48 - Monday, September 8, 2008 )PORTSMONDAY The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com 48 - Monday, September 8, 2008 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom GAME STATISTICS TeamStats First Downs Rush/Yds PassingYards OffensiePlays Comp/Att/Int Punts/Avg Fumbles/Lost Penalties/Yards Time of Poss PASSING Player Threet Sheridan Totals RUSHING Player Shaw Sheridan Moudros Grady Odoms TEMEV RECEIVING Player Clemens Stonum Shaw Totals PUNTING Player - Totals K FFRETURN Cissko Totals PUNT RETURNS Pyer Totals DEFENSE Mouton amison Wrren Stwart Graham, . Trent Talor **r-r S Woo(folk Banks Fitzgerald Demes habers Johnson, W. Herron. Jamison Fitzgerald Mouton WilEiEms VErt.- TEVM EV MICH 16 35/178 103 53 281 52 10/18/0 7/45.4 1/0 2/15 24:47 M I C H I G A N C-A Yds 6-13 63 4-5 40 10-18 103 MIAMI 15 32/47 205 72 102 23/40/0 7/53.9 2/1 4/30 35:13 Entire Michigan defense makes a. difference against RedHawks Aft 17 2 5 1 2 1 3 1 3 35 No. 3 3 2 1 1 19 Yds 74 45 10 7 6 1 Yds 3 8 3 167 Avg .4.4 22.5 5.0 7.0 2.0 1.0 Avg 8.0 3.0. 8.8 TD 0 0 0 L9 26 30 12 15 9 7 3 1 0 30 L9 50 27 5 8 3 35 Int 0 0 0 TD 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 TD 0 0 0 0 0 2 No. Yds Avg S 7 318 45.4 56 7 318 45.4 56 No. Yds Avg Lg TD 3 626 22.0 24 0 3 66 22.0 24 0 N5 26 52 13 5 26 5.2 13 0 By COURTNEY RATKOWIAK Daily Sports Editor Though the Michigan football team's offense was the center of attention after last week's two-point loss to Utah, some of the NOTEBOOK most lcommon criticisms from coaches and players concerned the defense. It couldn't stop plays up the middle. It allowed sustained drives. And, even with a line full of veterans, it looked over- matched and outplayed in the first half. But against Miami (Ohio), the defense proved that redshirt sophomore line- backer Obi Ezeh wasn't its only weapon. The secondary was particularly impressive. On a critical third down in the third quarter, senior safety Brandon Harrison broke up a potential six-yard touchdown pass that would have tied the game at 10. Harrison said he yanked the ball out of the arms of wide receiver Chris Givens to force a RedHawk field goal attempt. "It was man coverage," Harrison said. "I just couldn't let him catch the ball. It was third down. I did whatever I could to get the ball out." Sophomore cornerback Donovan War- ren had two near-interceptions in the second half. Defensive coordinatgr Scott Shafer said both "probably could have gone for touchdowns." Linebackers Jonas Mouton and John Thompson both made their first start of the season, helping to take the load off Ezeh. Mouton started on the weak side and Thompson on the strong side, but before the game, it was thought that Thompson would play in the middle and Ezeh on the outside if the two played together. "That was kind of weird, but I guess they took a chance and it worked out," Ezeh said about the shift. Thompson finished the game tied with Harrison with a team-high eight tackles and Mouton was second with seven. Though Michigan failed to contain Utah's inside running game, it stifled Miami's attempts to run between the tackles. And midway through the fourth quarter, Thompson and senior defensive tackle Will Johnson delivered a bruis- ing hit to the head of Miami quarterback Daniel Raudabaugh, forcing him to the sidelines for the remainder of the game. "I just remember me squinching because it was a nice hit by our lineback- ers," Warren said. Said Miami coach Shane Montgomery: "He got a little wheezy. He just stands up and gives them free shots at the head. He 0 0 Solo 5 4 2 4 4 4 3 1 3 3 2 2 1 i 0 0 0 0 0 0 39 0 1 2 2 1 0 2 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 M I A M I Asst, 3 4 5 2 1 1 2 4 1 0 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 i i 34 4 3 1 1 2 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 Fifth-year seniorJohn Thompson made his first Career start at outside linebaCker on Saturday. can't do that." HARD EDGE: As the Wolverines run The injury list rattled off by Michigan CONSISTENTLY INCONSISTENT: If from the Michigan Stadium tunnel onto coach Rich Rodriguez during the post- only the first and fourth quarters count- the turf, they pass two phrases painted in game press conference included more big ed, Michigan would easily be 2-0. large, block letters on the concrete ceil- names than usual Michigan has yet to score a point in ing beams. Junior wide receiver Greg Mathews the second or third quarter of a game this The last phrase they see before facing said he tried to practice Tuesday after year but has outscored its opponents 39-6 110,000 fans is, predictably, "GO BLUE." injuring his foot against