Alabama 35, Michigan 16
It went a hell of a lot better than the last time.
That may sound derisive; it's not meant that way. When these programs played to open the 2012 season, they didn't appear to belong on the same field. In closing the 2019 season, Michigan showed they've covered a lot of ground since. These teams played an evenly matched contest until Alabama salted the game away late and it's fair to say the Wolverines left a lot of yards and points on the field.
Early on, it looked like the game might go the way of 2012. After Michigan got the opening kickoff, Shea Patterson and Nico Collins couldn't connect on two potential big plays, leading to a three-and-out. Alabama took all of one play to take the lead; Mac Jones found future top-five pick Jerry Jeudy one-on-one with a safety and hit him for an 85-yard touchdown. The next Wolverine drive also ended with an off-target throw and a punt. It felt inevitable that the Tide would break the game open.
Instead, a banged-up defense starting a walk-on and a true freshman at defensive tackle bore down. Lavert Hill broke up a third-down throw on a well-timed changeup to cover two from the usual man coverage, forcing Bama to punt it back.
Hassan Haskins had some punishing runs. [Barron]
Josh Gattis drew up an excellent gameplan and it finally paid off on the ensuing drive. The offensive line started opening up holes for Hassan Haskins and Zach Charbonnet, who both were plenty capable of grinding out extra yards against Alabama's five-star-laden defense. Gattis schemed up a big play on a direct snap to Haskins that turned into a flea flicker with Shea Patterson throwing to a wide open Donovan Peoples-Jones. The next two plays beautifully played off each other; first, a split zone to Haskins with jet motion netted a first down, then they faked the same play with Nick Eubanks leaking wide open into the flat for an easy seven-yard touchdown catch.
After the defense got another quick stop, Gattis drew up another long gain, this time using Giles Jackson as a running back on a play-action wheel route. Patterson couldn't squeeze in a third-down corner route to Nick Eubanks, who had a step on his man, and Michigan settled for a Quinn Nordin field goal.
Nearly the same sequence capped the first quarter and opened the second. Another stop. Another Michigan drive with multiple first downs stalls out in Bama territory, this time when Ronnie Bell steps out of bounds before catching a would-be conversion. Nordin kicks a 42-yard field goal. While the Wolverines owned a 13-7 lead, it felt like they should've been up 14.
That's a dangerous way to play against a team as talented as Alabama. On the next drive, Lavert Hill had to take a defensive pass interference to prevent another Jeudy touchdown, and Najee Harris hurdled over Josh Metellus for a touchdown two plays after a questionable roughing the passer flag on Aidan Hutchinson extended the drive. Michigan once again worked their way into scoring territory to end the half, only for poor clock management and a sack on Patterson to force a 57-yard field goal attempt by Nordin that eked over the crossbar as the half expired.
Second-half mood. [Barron]
In the second half, the missed opportunities continued, and those from the first half began to sting more. A perfect throw-and-catch from Jones to DeVonta Smith went for a 42-yard touchdown on the half's opening drive. Then came an extended staredown; neither team could crack the other's defense for the next five possessions. Patterson missed a couple more deep passes, this time in the direction of Ronnie Bell.
The proverbial dam broke in the fourth quarter. After two long completions to Jeudy, who finished with 204 yards on six receptions, Jones tossed a score to little-used tight end Miller Forristall when two defenders went with Harris on a wheel route. Forristall hadn't caught a pass since October. Michigan's next drive ended on—guess what—an overthrown deep ball to a well-covered Mike Sainristil.
The defense gave Patterson one more chance to lead an unlikely comeback. That ended in one play. Eubanks appeared to break his route upfield in anticipation of a Patterson scramble drill; instead, Patterson lofted a ball well short of Eubanks and directly into the hands of Shyheim Carter.
Alabama then ground away nearly the entire rest of the game clock, and could've kneeled it out completely, but Nick Saban instead let Harris run in another score—which, fair enough. My only complaint is it made the final score less resemble the closeness of the game.
Michigan belonged. But where Bama scored touchdowns, Michigan managed field goals, and while Mac Jones was money when his receivers were open downfield, Shea Patterson was not. The Wolverines finish the season a disappointing 9-4. Still, it wasn't hard to see the potential in this program today; with a few more on-target throws, this is a dogfight with the Crimson Tide. May next year's quarterback hit them, because it sure looks like they'll be there.
