The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
3B - October 3, 201
The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom 3B - October 3, 2011
GAME
STATISTICS
TamStats
Frstton
Rush/Yds
Passing Yrds
Offesive Pays
Total Offense
Kick rturns/Yds
Puntrturs/ Yds
Com1p/Att/nt
Punts/Avg
Fble/lost
Pnaties/Yards
TieofPs
MICH
32
48/363
217
73
580
8/0
1/A
18/2s/0
2/37.s
0/0
3/24
36:22
MINN
25/73
104
47
177
7/159
1/0
11/22/1
10/363
2/2
9/74
23:38
M I C H I G A N
PASSING
Player C-A Yds TDO
Robinson, D. 15-19 169 2
87771 D. 5 1 01
Totals 18-2s 21 .3
PlHyNG Att Yds Avg Lg9
Toussaint 11 108 9.8 3
Rawls 10 73 7.3 25
Shaw 8 60 7.5 18
Robinson 6 51 8.5 18
Gardner 6 39 6.5 15
Smith 5 27 5.4 10
TE1AM7 3 U1 -
To 7 48 38 76 5
RECEIVING
Player No. Yd Ag L
Gallon 4 46 115 17
Koger 3 35 11.7 18
Dlo 2 23 115 1
Hopkins 1 28 28 28
Gardner 1 2 2 2
Co77 5 217 1 1 2
PUNTING
Player No. Yds Avg
KIKFF RETURNS
Player No. Yds Avg L
PUNT RETURNS
Player No. Yds Av L
Totals 1 0 0 0
TlaCKe Solo Asst <
Roh 4 1
Countes 4 1
Heiinger 3 0
Black 2 1
Furman 1 2
Hawthorne 1
Beyer 2 0
Vanergen 1 1
Brink 1 0
Ryan 1 0
Gordon 1 0
Woolfolk 1 0
Martin 0 1
Campbell 0 1
Tota 32 18 5
Int
0
0
BLOWOUT
From Page 1B
Brady Hoke said. "He's a guy you
can count on."
But it was Robinson who led the
charge early.
Facing criticism recently for
his inaccuracy as a passer, Rob-
inson started the opening drive
with a nine-yard bullet to redshirt
sophomore Jeremy Gallon. From
there, all the Wolverines needed
was their legs.
After a 13-yard rush by Robin-
son, redshirt sophomore running
back Fitzgerald Toussaint broke
loose for a 35-yard gain. Two
plays later, Robinson scampered
to the Minnesota three-yard line,
and Smith punched it in for the
three-yard score. On the next
drive, Borges pulled out another
play that the Michigan offense
had yet to reveal. With Robinson
in the shotgun and sophomore
running back Stephen Hopkins
in the backfield, Robinson faked
the hand-off and Hopkins bolted
down the middle. Robinson con-
nected with him for a 28-yard
gain.
The offense made it a perfect
3-for-3 on its third drive, going
85 yards to make the score 21-0.
Robinson remained sharp in the
passing game, connecting four
times for 40 yards - including
a two-yard pass to Gardner in
another trick play by Borges.
Multiple times throughout the
game, Gardner lined up under
center with Robinson and two
backs in the backfield. From
there, Gardner once handed
the ball to Robinson who ran an
option play with Toussaint. On
another play, Gardner handed
the ball to Robinson, who threw
it back to Gardner for a potential
double pass.
Hoke said there could be more
plays like that in the future.
"When you have a quarterback
that threatens people because of
his ability to run, I think that's
part of it," Hoke said. "That stuff
is like the old counter play, which
you don't see a lot of people run
anymore. It's alot of traction one
way and going back the other
way."
When asked about what he
thought of playing with Robin-
son, Gardner gave a Robinson-
esque smile.
"I think it's really dangerous,"
he said. "We've got Fitzgerald
Toussaint back there and Vincent
Smith. You guys are just gonna
have to wait and see, because it's
goingto be pretty dangerous."
Gardner said it felt "great" to
see significant playing time on
Saturday.
