Michigan posted a 29-13 win over a tricky Air Force team, pulling away in the fourth quarter. Here’s what we picked up after breaking down the film.
First things first … a solid win. Not a good win, not a great win, but the difference between a comfortable win and one that’s not so comfortable is a handful of plays.
The Wolverines had a chance to be comfortably ahead in the second half, but fifth-year senior Ty Isaac was out of bounds on a big run by an inch, and a holding penalty on another big touchdown run (a sketchy one on sophomore Kekoa Crawford) allowed Air Force to hang around.
The offense did some really nice things, especially in the first half. The Wolverines punted once, moved the ball well between the 20s and started the game off nicely.
Observations:
• Like last week against Cincinnati, the offense was at its best on the first several plays … and then a mistake cost them momentum.
On the first play, the line formed a great pocket for redshirt junior quarterback Wilton Speight, even when Air Force sent both linebackers on a delayed blitz. He had time and threw deep down the left sideline, a
50-50 ball Crawford should have made a play on.
In fact, you’d expect a Michigan receiver to catch that ball. Instead he lost balance and it fell incomplete.
• Speight went through his progressions nicely on a third down strike to freshman Tarik Black on the sidelines during the same drive … Black looked like the second option on the play, great pitch and catch. Michigan is going to miss Black.
Isaac’s big play was beautifully designed and executed counter. Sophomore Eddie McDoom went in motion from the short side, and it looked as though the play was going that way. Great blocks by fifth-year senior fullback Khalid Hill and senior left tackle Mason Cole opened a hole that Isaac hit quickly.
• Sophomore Chris Evans had a huge hole and a nice six-yard gain before putting the ball on the ground and changing the tenor of the game on the second possession. Just cannot happen. U-M’s offense and defense had been dominant to that point.
• There are several reasons for Michigan’s red zone difficulties. It’s not all on the quarterback, or the line, or the backs … it’s a combination.
On Michigan’s first trip, Speight had junior receiver Grant Perry at the five and simply missed him. A bad throw, or it’s first and goal at the four.
Air Force was ready for the second and 10 run and stuffed junior Karan Higdon with a run blitz, and on third and nine the left side of the line screwed up and left a defender unblocked (it appeared as though sophomore Ben Bredeson missed an assignment here. We’ll clarify with analyst Doug Skene).
Speight was hit as he threw and the ball was over a well-covered Perry’s head.
Result: the first of five field goals.
• Second quarter trip to the red zone … on first down, sophomore Karan Higdon fails in pass protection. He focuses his attention on the left side, and a blitzing safety bears down on Speight from the other side, untouched. Speight has to get rid of it quickly and throws it out of the back of the end zone, intended for Crawford.
Speight knows he’s going to get hit. For those saying ‘throw a 50-50 ball and let the receiver make a play,’ two things … that ain’t Braylon Edwards in the end zone, Crawford hasn’t shown he’s capable of coming down with it and there’s a defender in Speight’s grill. The last thing you want to do is give up three points by underthrowing a well-covered receiver.
• Speight had two really nice throws, though, when he knew he was going to get hit. One came on the same throw he missed Perry on in the first quarter. He cringed after he released it knowing a big hit was coming, didn’t have time to step into the throw and still put it on the money to set up first and goal.
His other came on yet another big gainer to redshirt sophomore tight end Zach Gentry to get them to the red zone … he stood strong knowing he was going to get plastered.
• From there, credit the Air Force defense for two really nice plays in the red zone. A safety tripped up Eddie McDoom on the jet sweep with a pure tackle, or it’s six. On third down, Speight does a great job to roll away from the defense, is at full speed at the five and about to go out when he tries to flip it to a (stumbling) Crawford.
No, he didn’t have time to pump fake … it was all he could do to keep the play alive. The corner made a nice play in knocking it down.
Result: Field goal
• Isaac had a great hole on a second down, two-yard run, but stopped when the linebacker closed on him. With a head of steam and feet moving, he gets five or six.
He did that a few times Saturday, which most people saw. At the same time, he’s still been Michigan’s best back (by far).
• Expected to be more disappointed with the tight end blocking. Gentry continues to improve in this area.
