What we picked up after re-watching Michigan’s 21-7 win at Michigan State Saturday …
First off, this shouldn’t have been a game in the third quarter. The offense had several chances to put this one away before halftime (which, in hindsight, really means putting one or two more scores on the board — MSU was not going to score without help).
They got that help from junior Chris Evans. Bottom line — he can’t fumble that ball inside the 10. Harsh, here, but Evans needs to pick it up. Really thought he was going to be a very good back, but he dances too much, still isn’t a good enough pass blocker (poor) and again, can’t put that ball on the ground.
He didn’t see the field again after that, nor should he have. It was the same when Jamie Morris used to fumble early in his career (he’s the one that put it on the ground in the 1984 game with MSU, causing Jim Harbaugh to dive for it, breaking his arm and essentially costing Michigan the game). Bo Schembechler would keep him on the sideline afterward.
But back to the second quarter …
It wasn’t any one thing that prevented Michigan from moving a few yards into field goal range (and credit to Michigan State’s defense, which continued to cheat safeties up and dare U-M to go over the top) … it was a variety. A second and five end around to Ronnie Bell was blown up by a terrible block attempt by a tight end (and another poor block attempt by a TE almost got Karan Higdon killed inside the MSU 10. These guys still need to improve there).
On another play, junior quarterback Shea Patterson kept the ball for a short sack rather than trying to give sophomore receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones a shot at a ball in the end zone.
Patterson has been solid, very good at times, but he’s still got work to do. It seemed Saturday he was more in “don't lose this” mode than “I’m gonna win it,” and that’s probably the way he should have approached it given how the defense was playing. The times he tried to do too much, he almost got picked (two tipped balls that were caught by Michigan receivers and one ball that would have been picked had senior receiver Grant Perry not done a great job breaking it up).
He’s still a work in progress. And yeah, he should have kept on the first read option on U-M’s first drive. It would have been a touchdown. To his credit, he obviously did a much better job on it in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach … especially on a fourth and two play near the MSU 40.
Did not like the call there. The way the defense was playing, punting it and pinning MSU deep probably would have been the right move, especially with Michigan State quarterback Brian Lewerke struggling to throw like he did. But it worked, so instead of squawking, the fan base gets to celebrate a “ballsy” call by Harbaugh to go for it.
Great pull on that one for a big gain. We’ll see more of that play going forward. They’re still adding to that package, and you’ll see some more RPO going forward (strong opinion).
And we are not being overly critical of Patterson, just pointing out how he can (will) even get better.
Other thoughts …
• The MSU playing field is lousy. Michigan State will always stay with a grass field because it’s a land grant institution, but as much as we were on the U-M receivers’ case, they were sliding all over. Either MSU was used to it or had more appropriate gear but it was an issue, and it also led directly to Higdon’s fumble when he slipped before taking the handoff in MSU territory.
This is something U-M needs to address before playing on grass fields, MSU’s or others. It’s a concern and can be an equalizer.
• Higdon has become a very good Big Ten back. His 38-yard run was a play he doesn’t make last year … breaking the tackle and making the safety miss. He showed strength, patience and burst … starting to believe he has a shot to make an NFL roster, and have never seen one guy improve so much in pass protection in a year (Chris Perry was close).
He’s taking it seriously. He stood a blitzing linebacker up on junior Sean McKeon’s nice gain on the tight end screen (a play U-M seemed to have been saving). That it came against the A-gap blitz seemed fitting.
U-M’s offensive line did an incredible job picking these up. This is where MSU has killed Michigan in years past, but line coach Ed Warinner had them prepared.
• Junior guard Ben Bredeson was especially adept. He was a man in finishing his blocks in this game, probably had three or four pancakes and another few knockdowns. He wasn't perfect, but he was the Michigan coaches’ choice for offensive player of the game.
Redshirt junior left tackle Jon Runyan, too, played one of his best games. He’s come a long way since the opener. And junior Mike Onwenu still isn’t there when it comes to finishing, but his straight ahead blocking was outstanding. There was a reason MSU had no answer in the fourth quarter. U-M was running the ball down the Spartans’ throat, having worn them down by possessing the ball for 42 minutes.
• On defense, the Spartans would have had a handful more completions, probably, had Lewerke been healthy and ‘on.’ There were a few plays for the taking. At the same time, the U-M defensive backs and linebackers blanketed them the way MSU DBs have U-M receivers in the past. They were handsy, but to their credit, the officials let it go both ways and ‘let them play,’ so to speak.
