It
was a game essentially decided before halftime, and the 31-14 final outcome, in
favor of Kansas State (a second-level team from the Big 12), was only for the
scoreboard operator to monitor. In the desert community known as Phoenix, the
Wolverines did not rise to the occasion; they produced no emotion, no
sustainability, and no inkling of what to do in all facets of the game … except
to demonstrate how meekly one team can play against another squad which
actually cared about the final verdict.
It
was, frankly, a boring game, an excruciating exercise to watch (for U-M fans)
and a totally forgettable way to spend a Saturday evening. Apparently, the
crowd (which contained the usual large number of rabid K-State followers),
reflected its indifference, with only 53,284 in “attendance” (compared to the
Sun Devil Stadium capacity of 71,706). It was noticeable to anyone watching on
ESPN, as cameras shied away from any evidence of humanity sitting in the
stadium’s upper decks.
The
game might have been extended for two more quarters after halftime, but Michigan
had surrendered much earlier, almost from the opening whistle. After all, how
does anyone explain starting Justice Hayes, a sophomore running back with only
three carries in 2013?
The
real waving of the white flag came with 55 seconds left in the first half, when
Michigan trailed 21-6. It had the ball at its own 46, on fourth down, and after
a timeout and huddle conference, the decision was made to punt – to simply give
possession away without so much as a whimper or an attempt to go for a score
(or at least a first down). That was the sign of someone trying hard to escape
rather than play-to-win – a shadow of the team that tried like hell to make a
two-point conversion in the final moments to upset Ohio State just one month
before.
I
imagine the following prayer was being uttered in Wolverine household at about
the same time I mumbled the words at 11:40 p.m. (CST): “Dear Lord, please let
this game and this season end … as soon as possible!” It was the proper ending
to a season when two of the team’s seven wins were miraculous endings against
Akron and UConn (two vastly inferior teams).
Every
phase of Michigan’s performance stunk to high holy hell. The beforehand
reliable defense looked confused and constantly out of position, leaving wide
gaps of playing turf open for the KSU offense to exploit. Perhaps the most
telling statistic saw Matt Wile, the team’s placekicker, have more solo tackles
than the two defensive ends (Frank Clark and Jibreel Black) – a sad state of
affairs to say the least.
In
his first collegiate start, freshman quarterback Shane Morris’ outing was
workman-like, at best. He finished with 24 completions on 38 attempts and his lone
interception (which led to KSU’s final touchdown) did not have any effect on
the outcome, other than the point spread.
Morris
mostly threw short “safe” passes – the longest gain (a 24-yard play to tight
end Jake Butt) was yardage garnered after the reception of an 8-yard aerial. Morris
averaged only 5.2 yards per attempt and a miserly 8.2 yards per completion.
In
contrast, Wildcat QB Jake Waters, who Michigan made to look like a potential
first-round NFL draft choice, completed 21 of 27 passes for 271 yards (and a
healthy 12.9 yards per completion). Waters not only avoided tossing an
interception, the plays were executed at such an efficient rate, U-M defenders
didn’t come within the stadium’s confines of even sniffing a turnover (the lone
recovered fumble only led to a three-and-out for the U-M offense).
The
coaching staff, led by offensive coordinator Al Borges, took the easy route,
and didn’t ask Morris to gamble on deep routes. All that safety dancing,
however, meant the KSU defense could play a tighter zone and stop Michigan from
garnering significant yardage after catches.
The
manner of trying to protect Morris in his first meaningful action was
admirable, but this isn’t junior high football; it was a time to discover
whether he could be handed the eventual keys to the offense – either in 2014 or
beyond. But it was much too timid of a game plan to demonstrate any capability
of winning.
While
the ball was spread among nine different Wolverine receivers, six of them
combined for nine completions for a grand total of … 49 yards! Subtract a
14-yard play to slot receiver Devin Funchess, and you have eight “successful”
plays for 35 yards – none over a 9-yard gain. No one can win at that rate.
Of
course, Michigan’s total lack of any kind of effective running game hurt Morris
all night long. U-M had to resort to trick plays (two of the first four running
calls were reverses instead of going between the tackles) and those
aforementioned dump passes to move forward. When Morris ran 40 yards on
Michigan’s final series, it made him the team’s leading rusher … by a wide
margin.
Subtract
Funchess’ 14-yard gain on the first reverse play, everyone else carried the
ball 13 times for 19 yards. The longest carry was all of 6 yards and the four
depth chart-listed runners combined for 9 attempts, gaining 13 yards. What
makes is so sad is it wasn’t the worst performance of the season … by a wide
margin.
By
the way, before anyone creates a false scenario, there is NO quarterback
controversy at Michigan. No one can say junior Devin Gardner’s absence would
have altered Saturday’s outcome, but Gardner is far, FAR more mobile than
Morris and takes more opportunities to throw the ball downfield (north to
south), not this West Coast, side-to-side dump-crap passing game on display with
Morris under center.
