 Marc MorehouseHi, I'm Marc Morehouse. I've covered sports for more than 15 years, mostly in Eastern Iowa. I've had Hayden Fry [...] |
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Halftime — 28-10 the team that’s had everything work
Iowa Hawkeyes running back Mark Weisman (45) warms up before their Big Ten conference college football game against the Michigan Wolverines Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. (Brian Ray/The Gazette-KCRG)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Iowa has fallen down a well and it can’t reach its cellphone to call for help.
Michigan rolled up 331 yards total offense and took a 28-10 halftime lead before a billionty people at the Michigan Stadium on Saturday.
It’s now a question of how far Iowa has fallen and how much ground can be made up between however badly today turns out and September 2013.
Michigan’s final scoring drive of the first half was 8th graders against 7th graders.
Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner hit wide receiver Jeremy Gallon for a 31-yard gain to Iowa’s 35. Gardner faced no pressure and easily found Gallon tucked between cornerback Micah Hyde and safety Tanner Miller.
The next play was even worse. Gardner rolled right and almost teased Iowa D-end Joe Gaglione to come and get him. When Gaglione got close, Gardner cut up field and found wide receiver Roy Roundtree for a 17-yard gain to Iowa’s 18. This was almost teasing at this point.
The scoring play was a fake sweep to the right and then a throwback screen to the opposite side of the field. Running back Vincent Smith scored untouched from 18 yards to make it 28-10.
The Wolverines scored TDs on all four of their first-half possession. You’ll see the mountainous amount of time Gardner had to throw the ball on a third-and-goal from Iowa’s 1 somewhere on either SportsCenter or the Big Ten Network. It was otherworldly. Nothing came of it, but it will be held up as what’s wrong with Iowa.
Can’t rush the passer. Can’t keep up.
After a timeout, Michigan made it 21-10 when Gardner scored on fourth-and-1.
Gardner was 11 for 14 for 204 yards and two TDs, including a 37-yard TD to Roundtree on a third-and-17. Denard Robinson, the most dynamic offensive player in Michigan history, didn’t play QB with the injured elbow, but he did rush seven times for 72 yards, including a 40-yarder.
Iowa linebacker James Morris didn’t start. He has various injuries, including one in the upper torso, but he ended up going out there in the second quarter. Linebacker Anthony Hitchens (flu) was out.
Iowa TE C.J. Fiedorowicz topped his career high (five) with seven catches for 62 yards in the first half. Iowa’s lone TD was a 16-yard pass to freshman TE Henry Kreiger-Coble.
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It’s not tough for everything to work for Michigan when they’re going against a team that is slightly-talented, young and poorly coached – a team that would struggle to finish .500 in the MAC this year. A team whose best claim to “upside” is that next year can’t be much worse.
Come on Todd and crew, tell us all about how great Kirk is, how we’re just spoiled fans who expect too much rather than accepting a mediocre to average “normal” season, how Iowa has the worst recruiting disadvantages in the history of college football, how we should EXPECT instability in a program = with a THIRD rebuilding phase in 14 years.
Let’s hear it Todd!
I just can’t understand playing a 5th year QB with 7 minutes left down by 32 points with no bowl game on the line. We are playing a freshman running back, freshman defensive lineman, and young defensive backs. What is the upside of playing Vandenberg? If we don’t start Ruddick next week how does that help this team next year? I don’t and never will understand Kirk’s decision making processes. Does he care at all about his future or is this another finger to all us fans?
Amen. Can’t sell the trying to win now card again. If the media lets him off the hook with that again they flat out aren’t doing their jobs. Down 42-10 in the 4th qtr with a soon to be 4-7 team with no chance at a bowl kills that notion. In fact it just an act of defiance to the media and the fans. Or, as you say Lon, a finger to us all.
lonhawk I totally share your confusion on not giving Ruddick some reps in a fourth quarter that is meaningless. Unfortunately it leads me to several conspiracy theories (lol):
1) Ruddick is good and KF is afraid that he will show everyone how he failed as a coach to make a decision that should have been made much earlier in the year.
2) Ruddick has already displayed displeasure with not being given a fair opportunity to play or thinks the offensive gameplan sucks and is already being counted on to transfer next year.
3) KF wants to reserve the excuse for next year that he doesn’t have a QB that has played a single Div 1 football snap.
4) KF is part of the Good Ole Boys Club and owes his friend Bobby Beathard (long time NFL GM) a favor and is going to pay up by playing his grandson CJ Beathard in front of Ruddick.
5) KF is not playing Ruddick as an “IN YOUR FACE” to the fans. Out of pure stubbornness not doing it because he views it as giving into the fans. Because I do think KF, like our politicians, has forgotten where his paycheck comes from.
It is very frustrating to watch a team that is not going anywhere to not gain some valuable experience at the most important position on the team. I’ll take KF at his word that Vandy gives the team the best chance to win but that’s not the point anymore. There is absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain by giving Ruddick some reps. Very puzzling. So puzzling that Barta is not doing his job if he is not bringing KF into his office and asking him this same question. Barta don’t forget who is paying your salary!
Hey Chuck, those may sound like conspiracy theories but you just read my mind with those thoughts. LOL Quit feeding my paranoia.
Mike;
Your post are the same as Iowa’s offense. Boring and predictable.
So again Tom C. – nothing of significance or relevance to add to the conversation?
Talk about boring and predictable…
Purdue put the whipped cream on the pond scum ice cream two weeks ago. Today Michigan sprinkled the crushed nuts on it. Next week Nebraska will drop the maraschino cherry on top of this hot sludge sundae and the season will be mercifully over. Enough is enough. Pay the 20 million and off-load this overpaid, underachieving burnout we call a coach.