Michigan Football falls to Michigan State, what now for the Wolverines?

Michigan football turned the ball over five times in a loss Saturday night to Michigan State. Ok, so what now for the Wolverines?

The hallmark of a great team is that it can win ugly, even when it’s not playing at its best.  The hallmark of a team in trouble is that it loses ugly even when it’s playing better than its opponent. Unfortunately, Michigan football did not do that, losing to Michigan State 14-10.

Related Story: Recap: Michigan football shocked by Spartans, 14-10

Let’s just take a look at the stats:  First downs?  Michigan football 17, MSU 13.  Total yards?  Michigan 300, MSU 252.  Passing yards?  Michigan 198, MSU 94.  Time of possession?  Michigan 30:52, MSU 29.08.  Penalties?  Michigan 7 for 53 yards, MSU 11 for 81 yards.

Anything else worth mentioning?  Oh, that’s right.  Turnovers?.  Michigan 5, MSU 0.

Three interceptions on three consecutive drives.  A fumble early in the game (Ty Isaac) led to the first Spartan touchdown, and a fumble at the end of the half (Sean McKeon) came at the end of a 36 yard ramble that would have put the Wolverines on the MSU 29.

So, five turnovers, never a plus.  When it came to heartbreak, however, it may have been harder to bounce back from Karan Higdon’s holding penalty that wiped out a 55 yard pass and a great catch by Kekoa Crawford.  Uh, and Eddie McDoom’s dropped pass with 20 seconds left.

All of that and the quarterback question aside, Michigan’s defense was strong, giving up more yards than in previous games, but effectively shutting MSU down in the second half.  There were a few notable “what-the-heck” moments as uncovered receivers were free to roam, but the problem was never really defense.  The problem was uninspired and unimaginative play calling throughout the game.

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From the outset, the Michigan football was challenged by Michigan State’s complex arsenal of slick plays, on the ground and in the air.

As the on-air commentators persisted in reminding us, Dantonio had this team primed to come out swinging, and swing they did.  When MSU chose to run, the formation was deceptive, movement varied, and the attack rarely repeated in exactly the same way; pulling tackles and guards, for example,  opened holes that allowed runners to get some space.

Michigan Wolverines Football

The first Spartan touchdown followed a false start penalty that put MSU on the Michigan 14.  QB Lewerke had room to ramble and loped past Blue defenders to score.  The second touchdown exemplifies the difference between the two offensive designs.  MSU faked a reverse, really faked a reverse, then tossed a screen pass to London for a 16 yard score.  Over the course of the game, Michigan sent the backs right up the middle for a yard or two, and sent the receivers out in virtually the same patterns again and again.

Nobody wins turning the ball over five times.  And yet, even with the interceptions, fumbles, and penalties, Michigan football could have managed at least one more touchdown had they demonstrated some swagger, some originality, some variety.

For example, Michigan’s first possession was promising; the Blue marched down the field knocking off 16 plays.  Then, abandoning the running game on the MSU 11, O’Korn threw a sloppy lob intended for McKeon in the corner of the end zone, followed by a sloppy lob intended for McDoom in the corner of the end zone.  A 64 yard drive during which the Blue controlled field for the first seven minutes of the game, brought Michigan only a field goal.

Same pass play, fade to the corner, twice in a row.

So, no matter who ends up quarterbacking this team, offensive coordinator Tim Drevno has some ‘splainin’ to do.  Fans who remember the snappy formations and surprise plays that Jedd Fisch cooked up last year are hoping Drevno has something a bit more aggressive in the works for the Penn State, Wisconsin, and Ohio State games.

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Something has to change.