Grading Michigan Football’s offense after loss to Spartans
By Adam Childs
Offensive Line – D
The Spartans came out with the game plan to pressure Joe Milton early and get him out of his rhythm and it worked. They blitzed and stunted early and made life miserable early for him and it made him get happy feet the rest of the game.
The problem is the offensive line did nothing to help him out. They continually let guys get in his face and all around had trouble slowing down their line. They eventually gave him some clean pockets in the second half, but by that time it was too late.
The Wolverines also have some talent at running back, but if they have no holes to run through or time to find a lane it doesn’t matter. The Spartans were all over Michigan’s designed runs and it was mostly again because the offensive line couldn’t block well enough.
The line looked good against the Gophers opening up holes for runners and leading the way, but maybe that was a product of Minnesota being down instead of the line being better.
The Spartans had a great game plan and the line could have slowed that and made it ineffective and they didn’t. They couldn’t protect Milton and the running backs enough and it slowed the Michigan offense to a halt way too often.
The line is going to have to play better or it won’t matter how good Milton and the running backs are. If they get no time the offense is not going to work.