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| Isaiah Hole Wolverine Wire |
I asked you in the preview, if there was such a thing as a Championship trap game? Today, I ask you another question. Can a game be closer than the final score and at the same time not be that close? That is a confusing question, but let me explain.
I've watched one Purdue game prior to last night and I have to imagine that was one of the best games they've played all season. O'Connell threw for 366 yards and was 32/47, Purdue had 10 more first downs than Michigan, had 70 more total yards on offense, and had the ball 7 more minutes. They were beating Michigan at their own game. Purdue even kicked a ton of field goals like Michigan and lost by 3 TD's.
The problem was that Purdue had 2 devastating interceptions and was kicking field goals instead of scoring TD's. That was the difference in the game. Purdue played great and got blown out, with Michigan's best players on offense and defense in street clothes and on the couch.
Cheers:
- JJ being confident in throwing the ball
- Edwards running for 185 yards with a broken thumb
- Superstar in development with Will Johnson and his 2 picks
- 4 sacks
- Michigan's defense giving up 1 TD
- Playing well, when you don't have your best game
- 225 on the ground
- RB/LB Mullings with 8 carries and 2 TD's
- Colson and Moore combined for 29 tackles
- Back 2 Back Big Ten Champions!
- 13-0 for the first time in the history of the program!
Jeers:
- JJ only completed 11 passes
- Gave up too many yards on defense
- Not enough stops on defense
- Michigan needs to heal in the next 28 days
- JJ threw a bad pick, when he had a ton of yards to run
- 4 possessions in the 1st half
- Is it possible to play 2 second half's?
It wasn't pretty on many levels and Purdue came to play but it ended the way it should, with Jimmy raising the Big Ten trophy and giving all the credit to his players. I was nervous about this game when Utah and KSU won their games. I knew Purdue had a heavy heart and that they're known for upsetting top 3 ranked teams. They played the best they could and it wasn't good enough. That is how football should be and it was on Saturday night.
I would love nothing more than for Michigan to win a National Championship, but to me the most important thing every year is to beat OSU and win the Big Ten Championship. Goal Achieved! The CFP is the icing on the cake. BTW: that throw from JJ to Ronnie in the back of the end zone might have been the best throw JJ has made as a Wolverine. That was a bullet.
This program has come a long way in the last few years and I'm sure as hell going to enjoy it! Go Blue, your Big Ten Back 2 Back Champions.
7 comments:
Good post, as always. Was def a close and not close game at the same time. Our secondary and pass coverage in general will need to be better again tcu and hopefully Georgia. I think JJ had his best game as a passer - his accuracy and timing continue to improve. And just shows how you can practice all day long, but nothing beats game day reps.
Big question is who we play next. If it’s Ohio, I’m throwing my tv out the window. That would be an insult to TCU and a flaw in the system. My guess is GA-OH, Mich-TCU. I would argue (and prob not convince most folks) that Utah deserves the 4th spot over Ohio. They won’t their conference in convincing fashion.
Good post, spot on. I'd rather beat MSU than OSU so goal accomplished for both of us. Nail biter for sure but on to Glendale. Go Blue!
I’d rather not even consider msu as competition. And then focus on the bucknuts.
By the way. Donovan’s mvp speech should go down as one of the most fun and funny speeches. I love that dude. These guys are just loose and fun.
I'm in my 70's (1970 alum) and I too believe beating Ohio State and winning the Big 10 are the goals for this team. Maybe because it was always Bo's goals. He too looked at the Rose Bowl as icing on the cake. I can remember the years where Michigan only had half of the seats filled and it seemed empty. Being at the 1969 Michigan OSU game is when the entire culture at Michigan once again changed. I believe the culture changed again last year after Michigan finally beat OSU. Go Blue!
The defensive play calling in the first half was not very good play that really soft zone Purdue ate it up
Consecutive years beating Ohio State, winning the BiG 10 Championship, and going to the CFP to play for a National Championship are tremendous achievements for the program. Yet going to the CFP and not winning it all would seem to the team (a goal that they have exhaustively worked for since January), a season that was great, but one that came up just short.
To be the best of the best, to plant your flag at the top of the mountain, that's what champions strive for, it's in their DNA. Being a team that wins championships brings in better recruitment of those 5 star players needed to help build team depth when challenging to plant ones flag at the top of the mountain, year after year.
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