Initial reaction, Michigan had no business winning that game. The offside call on the onside kick was highly suspect. I have my doubts as to whether or not the defense had enough gas in the tank without Stewart or Johnson to close that game out. Mason and KG were exhausted and Minn receivers were playing lights out.
This all came back to two plays, one from the offense and one from the defense. Up 24-3, Alex Orji, with time, throws a pick when even a decent pass, not a good pass, great pass, excellent or elite level pass, would've been enough to get a TD. Loveland was wide open down the seam. Edwards was even more open when the corner turned him loose down the sideline. Orji opted for Loveland but threw an unfathomably poor pass for a D1 P5 quarterback into the middle of the field that not only could a safety reacting late get back into the play but make a play on the ball. Minnesota starts going tempo and gets more than a few great catches from their receivers but still end up in a 4th down. Mason knocks the ball down but gets called for a hands to the face, 1st down. A TD a few plays later and Minn is in business.
Mich coaching after this was nothing short of abysmal. On the ensuing 3 and out, Campbell can't be afraid to have Orji pull the trigger on that third down. Minn is in 0 coverage on Michigan's 30-yard line. A 5-yard completion is going to go for a TD. Instead, he runs the ball when the entire stadium is believing 20 is getting the ball and he gets stoned. Later, Sherrone has to tell Orji, either on the sideline or over the headset, that he can't snap the ball with 10 seconds left on the play clock. That's inexperience on Orji's part but is about a 5 second fix from the head coach. That never gets passed. Wink is down two of his best players and his other two best players are so exhausted they need to be subbed out at critical moments in the 4th. He pressures to try to not allow time for a passing attack firing on 8 cylinders to execute but it doesn't matter. Minn QB was on target if he had time. If he didn't, receivers were playing out of their mind. Diving catches. Jumping catches. The TD catch in the end zone getting interfered with was insane.
Finally, in an ironic case of "ball don't lie," Orji fumbles a snap with a minute left and has to footrace a Minn player right after that onside kick.
This all goes back to the Orji pick and flag on Mason which would've probably had the second half go similar to the first. Not to be.
Fan base may have to get used to Michigan winning ugly this year. Tuttle being hurt doesn't help. Looking to next year, barring some big-time development, QB might be a wide open competition with a RS freshman right in the mix even if Tuttle stays beyond his 100th birthday.
Sherrone said it, a lot to clean up. Here's the real thing, it doesn't matter how you win or how it looks, a W is a W. On to next week. Go Blue.
This all came back to two plays, one from the offense and one from the defense. Up 24-3, Alex Orji, with time, throws a pick when even a decent pass, not a good pass, great pass, excellent or elite level pass, would've been enough to get a TD. Loveland was wide open down the seam. Edwards was even more open when the corner turned him loose down the sideline. Orji opted for Loveland but threw an unfathomably poor pass for a D1 P5 quarterback into the middle of the field that not only could a safety reacting late get back into the play but make a play on the ball. Minnesota starts going tempo and gets more than a few great catches from their receivers but still end up in a 4th down. Mason knocks the ball down but gets called for a hands to the face, 1st down. A TD a few plays later and Minn is in business.
Mich coaching after this was nothing short of abysmal. On the ensuing 3 and out, Campbell can't be afraid to have Orji pull the trigger on that third down. Minn is in 0 coverage on Michigan's 30-yard line. A 5-yard completion is going to go for a TD. Instead, he runs the ball when the entire stadium is believing 20 is getting the ball and he gets stoned. Later, Sherrone has to tell Orji, either on the sideline or over the headset, that he can't snap the ball with 10 seconds left on the play clock. That's inexperience on Orji's part but is about a 5 second fix from the head coach. That never gets passed. Wink is down two of his best players and his other two best players are so exhausted they need to be subbed out at critical moments in the 4th. He pressures to try to not allow time for a passing attack firing on 8 cylinders to execute but it doesn't matter. Minn QB was on target if he had time. If he didn't, receivers were playing out of their mind. Diving catches. Jumping catches. The TD catch in the end zone getting interfered with was insane.
Finally, in an ironic case of "ball don't lie," Orji fumbles a snap with a minute left and has to footrace a Minn player right after that onside kick.
This all goes back to the Orji pick and flag on Mason which would've probably had the second half go similar to the first. Not to be.
Fan base may have to get used to Michigan winning ugly this year. Tuttle being hurt doesn't help. Looking to next year, barring some big-time development, QB might be a wide open competition with a RS freshman right in the mix even if Tuttle stays beyond his 100th birthday.
Sherrone said it, a lot to clean up. Here's the real thing, it doesn't matter how you win or how it looks, a W is a W. On to next week. Go Blue.
