5 Turnovers and We Only Lost by 2?

A few very premature thoughts about tonight's loss to Iowa.

• Obviously, you can't turn the ball over 5 times against a team like Iowa on the road and expect to win. I give the defense all the credit in this game for keeping Iowa to only 30 points. We kept putting the defense in terrible situations with offensive and special team's turnovers, and for the most part, they responded well.

• The goal-line stand was awesome.

• Brandon Minor is a stud running the ball. Why Rodriguez didn't go to him more tonight is a question I am eager to hear the answer to. Our o-line was dominating Iowa's defensive front. Holes were there and Minor, when they gave him the ball, ran with a toughness that this offense desperately needs.

• On that note...Why, when your senior running back is having a great game and your line is run blocking well, does Rodriguez feel the need to put game-changing plays into the hands of a freshman QB who's clearly rattled on the road. Our 3rd to last drive of the game with something like 7 or 8 minutes left, Tate was running plays like we were in desperation mode.

• Our secondary is looking better with Woolfolk at corner than with Cissoko or Floyd. He and Warren were tested a few times in this game and both looked up to the task.

• Run defense was outstanding in the first half, and pretty good in the second.

• I really liked Greg Robinson's game plan of putting 8 or 9 guys in the box on 1st and 2nd downs. That seemed to get good pressure on Iowa.

• And of course, I have to question putting Denard Robinson for the last drive of the game. He did a great job giving Michigan the spark they needed to make it a close game. But you have to go with your tested and proven clutch QB in a close game like that with very little time left on the clock.

Tate did it against Notre Dame, Indiana, and Michigan State. Sure, he was not having the best game, but you give him that chance when all he has done is prove to you that he was born for situations like this.

Much more to come on this one.