Observations on the loss to Iowa, 28-38!
Iowa converted five red zones into 31 points while Michigan could only convert their five red zones into 21 points. The Hawkeyes scored 14 points off four Michigan turnovers. In the end, the turnovers, points off turnover and scoring advantage in red zone opportunities were the difference in this one.
Michigan ran up 522 yards of total offense, 29 first downs and were 9 of 19 on 3rd and 4th down conversions; however, the 4 turnovers killed us. Tate Forcier came in to relieve and injured Denard Robinson, and threw 17 of 26 for 249 yards, 1 TD, 2 interceptions, 1 sack and he score another TD with a 3 yard run. Robinson was 13 of 18 for 96 yards, and ran 18 times for 105 yards. Vincent Smith had 10 carries for 39 yards, and two catches for 22 yards and a TD; however, he fumbled in the red zone for a critical turnover. Stephen Hopkins had 8 carries for 38 yards and a TD. Junior Hemingway had 9 catches for 134 yards including a 45 yard TD. Daryl Stonum had 9 catches for 97 yards. Jeremiha Hunter and Troy Johnson had 13 tackles for the Hawkeyes, and Johnson got the final interception that stopped the final Michigan drive.
On the bright side, the defense forced the Hawkeyes into five three and outs; however, they gave up 383 net yards, 21 first downs, and allowed Iowa to convert 7 of 13 in 3rd down convesions and had no answer for the Hawkeye offense in the red zone. Ricky Stanzi was 17 of 24 for 249 yards and 3 TDs. Adam Robinson gained 143 yards in 31 carries for 2 TD plus 4 catches for 61 yards; he was a workhorse. Darren Johnson-Koulianos broke our back with 4 catches for 70 yards, and three of those were TDs. J.T. Floyd had 11 tackles for the defense. Kenny Demens started over Obi Ezeh, and came up with 8 tackles. Jordan Kovacs also had 8 tackles.
Special Teams were horrid. Seth Broekhuisen had another field goal blocked, and the offensive team looked like a Middle School team and were leaving the field while Iowa took the live ball down inside the Michigan 50. Broekhuisen kicked off 5 times with two out of bound, and the last one really hurt us setting up Iowa's final drive to ice the game with a two score lead by starting them at the 40. Will Hagerup punted three times for a 50.3 yard average, and two inside the 20. Jeremy Gallon had six kickoff returns for a 19.7 yard average, and 3 punts for a 1.7 yard average. Mike Meyer was solid on kickoffs for Iowa, and kicked the field goal that iced the game.
ABC really screwed up by starting the game in the 3rd play after switching from a stupid Central Michigan-Miami-Ohio game that means nothing nationally.
Injuries are piling up for Michigan. Molk left the game and didn't return. Robinson left the game and didn't return. Mike Martin left the game and didn't return. J.T. Floyd left, but did return. The Bye week should help, but it would be hard to believe that we'll be completely healed and healthy for the stretch run.
Coach Rodriquez losing ugly at Homecoming will have more and more naysayers. I'm convinced his contract should not be renewed, and hope the University of Michigan administration will replace him hopefully with Jim Harbaugh. Apparently a website has been set up at: http://www.firerrod.com/ The rest of the season is simple. We must defeat Penn State in Happy Valley at night to be bowl eligible, and that won't be an easy task; otherwise, we must defeat a tough Illinois team at home or an improving Purdue team that is 2-0 in Big Ten competition and both of those teams have defeated us the last two years in a row so they'll be confident they can do it again. If we don't win one of those three games, we'll finish 5-7 with losses to Wisconsin and Ohio State. In a "best case" scenario, we finish 6-6 or 7-5 and make either the Pizza Bowl (or the Champs Bowl if we make 7-5).
Coach Rod Post Game (Tate Forcier, Jordan Kovacs, Junior Hemingway)
Observations on the first half with Iowa, 7-21
Coach Rod Press Conference for Iowa (Kelvin Grady, Ryan VanBergen, Patrick Omameh, Greg Banks) Iowa Game Notes for Michigan (Iowa Depth Chart)
Depth Chart for Iowa (Game Notes)