4B - September 2, 2008

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The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

48 - September 2, 2008 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom

GAME STATISTICS

Running game 'below average'

TeamSats
Firt Downs1
Rush/Yds
Pasig Yards
OffesivePlays
TtaOffens
Return Yards
Comp/Att/Int
Punts/Avg
Fble/Lst
Pnaties/Yads
Tmeof Po~ss
PASSIN
Payr
RUHING
PlayrIA
MinrRH
McEuffeU
Brown, C

MICH
25/36
167
63
203
90
19/38/1
8/37.4
3/2
8/53
24:06

UTAH
43/36
305
77
341
94
21/34/1
7/40.3
4/2
15/137
35:54

M I C H I G A N
C-A Yds
11-19 98
8-19 69
19-38 167

TD
2

Att
a
s
1
5
2
5
25
No.
5
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
19

Yds
21
2
1
0
36

Avg
5.2
1.0
4.0
0.4
0.5
0.0
1.4
Avg
1.4
18.0
5.7
20.5
11.0
8.5
5.0
4.0
8.8

Lgs
21
5
8
2
6
21
Lg
4
3s5
33
23
4
35

int
1
0
1
TD
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
TD
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
2

Yds
7
s4
4
167

No. Yds Avg LH
7 264 . 37.7 44
1 3s 3.0 3s5
8 299 37.4 44

No. Yds Avg
2 s4 27.0
1 12 12.0
1 24 -240
4 90 22.s
No. Yds Avg
2 0 0
2 0 0

Lgs
3s5
12
24
35
Lg
0
0

TD
0
0
0
0
TD
0
0

Solo
8
3
4
2
3
3
3
0
1
2
2
1
0
2
0
1
7
7
1
0
0
1
1
7
0
0

Asst
7
4
3
4
3
3
2
4
3
1
1"
2
2
0
2
1
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
1
1

Tot
15
7
7
6
6
6
5
4
4
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

By IAN ROBINSON
Daily Sports Editor
Heading into the season, the
Michigan backfield received
more hype than any other posi-
tion group.
Freshman
Sam McGuff- NOTEBOOK
ie's YouTube
fame preceded him. Running
backs coach Fred Jackson said
McGuffie and fellow freshman
Michael Shaw were part of his
best recruiting class ever. Veter-
ans Carlos Brown and Brandon
Minor gave the Wolverines depth
beyond the newcomers.
Expectations were high.
But production was low
against Utah. Michigan compiled
just four rushing yards in the first
half and 34 for the game.
"It was a huge disappoint-
ment," Michigan coach Rich
Rodriguez said after the game.
"We didn't give the defense much
of a rest because we couldn't
establish any long drives."
Through three quarters, Utah
tallied 16 first downs to Michi-
ganssix and held an eight-minute
edge in time of possession.
Blame doesn't just lie with
the individual backs. Michigan's
offensive line - which features
four new starters - struggled to R
gain leverage on the defensive
line and blocking linebackers
to create space for the running c
backs. Rodriguez wasn't pleased
abbut the unit's performance BA
against Utah. w
"Below average," Rodriguez M
said yesterday when asked to rate
his offensive line againstthe Utes. of
"I think those guys tried hard but ig
reverted to some old habits and pe
techniques." th
Jackson thought young play-
ers running a new system was the ha
main reason for the lack of pro- s
duction. w
"The game is a little bit faster ha
than practice," Jackson said. "I if
actually think they made good an
decisions. I just don't think ce
the decisions were made quick
enough in this system." ga
Following the game, Shaw, 35
McGuffie and Minor declined cr
RODRIGUEZ
From Page 1B
yards of total offense in the first
half.
But it came out of the half
much improved, allowing Utah
just three points and 28 total
yards the rest of the way.
"We didn't show up in the first
half," fifth-year senior linebacker
John Thompson said. "Obviously,
we showed up in the second half.
There was a little bit more pres-
sure on us, we had to show up
or we were going to get embar-
rassed. There's no excuse why we
didn't play better in the first."
The second half offered some
positives for Michigan, especially
on the defensive side of the ball.
After watching film on Sunday,
the coaching staff called on the
Wolverines to playa faster, more
physical game in the future - or
risk not seeingthe field at allr
"I didn't think we played
very physical," Rodriguez said
yesterday. "I thought we played
very tentative at times and were
thinking a little too much."
With far less time to prepare
for Miami (Ohio) than it had
for Utah, Michigan will have to
answer many of the lingering
questions soon. Otherwise, the
first win of the Rodriguez era
could be a long time coming. M

