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Jim Harbaugh’s Story: From MU Ball Picker to Michigan Football Coach
Jim Harbaugh’s connection to Michigan’s football program dates back to the 1970s. Here’s a quick look at an impressive football career.
Tyler J. Davis, Des Moines Register
Free Press sports writer Michael Cohen breaks down Michigan’s 32-29 victory over Nebraska and examines a few players who aided or injured their stock on Saturday at Memorial Stadium:
Four up to
Brad Hawkins: Hawkins has been identified as one of the team’s defensive leaders alongside Aidan Hutchinson and Josh Ross. He’s the high school member who hosts extra movie sessions for the defensive backs and the player who fills the role of primary communicator during games. On Saturday Hawkins did what all great leaders do – make a huge play when his team needed it most. With the game tied 29-29 and Nebraska’s offense on the field, Hawkins pulled the ball out from quarterback Adrian Martinez and recovered the fumble that nearly secured Michigan the win. Hawkins showed great discipline in continuing to play until the whistle – or, in this case, not the whistle despite Martinez’s forward progression appearing to be stopped by a body wall. He capitalized by releasing the ball at a time when many others thought the game would be blown away. Hawkins was also excellent in supporting the run as the Wolverines limited Nebraska to 39 rushing yards in the first half to take a 13-0 lead.
NT Mazi Smith: Equally crucial to Michigan’s formidable race defense was Smith, who anchored the mid-line in arguably his best performance of the season. Smith made three first-half tackles on plays that gained 11 combined yards to avoid leaks after contact. He also hit Martinez from behind on a play that resulted in an incomplete pass and was inches away from being considered a fumble. Smith’s ability to stay strong in the trenches – even on plays when he wasn’t tackling – was a big reason Nebraska averaged just 3.4 yards per run on indoor tracks. , according to Pro Football Focus. Smith’s 6 tackles against the Cornhuskers doubled his previous season’s record of 3 against Rutgers.
NOTES: Michigan vs Nebraska football ratings: uneven night of defense earns it lowest rating
Emergency guards: Michigan’s adherence to the Next Player philosophy was tested in the trenches on Saturday when the two starting goalies left early due to injury. Right guard Zak Zinter only played 20 snaps before leaving with a leg injury, while left guard Trevor Keegan lasted 50 snaps before a shoulder problem sent him sidelined. In their place, the Wolverines relied on Karsen Barnhart and Chuck Filiaga, who both played excellent games. In 59 shots, Barnhart finished the team’s second best offensive lineman based on the Pro Football Focus scoring system, and Filiaga, who recorded 33 shots, was right behind him in the standings. Together, they contributed to a rushed offense that gained 101 yards in the fourth quarter before a pair of knees from quarterback Cade McNamara. Harbaugh told reporters he doesn’t believe Zinter and Keegan’s injuries are long-term in nature, but the steadfast performance of the reserves is always reassuring for coaches.
TE Luke Schoonmaker: It’s a bit of a cumulative recognition for Schoonmaker, who caught two assists in each of the last two games after a September without a single catch. He tied his career high with 29 yards against the Cornhuskers by giving McNamara a reliable option down the middle. McNamara hooked up to Schoonmaker for 24 yards to move the chains to third and 5 and also found his end tight for a 5-yard pass to set up a third and short in the second period. Equally important was the blocking of Schoonmaker, who helped launch several big runs. Schoonmaker and center Andrew Vastardis both made excellent blocks in the second tier to help running back Blake Corum gain 26 yards down center on a drive that resulted in a touchdown. And when Hassan Haskins snatched 50 yards after hitting a defender, it was Schoonmaker whose block in the hole created the perfect running lane on the line of scrimmage. The emergence of a second double-threat tight end alongside Erick All could be important for McNamara and the offense.
SHAW WINDSOR: Cade McNamara is Michigan football quarterback. He proved what he can do against Nebraska
Two down
WR AJ Henning: Heading into Saturday, Henning showed his ability to create explosive plays on special teams as the primary punt returner. In three games as the No. 1 returning player, Henning posted lengths of 32 yards, 29 yards and 19 yards against Northern Illinois, Rutgers and Wisconsin, respectively. There was no doubt about his positive influence on UM’s field position. That upward trajectory came to a halt on Saturday when Henning made a mistake on each of his two returns. On his first attempt, Henning caught the ball and spun back hoping for a big win. Instead, he was invaded deep within his own territory and ended up losing 5 yards. On his second attempt, Henning missed a punt on his own 12 but managed to stumble over it and keep the ball for the Wolverines thanks to a technicality in the simultaneous possession rulebook between offense and defense. It’s worth watching if Harbaugh reconsiders Henning’s place on the depth map over the week off.
Internal linebackers: It was always going to be a tough game for Josh Ross, Nikhai Hill-Green and Junior Colson. Between Nebraska zone play games, options concepts and the highly mobile quarterback, no position group has been tested as heavily as defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald’s inside linebackers. Overall, linebackers fared better against the run than against the pass. Ross finished with eight tackles, a record for the team, including a half tackle for loss, while Hill-Green and Colson combined to make nine saves. But things got risky every time Martinez used some of the scythes and stuff that confused the Wolverines two weeks ago in the win over Rutgers. Ross and Hill-Green were both sucked into the line of scrimmage on a fake play from Martinez before the 46-yard touchdown to tight end Austin Allen. The same duo lost track of their respective assignments on the 41-yard touchdown pass to running back Rahmir Johnson as the tailback came out of the backfield on a wheel route. When Martinez gave Nebraska the lead on a 5-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, Ross had gone too far inside on a scythe against the running back and couldn’t recover for protect the environment. Expect teams to continue using the wrong direction and pre-engagement movement until Michigan inside linebackers prove they are no longer sensitive to big plays.
Contact Michael Cohen at [email protected]. Follow him on twitter @ Michael_Cohen13.
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