Starting Fast Key to Michigan Football's Success
9/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 24, 2016
By Katie Conklin
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- After a rocky start against Colorado, the Michigan football team was looking to come out fast and to come out hard in their Big Ten Conference opener against Penn State. The Wolverines took to Michigan Stadium on Saturday (Sept. 24) and saw their plan through, taking advantage of the program's brand of aggressive, smashmouth football to get the job done.
Michigan's aggression was obvious within the first minute of the contest. On the first possession of the game, fifth-year senior defensive tackle Matthew Godin darted toward Penn State's Trace McSorley for a sack and a loss of two yards. Godin's sack, however, was only the start of the defensive onslaught.
The blitzing continued with a sack by fifth-year senior defensive end Chris Wormley, only two plays later, for a loss of seven yards. It was the second of six sacks on the day for the Wolverine defense. The Nittany Lions were forced to punt from their own eight-yard line, totaling negative eight yards on the possession.
"Our guys were running. I thought they were being aggressive," said J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh. "Our guys were there and swarming. They were coming two, three, four at a time. I thought it was impressive."
-- Wilton Speight on Coach Harbaugh
"I think our mindset was start fast and don't let up," Wormley added. "It was 21-zip at one point, because we started fast. We tried to get the offensive ball back as soon as possible, pin them back by their end zone, and especially on the defensive side of the ball, be aggressive and have fun."
And the fun ensued, as junior linebacker Jabrill Peppers snagged Penn State's 61-yard punt from the ground and took off. Following the blocks, Peppers darted left and right for a 53-yard punt return, placing the Maize and Blue at the Penn State 24-yard line for its first drive of the game.
Junior quarterback Wilton Speight continued Michigan's assertion into the Wolverines' offensive game. Going five-for-five on Michigan's first possession, Speight's shots were pointed and precise. Forcing deeper into the Nittany Lions' zone, the Wolverines found themselves on the one-yard line. It was fourth down, and they were going for it. Taking advantage of the smashmouth mentality, senior fullback Khalid Hill finished off the possession with a rush into the end zone for the first score of the game.
"It's just cool that (Harbaugh) knows we can pick it up," Speight said on going for it on fourth down. "He gets a grin on his face because I know his mindset is that he wants to smash it in for a touchdown. We're all on the same page."
The Nittany Lions tried to follow suit, going for it at fourth-and-five on the Michigan 42-yard line. Michigan's defense wouldn't allow it. Senior cornerback Jourdan Lewis, returning from injury for his first action on the season, recorded a hard-hitting tackle for a loss of four yards. With a turnover on downs, it was the Wolverines' ball.
Capitalizing on the run game, Michigan began to pound the ball downfield. Sophomore running back Karan Higdon started the trend with a six-yard rush -- one of his nine attempts on the day, averaging nine yards apiece. Senior running back De'Veon Smith topped it off with a two-yard run over the goal line, tallying the second of six rushing touchdowns on the day.
The tides had turned and up 14-0 at the start of the second quarter, U-M did to Penn State what Colorado did to the Wolverines.
"We were going into the game with a game plan," Speight said. "We saw a big opportunity to be able to slash in the run game."
Michigan tacked on two more touchdowns to finish off the half up, 28-0 -- an impressive start for a team that found itself down 14-0 just four minutes into the game last week.
Though the start is important, in the end, it's all about the finish. And looking ahead to the rest of the season, there is a lot more field to cover.
The Wolverines, though, only look to their next game, where they continue Big Ten play against Wisconsin next Saturday (Oct. 1) at Michigan Stadium.
• U-M Rides Six Sacks, Six Rush TDs to Win over PSU in B1G Opener
