Michigan 49, Minnesota 24
They really thought Minnesota was going to do it like that?
They really thought Joe Milton wouldn't be a huge upgrade on Shea Patterson?
They really thought the Gophers could match up with Michigan's team speed?
They really thought a two-page playbook could flummox Don "Dr. Blitz" Brown?
They really thought a team with one good receiver could beat one with four good running backs?
They really thought Ed Warinner wouldn't have the offensive line mashing faces?
Who's they? Who cares. The experts. The Gameday pickers. The doubting family members. The haters and losers. The important thing is they were wrong, Michigan kicked Minnesota's ass, and now we cut a wrestling promo because we're giddy after a long and delightful day of college football.
Sure, the promo probably begins after Michigan is down 7-0 following a blocked punt the Gophers quickly turned into a score, unless you're looking to build dramatic tension. It took one offensive snap for Michigan to even the score.
MICHIGAN 70-YARD HOUSE CALL?
— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 25, 2020
pic.twitter.com/QI6SBM0jrW
They said the offensive line might be an issue. Michigan rushed for 264 yards, averaging 8.8 per carry, and allowed one sack.
The Wolverines took the lead when Michael Barrett, the new starter at VIPER, fired off the edge untouched for a strip-sack on Tanner Morgan and the ball popped into the hands of defensive tackle Donovan Jeter, who rumbled for a touchdown from 15 yards out. The Gophers covered 79 yards on the ensuing drive but could only muster a field goal.
In another game-altering play, Barrett fielded a short kickoff and blew through the initial wave of defenders, going 66 yards to set up the offense with first and goal. Two plays later, Milton hit Ben Mason in the flat and the fullback went airborne to get the pylon, bringing the score to 21-10 at the end of the first quarter.
Running back Mohamed Ibrahim, on his way to a 140-yard evening, capped another protracted drive with a touchdown run. Again, Michigan responded. Milton used both his arm and his legs to move the Wolverines into scoring position, where Hassan Haskins made easy work of a wildcat keeper.
It's fair to say PJ Fleck, perhaps doubting his defense's ability to stop Michigan, perhaps concerned by his team's lack of starting special teamers for reasons, overreacted to a perceived shift in momentum when the Wolverines forced a three-and-out. The Gophers ran a fake punt run to one of the up-men; Haskins read the play and met it with great force, giving the Wolverines only 29 yards to cover with three minutes until halftime. Four plays later, Haskins again rushed for a touchdown.
What had been a nailbiter was now 35-17 at the half. Michigan never looked back. Milton and Chris Evans piled on short second-half touchdown runs; the Gophers found the end zone only once more. The defense forced Fleck's RPO-heavy offense to lean on the give to the running back, and while that produced a good day for Ibrahim, the rest suffered. At the end of the night, the visiting Wolverines held a commanding edge in both yards (481-326) and yards per play (8.6 to 4.5).
Crow about Michigan being underrated. Holler about Minnesota being a paper tiger. Don't let them tell you there's some self-owning going on by making the second statement. Both can be true. Plus, they were wrong before, and we don't listen to them anymore.
Michigan is an emphatic 1-0 after a season-opening road win against a ranked team. Next week, they face a Michigan State team that's an emphatic 0-1 after losing at home by double digits to Rutgers. The wrestling promos will continue unabated.
October 25th, 2020 at 12:29 AM ^
He must think that the kickers would have been out there tackling Charbonnet and Haskins.
October 25th, 2020 at 12:30 AM ^
That kicker would’ve had to hit a lot of kicks to make that one close
October 25th, 2020 at 6:23 PM ^
...maybe he meant Punter. With a good punt at the end of the first half, we may not have that back breaking TD going into the locker room.
October 25th, 2020 at 1:01 AM ^
Lack of good kickers did hurt them tonight. Led to the failed fake punt, which led to 7 points. Led to a squib kick that Barrett returned 66 yards, which led to 7 points.
I think we would have won anyway, but having no good kickers available did put them at a disadvantage
October 25th, 2020 at 1:26 AM ^
I think that is a reasonable analysis of the issue.
October 25th, 2020 at 5:22 AM ^
At the same time, our kicker left 9 points on the field. If we gift Minny the luxury of a good kicker, don’t we get one as well?
October 25th, 2020 at 1:37 PM ^
Look, nobody should be complaining after a 25 pt road win vs ranked conf opponent, esp when our new QB looked really good. I am not trying to pick at nits here.
However there is a difference between missing FG’s and saying “might as well fake the punt because we aren’t going to get much field position out of this anyway.” Or having to squib kick every kickoff. It worked out fine for them most of the night but the one time it didn’t cost them 7 points - they had no chance to get touchbacks and it cost them.
Bottom line is: that’s not our problem. Our job was to take advantage of their problem, and we did
October 25th, 2020 at 8:50 AM ^
The fake punt was from their own 31, so I don't think they were going to try for a FG. Unless the point is that their kicker AND punter were lacking--it's a little unclear.
