Grades: The D's here aren't for the Michigan football team's defense

Posted on Sat, Oct 3, 2009 : 5:10 p.m.

Grades: The D's here aren't for the Michigan football team's defense

By Dave Birkett

OFFENSE It’s fair to wonder whether the Big Ten’s top-ranked offense was a product of Michigan playing poor defenses (Notre Dame, Eastern Michigan, Indiana) in light of Saturday’s performance. The Wolverines finished with 28 net yards rushing, had two turnovers and couldn’t move the ball with any regularity until the final five minutes of regulation. Grade: D

DEFENSE An improved pass rush forced three turnovers, but Michigan couldn’t stop MSU when it mattered. The Spartans had a 10-minute drive in the first quarter, converted a number of long third downs and nearly doubled their per-game rushing average with 197 yards. Grade: D SPECIAL TEAMS Jason Olesnavage was Michigan’s only offense in the first half, making two field goals, one into a stiff breeze. But the fake punt on fourth-and-inches deep in Michigan territory was a terrible call, read or both, and the Wolverines had a holding penalty on a kick return. Grade: D COACHING Even if Mesko decided to run the fake punt on his own, he shouldn’t have that option that deep in the field. Beyond that indefensible decision, Michigan was slow to adjust to a Spartan defense fixed on stopping the run, and Rich Rodriguez made questionable use of backup quarterback Denard Robinson. Grade: D Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

Comments

Bennie

Mon, Oct 5, 2009 : 12:02 p.m.

The coaching "d" is the hardenst one to take. Up until this past week, coaching has been a complete 180 from last year's horrible coaching performance. Last year's performance returned this week. Hopefully is it just an aberration for this year. There is absolutely no excuse for having negative rushing yardage in the first half. Will Rich own up, or will he blame the players as he did last year? Go Blue. Lets accept responsiblity, adjust, and get back on our winning ways.

LakeErieMaize/Blue

Sun, Oct 4, 2009 : 5:05 p.m.

And is it just me or does it seem like RR doesn't want to acknowledge any of our rivalry games(like trying TOO hard to be P.C.)!! Can we RUFFLE some of these other teams feathers sometimes!? We are MICHIGAN and I remember when we weren't afraid of anyone!!!Weren't afraid to play anyone!!But he's prolly going about it this way cuz he knows right now our team is incomplete!! I hope that is his reasoning,b/c I'm ready for us to get MEAN and NASTY again!! How about the rest of you? All In. GO BLUE!!

heartbreakM

Sun, Oct 4, 2009 : 10:26 a.m.

The coaching staff quite simply did not have this team prepared to play. I don't know if was the rivalry, the road, better talent, or what--but that staff should look itself squarely in the mirror and quickly fix their own shortcomings before pointing to the players. Losses happen, but lack of preparedness is not a good thing in rivalry games (or any game, but particularly this one). Sort of reminds me of Rod's last game in WVU.

kerch65

Sun, Oct 4, 2009 : 7 a.m.

this looks like the team fromlast year we had nooooo production from the o line the defense is weeeeeeeak they cant cover wr they cant tackle the o line forgot how to block you cant get a running game going if youre going to block like a little school girl and as far a d rob just somebody tell him please youre not a qb i see at least 4 maybe 5 more losses comming this year if you cant beat the skirts youre not going to beat very manymore teams in this conference

stevieboy

Sun, Oct 4, 2009 : 1:43 a.m.

Yeah clearly this was a poorly executed game. This was a team effort and the team, including coahes, excecuted poorly. MSU was not that good, Michigan made them look good. This game reminds me of last years ND game. Poor EXECUTIONS!!! The coaches did nothing to counter the pass rush. The Defense needs to go back to tackling fundementals. This game was a poorly played game!!!!

LakeErieMaize/Blue

Sat, Oct 3, 2009 : 11:04 p.m.

All good points!!And Oh, can the defense learn to TACKLE again!? I mean tackle where you actually size up the guy, wrap and explode threw the tackle!! That would be great for a change. We really have to get our ATTITUDE back for some MEAN,WOLVERINE football!! Some NASTY, Dirty, Big-Ten football(not this PRETTY stuff the defense is doing now)Let's get back to NASTY!!!GO BLUE!!

LakeErieMaize/Blue

Sat, Oct 3, 2009 : 11:03 p.m.

azwolverine

Sat, Oct 3, 2009 : 5 p.m.

Agree on all counts.