The Michigan Wolverines outlasted Penn State, 21-18, at The Big House on Saturday afternoon. It wasn’t always a joy to watch this game, particularly in the first 30 minutes of action, but the offense went up a level in the second half and propelled the Wolverines to their first win in Big Ten play this season.
Here are two things I loved and one thing I hated from today’s game.
1 thing I loved: Some offensive scheme changes were made
Jason Beck has been criticized a ton over the last few weeks, especially coming out of the Minnesota game in which the Wolverines
only mustered up seven points offensively. Changes were going to have to be made moving forward if Michigan wanted to get things going on offense, and Beck did appear to make some schematic tweaks early on in this game.
On Michigan’s first drive of the game, Beck featured a lot more of what the Wolverines have done well over the last half-decade — power running. Jordan Marshall ran for five yards on Michigan’s first play of the drive, while Savion Hiter took a handoff right up the middle for seven yards. Marshall also ran up the middle for 11 yards on the opening drive.
Beck also dove into his bag of tricks early on, drawing up a fake quarterback run on a third down. Bryce Undrwood appeared to be set to take a designed quarterback keeper to the left side of the field when he took a step backwards, set his feet and threw a fastball to wideout JJ Buchanan to move the chains. It was something Penn State wasn’t ready for and ended up paying for it.
The changes also resulted in points being put on the board. Shortly after Rod Moore picked off Rocco Becht in the third quarter, running back Bryson Kuzdzal went 43 yards to the end zone for Michigan’s longest run of the season. The run was out of the pistol formation, which gives the running backs downhill momentum and is a staple of a power run game — a beautiful sight to see, indeed.
It took a while for the offense to really get going — more on that shortly — but it was nice to see Beck make some changes and not continue running the same plays that weren’t working.
1 thing I hated: Everything else on offense in the first half
Michigan’s most successful drive of the first half was, unfortunately, the first one I referenced above. Everything else after that was … well, see for yourself.
Here are the first half stats for the offense:
- Bryce Underwood: 5-of-11 passing, 43 yards, two interceptions
- Run game: 12 carries, 37 yards, 3.1 yards per carry
- Total yards: Penn State 154, Michigan 80
- Pass yards: Penn State 123, Michigan 43
- Rush yards, Michigan 37, Penn State 31
- Time of possession: Penn State 18:53, Michigan 11:07
- Scoreboard: Penn State 3, Michigan 0
It didn’t matter if Beck called a run play or a pass play, Michigan’s offense essentially did nothing the entire first half. The run game did not work. The pass game did not work. Underwood was inaccurate and turnover-prone once again. The offensive line could not sustain blocks long enough for anything to develop. And Beck could not find a formation, personnel grouping or playcall that moved the needle.
When your offense only generates 80 total yards in a half and your quarterback throws two interceptions, you have no business being in the game at halftime. The fact Michigan was only down by a field goal is a testament to the defense and a damning indictment of everything happening on the other side of the ball.
1 more thing I loved: Taking the Carr out of the garage
Apologies to anyone in the Bryce Underwood Fan Club (should a thing even exist), but he needed to be benched after that horrific first half. Yes, Penn State has a really talented secondary (tied for 21st in passing yards allowed this year entering this game), but there’s no excuse for a five-star quarterback making his 19th career start to play the way he did in the first half.
Freshman Tommy Carr led the offense the entire second half, and it didn’t take long to finally put points on the board. Kuzdzal’s touchdown was on the second drive with Carr in at quarterback, putting Michigan up 7-3.
The third drive was even more impressive. Following another Becht interception, this one by safety Chris Bracy, Michigan marched down the field thanks to a 22-yard pass from Carr to tight end Hogan Hansen, an 18-yard run by Hiter, and then a 22-yard scamper by Carr that got the Wolverines to the one yard line. Marshall punched it in a couple plays later to put Michigan up, 14-3.
Things went much better in that third quarter with Carr in the game.
Carr went 5-of-7 passing for 47 yards, along with four carries for 36 yards and one touchdown. His rushing score, the first touchdown of his college career, was pretty nifty.
Turning to Carr could be the spark this offense direly needed — or at least it was against Penn State. It should also spell the end of the Underwood era in Ann Arbor. The offense is Carr’s now, and that very likely won’t be changing barring an injury (knocks on all the wood in the world).
What did you love and hate from the Penn State game? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments section below!