[Hit THE JUMP for the box score.]
January 1st, 2020 at 5:50 PM ^
Optimism is the elixir of life.
January 1st, 2020 at 6:13 PM ^
I’m more optimistic now that Shea is gone. He fucking killed us.
January 1st, 2020 at 6:27 PM ^
He's had better games for sure. He never seemed comfortable, it looked like he had no interest in running, he really didn't trust himself today as he held on to the ball too long many times... Someone said that he played himself out of draft position today. I would agree with that. But he has the Senior Bowl, the combine, pro days etc... to prove himself. Tape is only part of the evaluation. His tape in this last game is pretty bad.
Hopefully DMac will have a good spring and solidify things. He seems very ok with pulling and running which is a bonus. I wouldn't be surprised if the WRs left (DPJ and Nico) as they must feel under used and likely have people in their ears telling them to take the money. Its hard to argue that point though. They seemed like after thoughts most of the year. Anywell. It's going to be a very long offseason. On to basketball.
January 1st, 2020 at 6:30 PM ^
It appeared we had zero receivers on the field. Why would they stay even if there value is in their mind?
January 1st, 2020 at 6:39 PM ^
Seems to me the only reason to stay (other than emotional) is a belief that they will have bigger roles next year and improve their stock. From the outside looking in, that doesn't seem likely.
It seems like the game plans have been working the slot WRs with more targets and take limited shots down field with the big dogs. I guess it depends on what DMac has showed them in practice. Kind of hard to ask them to bet their future on that though. Don't you agree?
January 1st, 2020 at 9:55 PM ^
I always thought the passing game plan was to have your QB hit the wavingly open receivers, regardless of position? Shea’s mind is already made up on where he is throwing before the snap. His ability to read and exploit defensive matchups is nonexistent. I fear this may be a product of coaching. I hope I’m wrong.
January 2nd, 2020 at 5:58 PM ^
blueday, you saw zero receivers on the field. You must have the same optometrist as Patterson.
January 1st, 2020 at 8:13 PM ^
Shea will not be missed. He just leaves too many plays which should be points on the field. The oline did a great job of giving him time and he was staring down a single receiver and when he did throw usually would over throw. I’m really looking forward to Dylan and think he will improve this offense next year. I think there’s a chance WRs will return as they will have a better chance to show case what they can do next season
January 1st, 2020 at 6:30 PM ^
I've been reading the same thing about Michigan quarterbacks for four years.
Alabama's offense with their backup 3* and world-class receiver corps is roughly what Michigan was supposed to be. But it hasn't happened, and I've come around to thinking the problem isn't Patterson or O'Korn.
January 1st, 2020 at 8:00 PM ^
Precisely. Their 3* played like a 5* and our 5* qb played like a 2*. The talent gap between the qb’s and wr’s were the difference. I feel terrible four our kids as many played lights out and left it on the field. It’s pathetic to take solace in that it wasn’t a total beat down and while there are some redeemable attributes, I’m tired of seeing the inevitable outcomes against top teams.
January 1st, 2020 at 8:22 PM ^
Michigan has good WRs but they're hardly elite. Probably all of Bama's top 4 are better than any one Michigan has.
January 1st, 2020 at 11:13 PM ^
All four of Bama's top receivers - Jeudy, Smith, Waddle and Ruggs are in the top 10 to 20 WR's in all of college football. It helps that they have had Hurts and then Tua throwing to them. But these guys were all tops in their respective classes, as Alabama recruits extremely well. So, it was never a surprise to see them making plays against Michigan and outperforming our guys. The QB delivers the ball and Michigan needs a QB that can spot the open receivers and make accurate throws. Or they need to be coached up to that point. Bama has that, even with Jones.
January 1st, 2020 at 5:52 PM ^
We did look like we belonged, but they also seemed somewhat disinterested in the first half. I said to a friend "Saban is tearing them a new one at halftime." He probably did, and the second half probably reflected the gap between the programs a little more accurately.
That said, I'm excited to see what the offense can do not having to learn a new offensive system in the offseason considering the specialists we have coming back. But we are what we are: a good team that loses to the upper echelon and beats the teams we're expected to beat.