Utah, but it just in the first and final quarters. But the two words painted on the pre- made the injury worse. Mathews didn't "Comparing last week to this week, vious beam are unexpected - "HARD play Saturday, but said after the game we started faster," defensive coordina- EDGE.' he would "definitely be back next week" tor Scott Shafer said. "Last week, we gave It's a Rich Rod-ism that emphasizes against Notre Dame. them a couple plays there in the first half out-hitting every opponent - or, as Sha- Freshman running back Michael Shaw that made it feel a lot worse than it was." fer said, it's playing "hard-nosed, Michi- pulled his groin in the first quarter Sat- But the statistics from both games gan-style football." urday. Redshirt junior offensive lineman show a similar progression. Michigan "We want to get this program to where Mark Ortmann, sporting a block 'M' sling was outscored 19-0 in the middle half people fear playing at Michigan Stadium on his right arm after the game, suffered of the game against Utah and 6-0 in the again, and it hasn't been that way for a an elbow injury in the third quarter. Nei- span against Miami. lot of years," Shafer said. "We want that ther returned to the game. Part of the discrepancy can be attrib- opponent to walk into the Big House, look Rodriguez also said junior running uted to the difference in the Wolverines' across the field, see the winged helmets back Carlos Brown was still having some average starting field position, which was and understand that they're going to get trouble with the wrist injury that has nearly identical in both games. In the hit for 60 minutes." been an issue since fall camp. first and fourth quarters, Michigan start- INJURY REPORT: It's almost become "You don't see the coaches and play- ed drives on its own 44-yard line against common knowledge that with their new ers saying the sky is falling, but when Utah and its own 43 against Miami. But strength and conditioning regimen, the you step back and look, you already got in the middle half of both games, the Wolverines are in the best shape of their two linemen out and Mathews and Shaw, Wolverines got the ball at the Michigan lives. Carlos Brown is dinged up, Ortmann - 21.5 (Utah) and 20.5-yard line (Miami). But doesn't mean they're invincible. what's going on?" Rodriguez said. 0 PASSING Paer I C-A Td TD Int RDadaaugh 20-33 11 V' U Belton 3-7 14 0 0 Totals 23-40 205 0 0 RUSHING PEayer Att Yds Avg Lg TD Merriweather 21 77 3.7 12 0 Raudabaugh 7 -3 -0.4 5 Rogers 1 -5 -5.0 0 0 Beton 2 -1 105 0 0 Totas 32 47 1.5 12 0 RECEIVING Player No. Yds Avg Lg TD Rogers 9 78 8.7 25 U Woods 4 63 15.8 42 0 Harris 3 26 8.7 14 0 Givens 2 19 9.5 10 TD Poter 10 68 6.023 6US 0 Miller 1 3 3.0 3 0 OWonne 0 1 3 3.0 3 0 Iroa 1 0 10 2 0 Totais 23 205 0.9 42 0 PUNTING Player No. Yds Avg Lg Richardson 7 377 53.9 42 Totals 7 377 53.9 42 KICKOFF RETURNS Player No. Yds Avg Lg T Rogers o 4 89 223 24 0 Totals 4 89 223 24 0 TlEUso ,s I No. Yds Avg Lg TD Harris 2 13 6.5 9 0 Total 2 13 6.5 9 0 BIG TiEN STANDINGS Team Big Ten Overall Ohio State 0 0 2 0 Wisconsin 0 0 2 0 Indiana 0 0 2 0 Iowa 0 0 2 0 Minnesota 0 0 2 0 Northwestern 0 0 2 0 Penn State 0 0 2 0 Purdue 0 0 1 0 Illinois 0 0 1 1 Michigan 0 0 1 1 Michigan State 0 0 1 1 THIS WEEKEND'S RESULTS MICHIGAN 16, Miami (Ohio) 6 MICHIGAN STATE 42, Eastern Michigan 10 OHIO STATE 26, Ohio 14 WISCONSIN 51, Marshall 14 IOWA 42, Florida International o LLINOs 47, Eastern Illinois 21 - PENN STATE 45, Oregon State 14 Northwestern 24, DUKE 20 INDIANA 45, Murray St. 3 PURDUE 42,-Northern Colorado 10 Minnesota 42, BOWLING GREEN 17 McGuffie takes first leap toward living . up to YouTube hype By NATE SANDALS for 74 yards on 17 carries and Daily Sports Editor added 32 yards on three recep- tions. Sam McGuffie was already one What really wowed the fans of the best-known players on the was McGuffie's big-play poten- Michigan football team before he tial. His longest gains of the day ever arrived on campus. were a 26-yard run and a 27-yard Thanks to his YouTube.com reception. highlight reel, which includes "Samis the quickest I've seen," footage of him leaping over an Michigan running backs coach opponent, the true freshman Fred Jackson said. "We didn't from Cypress, Texas achieved have alot of times where he could near-legendarystatusbeforeever show his quickness in the first donning the maize and blue. game, but now that he's hitting But in his first game, Michi- his reads, he'll be a lot better in gan's loss to the Notre Dame Utah, last week, game than he McGuffie strug- . t was in this gled toe show- "Sam iS the game." case his talents, .iAs a team, gaining just 17 qu i est I've