SportsMonday - October 9, 2006 - The Michigan Daily - 5B
MAIZE GAUGE
The Michigan Daily football writers break down the weekend's stats that don't show up in the box-
score. The defense-o-meter measures the intensity of the defense, the Carr-o-meter judges Lloyd
Carr's demeanor following the game and the hypemeter measures the fans' game performance. eow
DEFENSE-0-METER
/3 Michigan's defense dominated the first half, shutting out
the Spartans and taking their running game out of the
picture. Two second-half scores prevent us from rewarding
LaMarr the 'D' four Woodleys, but all-in-all, a bang-up job again.
Woodleys
CARR-O-METER HYPEMETER
Carr was happy to hold onto the Paul Bunyan trophy for The Maize Out was infull effect for the second straight home
another year, but was unusually snippy following the game, and we must admit: It looked cool. For the most
/ game. Questions about injuries and upcoming games / 4 part, students were into the game as much as they could
Lloyd didn't allow Carr to enjoy the win much, and it showed.- Student be for something that turned into a second-half snoozefest.
Carrs T-shirts
STAFF PICKS
Predictions against the
spread for Oct. 7
Popular history professor and
Golden Apple winner Matt Las-
siter was able to further advance
the celebrities ahead of the foot-
ball writers after solid week.
I
. :_
Scott
Bell
Lassiter
Michigan State (+15.5) at No. 6 Michigan Michigan State Michigan State Michigan State Michigan Michigan
Bowling Green (+35) at No. 1 Ohio State Bowling Green Bowling Green Bowling Green Bowling Green Bowling Green
Arkansas (+15.5) atNo. 2 Auburn Auburn Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas Auburn
Washington (+21) at No. 3 Southern Cal Southern Cal Southern Cal Southern Cal Southern Cal Washington
No. 4 Westhirginia (-25) at Mississippi State West Virginia Mississippi State Mississippi State West Virginia Mississippi State
No. 9 Louisiana State (-2) at No. 5 Florida Florida Florida Florida Florida Louisiana State
No. 14 Oklahoma (+4.5) vs. Noc7 Texas Okahoma Texas Oklahoma Texas Texas
No. 8 Louisville (-33.5) at MiddleTennessee State Louisville Louisville Louisville Louisville Middle Tennessee State
No. 13Tennessee (-2.5) at No. 10 Georgia Tennessee Georgia Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee
No. 11 Oregon (+5) at No. 16 California Oregon California California Oregon Oregon
Stanford (+31.5) at No. 12 Notre Dame Stanford Stanford Stanford Stanford Stanford
No. 15 Clemson (-17) at Wake Forest Clemson Clemson Clemson Clemson Wake Forest
No. 17 Florida State (-10.5) at North Carolina St Florida State Florida State Florida State Flordia State Florida State
Maryland (+14) at No. 18 Georgia Tech Georgia Tech Georgia Tech Georgia Tech Georgia Tech Georgia Tech
Purdue (+11) at No. 19I owa Purdue Iowa Purdue Iowa Iowa
Louisiana Tech (+36) at No. 20 Boise State Louisiana Tech Louisiana Tech Louisiana Tech Louisiana Tech Louisiana Tech
No 22 Nebraska (-7) at Iowa State Nebraska Iowa State Nebraska Nebraska Nebraska
No. 23 Missouri (+4) at Texas Tech Texas Tech Missouri Texas Tech Missouri Texas Tech
Northwestern (+21) at Wisconsin Wisconsin Wisconsin Northwestern Northwestern Northwestern
Penn State (-2.5) at Minnesota Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn State Minnesota
Indiana (+7.5) atIllinois Illinois Illinois Illinois Illinois Indiana
Best Bet Clemson Penn State California Clemson Louisiana State
Record 7-14 (0-) 9-12 (0-1) 7-14 (1-0) 11-10 (0-1) 12-9 (0-1)-
Overall Record 49-45-5 (2-3) 46-48-5 (1-4) 46-48-5 (4-1) 46-48-5 (3-2) 57-37-5 (2-2-1)
Lassiter bests current and
former students en route to
furthering celeb lead.
The gap is widening after
another week in which the
celebrity picker shows up
the football writers. Not only
that, but Lassiter was able to
school former student Matt
Singer and current student
Scott Bell in the process.
Bell still has a slight lead
over the other writers, but a
dismal 7-14 week puts him
along with the rest of the
pack around the .500 mark.
Stephanie Wright was the
lone beat member to finish
the week above .500. She
was rewarded for realizing
Sparty couldn't hang with
Michigan.
The week was also a bad
week for best bets, as Kevin
Wright was the only person
who didn't completely bomb
that category.
