Special Teams Help U-M Overcome Weather in Comeback Win
11/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 19, 2016
By Katie Conklin
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Late in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game against Indiana, Michigan Stadium looked like a snow globe.
Inside the bowl, winds were swirling, keeping the snow in the air and preventing the field from having no more than a light dusting. The suites and box seats on the other side of the field were indistinguishable from the press box. During the final break, Michigan's cheerleaders slid like penguins and made snow angels in the south end zone.
Imagine what it was like for the players on the field. In a game such as this, weather can be a great equalizer. The margin of error shrinks considerably.
Neither team passed much. If they did, it wasn't all that successful. What it turned into was, in the words of J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh, "an old-fashioned slobberknocker."
Credit the special teams units for helping make it that way.
Led by senior kicker/punter Kenny Allen, the punt unit made sure to stick Indiana as far back on the field as it possibly could. Of Allen's six punts, three of them ended up inside Indiana's own 10-yard line. He also hit both of his field goal attempts and hasn't missed in six games.
Field position, as it is in every game, was hugely important here. Michigan's average starting field position on the day was on its own 39-yard line, compared to the 21-yard line for Indiana. The 18-yard differential is only bested by the Wolverines' performance against UCF (Sept. 10), where the team boasted a near 23-yard advantage.
"With the field position battle, the net yards that come from punting and being able to back a team up -- it was huge," added Harbaugh. "Kenny did a great job."
Following the game, Harbaugh was quick to praise the punt return team but not for their returns. The unit came up with two blocks -- one from senior Michael Jocz and the other from freshman Khaleke Hudson, the latter of which came in the fourth quarter.
"We got two blocks, and those are huge in critical situations," said junior linebacker Jabrill Peppers. "That's all credit to Coach (Chris) Partridge and all of the hard work he puts, and he puts us in the best positions to excel."
Peppers had time in the special teams unit, as well, with four punts returns for 29 yards. His 18-yard kick return sparked Michigan's first touchdown of the game, putting the Wolverines just over the Hoosiers, 13-10.
"We take real pride in special teams because that can change a game or lose a game for you," Peppers said. "We felt last week we didn't win that battle of special teams, so we wanted to come out here and make an emphasis and say that we're still one of the top special teams units in the country."
And with this win, Michigan looks on to next week's game against rival Ohio State. It is yet another chance for the Wolverines to make a statement on the national stage.
Only this time, there's more on the line than bragging rights.