I thought their squib kicks were actually pretty effective. Michigan had the one long return, but also fumbled on one of them--it just so happens that we were fortunate to recover it. It's hard to know for sure, but it seems like if one or two small things go differently (we don't break the long return and lose the fumble on the other one), we are looking at their kicking very differently.
tl,dr: both sides had some struggles in the kicking game, so it's not really fair to say that better kicking for *one* team could have altered the outcome.
October 25th, 2020 at 10:30 AM ^
Our kicking game was -16 (blocked punt leading to td and three missed fgs). Their kicking game was -14 (fake punt leading to td and barrett return of squib kick leading to td). Seems like a wash to me.
October 25th, 2020 at 1:39 PM ^
Their starting punter was not available
October 25th, 2020 at 10:59 AM ^
Made 9 field goals giving Minny the win.
October 25th, 2020 at 1:02 AM ^
And we were a functional kicker away from winning by 34 on the road.
October 25th, 2020 at 8:39 AM ^
clearly it was too cold for functional kicking in Minnesota
October 25th, 2020 at 9:39 AM ^
UM's dysfunctional kicker offered Minnie 9 points on a platter. So it evens out on that side.
October 25th, 2020 at 12:11 AM ^
My god I fucking missed this.
October 25th, 2020 at 12:11 AM ^
I have no real read on this team except that I am much happier they won than lost this game. But...that was the weirdest game I've watched in a long time.
October 25th, 2020 at 9:54 AM ^
We weren't an abject disaster - a win against off-season fears already.
I'm moving from the "don't hurt me again" phase to "maybe we have a chance" phase. I'll take it.
October 25th, 2020 at 12:13 AM ^
BOAT SUNK.
LITTLE BROWN JUG RETAINED.
wE sHoUlD gO aFtEr Pj FLeCk HUR HUR.
October 25th, 2020 at 12:14 AM ^
Did someone say that? For shame if they did...
October 25th, 2020 at 8:11 AM ^
It's been said at least a hundred times on MGoBlog.
Fleck has exceeded my expectations. I'd still rather not ever see him on Michigan's sideline.
October 25th, 2020 at 12:13 AM ^
Was not expecting that in the slightest. And yet so much we can build upon despite a 25 point win. Scoring 49 points and still leaving points on the field. I think we might have even scored on the first possession had it not been for the Ben Mason penalty.
I guess there will never be a time where the kicking game is not some type of an adventure.
Otherwise, I’m very, very happy tonight.
Go Blue! Destroy Sparty next week. Try to score 100 if you can.
October 25th, 2020 at 1:48 AM ^
That was the most enjoyable 15 yard penalty I've ever seen M take. Ben Mason benmasoned him.
October 25th, 2020 at 6:23 AM ^
Mason BENCHED him
October 25th, 2020 at 10:53 AM ^
It was a stupid penalty.
I wish he hadn’t done it.
that being said, it’s nice to know he CAN do it.
October 25th, 2020 at 12:15 AM ^
I can’t wait for next weekend. Three straight over Sparty. Book it. Fuck Michigan State.
October 25th, 2020 at 12:16 AM ^
OK, but Covid was the 12th man on the field here.
October 26th, 2020 at 12:50 AM ^
We had out starting TE out too
October 25th, 2020 at 12:18 AM ^
*in Brian's hotsauce voice*
MICHIGAN STATEEEEEE, YOU'RE UP NEXT
October 25th, 2020 at 12:19 AM ^
so i took a quick look at RCMB (forgive me, morbid curiosity) and besides all the predictable 'scUM' comments, they had two themes: first, they are talking about us hanging 100 on them next week. second, they think barrett was throwing up on the field b/c he has/had covid and we were hiding it.
would love to know the story about dax. hopefully nothing too serious, but against a better team we will be in trouble if we're relying on paige back there.
October 25th, 2020 at 1:55 AM ^
Lol. I haven't heard of nausea being a symptom, but even if it was, if he was that sick there's no way in hell he'd have the energy to play like that. Not to mention he must have infected a lot of teammates.
October 25th, 2020 at 5:25 AM ^
I’d probably say it has more to do with a guy that isn’t used to a ton of playing time being on defense, kick return, kick coverage, punt return and punt coverage at the same time and refusing to sub himself out. But that might be a bit too logical for RCMB to figure out.
October 26th, 2020 at 10:04 AM ^
First start nerves? Players puking on the field isn't that rare of an occurrence either.
October 25th, 2020 at 12:20 AM ^
Enthusiastic, trash talking Ace is one of my favorite reads. Statement game, let’s keep this thing going!
October 25th, 2020 at 12:24 AM ^
*whewwwwwwwwww* Very Nice
October 25th, 2020 at 12:30 AM ^
Let there be highlights....
October 25th, 2020 at 1:41 AM ^
Nice highlights! Thanks Wheels, whoever you are?
October 25th, 2020 at 10:19 AM ^
Great, now I have a hankering for a Twix.
