Michigan 28, Penn State 16

Michigan 28, Penn State 16


November 22, 2015


Michigan’s defense mostly looked great. 
Except for about three plays, Michigan’s defense looked excellent. Early on, Michigan allowed Penn State RB Saquon Barkley to break free for a 56-yard run after Willie Henry was chopped to the ground and Joe Bolden failed to fill the hole with any aggression whatsoever. Jabrill Peppers failed to locate a back-shoulder throw that turned into a 25-yard touchdown pass to Saeed Blacknall. The Wolverines also had some tackling issues on a completed seam route, but otherwise, the defense looked excellent. The 207 total yards by Penn State was their second-lowest of the season (behind Temple and their 10 sacks of Christian Hackenberg). After Indiana got the edge frequently last week, Penn State rarely tried, although their couple of attempts were thwarted. Color commentator Brock Huard kept asking for PSU to run up the middle, which is generally a bad idea and proved to be again on Saturday. Meanwhile, Penn State’s receivers couldn’t get separation from Michigan’s defensive backs, and Michigan’s defensive line was consistently running around PSU’s linemen or walking them straight back into Hackenberg’s face.

Hit the jump for the rest of the game recap.

This game was a good example of why it pays to hit the QB. Early in the game, Jake Rudock took a huge shot from a stunting defensive end. Right guard Kyle Kalis had a tough job, as he was occupied by defensive tackle Anthony Zettel with the end looping around. It was good execution by Penn State and a good call by their coaching staff, because Rudock had taken a three-step drop and was sitting shallow in the pocket. It was one of those hits where you’re not sure if he’ll get up or not. On his next pass attempt, he seemed in a hurry to get rid of the ball and threw it right into the arms of linebacker Brandon Bell. Furthermore, the number of hits on Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg took their toll. He was sacked 4 times, and with PSU down two scores late in the game, he tried to run off the field after a failed 3rd down conversion; then he was sent back out to fail on 4th down.

Stop giving away free yardage. For the past two weeks, Michigan has looked like a Pop Warner team when it comes to jumping offsides. Michigan’s starters and backups alike jumped over the line, and the offensive line false started a couple times, including another false snap by center Graham Glasgow. (I think I have made this point before, but I don’t ever remember a center who has had so many issues with bad snaps, false snaps, etc. than Glasgow.) Sometimes teams go through bad stretches of taking penalties, but this is two games in a row. The Wolverines took 13 penalties for 117 yards in this one. The pre-snap issues are inexcusable. The defensive linemen need to block out what they’re hearing and watch the ball. Just when Michigan was on defense, the Nittany Lions earned 6 first downs by penalty, compared to 4 by running and 4 by passing.

Weekly targeting complaint. Penn State defensive tackle Anthony Zettel  left his feet, lowered his head, and hit Michigan quarterback Jake Rudock in the face mask. He felt so bad about it that he immediately picked up Rudock in an attempt to show sportsmanship. A flag was thrown for roughing the passer and for targeting. Finally, an open-and-shut case of targeting that would go in Michigan’s favor! And then. And then the guys in the replay booth reversed the call. The roughing the passer penalty stood, but the targeting was rescinded. The fact remains that the officials in the Big Ten still have no idea what “targeting” is. Furthermore, Michigan defensive tackle Willie Henry should have been kicked out for targeting Christian Hackenberg later in the game, but I think Jim Harbaugh would have torn off his headset, his jacket, and his shirt if that happened, leaving only his cleats and sewn-on khakis. The rule needs to be removed if it can’t be called with more consistency.

Frustrating Michigan running game. Against the #42 rushing defense in the country, Michigan’s longest run by a running back was 8 yards. The only longer run was by Jehu Chesson on an end around, which went for 20 yards. The offensive line just can’t create many holes, the running backs can’t find the holes that are there, and the running backs can’t do anything when they find them, either. And after two straight career performances from Jake Rudock, it can no longer be blamed on teams stacking the box and trying to force Rudock to beat them. He had the most passing yards against Penn State this year. Michigan should return four-fifths of the offensive line next year, so I guess an incremental improvement can be expected up front. But unless the Wolverines pull in a stud runner in the 2016 class, I expect more of the same.

I liked the design of Michigan’s passing game. Michigan ran a lot of quick screens and attacked the middle of the field, while changing up the depth of the pocket. This is one advantage of running a pro-style offense that sometimes takes snaps from under center. The QB can take one-, three-, five-, or seven-step drops from under center, run play action, sprint out, bootleg, etc. When you face a good pass rushing unit (Penn State is #1 in the country with 4 sacks/game), it’s important that they can’t tee off on a QB whom they know will be six yards directly behind the center on any given passing down.

