Congratulations Coach Rodriguez, Wolverines Job Well Done!

     It was a wonderful warm late summer day today at the Big House as the Michigan Wolverines took on a state rival Western Michigan in the season opener. Great speculation from the media over "all-to-do-about-nothing" gained more attention in the headlines than the usual pre-season Wolverine Football news.

     Concerns by some that last years 3-9 won-lost season, and the lack Coach Rich Rod's lack of  concern over his players, the lack of a typical Wolverine family atmosphere were for the moment set aside as the team took the field and took care of business.

     I went into this game favoring the Wolverines despite some expert sports radio commentators giving Western Michigan a 7 point edge to win. Oh well who am I? Just a former defensive ball player who remembers what it was like to spend a winter waiting for a chance to vindicate the previous miserable season. 

     I had a feeling the Wolverines would come off the ball dominating W. Michigan on defense and they did. Players, Obi Ezeh, Jonas Mouton, Brandon Herron, Craig Roh, Brandon Graham, Darren Warren, and Boubacar Cissoko went on to limit W. Michigan's offense to 79 yards (-2 running) by the end of the first half. 

     Despite W. Michigan's improved offensive play in the second half they were still only able to muster one touchdown (7) and a total offense of less than 230 yards. Michigan's defense can also add two fumble recoveries, and a interception by Cissoko to their stats.

     Like the defenses immediate and powerful presence from the start of the game the Wolverine offense led by freshman QB Tate Forcier got on the board quickly. Forcier wound up throwing 3 TD's and had over 289 yards in total offense by the half. He got help from a great run from scrimmage by backup QB Denard Robinson's blazing speed.

     Robinson's run of 43 yards led to the Wolverines second TD before the first half was done. The offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage in for the pass and run. This made it possible for other Michigan offensive players like Junior Hemingway (WR), who caught the first TD pass from Forcier, to have a balanced attack using the Spread  offense.

     While the score of 31-7 doesn't reflect any concerns the Wolverines may have in practice this week as they await the arrival of another winner today in Notre Dame, these are a few things I think Coach Rich Rod and his staff will be working on from the outset:

     (1) Michigan's offensive total probably wound up at about 450 yards for the game.  But they barely racked up 100 yards for the full 3rd quarter. However they made up for it in the 4th quarter to close out the game. Against a more balanced team Michigan will need to keep their momentum up to ensure they win against better teams.

     (2) 7 penalties for 65 yards by the end of the 3rd quarter cannot be good. I beleive most of those penalty calls were on the defense too.  And an interception by Nick Sheridan after he ran for what would have been their 4 TD before it was called back seemed to stifle the teams dominance.

     (3) Hiller's only touchdown throw was against a freshman CB who was in to replace the regular CB Cissoko who needed to rest from what may be a mild injury. He was beat on a 29 yard pass throw.  I know what it means to be out there in the defensive backfield for the first time against an arm like Hiller's.  Everything happens much faster in a game than it does in practice. If that freshman has to play against Clauson next week he'll need to work on his nerves and his focus against those ND receivers before next Saturday because the Irish will be looking for him.

     (4) With Denard's speed at QB one can only speculate on the type of weapon he will become when he begins throwing the ball.  With him and Forcier running and throwing well it gives opposing defenses little rest.

      Other than that the team did a beautiful job and it was great to here the cheers and fight song by the student fans from the NW corner of the stadium at the end of the game. Go Blue!