Florida 41, Michigan 15
ATLANTA — Just over a month ago, Michigan rolled into Columbus, the season still bright with limitless potential. On Saturday, two games later, the Wolverines left Mercedes-Benz Stadium having lost every bit of it.
The Peach Bowl, even after a loss at Ohio State, was a chance to end the season on a high note. Michigan could have come out of it with an 11th win for only the third time since 1986, having given Jim Harbaugh his first New Year’s Six bowl win in his tenure with the Wolverines. Instead, after a 41-15 loss to Florida, Michigan has all the same questions with no answers.
[After THE JUMP: gamer]
Things started to fall apart for the Wolverines in the third quarter. Looking for Nico Collins on a deep ball, Shea Patterson failed to see Gators’ safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. Not only did Gardner-Johnson pick off Patterson — he returned it to Michigan’s 44-yard line.
In the postgame, Gardner-Johnson was asked about the Wolverines. The answer, just one sentence, cuts deep for Michigan.
"I don't know how they prepared," he said, "but I don't think they prepared too well."
In Florida's locker room, a team that had prepared hard — wanting to win this game to put a cap on its season — emerged.
"We had a week and a little minute to study them," Gator defensive lineman Cece Jefferson said. "I just feel like everybody bought in and watched film good. ... We just knew what was coming sometimes."
After the interception, Michigan forced the Gators into fourth-and-1, but quickly fell apart from there. Sophomore Kadarius Toney took a jet sweep for 30 yards and Lamical Perine punched it in from five yards out, extending Florida’s lead to 10 with 8:06 to go in the third.
The Wolverines followed that with a three-and-out, giving Jordan Scarlett an opening to provide the dagger for the Gators. The running back broke off a 30-yard carry, going through tackle after tackle to get Florida inside the five-yard line. Then, he took a speed option into the end zone, bringing the lead to 17.
Michigan cut it to 14 with a field goal, and seemed to have momentum after an ill-fated double-pass forced the Gators into third-and-20. But on the very next play, Perine ran straight past the Wolverines' defense for a 53-yard score, ending any hope of a comeback.
Patterson’s numbers — 22-for-36 for 236 yards — weren’t bad, but the throws he missed, including two interceptions, will dominate memory of his performance. As for the run game, replacing Karan Higdon proved tough, as five rushers led by Christian Turner and Chris Evans averaged all of 2.27 yards per carry between them.
"We were moving the ball at times and close to getting into a rhythm, but we didn't get the run game going effectively enough," Jim Harbaugh said. "Or the passing game, the protection, and the rhythm in that area to make it -- we got outplayed, really, on that side of the ball."
Without Rashan Gary or Aubrey Solomon — and with Chase Winovich playing hurt — it was apparent that Michigan’s defensive line was missing something. It sacked Feleipe Franks just three times, failing to play up to a standard that has been set higher than that. As a whole, the Wolverines’ defense — vaunted all year — coughed up big play after big play, giving up 427 total yards.
"They were just a better team," Chase Winovich said. "At the end of the day, they seemed like they had us. I think this is an observation, but for the most part, they had us figured out. They knew what we were in and how to manipulate it."
December 29th, 2018 at 4:07 PM ^
LOL
Sorry to add actual facts to your temper tantrum but tell me which Coach you would prefer:
2010 Rich Rodriguez7–6 T-7th L Gator
Brady Hoke (Big Ten Conference) (2011–2014)
2011 Brady Hoke 11–2 2nd Legends W Sugar†912
2012 Brady Hoke 8–5 2nd Legends L Outback24
2013 Brady Hoke 7–6 5th Legends L Buffalo Wild Wings
Jim Harbaugh (Big Ten Conference) (2015–Present)
2015 Jim Harbaugh 10–3 3rd East W Citrus1112
2016 Jim Harbaugh 10–3 3rd East L Orange†1010
2017 Jim Harbaugh 8–5 4th East L Outback
2018 Jim Harbaugh 10–3 T-1st East LPeach†
Clearly Michigan can NOT win 10 games with any coach & just because Hoke lucked into a perfect scenario one time doesn't mean anyone can get to 10 wins.
Harbaugh has shit to change but to say anyone can do what he is doing is asinine
December 29th, 2018 at 4:13 PM ^
Gonna hang up a East Championship banner for that 1st place finish in the conference this year?
LOL
Let's just stop with our participation trophy's and win the damn thing before we claim 1st in anything.
December 29th, 2018 at 4:39 PM ^
When your argument is "Harbaugh is better than RichRod and Hoke", you know you're completely lost
December 29th, 2018 at 5:28 PM ^
Sadly this is the justification of most pro Harbaugh posts at this point. They compare him to the worst decade of Michigan football in the modern era
December 29th, 2018 at 3:46 PM ^
That’s my point.
December 29th, 2018 at 3:47 PM ^
That’s my point.