Michigan yards on eight picked up 206 carries, seen," Jackson yards don the Well, give ground, a vast McGuffie a mul- said. improvement ligan on that from the loss to one. Utah, in which He gave the Wolverines Michigan fans managed just what they'd been waiting for Sat- 36 yards. urday against Miami (Ohio). Michigan coach Rich Rodri- "First game, I was nervous," guez described the offensive McGuffie said after the win. "I line's play against Utah as "below had first-game jitters, Big House average," but the young unit jitters. Now that I had my first showed noticeable improvement game out of the way, this game in just one week. I didn't have to think as much, I "They're coming around, play could just play." by play," Michigan offensive line Just playing seemed to work coach Greg Frey said. "Every time well for McGuffie, who rushed they get experience in the sys- JENNFER KRON/Daily Freshman running back Sam McGuffie was the team's leading r usher Saturday with 74 yards on 17 carries. tem, it helps them out a little bit. I think they were getting on their zone tracks a little better today." McGuffie was quick to credit the offensive line for his impres- sive day. As Frey pointed out, Michigan's .offensive scheme requires that all 11 players be on the same page, but when it clicks, "it's special." Thecoachesexpectthose "spe-. cial" moments to become more and more common, as the Michi- gan offense gains experience, The improvement from week to week should be more noticeable than in past years because of the new system and the bulk of young three to four deep surrounded players with playing time. him as soon as he stepped outside "Each game helps them tre- the barricades. Listed at just five mendouslybecausetheyfeelmore feet 11 inches, McGuffie almost comfortable with. what they're got lost in the crowd, but there doing," Jacksonsaid. "I'm talking was no question who the fans about on any play, not just a run were circling. play. In pass protection, Sam was In just two-weeks, fans have better today. On route technique, already been electrified by Sam was better today." McGuffie's skill and star poten- ButmostMichiganfansweren't tial. too concerned with McGuffie's "I hope he's a good interview pass protection skills while they for you guys," one fan remarked stood outside Michigan Stadium to a reporter as she watched hunting for autographs. the crowd around McGuffie. McGuffie was by far the most "Because he's going to be getting popular player. A pack of fans a lot of your attention." REDHAWKS From Page 1B Nick Sheridan for the final possession of the first half. "I was hoping that one would just play so well that we just wouldn't have to, but right now, we are at a point where we are having some growing pains," Rodriguez said. Threet started the second half but was pulled after two drives - a three-and-out and one that ended when he overthrew an open Darryl Stonum on third down. Threet struggled to hit receivers on inter- mediate routes all day. Sheridan finished the game, guiding Michigan on an 87-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. Junior running back Brandon Minor rumbled 15 yards, diving into the end zone, on his lone carry. The touchdown carry capped the drive, finally giving the Wolverines some breathing room. Sheridan finished the game 4-for-5 with 40 yards. Threet was 6-for-13 for 63 yards, but 50 of those came on the first play. Neither threw a touchdown or inter- ception. "It's still like a Clint Eastwood movie - 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly,''" Rodriguez said. Sheridan took a knee twice in the final minute, allowing the Wolverines to cel- ebrate their first win of the year. "Game over, fellas," redshirt freshman. defensive end Ryan Van Bergen screamed as the final seconds wound down. Then redshirt sophomore defensive end Greg Banks reminded him about a new tradition. The entire team ran over to the corner of the field and sang 'The Vic- tors.' The song was surely sweet, but the win was just the first step for this team to prove itself afterits loss in the season opener. "There ain't no redemption," fifth-year senior linebacker John Thompson said. "There's 12 weeks. We've got to win every week." ROBINSON From Page lB quarterback is under pressure, don't jump on the quarterback for making the safer, shorter read. So next Saturday, when the quarter- back throws a bad pass, a bubble screen goes nowhere or an option gets stopped behindthelineofscrimmage,remember it's not always the quarterback's fault. - Robinson is looking for his lost iPod, full of Michigan football press conference recordings. He can be reached at irobi@umich.edu. A A.