Team accomplishments. Michigan went undefeated on the road in the Big Ten in 2015, which is the first time that has happened since 1997. This is also the first time that Michigan has beaten Penn State at Beaver Stadium since 2006. Is it just a coincidence that those things hearken back to the national championship team and the outstanding 2006 defense that included LaMarr Woodley, David Harris, and Leon Hall? Michigan is on its way back.

Next week is The Week. Ohio State laid an egg last night with a 17-14 loss to Michigan State, who were without their starting quarterback. After the game there were questions about Ohio State’s play calling and their preparedness for the game. Some of those questions were raised by running back Ezekiel Elliott, who was joined by starting/backup QB Cardale Jones in saying that they would not return to Ohio State next year (both are currently juniors). Elliott has no reason to return because he’s already considered to be a first day draft pick, but Jones needs more seasoning if he wants to go to the NFL. Regardless, it sounded like grumpy, spoiled players who decided to shine a light on themselves when they should have kept their emotions in check. The Buckeyes might have a bit of a hard time replacing Elliott, but they will be better off without Jones, who has been a polarizing figure for his entire college career. You never know if the team will have checked out by next week, or if they will come back with a vengeance after feeling like they underperformed. Either way, it should be a fun one to watch.

17 comments

  1. Comments: 191
    Joined: 8/13/2015
    crazyjoedavola
    Nov 22, 2015 at 10:02 AM

    At this point is running game is just being used to keep defenses honest. Johnson must be injured again, Isaac must be in a permanent doghouse, Smith and Green are very limited and Higdon should have been redshirted because the sweeps could have been handled by Douglas and Chesson both of whom are much faster. So you might as well just plow Smith and Houma into the line for 3 yards and let Rudock do his thing. We really have to get an elite runner in this class, either that or maybe the third Glasgow brother will step up next year like his siblings.

    The OL did a great job keeping Rudock clean, and the receivers are really stepping up with tough catches and yacs. Peppers is finally being used in conventional ways on offence, while James Franklin is reminding me of Brady Hoke, an excellent recruiter who seems to be in over his head coaching at this level. After watching the nightmares of Borges’ offenses, it is really good to see us take what the defense is giving, like flanker screens… Borges would have run Smith into the line 30 times for 45 yards.

    • Comments: 118
      Joined: 10/22/2015
      SinCityBlue
      Nov 22, 2015 at 3:31 PM

      Isn’t it crazy that these highly regarded recruits don’t play up to their rankings? I know it’s inevitable to have some of these not pan out but ALL of them? You think maybe they’re in the wrong system or did Hoke just trust too much in their star ratings?

      • Comments: 191
        Joined: 8/13/2015
        crazyjoedavola
        Nov 22, 2015 at 4:01 PM

        I think that the only position that really didn’t pan out for Hoke is the OL. He recruited a lot of highly ranked linemen and only a few have actually panned out. Hoke’s recruiting had several flaws, atrocious recruiting of the QB position that was well documented, terrible recruiting of the DE position as we still don’t have an elite rusher, not enough speed in WR and RB recruiting. Chesson is now becoming what we needed 4 years ago, Darboh is a possession guy… all other receiver have done virtually nothing. The RB position simply doesn’t have a complete back, a whole bunch of highly ranked guys, but overall one of the worst units in B1G.

        • Comments: 1364
          Joined: 8/11/2015
          WindyCityBlue
          Nov 22, 2015 at 7:24 PM

          LB has been more than a little disappointing, too. Bolden, Ross and RJS were three of the top linebacker recruits in the country in that class. Our LB play has been OK this year, but far from what it should have been. None of those guys developed into a real star.

          • Comments: 6285
            Joined: 8/11/2015
            Lanknows
            Nov 22, 2015 at 11:03 PM

            Funny that Mr. Defense Brady Hoke landed those guys yet it was Jake Ryan and Desmond Morgan (Rodriguez recruits) that have stood out at LB.

          • Comments: 3844
            Joined: 7/13/2015
            Nov 23, 2015 at 7:50 AM

            Michigan’s defense this year is the best it has been in a long time. There are excellent players (Jourdan Lewis, Willie Henry, Chris Wormley, etc.) who were recruited by Hoke. One Jake Ryan (Desmond Morgan is solid but nothing special) does not make up for the other defenders that bombed out from the Rodriguez era.

