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 10:15 AM ^
I've got to go with Stephen here. I'd wager we've seen Cade's best performance. Now that Harbaugh will be in his ear full-time, we will start to see worse QB play. Cade will become less decisive, react more slowly - because of thinking too much about avoiding turnovers - and generally perform worse.
Harbaugh at Michigan breaks QBs.
November 22nd, 2020 at 10:19 AM ^
Sorry you werent able to enjoy that game. I had a good time watching a promising young qb bring us back from down 17 for a win. Makes me wonder why you do this for a living.
We started 1-3, we get it, they arent very good and today didnt change that. Sulky whiny blog post about how a good thing is still bad because its not good enough is, well, sulky and whiny and doesnt really add much to my understanding or enjoyment of michigan football.
November 22nd, 2020 at 10:28 AM ^
Cade McNamara better be the GD starter next week.
November 22nd, 2020 at 10:47 AM ^
If McNamara starts this game, it's a three-score W. That is 100% on Gattis and Harbaugh. Brown's performance speaks for itself. Clean house the day after the December signing date. I'm guessing there is probably someone else out there who can also beat Rutgers in 3OT.
November 22nd, 2020 at 11:07 AM ^
When does mgopodcast happen live?
November 22nd, 2020 at 11:21 AM ^
There was no confidence in Milton to throw 20+. There was no confidence in Milton to run RPOs. There was no confidence in Milton to see more than half the field. Gattis processed all of this as "we need to make our offense easier on the QB." Is it really unexpected that the playcalling changed when they put the other QB in?
What makes no sense to me is how after Cade's immediate success last week that Milton started again against Rutgers. Using games as a training exercise for a QB destroys the confidence and flow of the rest of the team, and the effects were obvious. Although it's disappointing that they weren't able to develop Milton by year 3, you also can't develop any team culture while playing favorites based on a player's potential instead of their performance.
November 22nd, 2020 at 2:07 PM ^
I could see it being road game, so maybe not the start but @ Rutgers!?, he should have at least been given all the 2nd quarter to show what he's got; game probably wouldn't have even been close if he was.
Fact is this staff just plays weird favorites sometimes that just seems idiotic:
286lb NT that eats minutes for breakfast but apparently never any protein.
Corum and not Charbonnet or Haskins.
Grey covering WR1 or WR2
And for the fucks sake can you put Paea in on short yardage/goaline situations. I don't give a shit if he's the worst practicing player ever, he deserves some snaps just for the fact their incompetent roster management never game his career a chance.
November 22nd, 2020 at 11:46 AM ^
I woke up this morning happy after a Michigan November football win. Hail to the Victors!
LA LA LA I CAN'T HEAR YOU.
November 22nd, 2020 at 11:57 AM ^
I’m sick of the negativity. They just won the game from down 17! Let us have some joy instead of pushing delusional expectations. Zero teams would be top 25 teams losing 9 NFL-caliber, starting upper class men to injury. Not OSU, not Clemson, not even Alabama. If you said this would happen before, I’d expect a 4-4 B1G season.
I have seen player-led leadership develop. My junior year high school team went 1-10, but we all played two ways. Won the state title the next year. I played D3 college. 4-4 with similar injuries, but freshmen and sophomores played. Won our league senior year - first championship in 20 years. Championship teams come from the players rising to reveal their talent and use their skill. Not the analytical mind — the instinctual mind letting loose. We need to let the players become winners, and become leaders on the field when 9 of your best players are out. The winged helmet, stadium and money don’t entitle us to anything between the lines.
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:16 PM ^
I’m sorry but rational thought is not welcome here /s
November 22nd, 2020 at 12:18 PM ^
I don't have much to add to what you guys are saying.....I just want to be the first to call our new QB 'General McNamara'....
Cade, you are our only hope to get us out of this offensive quagmire..... I love the smell of napalm in the morning after a big Rutgers win.....maybe next week we will get operation linebacker to solve our defensive issues.
