Michigan beat Indiana, 27-20, in overtime. Here’s what we saw after analyzing film.
First things first … closer than it should have been. Michigan’s defense was in a groove after giving up a touchdown on the first drive of the second half, dominant for most of the third and fourth quarters, but frosh Brad Robbins’ punt changed the game. He was supposed to kick to the boundary, like he did on punt just a few minutes earlier, but … freshmen gonna freshmen.
Even then, the defense had a chance to wrap it up. They played conservatively — no other way to describe it. The Hoosiers’ Peyton Ramsey completed three passes on the game tying drive to a field goal, all against four-man rushes during which the defensive backs were playing less aggressively than they had all game, junior safety Tyree Kinnel confirmed.
The one time they brought five, Ramsey ended up throwing it away, somewhat fortunate he didn’t get a grounding call (it was a good no-call).
Overall … this should have been a 20-10 game. Credit them for getting it together after everything went wrong to get to overtime.
Observations:
• Junior Karan Higdon has had some balance problems in his career, going back to his freshman year when he stumbled on a carry vs. MSU that seemed destined to be a big play in the fourth quarter. He stumbled a few times Saturday, but he’s made huge progress in vision.
Two of his touchdowns were great bounces to the outside because he kept his head up. He did the same on a sweep on which he followed pulling fifth-year senior center Pat Kugler.
Where’s he’s improved the most … yards after contact. He picked up five on a pitch sweep in which he had no business getting back to the line of scrimmage, and he’s usually falling forward now. He’s not Mike Hart, but he’s come a long way.
• Redshirt freshman Kareem Walker’s one carry (for nine yards) was an eye-opener. Yeah, it’s only one carry, but he showed off great footwork to escape the defense and was looking to make someone pay for trying to tackle him. We’ll have more on this in Friday’s ITF, but he’s going to see more time.
• Redshirt junior kickoff artist James Foug is a weapon. Yeah, it feels good to see the ball to through the end zone, but the coverage team was already inside the 20 on his high kickoffs to the goal line.
• As poster lovetheblue posted this week, fifth-year senior quarterback John O’Korn isn’t selling play action well. This could be critical going forward to an offense looking for any advantage. Receivers still aren’t getting separation, other than freshman Donovan Peoples-Jones at times (he continues to improve), and O’Korn is still having trouble getting off his first read.
With the improved running game — and expect them to continue with the iso, gap blocking and counters that worked well against the Hoosiers — linebackers will bite if play action is effective. That could give O’Korn some help with room to throw.
• The fourth quarter counters were a great wrinkle that led to a score. One step left by the fullback and tailback got all three linebackers moving on one play, opening a hole for a 12-yard gain the opposite way. One linebacker and a safety were taken out by the action on Higdon’s well-blocked, 59-yard touchdown run.
• Kugler had his hands full with IU’s portly little nose tackle, a Rob Renes type (1997 U-M NT). Probably his worst game of the year, though he’s been solid this season. He was on roller skates a few times in pass protection.
• Fifth-year senior left tackle Mason Cole was the offensive lineman of the game and was incredible in space. He really finished his blocks with authority. Sophomore right guard Mike Onwenu looked really good much of the game and continues to improve. Redshirt junior Juwann Bushell-Beatty did well run blocking much of the time, and fullback Henry Poggi had one of his best blocking games.
Sophomore left guard Ben Bredeson remains an enigma. He is the most gifted of the linemen, but he had a number of plays that were beneath him Saturday. He had a number of good ones, too, but he won’t be the dominant lineman he should be until he becomes more consistent.
• U-M’s screen game is just off. There was a potential nice one to Higdon thrown behind him, tunnel screens thrown too high … and a couple that weren’t blocked well, missed blocks by junior receiver Grant Perry and redshirt sophomore tight end Zach Gentry.
• Fifth-year senior Mike McCray gets a bad rap. He’s playing well, was always in good position Saturday.
• Officiating remains inconsistent. Sophomore Kekoa Crawford was interfered with on a deep ball (though O’Korn should have thrown to a wide open Gentry, this still should have been flagged). Hill’s first, nullified pick was a bad call. And fifth-year senior Mo Hurst’s personal foul for late hit was half as egregious as one not called on MSU against O’Korn a week earlier.
Officials also blew an illegal substitution, 12-men penalty on U-M that wasn’t.
• Hurst is playing at a higher level than any Michigan defensive tackle in the last four decades. Not hyperbole. He’s disruptive on so many plays it’s surprising when he’s not.
• Finally, a bit of luck on the goal line stand. Ramsey would have scored had he kept the ball on a read option play, and two rollouts to the left so he had to throw back across his body while running for his life … not smart.