          • Comments: 6285
            Joined: 8/11/2015
            Lanknows
            Nov 23, 2015 at 12:07 PM

            Right. That’s why it’s funny/ironic that Rodriguez out-recruited Hoke at LB.

            It’s like pointing out that Thomas Rawls is the best RB that came out of UM lately even though Rodriguez was much better at recruitng/developing/coaching offensive talent.

            Hoke’s DL and DB recruiting was superb pretty much everywhere besides rush end, and even there he landed Clark and Ojemudia.

          • Comments: 183
            Joined: 9/3/2015
            suduri xusai
            Nov 23, 2015 at 6:14 PM

            Did Rodriguez really out-recruit Hoke at LB? I don’t know where you are coming from, and I think Thunder already answered that question.

      • Comments: 23
        Joined: 11/15/2015
        brandywine
        Nov 22, 2015 at 8:41 PM

        I happen to think there are two critical components to a successful program. One, players that set a high standard of play so those behind them have something tangible to work towards and two, a culture that encourages players to compete like hell with each other to be as badass athletes as possible. Hoke had neither of these.

        First, when players have a starter ahead of on the depth chart that is a elite, backups know what the standard is and have a blueprint to follow. Green, Smith, Isaac haven’t had anyone in front of them they could look up to. Not to discount their natural athletic shortcomings, but I happen to think if they were sitting behind a Carlos Hyde (like Zeke Elliott), a Eddie Lacy (like Yeldon and Henry) or Montee Ball (like White and Gordon) they would train and compete in a different way with different goals and a different mindset.

        Second, I don’t believe Hoke created a culture of aggressive, competitive athletes like Harbaugh (and other top coaches) are doing. I think about Oregon specifically where it seems players take pride and train to be being freakish athletes. It’s their culture, and the players before them, that allowed mostly unspectacular recruiting classes to become elite.

        Finally, I don’t think this applies as much to position groups that require significant development, but I think it’s a real thing for backs, safeties, receivers that UM sorely needs to instill.

  2. Comments: 4
    Joined: 10/18/2015
    dantonioisthedevil
    Nov 22, 2015 at 10:19 AM

    I thought the refs were absolutely terrible again. The game next week is already terrifying. I don’t like how we match up against the Treenuts. The refs could very easily make the game unwinnable.

    • Comments: 183
      Joined: 9/3/2015
      suduri xusai
      Nov 22, 2015 at 8:47 PM

      Refs were bad, but they gave us a few, too. As Thunder mentioned, I thought Henry might overdid his hit against Hackenberg but got away with it. Zettel’s hit, of course, I thought was eject-worthy but he got away with it as well. B1G really needs to do something about that targeting rule.

      Oh, and I am 100% with the penalties. We got to stop giving the opponent free yards and downs. I hope Jim and his coaches drill this down to the players.

  3. Comments: 522
    Joined: 8/12/2015
    DonAZ
    Nov 22, 2015 at 12:39 PM

    Before the season started, the talk seemed to be that Michigan’s defense was going to be a lot more aggressive. I wonder if some of the defensive offsides penalties were because the players were taking the “get aggressive” message a bit too much to heart?

    Michigan started running Peppers between the tackles, which I thought was interesting. I wonder if some of that is because defenses are expecting Peppers, when in the backfield, to go to the edge? I find it hard to believe it’s because Peppers is a better smash-mouth bulldozer than Smith or Houma.

    Regarding Smith — I was pleased to see the leap over the top to score the touchdown. I understand there’s a risk of fumbling by stretching the ball out like that. But after 10 games of trying to burrow *under* 3 tons of humanity, it was refreshing to see a leap *over* it. I’ve never quite understood why on goal line stands that’s not done more.

    The triple threat of Darboh, Chesson and Butt is performing well, which is a very nice thing to see. Props to the OL for giving Rudock good pass protection. Props to Rudock for making the throws. Oh, for a complimentary running game! 🙂

    Regarding Ohio State’s loss and all the post-game talk — it really seems like cracks are showing in the bricks of Ohio State’s program. If memory serves, we saw similar (not exactly the same) things out of Florida prior to Meyer’s departure there. I’m not saying Meyer is set to bolt from OSU. I am saying that the signals from that program are troubling if you’re an OSU fan.

    This Satuday’s game will be a good one, regardless. These two teams *always* seem to get up for this game. It may not mean as much as it would have if OSU had beat MSU, but pride is a powerful motivator.

