Recapping Ohio State

Well, the regular season is over. And it ends with a loss to Ohio State.

Agony, pain.

When I was watching the game, the first thing that struck me was how predictable the Michigan offense was. It became pretty clear against Iowa that when Denard Robinson and Devin Gardner are in the game at the same time, it's hard to stop.

But Al Borges played them separately (for the most part) against the Buckeyes, and it obviously gave Urban Meyer the advantage. Both Gardner and Robinson still made plays; there is no way to completely shut them down. But something has to be taken away from this performance. Even a mediocre defense can get around the combination of those two electric players if they aren't in at the same time.

Something else that popped out to me was it looked like Gardner maybe folded under the pressure towards the end. I realize that's when the game is on the line, and he was being asked to do a lot. But he had proven himself worthy of the situation throughout the past couple of weeks.

Week 13 Predictions and Notes

The 109th meeting between Michigan and Ohio State is slated for this Saturday in Columbus. Michigan leads the all-time series 58-44-2, and before winning last season’s clash lost seven straight. The Wolverines’ last win in Columbus came back in 2000. Together, the Buckeyes and Wolverines share 18 national championships from 1901-2002, and a whopping 79 conference titles stretching from 1898 all the way to 2010. In fact, of the 115 Big Ten football titles ever awarded, either Michigan or Ohio State, or a combination of the two, have won well over half. And from 1968-82 the Wolverines and/or Buckeyes captured 15 consecutive Big Ten crowns. Needless to say, Saturday will be one of the biggest games of the year in all of college football. Fitz Toussaint is out of the game, and the season for that matter with a broken leg, which means both Thomas Rawls and Vincent Smith will need to step it up. If Hoke and Borges decide to go with the "double deuce" package (Gardner at QB, Robinson at RB) then the Buckeye defense might be just as confused as Iowa's defense was. This years version of "The Game" will be mostly played for pride--Michigan's chances for the Legends Division win are pretty slim, and obviously Ohio State is ineligible for the postseason, so naturally this matchup is the Buckeye bowl game. One more week of Big Ten play before all the regular season is over, and things could not be more exciting.  I have researched all my predictions for the Big Ten conference season games, and with one week to go I'm 33-11. Let's see how I can finish up:

Week 12: Top Performers And Under Performers

There were plenty of great stories to be marveled on Saturday against Iowa, and here to shine the light on the top of that list. As always, a dimmer light will be put on those who didn't really live up to expectations.

Start with the positives, always.

Top Performers

1. Devin Gardner - QB

Devin Gardner has been putting together some magical shows for Wolverine fans over the past couple of weeks, and it has everyone very excited for the future. But it's not because of the potential that is there. He's displaying it already. We can see it.

Last week against Iowa, Gardner put up 314 yards through the air and only had 5 incompletions. It keeps getting more and more impressive from the relatively inexperienced Junior QB.

As he's shown the past couple of weeks, he has great football instincts, and everything is so fluent. He doesn't get rushed and has the unteachable skill of being able to extend plays. It was all on display against the Hawkeyes.

2. Jeremy Gallon - WR

As it's been all year, there really isn't one, consistent WR stepping up, but one guy is always able to put up a good performance, and that's the key. This week, it was Jeremy Gallon. We've seen it from him before this season, but he was especially electric on Saturday against Iowa.

Gallon had 133 yards on 5 catches last week, easily being the most reliable target. And we talk about that every week; how it's so important that someone steps up in that talented crew of WRs. It will be interesting to see who comes through for Gardner next week.

Under Performers

1. Thomas Rawls - RB

Thomas Rawls has been letting down lately, and it's reason to be concerned because of the season-ending injury to Fitz Toussaint. This team needs a running game that is not Denard Robinson; at least a threat. Rawls has shown that he can be that guy, but not so much lately.

22 yards on 8 carries just won't cut it against most teams. Fortunately for him, the Iowa defense couldn't figure out how to contain the arm of Gardner and legs of Robinson at the same. But what if Ohio State can crack the code. Rawls would be needed more than ever in that case.