December 29th, 2018 at 4:32 PM ^
That’s MY point.
December 29th, 2018 at 3:55 PM ^
Unsupported or unsupportable comments. Weak. I’ll do the same. Without this coaching staff, this team would have ended .500. No way to prove or disprove so I guess I’m doing it right.
December 29th, 2018 at 4:09 PM ^
You have an interesting perspective, and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter!
- Warde Manuel
December 29th, 2018 at 5:50 PM ^
Top-3 compensation, at a Top-10 reputation football school shouldn't yield merely Top-15 performance. Something's out of whack here.
It takes a special (bad) coach to be average here, and an average coach to be good. With what we're paying for coaching and with the advantages we have with facilities, tradition and reputation we ought to be consistently excellent. And we're not. The finger has to point at the coaches, starting with Harbaugh.
December 29th, 2018 at 5:50 PM ^
Yippee, double post.
December 29th, 2018 at 3:40 PM ^
Time to trade my football tix for basketball tix.
December 29th, 2018 at 3:43 PM ^
Smart move!
December 29th, 2018 at 3:51 PM ^
Bye, Felicia!
December 29th, 2018 at 4:14 PM ^
I'll grab your tix off a Coke bottle in 2 years.
December 29th, 2018 at 3:41 PM ^
Embarrassing game plan on both sides! If no staff/philosophical changes are not made, next year will have a minimum of three regular season loses (ND, OSU, @PSU)... pathetic!
December 29th, 2018 at 8:39 PM ^
Don't forget about Army. A team running a tricky offense, filled with vets, experience, and willpower vs. a Michigan defense that seems to cave at the slightest bit of adversity isn't going to go well.
Whenever that Army vs. Michigan line comes out, bet on Army.
December 29th, 2018 at 3:42 PM ^
Better make wholesale changes to coaching staff. The delay of game on the first play after the safety is a perfect representation of how disjointed, confused and inept our offense has become.
December 29th, 2018 at 3:42 PM ^
I have not felt this way since the Oregon loss in 2007.
There are STRUCTURAL issues with this team.
Both the offense and the defense are constructed to control teams with lesser talent.
There is NO evidence to-date that either is effective against elite top ten competition.
And there is no magic recruit or transfer on the horizon that is going to change any of that.
December 29th, 2018 at 3:45 PM ^
And structural issues start with the coaches. No one in there right mind can say we don’t have athletes on the same level as Florida’s. The coaches have to look at their approach to everything. They don’t have limits on meetings, film review, etc. Put in the hours, coaches, and fix this! Not a 40 hour a week job!!
December 29th, 2018 at 4:16 PM ^
Both the offense and the defense are constructed to control teams with lesser talent.
I completely agree with this, M-Dog. This Offense can't put up enough points to compete with the elite teams. Once this team gets behind, it's over, because they aren't rallying from behind against anybody (aside from the Northwesterns of the world).
There need to be coaching changes on Offense. Harbaugh needs to hire a great OC, AND be willing to relinquish his control of the Offense. The O just isn't working.
As for the D, welp, clearly the better teams have figured out how to attack Don Brown's man defenses.
December 29th, 2018 at 4:41 PM ^
Has Don Brown at Michigan ever beaten a team that finished in the top ten (i.e. a truly good team when it was all said and done)?
Maybe PSU in mid-season 2016 when they were still figuring out the Moorhead system. I'm not sure I can think of anybody else at all.
He has not stopped or even slowed down top teams at all.
December 29th, 2018 at 4:49 PM ^
I don't think he has. I agree with your other comment about Don Brown needing to modify his scheme. Like you said, he needs another pitch besides just a fastball.
December 30th, 2018 at 11:39 AM ^
And Florida frankly barely qualifies as a "better"team, based on recent metrics.
December 29th, 2018 at 3:42 PM ^
All hail Harbaugh the 5th best coach in the BIG and top 25 nationally ...
December 29th, 2018 at 3:54 PM ^
Name them. Name the four coaches in the big ten better. I dare you
December 29th, 2018 at 4:24 PM ^
I’ll correct him. He’s probably 4th best
Dantonio does more with less and has hardware. Franklin recruits like crazy, keeps his hands off his coordinators and has more hardware. Paul Chryst has won 5 bowl games in a row for Wisconsin and does way more with less. Chryst even runs Harbaugh’s offense better
Ryan Day is coming up and he already ate Harbaugh’s lunch once.
December 29th, 2018 at 4:37 PM ^
You forgot Jeff Brohm who beat Ohio State with a bunch of moons and 2 stars. Brohm is a superior offensive coach by a lot.
December 29th, 2018 at 4:37 PM ^
You forgot Jeff Brohm who beat Ohio State with a bunch of moons and 2 stars. Brohm is a superior offensive coach by a lot.
