Michigan is 23-0 under Jim Harbaugh when it rushes for 100+ yards, 1-6 when it doesn't
The 7 games they didn't reach 100 yards rushing are as follows:
2015
Utah: 76
MSU: 62
PSU: 87
OSU: 57
2016
Iowa: 98
OSU: 91
FSU: 89
Formula for winning seems pretty simple. Going forward does Michigan abandon insize zone and/or move Cole back to center if getting the proper line call is an issue as Brian surmises because the OL has been an abject disaster this year. And it's not just the OL, RB's and passing game has been subpar all year. Offense looks like a hodge podge of ideas with no identity.
October 2nd, 2017 at 2:03 PM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 2:07 PM ^
Not sure many games are won by anybody with less than 100 rushing yards. (Would like to know.) But--beyond that--I don't think this tells us much about the game against MSU.
Now if you tell me, "We need to have at least some real success in the rushing game and MSU, as always, will work hard to take that away. . ." I hear ya.
Flip the tables and consider what it might imply for MSU--we really MIGHT hold them to under 100. And that would spell their doom.
Our o line is young and error-prone; but two weeks to prep has to really help.
On a slightly different note: if we don't beat MSU badly I will be less convinced we can play for all the marbles. But. . . that statement may not bear much more insight than the OP's post.
October 2nd, 2017 at 2:07 PM ^
Not sure many games are won by anybody with less than 100 rushing yards. (Would like to know.) But--beyond that--I don't think this tells us much about the game against MSU.
Now if you tell me, "We need to have at least some real success in the rushing game and MSU, as always, will work hard to take that away. . ." I hear ya.
Flip the tables and consider what it might imply for MSU--we really MIGHT hold them to under 100. And that would spell their doom.
Our o line is young and error-prone; but two weeks to prep has to really help.
On a slightly different note: if we don't beat MSU badly I will be less convinced we can play for all the marbles. But. . . that statement may not bear much more insight than the OP's post.
October 2nd, 2017 at 2:10 PM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 2:20 PM ^
This is a "not" fun stat but is interesting to think about.
Had Michigan been able to grind out an extra 9 yards against OSU at the end of last years game, then we probably could've killed the clock and not had to go to OT. (Refs not withstanding.)
Iowa would've been a different game if we could have gotten another yard or two to extend a drive.
FSU was a game that I think the players tried hard but given that many of our seniors were headed to the NFL, it was not a real measurement for us.
Last year really was probably just a couple of yards from being a different outcome.
I know that RR is persona non-grata but I think UM will follow the year 1 lose big, year 2 lose close, year 3 win close and year 4 win big trend that he discussed. I am still pretty high on this team given all of the player turnover from last year.
October 2nd, 2017 at 3:38 PM ^
The OL, which is a bit of a tire fire right now, loses its two best players next year.
October 2nd, 2017 at 3:58 PM ^
Not sure if overall kugler is better than bredeson and onwenu, especially given their respective youth. Ruiz hopefully will at least be functional replacement of kugler next year. LT, however, looks scary. I have no idea if newsome will ever return to the field at a high level given his unfortunate injury.
October 2nd, 2017 at 5:45 PM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 2:47 PM ^
Brady Hoke kept running the ball in the PSU 27 carries for 27 yards game- he was desperately trying to get to 100!
October 2nd, 2017 at 5:49 PM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 3:01 PM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 5:21 PM ^
Except against MSU in 2016. We only won on the scoreboard. The moral victory went to MSU.
October 2nd, 2017 at 3:52 PM ^
we don't play very well when we lose
October 2nd, 2017 at 4:02 PM ^
Sounds like they need to put in a rushing QB like Brandon "Vick" Peters if they want to make the playoffs.
October 2nd, 2017 at 5:18 PM ^
I hate the use of some arbitrary number such as 100 yards as relevant. So 2 more yards against Iowa makes a difference? 43 against OSU in 2015? Michigan barely cracked 100 yards against UCF (119 yards) and won 51-14.
When the Michigan offense struggles, they haven't really had a unit to fall back on to at least move the ball. Maybe O'Korn gives you some mobility to steal some yards here or there with scrambles, maybe not.
October 2nd, 2017 at 5:29 PM ^
Paterno's, Saban's, and Meyer's losses have been when they have run for less than 100 yds.
October 2nd, 2017 at 5:54 PM ^
@Ohio State, Meyer has never won with less than 100 yards rushing
@Alabama, Saban is 5-6 when rushing for less than 100 yards. Interestingly, several of the wins when they won with low yards were games with one-sided scores.
@Penn State between 2000-2011 Paterno went 5-30 in games where they had less than 100 yards (and again, a couple fo those wins were in blowouts).
(Too lazy to go back through more years of PSU game logs. Though along the way I got to see the 25 carries for -14 yards they put up against Michigan in 2006).
October 2nd, 2017 at 6:30 PM ^
sufficiently well to block its way to 100+ yards that it's probably not going to be able to pass protect very effectively either. Which means you're continually putting your own defense back out on the field, and by the 4th quarter it's probably getting a little gassed.
October 2nd, 2017 at 9:23 PM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 5:47 PM ^
Though our defense is an equalizer. Obviously our running game/O Line play has to get better. Hope to see that in 5 days.
GO BLUE!!
October 2nd, 2017 at 9:55 PM ^