2. Devin Funchess - TE

Let me clear this up. I'm not saying I was disappointed with the play of Devin Funchess on Saturday. But I think he is capable of being a bigger threat in the pass game, especially now that Gardner is slinging the ball around. We're just waiting to see it again.

It's no secret that Funchess makes his money in the redzone with that big body and tremendous hands, so I'll be looking for him on Saturday in that situation to be a huge factor.

Recapping Iowa

The Seniors made their final dash under the Michigan banner on Saturday and ended their careers with a bang. And by bang, I mean a win against Iowa on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Ann Arbor.

The buzz all week was surrounding the thought of Denard Robinson possibly not being able to play on Senior Day, but those scary thoughts were put to rest early in the game. Robinson made his first career start on Saturday and displayed the play-making ability we've had the joy of witnessing over the past three years.

Iowa never really seemed to have an answer for the combination of Devin Gardner and Denard Robinson being in at the same time. We saw something similar last season, but Gardner wasn't near the threat he is now, so it seldom worked. But this time around, teams have to give him respect. A lot of the time, it looked like the Hawkeyes could only pick their poison.

Week 11: Top Performers And Underperformers

Brady Hoke was able to stay perfect at home on Saturday, but a lot of credit is due to a few certain players who stepped up on the big stage.

Of course, where there is good, there is not so good. There was a little bit of that, too against Northwestern. Good thing I'm here to recap it all.

Let's start with the positives. And the good news here: only one player worthy of being labeled as an under performer.

Top Performers

1.    Roy Roundtree - WR

Roy Roundtree just knows when to step up for his team. Devin Gardner stepped into a giant role for the Wolverines in a must win situation, and Roundtree was able to make his job much easier by being a reliable target.

Roundtree caught 5 passes for 139 yards and displayed a little bit of everything we had been waiting on. The speed was there, the hands, the reliability. It was the Roundtree we had been expecting all season, and I think he uses this big performance to propel himself into a strong finish of the season.  

Week 10: Top Performers And Underperformers

Taking a game on the road against a sneaky Minnesota team was absolutely vital for Michigan as they try to keep the dreams of a Big Ten Championship alive. Some key performances were needed in order for that happen, and we're here to recap them; good and bad.

As always, we will start with the positives.

Top Performers

1.    Devin Gardner - QB

Devin Gardner out together one of the most important performances of the year for Michigan. When Denard Robinson was scratched last minute, it wasn't a question of who would step in. Gardner had been preparing all week to see some action behind center. But nobody anticipated the break out he had against the Gophers.

Gardner looked so composed in the pressure situation and did not let the moment get the best of him. He was making good decisions, didn't force anything, and showed the ability to put the ball on the money.

He completed 12 of 18 passes for 234 yards and 2 TDs. One of those scores was a 45-yard bomb to Drew Dileo, and the other was a perfectly placed ball on a fade route to Jeremy Gallon.

Recapping: Minnesota

In Devin Gardner we trust.

I'll admit I was a little scared when the last minute news broke that Denard Robinson would not be a go against Minnesota. But we have to give credit to the coaching staff for preparing Gardner as though he would at least see some action.

Devin did the rest himself.

Gardner completed his first pass of the season, and that had to have given him a world of confidence moving forward in that game. However, on Michigan's second possession,  Gardner attempted his second pass and was picked off, rolling out to his right. But it was near flawless from that point on.

Recapping: Nebraska

It was another week of pure frustration for the Michigan offense as they failed yet again to score a touchdown against a mediocre defense.

The past two weeks have been almost identical stories. The offense does absolutely nothing, while the defense holds its ground and does a great job of keeping the Wolverines in the game. However, this week, the offense was without QB Denard Robinson for most of the game.

Robinson re-aggravated a nerve in his throwing arm and was unable to grip the ball. That left a heavy load on backup Russell Bellomy, who had not seen significant game time up to that point.

To say the least, Bellomy was unimpressive, and it was a clear reality check as to how much Denard Robinson mean to the Michigan offense.