"They made me aware I was
gonna get in early with the
package," he said. "I think they
brought it to me because they
feel like if we can get our best
athletes on the field, we can be
TD
i
0
0
1
0
1
0
3
TD
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
3
lg
47
Redshirt sophomore running back Fitzgerald Toussaint ran for his first-career 100-yard game on Sa
very effective."
Robinson silenced his crit-
ics early on, as he completed his
first 10 passes. He ended the half
13-of-16 for 153 yards and two
touchdowns, complementing his
six rushes for 51 yards and a score
on the ground.
Hoke said he trusted his quar-
terback even when he's struggled.
"The sky is never gonna fall,"
Hoke said. "We're gonna make it
through. We like how he throws
the ball. He set his feet well and
we ran good routes and complet-
ed some balls."
Robinson kept the analysis of
his improved accuracy simple.
"We've been practicing," he
said. "We were just on the same
page. (Hoke) told me to make the
throws I gotta make, and that's
it."
On a day when nothing went
right for Minnesota, it seemed
the Wolverines, and specifically
Borges, could do no wrong.
"Al Borges is very creative,"
Hoke said. "I'm sure his creativity
will show up again."
Running backs take load off Robinson, take on more carries
T0 0
TD
0
0
Tot
5
5
5
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
By MICHAEL FLOREK
Daily Sports Editor
Last week, Michigan coach
Brady Hoke said he was a bit
resigned to the fact that his team
would have a running back by
committee.
After nearly NOTEBOOK
everybody on
the committee
got involved in the 19th-ranked
Wolverines' 58-0 blowout of Min-
nesota, he might just want to re-
signup for the deal.
Three running backs - red-
shirt sophomore Fitzgerald Tous-
saint, senior Mike Shaw and
freshman Thomas Rawls - ran
for 60 yards or more. It was the
first time since the season opener
that junior quarterback Denard
Robinson didn't lead the team in
rushing.
The one running back that
didn't have more than 60 - junior
Vincent Smith, had a rushing -
receivingand passingtouchdown.
He's the first player in the NCAA
to accomplish the feat since Rice's
Chase Clement in 2008.
Toussaint appears to be the
head of the committee - he led
the waywith 108 yards. Itwas his
first career game over the century
mark.
"That's more about the offen-
sive line, how we prepare on
Tuesday and throughout the
week," Toussaint said.
But the most impressive back
may have been Rawls. With the
game in hand by halftime, Hoke
began to empty his bench. At the
beginning of the fourth quarter,
Rawls got his opportunity.
In Michigan's game against
Eastern Michigan, Rawls had
two carries in the final seconds
for four yards. On his first carry
Saturday, he had more than six
times that. Rawls found a hole up
the middle and cut to the sideline,
breaking a tackle for a 25-yard
gain. He finished the day with 10
carries for 73 yards.
"He's a freshman that is learn-
ing the game at the Division-I
level," Hoke said. "I think he's
got some skill sets that are pretty
good. I think you saw some of that
today."
FIELD GOAL FEVER: Hoke
always says kicking on Main
Street (where Michigan Stadium
is) is different from kicking on
State Street (where the Wolver-
ines' practice facility is). He was
also adamant that redshirt sopho-
more kicker Brendan Gibbons had
been kicking well in practice.
But the results against the
Gophers weren't any different
from the results in practice, as
Gibbons went 3-for-3 in field
goals.
"Someone has said that he's
kicked really good during fall
camp," Hoke said. "Someone did.
We've got a lot of confidence in
him and hopefully that interjects
even more confidence into him."
The three field goals were each
career longs at the time, starting
from 25 yards, to 32 yards and
then to 38 yards. In five games
this season he's missed just one
field goal - a 40-yard try against
San Diego State.
His four field goals this season
are quadruple the number he hit
a year ago.
THEIR HELMETS HAVE WINGS
... AND NUMBERS: The Wolver-
ines unveiled a slightly altered
helmet in their Big Ten opener.
Every player wore his number
emblazoned on both sides of his
helmet.
