The University of Michigan came up short in Jim Harbaugh’s debut with a 24-17 loss to Utah in Salt Lake City last night.
Advertisement
Harbaugh’s debut turned into one of the biggest home games in Utah history, drawing a record crowd of 47,825 to Rice-Eccles Stadium and more media members than could fit into the press box.
Utah, on the other hand, had a chance to impress the nation.
Utah’s secondary is a mixed bag at this point. There were a few standout performers who clearly improved during an offseason under their new head coach. This will require Ute fans to cheer for the Wolverines against Gary Andersen’s Oregon State team and BYU in September, which they’re probably willing to do.
Fresno State 34, Abilene Christian 13: Marteze Waller ran for 154 yards, Chad Olsen caught two touchdown passes and the Bulldogs beat the Wildcats.
A former two-star recruit, Wright swept the Nagurski Trophy, Lombardi Award and the Bednarik Award as the nation’s top defender last season. Drevno and Harbaugh kept with the power-run game despite it’s ineffectiveness for one reason: open up some shots down the field. But this year, Wilson looks as though he’s fitting in well to the Aaron Roderick-Jim Harding offense and found a way to distribute the ball to eight different player – a far greater number than last season. The versatile quarterback finished 24-for-33 with 208 passing yards, but he did not toss a touchdown. It appears to be a fluke for Phillips and he should bounce back even more dedicated to hit his target – nothing to fret about just yet. Rudock completed 63 percent of his passes. He returned in 2014 to make 36 catches for 473 yards, second behind Funchess. Darboh and Chesson were expected to break out in 2014.
Wormley wasted no time getting into Utah’s backfield. Jake Rudock was brought in from Iowa because he was a guy who could protect the football. While the defense penetrated and made some plays, they looked a little lost at times. Perry struggled at times but started looking more comfortable as the game went on and actually had a few really nice blocks. He shook that play off and came fighting back.
Harbaugh is working on his first real recruiting class now. Justice was served, however, and the better team won. Both throws could have resulted in a touchdown, and on one occasion, Rudock’s next attempt was an interception. Of course, Rudock has to connect with him, too. In today’s football world, you can only do so much offensively and as a collective whole with mediocre play at the quarterback position.
It’s shocking that Harbaugh hasn’t solved the problems created by Brady Hoke over the course of four years in the nine months since returning to Ann Arbor. But it’s clear it will take a while, said Yahoo!Sports Pat Forde. Rudock overthrew three of them. But Rudock has shown the ability to handle adversity and respond positively. But his demeanor on the sidelines Thursday was calm and downright reserved. Mason Cole burst onto the scene previous year, winning the starting left tackle job as a true freshman. There is more than a week to regroup.
Advertisement
The good thing for Wilson was that he did not get super aggressive and sat back and took care of the ball for the most part of the game, except for one interception he threw.
