Michigan 20, Rutgers 13
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.
September 25th, 2021 at 7:46 PM ^
Oh you thought this year wasn’t going to be #MichiganFootball??? Cuz here comes the real #MichiganFootball. Hahahaha
September 25th, 2021 at 8:40 PM ^
Cade's stats 4 games into a SEASON of football
24/37 completions 371 yds 3 TDs
That is literally the statline of an above average QB in 1 game. Embarrassing that this is year 7 of Jim Harbaugh.
September 25th, 2021 at 9:36 PM ^
Lol. Spencer Rattler stats in game 1 : 30/39 for 304 yards and 1 TD. Basically what Cade has thrown in four games …
September 25th, 2021 at 9:52 PM ^
That is a play calling issue though and not on Cade (although after that late hit on him he seem to not play as good) and I don't understand WHY they won't attack more and open it up. Sure we can run the ball pretty well but why not open it up more which will open up larger lanes in the run game as well. It's been working (the running) and we are winning but I would like to see us throw far more. Speaking of running I felt like the edges would of been open but they never really went there. Most of the runs were between the tackles. Several pitches or end around runs would have worked in a big way.
I'm glad we won of course but felt we left a couple scores off the board. Wisconsin will be our first big test and I hope the passing game is ready as I don't want this one close. I get game management and controlling of the clock but if you go up by 3 touchdowns then you can run all you want to control things later in the game.
September 26th, 2021 at 11:58 AM ^
I think (and hope) that the coaches are just trying to test their ability to get the "tough" yards when needed. Seemed to me they thought they had the game locked up, and could afford to test some things, like can they still run the ball when the other team sells out to stop it. Yesterday the answer was a big fat NO. Let's hope they just didn't want to show Wisconsin what they've been working on... though given recent history I'm not confident in that.
September 26th, 2021 at 1:19 PM ^
Against Washington we threw some bubbles screens. They were sniffed out pretty well by Washington's AA cb's who shed bad blocks to limit gains.
They haven't used it since. If you have that play isn't better use it and coach up to block better? I know Ronnie Bell was the best blocking wr but Johnson and Balwin are big guys who should be able to block smaller QB's.
Then there was the jet sweep used effectively against NIU with Wilson and Henning and never used against Rutgers.
There were 9 completions 8 in the first half to 5 receivers. Cade was 1 for 4 in the second half.
If Rutgers can stop the run what will Wisconsin do?
We just have to hope there is a long term plan and that Harbaugh and Gattis are holding their cards close to theirs vests so as not to tip their hands to more formidable opponents.
If that isn't the case we are who we thought we were and are in trouble.
September 25th, 2021 at 10:41 PM ^
Thats not good
September 25th, 2021 at 7:48 PM ^
Simply put, Rutgers' coaching staff thoroughly outcoached Michigan's in the second half.
September 25th, 2021 at 9:26 PM ^
It's as though having young OC & DC with no prior experience in those roles is a disadvantage. Very curious, since schools such as Alabama have former head coaches as coordinators and analysts.
September 26th, 2021 at 11:54 AM ^
The dc is doing pretty damn well with what he’s got (2 solid nfl dudes and a bunch of average or worse guys) in one year. The OC is in year three and it’s the same old shit, because it’s the head coach’s shit too.
September 26th, 2021 at 1:26 PM ^
Real test next week with away game. Then, we’ll really see it toughness.
BTW, any news explaining what happened to Cade in second half? Was he just hit scared?
September 27th, 2021 at 8:46 AM ^
That's one of the biggest questions to me (though, there are certainly several more), but I cannot even begin to proffer an answer.
He'd been playing quite well up to the illegal hit - and then he couldn't hit any of the shots that he'd have completed consistently before: Like the end zone toss to Honigford. He was wide open, Cade wasn't really under pressure, and it should've been an easy completion; and yet, he biffed it.
So, was it due to the yips or an actual, physical injury? And, if possibly the latter, why wouldn't they sub in another QB. I'm not sure, who, but I think he shares the name of the main protagonist of Good Times.
It was the most utterly baffling half of football I've seen since, uh, last season, I guess.
September 26th, 2021 at 1:26 PM ^
Real test next week with away game. Then, we’ll really see it toughness.
BTW, any news explaining what happened to Cade in second half? Was he just hit scared?
September 25th, 2021 at 10:12 PM ^
And lost
September 25th, 2021 at 7:51 PM ^
That 2nd half was as ugly as I've seen from Michigan in the last 20 years, and that's saying something. There's no excuse for it. This team must show more toughness and desires, otherwise this season will head south quickly.
September 25th, 2021 at 8:00 PM ^
Were you in a coma for the Rich Rod and Hoke years? I’ll give you “as ugly as any half of the Harbaugh era” though.
September 25th, 2021 at 8:42 PM ^
The second halves of Minnesota 2014 and Wisconsin 2010 were orders of magnitude worse than this.
September 25th, 2021 at 9:07 PM ^
Well mind you the 2010 wiscy game was against a team with vastly more talent, so it's really an ? to ? comparison, where Michigan had vastly more talent on the field.
Not on the sidelines I'd have to say tho!
September 26th, 2021 at 10:36 AM ^
Actually they out scored Michigan 10 to 0 in the second half.. I can remember the Michigan State game just last year alone that was worst then this..
September 25th, 2021 at 8:11 PM ^
The players aren’t the problem. How about a Harbaugh coached team do something anything clever by year’s end.