Before being knocked out of the game, Robinson was 6/11 passing with 55 yards. Impressively, he took some shots down field and kept the safeties honest enough to open up his game on the ground. Robinson was taken out on a rush to the left side inside the 10 yard line. When he cut back, it didn't look like he was harder than usual, but he landed on the arm just right and aggravated that nerve.

Bellomy took over on first and goal but was unable to punch into the endzone. Nebraska's defense seized the opportunity to feast on the inexperienced redshirt freshman and did so all night.

He finished the night just 3/16 passing for 38 yards and 3 INTs, one of which being in the endzone. What I noticed about Bellomy was the lack of accuracy. When he sets his feet, he has the arm strength to throw the ball deep, but accuracy was a serious issue.

Fitzgerald Toussaint continued his campaign of being a non-factor against the Cornhusker defense with 38 yards on 15 carries. He's been getting his shots the last couple of weeks but can't cash them in. I was also surprised to not see Thomas Rawls. I don't want to speculate, but that was the second straight week without Rawls, and it was the second straight week without a touchdown.

Defensively, giving up 23 points to Nebraska is not a bad day. They picked off Martinez once and forced another turnover on a fumble.

The thing that continues to impress me with the defense is their ability to rise to the occasion. By that, I mean: when 3rd and short comes, you can count on a stop. You can expect a goal line stand. It's those plays that kept Michigan in the game, until late, once again.

The ability to get in the backfield has also impressed me. Jake Ryan and Craig Roh stand out the most to me. Both are extremely explosive and don't miss their tackles. Not to mention, the mere image of Jake Ryan has to give opponents nightmares.


Tyler's Prediction Record: 7-1. Yes, my first loss.

Preview And Prediction: Michigan State

Beat State.

That's the simple slogan making it's way around social media as we near closer to the storied rivalry against Michigan State. And there isn't too much story behind it. The Spartans are at a four game winning streak against the Wolverines, and an upset Saturday in the Big House would give them a school record five straight.

That can't happen, can it?

Well, I guess it just depends on who decided to follow these simple keys to the game.

Michigan

The Wolverines are off to a great start in the Big Ten and, as coach Hoke put it, all of the team's goals are still in tact. Denard Robinson is doing what he wants at will. The defense has been shut down. It's all clicking at the right time.

Hot Topics: Who Should Be The Starting Running Back

On a regular basis, our writers will break down a "Hot Topic" among the Michigan fans and express their personal opinions regarding the issue. Topics cover everything from major athletic department decisions to team apparel. Writers have their own opinions and readers and their views may not necessarily represent Hoke's Mad Magicians as an entity.  Readers are welcome to comment below or contact our writers via Twitter with their own thoughts.

Week 7: Top Performers And Under Performers

Our Wolverines were back at it once again on Saturday, and for the second straight week, I've had to spend a good amount of time thinking of possible under performers against Illinois. Of course, there were plenty of candidates for the top performers.

So before I hold you up any longer, I bring you Saturday's top performers.

1) Thomas Rawls - RB

Let the Thomas Rawls hype begin, if you weren't already on the train. Rawls has shown little sparks of greatness throughout the season, and he used 9 carries against Illinois to finally put it all together. Totalling 90 yards, Rawls was the second leading rusher on Saturday (next to Robinson) and made his case to get a shot to start against Michigan State.

Watching Thomas Rawls on Saturday was something truly special. He is a back who has the speed to break away in the open field but can also use his power to pick up the rough yards. That is exactly what this Michigan offense needs, and they might have found it.

Recap: Illinois

For the second straight week, Michigan has blown their Big Ten opponent out of the water and made it look rather easy. Last week was the Boilermakers; this week was the Illini. It was just a different chapter in the same book.

The first thing I really noticed on Saturday was Michigan's run by committee style of rushing attack. It actually seemed to be working for the Wolverines. And, although it is not what Al Borges dreams of when he sleeps at night, you have to go with what is working.

Even Fitz Toussaint, a non factor in most games this season, made some noise from the backfield and definitely looked more crisp against Illinois. I thought he was doing too much dancing around previously, but I did not see a whole lot of that on Saturday.

