Michigan vs. Ohio State Awards

Michigan vs. Ohio State Awards


November 30, 2011
Eat my dreads.

I’m going to take a slightly different tactic this week than other weeks.  Heading into the bowl game, there’s no real reason to suggest personnel changes other than just for the hell of it.  If a guy is a starter now, he’ll probably be starting in the bowl game.  Michigan just beat Ohio State, I’m happy, and these are all positive awards today.

Offensive MVP . . . Denard Robinson.  He was 14/17 for 167 yards and 3 touchdowns with 0 interceptions. He ran the ball 26 times for 170 yards and 2 touchdowns.  The kid was patient in the pocket, stepped up in crunch time, and seemed more decisive in the running game than he has for most of the year.  This was an easy pick.

Defensive MVP . . . Ryan Van Bergen.  Van Bergen had 7 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 pass breakup, and 1/2 a sack.  He was consistently causing trouble for quarterback Braxton Miller and running back Dan Herron, and he notched the tackle that pinned OSU to the goal line and allowed for a safety on the following play.

Offensive play of the game . . . Denard’s 41-yard touchdown run.  Not only did Denard make a good read in the running game, but he also looked quicker than he has in recent weeks and made Etienne Sabino look silly.  It was electrifying to see him have success against a defense that has smothered Michigan the past few seasons.  I think that play gave the players and the fans notice that the offense was going to be explosive the entire day.

Defensive play of the game #1 . . . Blake Countess’s pass breakup.  On 3rd-and-27 from their own 3-yard line, Braxton Miller launched a missile to DeVier Posey, who was streaking down the middle of the field.  Countess was trailing Posey and turned on the jets just in time to get a finger on the ball, knocking the pass down.  Even though a holding penalty in the endzone would have negated the gain, Countess didn’t know that when he was making the play.  That was a potential 97-yard touchdown pass that surely would have taken some of the wind out of Michigan’s sails.

Defensive play of the game #2 . . . Courtney Avery’s interception.  For a nickel corner to be tied for the team lead with 2 interceptions, that’s a pretty good job for Avery.  He could probably be starting for this team at one of the outside corner positions, but he’s aggressive and physical in the slot and that physicality paid off.  On a last-gasp pass for Ohio State, Avery knocked down wide receiver Devin Smith and then launched himself through the air to pick off the pass.  It was 4th-and-6 so the interception wasn’t much different than a simple incompletion, but it was a great play nonethelesss.

13 comments

  1. Comments: 21385
    Nov 30, 2011 at 1:27 PM

    I'm thinking all that turning out of bounds in games 5 through 10 helped out in game 12. That and the fact that last year the Buckeyes didn't have to care about any of our backs in any of our "read option" plays.

    My favorite plays were the maybe slightly forced/underthrown touchdown ball to Junior Hemingway which featured the very tough Vince Smith taking on in a big way a guy about twice his size and the back foot touchdown toss to Tay Odoms. Two pretty nice balls not a lot of thinking about it.

  2. Comments: 21385
    Michael
    Nov 30, 2011 at 2:58 PM

    Denard had 170 yards on 26 carries

  3. Comments: 21385
    SC Wolverine
    Nov 30, 2011 at 2:58 PM

    Jibreel Black also made a pretty key play on Miller on third down of that goal line stand. Let's not forget that one.

  4. Comments: 21385
    Anonymous
    Nov 30, 2011 at 3:00 PM

    I think Denard had 26 for 170 rushing.

  5. Comments: 21385
    Anonymous
    Nov 30, 2011 at 3:06 PM

    Denard had more like 170 rushing yards, didn't he?

  6. Comments: 21385
    Anonymous
    Nov 30, 2011 at 3:09 PM

    Denard actually ran 26 times for 170 yards. Don't short-change the young man. 😉

  7. Comments: 21385
    Nov 30, 2011 at 3:25 PM

    Boy, you guys were all over the mistake on Denard's rushes/yardage. Thanks.

  8. Comments: 21385
    Nov 30, 2011 at 3:25 PM

    @ SC Wolverines 9:58 a.m.

    Yeah, that was a nice play, too.

  9. Comments: 21385
    Anonymous
    Nov 30, 2011 at 6:08 PM

    I dunno.. think the defensive play of the game was Black/Kovacs stopping Braxton on 3rd down and goal on the 3… changed momentum immensely.
    Secondly, I wouldnt discount Tae Odoms TD either as the game changer.. or the Koger TD.

  10. Comments: 21385
    Lankownia
    Nov 30, 2011 at 6:40 PM

    DENARD HAD 170 YA… ah, I see we've covered that. Great job anonymous 1, 2, 3, and 4!

    Countess did make a very nice play on that ball to Posey, but ultimately that play didn't count any more than Fitz's TD, so it's a weird choice for play of the day.

    I think you're spot on for the MVPs, those two really stepped up.

    Any thoughts/preferences on potential bowl and opponents?

  11. Comments: 21385
    Lankownia
    Nov 30, 2011 at 6:40 PM

    Nice to have so many 'Play of the Game' candidates to choose from eh?

  12. Comments: 21385
    Nov 30, 2011 at 7:29 PM

    @ Lankownia 1:40 p.m.

    The Countess play is there more for the pure athleticism/coverage skills/awesomeness of Countess. He's a true cover corner, which we haven't had in a few years.

  13. Comments: 21385
    Nov 30, 2011 at 7:29 PM

    Oh, and I tend not to get caught up in speculation about bowls/bowl opponents. There are just so many scenarios out there that I think it's kind of a waste of time until the bowl opponent is set.

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