Well, that was something. My only conjecture as to what in particular happened in this game is that the Michigan offensive coaching staff had a 5:30 pm dinner reservation and left a St. Bernard in charge of the playcalling in the second half, while Cade McNamara's right arm got shut in his locker accidentally and was left bruised and inoperable. I would prefer to live in a world where this conjecture is correct, because reality is probably more grim. 

The first half was good for the Maize.& Blue. Michigan outgained Rutgers 233 to 121 and led 20-3 at halftime. A smashmouth first drive that saw the Wolverines run on 15 of 17 plays on the way to a one-yard Hassan Haskins TD run seemed to suggest that this game was going to be a loose replica of the dominance of the first three weeks. A lengthy Rutgers drive stalled out in a field goal from Valentino Ambrosio and it was 7-3. That feeling of extended dominance continued after the next Michigan drive included a pair of long passes (one to Erick All, the other to Roman Wilson), followed by another Haskins TD. It was 14-3 early in the second quarter, and cruise control seemed to be on. 

There were some good moments in the first half [Patrick Barron]

The next two drives for the Scarlet Knights ended in punts, and after Michigan tacked on another FG from short range, they led 17-3. Rutgers went on a lengthy drive extended by a frustrating Daxton Hill whiff on the would-be drive-ending sack, but their (reckless) decision to go for it on 4th & 10 at Michigan's 44 yard line ended with the football glancing off of Bo Melton's hands. Michigan took over with 0:22 on the clock remaining in the half and a quick 51 yard strike to Mike Sainristil, with a roughing the passer targeting call that ejected starting NT Julius Turner, put Michigan on the two. Haskins was stuffed and then a poor Cade McNamara throw intended for Luke Schoonmaker fell incomplete, and Jake Moody was asked to thread a FG through the uprights. He did, and Michigan led 20-3 at the half. 

The recap I had in my mind at that juncture was pretty crystal clear: Rutgers is scrappy and with a few tricks up their sleeve, but Michigan is the considerably better team. That went out the window pretty quickly in the second half.

[AFTER THE JUMP: The less fun part of this recap]

It didn't become obsolete immediately, though. In fact, Rutgers got the ball first and went three and out, which was paired with an electric AJ Henning punt return. Michigan had the drive beginning on the Rutgers 39 and seemed to be in position to put the game away early in the third. Haskins ran for three yards, Andrew Vastardis took a bad false start penalty, a pass to AJ Henning fell incomplete, and then Michigan threw in the red towel by running for two on 3rd & 12. That playcall sent the foreboding feeling of how the half would go. 

Isaih Pacheco helped lead Rutgers back in the latter 30 minutes of the contest [Barron]

Brad Robbins pinned Rutgers at the nine yard line, but the Scarlet Knights went 91 yards in 12 plays for a TD to Aaron Young that Nikhai Hill-Green was completely lost on. Beginning with that drive, Rutgers gained at least 50 yards on three straight drives, while Michigan followed all three drives with three and outs. Over that span, the Rutgers offense was on the field for nearly a full 14 minutes, while Michigan had possession for around 5 minutes. Perhaps that's why Michigan's defense started to get worn thin.

A "stinger" injury to Josh Ross left the Michigan D without its leader and the deception that Greg Schiano's Rutgers began to add to the playbook, in particularly a power read with QB Noah Vedral reading the defenders beautifully, left Michigan's defense bamboozled. Add in an offense incapable of staying on the field for more than a couple minutes, and Michigan's defense was confused and tired. 

That offense was extremely ugly. Michigan continued to try and run between the tackles despite Rutgers selling out to stop it. Michigan refused to try anything else. It also didn't help that McNamara, who was excellent up until he was hit by Turner on the aforementioned roughing the passer, suddenly was unable to hit the broad side of a barn with his passes. He finished 1/6 for 7 passing yards after that hit, spiking balls in to his receivers and missing an open Erick All by a considerable margin. Michigan also refused to test the edges, which was particularly dumbfounding given the success that they've had on those plays this season. That AJ Henning did not touch the football on offense is damn near inexcusable, especially when Michigan's offense was the equivalent of a beached whale for a full 30 minutes. 

Noah Vedral's legs were a feature of the Rutgers offense in the 2nd half [MG Campredon]

Despite being hung out to dry by its offense, Michigan's defense played valiantly in the second half. The inexperience of the unit showed in their struggles to recognize the deception that Rutgers was cleverly integrating, but they made stops when it mattered. One such stop was helped by a generous no-call of a potential holding on Gemon Green in the end zone, but the other two were all defense, a 4th down stuff of Johnny Langan when Michigan clung to just a 20-13 lead, and then David Ojabo forced a fumble that was recovered by Junior Colson to conclude the ballgame (on a drive that again had the chance to tie it). 

It was an ugly win, but a win all the same. Much consternation will circulate across the internet about the playcalling, and rightfully so, but Michigan also played well in the first half. It was an inability adjust in the second half that put the Wolverines within a close shave of disaster. Simply put, Rutgers' coaching staff thoroughly outcoached Michigan's in the second half. The Wolverines will need to prove that they can do something on offense if they aren't running well between the tackles, because Wisconsin's plan next week will look a lot like Rutgers' second half plan today. 

Michigan is 4-0. Not in pretty fashion, but it looks the same in the standings. Next week Michigan heads into Madison, a place they haven't won in 20 years, to face a reeling Badgers team who fell to 1-2 today after losing 41-13 to Notre Dame. Both teams will have much to prove, and how Jim Harbaugh and his coaching staff respond to a very poor second half is the biggest question surrounding Michigan's end of this matchup. That game is at noon next Saturday on Fox.