Michigan’s loss to Iowa is a warning: November will be a rough month for Wolverine fans
That was just UGLY. The Michigan Wolverines barely even showed up today in Iowa City and lost to the Iowa Hawkeyes, a team that was beaten by Minnesota, the cream-puff of the Big Ten. This was Michigan’s game to lose, and they lost it mightily. The refs didn’t help much either, but more on that later.
The difference in this game was turnovers caused by Denard Robinson. Denard started out the season pretty well, but seems to be regressing as the conference schedule ensues. Part of the regression may be due to the fact that Al Borges is trying to turn a spread-option quarterback into a drop-back passer. Borges tried to run his West Coast “man-ball” attack for the most of the game, and it just didn’t work. Denard simply doesn’t have the skill-set to run this package. It wasn’t until Borges tossed his game plan aside and ran the spread attack with Denard at shotgun that Michigan was able to put some points on the board.
Today was a really frustrating day for Michigan fans. Most of us like Hoke, *love* Matteson, and are skeptical of Borges. Of all the cogs in the new machine at Schembechler Hall, the offensive coordinator seems to be the weakest. Four years ago Rich Rodriguez was criticized for forcing his offensive system down the throats of a team not equipped for the spread, and now the opposite seems to be happening under Borges.
But it’s not all about the play calling. Michigan is going to continue to flounder as a 7-5 or 8-4 program for the next two or three years until Hoke gets his players in place. He has recruited well, but his current crop of players are too small and not talented enough to win a Big Ten championship. Michigan used to be in the same class as Wisconsin and Ohio State. Now we are happy just to be able to beat Northwestern and Indiana. How the mighty have fallen.
Going forward, I do believe that Michigan going to get one more win out of the three games left. But I think we are heading toward 8-4 and a trip to the Gator Bowl or Outback Bowl again. Considering the previous three years that only included one bowl game in total, that wouldn’t be that bad.
One thing is for sure: Michigan is way over-ranked at #13 in the nation. I think they might be the 33rd best team in the nation at best. Iowa ran roughshod over our defense, and the Hawkeye defenders made Denard Robinson look like Steven Threat out there today. Iowa just isn’t very good, yet they controlled the game today. This doesn’t bode well for the Wolverinees as they host Nebraska in two weeks. Oh year, they also have to travel to Illinois, which is going to be a pretty good test as well.
There’s a lot of ”believe” talk out there on Twitter. And while I wish I could, I think my faith was shaken today. We have QB problems…..big time. Nobody believes Denard can hurt them on any routes over 15 yards. And as a very funny Twitter poster said today, “That’s another accurate pass thrown to the Michigan cheerleaders on the sideline”, after one of six terrible deep throw by Robinson.
Michigan still has major problems in the kicking game as demonstrated by the botched PAT after their first quarter touchdown. Come on guys. This is Big 10 football, not Pop Warner. PAT’s should be automatic.
The officiating today was atrocious at best. Today’s zebras made wrong calls or non-calls that could have cost Michigan the game. The most obvious botched call was a late-game touchdown reception by Junior Hemingway that was called incomplete for no apparent reason other than the refs are terrible. What makes it more maddening is that the guys up the booth that looked at the replay upheld the ridiculous call. This kind of call is so bad that it verges on being a conspiracy to make sure Iowa won. Unbelievable.
There’s one thing that’s for certain. Michigan fans should stock up on their favorite adult beverages in November. I have a feeling it’s going to be a rough month.
