BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — How would Michigan football rebound after a stunning loss in Big Ten Week 2 to rival MSU on Saturday with a ranked road game against the No. 13 Indiana Hoosiers?
As we’re having difficulty with our usual live-thread, posting updates and observations in our instant reaction, combining the two.
WolverinesWire’s Isaiah Hole is taking in the game from the press box at Memorial Stadium, and here’s his thoughts via live stream-of-consciousness.
Instant reaction
First quarter
- Our live-thread was having some technical difficulties, so there might be a few more of my thoughts in here than usual. Instead of making them a more cohesive outlook on the game, will make it more of a chronological thought process.
- I wish Giles Jackson would allow more touchbacks, but at there’s always the chance he takes one to the house, so makes sense.
- First offensive drive: I see we’re still starting out with inside zone. Next play, Michigan continues to try to outsmart the opponent and ultimately outsmarts itself with the Giles Jackson screen.
- First Indiana drive: Early on, Indiana’s offense is doing what Michigan’s is supposed to do. Speed in space.
- Michigan defense showing itself to be susceptible on the edges. That’s new.
- Indiana lines up and runs it up the middle for five yards, when Michigan knew it was coming and had the middle clogged up. This line is not as advertised.
- Indiana doing a really good job of picking up Michigan’s blitzes.
- Two consecutive offsides for Michigan. Discipline is an issue. (The latter didn’t matter, because Indiana scored a TD.)
- Next Michigan drive: Even though it wasn’t a huge gain, I like that the offense attacked the perimeter straight away. But the second down play didn’t fool anyone. Again — you don’t need trickeration on every play. Just line up and play. Michigan has the athletes to beat you one-on-one, but they feel like they have to outsmart the other team.
- Milton had good protection on third down, but bailed too early. While I want to see him run, he had time to survey the field.
- Two three-and-outs to start the game is less than ideal.
- Second defensive drive: Great job by Vincent Gray to get underneath the route to swat the ball away on third down. That’s what we’ve been waiting to see.
- Third offensive drive: Great job by Milton keeping the play alive by escaping the collapsing pocket and finding Ronnie Bell for the first down. Michigan’s first first down of the game.
- WOW! That was a bullet thrown by Milton to Cornelius Johnson in the back of the endzone. 37-yarder to tie the game at 7-all.
- Third defensive drive: Pressure almost gets to Penix, finally, but he delivers a strike for a first down. Gets the matchup he wanted, Barrett on Hendershot, but misses. But makes up for it on the next, targeting Vincent Gray who’s just slightly off in coverage.
- Third offside gives Indiana a free play. Penix hits Ty Fryfogle in the endzone. Gray was actually in a decent spot to make a play, but whiffs on it. Great throw by Penix, to be honest. 14-7, Indiana.
- In-between thought: This defense is terrible, to be honest. Thought it looked pretty good against Minnesota, but not top ten good. But it’s really fallen apart these past two weeks. This is where you need the offense to put some pressure on the other side by scoring.
- Fourth offensive drive: Medium-deep throw to Roman Wilson had no chance as Stueber lets his defender go by him just as Milton is winding up. That’s not on Milton. Next play: Michigan goes back to inside zone for four yards. Better than nothing, but I almost want to see them abandon that concept altogether. Next play, Milton tries to force a throw in there, incomplete. I didn’t like the formation, as it was more condensed. I don’t know why they don’t remain in a spread formation. Three and out, anyway.
- Fourth defensive drive: I know people don’t like the 3-3-5 around here, but seeing Michigan in it regularly is clearly the thought that it’s the best way to help out in coverage. However, they’re bringing too many blitzes to make that effective. I think if your corners are having issues, then it’s best to drop back and keep the ball in front of you more than disrupting the pass. They’re not getting pressure anyhow.
- End of first quarter, Indiana 14, Michigan 7. Michael Penix 12-for-17 for 136 yards. Not ideal.
Second quarter
- Michigan got dominated in the first quarter up front, both sides — again. Indiana controlling time of possession, 9-6. Michigan has just 3 first downs to Indiana’s 8.
- At least Indiana, save for the one play where it got 5 yards, can’t run inside.
- Great open field tackle by Dax Hill to force a three-and-out.
- Giles Jackson should have never picked up that ball. Holding penalty on DJ Turner sets Michigan back 10 yards.
- Fifth offensive drive: Hassan Haskins takes the ball 10 yards on inside zone. So, he needs to be that guy. Maybe *the* guy. Next play, takes counter for no gain, but still.
- Great poise by Milton to hit Bell for 12 yards on second down. Need to see more of that. His next throw to Henning had a little too much heat on it. Would have been a big play. Henning wide open. Miscommunication on the next play, and another Michigan drive stalls.
- Fifth defensive drive: Just zero pressure on Penix. They’re not gonna win this game if something doesn’t change on that front.
- As soon as I say that, they get pressure. Michigan needs more of that.
- FOURTH offsides *and* pass interference. Michigan is just so undisciplined on defense.
- They call it defensive holding on Green. They would have gotten off the field, but kept Indiana’s drive alive. Should have been an INT on the next play by Hawkins, but he drops it. There are plays to be made, they’re just not making them.
- Seeing some really good things from Taylor Upshaw.
- Penix completes a pass to Whop Philyor for a first down. Michigan showed blitz, but backed out, yet Philyor still wide open.
- The key to beating Michigan’s defense remains getting players underneath and getting rid of the all quickly.
- Pressure causes an errant pass to force a 52-yard field goal attempt. It’s good, Indiana 17, Michigan 7.
- Sixth offensive drive: Michigan needs to score here. Because I don’t think the defense can stop Indiana.
- Doesn’t happen. Three and out. Another drop by Erick All.
- Brad Robbins is the Team MVP right now. That’s not a good thing.
- Sixth defensive drive: FIFTH offsides penalty. Penix takes a shot downfield, completes it. This is officially a defensive debacle.
- I’m honestly struggling to find something that this defense is good at. It doesn’t get pressure, it doesn’t cover, players are wide open all over the place. I guess finishing tackles? But after players are already moving forward.
- Daxton Hill breaking up what looks like a TD pass is maybe the closest to a defensive bright spot.
- Michael Penix already has 253 yards passing. Ty Fryfogle having a career game for the Hoosiers.
- Easy TD throw to Peyton Hendershot. Indiana taking a commanding 24-7 lead.
- Seventh offensive drive: LOL
- Halftime, Indiana 24-7.