Michigan Football: Win over Florida, not as close as it looked

Michigan Football beat Florida 33-17 Saturday in Dallas. But even though the spread was 16 points, the game was not even that close.

11 net yards rushing.  Think about it.  Florida was only able to squeeze 11 yards rushing against a Michigan football team that had been routinely described as a pale shadow of last season’s dominant defensive force.

Related Story: Updated expectations for Michigan football after beating Florida

Wilton Speight was 11 of 23 for 181 yards; Florida’s entire production was 192 yards.  Take away the two interceptions (Dear God!  Please take away the two interceptions!) and the final score is Michigan 33, Florida 3.  At game’s end, the way Michigan football dominated at the line of scrimmage told the story:  433 yards gained to 192.

Oh, and not to whine about officiating (again), Michigan had a thoroughly legit touchdown called back.  So, football gods with the Blue, it’s a 40-3 romp.

Encouraging indications that Michigan is truly in the hunt this season came from both defense and offense.

On the defensive side, Michigan football fans had been waiting to see the next generation take leadership on, expected to hear names like Rashan Gary and Maurice Hurst called again and again, but who knew Ambrey Thomas would step up  to force a fumble on a kickoff, Noah Furbush would recover a fumble for a  touchdown, and who knew that Devin Bush could cover side to side with blinding speed, notching seven tackles, three for loss, two sacks?

This defense was tired of hearing how young and inexperienced they were.  Before the game, Devin Bush simply stated, ” Young don’t mean nothing.”

Nothing at all.

The O line had looked great throughout camp, but their performance, especially in the second half of the game against Florida, was extraordinary.  It seemed that Michigan could run at will, in  part because Mason Cole belongs among the most effective linesmen in college, and in part because the young line has obviously gelled.

Michigan Wolverines Football

Establish the running game, and options open up, options Michigan could employ because Speight had enough time in the pocket to set his feet and unloose a few impressive long balls.

And then, as if Evans and Higdon did not provide enough firepower, enter Ty Isaac who, having lost fifteen pounds and gained significant stamina as a result of an intensive conditioning program, has worked his way off the bench into contention with Chris Evans as leading running back.

Isaac ran for 114 yards including clutch carries on third and fourth downs.  It may be Isaac’s grit on third downs that leads Coach Harbaugh to platoon the two talented runners.  As Harbaugh said in camp, “And Ty Isaac, the guy is so slippery, it’s unbelievable. He just bobs and weaves and tough to get down on the ground…”

Not enough?  How about freshman Tarik Black, arriving in Jerry World after having played before crowds of 80 to 100 at Cheshire Academy in Connecticut, finding his place on the big stage, catching a 46 yard touchdown pass from Speight and a doozy of a 37 yard pass from O’Korn.  Earlier, offensive coordinator Tim Drevno had raved about Isaac in camp, “Tarik Black… WOW! He is explosive,” Drevno later added.  “Every time he comes down with the ball he’s always over the top of somebody.”

Want more?  Remember the flap about Harbaugh pursuing a recruit so avidly that he ended up spending the night at the recruit’s home?  That recruit was Quinn Nordin, the first Michigan kicker to put TWO field goals of more than 50 yards through the uprights.  Nordin, the number one  recruited kicker in the nation had verbally committed to Penn State before Harbaugh’s visit.

Next: Top 10 Michigan Running Backs of All Time

Sleep on that doubters!