The play Army's coach wants back
Watching the game at the stadium, and listening to the commentary afterwards, I pretty much shared the consensus view that Hill's interception was the play of the game for Michigan. That said, it's interesting that Army coach Jeff Monken focused on the fake punt as the play he wanted back:
https://www.michigandaily.com/section/football/fake-punt-game-changer-michigan
Both the interception and the fake punt changed the scoreboard (assuming Army would've at least gotten a field goal from the 5). I do remember being surprised we would bring the fake punt out against Army, but it also made me think that the coaches already expected a dogfight.
September 9th, 2019 at 10:00 PM ^
Michigan doesn't come back Saturday from 21-7.
Monken giftwrapped that game for Harbaugh.
September 9th, 2019 at 10:03 PM ^
/\Worst game changing call of the game. Monken got out coached?
September 9th, 2019 at 11:15 PM ^
So Monken has an offense that can run for 3 yards practically at will. His passing attack is nonexistent. It's third and goal from the Michigan five. And he passes? That was his worst call by far. Run it on third down. If you don't score you can run again on fourth or go for three. At the critical moment he didn't believe in his offense. Screwing up punt coverage is a blunder but forgetting what your team is at a critical juncture is so much worse.
September 10th, 2019 at 7:34 PM ^
And his 3rd down call in 2OT was a little surprising too, why not just run the ball, and set up for an easier FG if you don't get the first down.
September 9th, 2019 at 10:08 PM ^
Army doesn't come back from 14-7.
Thanks officials.
September 9th, 2019 at 10:33 PM ^
Underrated take. Instead of a lead and momentum, we cough the ball up and never lead until 2OT. The entire arc of the game changes once we establish a lead and field position.
September 9th, 2019 at 11:17 PM ^
That referee mistake could have been the season.
September 10th, 2019 at 6:07 AM ^
"That's the kind of call that costs a coach his job"--Don Brown
September 10th, 2019 at 8:24 AM ^
Did Don Brown say that in reference to the missed fumble return call on Saturday or was that just a general statement by Brown about something entirely different?
If the former, I salute him for saying it but he will probably get in trouble with the Big 10 office for his candor.
September 11th, 2019 at 9:31 AM ^
I didn't watch the interview but I think I read he was referencing that specific call when he said it.
September 10th, 2019 at 9:32 AM ^
On the Jon Jansen podcast they had an interview with Metellus just after the game - he was quick to not call out the refs but said he 100% purposefully thought to get his knees up and then pick up the ball so he could run it back and was shocked when it as called back.
September 11th, 2019 at 12:23 AM ^
Thank you!!!
September 9th, 2019 at 10:08 PM ^
I agree completely. I do wonder if Monken thought he needed to score a TD and didn’t want to send his kicker out even for a short field goal. That’s probably over thinking and wrong.
September 9th, 2019 at 10:03 PM ^
The fake punt was a hot read from the special teams unit.
September 9th, 2019 at 10:07 PM ^
I agree. Was there and saw Dax clap as soon as the corner showed blitz. It certainly wasn't a premeditated call from the sidelines, and (I believe) the coaches confirmed that after the game.
September 10th, 2019 at 1:04 AM ^
Yes, also if you watch the tape, Hart literally points at Dax before the snap. As in, "Hey, throw it to that guy!" It wasn't a subtle audible.
September 10th, 2019 at 11:42 AM ^
It is really funny to watch in hindsight. We couldn't have been more blatant in calling that audible. Punter stands there pointing at Dax for an eternity, the blocker suddenly shifts to the other side of the formation and Dax is over there clapping. It was a giant neon sign signalling fake and Army never noticed lmao
September 9th, 2019 at 10:26 PM ^
Right. I don't understand the regret. It was obviously something scouted well before the game. Did he know his formation was vulnerable but think Michigan wouldn't notice and that's his regret? I don't get it.
September 9th, 2019 at 10:50 PM ^
My guess it was regret attempting a punt block in the first place. Army probably does not have the athletes to pull it off even if Michigan were to have punted and Army executed well. It was a dumb call, and I could see why a coach would regret that one more than the interception as some coaches may see the interception as partly a problem with execution.
September 9th, 2019 at 10:54 PM ^
Makes sense. Thank you.
September 9th, 2019 at 11:15 PM ^
He regrets doing it twice he said. Michigan saw it the first time, but had the penalty and had to re-kick. That’s when Michigan coaches alerted players to watch for it again. He caught them off guard the first time. He didn’t the second time. That’s what he regrets. The gig was up at that point and he still tried it.