    Oh, and is there any way we can get the schedule *back* to OSU and MSU being home/away each year?

  4. Comments: 1356
    Joined: 8/13/2015
    Roanman
    Nov 22, 2015 at 8:40 PM

    I thought that this game was won on the drive at the end of the second half. After two not so good plays and on 3 and 10, Darboh steps up with a great catch. Then Smith makes guys miss for nice gains on two consecutive swing passes, maybe the same play twice, not sure about that yet. Then Rudock zips a nice ball to Butt with guys all around him and finally Darbah scores, Grant Perry having thrown a real nice block in space. And just that quick we’re back in the lead.

    I’m prone to crabbiness anyway, but with the exception of the short interlude during the above mentioned drive when they broke out the Indiana Rudock hi-lites I thought the guys doing this game were babbling twits. Maybe it’s me.

    I think that we have a very nice pass blocking O-line. While the right side will seemingly go blind or forget just what the hell it is that they’re supposed to be doing on occasion. The best example of that being back to back terrible plays early for a bad tackle for loss followed by letting Rudock get hit in the mouth on a three step drop., But aside from that, for the most part, they all did a nice job getting their hands on people, using their length and moving their feet against some guys that are going to play football on Sunday.

    I’m not completely sure of this yet, butI I think I saw a little and maybe more than a little of the 4/3 defense that Ii grew up watching the pros play. There were a couple times that I was overcome by nostalgia as it looked a little like the “Fearsome Foursome” or maybe the “Steel Curtain” lining up out there with four down linemen and three linebackers in a two point stance a couple yards behind them. Mostly they shifted out of it as the offense lined up, but it looked good to me.

    • Comments: 3844
      Joined: 7/13/2015
      Nov 23, 2015 at 8:13 AM

      Yeah, Michigan ran a lot of 4-3. I think it suits the personnel they have available right now.

  5. Comments: 183
    Joined: 9/3/2015
    suduri xusai
    Nov 22, 2015 at 8:49 PM

    I really wonder what would Elliott and Jones’ decisions to leave early and dissing of coaches mean to Ohio locker room. Maybe there are a few things going on inside that we do not know about. I hope the locker room at Ohio is as toxic as it gets, though. That might demoralize them more than anything else.

  6. Comments: 6285
    Joined: 8/11/2015
    Lanknows
    Nov 22, 2015 at 11:01 PM

    Great performance by the D. PSU’s OL may not be great but that was still a fantastic performance by the DL. Good to see Charlton especially seem to take a step forward. Absolutely right about the 2 or 3 bad plays and the offsides, but that’s still one of the best performances against PSU all year. I bet we see the offsides issues subside dramatically next week at home.

    Kareem Walker the solution to all the run game problems? Perhaps. But if you count Peppers that’s now three 5-star guys who haven’t done much behind this OL in addition to Smith and Johnson. Speaking of Smith – hell of game from him in the pass game. Not only blocking but a couple of elusive runs on passes that impressed me. I seem to be the only who thinks he’s going to be very difficult to unseat as starter in 2016.

    I do think our run game will improve a lot in 2016, but it’ll be all about the OL. They’ll have a full offseason of coaching stability, only lose one guy, and return a bunch of multi-year starters as seniors. It’s going to be M’s best rushing offense since Rodriguez was here. (OK, since Denard left, technically.)

    Good point about the pass game design. Credit to the coaches, but you’ve also seen the WRs make a huge leap forward, Rudock get more comfortable, and the pass blocking has been vastly improved all year (not just the OL but AJ Williams too). Advanced stats have this as a top 25 passing offense in the country. I think stacked boxes have a lot to do with that, as teams haven’t fully adjusted.

    I’m beyond furious at MSU and OSU. Of course those two get together and there is no way they do right by Michigan. I’m a bit surprised people are getting on Elliot’s case. Inappropriate or not – that was garbage by the coaching staff. They deserved to get called out. Oh and I think they’ll miss the QB that won them a national title – any team would. Don’t Play School’s character is a huge negative but he’s a damn good football player who probably wins them that game if they had let him do his thing.

    Won’t matter much if we lose to OSU, but right now that botched punt against MSU really stings. I had convinced myself it didn’t matter once MSU lost, assuming they’d get taken down in Columbus. Blerg.

    S&P says Michigan is the #3 team in the country. That punt aside, and sporting a 10-1 record, not too many would quibble.

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