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Michigan vs. Indiana Awards

Karan Higdon

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Ty Isaac, Chris Evans, and Lavert Hill. WTF? Yeah, I listed two running backs and a cornerback. Michigan needs to think outside the box as they game plan moving forward. Hill was a productive receiver and special teams player in high school, and Michigan should try to get the ball in his hands in limited ways. Put together a package with him as a slot receiver, which would offer a different dimension than running out three or four tight ends. As for Isaac and Evans, they’re better players than guys like Maurice Ways and Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. A couple years ago against Maryland, Michigan trotted out a full house backfield for a stretch. Maybe having Isaac, Evans, and Karan Higdon in the game at the same time isn’t a perfect trio, but two of those guys with Khalid Hill and/or Ben Mason might make for an interesting combination.

Hit the jump for more awards from Saturday’s game.

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Highlights: Michigan 27, Indiana 20

Michigan 27, Indiana 20

Karan Higdon (image via USA Today)

John O’Korn was bad.

I expected a better John O’Korn to show up on Saturday, but that wasn’t the case. He finished 10/20 for 58 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. He also ran 2 times for 8 yards. Early in the game, he missed a wide open deep post route to Donovan Peoples-Jones that might have given him and the team some confidence, but it was overthrown by a few yards. O’Korn did pull some magic out of his hat when he escaped three seemingly unblocked defenders in the pocket to scramble to his right and find a well covered Peoples-Jones. Otherwise, he just locked onto his primary receiver and never came off the read. It was astounding how little he went through his progressions. Believe it or not, I actually think O’Korn played better in the Michigan State game, because a couple of his interceptions were decent ideas but bad throws. Against Indiana, the bad ideas and bad throws combined for a very ugly game.

Hit the jump for more on Saturday’s win.

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Preview: Michigan at Indiana

RUSH OFFENSE vs. INDIANA RUSH DEFENSE

Michigan is #63 in rushing offense (167.8 yards/game) and #84 in rushing average (3.98 yards/carry). That’s on the heels of 2.6 yards/carry against Michigan State last week. Ty Isaac leads the squad with 61 carries, 365 yards, and 5.98 yards/carry, but a fumble last week got him removed from the game for a stretch and he seems to have been hampered by an injury for the past couple games. Meanwhile, Karan Higdon had 12 carries for 65 yards last week and ran hard. It’s anyone’s guess who gets the ball most in this game. On the offensive line, Michigan replaced right tackle Nolan Ulizio with Juwann Bushell-Beatty, who isn’t very good, either. On the other side of the ball, Indiana is #67 in rushing yards allowed (152.4 yards allowed/game) and tied for #39 in yards allowed per carry (3.61). Ohio State and Georgia Southern fared well against the Hoosiers, but Penn State and Saquon Barkley averaged just 1.05 yards on 37 attempts. Senior middle linebacker Tegray Scales (6’0″, 230 lbs.) and senior weakside linebacker Chris Covington (6’2″, 230) lead the team with 42 and 32 tackles, respectively. Overall, Indiana is #35 in tackles for loss, led by Scales (6.5) and Covington (4.0). Fifth year senior nose tackle Nate Hoff (6’2″, 310) is Indiana’s toughest defensive lineman. This is a stout front that will give Michigan’s soft offensive line issues.
Advantage: Indiana

Hit the jump for more on the matchup.

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Former Michigan Athlete of the Week: Devin Funchess

Devin Funchess

For the second week in a row, Devin Funchess caught 7 passes. This time it came against the Detroit Lions in a 27-24 win for the Carolina Panthers. Funchess’s final stats were 7 catches for 54 yards and 1 touchdown.

HONORABLE MENTION

• New England Patriots QB Tom Brady completed 30/40 passes for 303 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception in a 19-14 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Seattle Seahawks DE Frank Clark made 3 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble in a 16-10 win over the Los Angeles Rams
• Rams S Blake Countess made 2 tackles in a 16-10 loss to the Seahawks
• Philadelphia Eagles DE Brandon Graham made 4 tackles and 1 sack in a 31-7 win over the Arizona Cardinals
• Baltimore Ravens DT Willie Henry made 5 tackles and 2 pass breakups in a 30-17 win over the Oakland Raiders. He has now broken up 4 passes in his last two games.
• Dallas Cowboys CB Jourdan Lewis made 5 tackles and 3 pass breakups in a 35-31 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Unfortunately, he was also the victim of Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams on the game-winning fade pass.
• Cleveland Browns S Jabrill Peppers made 3 tackles and 3 punt returns for 28 yards in a 17-14 loss to the New York Jets
• Seattle Seahawks RB Thomas Rawls carried 8 times for 20 yards in a 16-10 win over the Rams
• Green Bay Packers LB Jake Ryan made 7 tackles in a 35-31 win over the Cowboys
• Baltimore Ravens DT Chris Wormley made his NFL debut and made 1 tackle in a 30-17 win over the Raiders