Another slow, methodical, kill-you-to-death Michigan victory.
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| Photo: Zoey Holmstrom |
Win number 10.
For the first time since 2006 and only the 3rd time in the last 40 years, Michigan Football is 10-0.
Strength of schedule aside, going 10-0 ain't easy. But for all of the pomp and circumstance that you'd think would come with winning 10 straight games to start the season, it really hasn't felt that way. I mean, yes, winning is great...but the methodical and sometimes boring nature of these wins can leave us all...wanting more, perhaps???
Michigan wins a different way than most people are used to. Michigan's offense is one-dimensional because no one yet has been able to stop that one dimension from pummeling them to death. Teams know what Michigan's offense is and what Michigan's offense is going to do – yet despite that Michigan is still getting 5.64 yards per carry. When that's your modus operandi and it works week-in and week-out...that's something that'll frustrate opposing defenses way more than it frustrates Michigan fans wanting to see more.
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| Photo: Zoey Holmstrom |
Check out our complete Nebraska photo gallery here!
But we've been here before.
A year ago at this time, through 10 games, Michigan was averaging 225.1 rushing yards per game. This year they're averaging 251.4. Passing offense a year ago was 217.3 yards per game, this year it's 208.9. Offensively, it's practically a carbon copy of where they were at this point in the season.
Nebraska was never in this game and was never going to be. Their starting QB, Texas transfer Casey Thompson, who accounts for over 50% of Nebraska's total offensive output was out with an injury. The fact that this game was as close as it was for as long as it was probably had more to do with Jim Harbaugh knowing who's coming up on the schedule than the game that was being played.
That said, while the outcome was a mere formality to most, Michigan was impressive at doing what they do best – running the ball and stopping the other team from doing, really, anything.
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| Photo: Zoey Holmstrom |
Nebraska possessed the ball 10 times on Saturday and punted 7 of those times, made one field goal, and ended both halves with the ball. The Huskers had 75 rushing yards, 71 passing yards and 8 first downs. 43% of Nebraska's plays were passing downs (2nd and 8+, 3rd/4th and 5+), and only 16% of their plays were ran on Michigan's side of the 50.
The second half was especially brutal for the Huskers. No points, 43 total yards, 3 first downs and they never crossed the 50-yard line. Michigan's defense is downright impenetrable in the second half, giving up a total of 3 points and 75.4 yards per game in the last 5 games. That's domination no one expected given how much talent Michigan's defense put into the NFL draft last year.
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| Photo: Zoey Holmstrom |
Blake Corum ran for over 100 yards for the 7th consecutive time this season, giving him 1,394 total yards on the ground...good for 3rd nationally and keeping him in the conversation for the Heisman...and also keeping Michigan's offensive line in the conversation for their 2nd-straight Joe Moore Award.
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| Photo: Zoey Holmstrom |
JJ McCarthy had another workmanlike game...doing what's being asked of him while trying to stay as healthy as possible. A bit frustrating that none of these downfield passes to receivers are connecting...but the tight ends seem to be rolling right along despite All (season) and now Schoonmaker (this game) out with injuries. Not sure what the cure is for the downfield passing game, but maybe if receivers are having a tough time getting separation, it might be worth pulling the old Gardner-to-Gallon underthrow? It might be worth a shot?.
Hopefully Donovan Edwards can make it back this week. Word was he had his hand wrapped on the sideline for most of the game, despite having his helmet on and standing right next to RB coach Mike Hart.
Illinois is up next. The game before The Game. Kinda feels like every week is becoming less and less about that week's opponent and more and more about Ohio State. There's been little doubt for weeks now that we're on a collision course with the Buckeyes and I'm sure they feel the same way. November 26th down in Columbus is going to be an all-timer. We just gotta get there first.
Head down. Beat Illinois.
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