September 9th, 2019 at 11:27 PM ^
Dax called for it the first time. After the penalty, they lined up off the Gunner right off the bat, iirc. The safe assumption is that he regrets thinking Michigan wouldn't bite and kick it away anyhow.
Silly for him to think that we would play it that consevatiiooooohhh, wait. nevermind
September 10th, 2019 at 6:39 AM ^
Right. It had to be on the first time. Hart was weirdly upset after the flag. His reaction made sense after the fake.
September 10th, 2019 at 3:01 AM ^
That was 100% called by Harbaugh
Watch during the 5 yd penalty on the punt,just before the fake (maybe false start) the punter was pissed off because he thought Michigan had the perfect play call..... then Harbaugh sent in a sign and one of the OL slapped Dax a "low five" as they crossed paths and Hart pointed to his head and Dax just before the snap,im guessing to say "yes keep the fake on" Ive seen Hart punt 100 times he has never done these things before... 100% Harbaughs call
September 9th, 2019 at 10:03 PM ^
I've no doubt they expected a dogfight, but the fake punt wasn't 'brought out' because of that. It feels like that's an option the punt team has available. Yeah, they probably saw something from Army that made them think it might be there. But I think that's been planned as an option whenever the coverage is right, against whomever they're playing. The personnel is perfect for it...
All that aside, I'm surprised that's the one Monken wants back, also. I can think of several others that would be better for them...
September 9th, 2019 at 10:24 PM ^
who is the special teams coach? Partridge? Our special teams are better at putting players in space than our offense. My compliments to him.
Now that teams have seen that on film, they are going to have to rethink their punt block packages.
September 9th, 2019 at 10:10 PM ^
The Hill interception was about as big as Jupiter. I can't remember the last time a single play swung the outcome of a game that much. I think if Army even gets 3 there, Michigan is doomed.
September 9th, 2019 at 11:14 PM ^
Rose Bowl 1998. Charles Woodson saved that game with an interception in the endzone the same way as far as I'm concerned. If WSU had scored again right there, I don't see us coming back or celebrating a National Championship.
And I agree...while we should have been up 14-7, being down 21-7 would likely have been a dagger.
September 9th, 2019 at 10:13 PM ^
The interception was more critical from a game perspective but the Army coach was talking from a coaching perspective - the fake punt meant he did not prepare his team well for that possibility.
September 9th, 2019 at 10:27 PM ^
Everyone talks about the interception, but they were down to the 1 on that drive and took a false start on second down, which led them down the path to having to throw and getting picked. Obviously, their chance of scoring from 2nd and goal at the 1 is about 99%. That one penalty completely shifted the game.
September 9th, 2019 at 10:47 PM ^
Completely agree. That false start prevents a Michigan loss. Unfortunately, I just don’t think we come back from down 21-7. So with all the penalty / ref shenanigans, that penalty evened it out.
September 9th, 2019 at 10:47 PM ^
Completely agree. That false start prevents a Michigan loss. Unfortunately, I just don’t think we come back from down 21-7. So with all the penalty / ref shenanigans, that penalty evened it out.
September 9th, 2019 at 11:13 PM ^
The army backfield consistantly started early and was only called a couple times. It was annoying.
September 10th, 2019 at 8:23 AM ^
I agree with this observation. A number of times I swear I saw Army moving forward before the ball was snapped. Maybe indeed, justice was served by the 5 yard penalty at the 1.
September 9th, 2019 at 11:09 PM ^
I haven’t seen this mentioned, but when I watched the game a second time I noticed that there was a false start on their last touchdown as well. The right tight end (83 if I recall correctly) flinched about a second before the snap. Can’t see it on the replay but it’s on the live play. Don’t recall what down it was when that happened, but that would have drastically decreased their chances of the third touchdown as well.
September 10th, 2019 at 7:22 AM ^
Might have just been my perception, but that also seemed like the first penalty called against Army at a critical moment. Every other call to that point seemed be going against Michigan I.e. the called back touchdown. No question that penalty saved the game.
September 10th, 2019 at 7:42 PM ^
Brown said the defense drew them into a false start. Literally had a guy yell MOVE! and he flinched.
September 9th, 2019 at 10:40 PM ^
The play I want back is the scoop and score that we got fucked on it was the only reason the game was this close.
September 9th, 2019 at 11:06 PM ^
Actually, it was the illegal procedure penalty against Army just prior to Hill’s INT that was the key play. Without it, it’s 2nd and Goal at the 1 yd line and they score to make it 21-7.
September 10th, 2019 at 1:19 AM ^
I mean if he gets that play back then we get a couple gimmie touchdowns back and the game ends in regulation.