Michigan Wolverines Football: Harbaugh To Baffled Winovich- Keep Doing You
Michigan fifth-year senior defensive end Chase Winovich has been the team MVP through five games, and he was the player of the game again Saturday against Northwestern.
Winovich put up huge numbers despite being grabbed, held, cut and everything and anything else Northwestern linemen could do to slow him. He expressed frustration with the non-calls after the game, especially one on the second to last play of the game in which he was tackled right in front of the official for no call.
““I was baffled,” he said. “I’ve never played a game where I felt like I’ve been yanked to the ground and the fact we got two holding calls … I’ve got to be careful…. I felt like some were blatant. I’m not a ref.”
Head coach Jim Harbaugh likely agreed with him. But his way of helping Winovich deal with the frustration is really the only way.
“You explain the rules, explain what the issues are,” he said, biting his tongue. “But Chase is playing at a really high level, Eleven tackles, two sacks … he’s gaining a lot of attention. Sometimes it’s a blocker and somebody that’s chipping, or one time he got three guys that were paying him attention. That’s ultimate respect for a defensive end or pass rusher. And he’s earned it. He’s all over the field, was our player of the game again this week.”
It’s not going to get any easier for him, Harbaugh predicted.
“They’re going to cut, try to hold, chip, double team, all those things,” he said. “Those are ultimate compliments to a defensive end, pass rusher. Just keep doing what you’re doing, Chase. He’s doing a marvelous job, and has had a sensational first quarter of the season.”
NOTES
Harbaugh also lauded senior running back Karan Higdon’s and junior quarterback Shea Patterson’s play. Higdon is averaging 6.3 yards per carry and has 479 yards through five games despite sitting out the SMU game with an injury.
“The biggest area of improvement for Karan is extra yardage, yardage after contact he’s gaining,” Harbaugh said. “If it’s blocked for two yards, he’s getting four and five. He’s also continuing to build on his ability to catch the ball. He’s done that. He’s been able to turn a four-yard gain into a seven or eight or nine-yard gain making the first defender miss or bleed out more yardage. He’s been consistently good and improved in that area.”
It’s a “great feeling as a quarterback” to have a comeback win under your belt, Harbaugh added of Patterson.
“His energy was infectious on the sideline and in the game,” Harbaugh said. “As the game was tight and we needed a spark, he gave it. We got closer and he gave more energy. He did it himself, took plays into his own hands at times.
“That intangible of he was chasing the victory, rallying his teammates, not everybody has that. He showed it.”
---
• Talk about this article inside The Fort
• Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes
• Learn more about our print and digital publication, The Wolverine
• Follow us on Twitter: @TheWolverineMag, @BSB_Wolverine, @JB_ Wolverine, @AustinFox42, @Balas_Wolverine, @DrewCHallett and @Qb9Adam.
• Like us on Facebook