RODRIGO GAYA/Dily
edshirt junior Mark Ortmann blocks Utah defensive end Paul Kruger in Saturday's loss. Kruger led Utah with nine tackles
amment. on a muffed Utah punt ana a pass Redshirt freshman defensive guez expects tight end Kevin
HOLDING THEMSELVES interference call on the opening end Ryan Van Bergen suffered an Koger and wide receiver Roy
ACK: If Saturday's footballgame drive to put the Wolverines deep ankle injury Saturday and is con- Roundtree to play this season.
ere a golf match, Utah gave in the red zone. sidered to be day-to-day. The others will likely redshirt.
ichigan quite a few strokes. . INJURY UPDATE: Several Sophomore Junior Hem- NOTES: Redshirt sophomore
Utah gained 341 yards of total players suffered minor injuries ingway left Michigan Stadium linebacker Obi Ezeh received Big
fense compared to203 for Mich- against Utah, but Rodriguez was with his shoulder bandaged, but Ten Defensive Player of the Week
an. But after adding Utah's 137 uncertain yesterday if any of Rodriguez called it a precaution- honors yesterday. He recorded 15
nalty yards to Michigan's total, them will miss the Miami (Ohio) ary measure, saying the Conway, tackles and had an interception
e teams were almost even. game. S.C., native should be ready for in Saturday's loss. Rodriguez also
"I looked at the scoreboard (at Junior wide receiver Greg Saturday. Running back Carlos named Ezeh Michigan's player of
lftime), andI thought the game Mathews left Saturday's game Brown had a shoulder injury the game, alongside senior defen-
ould nothave been as close as it after injuring his ankle in the before the Utah game that lim- . sive tackle Will Johnson, who had
as," Utah coach Kyle Whitting- third quarter. His status is day- ited him to just one carry. Senior L5 sacks against UtA.... Instead
am said. "That's what'll happen to-day. Before leaving, he had defensive tackle Terrance Taylor of naming captains for the entire
you have an untimely turnover three catches for 54 yards. had his foot wrapped and was season, Rodriguez names cap-
d very untimely penalties in Senior strong safety Brandon limping after Saturday's game. tains on a game-by-game basis.
rtain situations." Harrison missed the second half Both are expected to play against On Saturday, the team captains
After the first quarter, Michi- with a groin injury, but Rodri- the RedHawks. were cornerback Morgan Trent,
n led 10-6 despite gaining just guez didn't think it would affect ROSTER UPDATE: In addition defensive end Tim Jamison, tight
yards on offense. Michigan Harrison's status 'for next Satur- to the seven true freshmen who end Mike Massey and long snap-
eated that edge by capitalizing day's game. played in Saturday's game, Rodri- per Sean Griffin, all seniors.