The team will wear the hel-
mets, which originally carried
the design for the Notre Dame
"Under the Lights" game, for the
remainder of the season as a way
to "honor those who guys who
have worn those numbers before."
While Hoke said it was his deci-
sion, it appears he got some input
from his seniors.
"I'm pretty sure it was a senior
thing," sophomore quarterback
Devin Gardner said. "I'm sure
they lobbied to get it done and
what the seniors want the seniors
will get."
INJURIES, BUMPS, BOO BOOS
AND BANGED UP: He was never
on the injury report, but his list-
ing would have read something
like this:
Denard Robinson: Boo Boo.
The junior quarterback wore a
bandage on his throwing elbow
this week.
"I took a shot last week," Rob-
inson said. "I got a little boo boo."
Hoke, a week after saying
freshmen running back Jus-
tice Hayes was out with a bump,
repeated Robinson's assessment.
Officially, it was a "boo boo."
Robinson played, but some of
his teammates didn't. Redshirt
junior offensive lineman Ricky
Barnum had a defensive lineman
roll into his leg last week against
San Diego State. He didn't dress
this week. Neither did redshirt
junior running back Mike Cox
or redshirt senior fullback John
McColgan. Hoke said McColgan
got "banged up" but was also day
to day.
Sophomore running back Ste-
phen Hopkins and fifth-year
senior fullback/tight end Steve
Watson filled the void. Butthere's
no word on whether being banged
up is better or worse than having
a boo boo or a bump.
M IN NE S OTA
PASSING
Payer
Shorted
C-A Yds
5-7 44
5-7 44
TD Int
0 0
0 0
Att
1
3
14
Yds
32
7
3
_1
-16
42
Yds
31
8
5
44
Avg
7
t
Avg
10.3
8e
Lg
7
0
13
Lg
12
12
TD
0
a
0
0
TD
RECEIVING
Player No.
McKnight 3
Totals s5
PUNTING
Player
isOrseke
Totals
KICKOFF RETURNS
Player
Totals
.TACKLES
Henderson
Tinsley
Haviland
Cooper
Hll
Jacobs
Wilhite
Carter
Edwards
Greory-McGhee
Salamon
Garn
Reeves
Manuel
~~~l~s
No Yds Avg Lg
4 164. 41 64
4 164 41 64
No Yds Avg Lg
2 0 8 7 34
87 337 1A.7 37
Salo
9
2
5
4
2
3
1
3
3
2
1
2
2
2
1
1
i
0
1
1
0
0
0
46
Asst
1
4
Tot
10
6
5
4
4
EXHIBITION
From Page 1B
in, countering an Ontario goal
scored five minutes earlier. The
Wolverines made it interesting
in the final minute by coming
close to the back of the net multi-
ple times, but they failed to send
in the equalizer. Earlier in the
week, Berenson mentioned that
he had no idea who was going to
lead this team in scoring. Chanc-
es are, he didn't get a much bet-
ter idea after Saturday. Michigan
had plenty of opportunities that
didn't amount to anything - a
sign of a rusty team that doesn't
have complete chemistry yet.
"We're not just going to come
in here and throw our six out
there and because we're Michi-
gan we're going to win," said
fifth-year senior goaltender
Shawn Hunwick. "We have to
come every night and play hard."
DEFENSE
From Page 1B
Four other defenders sprinted
the whole way with Avery on his
83-yard touchdown return, to fin-
ish the play and celebrate with
him in the endzone.
Michigan's first shutout since
2007 was safe, and so was the new
reputation of defensive coordina-
tor Greg Mattison's defense that
has now allowed just 10 points
over the past three games.
On Saturday, the dominance
started up front where the defen-
sive line, led by Roh and seniors
Ryan Van Bergen and Mike Mar-
tin, disrupted plenty of Minneso-
ta's plays before they could start.
Minnesota's first drive of the
game went like this: Roh made a
tackle for loss, then a swarm of
1
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Fifth-year senior goaltender Shawn Hunwick gave up three goals and had 25 saves in Michigan's loss.