The
only point of concern will be Gardner’s ability to recover from what is
obviously much more than “turf toe” and remaining healthy for his senior year.
But it won’t matter if Michigan doesn’t produce a running game which at least is
lifted to the level of adequate, instead of totally ridiculous (as it stands
today).
The
real difference, other than attitude, is the one commodity Michigan most lacks
in its players – speed. Above anything else, speed is what distinguishes Big 10
teams from those in the SEC, ACC and Big 12; it also explains why Big 10 teams,
mostly built upon methodical power football principles, have so much trouble in
their matchups with teams in those other groupings. As often said, it is the
one attribute a staff cannot teach; it’s either there or not.
This
was not an ass-kicking because, despite the lopsided score, because no one
wearing Maize and Blue actually showed their backside to the purple-clad
Wildcats. In the first-ever meeting between these programs, Kansas State played
like the outcome mattered to its future; Michigan looked like it was going
through the motions of a light-contact scrimmage.
To
U-M playing K-State meant nothing; just another name on the schedule with no
history or tradition to inspire any player. To Kansas State, it meant a
validation of its existence and a victory over one of the most vaunted
collegiate programs in history was very meaningful.
I
have spent more than a few hours in the state of Kansas; it is a sports fan
base dominated by one sport – University of Kansas men’s basketball (almost to
the exclusion of everything else). “Rock Chalk” is the main topic discussed in
cafes, barber shops and in taverns; football is almost an after-thought.
Kansas’s football program is a joke (hence, Charlie Weis is coaching there).
Within
Kansas, the only school that truly appreciates its football is KSU, due to one
man – 74-year-old head coach Bill Snyder. When he assumed control of the
Wildcats, K-State was one of the five worst programs. In his two separate
stints (1989-2005, 2009-present) in Manhattan, Snyder is now 178-90-1, and has
been named National Coach of the Year five times; he IS Kansas State football.
Snyder
can also “coach,” not just bring talent from across the Midwest and Southwest
(including Texas, Oklahoma and other hot spots of talent). It was his game plan
his troops followed to perfection in Tempe, making his opposing coaches look
like prime-time JV hacks.
When
Kansas State was on offense, one player stood head and shoulders over the
entire Michigan roster – junior wide receiver Tyler Lockett, son of the school’s
all-time receiver (Kevin Lockett). Lockett constantly barbecued, roasted and
deep-fried cornerbacks Ramon Taylor and Blake Countess for three touchdowns and
116 yards overall on 10 catches ... and it could NOT have been a surprise,
given a full month for everyone to ready themselves for Lockett’s ability to
execute double moves and run tight routes.
But
no one could stop him, or try anything to negate his influence (such as playing
a tighter form of coverage or knocking his at the line of scrimmage to take him
off his game, even for a brief moment). It was pathetic after KSU assumed its
21-6 lead.
For
this reason, and many more (about 60 minutes’ worth), this loss sits squarely
on the shoulders of the Michigan coaching staff. Given 30 days to produce a
winning game plan, with or without Devin Gardner, Team 134 looked as
unprepared, unmotivated and unemotional as any unit in recent memory.
And
after three seasons, during which the team’s record have steadily fallen
towards mediocrity, one must begin to harbor thoughts of buyer’s remorse
concerning head coach Brady Hoke. He gives the impression of understanding the
school’s storied history (something his predecessor, Rich Rodriguez, failed to
grasp from the get-go) and can recruit like a demon.
However,
getting players onto the campus is one thing; “coaching them up” is quite
another. Aside from two victories over Notre Dame and a losing-streak halting
victory over Ohio State (at home), Hoke has yet to command a true statement
win, especially on the road. I’m sure Michigan fans are beginning to feel those
ants in their pants, watching an obviously talent-laden roster lose too many
games to satisfy any type of explanation.
Of
course, the obvious question is, “If not Hoke, then who?” and the speculation
should satisfy no one. I’m not possessed with the magic answer, nor is anyone
within Wolverine Universe (especially AD Dave Brandon). But the talk will only
grow louder and angrier if an immediate turnaround is not seen; and it won’t
help to coach or perform with that Sword of Damocles hanging over the entire
affair.
And
the final insult to the Michigan program was this final audible note from the
ESPN crew: with Notre Dame’s victory over Rutgers in the Pinstripe Bowl earlier
in the day, combined with Michigan’s loss, meant the Irish NOW sport the
highest winning percentage in collegiate football history – NOT Michigan! It
was one of those pre-game bragging points the U-M SID office would place before
the media at every opportunity.
Now
even that was lost in the desert and I’m not sure anyone really gave a hoot
about it … by a wide margin.
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