Michigan 48, Rutgers 42 (3 OT)
Congratulations, you just survived the late-night sickos version of the 2010 Illinois game, or the Jersey Shore version of the 2013 Penn State game, take your pick.
For those who went to bed early or chose to do something worthwhile with their Saturday night, Michigan came back from a 17-7 halftime deficit, blew a late eight-point lead, and pulled out a triple overtime victory—at Rutgers. Until one accounts for those last two words, perhaps there'd be some flicker of hope coming out of this, but the overwhelming feeling for Michigan partisans watching this game was wanting it all to be over: the game and this coaching regime.
Quarterback Cade McNamara's five-touchdown (four passing, one rushing) performance in relief of a scuffling Joe Milton gave life to the proceedings and the Wolverines offense. Michigan's overall play, however, was plagued with issues. It took an impressive effort from the running backs, particularly Hassan Haskins, for the team to squeeze out 4.0 yards per carry. The offensive game plan seemed to get scrapped at halftime again, though at least this time it changed for the better.
The passing defense was a disaster, allowing 378 yards on 8.8 YPA to Noah Vedral, whose previous career bests in games with at least 20 attempts were 252 and 7.4, respectively, both of which he posted last week against Illinois. Vedral entered today's game averaging 5.5 YPA with 5 TDs and 7 picks this season; he threw three touchdowns against a lone interception on the game's final, desperation snap.
This game probably didn't move the needle for you. If you thought this coaching staff had run its course, this was a brutal exercise in watching the reasons for that play out in a long, competitive game against freakin' Rutgers. If you thought Harbaugh deserves more time, a win is a win, and perhaps he found a quarterback. (What it says about the coaches that this happened midway through game five is perhaps a point in the former group's favor.)
With this, uh, bounce back to 2-3, Michigan enters next Saturday with a chance to get to a level .500 against a winless Penn State program in a similar state of disarray. Kickoff time is to be announced. Please, you animals, don't put this one under the lights.
[Hit THE JUMP for the box score.]
November 22nd, 2020 at 12:05 PM ^
You really wanted to fire Jim two years ago? At that point he had won 10, 10, 8 and 10 games in his first four years. In fact, on Thanksgiving week two years ago we had just clinched a share of the East division.
He may not be the answer going forward, but let's not be revisionist.
November 22nd, 2020 at 12:48 AM ^
Luke Fickell/Mario Cristobal/Matt Campbell/Tom Allen is going to make Cade McNamara a stud
November 22nd, 2020 at 12:53 AM ^
Not if Harbaugh gets to keep his job.
November 22nd, 2020 at 12:48 AM ^
Yes, it's still Rutgers, but... it's not like this is the Chris Ash or Kyle Flood versions of Rutgers. As mentioned during the broadcast, this season has been one of their best thus far (statistically) in years.
We're still not good right now... very not good, but let's be fair in the comparisons. (Taking into account the other extenuating circumstances thus far this season wold also be prudent, but that's a different discussion.)
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:16 AM ^
Yeah, Michigan isn't particularly good this year but Rutgers is a perfectly bad team, not the abysmal trainwreck they were for years.
November 22nd, 2020 at 12:49 AM ^
In the big picture, there's a lot to be concerned about with this program...
...but for tonight, I'm going to be happy for the team. They were 1-3 on the season, down 17-0, and kept fighting, and after some heart-attack moments, finally got the win. They get a happy flight home. Good for them!
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:09 AM ^
Yes, this was as much fun as a win over Ohio State. It's a game, for fuck's sake! We pulled it out.
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:12 AM ^
That's my feeling as well, jmblue. Gotta enjoy the small victories this year, no matter how ridiculous.
Proud of the heart the team showed tonight. Good for them!
November 22nd, 2020 at 6:46 AM ^
Not sure being relieved the team pulled it out is the same as enjoying a small victory. If so, I'm with you.
November 22nd, 2020 at 6:46 AM ^
Not sure being relieved the team pulled it out is the same as enjoying a small victory. If so, I'm with you.
November 22nd, 2020 at 12:54 AM ^
next week's toilet bowl should be played at noon on Friday in front of a national audience of hungover and depressed people
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:29 AM ^
TV exec don't care about records. If they put Michigan/Rutgers as night game, they'd want Michigan/PSU as night games bc Michigan and PSU brings a lot of eyeballs to the TV. I would be shocked if it's a noon game.
November 22nd, 2020 at 2:06 PM ^
It’s a noon game.
November 22nd, 2020 at 3:59 PM ^
Michigan/PSU couldn't be a night game as night games can't be announced in the six-day window. They have to be announced 12 days in advance or before the season.
This is moot anyway since it's been announced for the ABC noon slot.
