ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Go for the freakin’ jugular!
That’s what I was stammering to myself as I saw Northwestern inch towards the Michigan goal line in the first half, time after time.
I have that phrase in my head not because I’m a major nerd (which I am) but because that’s also what my writing professor always told me (minus the "freakin’" part).
She always told me my writing wasn’t aggressive enough. I’d make a lot of good points and support my argument, yet when the time came for me to hammer my point home, I couldn’t do it with convincing force.
NU outplayed Michigan in the first half of Saturday’s 42-20 loss. For 30 minutes, the defense made solid stops and the secondary did a superb job locking down superstar wideout Braylon Edwards, who at points in the first half seemed frustrated with his inability to catch long balls.
The offense moved the ball effectively. Basanez successfully executed two audible plays — a long gain to Taylor Jones and a misdirection handoff to Noah Herron — even with 100,000-plus at the Big House screaming their lungs out. Football, of course, is a 60-minute game. Unfortunately, the Wildcats who entered the tunnel following halftime never returned.
But if NU had been able to go for Michigan’s throat in the first half, things would have been different.
NU was in the red zone three times in the first half and managed just six points. Michigan never made it to NU?s red zone, scoring once on a 34-yard run by Michael Hart.
To beat one of the most respected and feared teams in the nation at its home stadium that boasts the largest per-game attendance average in the nation, you have to take advantage when you enter the red zone three more times than your opponent.
In the second half, the same problems persisted. On another red-zone visit, penalties forced the Cats into a failed fake punt attempt.
Michigan kept giving the Cats opportunities and NU said "no thanks." I’m not forgetting, however, that this is Michigan football. The Wolverines let NU into their red zone but they stepped up at the right time.
I’m also not forgetting that the Cats played a solid game. Cornerback Marvin Ward contained a future NFL star, and Noah Herron ripped up a Michigan run defense that had stuffed more heralded running backs this year.
And the Cats didn’t shoot themselves in the foot like they sometimes do when things are crucial — they committed no turnovers.
But NU needed Michigan to make a mistake. A fumble. An interception, a dropped pass in the end zone. They never got one.
"They just made more plays than us," NU coach Randy Walker said. "They played virtually perfect football in the second half."
The thing is, teams ranked in the top 10 often play virtually perfect football, and until NU gets to that level, it will have to learn how to go after its opponents throats the second they’re given even the smallest opportunity.
Every player who spoke at the post-game press conference knows what to do. It’s clear to me, and I’m sure it’s clear to them. In the next two weeks, NU needs to play the role Michigan played Saturday — beat a weaker opponent you know you’re supposed to beat.
And if you have seen either Illinois or Hawaii play football (if you can call it that), you’ll agree with me.
Reach Sam Hong at [email protected].
