Turnovers Put Brakes on Wolverine Offense in Defeat to Utah
9/21/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Finishing.
It's the one thing the University of Michigan football team's offense has failed to do in its two losses this season. The Wolverines couldn't sustain a drive in their 26-10 loss Saturday (Sept. 20) to Utah, and that also was the case earlier this season in a defeat at Notre Dame.
And the lack of finish started on the very first possession of the game, when Michigan drove 50 yards. Quarterback Devin Gardner hit Devin Funchess for a 14-yard pass on the first play and scrambled out of the shotgun for an 18-yard gain. The chains were moving.
But it seemed as if the emergency brake was applied at the 25-yard line, and the Wolverines settled for a 42-yard field goal by Matt Wile and a 3-0 lead.
"We've just got to finish those drives," said Michigan coach Brady Hoke. "First drive of the game really, the execution and what was going on was good. But we settled for three points. Great kick by Matt. Good to see that from him, obviously. But we want seven points -- not three points."
The Wolverines, however, never had another drive even that long and failed to reach the red zone.
"We start a drive," Hoke said, "we have some success with it. We get a sack, so you're behind the sticks again. You don't like to play offense that way. We had a penalty that put us back.
"So, we've just got to finish those drives."
Michigan (2-2) hasn't scored an offensive touchdown or reached the red zone in either loss. Center Jack Miller was asked what was needed to add that finishing touch to drives.
"I wish I knew," Miller said. "We didn't get in the red zone, which is going to hurt you from getting in the end zone. It seems like we're shooting ourselves in the foot. We do some good things, and then all of a sudden the ball is behind the sticks. Incomplete passes and all of a sudden it's third-and-15, and you're kind of behind a rock and a hard place. And punting or kicking a long field goal. And that just seemed to happen over and over today."
Saturday's game, played before 103,890 at Michigan Stadium, was delayed 2:24 by lightning strikes in the area, and heavy rain flooded the sidelines before play resumed with 7:51 remaining in the fourth quarter. Though, nobody scored after that.
Michigan, which went to sophomore quarterback Shane Morris in the fourth quarter, sealed its fate much earlier.
"It is frustrating," Miller said. "We are obviously disappointed. It wasn't how we wanted to play today, to execute. We have to get better -- there is no doubt about it."
Defensive tackle Willie Henry provided the lone Wolverines touchdown by reaching up to snare a screen pass and running it back seven yards to make it 10-10 late in the first half. It was the first Michigan interception return for a score since defensive end Brennen Beyer covered the same distance after an interception at Iowa on Nov. 23, 2013.
The Wolverines wasted a solid defensive effort against Utah. Michigan actually led in total offense yards, 308 to 286, but lost by 16 points because its longest drives were 40, 45 and 50 yards.
Michigan dropped to minus-10 in turnover margin for the season, and it had four turnovers to only one for Utah. But the truth is that the Utes scored just three points off a drive resulting from a turnover.
The offense often showed signs of putting it together, and on the game's second possession, Gardner and Funchess hooked up for 19- and 24-yard gains to get the ball rolling again. But then a holding penalty brought about a first-and-20 hole that the Wolverines could not dig out of against the Utes. Gardner's off-balance pass on third down went incomplete.
And while there were other flashes of brilliance, and tailback Derrick Green (14 carries, 59 yards) ran effectively at times, something always got in the way of success.
Michigan was driving for what could've been the go-ahead touchdown late in the first half, reaching the Utah 24-yard line. But after Funchess made a great grab for a 25-yard completion on third-and-eight, the next Devin-to-Devin pass was tipped by Funchess and intercepted by Utah strong safety Brian Blechen.
The Utes drove the ball on the ensuing possession to put Andy Phillips in position for a 38-yard field goal on the final play of the first half for a 13-10 lead.
Michigan's defense stepped up against the Utes, who averaged 57.5 points in beating Idaho State and Fresno State, by allowing only one offensive touchdown. But a 66-yard Kaelin Clay punt return score and four Phillips field goals provided enough points for Utah in this one.
Utah's constant blitzing and control of the line of scrimmage resulted in three second-half turnovers.
Gardner's final pass in the fourth quarter didn't come close to his nearest receiver, Freddy Canteen, and Utes linebacker Gionni Paul made the interception.
Morris got the call at quarterback on the next possession and picked up a first down with his legs on a third-down scramble. But then he was picked off by free safety Tevin Carter, who returned it 59 yards, before Morris brought him down.
Lightning strikes began in the area midway through the fourth quarter, halting play.
Morris remained the quarterback after play resumed and got a drive of 32 yards together before losing a fumble. That play cemented Michigan's fate.
Hoke was asked about his quarterback situation headed into next Saturday's Big Ten home opener with Minnesota.
"I think number one it's way too early for me to assess that until (offensive coordinator) Doug (Nussmeier) and myself look at the tape and know that stuff," Hoke said. "One thing I can tell you is sometimes it's good for the guy to come out and just watch and see what he can see from the sidelines, you know?
"Look at rotations of coverages or maybe from that standpoint. So, there are not going to be any answers to that tonight. We'll compete and challenge, like we have every day, and then we'll have a starting quarterback against Minnesota."
