Michigan 27, Iowa 14
There was a moment of discomfort. Iowa had a 2nd & 4 deep in Michigan territory, with the score 20-7 and plenty of time left for another unrushed possession. Cornerback DJ Turner, for our money Michigan’s best defender, lay on the ground surrounded by trainers. Around the nation, text threads of Wolverine faithful began prognosticating:
Easy TD here.
Where’s our pass rush?????!
I can’t believe I’m sayin this Iowa wants it more.
21-20 book it.
Yep. Gonna lose this weird game.
I hate Kinnick
But a quick throw to meaty Iowa TE Sam LaPorta was slammed down for no gain.
except the kids
A slippery cutback by RB Leshon Williams was stuffed after 1.5 yards. Standing on their 8 yard line, Michigan awaited their fate on a 4th and 2, and for some reason their fans were convinced 14 points hung in the balance.
and the kids.
It did feel weird to be worrying just then. After three sleepy quarters it seemed like Michigan was going to walk out of Kinnick with a good ol’ fashioned slow-motion whomping. The offense accepted the opening kickoff and efficiently moved the ball down the field, the line taking care of the first 3-4 yards, and Blake Corum supplying another 3-7 when the next level arrived. McCarthy just missed his one deep shot—to a very wide open Roman Wilson—but provided the accurate outs and checkdowns that were required to game manage a win against the Game Managers. Corum had 29 carries for 133 yards, with Donovan Edwards chipping in 29 yards on 5 carries.
They weren’t breaking them big, but that’s tough to do when facing the #1 defense with All-Americans like MLB Jack Campbell hunting them down. Michigan scored on its first drive with a beautiful Ronnie Bell end-around on which TE Luke Schoonmaker reversed course on a cross to lead Bell to the endzone. Their third drive was promising, and featured a truly Hart-like pile-carry by Corum, but died on a poorly executed speed option that McCarthy pitched without forcing Campbell to commit to him. Another long drive, this one with a great McCarthy throw to Andrel Anthony in The Hole, also sputtered out with a field goal. In between, Iowa had a few of their patented rollouts, but otherwise their best offensive play of the first half was their receiver falling down to draw a holding penalty on Rod Moore. Iowa tried a fake kneel at the end of the 2nd quarter, but Michigan wrangled it down after six yards and took a 13-0 lead into halftime, with a 236 to 91 advantage in yardage.
[After THE JUMP: Fewer texts, subtle flavors of booing]
--------------------------
Might have to draw this one up. [Barron]
Coming out of the half it looked like the Wolverines were ready to put it away. Iowa went three and out, and Corum, McCarthy, Schoonmaker, and Bell keyed a quick march down the field. McCarthy dodged a defensive end, rolled out, and found Donovan Edwards in the back of the endzone for what felt an insurmountable 20-0 lead.
They were the winning points, but as the 3rd quarter rolled along, the tenor of the text threads began to shift. DJ Turner stepped in front of a deep hook but dropped what could have been a pick-six and a 27-0 “that’s it.” On Michigan’s ensuing possession, JJ McCarthy tried to escape a sack in progress with a backwards pass. Donovan Edwards raced back and fell upon the ball at the Michigan 3, but the huge loss meant Iowa got the ball in good field position. Given new life, Iowa slipped a fullback into the flat for a chunk. After taking a personal foul, Iowa converted a 3rd and 22 when Mike Sainristil fell down in coverage. That went out at the 2 yard line and set up Iowa's first touchdown.
Michigan had a quick three-and-out and Iowa kept the momentum. Petras laid in a tip o’ the hat seam pass to LaPorta against good coverage by LB Junior Colson. Leshun Williams dodged Mazi Smith at the line of scrimmage for a big 3rd and 7 conversion, and LaPorta fought through an RJ Moten TFL attempt to set off the tempest of four-letter texting and set up the afore mentioned 4th and 2.
Here the tip of the cap goes to Hawkeye offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, who drew up a quick outside pass short of the sticks. Ball, receiver, and a penalty flag for offensive pass interference all hit the ground. The texts stopped as Iowa fans commenced a booooo-but-not-for-yoouuuuuuu that communicated a nuanced frustration not targeted at the players.
