Kornacki: Anatomy of a 78-0 Michigan Win
10/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 9, 2016
By Steve Kornacki
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- The Wolverines walked and jogged across the artificial surface at High Points Solution Stadium toward their locker room, stopping briefly to look at the scoreboard that posted some unbelievable numbers:
Michigan 78, Rutgers 0
What went through their heads as they looked up at that?
"Like, 'Wow,'" said Jabrill Peppers, smiling and eyes twinkling. "I've never been part of a victory this massive, but you have to handle it with class and just keep improving next week. You can't stay on your high horse. We have a bye week, and then Illinois is coming into town, and that's what our main focus is."
Peppers was brilliant on defense, scored two touchdowns out of the wildcat quarterback formation, broke off a 63-yard run and had an electric, 44-yard punt return touchdown called back on a penalty. Still, it wouldn't be fair to say that the score could've been 85-0 by tacking on that one because Michigan scored two minutes later on Wilton Speight's 30-yard touchdown pass to Jehu Chesson.
Linebacker Ben Gedeon was as good as any player on defense, sharing the tackles for lost yardage lead of two with defensive end Taco Charlton and making five tackles with a quarterback hurry.
He was asked for his reaction to the most lop-sided Michigan win since the 85-0 victory over Chicago in 1939, when Tom Harmon scored on touchdown runs of 41 and 57 yards, threw two touchdown passes, kicked three PATs and added one field goal.
"I was just proud to be part of a win like that," Gedeon said Saturday night (Oct. 8). "In all facets of the game, we executed awesome, and it was a testament to how we practiced. If we execute well, they shouldn't score a point."
The 26-24 loss at Rutgers two years ago ended with the fans storming the field, and it left a bad feeling with Wolverines who remembered that sinking feeling.
"We definitely had something kind of fueling us there," said Gedeon.
Offensive tackle Erik Magnuson said, "It fueled us, but we're a much different all-around team than we were two years ago. We have a lot more in our bag than we did back then, but it gave us some fuel."
The players also bought into coach Jim Harbaugh's message that teams' biggest letdowns tend to come in the week before a bye (which the Wolverines have this week) and the week after the bye.
"Coach Harbaugh wasn't going to let that happen," said Magnuson, "and so we approached last week's practice with more intensity than we ever have and made a statement that we want to go into the bye week with a good feeling.
"We definitely did that."
Gedeon added, "This showed how we prepared. We practiced really well. Now, we definitely have momentum going into the bye. He has a certain way of coaching, and we feed off it, that relentlessness and intensity. You can see it translating well onto the field."
Rutgers quarterbacks Chris Laviano and Zach Allen were running for their lives all game long, completing a combined two of 18 passes for five yards. The school record of allowing opponents to complete zero passes in nine games over 137 years stood, but this was about as good as anything since Ohio State was the last to be held to no pass completions in 1973.
Was the team aware that Rutgers didn't get a first down until nine minutes remained in the fourth quarter?
Charlton said they weren't sure about statistics but added, "Just basically we wanted to stop everything. So, we didn't want to give them anything, period. That's what we work on through the week. So, we practice so hard as a defense and preach that we want to be the relentless defense we were today."
The Scarlet Knights got one more first down, and the school record of allowing only one first down in a game set in 1947 against Pitt remains the mark.
"I know there were only two first downs and not until late in the game," said Harbaugh. "We were playing on half the field all night. The guys up front had a great game. There was constant pressure. The team has been tremendous.
"We didn't allow a third-down conversion all night defensively. There's been incredible play on third down. (Defensive coordinator) Don Brown is an amazing coach. I know I've been saying that a lot. It's obvious to everyone, to our team, to our whole defensive staff."
Michigan had 13 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and also didn't allow the running game any room to breathe with 36 carries for 34 yards.
"It's pretty spectacular what they are doing," added Harbaugh.
Charlton said, "We set the bar high, and we keep trying to improve. We try to go out there and be the best defense in the country."
He said the dedication to pass rushing began in the summer, and the nine linemen who rotate on the four-man front are wreaking havoc.
"Our goal was to the best D-line in the country," said Charlton, who had two sacks, "and we have to prove that. What Coach (Greg) Mattison has preached to us since I've been here is to rush forward, and we've been able to do that."
Harbaugh said: "It was constant pressure. One of the biggest and best, the spine of our team, is that defensive front. Greg Mattison does a great job coaching our guys. They were fast. Our whole team was really fast tonight. It really showed tonight. They are executing at a really high level. The pressure was tough to deal with."
Michigan showed great speed on both sides of the ball.
The Wolverines tied a school record with nine rushing touchdowns, rolling to 481 yards on the ground at 8.6 yards per crack.
"That was the best we ever blocked," said Magnuson. "On the offensive line, we take a lot of pride in rushing yards because it kind of depicts how we've done. I've never seen anything like that before. To come out and rush for almost 500 yards is really impressive."
Chris Evans averaged 13.9 yards on 11 carries for a game-high 153 yards. Karan Higdon rushed for 114 yards, Ty Isaac picked up 94, and Peppers added 74 on only three carries. Michigan emptied its bench behind starting tailback De'Veon Smith, and the holes were there for each and every runner. They hit those holes and tackled on yards with speed and shiftiness.
Harbaugh emptied the bench in the second half, but the points kept going up on the scoreboard for his team, while the zero stayed in place for the opponents.
"There are no backups," said Peppers. "That's what we preach on defense. You are expected to play like a starter. We don't look at the scoreboard. We just want to impose our will as fast and as long as we can, and I think the younger guys are adapting to that and buying into what the coaches and older guys are telling them."
Peppers sets the tone both off and on the field.
"He does everything for our team," said Magnuson. "He's our best special teams player, best defensive player, best offensive player. We're a top-five team, he's the best player on it and does everything for us."
Gedeon said, "His half speed is some guys' full speed. You saw it tonight. He has a different gear."
Evans reached down to an imaginary car gear shift and said, "The safety came down, and Jabrill ran right past him. It was crazy. He's got another gear. When he broke (on the 63-yarder) it was fifth gear, and he was gone."
Rutgers players walked through the tunnel after the game along with many of the Michigan players.
Peppers spotted Amir Mitchell, who came to Michigan in January as a freshman but departed before preseason camp for Rutgers for a variety of reasons. Mitchell wore a No. 2 Rutgers jersey but has to sit out this season.
"I told you!" said Peppers, smiling while embracing Mitchell. "I told you!"
The scoreboard said it all: Michigan 78, Rutgers 0.
