Michigan Football: Indiana at Michigan — What Happened and What It Means — Part II
Posted at 4:00pm — 10/21/2013
Michigan Football: Indiana at Michigan — What Happened and What It Means — Part II
The Indiana defensive ends gave up contain early and often helping Michigan’s cause. AJ Williams may have looked like he took control of blocking the edge, but watch the game again. Simply put Indiana lost contain rather easily. Fitz bounced outside quickly many times and the edge was open for important runs in the redzone.
Oct 19, 2013; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Devin Gardner (98) runs the ball for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY SportsGardner may be credited with the two turnovers, but the pitch to Toussaint could best be tallied as one-half of a turnover, the other part going to Fitz. The pitch was a little ahead but a back must get to it and prevent a big loss. Some may question this call so close to the Michigan goal line. Whatever, the play was defended and the results set up an easy Hoosier drive that set up a second half ping pong game.
Devin Gardner threw on most occasions with a nice throwing position, stepping up into the pocket or being very well protected so that he could just read and release. Indiana had no answer for Gallon’s cuts and ability to find green real estate. Two Michigan records came crashing down as Gardner and Gallon had one of the best throwing and receiving days in college football history. These two outdid the fast break attack of Indiana.
Oct 19, 2013; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Kofi Hughes (13) makes a touchdown catch over Michigan Wolverines defensive back Channing Stribling (8) in the third quarter at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY SportsThose thinking ill of the defense should have a couple of minutes on the field to experience what the guys had to deal with the entire day. The defense made mistakes, no doubt. There was one time I observed three Michigan players moving into position at the snap. The cornerbacks had a rough day but kept at it and made a few plays that may have been enough to hold the Hoosiers to under 100 points. Lewis and Stribbling had moments, Taylor had moments, and Countess had moments. The linebackers could not match up with the long drags, few linebackers can. Thomas Gordon was the beneficiary of the two big Hoosier mistakes of the game. First, a ball was underthrown by a foot or so, giving Gordon a perfect angle to the ball. A little more air may have yielded another long Hoosier score. Second, Indiana again went for a deep sideline pattern, but this time Thomas was on the boundary giving deep help. The receiver broke the route, Lewis tipped the ball and Gordon pulled it in, giving Michigan a huge leg up on the win.
Did Fitz Toussaint run the ball well or does the refrain of its just Indiana’s defense fit? Make the determination yourself, but again no turnovers, excepting the toss, occurred. He danced and danced, but he also took advantage of the dip outs when the edge was vulnerable.
Oct 19, 2013; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Jeremy Gallon (21) looks to make a catch in the third quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY SportsThe special teams were not really special at all. Another break through on a field goal try and a low kick yielded another blocked kick. Everyone will come after this unit now and improvement is a must. Both kickoff teams still need much work to be assets to the team.
Game management had no bearing in this game, it was primarily a players’ game, not a coaches game once the ball was kicked.
Michigan goes from one extreme to another in two weeks playing the Spartans. Twenty-second Century football will be replaced with 1950 football.
What this game means is that Michigan’s defense still has holes and there is no 2013 treatment to stop the bleeding. The option is to slow down the bleeding. The offense will probably throw the same interior line at the Spartans and they better be ready. This will be the best defense Michigan plays this year.
Finally, Michigan is at least Pizza Bowl eligible. Now each win can up the bowl selection choice. But that is in the future.
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Written by GBMWolverine Staff — Doc4Blu
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