3
3
2
2
2
2
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2
2
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70
Michigan also trotted out
eight freshman. When almost
half the team on the ice is expe-
riencing Yost Ice Arena for the
first time, first-game nerves are
to be expected, especially for a
defenders swallowed an outside-
run play, then Van Bergen sacked
the Golden Gophers' true fresh-
man quarterback Max Shortell.
Minnesota didn't get a first
down until the second quar-
ter, and while Michigan scored
touchdowns on each of its first
four possessions, the Golden
Gophers punted four times, going
three-and-out three times.
Shortell was a deer the Wol-
verine defense feasted on. He was
sacked three times and the run-
ning backs didn't find much room
until the second half.
When Minnesota finally moved
the ball into Michigan territory in
the second quarter, freshman cor-
nerback Blake Countess forced
a fumble - the ball didn't come
into the Wolverines side of the
field again until late in the third
quarter.
team that hasn't had much time
to jell. Still, two goals against
Ontario is not the way the Wol-
verines wanted to start out their
season.
"This is (high-level) hockey
The Golden Gophers' starting
quarterback, MarQueis Gray, was
out with a toe injury, but Michi-
gan's impact was undeniable -
with 69 yards allowed in the first
half, pitching a perfect 0-for-11 on
third-down conversions.
"We always believe we can -
we do have the ability to do that,"
Roh said. "And we just have to
play our techniques right. The
more we listen to our coaches, the
more we can dominate like that."
All Michigan had to do was
line up the right way, stick to its
gameplan and watch the results,
Roh said, adding it didn't matter
who was in at quarterback. The
coaches are giving the players the
"keys" they need to succeed. Then
it's up to the players to execute, to
finish.
In most weeks, Mattison's unit
started slow before he made in-
and it's not just our young play-
ers, it's our experienced play-
ers that have to understand the
summer's over," Berenson said.
"Summer hockey's over, this is
the real deal and we need to pick
game adjustment. Then the unit
typically played better in the
second half. Finally, the defense
showed it was capable of playing a
complete game, against a Big Ten
team no less.
Mattison now has an experi-
enced line to work with, a trio of
athletic linebackers that dropped
back and helped stuff the run-
ning game, and a secondary that
suddenly has a glutton of viable
players, especially with Countess
again impressing in coverage.
Mix the coaching with person-
nel, and you get a defense that has
allowed just 10 points per game
this season, which is the only
defensive statistic Mattison said
he cared about. Even so, it isn't yet
enough.
"I just feel like, we still have
so far to go before we're at that
Michigan level," Roh said. "Today
it up."
But no one is panicking.
Berenson was collected after
the game, and Hunwick was his
usual, relaxed self. The team
realizes it has time to fix things,
markedly with another exhibi-
tion on Monday.
"I think, you know, we're OK,"
said senior forward Luke Glen-
dening. "Obviously no one likes
to lose, but I think our team will
be OK."
The result of the game doesn't
matter. The stats don't count,
and the Wolverines' record is
still 0-0. The biggest winner on
Saturday was Berenson, who
gets a better feel of his team and
what they are capable of.
"That's what these games
are for,. to try and get some-
thing going.... Like I say, it's one
game," Berenson said. "It gives
us an idea. Ask me after Monday
and Tuesday I'll have a better
idea."
was a good day, but it was a step
- a step toward becoming a great
Michigan defense.
"The emphasis all the coaches
have had on just finishing, even
the second half of the season.
We're going to have that at the
forefront of our mind as we go
into more Big Ten play. I think we
will be improving every game."
After a 5-0 start to the sea-
son, finishing strong may be the
defense's toughest task yet. Mich-
igan coach Brady Hoke foreshad-
owed trouble ahead when the
Wolverines play more stout offen-
sive lines that may give his front-
four more trouble than Minnesota
did. Though, manhandling the
Gophers was a good start.
"As a defense, a shutout is apin-
nacle," Roh said. "There was not
for a second there that we were
goingto let up."
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