Team 136 - Game 9 - Michigan vs Rutgers

Welcome to Movember Michigan Madness

 

Two weeks later and the Sparty hangover is but a bad memory … like waking up and not really remembering what happened between pre-party on Greenwood and the 2am Mr. Spots’ nastiness.  You sleep it off and at some point the memory is a blur … moving forward is the best strategy.

The boys arrived in Minneapolis focused on bringing home The Little Brown Jug after an aberrational 12-month stint in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.  The Gophers brought game, and the Michigan Defense apparently got distracted on a trip to the Great American Mall and showed up 59 minutes and 52 seconds into the contest … later than we’d like, but in time for a goal-line stand for the ages.  Big Blue found itself 18 inches away from losing on the final play … again. 

But karma does strange things, and this time the Maize and Blue snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, and somehow came away a 29-26 winner.  Michigan moves to 6-2 (3-1 Big Ten) and has its sights set on the match-up with Rutgers this Saturday at the Big House.

Halloween is a festive time of year at Casa Carson and in the ‘hood, and this year was no exception … costumes as always, and the newest home-décor addition coming in the form of mailbox decoration – yes, Mrs. Go Blue hit it out of the park with the move … well played on Homewood, with friends all around football on the screens … and a Michigan victory sealed before the trick-or-treat expedition commenced.

Yes, that random school from New Jersey comes to town for Parents’ Weekend … and amidst significant over-eating and over-purchasing of Michigan paraphanalia (“Did you see that Michigan glass light switch?  We definitely could use that in the guest-house maid’s room … yeah, maybe we should get two?”), the football team needs to build momentum as it enters the season-ending sprint that culminates with the Bucken Fuckeyes later this month – and speaking of Urban Meyer’s posse, gotta love the continued impressive integrity of his young men.  From Maurice Claret to JT Barrett and his arrest this week for operating a motor vehicle under the influence, Coach Meyer continues his thug ways with thug players.  But here’s something to consider on the field … if you’re Cardale Jones, are you confident that you’re the guy until you show that you’re not?  Or are you second-choice sausage and just a stand-in until the newest Buckeye criminal is back on the field?  Will be interesting to see what our favorite underworld ringleader does with his starting QB slot in the weeks to come.

First things first, Movember is here and how fitting that those boys from the Jersey Shore are in town.  Stop, we need to focus to ensure forward progress.  Let’s recap The Little Brown Jug and then look ahead to Governor Christie’s boys from New Brunswick.

Minnesota Recap

The short of it all is that karma came back to work for Coach Jimbo as Minnesota gambled and lost … and I don’t mean Clark Griswald style, no, more like private-plane-lavatory-gone-wrong style.  Victory, Michigan.  Gopher HC Tracy Claeys chose to go for the win rather than the tie, at home, at the buzzer, and the Michigan D stuffed a QB-sneak attempt at the goal line like I’m gonna attack that Frita Batitos spicy chorizo this weekend in A Squared.

That’s right, the entire Go Blue family makes the trip, as fall committee meetings occasionally align with kids’ school calendars, and when they do, the bus gets packed up and the team heads East to confront sub-60 temps and some moisture in the air … ah, refreshing.  And as for the timing, this weekend marks the 22nd anniversary of when my life changed by meeting Mrs. Go Blue on that fateful Parents’ Weekend Saturday at Amer’s State Street … what’s the expression: #luckiestmanalive. And to go back with three happy and healthy kids and experience Ann Arbor with them simply represents the Circle of Life for this Wolverine … Party of Five, Casa Carson style … Pizza House and Zingerman’s, here we come.

The Little Brown Jug is back in Ann Arbor with a bit more drama than anticipated … onward and upward.  Let’s break it down.

Michigan Offense

The Michigan offense went into survival mode when QB Jake Rudock went down in the third quarter with what Coach Harbaugh has called a rib/torso injury – Rudock practiced this week and seems like he’s ready to suit up and attack those gold-chain wearing kids from Snooky-ville. 