January 1st, 2020 at 6:41 PM ^
Agreed. Alabama and OSU have equal talent. The difference is motivation. Alabama played the first half today at 3/4 speed. Once they decided to go full bore, it was over, just like it was from the opening drive vs. OSU.
There's nothing Michigan can do. They can't recruit any better than they currently do, and their coaching is also sub par. It's hard to recalibrate one's expectations as a fan, but let's face it, this current staff is incapable of getting the team to play any better than what we saw today.
January 1st, 2020 at 9:58 PM ^
I think the concern that Harbaugh has hit his coaching ceiling is a valid one. There are way too many consistent issues from year to year to just blame the players.
January 1st, 2020 at 7:23 PM ^
UM completely whiffed on a chance to knock Bama out mentally by not being able to get TD's in the redzone. Bama would have checked out if they're down 14 at half. Or at least UM would have had a wider margin to withstand a run by them.
January 1st, 2020 at 10:01 PM ^
Agree. After kicking that second field goal, the game was as good as over. Harbaugh and his lack of killer instinct and clock management is terrible. You can beat northwestern with more field goals than TDs, if you think you’re going to do that to Bama, you’re kidding yourself.
January 1st, 2020 at 10:37 PM ^
Disagree. Alabama made adjustments on defense. Saban said they went to more nickel which allowed them to be more multiple. Harder to make reads on things like RPOs.
January 2nd, 2020 at 1:45 AM ^
Yeah. And we lost. That’s my point.
January 2nd, 2020 at 7:14 PM ^
The average finish for Harbaugh's teams will be either 18 or 19 once the final ranking this year comes out. That is who we are. Unless we land some historically talented player or two, that is who we will be based on the Harbaugh experience.
January 1st, 2020 at 5:52 PM ^
Was pleased with the original gameplan. Obviously Alabama made the correct adjustments, maintained their composure and went about their business in the second half. Very hard to beat a Saban Alabama team without forcing turnovers and hitting the big play. At the end of the day this is just an exhibition game. Playing a meaningful bowl next year is the only goal that matters.
January 1st, 2020 at 8:03 PM ^
Not sure what you mean by this. Exhibition game for whom, Alabama? It should have been a statement game by JH’s squad. While many of the fundamentals were there, Shea picked a great time to have a terrible game.
January 1st, 2020 at 5:52 PM ^
A little bit of perspective is definitely appreciated.
January 1st, 2020 at 6:19 PM ^
Watching Michigan try to win their first big road game each season, beat OSU or win their bowl game reminds me of my struggle to achieve sobriety on my own several years ago. It was the definition of insanity.
The playing field we are on with the teams with recent histories of success is no longer level. We cannot compete with schools that have “bagmen” or online classes for quarterbacks.
As the calendar flips to August each year, we rate our team highly and confidently feel it is our turn to defeat that team down south, win the B10 Championship and qualify for the CFP. I (we) need to stop doing this. It is folly and fantasy since my views were shaped during the days of Bo, Moeller and Carr. A bucket list event I hope to attend is to see Michigan play in a Rose Bowl game. Having entered my eighth decade of life and having insulin dependent DIABEETUS for 20 years, I may need to select another bucket list event.
The team played competitively today for three quarters. Our QB kept throwing long sideline passes the entire game when it was demonstrated the first offensive series of the game that he was not able to do this. We were burned on two long passes on defense and abandoned our running game in the second half.
Our AD could change coaches but that won’t matter as long as bagmen and online courses for Heisman candidates are options at other institutions. The NCAA won’t address this since their initials really stand for No Clue At All.
On to basketball season. I will always be a Michigan football fan no matter how slanted the playing field is. Go Blue.
January 1st, 2020 at 6:29 PM ^
That opening pass was zone defense, actually. All the things people ding Brown about—too much man instead of zone, getting a slow guy instead of an athlete matched up on a playmaker—were addressed, but it wasn’t enough. Sometimes the other guy is just better.
January 1st, 2020 at 7:13 PM ^
A reasoned, unemotional analysis citing unassailable facts and some "fan" immediately negs it.
January 2nd, 2020 at 5:45 AM ^
Ehh... the biggest thing I dig Brown (and Harbaugh) about is their failure to get "the other guy".
