SB Nation - Charles Stewart

2009 Michigan Football, Position by Position: Safety and Safety Recruiting

Maize n Brew Dave — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:08:21 -0000

Going into the 2009 season there are three positions on the Michigan Defense that are causing a great amount of concern among the Michigan faithful. Cornerback. Defensive Tackle. Safety. All three of these positions have highly touted players starting for the Wolverines. All three of these positions are also an injury away from becoming an aneurysm inducing mess. In an effort to assuage those fears (or stoke them like coals in a furnace) we'll be taking a look at Michigan Football's positions of need, the quality in place, the replacements on the way, and recruits that hopefully will carry the load for Michigan going forward.

Safety

Just like Cornerback, Michigan fans have a deep abiding love for the safety position. Some of our favorite and most important players manned the safety position for the Wolverines during all those championship seasons of yore. And by "Yore" I mean every year up to 2007. Just like with Defensive Tackle at Michigan, Safety has it's own iconic photograph.

Yeah. That's what I'm talking about. For a very long time being a safety at Michigan meant you were one bad mutha'. You hit like freight train and moved like a Maserati. Think about the guys that have played there: Marcus Ray, Ty Law (CB and S, IIRC), Tripp Wellborne, Brad Cochran, and Don Dufek. And that's before I get into the Ernest Shazors, the Jamar Adams, and many other outstanding young men who patroled the deep defensive backfield for Michigan. There's some history there. And some well earned Michigan pride.

But safety ain't a position for the faint of heart. After Middle Linebacker, it's arguably the most complicated position on the defensive side of the ball. Imagine having to make split second decisions on whether to rush the line on a hand off or back pedal because the hand-off may just be play action or head to the middle of the field because the tight end is getting behind the backer or...

You get the picture.

It's not easy. And as a result, from time to time, you're going to have down periods. In 2007 Michigan was woeful at safety early on, despite the presence of Jamar Adams (a safety I still consider to be pretty good) and diminutive run stopper Brandent Englemon. In 2008? Good lord. That can only be categorized as absolute disaster. No one could get the job done in deep coverage or in run support: Stevie Brown, Brandon Harrison, Mike Williams, and Charles Stewart were all equally culpable. It got so bad the Donovan Warren had to be shifted from corner to safety in an attempt to stop the hemoraging. It didn't help. Michigan ended up 87th in the country in pass defense, giving up 230 yards per game in the air. Quarterbacks completed 57.7% of their passes and threw for 19 TDs. When you consider Michigan only picked 9 balls all season, it was as bad as you remember.

So where does that leave us at safety for 2009?

(The answer after the jump....)

With Michigan's move to the 3-4 defense, you're going to see some differences in who lines up where this season. The most notable change will be moving Stevie Brown from safety to hybrid/deathbacker as the fourth linebacker in the scheme. Like the rest of the Michigan team, it's impossible to classify his season as anything more than dissapointing. The switch from Ron English to Scot Shafer went about as smoothly as a brick boat passing through a sea of Legos, and I can't think of a player that suffered more as a result of it. Whether it was miscommunications, blown assignments, or bad luck, Brown found himself routinely looking at the backs of receivers as the sprinted to the endzone. I think, after three years, it's safe to say deep coverage isn't his strong suit. On the other hand, Brown seems to excel close to the line of scrimage.

Brown's size and speed truly make him ideal for the deathbacker position in the 3-4. At 6'0", 220, Brown has the size and strength to play close to the line without getting burried by a lineman. According to camp reports he's taken very quickly to the new position and has earned praise from his teammates and coaches for his efforts. Playing a former safety near the line will also help the defense against spread attacks as Brown can line up over the slot reciever without there being a significant mismatch in coverage. But most importantly, the move takes Brown away from a responsibility I'm not sure he was capable of managing, and puts him in a position where his physical tools can be maximized. All that said, stop me if you've heard this before. After three years of waiting for Brown to be that next great safety or even a more than break even contributor, this is it. I hope he's up for it.