U TA H
PASSING
Player C-A Yds TO Int
Johnson, B. 21-33 305 1 1 .
Eotals133 305
RUSHING
Player ~Att Yds Avg L~g TDO
Asiata 13 77 5.9 19 0
Indiana 0 .0 1 0
Casteehten 0 0 1 0 0
Johnson, B. 20 -66 -3.3 8 0
Totals 43 36 0.8 19 1
PlrEVG No. Yds Avg Lg TD
Godfrey 7 84 12.0 19 1
Michin 5 Q5 011081
Csee 9 98 2
Reed 2 19 9.5 10 0
MiigaSale 0 390 30 1
Totas U21a5 M A 5 s3 1
PUNTING A
Player No. Yds Avg Lg
Totals 7 282 40.3 9
KICKOFF RETURNS
Player No. Yds Avg Ls TD
CAeed HN2A38 MchianStae21 0
ises i2,3Ill5inoi 42
McCain 1 23 23.0 23 0
Totals 5 92 11.4 23 0
PUNT RETURNS
Pl No. Yds Avg Lg TO
Peelr 1 -1 -1.0 -1
Tota 2 -2 -1.0 -1
DEFENSE
Pyer Soo Asst Tt
Fotu 3 4 7
Dale 3 3 6
Misi 3 2 5
MCa'" 3 1 4
anford 3 o0
Wright 1 2 3
BIG TEN STANDINGS
Team Blit Ten Overall
Ohio State 0 0 1 0
Wisconsin 0 0 1 0
Indiana 0 .0 1 0
Iowa 0 0 1 0
Minnesota 0 0 1 0'
Northwestern 0 0 1 0
Penn State 0 0 1 0
Purdue 0 0 0 0
Illinois 0 0 0 1
Michigan 0 0 0 1
Michigan State 0 0 0 1
THIS WEEKEND'S RESULTS
Utah 25, MICHIGAN 23
INDIANA 31, Western Kentucky 13
IOWA 46, Maine 3
NORTHWESTERN 30, Syracuse 10
PENN STATE 66, Coastal Carolina 10
OHIO STATE 43, Youngstown State 0 .
WISCONSIN 38, Akron 17
MINNESOTA 31, Northern Illinois 27
CALIFORNIA 38, Michigan State 31
Missouri 52, Illinois 42

A TT
v*
RODRIGO GAYA/Daily
Aichigan coach Rich Rodriguez and redshirt freshman quarterback Steven Threet discuss plays during Saturday's 25-23 losslto Utah.


mistake to notch a 22-10 lead.
QUARTERBACK And after the Wolverines' first
From Page 1B drive of the second half, which
ended with a botched read run
and Michigan fumble, Rodriguez
paper. Sheridan finished 11-for- put Threet into the game.
19 with one touchdown and one "(Rodriguez) didn't say any-
interception, and Threet went thing to me," Sheridan said
8-for-19 with one touchdown. Saturday. "We were struggling
But Michigan's second-half offensively, so I didn't blame him
comeback helped Threet's play at all."
look more favor- The deci-
able. In the third sion to redshirt
quarter, Threet Feagin means
connected on a Sheridan either junior
beautiful33-yard running back
touchdown pass Carlos Brown
to Junior Hem- seemedto or redshirt
ingway alongthe sophomore
rikht sideline to overt sow the David Cone will
put the Wolver- ball -m be the third-
ines within eight at im es. string quarter-
points and elec- back. Brown
trify the crowd. took one snap
And in the at quarterback
fourth quarter, thanks to a pass in Saturday's game, gaining four
interference penalty after a yards on a run in the second
Threet-to-Hemingway pass on quarter.
third down and 12, the Wolver- Rodriguez waited until last
ines crossed the goal line on the Thursdaytotellbothquarterbacks
next play to pull within two. who would be starting against the
Rodriguez praised Threet's Utes, but he said yesterday that
calmness and ability to see the the Miami (Ohio) starter could be
,field. set as early as today.
Sheridan seemed to overthrow Regardless of who it is, next
the ball at times on long pass Saturday's starter likely won't
attempts. stick. On his way out of the stadi-
A first-quarter Utah intercep- um Saturday, quarterbacks coach
tion on an off-target pass was Rod Smith was asked for his gut
nullified by a pass interference feeling on if both would playagain
penalty, but the Utes picked off next week.
another Sheridan pass late in the "Probably, you know what I
first half and capitalized on the mean?" he said. "Probably."

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RODRIGO GAYA/Daily

Redshirt sophomore Nick Sheridan struggled against Utah, going 11-for-19 for 98 yards.

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