First things first … closer than it should have been. Michigan’s defense was in a groove after giving up a touchdown on the first drive of the second half, dominant for most of the third and fourth quarters, but frosh Brad Robbins’ punt changed the game. He was supposed to kick to the boundary, like he did on punt just a few minutes earlier, but … freshmen gonna freshmen.
Even then, the defense had a chance to wrap it up. They played conservatively — no other way to describe it. The Hoosiers’ Peyton Ramsey completed three passes on the game tying drive to a field goal, all against four-man rushes during which the defensive backs were playing less aggressively than they had all game, junior safety Tyree Kinnel confirmed.
The one time they brought five, Ramsey ended up throwing it away, somewhat fortunate he didn’t get a grounding call (it was a good no-call).
Overall … this should have been a 20-10 game. Credit them for getting it together after everything went wrong to get to overtime.
Observations:
• Junior Karan Higdon has had some balance problems in his career, going back to his freshman year when he stumbled on a carry vs. MSU that seemed destined to be a big play in the fourth quarter. He stumbled a few times Saturday, but he’s made huge progress in vision.
Two of his touchdowns were great bounces to the outside because he kept his head up. He did the same on a sweep on which he followed pulling fifth-year senior center Pat Kugler.
Where’s he’s improved the most … yards after contact. He picked up five on a pitch sweep in which he had no business getting back to the line of scrimmage, and he’s usually falling forward now. He’s not Mike Hart, but he’s come a long way.
• Redshirt freshman Kareem Walker’s one carry (for nine yards) was an eye-opener. Yeah, it’s only one carry, but he showed off great footwork to escape the defense and was looking to make someone pay for trying to tackle him. We’ll have more on this in Friday’s ITF, but he’s going to see more time.
• Redshirt junior kickoff artist James Foug is a weapon. Yeah, it feels good to see the ball to through the end zone, but the coverage team was already inside the 20 on his high kickoffs to the goal line.
• As poster lovetheblue posted this week, fifth-year senior quarterback John O’Korn isn’t selling play action well. This could be critical going forward to an offense looking for any advantage. Receivers still aren’t getting separation, other than freshman Donovan Peoples-Jones at times (he continues to improve), and O’Korn is still having trouble getting off his first read.
With the improved running game — and expect them to continue with the iso, gap blocking and counters that worked well against the Hoosiers — linebackers will bite if play action is effective. That could give O’Korn some help with room to throw.
• The fourth quarter counters were a great wrinkle that led to a score. One step left by the fullback and tailback got all three linebackers moving on one play, opening a hole for a 12-yard gain the opposite way. One linebacker and a safety were taken out by the action on Higdon’s well-blocked, 59-yard touchdown run.
• Kugler had his hands full with IU’s portly little nose tackle, a Rob Renes type (1997 U-M NT). Probably his worst game of the year, though he’s been solid this season. He was on roller skates a few times in pass protection.
• Fifth-year senior left tackle Mason Cole was the offensive lineman of the game and was incredible in space. He really finished his blocks with authority. Sophomore right guard Mike Onwenu looked really good much of the game and continues to improve. Redshirt junior Juwann Bushell-Beatty did well run blocking much of the time, and fullback Henry Poggi had one of his best blocking games.
Sophomore left guard Ben Bredeson remains an enigma. He is the most gifted of the linemen, but he had a number of plays that were beneath him Saturday. He had a number of good ones, too, but he won’t be the dominant lineman he should be until he becomes more consistent.
• U-M’s screen game is just off. There was a potential nice one to Higdon thrown behind him, tunnel screens thrown too high … and a couple that weren’t blocked well, missed blocks by junior receiver Grant Perry and redshirt sophomore tight end Zach Gentry.
• Fifth-year senior Mike McCray gets a bad rap. He’s playing well, was always in good position Saturday.
• Officiating remains inconsistent. Sophomore Kekoa Crawford was interfered with on a deep ball (though O’Korn should have thrown to a wide open Gentry, this still should have been flagged). Hill’s first, nullified pick was a bad call. And fifth-year senior Mo Hurst’s personal foul for late hit was half as egregious as one not called on MSU against O’Korn a week earlier.
Officials also blew an illegal substitution, 12-men penalty on U-M that wasn’t.
• Hurst is playing at a higher level than any Michigan defensive tackle in the last four decades. Not hyperbole. He’s disruptive on so many plays it’s surprising when he’s not.
• Finally, a bit of luck on the goal line stand. Ramsey would have scored had he kept the ball on a read option play, and two rollouts to the left so he had to throw back across his body while running for his life … not smart.
Last edited:
