st, 2013 at 9:44 PM ^
The fact that Lewan was drive-blocking the defender rather than being in pass protection leads me to think there was a miscommunication somewhere. I don't really remember how the play worked, perhaps Gardner improvised when he was supposed to be dummping off or throwing a quick pass? A strange play all around.
August 31st, 2013 at 10:15 PM ^
It was a designed pass play. Play action perhaps, and perhaps that's why Lewan was run blocking instead of pass blocking. Or maybe Lewan just took a mental timeout.
August 31st, 2013 at 10:22 PM ^
Perhaps. Just weird, Lewan certainly shouldn't have been drive blocking with that pass being the intention on the play. Gallon was too far downfield for the block/pass route combination to make sense.
August 31st, 2013 at 9:55 PM ^
Rule 7-3-10:
No originally ineligible receiver shall be or have been more than
three yards beyond the neutral zone until a legal forward pass that crosses the
neutral zone has been thrown
August 31st, 2013 at 10:35 PM ^
September 1st, 2013 at 12:43 AM ^
Later in the game he had turned and driven a cmu player all the way to the Michigan sidline. I think he learned from his mistake and decided that 20 yards sideways would not be a downfield penalty.
August 31st, 2013 at 9:30 PM ^
re: Devin - this was his 6th game as a starter aka in a normal career halfway through his first season as a starter. The first INT was inexcusable both from where it was on the field and how it happened. The second INT, we may never know - maybe Gallon ran the wrong route or Devin made a bad pass. I am less worried about the 2nd one because it was like a "Denard punt pass" so it was 40 yards down the field and when you throw an INT that long as long as you tackle the guy who INT it within 10 yards its like a very bad punt. You can live with it - but not the first one. I did like what I saw out of Devin after halftime in his first one or two series before they went all freshman RB manball.
p.s. off topic but for those looking ahead Mr. Hackenberg had a heck of a game despite a late INT that led to a Syracuse score 22/31 for 278 yds 2TD 2INT and that was without his top WR in the game in the first half (I assume discipline) Robinson came back in the 2nd half for 7 rec for 133 yards so thats a combo to keep an eye on. Sounds very freshman Henne to Braylon Edwards like. Aside from ND it should be the main test btw here and November.
August 31st, 2013 at 10:18 PM ^
Having attended the game and seeing that second DG interception, I am almost positive I saw Gallon hesitate for a second once the ball was in the air only to realize it was going over his head and by then it was too late. I might be completely wrong though as I haven't seen any other angles other than mine. Just what I thought I saw.
August 31st, 2013 at 9:31 PM ^
Also where was James Ross in this game? I barely heard his name - in fact not sure I did.
September 1st, 2013 at 1:31 AM ^
September 1st, 2013 at 2:33 AM ^
August 31st, 2013 at 9:35 PM ^
August 31st, 2013 at 10:14 PM ^
Frank Clark as the next coming of Brandon Graham was a massive bust. Zero tackles and he blew contain on at least one of CMU's successful runs. It looked like Ojemudia got more and more snaps as the game went. The starting defensive line tallied only one tackle.
August 31st, 2013 at 10:44 PM ^
September 1st, 2013 at 1:18 AM ^
August 31st, 2013 at 11:02 PM ^
August 31st, 2013 at 11:09 PM ^
UM rotated their DL so much that the statistic you cite hardly matters. Only one player had more than 5 tackles(Morgan). I'm not fretting.
September 1st, 2013 at 11:50 PM ^
Is that he would take plays off. Except for over running a couple of plays, he was pretty much AWOL during the game.
September 2nd, 2013 at 3:52 AM ^
August 31st, 2013 at 10:38 PM ^
Is it just me, or is norfleet the football version of nate robinson?
August 31st, 2013 at 10:55 PM ^
was thumping cats. I mean Chips. Either way, was very impressed by him. Leader of that defense as well as bringing the wood.