Brown's transition does create some different issues. While no one will protest moving him closer to the line, or having a dude with speed over the slot receiver, the question becomes who is back there if Brown's not? With Brandon Harrison's departure to graduation (God speed, Brandon, you were alwasy one of my favorite players), Michigan will be playing two safeties with no starting experience at safety and at least one safety who's never played in a college game!

At this point the smart money is on Mike Williams (RS So.) and Vladimir Emilien (Fr.) starting at strong and free safety, respectively. Mike Williams came into Michigan as the 15th rated safety in the 2007 class and a bonafide 4* recruit. Williams was an Army HS All-American and has been fairly impressive in the playing time he's received. Most importantly, Williams has the respect of the older players on the team, particularly Brown:

"Just being around Mike, I know how Mike is, and he will never turn down a hit regardless of who it is or how big they are."

So, barring injury, it looks like Safety No. 1 is spoken for. Likely backing Williams up will be Troy Woolfolk (Jr.). Woolfolk was another defensive back that the services agreed upon, both ranking him the #44 CB in the country in the 2007 class. Last season, after playing on special teams and in the nickle packages, Woolfolk was moved to safety during spring practices and seems to have excelled. Much like Williams, Woolfolk has a good deal of speed and enjoys inflicting pain on opposing receivers. Both were described as big hitters as opposed to pure coverage guys, so I'm not entirely sure how well they'll do once the ball is in the air. Given their athleticism and the praise coming their way so far, I'll put on my rose colored glasses and say going into the season, they appear to be an upgrade over last season's strong safety play. But how much of one is anyone's guess.

At free safety, Emilien (or Vlad the Impailer as he will be envitiably called) appears to have the inside track. Vlad's incoming pub from the recruiting services was mixed. Scout had him as a 3* safety and #42 at that position for the 2009 class. Rivals was far more positive, saying 4* and #14 safety in the class. The reason, or at least likely reason for the dispairity was a junior year ACL tear that cost Vlad his senior year. However, camp reports say the kid can fly and that he's a much better "cover" safety than first indicated.

After Vlad, your guess is as good as mine. Stevie Brown mentioned walk-on transfer Jared Van Slyke (son of Andy Van Slyke) as the next "cover guy" after Emilien. Van Slyke sat out last season after transferring from Southeast Missouri State where he played very little at quarterback and DB. Here's the blurb:

2007: Played in one game as a backup quarterback ... saw action in relief at Samford ... rushed one time for four yards ... lone pass attempt was intercepted.

Van Slyke was an unrated quarterback recruit that showed up on Northwestern's radar at one point and promptly dropped off it when no scholarship materialized. He's been shifted to safety since he transfered and appears to be one of the back-up options as practice rolls on.

Only two other players seem to merit consdieration for playing time at safety, Thomas Gordon (Fr.) and Justin Turner (Fr.). If you ever wanted to see what it's like when a scouting service drools all over itself about a recruit, check out Turner's Rivals page. Turner was rated the #3 safety by both services, but showed so well at the U.S. Army All American game that he's now looked at as a pure corner prospect. My understanding is that Turner is will be on campus, qualified, and in the weight room shortly, but we're still waiting on some clearinghouse issues (HT: Mgoblog). Given the lack of depth at safety, even though I'm certain the coaching staff would love to redshirt him, you're probably going to see Turner in the defensive backfield. He's just too talented. When you're the No. 1 rated recruit out of Ohio, expectations tend to be high.

Gordon's a little bit more of an unknown to me. He was a 2/3 star recruit, seemingly without a position. Earning the dreaded ATH designation from Rivals. Oddly, his Scout bio was fairly complimentary for a kid they rank as a 2 star.

Gordon is very solidly built. He is a strong kid and shows good straight line speed. Having only played one year of safety, he must refine his technique in terms of man to man coverage, in particular, improving his backpedal and breaks. However, he shows very natural instincts and anticipation as well as good ball skills. He is a good athlete who can go up and either intercept passes or break them up. He is also a solid tackler. - Allen Trieu

So, that's good. Right?

Just based on guru ratings, the likely top four should be fairly capable. Williams, Emilien, Woolfolk, Turner are all big time recruits with solid offer sheets. Hopefully, they'll live up to their billings in their first years, and Michigan fans will be on their way to erasing some painful memories. I hope. It's not going to be an easy season when you're starting two new guys at any position, let alone safety. So keep your fingers crossed.