The threads would not be silenced for long. A bog typical run-run-incomplete-punt sequence gave the ball back to the Hawkeyes, though thanks to punter Brad Robbins’s bouncing liner, that drive was moved back to the Iowa 42. It would get no further. Mike Morris started the crucial drive with an authoritative sack from outside RT Connor Colby on 1st down, and caused an errant throw by coming inside Colby on the next play. On 3rd and 19, Eyabi Okie beat Colby a third time, just barely getting his hand on Petras and yanking him down. Okie came through on a well-designed stunt on 4th and 24, and Michigan had the ball back with 2:30 remaining.
The #1 defense in the country wasn’t enough to stop the #1 back in the country. [Barron]
Michigan’s offense found their footing again, and once again it was thanks to the steady feet of their offensive line and Blake Corum. Finally breaking out into space with Campbell, Corum shimmied a shoulder inside, Campbell bought it, and Michigan’s superstar ran it in to make it 27-7. Iowa pushed the ball downfield under soft coverage for a face-saving late touchdown, but used up most of the little clock remaining. Michigan fielded the ensuing pop kick and kneeled once more to become just the second top-5 team in six tries to leave Kinnick with a victory, and the first to do so by more than two points. DJ Turner returned to the game on Iowa’s penultimate drive, but via Michigan Radio, WR Roman Wilson was taken to the locker room and did not return.
A banged up Wolverine squad got back Edwards and LG Trevor Keegan for this one, but LB Nikhai Hill-Green was still absent, and true freshman Jimmy Rolder appeared in the rotation ahead of Kalel Mullings, with Michael Barrett going most of the way. They have another Big Ten road trip next week to Bloomington before their first ranked foe, Penn State, comes to town in two weeks. There will be some moments to analyze, but Michigan passed a (mostly one-sided) test as tough as last week’s, and since they were kind enough to play this one at noon Michigan fans now get to enjoy the rest of thus-far lovely Midwestern October Saturday. I can’t wait to see what my friends have been saying about Maryland-MSU.
October 2nd, 2022 at 12:14 AM ^
Not that annoyed… if Corum goes down after the 1st down stick, we run out the clock with the same margin we ended up with.
I don’t have a problem with Corum trucking it for a TD when he did. Then we basically made them use almost all the remaining time to get their garbage TD.
October 1st, 2022 at 6:30 PM ^
I made the list!
I went from saying "The second half is going to be boring, and I'm okay with that" to the aforementioned "21-20 Book it."
I wish Harbaugh would just trust his team to put it away.
But I guess the 2nd half wasn't boring...
October 1st, 2022 at 6:33 PM ^
Thanks for pointing out that Sainristil slipped on the 3rd and 22. I have an aversion to soft coverages unless you're playing, like, Bama (which Iowa decidedly is uh... not), even if I understand the NFL-style approach to playing prevent late in these games. I guess some of the times I thought they were playing soft weren't necessarily that, a la the 3rd and 22. I do think Jim Harbaugh is often rigid about how he thinks a game should go, which leads to things like a second-half duel with Kirk Ferentz to see who can be better at punting and limiting snaps. It's hard to object too much when it leads to a respectable road win, even if it can be crazy-making in the moment
October 1st, 2022 at 6:48 PM ^
Hail to the Victors! Good win on the road @ Iowa by 2 scores - I'll take it.
Sure there are things to work on. Like covering the TE better. Getting JJ to scramble or get rid of the ball sooner, rather than holding it too long and getting into trouble.
On the long ball overthrow, did he do the thing Devin Gardner was talking about in the film review: throwing his left arm out rather than keeping it tucked, resulting in the ball sailing? Don't know if mechanics can be fixed in season, but can they get him to put a little more air under the ball, so it comes down on target?
October 1st, 2022 at 6:49 PM ^
Like last week only this time on the road: faced adversity, took care of business. Again, I’ll take it. Go blue!
October 1st, 2022 at 7:20 PM ^
This was Brian Ferentz’s super bowl and he laid an egg.
October 1st, 2022 at 7:59 PM ^
Just to clarify: While it's possible, I guess, that some people are "unhappy" with the result, I don't think most of us who point out some slight dissatisfaction with the offense today fall into that category. I just can't believe I'm alone in feeling my stomach tightening late in the fourth, and I'm not sure the game needed to be as close at that point as it was.
But we're all happy with the win, and escaping Kinnick with a win has been a long time coming. :-)
(I still wish we would use our receivers more. But that's a personal preference, and I'm ok with people who say "not me -- I love running it down the other team's throat as often as possible.").
October 1st, 2022 at 8:04 PM ^
Watching IU vs Nebraska. Should be va pounding next week vs IU.