Week 1: Biggest Performers And Underperformers

While Michigan did not walk away with a Week One win, there were still some notable performances from both sides of the ball. Some were good; others bad.  It will be interesting to watch how these players rebound against Air Force and going forward.




Top Performers


1. Jeremy Gallon - WR

Jeremy Gallon was very impressive throughout the course of the game on Saturday, leading both teams in receiving yards with 107. Gallon looked very comfortable within the offense, which is a great sign this early in the season, and Robinson definitely needs a go-to receiver.

I was most impressed with Gallon's consistency, and he looked to be running very clean routes. Hopefully, this is an early sign that Gallon will become a big part of the Wolverines offense and can make an impact on the outside with his hands and speed.

Week 1 Notes With Updates on Fitz Toussaint And Frank Clark

I have waited as long as I could to post this column, waiting to find out the final decision on Fitzgerald Toussaint and Frank Clark.
Now I have learned that Toussaint and Clark are both continuing their respective suspensions thru the Alabama game. "The decision was not easy, but I feel it is in the best interest of this program and for these kids, and those always will be my priorities," Hoke said in a statement. "We have choices every day, and you have to be accountable to this program, your teammates, your family and the University of Michigan." I don't like Hoke's decision. I think Fitz gives Michigan a better chance of winning. Yet, while I don't like his decision, I do respect it. Hoke has rarely made a decision so far that I don't like, and he absolutely has not made one decision that has been detrimental towards the team. I applaud Hoke for making what is one of the toughest decisions so far this early in the season.


The eighth-ranked Wolverines will likely use running backs Thomas Rawls, Vincent Smith, Justice Hayes perhaps along with newcomers Dennis Norfleet and Drake Johnson against the defending national champion Crimson Tide.

2012 Positional Breakdown: Running Back

The running back position is traditionally very deep at Michigan, and nothing has changed heading into 2012. Obviously, the arrest and indefinite suspension of Fitzgerald Toussaint is a huge set back for the Wolverine offense, but there is a still a lot of talent and potential behind him on the depth chart.

Guys like Thomas Rawls, Stephen Hopkins, and Vincent Smith are all looking for their opportunity to make some noise in the back field with this chance to take over the starting position for a portion of the season. Fitz Toussaint was the presumed starter heading into the 2012 season, but, because of his suspension, can not be listed.

Thomas Rawls (Sophomore)

Thomas Rawls is widely considered to be the starter in place of Fitz Toussaint to start the 2012 season. He put together a fantastic spring that caught the attention of coaches and fans, which at that time seemed to solidify himself as the back up. Now, he is likely taking the role of starter against Alabama and will get his first shot on the biggest stage of his life.

Toussaint Arrest Puts Chaos In Wolverines Offense

RB Fitzgerald Toussaint, arrested and indefinitely suspended

As reported earlier this week, starting RB Fitzgerald Toussaint was arrested this past Saturday night on a DUI charge. There were multiple questions up in the air immediately, but coach Brady Hoke cleared some of the fog for us with this statement on Toussaint:

"Fitz made a poor decision and has been suspended indefinitely because of that action. There are expectations that come with being a football student-athlete at the University of Michigan and those responsibilities were not met in this instance. We will use this as an opportunity to educate Fitz and make sure he understands the high standards that we have established within our program."

"Suspended indefinitely" could mean anything from zero games missed to an entire season. This is Toussaint's first offense, so most are not expecting the most drastic of measures, but it can't be shoved out of the picture just yet. Brady Hoke has held to his word of keeping a strong amount of integrity within the program. As he puts it, "This is Michigan, for God's sake."

Fitz Toussaint Arrested, Suspended, And Leaving Questions For Michigan

Michigan runningback Fitzgerald Toussaint was arrested Saturday evening in Saline, Michigan on a DUI charge.


Toussaint rushed onto the scene a year ago for the Wolverines in the backfield in the middle of the season, becoming the team's second leading rusher behind Denard Robinson with 1,041 yards and nine TDs on 187 carries.