Gentry and sophomore Sean McKeon had great blocks on a flat pass to freshman receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones for his first career catch. That kid has deceptive speed. He almost looks slow at times the way he glides, but he gets the corner.
We saw it on his two punt returns, too. He’s got a knack for yards after catch, too, and great vision in the open field.
Back to the tight ends, though … a second and nine draw was really well blocked, with redshirt sophomore right tackle Nolan Ulizio, sophomore right guard Mike Onwenu and Gentry opening the hole for an Isaac 15-yard gain.
Redshirt junior Ian Bunting and McKeon got great blocks on the bubble screen to McDoom, plus nine, and on second and one Bunting and Ulizio got great blocks for another nice Isaac gain.
• Poor protection sabotaged the drive. Speight was chased from the pocket for a three-yard loss (throw it away and save three there) … Isaac was blown up in pass pro when even a stalemate would have given Speight a chance to find Perry breaking open left underneath the coverage. Instead, Speight had to bail rather than go through his progressions, though it appeared he was looking at Perry and expecting him to turn sooner (he should have, since his man left him to blitz).
• Speight obviously needed to be smarter on a third down play in the red zone when Ulizio got beat and he attempted to flip it out as he was going down, fumbling it. He was fortunate sophomore tight end Nick Eubanks was there to cover it.
• Speight also didn’t recognize late blitzes by Air Force, one in the red zone on a run/pass option on third down and another in the fourth quarter when a corner blitz blew up a Higdon running play.
On both occasions, Speight is too quick to snap the ball before surveying the field, it appears, and perhaps checking into another play.
• At the same time, Speight had a nice scramble for a first down in the third quarter and delivered again for a nice gain against a seven-man rush when he knew he was going to get crushed.
• Fourth quarter red zone problems … Higdon had great blitz pick up by on third down, but Speight threw over a well-covered Black’s head. Again … no separation. But the ball was safely thrown out of play, and a field goal made it a two-score game.
So … no problem with the throw — just the impatience here. This was a route with three receivers, and U-M had seven in to block seven guys. There was a pocket. Maybe Speight was jittery at that point, not trusting his line, but he had time to go through his progressions instead of releasing so quickly (it appeared).
A few other notes …
• Speight threw to the right spot on a red zone pass attempt to McDoom, but McDoom got thrown off his route by a few steps by a crossing safety … not on Speight.
• Bredeson was good, but not perfect. He played high a few times and got stood up on a run by Higdon that went for five, could have been more.
Onwenu was okay, but missed a block and was replaced by Jon Runyan Jr. Runyan pulled and flattened a defender on Higdon’s touchdown run that capped the game.
• Time to see Peoples-Jones on kick return, though blocking for Crawford has been poor. Also, time to give freshman Brad Robbins a shot at punter. That’s three punts now on which walk-on Will Hart hasn’t stopped negative momentum due to a shanked kick.
On the defense …
• The cornerbacks were really physical when the ball got to them (which wasn’t often). Sophomore Lavert Hill, in particular, was really good in run support.
They couldn’t have played the first series option more perfectly. Fifth-year senior tackle Maurice Hurst and sophomore end Rashan Gary had great first series.
Hurst nearly blew up a fourth and one run with his quickness off the snap. He got his hand on the quarterback’s foot before he had a chance to get off the line, but a generous spot kept the drive alive. There were a few of those.
• Gary was solid, but redshirt junior Chase Winovich has played at an All-Big Ten level. His awareness and motor are outstanding.
• The obvious … sophomore Devin Bush and his closing speed. Good God.
• Great coverage on a pass play downfield (one of the few) by sophomore viper Khaleke Hudson, with great communication by his teammates to let him know the ball was coming and to turn. Winovich, again, was providing pressure on the play.
Air Force didn’t have a third down conversion until the second drive of the third quarter. They were 3-for-13 for the game.
• This defense is very disciplined. Junior safety Tyree Kinnel ducked under a block on an end around that looked like it was going to be an option to the boundary, and Hill cleaned it up for a big loss.
The Falcons’ one, big sustained drive in the fourth quarter resulted in a critical missed field goal. They brought out a few plays they hadn’t shown, pitches to running back Tim McVey in motion for solid gains to move the chains.
