Grade the Wolverines: Your chance to rate Michigan's performance against Nebraska
That was ugly.
Michigan's first trip to Nebraska in more than 100 years and it looked like it might be another 100 until the Wolverines score a touchdown there.
Nebraska took care of business with a 23-9 win and Michigan failed to score a touchdown for the second week in a row.
Michigan football writer Kyle Meinke has already passed out his grades, now it's your turn to rate the Wolverines in our interactive polls.
Offense
What offense? When Denard Robinson left the game, he took the Wolverines offensive production with him. It has now been two weeks since Michigan has scored a touchdown.
Defense
The defense held the Big Ten Conference leading Nebraska offense well under its yardage and points scored averages, but couldn't keep the Cornhuskers off of the board completely.
Special Teams
Brendan Gibbons hit a career-high 52 yard field goal, but Matt Wile missed a 53 yarder. Michigan's return game wasn't a factor.
Coaching
Should the coaches have kept backup quarterback Russell Bellomy in as long as they did? Did the game plan give the Wolverines a chance once Robinson went down?
Overall
Put it all together, and what do you get?
Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com.
Comments
A2comments
Mon, Oct 29, 2012 : 10:24 a.m.
We have a running back they call a quarterback that IS the entire team as we saw again Saturday. Bellamy should have been given more playing time in games we were winning. I hear there is a quarterback coming next year.
MRunner73
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 10 p.m.
Without Denard, the drop off on offense was off the ledge. Fitz did not step up; what- no running lanes? How many games was this excuse run up the flag pole? Is the Mich OL that bad? I think not. Recievers dropping passes? Mich hasn't been the same since Manningham and Arrington graduated. Haven't had a solid running back since Mike Hart. Hoke and Borges better get Rawls and Hayes in there. Better get Gardner at QB and keep him there. I do trust that the positive coaching can help Bellomy like it did with Gibbons in the FG game. It will take time. Denard's injury changed the whole complexion of that game on both sides of the ball. The offesnevie play calling after Denard left was pretty bad. The rest of the season is on the brink. MN is capable of beating Mich if something doesn't change. I hope for the best.
Meral
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 5:15 p.m.
Every team looks better then Michigan when they play us look at Notre Dame. Nebraska coach was on the verge of getting fired he he did not win against Michigan, saved his job with terrible play calling. There are so many talented freshman players but they are getting rusty standing on the sideline. Why Funchess is not playing a wide receiver? He could be deadly against corner backs. I've also noticed coach Hoke was wearing a head set toward the end of MSU game, so he can do it if he wants to. He needs to know what Borges is calling.
Anders
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 4:46 p.m.
I believe that kid Bellomy is permanently scarred.
Doug
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 3:24 p.m.
The backup quarterback should have been 5 star Devin Gardner but he became an receiver this year. Instead, the coaches went with a developing quarterback who wasn't ready for prime time.
Doug
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 8:50 p.m.
Yes, Glenn, I do!
glenn
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 3:45 p.m.
I haven't seen whether Denard is coming back off this injury. Hopefully one of the best Medical Schools in the country will help with his nerve problem. But if he is out do you think Devon Gardner could still fill in as QB?
lindor
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 3 p.m.
More signs that our offensive coaching (no pun intended) stinks! I'm not sure what Borges is doing. First, we start the game with Fitz doing nothing. I have no clue why you can't put Rawls in the game; absolutely no clue. Then, Denard goes down and Bellomy can't do anything to save his life. I don't blame him, but the coaching instead. I hate to say this but it tells me that last years team was all of a result of Rich Rod's players. Even then Borges couldn't coach them properly - see Iowa and MSU losses. We're going backwards and this just sucks. Thanks David Brandon! It's awesome to see a mediocre Arizona team beat TWO top tens teams while we're getting worse. Get rid of Borges, and please tell Hoke to put on a headset. What makes him different than EVERY COACH in the country. I hate hearing the commentators make fun of him as the ONLY one in the country, going back to the "old school" mentality of not wearing one. Give me a break.
glenn
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 2:51 p.m.
In my Sunday AnnArbor paper, you are not afraid to grade the players (kids): Russell Bellomy=F Denard=B- Toussaint=C- Gibbons=A But you don't grade the coaches (adults)? How would grade Al Borges? Greg (superman) Mattison?
RayA2
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 2:44 p.m.
When you've got a running QB who's not even 6 ft tall you better be prepared for his injuriesand the Mr. Hoke was clearly not. Assuming that Bellamyis not the grade school level QB that he appeared to be, development of his poise under game pressure is something that should have been started a long time ago. Bellamy should have had a lot more playing time under his belt by now.
glenn
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 2:44 p.m.
For sure, Bellomy was bad, but he also didn't get any help from the running backs. Last week I read a comment from Borges that he was trying to find a way to get Rawls into the game. Is it really more complicated than just putting him and giving him the ball? Is Rawls injured? Toussaint and Vincent Smith are totally non-productive. It's like they think it doesn't matter if they make good yardage because Denard will get it done. But with Denard out, that is when you really see how bad their game is at running back.
RayA2
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 3:19 p.m.
I think that the reason that running backs are unproductive in the Borges offense is that they use the read option so much. The read option takes soooo long to develop that the entire defense is converging on the ball before it gets started moving forward. When super fast Denard keeps the ball he can sometimes get a few yards off the fake. Without Denard running, the play is almost always a loss as the defense is all over the ball. I wouldn't want to be a running back at Michigan now.