November 22nd, 2020 at 12:55 AM ^
This game probably didn't move the needle for you. If you thought this coaching staff had run its course, this was a brutal exercise in watching the reasons for that play out in a long, competitive game against freakin' Rutgers. If you thought Harbaugh deserves more time, a win is a win, and perhaps he found a quarterback. (What it says about the coaches that this happened midway through game five is perhaps a point in the former group's favor.)
Pretty much sums it up for me.
Rutgers has a brand new coaching staff that didn't have any spring practice and is filled with a bunch of transfer players...so Michigan's injury issue is a wash - at worse
Glad to see McNamara perform well under difficult circumstances though and Haskins did manage to get over 100 yards (ya!) and the WR/TE did make some plays.
Better to win than to lose, but some ppl need to slow their roll: Rutgers is 10-43 in the last 4 seasons and this one 4-25 in the last 29 games....and it took Michigan 3OTs to beat them
November 22nd, 2020 at 12:55 AM ^
It can be considered nice to win a game and still believe there should be changes to the coaching staff. In particular the defense, even down as many starters as they are, looked lost at times out there. But honestly, the offense looked pretty dang good with McNamara out there, so that's a point in their favor.
Also, and it's weird saying to the group (especially certain denizens of this blog) that was telling anyone who doubted that Joe Milton hadn't quite made the leap you all dreamed, giving up on a guy after a rough game or two isn't the best option. I totally get the coaches thinking he did fine in practice but games being different and him not being quite ready without it being a searing indictment of everyone. I'm happy McNamara looked good; let's see if he can replicate it next week.
Anyway, given what's going on in this world I'm going to enjoy a win no matter how it comes. And frankly, fuck the cynicism that says you can't just enjoy a winning effort put forth by a bunch of college kids playing a game during a god damn pandemic because it doesn't let you grouse about firing someone to try to hire Luke Fickell or Matt Campbell. Rest assured there will be months to call for heads. It just sucks that the official take after a dramatic win is "thanks guys, but the team still sucks and you should fire everyone."
November 22nd, 2020 at 12:59 AM ^
You know who else was lights out in practice but light not on in games? A former QB named Shea. And those words were from a couple former players.
November 22nd, 2020 at 2:19 PM ^
And Joe Bolden and Devin Gil, list goes on.
November 22nd, 2020 at 12:56 AM ^
If Harbaugh has shown one thing is his inability to adjust his coaches. They leave on their own. Even when they should be shown the door. And replacements? No real experience needed.
November 22nd, 2020 at 6:52 AM ^
Some of the coaches that "left on their own." Were allowed to exit gracefully, but were, in fact, shown the door.
November 22nd, 2020 at 12:56 AM ^
Not gonna lie, I feel better after this win, despite the ugly painful nature of it, than I would have had we lost.
November 22nd, 2020 at 8:51 AM ^
Wish I could feel that.
Unfortunately, this game honestly makes me feel even worse. Winning vs. losing a 3OT coin flip game against Rutgers doesn't mean we're any better than we thought we were, and now much-needed changes are less likely.
It feels like that hideous UTL III against a bad PSU game in 2014, frankly.
November 22nd, 2020 at 12:58 AM ^
Let's be clear. We're still not good but a win is a win. Since I got to see Cade play his senior year in Reno, I was pretty stoked to see him light it up tonight. Coaching prediction is Harbaugh sticks around but Brown is gone for next year. I love the guy and I love his enthusiasm but he just doesn't seem to be able to make the adjustments given who he has playing.
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:47 AM ^
Gattis too. I really don't mind Harbaugh staying too, but there needs to be wholesale changes in the coordinators.
November 22nd, 2020 at 2:49 AM ^
If you get to the point where you're firing both coordinators, it usually just makes more sense to fire the head coach
Constantly swapping coordinators is not the answer. Brown has been here for a long time now and has gotten worse every year, his time is up
November 22nd, 2020 at 8:41 AM ^
I can see that argument with Brown. But offensively, I'm pretty sure Gattis will be gone, but I'm also pretty sure this offensive shitshow isn't all his doing. The common themes we see from year to year - forcing runs into a stacked box, inability to run tempo, clock management, penalties, general disorganization - have only one common ingredient. And it isn't an assistant coach...
It won't improve with another new coordinator.
November 22nd, 2020 at 12:58 AM ^
Suck it OSU. Michigan just beat Rutgers’ ass.
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:03 AM ^
This seems like an odd thing to say, but we might as well be happy about this. It sure sounds like Manual will not fire Harbaugh. And Michigan isn't going to get better draft picks for losing.
This team is just not that good. There will be no big victories. But some damage can be avoided. And it's better to beat Rutgers than not.