Harbaugh has to be an absolute joy to coach against. Sickening
September 25th, 2021 at 8:34 PM ^
That second half was a reminder that #HarbaughIsStillOurCoach. That run on 3rd and 12 when we had no momentum was about as senile as the back to back wildcat call from last year. D tackles really showed their weakness this week. Nua is not impressive.
September 25th, 2021 at 8:53 PM ^
Yeah right this is nowhere near the worst 2nd half hell I remember when Rutgers came in and won in the big house
September 25th, 2021 at 9:00 PM ^
You have your sad final year hoke losses mixed up. Rutgers was away, Maryland was at home
September 25th, 2021 at 9:30 PM ^
The loss to Rutgers was in Piscataway, not Ann Arbor.
September 25th, 2021 at 9:59 PM ^
I agree except I feel our defense played till the end and did not back off or down. They played 4 quarters and I felt that was the difference. Our offense (as usual) needed to punch a couple more in and convert more in that second half.
We need a better more balanced 1st and 2nd half offense next week and need to stretch the field more.
September 25th, 2021 at 11:58 PM ^
I think what you are saying is hyperbole.
https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/293180275
Comparing this second half to when Wisconsin literally did nothing but run the entire second half with no one to stop them, and this is just one example.
This was not nearly as ugly as that.
September 26th, 2021 at 10:16 AM ^
I thought the defense showed toughness and desire surviving the shit sandwich Gattis and a Harbaugh forced them to eat.
Im not sure I have ever seen a more poor half of play calling.
September 26th, 2021 at 12:00 PM ^
Bullshit. You have the memory of a gnat, if that's the case. It was ugly, but not nearly that ugly.
September 27th, 2021 at 10:20 AM ^
My goodness this is a take. I realize it's been said already, but hoo boy, you must have missed a lot of Michigan football over the past 20 years. I won't sit here and recite all the terrible halves of football that we have endured over the past 14 years because that would be counterproductive, but I will remind you of two things: 1) It was just that, a half. Not a game. A half. 2) Michigan won this game.
Before we all started screaming into a vacuum that let us force our own anxieties on the rest of the world, this game would have been remembered, by and large, as just that - a win. 4-0, on to Wisconsin. Stop complaining.
September 27th, 2021 at 10:47 AM ^
Bruh...
September 25th, 2021 at 7:51 PM ^
I hope this is a “2006 Ball State” type of win and not a “2001 Iowa” type of win.
September 25th, 2021 at 7:55 PM ^
I am in recovery and a Michigan football 12 step program.
One day at a time.
One game at a time
One play at a time.
September 25th, 2021 at 7:57 PM ^
How about 2019 Army?
September 25th, 2021 at 8:01 PM ^
Nah, Army can convert 4th down.
September 25th, 2021 at 7:52 PM ^
I am in the celebrate the win and relax camp but that’s my nature anyway.
I do have some money burning a hole in my pocket for Wisconsin getting points at home though.
September 25th, 2021 at 8:21 PM ^
Anyone not taking Wisconsin next week is throwing money away.
September 25th, 2021 at 8:29 PM ^
Except that Wisconsin isn’t exactly setting the world on fire at the moment.
September 26th, 2021 at 1:27 PM ^
What is the spread? I don’t think we’ve won against an away game with a higher ranked team in the last few years.
September 26th, 2021 at 2:12 PM ^
Wiscy won’t be higher rated tho
September 25th, 2021 at 8:55 PM ^
Wisconsin will also sell out to stop the run. ND couldn’t run on Wisconsin.
September 26th, 2021 at 7:52 AM ^
September 26th, 2021 at 8:56 AM ^
yeah, if you want to really win big money, take 2021 wisconsin.
September 26th, 2021 at 6:23 AM ^
Agreed, just beat a team that was 3-0 and now Michigan has a chance to go 5-0.
it wasn’t always pretty but it never will be.
September 25th, 2021 at 7:53 PM ^
Rutgers' willingness to run its QB stood out to me as a significant difference between the teams' offensive approaches. Rutgers isn't particularly talented by Big Ten standards, but their offense puts pressure on a defense in at least two ways on most plays. Michigan will not match that until they're willing to run their QB.
It may be that McNamara was limited by the shot to the head. But he shouldn't have been playing if the coaches were aware of him being held back by a head injury.
Finally, you know that you're playing Rutgers when you're up against a guy named Valentino Ambrosio.
September 25th, 2021 at 9:24 PM ^
Agreed. It seemed to me that McNamara had so many opportunities to keep on those handoffs that went to the inside. The DE was crashing and there was nothing but open field for at least 15 yards if had kept it.
September 25th, 2021 at 11:37 PM ^
I see the same thing and ask, why didn't he keep that....then I see him keep one as he has done a few times this year and say always give it. He is not very decisive or athletic while on the run.
September 26th, 2021 at 9:34 AM ^
maybe he's haunted by the ghost of Shea Patterson
September 26th, 2021 at 1:32 PM ^
I heard somewhere that Cade is not good with second reads. Like that attempted QB run late in Q3: he looked more lost than intended even though he had open men. Does he need to just calm down?
September 26th, 2021 at 12:06 AM ^
Logged in to upvote
September 26th, 2021 at 8:56 AM ^
Last year Cade ran and got hurt
many are attributing his poor second half yesterday to the hit he took that got Rutgers player ejected
Maybe UM doesn’t run Cade because he’s injury prone?
I’m just asking is sll
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