As you can tell from the above, there is plenty of space on the roster for a couple of good safeties. The unfortunate thing about safety recruiting over the last five years has been Michigan's insistence on recruiting safeties to play Linebacker. Yes. I get it. Kids grow, their frames, speed, blah, blah, blah. But we need some firggin safety recruits that will, you know, play SAFETY!

For the 2010 class, it's anyone's guess how things will shake out. The only committed safety in the class is uber-stud Marvin Robinson out of Florida. Robinson's a concensus four star, and Scout has him as the #10 safety in the class. However, in keeping with Michigan's habits, Rivals projects Robinson as an OLB (#11). Lovely. Whatever, we need help there too, I guess.

There are still a number of 2010 safeties on the board, including Dietrich Riley, Marquis Flowers, Sean Parker, and Brandon Ifill. Of the group, however, only Ifill looks like a solid possibility to commit (being a teammate of covetted Corner Cullen Christian). Unlike at Defensive Tackle or Corner, getting guys to campus to take a peak has been somewhat difficult.

One player who will definitely see campus is Sean Parker, who is reportedly set on an official visit to Michigan in the fall. Dietrich Riley also reportedly liked Michigan, but based on his rivals and scout pages, it may come down to beating out hometown USC for his services. After these two and Ifill, your guess is as good as mine.

What it all means is that Michigan is insanely young at a critical position, but also insanely inexperienced and thin. Injuries to Williams, Emilien, or Woolfolk, and Michigan will be relying on walkons, converted cornerbacks, and possibly a wideout to cover the gap. Maybe Stevie Brown would be moved back, maybe he wouldn't. But if the kids in place get hurt, or don't live up to expecations, Michigan's going to be in big trouble at Safety.

Also check out 2009 Michigan Football, Position by Position: Cornerback. Defensive Tackle.

Monday Happy Hour Gets You Caught Up on All Your Michigan Football and Basketball News

Maize n Brew Dave — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:49:42 -0000

Maize n Brew gives you your daily (or semi-daily) rundown of all the Michigan Football, Michigan Basketball, College Football, and College Basketball news you need to get through the tedium at your boring ass desk job. For good measure we'll throw in a little irreverent information and commentary to help you salt away the time. Want it in 140 words or less, follow us on Twitter! Here's what's ON TAP:

Things you need to read Right Now

When Carcajous Attack takes a fairly in depth look at the 2009 Michigan Wolverine and what we should expect. He's bullish on the offense, and rightflly terrified of the defense. This is one of the best summations of our secondary anyone's put together:

Michigan’s pass defense last year can only be described as abysmal. Michigan’s secondary was frequently torched for big gains and scores throughout the season, despite a veteran crew that included CBs Brandon Harrison and Morgan Trent, Charles Stewart, Donovan Warren and Stevie Brown. There will be a new crew of defensive backs in 2009. Stevie Brown moves to the LB position. Donovan Warren and Boubacar Cissoko will likely man the cornerback spots this fall, while the safety positions may be filled by Troy Woolfolk and Michael Williams. Like the defensive line and linebacking corps, Michigan’s secondary is "wafer thin". One injury could mean big trouble for this unit. It’s a little bit scary when one considers the possibility that Michigan’s 2009 freshmen defensive backs may be the best in the unit. Providing Michigan some measure of nail-biting depth are inexperienced RS freshman Brandon Smith, and true freshmen Vlad Emilien, Adrian Witty and Justin Turner.

Michigan Football

New Commit! Wheee! Hello: Courtney Avery - Yay! A new cornerback! Smart too!

"Optimism by subtraction," man, if that doesn't sum up Michigan's feelings at quarterback and the defensive secondary perfectly. The Good Doctor on being happy about depatures at QB.