December 29th, 2018 at 6:14 PM ^
Brohm? He didn't look like a superior offensive coach against Auburn.
December 29th, 2018 at 6:37 PM ^
The talent differential in the Purdue/Auburn game was overwhelming at most positions, making the OSU win simply awesome.
Brohm at least knows enough to get the ball in Rondale Moore's hands as many ways as he can and as often as he can. Not Harbaugh. Has Harbaugh ever gotten any receiver 1000 yds? Rondale Moore is just a true freshman and has 1000 yds!
That's called great coaching.
December 30th, 2018 at 9:26 AM ^
Good to know someone at Penn State keeps his hands to himself.
December 29th, 2018 at 4:24 PM ^
Dantonio - 2-2 against Harbaugh with worse recruits.
Bromm - has actually beaten OSU.
Ferentz - beaten both Harbaugh and OSU.
Day - compare his offense to Harbaugh's.
December 29th, 2018 at 6:02 PM ^
If they had the same roster as Harbaugh? Easy:
- Meyer
- Franklin
- Dantonio
- Brohm
- Frost
- and possibly Fitzgerald
December 29th, 2018 at 3:57 PM ^
Hail Bitter Troll!
December 29th, 2018 at 3:44 PM ^
“To those of you on the [field] at the end, I just want to say, I’m proud of you, you played your guts out.”
-Gene Hackman, like ‘89–ish
December 29th, 2018 at 3:45 PM ^
I spent today working on my “mini farm”. Have 3 chickens with a 4th on the way. Expanded my composting from a small bin to a 45 sq ft chicken wire enclosure. Added to the pile so that I have 90 cubic ft going. 14 year old stepson helped all day.
All that to say I’m glad I didn’t watch or even look at the score until now. I’m not even mad, or even surprised at the score.
December 29th, 2018 at 4:04 PM ^
Same here, except for the farm. :)
I was grocery shopping and cooking. It's my personal policy to not watch Michigan football games in real time unless I'm in the stadium. Obviously not for everyone, but I think it's good for my mental health.
December 29th, 2018 at 4:15 PM ^
The OSU game was the final straw for me. I’ve threatened to not watch a bowl game many times but finally followed through. I may watch games ne t year but it will be harvest time!
December 29th, 2018 at 5:21 PM ^
I gave one seconds thought to watching the game and decided to take the kids skiing instead. Very happy with my decision. There are coaches doing more with less talent...if after year 5, Harbaugh can't field a competent offense and a defense with more than one style of play, might be time to go get one of them instead.
After seeing how bad our OLine has been the past 10 years I'm willing to give him one more year but after that....time to move on.
December 29th, 2018 at 8:18 PM ^
Where did you ski? My daughter and my best man + family live in Boulder so Colorado is the only place I’ve skied. Mainly Winter Park Or Copper.
January 1st, 2019 at 10:54 PM ^
Vail is our home mountain. We've been blessed with one hell of a season this year.
December 29th, 2018 at 8:29 PM ^
well, a lot of shit on this board could help your farm.
December 30th, 2018 at 11:44 AM ^
I'm confused about the 4th chicken "on the way" part:
Did you order one? Otherwise, isn't every batch of eggs a potential 4th (and 5th, 6th....) chicken on the way?
Enlighten us oh cranky chicken farmer
December 29th, 2018 at 3:45 PM ^
Games like this make me wonder if the non-playoff bowls are doomed. Little interest in watching them and little interest (apparently) in playing them or coaching them. There doesn't seem to be much point.
December 29th, 2018 at 3:52 PM ^
Florida seemed like they were playing with interest!
December 30th, 2018 at 11:55 AM ^
And they have a 1st year coach.
Do you remember our recent 1st year coaches bowls?
Won Sugar 2011
Won (Citrus?) 2015
It means more 1st time than it does later, maybe?
December 30th, 2018 at 7:21 AM ^
Agree. These non-playoff bowl games are often met with at most one team that wants to play and the other that didn't prepare and doesn't want to be there. Sound familiar? My interest in bowls has waned considerably since the playoff system began.
And as far as yesterday goes, the hungrier team was going to win that game and we looked like a team that pigged out before the game. Coaches included. The only good thing was the punt block team. We blocked two punts and still got our doors blown off.
December 29th, 2018 at 3:46 PM ^
End of season coaching sucks....For 3 years now!
Even Virginia beat South Carolina/ Jake Bentley 28-0 who torched us last bowl game.
Maybe we should have hired Mullen instead of Harbaugh. He took the same players we beat last year and had them ready with a good game plan and play calling.
So glad for early signing period. We would have lost a couple recruits after that performance.
December 29th, 2018 at 3:46 PM ^
Just like everyone said: if we win, nobody will care. If we lose, the world will be on fire.
The game meant nothing other than perception. Save yourself the stress of taking the bait and enjoy a great basketball team before football season next year.
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