But the guys in stripes still had some head scratchers, and it drives you nuts. They flagged Higdon for unsportsmanlike conduct for getting up and handing the ball to the official and telling him, ‘they guy is twisting my ankle’ at the bottom of the pile (Sparty gonna Sparty).
MSU linebacker Jon Reschke mugged and flexed in Patterson’s face and then to the crowd in the first quarter … no reaction from the stripes. Junior linebacker Devin Bush did a small flex to his guys on the sidelines after a big hit in the second quarter, gets flagged for unsportsmanlike.
Sophomore Donovan Peoples-Jones traded shoves before being smacked in the helmet twice and picked up half of a two-team unsportsmanlike penalty in the first quarter, and fifth-year senior Chase Winovich got destroyed in the back after the whistle, no call in the third quarter.
Way too inconsistent, at times absurd. We’re guessing Harbaugh and Co. sent in more film to the Big Ten offices this week, and not just of Mark Dantonio with a grin on his face walking behind his helmeted “warriors” in the pregame.
• Michigan’s safeties were great again. We’re somewhat surprised junior safety Josh Metellus didn’t get flagged on a big hit to Felton Davis in the first quarter (a huge drop, BTW. He makes that play, and MSU is in Michigan territory).
They’re going to get beat at times, but a lot of folks owe Metellus and senior Tyree Kinnel apologies.
• The defensive line is getting better and better, but this game wasn’t a great gauge. Junior Carlo Kemp abused center Matt Allen’s replacement when Allen went down (some walk-on named Beuter). Sophomore Aubrey Solomon can be a difference maker, and having him back is huge … have a feeling he’s going to be a force down the stretch.
His initial “punches” on MSU’s linemen probably left a few marks.
And Winovich’s impact went far beyond his four or five tackles. The guy had Lewerke running for his life.
MSU’s line had two starters back in Chewins and Jarvis, but those guys got eaten alive, too.
• Peoples-Jones’ broken tackle on his touchdown reception is an underappreciated aspect. Had he been stopped there, no guarantees the offense finishes the drive.
• Finally, punter Will Hart … two huge coffin corner kicks. The guy continues to impress.
• Finally, finally ... go back and watch Ben Mason's last carry in the fourth quarter, and what he does to that poor safety who gets in his way. THAT'S how you put an exclamation point on a beating.
Onward.
First off, this shouldn’t have been a game in the third quarter. The offense had several chances to put this one away before halftime (which, in hindsight, really means putting one or two more scores on the board — MSU was not going to score without help).
They got that help from junior Chris Evans. Bottom line — he can’t fumble that ball inside the 10. Harsh, here, but Evans needs to pick it up. Really thought he was going to be a very good back, but he dances too much, still isn’t a good enough pass blocker (poor) and again, can’t put that ball on the ground.
He didn’t see the field again after that, nor should he have. It was the same when Jamie Morris used to fumble early in his career (he’s the one that put it on the ground in the 1984 game with MSU, causing Jim Harbaugh to dive for it, breaking his arm and essentially costing Michigan the game). Bo Schembechler would keep him on the sideline afterward.
But back to the second quarter …
It wasn’t any one thing that prevented Michigan from moving a few yards into field goal range (and credit to Michigan State’s defense, which continued to cheat safeties up and dare U-M to go over the top) … it was a variety. A second and five end around to Ronnie Bell was blown up by a terrible block attempt by a tight end (and another poor block attempt by a TE almost got Karan Higdon killed inside the MSU 10. These guys still need to improve there).
On another play, junior quarterback Shea Patterson kept the ball for a short sack rather than trying to give sophomore receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones a shot at a ball in the end zone.
Patterson has been solid, very good at times, but he’s still got work to do. It seemed Saturday he was more in “don't lose this” mode than “I’m gonna win it,” and that’s probably the way he should have approached it given how the defense was playing. The times he tried to do too much, he almost got picked (two tipped balls that were caught by Michigan receivers and one ball that would have been picked had senior receiver Grant Perry not done a great job breaking it up).
He’s still a work in progress. And yeah, he should have kept on the first read option on U-M’s first drive. It would have been a touchdown. To his credit, he obviously did a much better job on it in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach … especially on a fourth and two play near the MSU 40.
Did not like the call there. The way the defense was playing, punting it and pinning MSU deep probably would have been the right move, especially with Michigan State quarterback Brian Lewerke struggling to throw like he did. But it worked, so instead of squawking, the fan base gets to celebrate a “ballsy” call by Harbaugh to go for it.