September 1st, 2013 at 4:07 PM ^
August 31st, 2013 at 11:37 PM ^
My only concern was the pass protection. Aside from that one All American, the protection was shaky and at times worse. Beyond that, it is what it is. We played a crappy MAC squad that will probably hover around 3-9. Better showing than Ohio and STAEE... but really...
September 1st, 2013 at 12:02 AM ^
I thought CMU would score more on our backup defensive players. Morris looked good but had a few bad throws. I'm glad he got some playing time.
I'm a bit worried about our run blocking. Thought we would dominate the CMU DL but they held their own against our OL.
Next week will be the real test. It will be interesting if Michigan can move and score against a top 10 DL.
September 1st, 2013 at 12:22 AM ^
Our interior offensive line clearly has some work to do. It seemed to me that we ran a lot of zone blocking early, and then started getting into pulling later. Had mixed results with both. We were pulling the tackles a lot too, with mixed results too.
Last year's line was consistently bad. I think this year's line will be good, but inconsistent. Notre Dame will be a great early test, though I'm not terribly optimistic.
September 1st, 2013 at 12:16 AM ^
September 1st, 2013 at 12:48 AM ^
September 1st, 2013 at 2:34 AM ^
September 1st, 2013 at 3:32 AM ^
Anyone heard anything?
September 1st, 2013 at 11:13 AM ^
September 1st, 2013 at 1:46 PM ^
September 1st, 2013 at 11:25 AM ^
Johnson's going to need an MRI, I imagine. We'll probably find out tomorrow or Tuesday.
September 1st, 2013 at 3:12 PM ^
A.J. Williams had to carry him over to the student section to celebrate, but the smile on his face is encouraging.
Courtney Sacco I AnnArbor.com
EDIT: Posting as a reply makes for distorting skinny format.
September 1st, 2013 at 4:17 AM ^
I think Michigan wins big next week vs ND.
September 1st, 2013 at 9:23 AM ^
September 1st, 2013 at 12:48 PM ^
Next week vs ND is a toss up. Rees is about as good a passer as we'll face and our safeties will be exploited. Also, we will have very little run game next week from the RB position - book it. Less than 50 yards in the first half. Our interior O line is again woeful, yet less woeful than last year. We win only if:
1. Fortune smiles on us (turn overs)
2. Gardner comes up a hero with his arm and legs, or
3. Borges left a lot of awesome gadgets in the bag and the offense surprises ND repeatedly.
September 1st, 2013 at 6:56 AM ^
with Irish coming to town next weekend. Given it wil be a very close game, a mistake or two will cost the team the win.
- Devin better be careful, well, much more careful with his decision making.
- RBs: are we counting on all 6 of them? Who is the RB to pound the Irish?
- Defense overall: while I liked the speed and all that, I saw sustained drives by Central at least in two drives (resulting in two of the filed goals). Of course nobody is going to shutdown a team with no first downs. Still, not feel comfortale.
September 1st, 2013 at 7:04 AM ^
One Gardner interception was as he was hit as he released, with the ball sailing a couple feet beyond its target.
So we should have had our starting RB just man up and take 20+. Snaps and not have the backups get any play?
Jesus, we just slapped around a standard MAC team by 50, and you're fretting about a defense which allowed one drive when it wasn't garbage time.
September 1st, 2013 at 7:54 AM ^
Only we true Michigan fans can watch a 7+ touchdown victory in the opener and conclude "not convincing enough...season's over... Beating ND and tOSU will have to wait til next year."
September 1st, 2013 at 12:50 PM ^
You do realize we won by 7+ TDs the week before losing to ND last year right?
September 1st, 2013 at 1:06 PM ^
So what margin of victory yesterday would have set your mind at ease?
We scored our highest point total in an opening game in 108 years. It was a good performance.
September 1st, 2013 at 7:50 AM ^
September 1st, 2013 at 8:00 AM ^
Kalis played a very solid game, featuring a bone-crushing body-slam on Gardner's first touchdown run
I happpened to be watching Kalis on that play. Kalis started out helping Miller, but Miller was doing fine, so Kalis left that double to help double Schofield's man. Kalis blasted the CMU dude off his feet.
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