Coaches Corner: Michigan at MSU game recap

This was a game of two different halves.

In first half Michigan controlled the line of scrimmage and at times dominated the line of scrimmage, especially on defense. Michigan's DT's played their best half of football. Taylor was consistently in the backfield or applying pressure to Hoyer. They were stuffing the line of scrimmage allowing our LB's to flow with ease to the ball, but the biggest factor hurting MSU were the penalties. MSU had the seven penalties in first half alone with many of them were drive killers. MSU was consistently in 2nd and 3rd and long not something offense cans overcome. With MSU unable to run the ball the play action and other pass plays were far less effective. One negative for Michigan in first half was Greg Mathews failed to catch a punt. This killed Michigan's momentum. It cost Michigan about 15-25 yards of field position and Michigan were stuck in hole for two or three series. Had Michigan caught that punt to maintain field position I believe Michigan would have scored again.

The second half was completely different story.

MSU was able to run the football, consistently being in 2nd and less then five or 3rd and short. This kept Michigan out of nickel and opened the play action and the rest of MSU passing game. It also neutralized Michigan's biggest strength on defense the pass rush. Where I disagreed with TV analysts was that MSU was not dominating line of scrimmage, but what they did very well was stalemate at point of attack and then cutback or bounced. Do not know how many times OT sealed DE and #30 Caulrick cutback through hole over LG/ B gap. Problem was back side LB's was either over pursing or not filling. The other area that hurt Michigan in second half was special teams. They absolutely killed Michigan's field position. Mesko did not punt well and our blocking on Kick off return was atrocious.

On last two drives biggest difference was protection. At times Michigan doubled Saint-Dic and once or twice actually tripled him. That and Minor did much better job of picking up the blitz. This allowed Henne to stand in pocket and deliver the ball. As was said in the preview, with time Henne is very good, without he is very average.

Bottom line is a banged up football team sucked it up, played with PRIDE, and got the job done.