6Oct 2011
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| Ryan Van Bergen had a solid day for Michigan with a tackle for loss and a forced fumble |
Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Jeremy Gallon. Michigan needs to find a way to get Gallon the ball. He’s good at running after the catch, and if Denard Robinson can’t find success throwing the ball down the field, then the coaches ought to find a way to get Gallon the ball on short passes and let him gain yards on his own.
Let’s see less of this guy on offense . . . Stephen Hopkins. Hopkins is a fumble machine (3 career fumbles in 43 rushing attempts) and he’s not very good on top of that. The seat of his maize pants ought to be planted firmly on the bench unless it’s garbage time. The first two backs (Fitzgerald Toussaint and Vincent Smith) are doing just fine, and if a third back needs to carry the ball, then it ought to be Michael Shaw or Michael Cox.
Let’s see more of this guy on defense . . . Blake Countess. Countess played pretty well as Troy Woolfolk’s injury replacement, notching 7 tackles and 1 pass breakup. Woolfolk needs to take a week off and rest his sprained ankle, which he has aggravated each week since he hurt it against Western Michigan. The coaches keep playing him sparingly, and he keeps limping off for large portions of each game. Woolfolk ought to get this week off and let Countess, J.T. Floyd, Courtney Avery, and Raymon Taylor handle the cornerback duties. I think Michigan can still beat Minnesota without Woolfolk.
Let’s see less of this guy on defense . . . nobody. It’s not that everyone on defense is playing great. It’s just that the guys who are mediocre don’t seem to have quality backups to spell them. Michigan needs the young defensive linemen on the roster to grow up soon.
Play of the game . . . Ryan Van Bergen forcing Ronnie Hillman to fumble. With about twelve minutes remaining in the third quarter and Michigan leading 21-0, San Diego State ran to the defense’s right and Hillman broke a decent gain. Van Bergen, who was the left defensive end, took a perfect pursuit angle and punched the ball out after about an 18-yard gain. To top off the play, outside linebacker Jake Ryan hustled to follow the ball and jumped on the fumble 30 yards downfield.
MVP of the game . . . Denard Robinson. He once again had a horrible day throwing the ball (8-for-17, 93 yards, 2 interceptions), but that didn’t stop him from running for 200 yards and 3 touchdowns on 21 carries. He’s now averaging 138 yards rushing per game and 7.8 yards per carry.