Grade the Wolverines: Your chance to rate Michigan's performance against Michigan State
Michigan running back Fitzgerald Toussaint attempts to run the ball past cornerback Johnny Adams and safety Isaiah Lewis during the second quarter at Michigan Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
The offense wasn't pretty, but for Michigan fans the final result was.
A Brendan Gibbons 38 yard field goal with five seconds left gave MIchigan a 12-10 win over in-state rival Michigan State. No surprise, Gibbons led the class in Kyle Meinke's post-game grades, while it was a mixed bag for others.
Now it's your chance to grade the Wolverines' performance in our interactive polls.
Offense
What? Michigan played offense on Saturday? Actually, the Wolverines moved the ball decently, but perhaps more importantly, protected it on Saturday. Settling for field goals all afternoon hurt the Wolverines, but they got all the points they needed in the end.
Defense
Hard to complain about a defense that only gives up ten points in a game and kept the Spartans out of the end zone in the fourth quarter to set up the late-game heroics.
Special Teams
Kickers Brendan Gibbons and Matt Wile provided all the scoring for the Wolverines and Jeremy Gallon had his best day as a punt returner.
Coaching
Did you agree with the offensive game plan? What about the decision to punt late in the fourth quarter and put the game on the shoulders of the defense.
Overall
Put it all together, and what do you get?
Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com.
Comments
Liberty Soule
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 11:53 p.m.
Al Borges doesn't know how to coach Denard. I don't know any other way to explain it. Early in the year, Borges was saying that the offense didn't execute. Maybe the coach isn't calling something they can execute. Denard is not a drop back passer. Alabama, Notre Dame, and MSU love to have Denard sit in the pocket. Why aren't rolling him out where he has more options. Why he takes any snaps from center is beyond me. I get it that Denard is not Al Borges type of QB, but please make the best of him while he is still here. Guys like Denard, Anthony Carter, and Charles Woodson one come around about every 15-20 years.
aareader
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 10:40 p.m.
IMHO the defenses of both teams played quite well. However the offenses of both teams need to improve to have a better season. Special teams bright spots were Michigan's field goal team and MSU's punt team. Our field goal at the end of the game was the difference for us.
Terry Star21
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 7:34 p.m.
Pete; I agree with you on, "...but you can get an A on an exam even if you're wrong on a few questions." (regarding an 'A' vote on defense). How about those voters voting A on everything ? You know they're the one's at the game cheering the loudest (whoops, cauhgt me). For those few trolls saying both teams were bad - I disagree of course. What you saw was by FAR the two best defensive teams in the B10, an exciting and close tactical football game (ESPN lost out big time). I will also argue that while the B10 is down this year, these defenses still shine. MgoBlueForTiM....an 'A' team working towards 'A+'...
Terry Star21
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 7:36 p.m.
Sorry....that was an ('A' vote on Special Teams)....
MRunner73
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 5:07 p.m.
On many occasions in big games, like the 2010 and 2011 last second wins over ND, the Sugar Bowl win and now the last second MSU win, Denard was key. This time is was a good pass Dileo. That set up the crucial game winning FG by Gibbons. BTW; Denard's knees or elbow were nots on the ground when he was tackled previous to the Dileo pass in whcih Denard alertly extended the ball past the first down marker. Also, whay wasn't 11 sec put back on the clock after that review by the officials? Not that it was needed. Great win, come from behind, never say die and gutty performance by the Wolverines. Credit the MSU defense for over 59 minutes. More credit to the Great MEEECHIGAN defense. GO BLUE!!!!
Meral
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 4:10 p.m.
It was a nail biter for sure. Defense specially Jake Ryan and Jordan Kovacs did great job. Gibbons and Wile did good. Game after game we wonder what goes in the mind of Al Borges? Is it so difficult to come up with trick play? It looks like D Rob has been set up to fail game after game. Greg Mattison was the best hire coach Hoke did.
observer
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 3:43 p.m.
could anyone tell me where Dielo has been all year.....he appears to have the best hands on the team, was he hurt or the like....made some big plays.....hope he is in the rotation now.......