Pennsylvania falls to Ohio in Big 33 Classic - In one of the bigger, albeit not as big as it used to be, intrastate high school football matchhups, Ohio edged out a close win over neightboring Pennsylvania. It was the 21st time the neighboring states have met in the Big 33 Classic, and Pennsylvania is holding an 11-10 edge. Why is this important? Because it was loaded with recruits, targets, former targets, and future opponents. The only Michigan Commit to play in the game was future uber-back Fitzgerald Toussaint, who had a 54-yard touchdown reception and a 6-yard touchdown run for the Ohio squad.

Eleven Warrios cam away thinking it was Ohio’s Night at the Big 33 - This game was a big deal to OSU.

Seven Buckeyes were featured in the game, including both starting offensive tackles, four defensive linemen and wide receiver Chris Fields. Sam Longo, the starter for Ohio at left tackle, appeared to best his counterpart on the right side, Marcus Hall according to some reports, while Melvin Fellows and Jonathon Newsome manned the defensive end spots with Corey Linsley and Adam Bellamy put in the heavy work on the interior of the defensive front.

Heisman Pundit ranks Brandaon Graham at the country's No. 8 Defensive end.

TheWolverine's continuing position previews focus on Michigan's Linebackers.

If you've got access to the pay site, Big Ass Recruit and Lineman Torian Wilson talks camping in Ann Arbor.

Tarpley Puts On A Kicking Show in A2 - Kick. Kick it real good.

The Rivalry, Esq., continues counting down the Top 10 SEC-Big Ten Games of the Last Decade. Now up, #2 - Michigan v Alabama, 2000 Orange Bowl.

Michigan Basketball

UM Hoops.com notes that Smotrycz continues to smoke fools. ESPN's non-so-complimentary-begrudging-white-guy-compliment:

The Michigan commit is not that athletic and his game isn’t necessarily aesthetically pleasing. Smotrycz, however, produces. He can score at all three levels and has to the tune of 13 points per game. He can also find the open man and has a penchant for coming up with 50/50 balls. He is not a prospect who everyone is going to love, but it is evident why coach John Beilein thinks highly of him.

All your coaches are belong to us. Michigan ~~steals~~ hires Clemson's assistant basketball strength and conditioning coach, Jon Sanderson, to lead the men's and women's basketball programs and Olympic sports at U-M.

Welcome Jon Sanderson - UM Hoops has more on the new S&C coach for the basketball program. Why do all S&C guys, except Barwis, have goatees?

Other Michigan Sports

Your Hockey update from Michigan Hockey Net.

College Football

Ed Orgeron dares you to move, wins - The Orgeron fires up the Tennessee ladies camp. All I can say is, yes. Yes. A Thousand Times YES!

Iowa Legends: A tribute to JR Koch, The Roost. - Hayden Fry's Moustache Ride returns to drop knowledge on you fools.

Nick Saban does not like the recruiting sites.

The Quad Countdown: No. 72 Texas A&M - A&M is in free fall. Gonna be a rough year. But I still say Sherman will get this turned around and have the Aggies battling for the Big XII crown in the next couple of years.

The Rivalry didn't learn from my mistake. They're counting down 80 Reasons to Love the Big Ten. No. 77? Gerald Ford, Center, President, Diplomat, Wolverine, all around badass.

Saban says bring on Notre Dame - Nick Saban will take you on right now. Bare knuckles. Who wants to go? You? You, fat man? Rudy was a pussy. Yeah. You heard me. Bring it to Tuscaloosa, bitches.

Iowa offensive lineman Kyle Calloway was arrested early Saturday morning and charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated. That "vehicle" was a moped. Calloway blew a 0.106, which barely flew over the legal limit in Iowa of 0.08. For some reason, Calloway acknowledged to the cops that he drank seven or eight beers. Dude. The DWI is bad enough. But the moped?

College Basketball

The Kevin O'Neill era starts today... and Conquest Chronicles really doesn't know what to say. Well they kinda have an idea, as CC thinks that in Mike Garrett's eyes Kevin O'Neill was the only viable option. This is not a good sign, and will only add to the Trojans' hoops related problems. This is a Brian Elerbee type hire.

Misc...

Congrats to Texas on their dramatic CWS victory. Tie game. Bottom of the ninth... write your own story, baby. Here's the entire bottom of the 9th, of the CWS championship round game.

