Observations on the loss to Florida in the Peach Bowl, 15-41
MIchigan gained two red zones for 7 points; Florida converted five red zones for 27 points. The Gators scored 14 points off two second half interceptions.
Offense gained 326 net yards with 18 first downs; the Wolverines were 6 of 17 in 3rd and 4th down conversions. Shea Patterson was 22 of 36 for 236 yards and a TD, but threw 2 interceptions; he ran 10 times for 5 yards after being sacked 5 times, and he was also forced into a fumble. Donovan Peoples-Jones had 8 receptions for 71 yards and a TD. Nico Collins had 5 catches for 80 yards including a 41 yarder. Zach Gentry caught two for 39 yards, Grant Perry grabbed two for 16 yards, and Tarik Black caught two for 15 yards. Florida completely shut down our running attack early in the game, and we rushed for only 77 net yards. Christian Turner had 7 carries for 32 yards including a recovered fumble; Chris Evans had 7 carries for 20 yards, and Tru Wilson ran 3 times for 9 yards plus caught two passes for another 6 yards. Give credit to a terrific Gator defense for bottling up the Wolverine offensive attack, and forcing two second half turnovers that decided the game; they made our offense one dimensional! Chauncey Gardner grabbed both interceptions, and had 5 tackles; the first interception thwarted a long catch at the 3 yard line that prevented a touchdown on the first drive of the second half so it really was a 14 point turnaround in a tight game. It was definitely the "play of the game."
Great players make great plays, and that is the difference when good teams play! Henderson and Taylor led the Florida defense with 8 tackles each.
Defense was not the same without Bush and Gary! They allowed Florida 427 net yards with 257 on the ground including 3 rushing TDs with 15 first downs; the Gators were 9 of 18 in 3rd and 4th down conversions. Feleipe Franks was 13 of 23 for 173 yards and a TD; he gained 74 yards in 14 carries for a TD despite 3 sacks. Van Jefferson had 4 catches for 74 yards. Jordan Scarlett has 9 carries for 59 yards and a TD; Lamical Perine had 6 carries for 76 yards and a TD plus 4 catches for 22 yards and another TD. Our safety play continues to be atrocious; it is hard to believe that we were ranked as the #1 pass defense in the country with the poor man-to-man coverage we've seen in the final two games from our backs and safeties. Senior Captain Tyree Kinnel was replaced by J'Marick Woods, and he was not much better. This defense continues to be plagued by giving up big plays! They gave up 7 big plays that led to 34 of their 41 points on a 53 yard TD scamper by Lamical Perine, a 41 yard pass to Van Jefferson that led to an early field goal, a 20 yard TD on a quarterback draw by Feleipe Franks after a previous 30 yard quarterback draw by Franks on the same drive that put the Gators in the lead for good shortly before halftime with the Wolverines leading, 10-6, two passes to Josh Hammond of 31 and 30 yards that led to a field goal and a TD after another 30 yard rush by Jordan Scarlett, and a 30 yard jet sweep by Kadarius Toney on a 4th and one that set up Florida at the 3 yard line leading to another TD. Perhaps Mike Zordich needs to find a new place to motivate players because our players simply aren't improving under his tutelage which includes negative motivational techniques; our players are not responding, and certainly not playing to their potential. As a unit, they are poor in coverage, and very bad in open field tackling. Josh Ross led the defense with 11 tackles; Khaleke Hudson and Chase Winovich had 7 tackles each.
Special Teams were up and down! Justin Moody hit two of three field goals. Will Hart punted four times for a 41 yard average. Ronnie Bell got a 32 yard kickoff return to start the game. J'Marick Woods blocked the Townsend punt after he nailed a 66 yarder earlier in the game to pin Michigan at the 5 yard line; Khaleke Hudson blocked another punt for a safety. Florida hit both their field goals. More poor clock management by Harbaugh in the final minute and a half with throwing away 30 seconds while squandering his final time out.
It is definitely difficult to get excited about any Michigan Football Team led by Jim Harbaugh & Staff for 2019! He was clearly outcoached by Dan Mullen & Staff! He is too predictable on offense, and needs a new offensive coordinator to replace Pep Hamilton! Hamilton is not a creative play caller; the only two innovations he brought to the game was a jet sweep by Christian Turner, and another razzle-dazzle play early in the game. Hamilton and Harbaugh don't see their "vanilla" play-calling as a problem, and that in and of itself is a BIG problem with the Wolverine offensive strategy. Other teams know what is coming and how to defend us, and they have the personnel to do so. Harbaugh and his coaching staff do not adjust well during the games with high-caliber opponents, and are not nearly as prepared as the other squads are. He has significant attrition in players and coaches over the past four seasons. He and his staff are bringing in good recruits, but they are not being developed nearly as well as we've observed from other teams we compete with. It was a disappointing loss, and it is easy to see why so many Wolverine fans including myself are so discouraged. Hopefully, 2019 will be a better year for Michigan Football! Go Blue!
Peach Bowl Press Conference on December 24: Harbaugh Jon Runyan Sean McKeon Kwity Paye David Long LaVert Hill Peach Bowl Press Conference on December 9 Dan Mullen Peach Bowl Press Conference on December 8 Michigan Football Awards Press Conference on December 8 Press Conference on December 3: Ben Bredeson Jon Runyan Donovan Peoples-Jones Tyree Kinnel Josh Metellus