They tried it again in the red zone, and U-M stuffed it.
First things first … a solid win. Not a good win, not a great win, but the difference between a comfortable win and one that’s not so comfortable is a handful of plays.
The Wolverines had a chance to be comfortably ahead in the second half, but fifth-year senior Ty Isaac was out of bounds on a big run by an inch, and a holding penalty on another big touchdown run (a sketchy one on sophomore Kekoa Crawford) allowed Air Force to hang around.
The offense did some really nice things, especially in the first half. The Wolverines punted once, moved the ball well between the 20s and started the game off nicely.
Observations:
• Like last week against Cincinnati, the offense was at its best on the first several plays … and then a mistake cost them momentum.
On the first play, the line formed a great pocket for redshirt junior quarterback Wilton Speight, even when Air Force sent both linebackers on a delayed blitz. He had time and threw deep down the left sideline, a
50-50 ball Crawford should have made a play on.
In fact, you’d expect a Michigan receiver to catch that ball. Instead he lost balance and it fell incomplete.
• Speight went through his progressions nicely on a third down strike to freshman Tarik Black on the sidelines during the same drive … Black looked like the second option on the play, great pitch and catch. Michigan is going to miss Black.
Isaac’s big play was beautifully designed and executed counter. Sophomore Eddie McDoom went in motion from the short side, and it looked as though the play was going that way. Great blocks by fifth-year senior fullback Khalid Hill and senior left tackle Mason Cole opened a hole that Isaac hit quickly.
• Sophomore Chris Evans had a huge hole and a nice six-yard gain before putting the ball on the ground and changing the tenor of the game on the second possession. Just cannot happen. U-M’s offense and defense had been dominant to that point.
• There are several reasons for Michigan’s red zone difficulties. It’s not all on the quarterback, or the line, or the backs … it’s a combination.
On Michigan’s first trip, Speight had junior receiver Grant Perry at the five and simply missed him. A bad throw, or it’s first and goal at the four.
Air Force was ready for the second and 10 run and stuffed junior Karan Higdon with a run blitz, and on third and nine the left side of the line screwed up and left a defender unblocked (it appeared as though sophomore Ben Bredeson missed an assignment here. We’ll clarify with analyst Doug Skene).
Speight was hit as he threw and the ball was over a well-covered Perry’s head.
Result: the first of five field goals.
• Second quarter trip to the red zone … on first down, sophomore Karan Higdon fails in pass protection. He focuses his attention on the left side, and a blitzing safety bears down on Speight from the other side, untouched. Speight has to get rid of it quickly and throws it out of the back of the end zone, intended for Crawford.
Speight knows he’s going to get hit. For those saying ‘throw a 50-50 ball and let the receiver make a play,’ two things … that ain’t Braylon Edwards in the end zone, Crawford hasn’t shown he’s capable of coming down with it and there’s a defender in Speight’s grill. The last thing you want to do is give up three points by underthrowing a well-covered receiver.
• Speight had two really nice throws, though, when he knew he was going to get hit. One came on the same throw he missed Perry on in the first quarter. He cringed after he released it knowing a big hit was coming, didn’t have time to step into the throw and still put it on the money to set up first and goal.
His other came on yet another big gainer to redshirt sophomore tight end Zach Gentry to get them to the red zone … he stood strong knowing he was going to get plastered.
• From there, credit the Air Force defense for two really nice plays in the red zone. A safety tripped up Eddie McDoom on the jet sweep with a pure tackle, or it’s six. On third down, Speight does a great job to roll away from the defense, is at full speed at the five and about to go out when he tries to flip it to a (stumbling) Crawford.
No, he didn’t have time to pump fake … it was all he could do to keep the play alive. The corner made a nice play in knocking it down.
Result: Field goal
• Isaac had a great hole on a second down, two-yard run, but stopped when the linebacker closed on him. With a head of steam and feet moving, he gets five or six.
He did that a few times Saturday, which most people saw. At the same time, he’s still been Michigan’s best back (by far).
• Expected to be more disappointed with the tight end blocking. Gentry continues to improve in this area.
Gentry and sophomore Sean McKeon had great blocks on a flat pass to freshman receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones for his first career catch. That kid has deceptive speed. He almost looks slow at times the way he glides, but he gets the corner.