$19 million in the hole, karmic victim Kosar could use some slings and arrows of his own for a change.

Bernie Kosar on Bernie Kosar: 'I'm 45 and realize I'm an idiot' - we knew this years ago Bernie.

A Comeback for the Ages: Michigan Football Rallies from 19 Down to Top Wisconsin 27-25

Maize n Brew Dave — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:19:41 -0000

via mikedesimone.com

Maturity is something that, by definition, comes with age. It's something you get as you go through life's little challenges and emerge from them with a little scar to remind you of the things you're really not supposed to do. Maturity takes time. I mean it's not like you can learn what to do and what not to do in an afternoon. You grow into things. You take your knocks. You eventually emerge from it stronger, and sometimes victorious. But it doesn't happen in an afternoon, does it?

Saturday afternoon started the same way the last three have. Fumbles. Mistakes. Fumbles. Mental errors. Fumbles. Poor play calling. Fumbles. So, as Michigan left the field at the end of the first quarter, the Michigan faithful, men and women, rose to their feet and voiced their displeasure. Could you blame them? Five turnovers. One first down. Negative seven yards passing. And the fifth turnover was an end of the half interception that nearly found its way back into Michigan's endzone. And as the chorus of boos rained down on the field, much to my surprise, I found myself riding this wave of frustration and anger and let loose a good hearty "Boo!"

It was a first for me. I'd seen worse beatings inflicted on Michigan during an opening half, last year's Oregon game for instance. 2002's Iowa/Brad Banks' delivered butt-whuppin'. This year's Yackety Sax in South Bend. But as I glanced back through my treo at my thoughts on the first half, I'd used more expletives than a longshoreman's convention and used the word "criminal" in describing the play calling more than once. I wasn't mad at the kids on the field. I was mad at the situation they'd been put in. And, well, honestly, I was a little mad at the kids who kept fumbling. Human nature being what it is, right? How could we spend two weeks "getting better" and do the same damn thing we'd done against Notre Dame? Why was our offense so damn inept?

Seriously? The offense was a disaster. Wisconsin stacked the line, keying on any movement by McGuffie or anyone else in the backfield. It was as if the two coaches were in a staring match and Michigan kept blinking, determined to not blink first and run the ball until it found success. Student body left. Student body right. Those were Michigan's two plays for the first half. That and the 15 yard scamper by Stephen Threet that resulted in him both getting plastered by Wisconsin's safety and losing the ball. Michigan's passing game was strictly horizontal, even more so after Threet sailed every down field pass into geostationary orbit. The running game was predictable. The line was getting beat. Nothing was going right. It was as if DeBord never left. And what the hell was with the constant fumbling?

via mikedesimone.com

Buried in the specactular, steaming turd the offense left on the field was a diamond of a performance by the defense. Despite spending the entire first half on the field the defense held Wisconsin to just 19 points. 19 points when three Wisconsin drives started inside the Michigan 40, and their own touchdown drive of the first started at the Wisconsin 40 yard line. For the first time this season Stevie Brown and Charles Stewart weren't just serviceable, they were actually pretty good. Even more important, Jonas Mouton was a force at Linebacker. Making plays in the backfield, pressuring the quarterback, tackling and wrapping up. And the line, oooh boy, the line, was just awesome. Both Jamison and Graham were in Evridge's face the entire day and the Taylor/Martin/Johnson rotation was simply dominant against a line that they were giving up an average of 30 pounds to. More on this later.

But defense wins championships and offense wins games, and without any signs of life from the offense when Michigan went into the locker room everyone in my section looked as though they'd just seen Seven Bells not only euthanized but thrown on the barbeque.

