Michigan-Illinois- game comments
coinkat
Posts: 23,116 ✭✭✭✭✭
in Sports Talk
I managed to watch the entire game... and after reading the stories about the game on line, I thought I would add my own thoughts for what they are worth.
The Michigan defense really deserves the majority of credit for the 27-17 victory at Champaign. I say that for afew reasons:
1. After getting burned on the second play of the first quarter for a touchdown, the Michigan defense played exceptional. Case and point that seems forgotten was after an Illinois interception in the 1st quarter, Illinois had a golden scoring opportunity and the Michigan defense stood up to the challenge and Illinois ended loosing what seemed to be 15 yards on that series of downs and were forced to punt. I think that was a key series that really kept Michigan from a real disaster...
2. While Illinois did manage a 90 yard scoring drive in the second quarter, that was the last touchdown they scored as the Michigan defense made key plays at the right time. Illinois was limited to two field goal attempts in the second half and the one 47 yarder failed.
As for the Illinois defense, they made several key plays, including sacks and two interceptions and even a fumble recovery. What killed their excellent defensive effort were really stupid penalties... ruffing the kicker... facemasking, an illegal hit as a Michigan player was already out of bounds. These penalties kept time consuming Michigan drives alive and this really effected time of possession and lost opportunity for the Illinois offense... including getting decent field position had they not commited the penalties.
Unfortunately, Illinois beat themselves...
The Michigan defense really deserves the majority of credit for the 27-17 victory at Champaign. I say that for afew reasons:
1. After getting burned on the second play of the first quarter for a touchdown, the Michigan defense played exceptional. Case and point that seems forgotten was after an Illinois interception in the 1st quarter, Illinois had a golden scoring opportunity and the Michigan defense stood up to the challenge and Illinois ended loosing what seemed to be 15 yards on that series of downs and were forced to punt. I think that was a key series that really kept Michigan from a real disaster...
2. While Illinois did manage a 90 yard scoring drive in the second quarter, that was the last touchdown they scored as the Michigan defense made key plays at the right time. Illinois was limited to two field goal attempts in the second half and the one 47 yarder failed.
As for the Illinois defense, they made several key plays, including sacks and two interceptions and even a fumble recovery. What killed their excellent defensive effort were really stupid penalties... ruffing the kicker... facemasking, an illegal hit as a Michigan player was already out of bounds. These penalties kept time consuming Michigan drives alive and this really effected time of possession and lost opportunity for the Illinois offense... including getting decent field position had they not commited the penalties.
Unfortunately, Illinois beat themselves...
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