Observations on the win over Purdue, 48-21!

1-Michigan capitalized on four Purdue turnovers for 28 points while Purdue gets 7 off one Michigan turnover. Michigan earns four red zones for 24 points while Purdue's turnover results in a first half red zone on an offensive turnover for 7 points and 2nd team earns two red zones in the last two minutes for another 14 points.

2-Henne completed 21 of 28 for 265 yards and 2 TDs to Manningham with one turnover at the 5 on an eight yard sack setting up Purdue's lone score. Manningham had 8 catches for 147 yards and 2 TDs, two runs for 16 yards. Arrington grabbed 6 for 55 yards, Mathews gets 2 catches for 13 yards, Butler gets two for 25 yards, McLaurin gets an eleven yard catch and Moundros got one for 6 yards. Toney Clemons gets his first catch as a Wolverine for 5 yards. Offense had 25 first downs, 458 yards of total offense, and was 7 of 15 in 3rd and 4th down conversions.

3-Hart goes over 1,000 yards for the season, and finished the first half with 102 yards on 21 carries with two TDs plus a catch for 7 yards; however, he limped to the bench with 2 minutes to go in the first half (sprained right ankle) and was in street clothes for the 2nd half. Minor gets three carries for 7 yards, but also leaves the game on the cart. Carlos Brown comes in and responds to the opportunity with 13 carries for 66 yards and 2 TDs. Mike Milano sees his first action as a Wolverine, and gets two carries for 5 yards. Avery Horn has a bad hamstring, and will probably redshirt. Michigan leads Purdue in net rushing 189 to 39, and dominated time of possession by 4 minutes; however, it was 8 minutes until the 2nd and 3rd teamers took over.

4-1st team Defense limits Purdue's high powered offense to 7 first downs, force 4 turnovers, 7 punts, 6 tackles for loss including 2 sacks, limit the Boilermakers to four of fourteen in 3rd and 4th down conversions, 155 yards in total offense, and Painter to 17 of 28 for only 113 yards and two interceptions. Harrison gets an interception with 50 seconds to go in the half that offense converts into a TD. Jamison forces a fumble that Trent recovers. Jamar Adams get a second half interception for 22 yards, and the offense converts it into a TD. Taylor gets a sack, and had 6 tackles to lead the defense. Crable had 4 tackles, 2 for loss including a sack. Engelmon had 4 tackles. Jamison, Trent and Brandon Graham had solid games. 2nd team defense allows two late touchdowns in the last two minutes, and 137 yards of total offense in the last quarter.

5-Stevie Brown forced a fumble that Purdue recovers; but kickoff coverage team held Bryant to 112 yards in 4 returns. Purdue recovered two onside kickoffs with less than a minute to go, and one leads to a touchdown. Mesko punted five times for a sub-par 38 yard average, and shanked one inside the 20. Lopata kicked two field goals, and makes six extras. Minor gets two kickoff returns for 39 yards. Mathews gets two punt returns for 21 yards. Bryan Wright kicks off 9 times, one touchback, one out of bounds for a 52 yard average.

6-On defense, Ezeh started his 3rd game in a row as Thompson did not play with an ankle injury at MIKE; however, Chris Graham returned to start at WILL. Will Johnson returned to start at defensive tackle. Logan did not play today after starting at WILL last week so he must also be injured; Mouton did play backing up Graham. Slocum, Sagesse, Kates, Banks and Patterson all got valuable playing time in the 4th quarter. Anton Campbell is back after a hamstring injury, and played on special teams plus he backed up Jamar Adams.

On offense, the big loss was Hart with a sprained ankle and Minor's left ankle at tailback . Henne still has a cut on his throwing hand. I think the coaching staff's decision to play Henne in the 4th quarter with a 41-7 lead is ludicrous, and shows they really don't think things through with player substitution opportunities. There was good reason to give Mallett and entire quarter of work, and they chose not to do it. Does this make sense with a 41-7 lead at home? Arrington had his ankle wrapped up. Dorrenstein came back to play backing up Ortmann at right tackle. Schilling started his 2nd game in a row at right guard. Gallimore is now backing up left tackle. Helmuth didn't play today so he must be injured. Carson Butler got his first start of the season at tight end. Neither McAvoy or Mitchell played, but Zirbel backed up Schilling at right guard. Ciulla did play behind DeBenedictis who backed up Kraus at left guard. It is sure hard to keep track of all the injuries.

7-There is no love lost in the broadcast booth between Frank Beckmann and Jim Brandstatter, a case of who is the expert and who is in control of the broadcast booth with "one upsmanship."

8-There are now two undefeated teams in the Big Ten after Illinois was upset by Iowa. If we can win at Champaign, we may gain confidence to finish the season at East Lansing and Madison, and to close against the Buckeyes. The games in Champaign, East Lansing and Madison will be very challenging for this injury plagued Wolverine team.

9-Buck the Fig Ten Network!!!

Observations on the first half with Purdue, 31-7!

1-Michigan capitalizes on three Purdue turnovers for 21 points while Purdue gets 7 off one Michigan turnover. Michigan earns three red zones for 17 points while Purdue's turnover results in their lone red zone for 7 points.

2-Henne completes 12 of 17 for 163 yards and 2 TDs to Manningham with one turnover at the 5 on an eight yard sack setting up Purdue's lone score. Manningham has 4 catches for 79 yards and 2 TDs, two runs for 16 yards. Arrington grabs 4 for 40 yards, Mathews get one catch for 12 yards, Butler gets one for 14 yards and McLaurin gets an eleven yard catch. Offense has 16 first downs, 274 yards of total offense, but is only three of seven in 3rd down conversions.

3-Hart goes over 1,000 yards for the season, and finishes the first half with 102 yards on 21 carries with two TDs plus a catch for 7 yards; however, he limped to the bench with 2 minutes to go in the first half (right ankle). Minor gets one carry for one yard. Michigan leads Purdue in net rushing 111 to 20, and dominates time of possession by two minutes.

4-Defense limits Purdue's high powered offense to 4 first downs, force 3 turnovers, 5 punts, 6 tackles for loss including 2 sacks, limit the Boilermakers to two of eight in 3rd down conversions, 86 yards in total offense, and Painter to 11 of 17 for only 67 yards. Harrison gets an interception with 50 seconds to go in the half that offense converts into a TD. Jamison forces a fumble that Trent recovers. Taylor gets a sack, and has 5 tackles to lead the defense. Crable has 4 tackles, 2 for loss including a sack. Engelmon has 4 tackles. Jamison, Trent and Brandon Graham are all having solid games.

5-Special Teams starts the game by giving up a 39 yards kickoff return to Bryant, but Stevie Brown forces a fumble after a later kickoff that Purdue recovers; however, they have limited Bryant to 112 yards in 4 returns. Mesko punts three times for 40 yard average, and shanks one inside the 20. Lopata kicks a line drive through the uprights for an ugly field goal, and makes four extras. Minor gets a 45 yard kickoff return. Mathews gets one 16 yard punt return.

6-Ezeh starts his 3rd game in a row over Thompson who has an ankle injury at MIKE; however, Chris Graham returns to start at WILL. Henne still has a cut on his throwing hand. Arrington had his ankle wrapped up.

7-There is no love lost in the broadcast booth between Frank Beckmann and Jim Brandstatter, a case of who is the expert and who is in control of the broadcast booth with "one upsmanship."

8-Buck the Fig Ten Network!!!