Unbeknowst to those of us in the stands or at home, the defense not only controlled the first half, but the locker room as well. At halftime, apparently before the coaches reached the locker room, Terrance Taylor went off. Not-fit-for-print went off. He teed off on everyone, challenging them. In my head I imagine it went something like this:

Reggie Dunlop: Goddamn lard-ass Barkley Donaldson, I'm tellin' you he jumped us!
Steve Hanson: [nodding head] Mm huh.
Reggie Dunlop: Gloves off, stick down, no warning, he challenged the Chiefs!
Steve Hanson: Called us names!
Reggie Dunlop: Called us names! But Dave was there.
Steve Hanson: Dave's a killer!
Johnny Upton: Dave's a mess.
Reggie Dunlop: But Dave's out. Who's gonna take his place?
Ned Braden: Is the answer Jesus?
Reggie Dunlop: [looks at the Hanson brothers] Ok guys. Show us what you got.

via mikedesimone.com

Whatever he did, it worked. Michigan's offense was entirely different in the second half. Maybe it was effort. Maybe it was emotion. Maybe it was the fact Michigan had to throw the ball vertically. But things were different out of the locker room.

The most notable difference was Stephen Threet. After his first half performance I was fairly certain we'd see Nick Sheridan in the game. In hindsight there's no way in hell Sheridan would've been put in, but it's difficult to describe the level of despair that settled in following his first half performance. But there he was. And he looked pretty good.

His passes were where they were supposed to be. His deep balls were Henne-esque (and I mean that when I say it), and he managed the game within himself rather than trying to win it with every throw. A couple of quick sideline passes to Mathews and Brown and Threet had finally found his rhythm. And then, after a bulldozer performance by Kevin Grady on 4&1 picked up five, Threet lofted the perfect 20 yard pass to a streaking Kevin Koger over two linebackers right down the middle on his third read. It was an incredible thing to watch, really. Even from the other side of the field I could see his head turn from read to read, finally settling on Koger. It may be hyperbole to say you saw a quarterback grow up before your eyes, but that may be what we saw.

Then the defense stepped up again, forcing two punts in quick succession and giving the offense the opportunity to make something happen. They did. If there's one thing the Michigan coaching staff isn't calling enough of, it's the deep pass. Threet has an amazing ability to put the ball into a bucket 40 yards downfield. On the same series he launched to moon scrapers that found the hands of his receivers 30 plus yards away only to have one dropped on a circus catch and the other batted away by excellent coverage. Even though they fell incomplete, they left Wisconsin just enough time to do something stupid, like nail Threet two seconds after his throw and pick up a personal foul for roughing the passer. After that, it was Threet making things happen, even when things went wrong. A couple of drops and a third and long later, Threet scrambled for a first down on an obviously broken play. It was his show now.

The next two plays were all Threet. On a quick read he found Minor to his right on a short pass that went for 11. And then, obviously arguing with the play calling, Threet gave the sideline the bird (though it had to be a signal or something, but it sure looked like the ole' eff you), caught Wisconsin in an obvious blitz, checked off to a run, and Brandon Minor did the rest, sprinting 36 yards to paydirt right before my eyes.

via mikedesimone.com

Minor's run was beautiful to watch. Sitting in the corner of the endzone has tremendous advantages. For one, it gives you and excellent vantage point to observe the whole field, including the holds, gaps and lateral issues you can't really see on TV or at a direct or perpendicular view. Second, when Minor blew threw the gap in the line and broke right for the endzone, he was running right at us. Legs churning, eyes darting for the safety he knew he could beat, showing us why we got so excited about him as a freshman/sophomore, and why we expect so much from him today. When he crossed the goal line, highsteping away from a diving safety, all of a sudden it was real. Michigan could run this spread thing we'd heard so much about. Michigan could win this game. Some how, some way, despite the half from hell, Michigan was the better team and they were playing like they spotted Wisconsin 19 points just to make it fair.

A play later this suspicion was confirmed. For some reason offensive coordinators feel like it's a good idea to keep challenging Donovan Warren. I haven't figured out why. Even on a three step drop, when Warren is in tight coverage throwing at him is simply asking for trouble. Seemingly oblivious to this, on Wisconsin's first play after the Minor touchdown, Evridge took the snap at UW 20, took three steps back and fired a bullet to his left. It was a good pass. Really. It sure looked it. the only problem was Warren read the play and got the the ball and the reciever at the same time, deflecting the ball skyward and eventually into the happy hands of Johnny Thompson.