Ty Isaac Chooses USC

Photo Credit: ESPN

The Ty Isaac decision has finally come and gone, and Michigan fans have been left with the short end of the stick.  By all markers, Michigan's 2013 recruiting class has been superb.  They currently have 18 commitments in a class that will likely size up to be around 23 recruits and the class has been ranked #1 by numerous scouting services.  However, Michigan has struck out with several big recruits as of late and many fans are feeling disappointed.

By all marks, Isaac was a special type of recruit that could change the entire dynamic of a team.  Scout has him ranked as the #1 running back in the country and as a 5* player.  Rivals has him a bit lower as the #2 running back in the country and a 4*, but will likely be upgraded to a 5* in the near future.  I don't think I need to explain how impressive it is to be either the #1 or #2 running back in any recruiting class.  He is literally a one in a million type of player.

By all reports, Michigan had been in his consideration for a while, but he ultimately decided to commit to USC today.  There's no doubt that USC is going to be getting a great player.  Did he make the right decision?  I really can't say.  I don't know the future, and we have no idea how Michigan and USC's teams will look like when he arrives on campus and when he leaves USC.  The main question should revolve around the impact on Michigan's recruiting class and for the team's future.  Is this something that's going to hurt this class and the team?

There's no doubt that losing out on the #1 or #2 recruit for any position is not a good thing.  However, I really don't think this is something that's going to do a lot of damage long-term.  Why do I believe this?  Take a look at defending Big Ten Champion Wisconsin.  Montee Ball has had amazing success at the running back position and is one of the major reasons why Wisconsin has been so successful as of late.  However, if you asked an NFL scout about Wisconsin's strengths, he probably wouldn't describe Wisconsin's running backs as their strongest position.  Instead, he would probably describe the offensive linemen.

Wisconsin's high-powered offense has been built on elite offensive linemen that have been able to allow the running backs to have great success.  Of course, Ball and Wisconsin's former running backs are talented, but let's be honest.  If there's a huge gaping hole in the defense, most running backs are probably going to do pretty well.  Running backs can have a big impact on a team, but the most important part of running success is the role of offensive linemen.  No matter how good a running back is individually, they are not likely do well without at least a decent offensive line.

Michigan has been recruiting an elite offensive line for the future.  Just look at the 2012 and 2013 Michigan commitments.  Michigan had 4 offensive line commits in 2012, and currently has 5 offensive line commits for the 2013 class.  However, these aren't just random commits.  Almost every one of these commits are elite linemen that can make an enormous impact for Michigan.  Just take a look at 2012 commit Kyle Kalis and 2013 commit Chris Fox.  Rivals has both of these guys as #4 in the country for their positions.

Unless something dramatic happens, Michigan is going to have a very elite offensive line in the near future.  This is important because of what I described above in the case of Wisconsin.  Having an elite running back like Isaac would have certainly helped Michigan's running game, but with these type of elite linemen headed to campus, I really don't think the running game is going to need too much help. 

Just take a look at Michigan's 2012 and 2013 running back commitments.  Michigan currently has four commitments between the two classes and is still in position to land some other elite recruits in 2013.  Along with this, Michigan should have solid running back depth between Fitz Toussaint and Thomas Rawls for at least the next few years.  That means some of these 2012 and 2013 commits will have some time to bulk up and get adjusted to college play.

As I said earlier, losing out on Ty Isaac is never going to be a positive for Michigan, but this currently isn't something that's going to severely hurt this team's chances long-term.  With Michigan's elite incoming offensive linemen and running back depth, I just don't see this as being something that really impacts this team, even in the future in a very significant way.  It is without a doubt a set-back for Michigan's recruiting, but not something that's going to cripple Michigan by any means.  The team's still in very good shape based on Hoke's incredible recruiting.

Biggest Performers Of The Spring Game

Now that we've all had some time to sit back and look at the results of the Spring Game, we can take a look at the biggest performers and the biggest disappointments of the day.  Obviously, a lot of this is subjective, considering that Michigan was playing themselves and for every good play there is also a bad play, but I still think it's appropriate to take a look at what unfolded over the afternoon.  I've compiled a list of the players that I believe were the biggest performers of the afternoon.