OK, thank you gents for letting me get that out of my system
November 22nd, 2020 at 12:21 PM ^
Wrong guy was clearly in at QB. And the defense is just plain bad. But even with Hutch and Paye, this defense still did not generate much QB pressure against MSU or IU. Then Wisconsin beat the living shit out of us which is now an even bigger talking point because of how Northwestern was able to COMPLETELY shut down Wisconsin's offense.
First and foremost we have a monumental defense problem which has systemic ineptitude from the coaches all the way back to recruiting.
And I am willing to give Gattis more time but the fault is still on the coaches for picking Milton over Cade when Cade is clearly a better game day QB.
November 22nd, 2020 at 2:13 PM ^
How many passing yards OSU give up again? Didn't bama give up 50pts?
Could be the new fangled offenses have just taken a big leap ahead which is why having ours work even against Rutgers is a thing, even if not much of one.
November 22nd, 2020 at 12:23 PM ^
Lost in all of our confirmation bias about the coaching staff is that McNamara came in cold and was very effective behind a young OL decimated by injuries.
I was impressed by his decision making and his touch. On the touchdown to Cornelius Johnson, he lofted the ball to ensure CJ could run under it for the easy score; exactly what we've all been hoping Joe Milton would do.
The game seems to slow down for him. He has the court vision to see the entire field similar to a great point guard in basketball. Imagine what he might do with a healthy offensive line. Yes, it was only Rutgers, but this isn't your typical Rutgers team anymore.
My conclusion? We may have found a qb, though I am sad for Joe that at the moment it clearly isn't him. Oh, and fire Harbaugh, ofc.
November 22nd, 2020 at 2:18 PM ^
Heck there was a shot of him looking back at the coaching staff like "do your fucking job and get me a play ...preferably a throw."
That impressed me most.
November 23rd, 2020 at 3:54 PM ^
I noticed that too, along with him barking at the players not knowing where to line up. Finally some accountability...the team will respond to this.
November 22nd, 2020 at 12:42 PM ^
JH is your coach for the next 5 years, and it doesn’t matter what you/I/sportswriters think or say about it. Barring a scandal of a personal or many player nature, he’ll receive an extension. Maybe he’ll be paid less, which will not stop the Michigan fan complaints, but would make some sense to me if the assistants make more and he is given a bigger budget for them.
If you want higher success, start lobbying the school’s administration to let us recruit and offer and get more of the top 300 players each year and let JH be 2016 JH. We have the resources to academically support more of these players, and that is what it is going to take to get on OSU’s level in football.
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:12 PM ^
Personally I thought Cade did a great job and to me he should be the starter here on out. He played behind a patchwork offensive line (missing 3 starters) and gave the team a spark and leadership that has been woefully missing for a long time. Let’s see how he does against Penn State but I really like his attitude and play.
the kicking game is so woeful.
The defense is clearly the worst in the 45-50 years I’ve followed the team including the Rich Rod teams. I think the defense lacks the same leadership the offense has.
I just can’t get over how much better the offense played after they put Cade in. I know it’s Rutgers but this team was well on its way to its 4th loss in a row until he stepped onto the field.
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:14 PM ^
Ace, please stop posting on football. Your “hot take” is not worth the bits and bytes. Move on to basketball.
