Michigan gave one away against Michigan State, turning the ball over five times, and now faces a solid Indiana team on the road.
A second loss would end any hopes of a Big Ten title … dreams that seem far-fetched, regardless, given the Wolverines’ woes on offense. Indiana is a capable team, but this is a game Michigan should win (of course, the same applied last week, and the Wolverines failed that test miserably).
Indiana will run tempo against Michigan, a different test for the defense, so depth will be important this weekend. As for the offense — IU’s defense is solid, so this is a true road test.
Last week, we wrote that Michigan needed to protect the quarterback, contain the opposing QB and “don’t give it away.” The Wolverines failed on two of three and were average, at best, in containing MSU’s Brian Lewerke. Here’s what they need to do to win this week:
Protect the ball: For God’s sake, protect the ball. The Wolverines are now 110th in the country (out of 129 teams) in turnover margin this year (minus-1.0 per game), and most of that is on the offense. The defense is middle of the pack, No. 79 nationally in takeaways (seven), but there are zero complaints here about what defensive coordinator Don Brown’s group is doing on that side of the ball.
Michigan turned it over five times against Michigan State and still only lost by four. You probably won’t find another game between Power Five conference teams half that close with that margin. The worst part — the Spartans were in the bottom 10 nationally in turnovers gained before playing Michigan, and now they’re 46th after the five takeaways against the Wolverines (giving them nine for the year).
Fumbles and interceptions lose games. Period. If they continue, U-M is bound to drop a few more.
Scheme around their weaknesses: It’s hard, of course, to coach around poor offensive line play, but it’s not the entire line that’s giving the Michigan offense fits. Sophomore right guard Mike Onwenu has been steadily improving, but right tackle remains a significant issue … and yet there wasn’t much done to protect them against MSU. Sliding some protections that way when U-M must throw — either a running back or a tight end to help — would be a start.
Putting fifth-year senior John O’Korn in better positions to succeed would be another boost. O’Korn has a hard time making it past his first read, and doesn’t do well in the pocket on the rare occasion he has a pocket. He can move a bit, though. Using him the way Michigan State uses Brian Lewerke might be an option and certainly a little more innovation. Where were the jet sweeps, play action, etc. against the Spartans? Our unofficial numbers credited U-M with just four play-action completions for 36 yards.
One last thing — it’s also hard to scheme around turnovers. U-M was on its way to taking control before fifth-year senior Ty Isaac’s fumble changed the game late in the first quarter. So again, protect the ball.
Win special teams: Getting more out of the return game would be one way for the Wolverines to help the offense. Field position has been an issue this year, in large part because the punt and kick return games (with one exception — freshman Donovan Peoples-Jones’ punt return for TD against Air Force) have not been very good. Michigan is 99th in the country in kick returns, averaging 18.5 yards per runback.
U-M’s coverage, however, has been stellar, and it will need to be again this week. Indiana is sixth in the country, averaging 17.69 yards per punt return. This is a big week for freshman punter Brad Robbins, who has steadily improved the last two weeks. A low, short one could result in a big play and put more pressure on a struggling Michigan offense.
Make the Hoosiers earn their points against a stifling Michigan defense.
The Breakdown: We said it last week — if Michigan protects the ball, it probably wins comfortably. Five turnovers to none and a second-half monsoon made it paramount to protect the ball and have the lead when the rains came, and that’s what happened … only Michigan State was the team that accomplished it. It was reminiscent, crazily enough, of a 1987, 14-10 loss in Bloomington that head coach Bo Schembechler called “a mistake.”
The season is not lost. This offense just needs to be adequate for this to be a very good football team, given the excellence on defense. The Wolverines could have beaten the Spartans had it just been bad.
Jim Harbaugh is too good a football coach to let this fester, and it’s time for him to do what it takes to put the offense in positions to succeed, even if it means playing more conservatively.
TheWolverine.com Staff Picks
TheWolverine.com Senior Editor Chris Balas: Michigan 23, Indiana 13
Michigan bounces back with a better showing against a decent road opponent.
The Wolverine Senior Editor John Borton: Michigan 31, Indiana 13
The Wolverines are still smarting, and the defense hasn’t gone anywhere.
(Bonus pick: Michigan 24, Ohio State 20)
TheWolverine.com Recruiting Editor Brandon Brown: Michigan 20, Indiana 13
I’m losing confidence in this Michigan team after watching them struggle to put 10 points on the board against Michigan State. Still, they’re far more talented than Indiana and should eke out a win in Bloomington.
TheWolverine.com Writer Austin Fox: Michigan 21, Indiana 17
Michigan’s defense continues its dominance, and the offense does just enough to squeak out a tight one.
TheWolverine.com Writer Andrew Vailliencourt: Michigan 20, Indiana 13
Indiana will present Michigan with some of the same challenges Michigan State did, but there’s no way Jim Harbaugh lets his team lose two in a row.
TheWolverine.com Analyst Doug Skene: Michigan 17, Indiana 13
The deeper into the season you get, the more film an opponent has on you to create a game plan. Nothing will be easy until the U-M offense finds itself.
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