So Steady Jake from State Farm goes down and Coach Jimbo turns to Wilton “Freight Train” Speight as next in line, a move many of us have questioned since the beginning.  What is it that Harbaugh has against Shane Morris?  The kid gets knocked down last year, a kerfuffle envelops the situation culminating in the coach being fired and this young lad seems to be collateral damage.  He was much-loved on the way in and talked about quite a bit as a stud pocket passer that would fit well into the Michigan system and snubbed Alabama and a host of others to wear Maize and Blue … first a nuisance of a one-year transfer arrives from the sticks of Iowa and now dude named Wilton steps in front and has Coach’s eye?  Can anyone say Ryan Mallet?  Although this kid isn’t the same kind of trouble Mallet was in the locker room … I hope Shane keeps the colors and doesn’t look elsewhere, as he’s due his time under center one of these days.

Anyway, “Freight Train” Speight gets the keys and leads Big Blue down the field for the important touchdown when he hits Jehu Chesson in the back of the end zone for a 123-yard score to put Big Blue ahead 27-26 … 29-26 after Speith connected with Amara Darboh for a successful two-point conversion.  As much as we can talk about Shane Morris’ missed opportunity, Freight Train got the job done and performed under pressure in a big-time situation.

Overall a ho-hum offensive performance that saw a mediocre passing attack against an average defense and an underwhelming Running Back by Committee performance that saw senior Drake Johnson lead the way with 55 yards on 10 carries. 

Perhaps the highlight was Jabrill Peppers’ first offensive TD as a Wolverine … the kid lined up in 92 plays over the course of the day, including seven offensive snaps.  He plays both ways and is a massive threat from the punt/kick-return position … look out, as he’s gonna blow some shit up during his time in A Squared.  

He floats on defense, somehow almost always in the vicinity of the ball, and he has speed and power on offense and special teams, making him a threat in a multitude of situations … plus, his moves are nastier than Nastier than the recent trend of celebrity post-spotlight facial hair … I don’t know, is it me or is Letterman looking more like the Unabomber than a former late-night talk-show hero?  And then there’s Jon Stewart and his new HBO deal sporting like his best Saul Berenson (approaching the mid-point of the season and our buddy Howard Gordon and company are still going strong, putting our quality content week after week and having all of trying to figure out the Carrie / Alison dynamic … all we know is that it’s probably gonna end with a bang, and this household is still watching), and I’m itching myself just looking at the pictures. 

On the topic of TV, gotta give props to Jimmy Kimmel for his annual Halloween gig while at the same time acknowledging that at least a portion of Jimmy Fallon’s ridiculousness comes from a little heavy hand on the liquor cabinet … no surprise there, but cut-up hands and a chipped tooth and it’s maybe a little out of control … uh, anyone have directions to Promises in Malibu?  And then there’s good-old Jeb Bush making us uncomfortable yet again when he announces that he thinks Melissa Benoit is “pretty hot” as Supergirl in the hottest new show of the season – first the “warm kiss” he offered on national TV and now this sophomoric commentary … sorry, it’s fucking gross.

The Michigan O was average, at best, but Speight’s late-game performance was worthy of continued support … but let’s kick it up a notch this weekend, guys, as the unit has to get stronger to compete late into the season. 

Michigan Defense

The Michigan D came into the game #2 in total yards against, yet the unit looked more vulnerable than a Louisville hoops recruit walking into a Capri Sun pre-party before late-night festivities commence in the Cardinal underworld … right, like Coach P had no clue what was going on … I mean, just look at the guy’s coiffe and you know otherwise.

DJ Durkin’s boys gave up 461 yards of total offense (6.8 yards per play!) -- 318 passing yards on the Maize and Blue and 144 rushing yards … this group looked exposed for the first time all season, and the reaction was frustrating to watch … occasional loss of focus, a half-step behind and some total missed plays.  I mean, let’s be honest, fellas … if we don’t get back to business on defense, we’re goin’ be awfully red and raw after OSU is through with us … ouch.  

All that being said, the end counts for a lot, and as they say in golf, there are no pictures on the scorecard.