Great pull on that one for a big gain. We’ll see more of that play going forward. They’re still adding to that package, and you’ll see some more RPO going forward (strong opinion).
And we are not being overly critical of Patterson, just pointing out how he can (will) even get better.
Other thoughts …
• The MSU playing field is lousy. Michigan State will always stay with a grass field because it’s a land grant institution, but as much as we were on the U-M receivers’ case, they were sliding all over. Either MSU was used to it or had more appropriate gear but it was an issue, and it also led directly to Higdon’s fumble when he slipped before taking the handoff in MSU territory.
This is something U-M needs to address before playing on grass fields, MSU’s or others. It’s a concern and can be an equalizer.
• Higdon has become a very good Big Ten back. His 38-yard run was a play he doesn’t make last year … breaking the tackle and making the safety miss. He showed strength, patience and burst … starting to believe he has a shot to make an NFL roster, and have never seen one guy improve so much in pass protection in a year (Chris Perry was close).
He’s taking it seriously. He stood a blitzing linebacker up on junior Sean McKeon’s nice gain on the tight end screen (a play U-M seemed to have been saving). That it came against the A-gap blitz seemed fitting.
U-M’s offensive line did an incredible job picking these up. This is where MSU has killed Michigan in years past, but line coach Ed Warinner had them prepared.
• Junior guard Ben Bredeson was especially adept. He was a man in finishing his blocks in this game, probably had three or four pancakes and another few knockdowns. He wasn't perfect, but he was the Michigan coaches’ choice for offensive player of the game.
Redshirt junior left tackle Jon Runyan, too, played one of his best games. He’s come a long way since the opener. And junior Mike Onwenu still isn’t there when it comes to finishing, but his straight ahead blocking was outstanding. There was a reason MSU had no answer in the fourth quarter. U-M was running the ball down the Spartans’ throat, having worn them down by possessing the ball for 42 minutes.
• On defense, the Spartans would have had a handful more completions, probably, had Lewerke been healthy and ‘on.’ There were a few plays for the taking. At the same time, the U-M defensive backs and linebackers blanketed them the way MSU DBs have U-M receivers in the past. They were handsy, but to their credit, the officials let it go both ways and ‘let them play,’ so to speak.
But the guys in stripes still had some head scratchers, and it drives you nuts. They flagged Higdon for unsportsmanlike conduct for getting up and handing the ball to the official and telling him, ‘they guy is twisting my ankle’ at the bottom of the pile (Sparty gonna Sparty).
MSU linebacker Jon Reschke mugged and flexed in Patterson’s face and then to the crowd in the first quarter … no reaction from the stripes. Junior linebacker Devin Bush did a small flex to his guys on the sidelines after a big hit in the second quarter, gets flagged for unsportsmanlike.
Sophomore Donovan Peoples-Jones traded shoves before being smacked in the helmet twice and picked up half of a two-team unsportsmanlike penalty in the first quarter, and fifth-year senior Chase Winovich got destroyed in the back after the whistle, no call in the third quarter.
Way too inconsistent, at times absurd. We’re guessing Harbaugh and Co. sent in more film to the Big Ten offices this week, and not just of Mark Dantonio with a grin on his face walking behind his helmeted “warriors” in the pregame.
• Michigan’s safeties were great again. We’re somewhat surprised junior safety Josh Metellus didn’t get flagged on a big hit to Felton Davis in the first quarter (a huge drop, BTW. He makes that play, and MSU is in Michigan territory).
They’re going to get beat at times, but a lot of folks owe Metellus and senior Tyree Kinnel apologies.
• The defensive line is getting better and better, but this game wasn’t a great gauge. Junior Carlo Kemp abused center Matt Allen’s replacement when Allen went down (some walk-on named Beuter). Sophomore Aubrey Solomon can be a difference maker, and having him back is huge … have a feeling he’s going to be a force down the stretch.
His initial “punches” on MSU’s linemen probably left a few marks.
And Winovich’s impact went far beyond his four or five tackles. The guy had Lewerke running for his life.
MSU’s line had two starters back in Chewins and Jarvis, but those guys got eaten alive, too.
• Peoples-Jones’ broken tackle on his touchdown reception is an underappreciated aspect. Had he been stopped there, no guarantees the offense finishes the drive.
• Finally, punter Will Hart … two huge coffin corner kicks. The guy continues to impress.
• Finally, finally ... go back and watch Ben Mason's last carry in the fourth quarter, and what he does to that poor safety who gets in his way. THAT'S how you put an exclamation point on a beating.
Onward.
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