With the halfway point
of the season now upon us,
it's anybody's guess who will
make a run at the celebrities
for the title. As it appears
now, it may be a race for
second, as Lassiter's solid
performance gives the celebs
a comfortable eight-game
cushion in the standings.
SPARTANS
Continued from page 1B
think were some dumb things.
I guess it's them being young
maybe. ... I guess they might
have done it because they had
nothing to lose. I don't know
what would make them say that.
Maybe they had a lot of confi-
dence. Maybe they thought they
would come in here and just put
points on our defense."
Whether or not the Spartans
(0-2, 3-3) actually thought they
could solve the riddle that is the
nation's leading rush defense is
a moot point now - on Satur-
day, they couldn't.
The aforementioned Caulcrick
had more of a challenge than he
expected. The sophomore posted
a measly 29 yards on 14 carries.
The Spartans as a team ended
the day with just 60 rushing
yards on 26 attempts for a mere
2.3 yards per carry average.
"They have a good front
seven," Caulcrick said. "I'm
not going to take anything from
them now. I'm just going to say
they have a good front seven."
On the other side of the ball,
Michigan continued its domi-
nance on the ground. The team
totaled 219 rushing yards, led
by Hart's 122-yard game. It was
the fifth time this season he has
topped the 100-yard mark.
"I don't know what it is,"
said Hart, who left the game in
the third quarter with a mildly
sprained ankle, but said he'd be
fine for next week. "Everyone
gets fired up for the game, not
just me. My line does a great
job blocking against Michigan
State, so I did a great job run-
ning. You just get up for these
kinds of games."
After Hart left the game, back-
ups Kevin Grady and Brandon
Minor maintained Michigan's
momentum on the ground. The
duo combined for 92 yards on 15
carries, highlighted by a 40-yard
scamper by the freshman Minor,
the first touchdown of his young
career.
But despite the gaudy numbers
on the ground, it was the passing
game that put the Wolverines
on cruise control going into the
second half.
Of quarterback Chad Henne's
11 completions on the day,
three went for scores. Like last
week's game against Minnesota,
wide receiver Adrian Arrington
capped off Michigan's opening
drive of the game with a touch-
down grab. This week's was
a 13-yarder where the junior
sprawled out at the back of the
endzone.
It appeared as if Arrington's
foot didn't stay inbound, but
Michigan State coach John L.
Smith didn't challenge the call.
"The official told me that he
had a foot inbounds," Smith
said. "I guess as I look back, I
should have challenged that. I
expect them to get it right."
Sophomore sensation Mario
Manningham opened up the sec-
ond and third quarters in style,
leading Michigan to touchdowns
on the opening possession of
each. A 41-yard strike from
Henne gave Michigan a 14-0
lead. Manningham's second
touchdown of the game - and
ninth of the season - was a 27-
yard connection that was tipped
by Spartan defender Demond
Williams. The ball found its
way in his hands and the score
put Michigan on top 24-0.
"The defender made a great
play, and Mario created separa-
tion on the cut," said Henne, who
went ll-for-17 for 140 yards. "I
thought I threw the ball pretty
well, and he made a great play.
Things happen like that, and
we'll take it."
Along with capitalizing on
favorable bounces and bulletin
board material from earlier in
the week, Michigan also took
advantage of Michigan State's
mental errors. The Spartans
committed eight first-half pen-
alties, and ended the game with
11 for 87 yards compared to just
three penalties (25 yards) for
Michigan.
Though Michigan State wasn't
able to put a dent on Michigan's
undefeated record, it was able to
end the team's impressive streak
of not allowing a rushing touch-
down. Caulcrick's 1-yard blow
got the Spartans on the board,
and a red-zone draw from Spar-
tan quarterback Drew Stanton
accounted for the team's other
second-half score.
But by that time, the outcome
was long decided. In a game
where the second half's larg-
est roars came when the public
address announcer updated fans
on the Detroit Tigers, the state-
ment had already been made:
If you get behind Michigan's
balanced attack early, chances
are you'll get buried.
THE MICHIGAN DAILY TOP 10 POLL
3. Michigan: The Wolverines inched another spot closer to 9. California: The Golden Bears made it back into the Daily Top 10
arch rival Ohio State with their big victory over the Spartans. with their 45-24 thrashing of the previously hot Ducks. California's
mooAM But before Michigan starts looking ahead to a potential No. weakrundefenseranked 74thcoming into the gameheldOregon's
1-No. 2 showdown against the Buckeyes, it has to travel to potent rushing attack to just 69 yards. If the GoldentBears keep it up,
Happy Valley for a tough night game against Penn State. their matchup with Southern Cal in November shouldbe interesting.