All of a sudden, there was Thompson, surrounded by a sea of blue jerseys running right at the same spot Brandon Minor had recently christened as comeback corner. In front of him was the entire Michigan defensive line, looking for someone to block and/or inflict pain on. It was like the whole thing was in slow motion. As Thompson dodged the first defender, Taylor lined up an offensive lineman and drove him halfway to Philadelphia. Behind this wall of Thompson rumbled into the front right corner of the endzone, setting off jubilation in the stands.

Good lord, we're winning.

The next possession for Wisconsin ended nearly as quickly. Three short plays and a punt to the Michigan 23. Everyone was thinking the same thing. We're up a point 20-19. We're running the ball.

A year ago this would've meant Hart running into a line stacked with Badgers three times before punting the ball away. Maybe after the first half when Michigan showed no ability to disguise its runs or any ability to move the ball in an unconventional way, Wisconsin thought they'd figured things out. That's when Threet showed us he's more than capable of making the other team pay for underestimating him and his offense. On the first play following the punt, Rodriguez sent in Minor, seemingly signifying that Michigan was going to run the ball down Wisconsin's throat and chew up the clock. You could see the linebackers key on Minor as Threet went into his cadence and lock onto him as he darted to the right following the snap, taking a quick step toward and away from Threet behind a wall of blockers.

Only Minor didn't have the ball.

via mikedesimone.com

Reading the over aggressiveness of the defense, faking the hand off to Minor, Threet tucked the ball under his right arm and darted through the open gap vacated by the linebackers and weakside DE. This type of manuever you expect to gain 10 or 15 yards with a guy like Threet in the ball game. But just like with the passing game, Threet showed everyone he's got a lot more in his system than measureables. With a quick first step, Threet seemed to be at full speed by his second stride, he blasted through the linebacker contain before the LB even completed his dive at Threet's feet, and simply outran the Wisconsin safety for a 58 yard gain before he was finally hauled down by a cornerback. Describing the visual of a 6'6" quarterback, whose pre-season mobility was likened to office furniture, outrun Wisconsin's hyped linebackers and safeties is as difficult as it was remarkable. Threet may not be Pat White, but goddammit he is one competitive sonofabitch who is full of surprises.

Five plays later Sam McGuffie, who'd been kept in check all game, rumbled into the endzone behind increasingly impressive roadgrader Mark Moundros. All of a sudden it's 27-19 and everyone, coaches, players, fans, and more importantly, Wisconsin, knew Michigan was a legitimate football team. 27 unanswered points will do that to you.

Then it was time for the refs to try to screw Michigan out of a victory and for the Defense to say to Hell with it and win it anyway. Despite the referees awarding a first down on a juggled, trapped first down catch and finding Wisconsin on 6 yard line, Brandon Graham and his buddies stiffened and knocked the holy hell out of Evridge forcing a fumble that Taylor recovered.

To Wisconsin's credit, they forced a punt, then caught Michigan off guard on several plays, before beating Morgan Trent to pull within 2 points. On the two point conversion somehow Brandon Harrison got matched up on Travis Beckum, and Wisconsin seemingly tied the game with 14 seconds to go. But this time the officials got one right. Bekum lined up improperly, negating his game tying catch. The next play, negative five yards later, saw Michigan in a three man rush and Max Martin beat a double team to smash Evridge just as he released the ball, forcing it high and harmlessly into the stands.

Then, it was over.

A kneel down by Threet followed by a jumping chest bump with Mathews, and Michigan's greatest home comeback was complete.

Everyone in our section stayed. Shaking. Unbelieving but believing at the same time. No one could believe the turnaround. No one could believe that the team we saw during the first period was the same team we saw in the second. But we'd seen it with our own eyes. We'd seen the comeback. We'd seen a young team mature in 30 minutes and dominate the 9th or 8th ranked team in the country. Hell, we'd seen them post 27 points in 18 minutes.

From a todler to a full grown team in 30 minutes. That doesn't happen, does it? We'll know for sure next week when Illinois comes calling. But for a day, we saw a team grow up before our eyes and pull off the greatest comeback in Michigan Stadium history.

via mikedesimone.com

All photos courtesy the Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, Wolverine Photo, the Associated Press and Mike Desimone, who put all these together.