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发帖数: 11198 | 1 Stephen J. Nesbitt: It wasn’t traditional Michigan football, but it was a
nearly flawless Big Ten beatdown
http://www.michigandaily.com/sports/stephen-j-nesbitt-it-wasn%E
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By STEPHEN J. NESBITT, Daily Sports Editor
Published October 1, 2011
Michigan's three captains and fifth-year senior defensive tackle Ryan Van
Bergen, the leader of the stingy Michigan defense, rushed across the field
toward the student section, holding the Little Brown Jug in the air.
Those seniors holding the Jug had carried the weight of a 6-18 Big Ten
record the past three seasons.
It was the first Big Ten game of Michigan’s new regime — the coaching
trifecta of head coach Brady Hoke, offensive coordinator Al Borges and
defensive coordinator Greg Mattison.
And they put on quite the opening act.
The newcomers spared the pleasantries and imposed their will on Minnesota on
Saturday, trouncing the Gophers, 58-0.
If it were the early 1900s, when Fielding Yost prowled the sidelines with
his menacing glare, the Gophers would have pleaded with the Wolverines to
end this game early.
But Michigan had something to prove.
The goal wasn’t to pick on Minnesota, the conference’s basement-dweller
and its freshman quarterback, but to remind the Big Ten that Michigan is
still Michigan.
The offense’s greeting for the Gophers was 58 points. The defense pitched a
shutout. Michigan is an unbeaten 5-0 again. But this team isn’t the same
as last season.
Hoke, Borges and Mattison did exactly what Rich Rodriguez couldn’t — they
relentlessly pounded an inferior Big Ten foe.
Hoke, Mattison and Borges can and will do what it takes to win in the Big
Ten.
Al Borges has brought a new flavor to Michigan.
On the second play of the game, backup quarterback Devin Gardner settled
under center. Behind him was a diamond set with three running backs.
Gardner took the snap, turned and handed the ball to Denard Robinson,
bolting left to right along the line of scrimmage.
Before half the student section had settled into its seats, Borges had done
the unthinkable — he had used Denard Robinson as a running back.
It couldn’t be. The shoelaces, the dreadlocks, the smile — those belonged
at quarterback.
It was the kind of thing that doesn’t happen at Michigan. It doesn’t
happen in the Big Ten. It’s unorthodox.
But it was no mistake; Borges ran the same set four times against Minnesota.
He had Minnesota off-balance from the second snap — all of the scouting
the Gophers did was out the window already.
He turned the playbook on its head to welcome in the Big Ten slate. A double
pass, a running back pass, a three-back set.
Under Borges, Michigan is unpredictable. It’s not a one-dimensional offense
. It’s dangerous.
Greg Mattison has restored the tenacious Wolverine defense of old.
Mattison has proved his defensive genius by taking same players defensive
coordinator Greg Robinson had and transformed them into the most
opportunistic corps in the nation.
The turnover margin was minus-10 in 2010 — it’s plus-eight now.
Allowing eight first downs to Michigan's 32 — 117 total yards to the
Wolverines' 580.
He’s given the defense all the bullets they need, and the players have
finished the job. The defense has allowed just 10 points in the past three
games combined.
That’s the Michigan standard.
Brady Hoke has brought championship expectations.
It’s been Hoke’s mantra all along: win the Big Ten Championship. It’s why
he gave the orders to keep the player numbers on the Wolverines’ sacred
winged helmets.
“We want to honor the guys who wore those numbers before,” Hoke said. “
The 42 (Big Ten) championship teams and the guys who have represented
Michigan.”
A conference title is Hoke's final goal, and that journey has just begun.
Hoke passed the first test with flying colors — he and the Wolverines
retained the Little Brown Jug — but the real adversity lies ahead.
With the heart of the Big Ten schedule just ahead, his expectations haven’t
budged. It’s no longer unrealistic — his team will compete for the Big
Ten crown.
Michigan’s staff has coached a group of spread-option and 3-3-5 defense
misfits into a contender. The offense, often unorthodox, is explosive. The
defense is elite.
Dominance is dominance, just ask the Gophers. Thanks to Hoke, Borges and
Mattison, Michigan isn't a down-the-road team.
— Nesbitt can be reached at s******[email protected] or on Twitter: @
stephenjnesbitt. |
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