4. West Virginia: the Mountaineers still hav'en't faced a t, ob 0 uun h iessfee hi is eeti
oppfionent, but that didni't stop them 1romr climnbing two 7spor ts emnbarr assing fashio~n *ettin cl bhered hby unranked A l1~ansa
in the Daily T01 O.est \Virgfinia has l ittle rmore than three a ยง T hm7Abr oeo aae osa~ h a
weeks 4to pr~etr rits sh wdon w itLo ~uisv ille o~n Nov ' *W
5. Southern Cal: The Trojans dropped one spot after barely
r holding off Washington in the final seconds. SouthernCal mighthave
called on the Roman gods for some help in this one. The Huskies Also receiving votes: Notre Dame, Missouri, Clemson, Iowa
looked like they were going to get off one fal play from the Trojans'
15-yard line whentime expired. How's that for alucky break?
WRIGHT
Continued from page1B
trash talking. A less disciplined squad
might have gotten caught up in a war of
words, but the Wolverines seemed to put it
out of their minds. They heard Caulcrick's
taunting but didn't let it take them out of
their game.
Discipline, smarts, whatever you want
to call it - Michigan's ability to tune out
naysayers and supporters alike will only
become more important as its wins pile
up.
Even in the press box, Michigan has
outsmarted its opponents. Offensive coor-
dinator Mike DeBord put together yet
another well-called game. The Wolverines
came into the contest expecting to run
the ball on Michigan State, and they did
just that. Michigan rushed 42 times for
211 yards, racking up an impressive aver-
age of five yards per carry, and its three
primary tailbacks broke countless Spartan
tackles as they powered past the first line
of defense.
Thanks in large part to their dynamic
rushing attack, the Wolverines held onto
the ball for more than 32 minutes Satur-
day. Michigan has dominated time of pos-
session throughout the season; its average
of 34:15 per game leads the nation.
With the Wolverines eating up the clock
so often this season, they haven't always
needed to air it out in order to win. In six
games, Michigan has thrown the ball just
131 times, compared with 268 rushing
attempts. When the Wolverines average
more than four yards per carry, there's
little need for Chad Henne's arm to get a
workout.
Predictably, some Michigan fans see it
differently. Even after Saturday's convinc-
ing win, a number of message-board junkies
were up in arms, complaining that the Wol-
verines haven't aired it out enough this year.
A sampling of the message-board hysteria:
"With all of our skilled players, can
you imagine how much moreffun it would
be if DeBord actually attacked the oppo-
nent once we had a lead?" Headwaters
said. "Pounding Mike Hart to the point of
injury is non-sensical. Sure, we won but
we could be doing so much more w/ the
weapons we have on offense."
"We will have to throw the ball more,"
said Wolv4life!!!!. "We have the weapons,
To beat OSUWe will have to put rip a lot
of points."
"They probably should of scored at
(least) 41 points today," Michiman36 said.
Those arguments are just as stupid as
Michigan State's three personal fouls.
DeBord has relied on his backfield a lot
this season, but who can blame him'? Mike
Hart has looked spectacular, gaining 794
yards and five touchdowns on 157 carries.
Sophomore Kevin Grady has provided
a great switch-up with his pound-it-up-
the-middle style. And freshman Brandon
Minor has shown off impressive speed as
the third man in Michigan's rotation. It
just makes sense to exploit their talent.
That said, it isn't as if Henne has hand-
ed off the ball on every snap. The junior
signal caller has amassed 1,103 yards and
13 touchdowns and developed a nearly
unbeatable rapport with receiver Mario
Manningham, who has caught nine of
Henne's touchdown passes.
The Wolverines might not be airing it
out on every play, but when they have, their
deep ball has been pretty hard to stop.
All season, Michigan's offensive attack
has matched up perfectly with its opponent.
Against easy opponents like Vanderbilt
and Central Michigan, the Wolverines
didn't need to pass to win big, so they
racked up yards on the ground.
Against a top team like No. 9 Notre
Dame, Michigan implemented a balanced
offense, mixing Hart's elusive runs with
Manningham's deep routes.
And against a (normally) potent offense
like Michigan State's, the Wolverines con-
trolled the clock by running the ball, keep-
ing Spartan quarterback Drew Stanton off
the field.
At this point in the season, DeBord has
given me every reason to believe he'll be
able to come up with a gameplan capable of
beating any team left on Michigan's sched-
ule. And that includes No. 1 Ohio State.
Maybe Hart shouldn't carry the ball
more than 25 or 30 times a game. Maybe
Michigan should throw to its tight ends
more often. Maybe the play calling is still
a little predictable at times.
But until a team at least threatens to
take down the undefeated Wolverines, that
criticism is as unfounded as Caulerick's
attacks.
At least he stopped talking.
- Wright can be reached
at smwr@umich.edu.
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