Michigan Wolverines: It’s Time for a Fire Sale in Ann Arbor
By Bob Heyrman
It’s hard to win a football game when you turn the ball over four times. We went into this game understanding the Michigan Wolverines needed to protect the football, manage the clock, and find a way to hold Taylor in check. They did none of that today.
Heading into this game, I was terrified wondering if this Michigan Wolverines defense would be up to the task of stopping the best running back in the nation Jonathan Taylor. Well, they wouldn’t be able to stop him today, they couldn’t even slow the beast down. He ran through Don Brown‘s defense like a freight train with little to no push back what so ever.
Taylor galloped for North of 200 yards but essentially ended the game before the first quarter expired. Taylor ran for 143 yards and 2 scores in the first quarter. He did that substantial damage in only 13:00 of game time.
It became comical after the first wave of rage wore off. I mean, Don Brown, Michigan’s defensive coordinator mentioned before the game he was excited to get back to playing “Michigan Wolverines defense” this week. Be careful what you wish for sir. He was alluding to the fact that the defense didn’t have to prepare for the triple-option offense that Army runs. The option run has given the Michigan Wolverines fits for as long as I can remember.
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If this is Michigan defense, I don’t want any part of it. The Wolverines defense struggled to do anything well. I can’t remember a Michigan defensive front rising up at the snap and consistently play after play be bullied and pushed backward. So often the Wolverines first step was in the wrong direction. We have to give the Badgers offensive line credit. They played phenomenally, but that shouldn’t be Jim Harbaugh‘s excuse this afternoon as he addresses the media.
The offense flat out sucks. The blame can’t be squarely on newly appointed offensive coordinator Josh Gattis. Jim Harbaugh is the head coach of this football team. He took the head coaching job at Michigan with the reputation of being a quarterback guru. He basically hand picked Shea Patterson when he became available from Ole Miss. Last season Patterson flashed some hope, this season it appears he’s regressed. He isn’t anything more than an average quarterback. Why hasn’t Jim Harbaugh found a way to get the most out of his quarterback if he’s a so-called ‘quarterback guru?’
The Wolverines don’t have any type of run game. Chris Evans was expected to be the teams’ lead back heading into this season but was suspended due to an academic issue. This is Michigan, Harbaugh should have another back ready with little or no drop-off. I can’t blame Zach Charbonnet for not being a workhorse; he’s a freshman. He was very limited today due to an apparent knee injury. Why don’t the Wolverines have anyone else that can carry the football effectively?
Next. Ty Law Delivers Phenomenal HOF Speech. dark
If Jim Harbaugh’s job is considered ‘safe’, he needs to take matters into his own hands. He needs to shut the bus door this afternoon before Don Brown, and Josh Gattis have a chance to climb aboard. That would put the whole program on notice. An embarrassing 35-14 loss to Wisconsin should create change. The Michigan Wolverines fans deserve better than a mediocre product year after year.