MRunner73
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 5:09 p.m.
He been lying in the weeds; but seriously, when there has been great plays made at some point this season by Funchess, Gardner and Gallon, plus sevral others, then Dileo got one or two passes come his way.
deadpidgeon
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 2:47 p.m.
State's helmets get an F. Very unmanly.
lindor
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 1:46 p.m.
Defense - Mattison is doing a great job on D - give him an A. He's kept our team relevant and winning the past 1.5 years. Best hire Hoke could have made. Special Teams - I think everyone saw that fake punt coming except Ferrigno. Offense - Uncle Fester (Borges) is absolutely the worst and he needs to go. We have zero offensive scheme, creativity, or the ability to make halftime adjustments. We cannot move the ball at all and I'm not sure who is coaching Denard to do what. All I know is our offense does not work and we made MSU's defense look far better than it is. Same goes for ND, 6 turnovers and we hold them to 13 points??? Thanks Mattison, you've done a great job covering Fester's flaws.
MRunner73
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 5:15 p.m.
No one seems to mind when Michigan scored 38 on Purdue. It also seems like some fans love to throw OCs under bus..like back in the Llord Carr days. Actually, I thought that Denard kept the ball too many times and should have handed off. On those plays, Borgess let Denard be Denard so some of the blame should go the DR.
David
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 11:38 a.m.
Both teams sucked...Michigan got luckier.
heartbreakM
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 3:25 a.m.
I kept thinking the whole game that if only Denard could get some daylight, then he could do some damage. On the one play that he did it, 4th quarter, it was critical for that game. But probably the biggest play of the game was a penalty on MSU in the 2nd quarter--a personal foul I think--that gave Michigan an extra 15 yards, which ultimately pushed us into field goal range. The offensive game plan continues to call way too many sideways runs, where Fitz especially got caught way behind the line of scrimmage too many times. MSU was disciplined and kept in their lanes limiting Denard's runs. At the end of the day, a win gets a higher grade, but the offensive game plan in a big game continues to be of concern. That's on the coaches, the line, and the RBs. And Denard has got to hit some of those passes, though others he hit were great!!
observer
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 3:45 p.m.
I would agree with the runs...it is such a slow developing play.....and they continued running it....more straight ahead plays may be better......
NoSUVforMe
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 1:35 a.m.
So, Dantonio gets it handed to him. What is that Dantonio, 3 losses in the Big Ten? You didn't play dirty this year. Congratulations but you lost. Was it four years, Dantonio, Mr. 1-3? Dantonio is still the most disgusting coach in college football. President Simon should fire Dantonio for not ordering another 6 personal foul thug attack. .
Scott
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 1:26 a.m.
Defensive coaching was an A. Offensive coaching was a C. Great game for Denard. 96 yards rushing, 163 yards running; So he accounts for 80% of the offense against a stingy defense.
squidlover
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 1:19 a.m.
About as ugly of a win imaginable, but a win is a win. The defense was very good, and Gibbons was outstanding. However, the offense continues to greatly frustrate me. It is as if all of the players are not on the same page, and a lot of Robinson 's pass attempts are so far off the mark, it's a wonder they score any points when they play like today.
ArthGuinness
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 12:50 a.m.
Giving the special teams an A? You guys are forgetting two things: 1) A successful fake punt by MSU. This should simply never happen, sorry. Complete failure on the part of our coaching staff to be prepared for this (especially against MSU). 2) A very short punt off the side of Hagerup's foot at an important stage of the game.
Pete Cunningham
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 9:49 a.m.
Good points, but you can get an A on an exam even if you're wrong on a few questions. In light of the mistakes above, but also in consideration of the kicking heroics, perhaps specials teams deserves a 93 percent. Not perfect, but still an A.