GBMWolverine: Coach’s Corner — Michigan Football — Michigan at Northwestern — What Happened and What it Means for the Future — Part II
Posted at 6:00am — 10/11/2011
GBMWolverine: Coach’s Corner — Michigan Football — Michigan at Northwestern — What Happened and What it Means for the Future — Part II
The third theme is the defense. As mentioned Northwestern did a nice job of exploiting its strategies, scheme, and Michigan weakness, but little victories started coming Michigan’s way. But again, credit must be given to this unit and coaching staff for throwing a shutout in the second half. When a trend happens every week it is not a fluke, instead it is a design and happens for reasons. The two turnovers Michigan secured in the second half were again huge. And this trend follows the description of the above discussion; the constant creation of turnovers by the defense is more of an actual event than a random fluke. Michigan’s deep defense was fine; Countess gave up one very well thrown ball. The perimeter was weak, but was secured enough in the second half to put the ball in the hands of the Michigan offense. Simply put, this is the most that can be asked for and the defense continues to perform well after initial setbacks.
The fourth theme falls under a collective umbrella of game intangibles. Michigan played on the road, under the lights, and from behind. Every other team does as well. The point is that while the offensive leader placed his team in jeopardy and the defense got gashed, there was no sign of panic or disarray. The team just remained patient, as did the coaches. And so the game swung Michigan’s way in the second half. The team expected to win and did. Roh got a late hit, this happens, but the hit was no result of lack of poise. At times the linebacker corps was under assault but hung in enough to help turn the tide. Borges and Hoke must have been mad enough to fry eggs on their foreheads but kept their cool and did not allow the team to be affected by any loss of discipline. Coach Hoke laid off the first half ending and simply took his team to the locker room, a smart move from this viewpoint.
Fifth, is the rushing game. The box was filled with eight all night and sometimes a safety was close enough to call the box 8.5. Michigan ran both the spread and power sets and again the line had trouble moving defenders in both sets. The backs ran hard and deserved playing time and each had a moment or two. That is a theme this year with only one dominating player: every player has a moment or two, a small or even large victory that negates the previous shortcomings. This happens because of program expectations of never saying die and pride that is starting to infuse the program.
The line has to be embarrassed that the team gets into situations of 2nd down and two or three and cannot easily pick up first downs. Coaches Borges and Hoke once again probably steam when the team cannot get the ball into the end zone straight ahead against an average (at best) Northwestern goal line defense, but instead must go to the edge with good athletes to score. But scoring is the most important thing and Michigan therefore succeeded.
Sixth is a short discussion of Junior Hemingway. Simply put, he is a very valuable player for UM and again helped to save Michigan’s bacon. One can envision Michigan’s offensive coaches wanting two or three Hemingways in the near future, the big receiver who can go get the ball.
As always this article ends with a discussion of what this game means moving onward to game seven. First, Michigan is now bowl eligible, one of only a handful of teams with this designation. Yes, indeed, Michigan has high expectations, higher than a pizza bowl, but this is one less distraction that can be put to rest.
Michigan State as has been stated here all year becomes the most important game on the 2011 schedule. The Spartans have had the luxury of having two weeks to prepare and will be playing at home. Michigan on the other hand will travel the short distance for its second road game. This will be negated by Michigan having Nebraska and Ohio State at home to end the season. It will be very difficult for Michigan to win this game, but the bet is the team shows up on time and plays next Saturday. It will be a brutal game, there will almost certainly be a collection of personal fouls, physicality will be the word of the day, and Michigan State will be sending the fort up the middle.
This team will earn every victory it achieves this year, especially moving into the teeth of a challenging schedule. Having said that there will be no give, and no quarter will be asked. Michigan is willing to work for victories, but make no mistake, every game from here on in can be won or lost, the competition will be tough as Nebraska’s running attack was scary, Ohio State still has the most defensive talent in the league, Illinois has two dynamic players emerging as big threats, Iowa is in the same boat as Michigan (living with liabilities and playing for victory) and Purdue looked better yesterday against a Minnesota team unfortunately on the decline.
The biggest stat for Michigan remains the scoreboard. After the offense provided chances for Northwestern to score ten points off of turnovers, the defense somehow kept Northwestern off the board in the second half. The offense with its deficiencies still scored 41 points. But tougher teams are on the horizon and as the coaches say weekly, things are better but the team has a long way to go. But credit needs to be given to both the team and the staff for what has transpired so far, at least for a few seconds until attention shifts to the Spartans.
Please comment on our GBMWolverine Message Board about this article and read what others comment.
You can contact us at our e-mail address: GBMWolverine
Follow us on Twitter: @GBMWolverine
Written by GBMWolverine Staff
Go Blue — Wear Maize!