January 1st, 2020 at 9:54 PM ^
Bagmen and online classes are just things we say to make ourselves feel better about our mediocrity. Stanford has had more success than us this past decade, and their academics are even better than ours. Michigan State and Washington have made the CFP, and they don't recruit as well as we do. Penn State and Wisconsin have played in and won the B1G Championship Game, and their talent levels are roughly on par with ours.
We are an underachieving program, and we have been for quite some time. There are no good excuses for why this is the case. We've made poor coaching hires, had too many recruiting busts, and haven't had the quality of leadership necessary to make the leap from good to great. We're fooling ourselves if we think we're handicapped by our academics or our ethics. We sound foolish when we say things like that.
January 2nd, 2020 at 1:12 AM ^
Comment of the decade.
January 2nd, 2020 at 7:00 AM ^
I, for one, am sick and tired of this "we can't win anymore because bagmen and academics" crap. Is Bacon responsible for poisoning the fanbase with this stuff in his latest book? You don't think there were bagmen in the 70's and 80's and 90's? This is a loser mentality and a dangerous excuse. Michigan didn't lose to Alabama because of bagmen. They lost because Michigan's 5-star quarterback couldn't throw the ball to wide open receivers while Alabama's 3-star quarterback could, and because Michigan's DT recruiting has been half-assed. Oh, and, Michigan's 5-star receiver (#1 WR, #12 overall in 2017) was outplayed by Alabama's 5-star receiver (#3 WR, #21 overall in 2017).
Michigan attracts enough talent to be a top-6 team. But Michigan has instead been a top-20 team.
January 2nd, 2020 at 6:40 PM ^
Talen to be Top 6? SB Nation has a 4 year ranking of college football teams (based on their average from the past 4 years). Michigan came in at #12, behind both Penn State (#11) and Ohio State(#5). Alabama was #1. LSU was #3 and Oklahoma #4. Michigan has gotten the 3rd best recruits in the Big Ten East and "viola!", they came in 3rd in the Big Ten East behind OSU and PSU. With the Wisconsin game being an anomoly (in my opinion) due to changing to a new offense, this season played out how the last 4 years of recruiting went. We were very close to PSU and still far away from OSU and Alabama. Guess where the Michigan class of 2020 is currently ranked? #11. 2021? 15. PSU is still 10-15 range, and OSU is still Top 5.
January 2nd, 2020 at 6:40 PM ^
Talen to be Top 6? SB Nation has a 4 year ranking of college football teams (based on their average from the past 4 years). Michigan came in at #12, behind both Penn State (#11) and Ohio State(#5). Alabama was #1. LSU was #3 and Oklahoma #4. Michigan has gotten the 3rd best recruits in the Big Ten East and "viola!", they came in 3rd in the Big Ten East behind OSU and PSU. With the Wisconsin game being an anomoly (in my opinion) due to changing to a new offense, this season played out how the last 4 years of recruiting went. We were very close to PSU and still far away from OSU and Alabama. Guess where the Michigan class of 2020 is currently ranked? #11. 2021? 15. PSU is still 10-15 range, and OSU is still Top 5.
January 2nd, 2020 at 6:40 PM ^
Talen to be Top 6? SB Nation has a 4 year ranking of college football teams (based on their average from the past 4 years). Michigan came in at #12, behind both Penn State (#11) and Ohio State(#5). Alabama was #1. LSU was #3 and Oklahoma #4. Michigan has gotten the 3rd best recruits in the Big Ten East and "viola!", they came in 3rd in the Big Ten East behind OSU and PSU. With the Wisconsin game being an anomoly (in my opinion) due to changing to a new offense, this season played out how the last 4 years of recruiting went. We were very close to PSU and still far away from OSU and Alabama. Guess where the Michigan class of 2020 is currently ranked? #11. 2021? 15. PSU is still 10-15 range, and OSU is still Top 5.
January 1st, 2020 at 10:21 PM ^
I didn’t see every play of the game but didn’t it seem like Dax Hill was on another level? Literally the only one on the field that could run down the Bama players. He’s going to be special. I wonder what a whole team of 5 star players looks like, that must be sweet.