We saw it on his two punt returns, too. He’s got a knack for yards after catch, too, and great vision in the open field.
Back to the tight ends, though … a second and nine draw was really well blocked, with redshirt sophomore right tackle Nolan Ulizio, sophomore right guard Mike Onwenu and Gentry opening the hole for an Isaac 15-yard gain.
Redshirt junior Ian Bunting and McKeon got great blocks on the bubble screen to McDoom, plus nine, and on second and one Bunting and Ulizio got great blocks for another nice Isaac gain.
• Poor protection sabotaged the drive. Speight was chased from the pocket for a three-yard loss (throw it away and save three there) … Isaac was blown up in pass pro when even a stalemate would have given Speight a chance to find Perry breaking open left underneath the coverage. Instead, Speight had to bail rather than go through his progressions, though it appeared he was looking at Perry and expecting him to turn sooner (he should have, since his man left him to blitz).
• Speight obviously needed to be smarter on a third down play in the red zone when Ulizio got beat and he attempted to flip it out as he was going down, fumbling it. He was fortunate sophomore tight end Nick Eubanks was there to cover it.
• Speight also didn’t recognize late blitzes by Air Force, one in the red zone on a run/pass option on third down and another in the fourth quarter when a corner blitz blew up a Higdon running play.
On both occasions, Speight is too quick to snap the ball before surveying the field, it appears, and perhaps checking into another play.
• At the same time, Speight had a nice scramble for a first down in the third quarter and delivered again for a nice gain against a seven-man rush when he knew he was going to get crushed.
• Fourth quarter red zone problems … Higdon had great blitz pick up by on third down, but Speight threw over a well-covered Black’s head. Again … no separation. But the ball was safely thrown out of play, and a field goal made it a two-score game.
So … no problem with the throw — just the impatience here. This was a route with three receivers, and U-M had seven in to block seven guys. There was a pocket. Maybe Speight was jittery at that point, not trusting his line, but he had time to go through his progressions instead of releasing so quickly (it appeared).
A few other notes …
• Speight threw to the right spot on a red zone pass attempt to McDoom, but McDoom got thrown off his route by a few steps by a crossing safety … not on Speight.
• Bredeson was good, but not perfect. He played high a few times and got stood up on a run by Higdon that went for five, could have been more.
Onwenu was okay, but missed a block and was replaced by Jon Runyan Jr. Runyan pulled and flattened a defender on Higdon’s touchdown run that capped the game.
• Time to see Peoples-Jones on kick return, though blocking for Crawford has been poor. Also, time to give freshman Brad Robbins a shot at punter. That’s three punts now on which walk-on Will Hart hasn’t stopped negative momentum due to a shanked kick.
On the defense …
• The cornerbacks were really physical when the ball got to them (which wasn’t often). Sophomore Lavert Hill, in particular, was really good in run support.
They couldn’t have played the first series option more perfectly. Fifth-year senior tackle Maurice Hurst and sophomore end Rashan Gary had great first series.
Hurst nearly blew up a fourth and one run with his quickness off the snap. He got his hand on the quarterback’s foot before he had a chance to get off the line, but a generous spot kept the drive alive. There were a few of those.
• Gary was solid, but redshirt junior Chase Winovich has played at an All-Big Ten level. His awareness and motor are outstanding.
• The obvious … sophomore Devin Bush and his closing speed. Good God.
• Great coverage on a pass play downfield (one of the few) by sophomore viper Khaleke Hudson, with great communication by his teammates to let him know the ball was coming and to turn. Winovich, again, was providing pressure on the play.
Air Force didn’t have a third down conversion until the second drive of the third quarter. They were 3-for-13 for the game.
• This defense is very disciplined. Junior safety Tyree Kinnel ducked under a block on an end around that looked like it was going to be an option to the boundary, and Hill cleaned it up for a big loss.
The Falcons’ one, big sustained drive in the fourth quarter resulted in a critical missed field goal. They brought out a few plays they hadn’t shown, pitches to running back Tim McVey in motion for solid gains to move the chains.
They tried it again in the red zone, and U-M stuffed it.
Last edited:
