Game balls from the Michigan football team's 36-14 victory Saturday against Purdue.
MIKE MARTIN (4): The senior defensive tackle blew through the line to tackle Purdue quarterback
Caleb TerBush and record Michigan’s first safety since 2003. The second-quarter safety gave Michigan a 9-7 lead and changed the momentum of the game. Martin had a sack later in the first half and finished with seven tackles.
AL BORGES (4): What didn’t Michigan do against Purdue? Pitches, halfback passes, long passes, short passes, two quarterbacks, fourth-and-goal plays out of the shotgun and less
Denard Robinson. Not everything in the Michigan offensive coordinator's plan worked, but enough did, and Purdue was off balance for much of the game.
FITZGERALD TOUSSAINT (4): A 59-yard long-and-winding run was just one part of Toussaint’s 170-yard day. He also scored on a tough 2-yard run, bulling his way through a face mask penalty to reach the end zone. His 20 carries are the most running attempts by somebody besides
Denard Robinson since
Carlos Brown had 25 in 2009.
DENARD ROBINSON (3): Robinson had what may have been his most “quarterback-ish” game. He was asked to run the offense, not be the offense. The result: A solid 170-yard passing game (including a 49-yard pass to
Roy Roundtree), 63 yards rushing with a touchdown, and Michigan has a healthy quarterback going into next week’s game at Iowa.
Comments
1st Down
Sun, Oct 30, 2011 : 12:02 a.m.
Good point on Robinson being a QB today...other than one bad pass and a couple other floaters he was solid.
Buster W.
Sat, Oct 29, 2011 : 10:40 p.m.
Did Al Borges call the play for Denard in the SHOTGUN (zero backfield) when they were at the half-yard line? For that play alone and the series of plays preceding, I would not give Borges four footballs. UM O-Line mowed down Purdue on an earlier 4th and short with a QB sneak...should've done it again!
Buster W.
Sat, Oct 29, 2011 : 11:15 p.m.
Completely disagree. BTW, splitting hairs but it wasn't long 4th and 1. I sit on the 10-yard on that side of the field and the nose of the ball was clearly on the 1.5 foot line.
MRunner73
Sat, Oct 29, 2011 : 8:36 p.m.
I was at the game and it was fun to watch. I was confused, in a positive way, as to what the Michigan offense was doing. It was great to see a more balanced offense. I hope this a turning point for the offense. They need to be consistent in the future. The defense was very good and seems solid. Purdue beat a slumping IL team at home the week before so I am not surprised by the final score this week. Go Blue!!
burton163
Sat, Oct 29, 2011 : 8:08 p.m.
Pretty fair analysis, but I'd say Denard's best "QB-ish" game was against Minnesota. I'd also give some props to the O-line today...they opened some nice holes for Toussaint and gave the QB's time to throw. They also do a great job blocking at the 2nd level...especially Molk. Lewan showed real toughness playing hurt all day. With two very tough home games to end the season, it sure would be nice to come out of Iowa City with a win next Saturday. If they're 8-1 when the Cornhuskers roll into town, that will be a HUGE game with big time divisional implications. I think we can beat Ohio State, the key will be beating Iowa first. Can't believe this team has me talking about winning the division. Great job by all. GO BLUE!!!
azwolverine
Sat, Oct 29, 2011 : 9:03 p.m.
Don't forget the Illinois game on the road between the Iowa and Nebraska games.