On the final drive of the game, Minnesota converted a 3rd-and 17 with a screen pass and then a 4th-and-4 WR slant before Mitch Leidner found Dre Woltitorsky on a 22-yard reception down to Michigan’s 1 yard line … the call was 100% correct on no TD … 1st and Goal, Minnesota.  For some godforsakenly-unexplicable reason, Coach Claeys goes for the win, and his QB sneak is met by Joe Bolden, Ryan Glasgow and others on a defensive front that simply was stronger than its opposition … kind of like the Royals’ run through October.

Congrats to Kansas City for the World Series victory – not sure whether you’ve heard of Kansas City, but it’s another Midwestern city with no noticeable identity … honestly, it could be St. Louis, Indianapolis, Milwaukee or, yes, Detroit City, whatever … same shit, different state bird.  But inside a city of less than half a million people, 800,000 fans showed up for the celebratory festivities … impressive for a small town, and fun to see sports take over a community on an occasion such as this.  Oh, and then there’s the pure joy that comes with watching a NY team get a whiff of championship aroma and fall short … aren’t pics of unhappy NY fans the best?  Granted, it’s more fun to watch when it’s your own team beating up on NY – as it was for me in the ‘90s with Jordan and the Bulls running over Starks, Oakley and the rest of the thug-heads that wore blue and orange and praised Spike Lee as their greatest cheerleader.  But it’s always uplifting to see NY fans suffer, particularly at the hands of a mid-market team with lower payroll and fewer resources.  Go Royals!

The Michigan D showed up at the end and secured victory for Big Blue … and that counts.  But come on fellas, the red-and-raw Buckeye feast sounds like a bad time, so let’s focus and find our way to total defensive domination.

Michigan vs. Rutgers – The Preview

Michigan enters the game 6-2 (3-1 Big Ten) and Coach Harbaugh sees late fall as full of opportunity.  One more home game before back-to-back road trips and finally a return to the Big House to face Urben Meyer and his latest group of degenerate youth.  This weekend Rutgers makes it first journey to Ann Arbor since joining the Big Ten in 2014, and we expect Big Things from Big Blue on Game Day.

Coach Kyle Flood and his Scarlett Knights bring a 3-5 (1-4 Big Ten) record into town with a squad that really makes you look at the Big Ten and think, “powerhouse” … yeah, like looking at Tom Jones and thinking “pop star” – did anybody else catch wind of this ridiculous news nugget?  Apparently, 1970’s pop-star Tom Jones now believes that he’s African American and is out to prove his theory… seriously, at 75 he felt the need to confirm this long-time fan suspicion … I know you wrote a book and all, but go charter a fucking yacht and sail the Aegean Sea, or take up bocce ball, or golf, whatever … but inserting yourself back into daytime talk-show life through this angle is nothing short of creepy.

Anyway, Rutgers may not look the part of the Big Ten, but the Scareltt Knights qualify as a conference opponent and we’re excited for their visit – the NJ kids got pounded by Wisconsin 48-10 last weekend and lost 49-7 to Ohio State two weeks ago and Coach Jim spells blood in the water.

QB Chris Laviano has struggled these last two games– yeah, that’s like saying that VW has had a rough go of it of late – and more is to be expected when the Jersey Boys see what real Big Ten Beefycake looks like in person … no, not Sorority Night on South U. (oy, did he really go there?), more like Joe Bolden and Ryan Glasgow pumped up and geared on … pow! 

Yes, big question as to whether WR Leonte Carroo returns from the ankle injury that kept him out last weekend, as his presence on the field was a huge reason Rutgers played Sparty close a few weeks ago.  But more baggage looms on the Rutgers sidelines, as HC Kyle Flood was suspended earlier this season for “inappropriate advocacy” on behalf of a kid who he wanted eligible but who, shall we say, wasn’t sufficiently cutting the academic mustard … yes, this Rutgers team a real mess as it heads into late-season play, and that doesn’t bode well for a trip to the Big House.

Michigan opened as a 21.5 point favorite and that number looks small given the match-up on paper. Michigan needs to be perfect until Uncle Buckeye comes a knockin', and it doesn't look like the Scarlet Knights will get in our way. 

The early prediction is now in...Michigan 42 - Rutgers 7

Go Blue!