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:40 PM ^
This blog is run by people who have only ever watched football and have no real idea what goes into coaching a team and calling plays. They rip on other teams players (except OSU) so it seems as if mich has ALL THIS TALENT and the coaches DONT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING. Easy stuff to say if you aren’t trying to teach 18 year olds and can sit back and second guess everything that happens. No hutch, pays, mccgrone, Hawkins (part of the game), either offensive tackle, center. Still win. Rutgers is far better coached now, and they have a ton of senior players starting with the QB. Enjoy the damn win. This year doesn’t matter anyway
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:40 PM ^
This blog is run by people who have only ever watched football and have no real idea what goes into coaching a team and calling plays. They rip on other teams players (except OSU) so it seems as if mich has ALL THIS TALENT and the coaches DONT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING. Easy stuff to say if you aren’t trying to teach 18 year olds and can sit back and second guess everything that happens. No hutch, pays, mccgrone, Hawkins (part of the game), either offensive tackle, center. Still win. Rutgers is far better coached now, and they have a ton of senior players starting with the QB. Enjoy the damn win. This year doesn’t matter anyway
November 22nd, 2020 at 1:40 PM ^
This blog is run by people who have only ever watched football and have no real idea what goes into coaching a team and calling plays. They rip on other teams players (except OSU) so it seems as if mich has ALL THIS TALENT and the coaches DONT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING. Easy stuff to say if you aren’t trying to teach 18 year olds and can sit back and second guess everything that happens. No hutch, pays, mccgrone, Hawkins (part of the game), either offensive tackle, center. Still win. Rutgers is far better coached now, and they have a ton of senior players starting with the QB. Enjoy the damn win. This year doesn’t matter anyway
November 22nd, 2020 at 4:33 PM ^
Hot take: it’s not on the coaches per se that McNamara is a better player than Milton, despite Milton likely lighting it up in practice, and Milton still getting several starts.
It is on the coaches that Cade didn’t come in sooner into games when Milton was stinking it up, ie Indiana and Wisco. Saban would’ve made a change to WIN the game, fuck loyalty. And that’s what separates him from Jim (and many other coaches). You can’t have a QB carousel sure, but you can play to win. And Jim’s “values” or whatever the hell they are, IMO sometimes override that drive.
EDIT: my point stands for when Saban made a change at the half of a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME to put in Tua over Jalen at the time to give them the spark they needed. Tua BARELY played that whole year, even in garbage time. Obviously history tells us how well that game turned out...
November 23rd, 2020 at 3:56 PM ^
This is a great point.... in the national championship no less...
November 23rd, 2020 at 12:23 AM ^
The short and long of it is this:
Harbaugh is checking many boxes for the non-game side of the football/athletic program.
And inspire of our number of championships (or lack thereof), win/loss record against fill in the blank team or ranked opponent, the big donors are still giving, tickets are still selling, tv revenue still pouring in, and the "right" people are satisfied.
Regular alumns/fans like you and I who want to finally be able to tell our MSU, OSU, Wisconsin co workers to eat crow, when we finally get the one or two wins in per decade, are going to have to grab a snickers and wait cuz this is how Michigan Football is: Money coming in + mediocre ball = Happy with status quo.
This is the sad but real reality of the business of college sports.
November 23rd, 2020 at 12:32 AM ^
On a less cynical note, McNamara is a beast.
Already looking forward to seeing him play.
If he starts or even gets to play the entire 2nd half we beat MSU and maybe eek out a win over Indy.
Best QB arm with accuracy, precision and pace since Henne. (In-game passing attempt sample size for Matt Guitterez and Dylan McCaffrey are too small to be considered for comparison).
November 23rd, 2020 at 11:03 AM ^
Just take a breath and reset your expectations. Michigan is bad and beat an equally bad team. That's actually a good thing! Beating a bad PSU team would also be good! We can worry about fixing the bad bits of this team (namely the coaching staff) in the offseason. But in this season, we can just focus on the good things we can accomplish.
I didn't have fun watching the game. Tbh I watched on my phone while I played video games/watched a movie. But these players got a monkey off their back, and a win under their belt. I'm damn proud of them.
Cade was able to come in and cement his role as the starter. That's awesome!
CJ fumbled a third down conversion away early, then went on to lead the team with 87 rec yards and 2 TDs
Haskins proved for the 4th time in two years that he's our best RB.
November 23rd, 2020 at 11:24 AM ^
I disagree with your opinions. Somebody lock the thread.
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