January 2nd, 2020 at 6:41 PM ^
Exactly. It was a defense of one 5 star defending an offense loaded with 5 stars. Same challenge with our offense of one 5 star (who didn't throw like a 5 star) against a defense loaded with 5 stars.
January 1st, 2020 at 5:53 PM ^
"May next year's quarterback hit them...". Amen to that. Patterson was an overhyped underachiever who got thoroughly outplayed by Alabama's back up QB. His inaccuracy and inability to find the right receiver cost us a legitimate chance to win the game.
January 1st, 2020 at 5:56 PM ^
Yup, lets stop starting transfer QBs. I want a four year starter. who comes to our program for our program. Shae was overrated.
January 1st, 2020 at 6:05 PM ^
Yeah, Burrow and Fields and Hurts were total disasters this year.
The problem isn’t the transfers. We had Shea for two years. The difference is something else.
January 1st, 2020 at 6:16 PM ^
I think he's referring to transfer QB’s at Michigan. While Rudock was fine the rest was dog shit.
January 1st, 2020 at 6:33 PM ^
What kind of logic is this?
QBs can only succeed at Michigan if they go through freshman orientation and learn not to step on the M?
January 1st, 2020 at 7:54 PM ^
Missed the point entirely, what I'm referring to is that Michigan coaches clearly can't coach transfers in to their potential or even make them work to be good game managers. Jake was okay, O'korn was a complete disaster, and Shae was okay as well, still waiting for a "great" QB under Jim. Harbaugh is not the QB coach we thought he was, the so-called "QB whisperer" hasn't had a star QB in five years. A three star back up who has barely seen the field lit us up for 300 yards and 3 TDs. Burrow, Fields, and Yates, all transfers are arguably some of the best QBs of the decade, don't compare them to Shae, you're out of your mind.
January 1st, 2020 at 9:34 PM ^
Our HC has to take emotion out of his decision making process and play the most talented player at ALL positions regardless of seniority. As of this date I believe he refuses to do that. Trevor Lawrence would be behind Shea and entering the transfer portal if he was at M.
Joe Milton has an NFL arm. NFL stature and, as a bonus, elitish athleticism for a QB. He should have led this team from day 1 this season. Thru struggles & growing pains that would have happened, at least you are struggling while polishing a future diamond. Not trying to get a glint if sparkle out of a river rock.
Brandon Peters would have been way better than Shea and history will rub Harbaughs nose in that. He accomplished more with FAR less around him than any Harbaugh QB has...ever??
January 1st, 2020 at 5:54 PM ^
Next year is a must-win almost everything, especially OSU. This is an attempt at optimism when very little should be gathered from this season, or this game. Also it will not stop the Michigan fan base tide turning against Harbaugh, and already turned on Brown. And justifiably so.
January 1st, 2020 at 6:00 PM ^
If Harbaugh doesn't produce a big win next year, the fanbase will either riot or stop caring altogether. Both are terrible outcomes. Warde should be preparing the next successor just in a case a change is needed. Maybe Jim should start prepping Gattis for the HC role. A bit of youth and an offensive mind are just what you need to lead a team. Sadly, I think Harbaugh's best years are behind him and he's only tarnishing his reputation the longer he coaches this team.
January 1st, 2020 at 7:47 PM ^
People down vote what hurts them.
January 1st, 2020 at 9:07 PM ^
No, people tend to down vote absolutes - such as next year's OSU game is a must win. Or the use of never.
January 1st, 2020 at 9:11 PM ^
Suggesting that Gattis is a HC candidate is silly
January 1st, 2020 at 7:47 PM ^
You are truly delusional if you think the Michigan fan base is against Brown or Harbaugh. Living in your own little sad world there.
January 1st, 2020 at 8:11 PM ^
At least as far as Brown is concerned, they're definitely against him at this point. Harbaugh still has some leash left, but not much.
January 1st, 2020 at 9:46 PM ^
I know that reading comprehension is not your strong suit, so let me be more clear:
If Harbaugh loses to OSU next year along with dropping games should probably not be dropped, again, then I predict the fanbase will start to turn against him. You think this is delusional?
I genuinely wonder what your personal life is like, as in a site filled with vindictive posting, your posting history stand out. I hope we all have a better day tomorrow, you included. Tough day for all Michigan fans, have a beer my man.
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