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:04 AM ^
Honestly, if we had played McNamara all along, had a kicker and were not getting professionally screwed by the refs every game, we’d be undefeated and a top 10 team right now.
I give Cade a lot of credit for keeping his cool in a very hostile road environment and leading this team to a victory against the most improved team in the Big Ten if not the country. Between Rutgers and Indiana, the B1G East is only getting tougher and tougher. The coaches made adjustments and did what it took.
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:18 AM ^
Wisconsin won 49-11...
do you honestly think Michigan could have beat them if Cade was playing?
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:34 AM ^
Almost certainly not, but in fairness the team absolutely collapsed in the first half and it's hard to say how they'd have responded if it hadn't been a death spiral from the first play from scrimmage.
Defense wouldn't have been any better, but maybe a bit more grit and some more points on offense would have made it... well, at least, not the indefensible debacle that it was.
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:46 AM ^
Maybe. Maybe it's just me but the team seems to play with more energy with Cade on the field. The line seems to get more push, the receivers seem to make better efforts to catch the ball, and the defense seems to play a little better. Maybe the wisconsin game doesn't get so out of hand if the team doesn't turn the ball over on their first two offensive snaps.
November 22nd, 2020 at 2:23 AM ^
I noticed that as well. The entire team, not just the offense, performed better with Cade in the game.
November 22nd, 2020 at 8:11 AM ^
SMFS! Sarcasm my friend, sarcasm.
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:31 AM ^
Undefeated top 10 team? lmao They're not beating Wisconsin and Indiana this year with this sorry ass defense. 3-2 at best but Michigan isn't a good team.
November 22nd, 2020 at 6:57 AM ^
Come on people, the line that said something about "a very hostile road environment" (game at Rutgers with few fans) should clue you in that this was sarcastic.
November 22nd, 2020 at 8:13 AM ^
It’s like some people never heard the word..sarcasm. Maybe you need to be from the east coast.
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:04 AM ^
Harbaugh, McDaniels, and Harbaugh Jr need to go. I'm fine keeping Warinner, Moore, and even Gattis since we don't know how much Harbaugh is medeling in the offense/play calling (plus all 3 have been really good recruiters). Entire D staff needs to go. Dudeck needs to go. Make it happen Ward.
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:16 AM ^
Your lips (ok, keystrokes) to Warde's ears.
So let it be written, so let it be done...
November 22nd, 2020 at 3:02 AM ^
Harbaugh Jr. has been one of our best coaches and recruiters. Y'all are nuts.
November 23rd, 2020 at 3:40 PM ^
Haskins was his find, no ? What about Corum ? Both are excellent players... Haskins is Matt Forte 2 and will play on Sundays.
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:13 AM ^
Fortunately, whatever else this might have been, it wasn't a repeat of the 2014 Rutgers game. That was humiliating.
November 22nd, 2020 at 8:14 AM ^
Mainly because we lost.
November 22nd, 2020 at 8:52 AM ^
2014 Rutgers was a much better team than 2020 Rutgers.
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:14 AM ^
This was certainly an odd night for the MGoBlog twitterverse. You guys were really swallowing hard and making excuses for Milton, even when it was the middle of the second quarter and we hadn't scored, one week after we scored 3 whole points with him playing.
I don't want to pile on the guy, but he just wasn't getting it done. Still the MGoStaff was so strident that he wasn't the problem, that any suggestion that he be pulled was absurd...
I guess people see what they want to see.
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:18 AM ^
Right? Like an M Night Shyamalan movie...
November 22nd, 2020 at 9:18 AM ^
Joe Milton has played his last meaningful snap as the QB at Michigan, other than due to injury.
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:28 AM ^
A win is better than a loss, period.
Our coaches could be better, BUT we’re missing the following important players:
Nico Collins
Ambry Thomas
Dylan McCaffrey
Aiden Hutchinson
Kwity Paye
Jalen Mayfield
Ryan Hayes
Vastardis
Cam McGrone
Brad Hawkins
Plus the ELEVEN players on NFL rosters from last year’s team. That is a HUGE deficit to overcome. We are starting freshman on the offensive line which everyone knows is trouble. It is a bad year, but attrition/injuries/Covid are killing us.
Enjoy the victories as it will be a slog for the rest of the year. Root for the players and coaches who are doing their best.
Go Blue!
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:33 AM ^
Michigan lost to MSU with everyone, but Nico, Ambry and DMC, playing. Stop giving them excuses. Michigan is a bad team, period.
November 22nd, 2020 at 9:48 AM ^
Weren't Mayfield, Hayes, Hutchinson and Paye all injured during the MSU game?
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