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Free Press writer Rainer Sabin answers three questions after Michigan football beat Washington, 31-10, on Saturday in Ann Arbor.
How did Michigan fill the void for Ronnie Bell?
Last Monday, Jim Harbaugh sported a stark expression when describing the extent of Ronnie Bell’s knee injury and its potential ramifications. After the Michigan coach announced that Bell had been lost for the season, he admitted the Wolverines would struggle to fill his void.
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“It will be very difficult to replace Ronnie Bell,” said Harbaugh. “Really difficult.”
Bell, after all, is a team captain and one of Michigan’s most versatile weapons. He was able to play all three receiving positions and was also the designated kick returner. The difficulties he suffered were reflected in the list, affecting several sectors.
Harbaugh said a collective effort would be needed to mitigate the loss of Bell.
But on Saturday Michigan’s offense was limited, with Bell not in the lineup.
Three receivers – Cornelius Johnson, AJ Henning and Mike Sainristil – contributed catches, but together they produced a total of 33 yards. The meager production was a direct result of the Wolverines’ decision to put aside their passing game. With no viable threat away from home, Michigan resorted to stubborn running of the ball instead. Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins reprized their roles as focal points of Michigan’s unbalanced attack – wearing 48 times on Saturday
Cade McNamara, meanwhile, continued to play a supporting role – throwing just 15 passes, producing seven assists and contributing just 47 yards of total attack.
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Bell’s absence was felt elsewhere. Caden Kolesar, the defensive back who joined the program as the preferred substitute, continued to manage the punters. Although he did manage a 20-yard return, he seemed a little timid as he fielded the ball on other occasions. Earlier in the week, Harbaugh seemed willing to use another player as a return specialist – noting Kolesar’s worth in other places within the same unit. But it seems safe to say those other options won’t have the same impact as Bell, who was conspicuous by his absence on Saturday.
Jim Harbaugh triggered Cade McNamara?
Against Western Michigan, Harbaugh asked McNamara to handle the game. He did so with ease, completing nine of 11 attempted passes while also spearheading six of the seven possessions he led the offense for. But would McNamara continue to function as a game manager against better competition?
The answer appeared to be delivered in the first half of Saturday as Michigan committed a retrograde offense reminiscent of a bygone era – or perhaps just the early days of Harbaugh’s tenure.
The Wolverines ran and ran and ran. Fifty-six times! Rarely has McNamara fired a pass, throwing 15. Again, his arm wasn’t needed in a game that turned into an old-fashioned rock fight, with Michigan controlling the line of scrimmage.
Under the stress of Michigan’s powerful ground game and operating with little room for error, Washington’s defense finally broke
This was never more evident than in first possession in the second half, when McNamara repeatedly pushed the ball into the mid section of Haskins and Corum. The two running backs totaled Michigan for 73 yards for a touchdown, teaming up on an eight-game trip to the end zone. Not a single pass was thrown by McNamara, whose prop role in Michigan’s offensive crystallized under the bright lights of the Big House.
What was the decisive point of the match?
If there was a streak that decided the game, it took place in a three-minute window during the second quarter.
This is where Washington coach Jimmy Lake chose not to roll the dice with his team and Harbaugh chose to bet on his squad. It all started on the fourth inch on Washington’s 36-yard line. The Huskies had just escaped from the shadows of their end zone and showed their first signs of life – picking up a pair of first downs in quick succession. With Washington on the verge of scoring another, Lake initially kept his offense on the pitch. Quarterback Dylan Morris then snuck out, crossing the line to win. Still, Michigan had requested a time-out just before the start of the game, negating Morris’s effort.
Lake then reassessed his options and kicked. Michigan lined up the ball at the 21-yard line before running three times to the limit on the first down. On the fourth and one to their own 30, the Wolverines lined up in a punt formation. The ball went to the back, Michael Barrett, who scampered three meters for a first try. Seconds later, Corum drove 75 yards to the end zone to give Michigan a 10-0 lead.
The crowd roared and the Wolverines had regained momentum against a withered opponent with a thoughtless offense.
After that, Washington was out of luck.
Contact Rainer Sabin at [email protected]. Follow him on twitter @RainerSabin. Learn more about the Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans and sign up for our Big Ten newsletter.
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