October 1st, 2022 at 8:10 PM ^
Glad that DJ Turner is fine and hope that Roman will not be out for long
October 2nd, 2022 at 12:02 AM ^
I was at the game and my first trip to Kinnick was a great one. The Iowa fans were true class acts almost without exception and they have alcohol sales! (Imagine East Lansing with in stadium alcohol… shudder, cringe)
Stadium is actually pretty nice other than could use more concession and bathroom points. They give about 1” more per seat and it makes a difference.
October 2nd, 2022 at 10:50 AM ^
My first time visiting Iowa, and I had a similar experience. Highly recommend it for those looking to travel for football.
October 2nd, 2022 at 8:56 AM ^
This Jack Campbell?
https://twitter.com/jdue51/status/1576555071440973824?s=46&t=tGh2dwSrbR…
Edit: my god no auto embed of tweets yet? Guys…
October 2nd, 2022 at 3:02 PM ^
You can post links. That's what the little chain link button (next to the italic button) does.
October 2nd, 2022 at 11:05 AM ^
- Bring sophomore QB with 2 career starts to Kinnick and commit no turnovers: check.
- Establish run game without distinct “bruiser” short yardage RB against elite defense: check.
- Hit some deep shots: check.
- Find a pass rush: priceless.
Sure, there are things to improve. The LBs still look confused and hesitant at times. The on-field focus seems to wane (as much as it does for the fans) when the game seems in hand. What happened to Brad Robbins’s leg this week (was it the mustache? I think it was the mustache).
But the list of FBS unbeatens grows thin. Everyone [EDIT: just saw yesterday’s highlights] including Georgia has shown vulnerability at times. So long as the team keeps learning and working and doesn’t eat what Saban terms the “rat poison,” I like this team’s chances right up to the showdown in the Horseshoe. Hopefully, the student-athletes (even with NIL) stay focused on passing that final.
October 2nd, 2022 at 11:16 AM ^
I was there! It wasn't a particularly memorable game but here are my thoughts:
- the weather was awesome and the atmosphere beforehand was great. There's a great positive feeling all around the stadium and neighborhoods in IC before Hawks games.
- It was kind of boring but actually, weirdly, an extremely well-played game. No big plays by either team, but also no turnovers. Even Iowa's offense played its best game of the year so far. McCarthy seemed very calm and collected and avoided the major mistakes that Iowa feasts on (he had two plays that got close but for the most part he was very poised - I think that first drive really set the tone).
- I had a great look at the backward pass - we were right at that yard line and McCarthy was basically facing me - and right away I knew it went backwards. And I'm glad Edwards didn't assume it was a forward pass. He did the smart thing and hustled back and pounced on it. It was one of those things that seemed to take forever and I was petrified it would squirt out or something. In many ways this was the play of the game. Considering how Iowa plays the game - that's exactly what they needed and wanted at that time. If they get that ball, that game gets real hairy. Edwards deserves a KFTAOTW or whatever for that.
- I thought Harbaugh and the play calling got too conservative at times and I think the staff put too much on Iowa's difficulty in moving the ball (they did OK in this game - Petras had like 170+ yards passing pre-garbage time which is a bonanza for him.). I HATED that option on 3rd and 4 because if you call a pass play for McCarthy there you can go up 14-0 and life gets a lot easier against a team like Iowa.
- For as great as Iowa fans are, they are completely lame and embarrassing about the refs. It seemed like M got some calls and the replays in the stadium were poor, but they whined at every flag (I had a good look at a 3rd down throw to Wilson in the end zone and he absolutely got grabbed and that seemed like a make-up no call for a PI earlier in the drive so it seemed fair to me).
- Iowa played well. Their defense won't face a team with offensive weapons like that again in the West (and probably not a defense either). So, if they can improve their offensive efficiency even a little bit, they could win the West again.
October 2nd, 2022 at 11:21 AM ^
At Kinnick Stadium, with everything to lose, against a respectable defense, Michigan took care of business by beating Iowa at their own game: ball control, stop the run, limit turnovers, and solid special teams play. Onward. Go Blue!
October 2nd, 2022 at 1:07 PM ^
There are still some concerns about the Michigan defense. The defense did not hold Iowa to 14 points, Spencer Petras held Iowa to 14 points. His appalling inaccuracy left at least 2 Iowa TDs off the board.
This will be a concern when we finally face a team with both a good offense and a good defense.
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