Michigan Football Report Card: Grading A 33-17 Win Over Florida
Michigan handled Florida, 33-17, in a game that probably shouldn’t have been that close. The defense was smothering, the offense mistake-prone but good enough, and the special teams a positive in the win. We grade all facets of the game here:
USA TODAY Sports Images
Rushing Offense: A-
Going on numbers alone, it would seem the Wolverines deserve a high ‘A’ against an aggressive and athletic front seven. But the numbers (215 yards on 49 carries, 225 gross from the running backs) came unconventionally — some on long third-down situations (10 carries, 65 yards on third down for the game).
In other words, this wasn’t a big, strong offensive line imposing its will. It was smart play calling, scheme and some nice cuts by fifth-year senior Ty Isaac, especially, who led the way with 11 carries for 114 yards. Sophomore Chris Evans, who seemed to get ahead of himself a bit a few times, stumbled his way to 78 yards and 3.5 per carry, but junior Karan Higdon provided a spark with 28 yards and a score on just seven totes.
Passing Offense: D+
This would have been an absolute mauling had the passing game not allowed the Gators to stay in the game with a pair of second quarter pick-sixes. One was on sophomore wide receiver Kekoa Crawford, who had a high pass go off his hands and was returned for a 48-yard touchdown by Florida’s Duke Dawson. The second one was totally on redshirt junior quarterback Wilton Speight — he had a ball sail over junior receiver Grant Perry’s head for a 41-yard pick-six by C.J. Henderson that put Florida up 17-10.
It was reminiscent of the Ohio State game last year, which the Wolverines would have won had they not kept allowing the Buckeyes life with errant passes. Speight also missed a wide-open Crawford in the fourth quarter when a touchdown would have sealed the game. That can’t happen.
To his credit, Speight had a number of good plays, too. His long balls to freshman wideout Tarik Black for a 46-yard touchdown and to sophomore tight end Nick Eubanks for 48 yards inside the 10 were money. And credit fifth-year senior quarterback John O’Korn for his touch on a beautifully thrown sideline fade to Black for 37 yards in the second quarter. But this is the unit that has to get better. Protection was good enough up front that Speight should have been better.
Rushing Defense: A+
Eleven net yards on 27 carries … it's almost unfathomable. The Florida backs managed 29 yards on 13 carries, the Gators ran six times for negative-four yards on first down in the first half and 12 times for minus-17 on first downs in the game. They were at their best on second down with nine carries for 16 yards, and while Florida isn’t the SEC’s best, this is not a patsy.
Sophomore linebacker Devin Bush might be the fastest linebacker (sideline to sideline) the Wolverines have had in 20-plus years. He notched seven tackles, including three for loss and two sacks, and was all over the field. The defensive line did a great job keeping him and the other linebackers clean.
Passing Defense: A-
The Gators did hit a few big plays, but it took great throws and catches to make them. Florida’s Tyrie Cleveland notched a couple of fingertip catches, including a 31-yarder down the sideline after U-M’s relentless pass rush flushed quarterback Malik Zaire from the pocket, but the only time they hit a receiver in stride deep was on the first drive, when Felipe Franks found Josh Hammond for 34 yards over sophomore cornerback Lavert Hill.
Michigan defensive backs were credited with four pass breakups, and they were almost always in position. They got a huge assist from a defense that pressured the Florida quarterbacks relentlessly, sacking them six times and pressuring them officially four times with hurries … though it seemed like a lot more than that.
Special Teams: A-
Welcome to the big stage, Quinn Nordin. Michigan’s redshirt freshman kicker became the first in Michigan history to nail two field goals from 50 yards or more in a game. That included a 55-yarder that just sneaked over the crossbar. He was 4 of 6 in his debut.
Freshman Donovan Peoples-Jones showed flashes on punt return (though he needs to hold the ball higher and tighter — he’ll lose one if he doesn’t), returning five for 40 yards, and despite having one punt blocked, redshirt freshman walk-on Will Hart was fantastic, downing two inside the 20 with great touch. Junior walk-on James Foug had four touchbacks on eight kickoffs.
---
• Talk about this article inside The Fort
• Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes
• Learn more about our print and digital publication, The Wolverine
• Follow us on Twitter: @TheWolverineMag, @BSB_Wolverine, @JB_ Wolverine, @AustinFox42 and @Balas_Wolverine
• Like us on Facebook