Man, Sainristil is fast. He was the only player gaining on Charbonnet from either team on his TD, and he blew past Barret on his kick off return.
October 25th, 2020 at 12:31 AM ^
This game went very quickly from a "Here we go again" feeling (after the blocked punt and early Minn TD) to a nice, chill blowout.
Weird COVID season or not, dropping 49 on a ranked team on the road (with three missed FGs!) is pretty nice. Milton did not look like a first-game starter. He's clearly put in a lot of work because he showed touch and much better accuracy than we've seen. That throw at the end of the first half when he was rolling left that Jackson just couldn't reel was an NFL throw. Imagine if he had last year's WRs.
Hope Dax is OK. I thought the corners looked decent even if they misplayed the ball a couple times. The rush D's job was compromised by the fact that the Minny OL got really grabby, with no flags somehow.
I'd like to see Nordin get another shot.
Fun fact: we're still undefeated in Minnesota's last two stadiums (Metrodome and TCF).
Jug!
October 25th, 2020 at 12:39 AM ^
Gray didn't look great to me. However, I saw Green stay with Minnie receivers well several times. Could be things missed, of course, but I'm cautiously optimistic that he can be competent, and that's a huuuge boost if true.
This is, alas, only our third game at TCF, and I know because I went to the first two and was... deprived of the opportunity to attend this one. But it was fun to watch on tv, and I'm a lot warmer this evening than I would be (also less tired, I'd still be driving home right now).
October 25th, 2020 at 12:54 AM ^
That was also my main positive takeaway on defense: Green looked OK. If Gray plays like last years Gray and Green is at a similar level we might survive until we get to OSU.
The other positive for me was that Welschof had moments, too. If he’s a legitimate rotation piece, that helps a lot with DL depth and since he’s still raw, it wouldn’t surprise me if he improves over the course of the season to be something more.
October 25th, 2020 at 9:50 AM ^
That first deep catch against Gray, by Autmen-Bell, featured a nice push off that sent Gray 2 yards too far. Other than that, he had A-B blanketed. Gray was left alone quite a bit last night, and I wasn't worried about him too much. Bateman is the best WR in the league, and he was relatively quiet - for him. No, he didn't remind anyone of David Long, but he held up well enough. And Green looked really good for his first ever extended game time. I think the coaches were sleeping on him a little.
October 25th, 2020 at 10:24 AM ^
I agree, I think both corners looked fine. I have seen a comment or two where Paige's freshman mistakes were misattributed to Gray, so maybe that is lending to the negative perception of Gray's play. Looking forward to the UFR!
October 25th, 2020 at 5:05 PM ^
I thought Gray struggled a bit in space letting some plays turn into bigger chunk plays than probably should have.
October 26th, 2020 at 7:25 AM ^
You weren't deprived of the opportunity to watch it - the TV coverage clearly showed some fans standing outside the stadium and watching through the fence. You've got to want it more.
October 25th, 2020 at 12:40 AM ^
CHOO CHOO MOTHER FUCKERS
October 25th, 2020 at 12:42 AM ^
Yeah pretty good game. One of those classic “boring but probably gonna win” games by mid 3rd qtr.
So a few things...
- As Milton gets more experience and comfortable under center, he’s going to make some of those really special plays on his own to keep drives going and score when nothing is available. We’ve missed that since Denard/D Gardner. Glad it’s back.
- Although the D had a ton of negative yardage plays in the Minny backfield, they gave up a lot between the hash marks. Clean that up and keep up the pressure and I don’t think our DBs have to worry about man v man coverage so much.
- Lastly, our FG kickers are going to kill us in close games. Don’t want to dwell on it too much but we need to make the chip shot stuff within 35-40 yards and at least come close beyond that. Paging Nordin if he’s still around.
Overall great first game to break in Milton and really the offense in general. Didn’t take our foot off the gas and the defense held up in the red zone. Let’s keep working out the kinks against MSU and we’ll set up some prime time match ups towards the end of the season. Also fuck COVID. Night ya’ll!!!
October 25th, 2020 at 9:28 AM ^
That goal line stand sure took the wind out of the sails against Minny. Another big point is after we took the lead, we answered their scoring drive with one of our own. I've been waiting for that for quite a few years.
I agree about the FG issue. Where's Nordin? Some questions I hope reports ask JH this week.
It feels great to talk football again and after a BIG MEECHIGAN WIN! We also keep the Jug!
October 25th, 2020 at 11:06 AM ^
Jim said that Nordin is a little dinged but expects him back soon. Hill being "evaluated" is the more nasty stuff. Hopefully, he can sit this week against the Michigan State Lose To Rutgers and be back in good shape thereafter.
October 25th, 2020 at 12:42 AM ^
For an opening game on the road, I am quite satisfied.
With a couple of made field goals (2 out of 3) and a tight end pass catch (instead of a drop) on a wide open pass play, we could have scored 62 points.
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