1)  Russell Bellomy
A lot had been made about Bellomy's performances during spring practice and many described the massive improvements he has undergone as of late.  I think fans saw a lot of that improvement before their eyes on Saturday.  He not only completed a lot of passes and moved the ball, but he also looked poised in the pocket and under pressure, which is pretty difficult for a freshman (he will be a red-shirt freshman next season).

I remember one play that really caught my eye.  He had dropped back in the pocket and several defenders had surrounded him and it looked like he was about to get sacked.  However, he was able to get away and completed the pass anyway.  This showed a lot of confidence for a quarterback that many had forgotten existed until a few weeks ago.  He has probably been the most under the radar quarterback Michigan has signed in a long time.  This is the first time fans got to see him in action, but there was no major response as was seen with players like Gardner in 2010.

I wrote about this a few weeks back, but I truly believe that by the end of next season, Bellomy will have secured the backup quarterback role from Devin Gardner.  There are going to be a lot of people that disagree with me, but I see this for two primary reasons.  First, Bellomy has improved significantly over the last few months and there's no reason to believe that improvement won't continue.  Second, Gardner still seems to struggle with the offense in many situations and I think he is going to be so good if he moves to wide receiver that the coaches will not want to move him back under center.

Bottomline, Bellomy had the best Spring Game out of any player on Michigan's roster, especially considering his low expectations entering the game.  With his development, there are sure to be some quarterback controversies over the next few seasons with him, Gardner, and Shane Morris.

2)  Thomas Rawls

I have been a big supporter of Rawls in the past and he gave me more reasons to continue this support.  He was the only player to score a touchdown all afternoon.  He never truly dominated the game like this stat implies, but it is still something that is worth noting.  He was able to move the ball effectively against the defense and showed some serious speed and ability to evade defenders.

I can remember several situations when I thought for sure that he was going to be tackled or stopped in the backfield, but he would somehow escape or be able to throw the defender off himself.  This is something that's going to get him the extra yards and one of the biggest reasons I'm predicting that he will become the backup running back by time the season ends.  Yes, Vincent Smith is a great player and is very useful in certain scenarios (notably 3rd downs and passing plays) because of his blocking and catching skills, but Rawls has that raw ability that Smith will probably never gain during his career.

Now, don't get me wrong, Rawls is far from the best running back on the field (that title belongs to Toussaint), but I think he's going to be very good.  Right now, he is certainly more prepared than guys like Justice Hayes and I think he's going to continue that during next season.  He's not going to pass Toussaint for the starter position anytime soon, but I wouldn't be surprised if he saw a lot of action next season.

3)  Blake Countess
Countess is the only player I've chosen that was a starter last season.  This isn't because I think the starters performed badly, but rather that their expectations were significantly higher than players like Bellomy and Rawls.  Toussaint had an excellent Spring Game and probably deserved the MVP award (if there was an award), but he should have done well.  He proved himself last season and the Spring Game is typically about players that don't often see the field.  Bellomy and Rawls didn't have a lot of expectations before the Spring Game, which is why their performances were so impressive.  Players like Toussaint would have to do something spectacular to be the biggest performers of the day.

Having said that, Countess played so well that I felt it would be a crime not to include him on this list.  He was the only defensive player to get a turnover against a scholarship quarterback and did an impressive job in shutting down many of the receivers he was covering.  Granted, he didn't have the task of guarding against the best quarterback on the team, Denard Robinson, but he still did a fantastic job in coverage.  I truly think Countess is one of those players that is just going to get progressively better in college without taking those major steps back.

There had been some doubts after the Ohio State game and the Sugar Bowl that Michigan and Countess' coverage weren't that good, but I think he ended those worries when he grabbed that interception out of the air.  Countess is here to stay and he and J.T. Floyd are going to be a great duo during next season.  I feel bad for the wide receivers that have the challenge of playing against them.

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Overall, the Spring Game went pretty well for Michigan and there were a lot of improvements by many players.  There's no way to say whether these improvements will carry over to next season, but players such as Bellomy, Rawls, and Countess have got to have fans excited for not only next season, but the next few years of Michigan football.


Photo Credit: AnnArbor.com