Missed field goals a concern for Michigan football team and other notes
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Denard Robinson’s late-game heroics were welcomed by the Michigan football team Saturday, but they shouldn’t have been needed. Michigan kicker Brendan Gibbons missed 34-yard and 40-yard field goals wide right in the second half that could have padded the team’s second-half lead. Instead, the missed kicks nearly cost Michigan a win.
Michigan kicker Brendan Gibbons watches his second missed field goal of the day sail wide of the uprights at Notre Dame Stadium.
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
They also cast uncertainty on Michigan’s special teams. Gibbons is 1-for-4 on the season, and was replaced on Saturday’s final extra point by Seth Broekhuizen. After the 28-24 win over Notre Dame, Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez didn’t specifically say that he’s making a change, but reminded reporters the competition between Broekhuizen and Gibbons is ongoing. “I’m glad we didn’t have to try a field goal at the end there,” said Rodriguez, of the Wolverines’ final drive in which they trailed by three points until Robinson’s touchdown with 27 seconds left. “Not that I didn’t have confidence we couldn’t make it, but after you miss two in a row, psychologically, you may not be ready to go out there at the end.” Torn loyalties
Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Robinson winced a little when he saw Notre Dame true freshman Tommy Rees take over at quarterback when Dayne Crist was hurt. Robinson is the godfather of Rees’ older brother. “I thought, ‘Oh, no, I hope they don’t think I’m going to take it easy on him,” Robinson said. “So I blitzed him on the first play.”
Missed opportunities Michigan was upset it couldn’t produce any points off Gibbons’ two field-goal attempts, and the offense stalled after Jordan Kovacs’ interception gave the offense the ball in Notre Dame territory. Notre Dame may have had it worse. On the final play of the first half, quarterback Nate Montana inexplicably overthrew the end zone. On the final play of the game, Dayne Crist did the same thing. More West Virginia echoes
Denard Robinson became the ninth quarterback in NCAA history to rush and pass for 200 yards or more in a game. The last player to accomplish the feat was the same man Robinson’s been compared to all week Â- Rich Rodriguez’s previous protégé. West Virginia’s Pat White did it against Pittsburgh on Nov. 16, 2006, rushing for 220 yards and passing for 204 more. Some Notre Dame history Denard Robinson’s 87-yard touchdown run was the second-longest in Notre Dame Stadium history.
The previous record belonged to Notre Dame’s Jack McCarthy, who had an 85-yarder against Drake and 1937 and Eric Penick against Southern Cal in 1973. Michigan State’s Dick Panin holds the record, with an 88-yard run against the Irish in 1951.
Pete Bigelow can be reached at (734) 623-2556, via email at petebigelow@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @PeterCBigelow.
Comments
steve janowski
Mon, Sep 13, 2010 : 11:43 a.m.
Michigan does have a backup kicker who is not a freshman, his name is Justin Meram and he is currently on the soccer team as well. Why is he not playing? Just search Justin Meram kicker on yahoo and you'll see video of him kicking 55 yarders! Hopefully RR makes the right decision and puts him in.....anyone will be better than Gibbons!
dell
Mon, Sep 13, 2010 : 7:43 a.m.
Michigan has an All State kicker right here from Ann Arbor. Give the kid a chance. 22/25 in high school and during his senior year he was 9/10 with 6 from 40 yards plus. I know the college game is different, but it cant be any worst than it is right now. I surprised AA.com is not pushing for this kid.
81wolverine
Sun, Sep 12, 2010 : 8:02 p.m.
Right now, the special teams are a bit of a grease fire. Hagerup is very erratic, and one of his bad punts gave ND a short field leading to a score. But, I really believe he'll be a good punter eventually for us. He's only a freshman so we're all going to have to be patient. Ideally, we would have signed a good punter the year before when Mesko was a senior, giving the new guy a chance to redshirt and learn from one of the best. Gibbons on the other hand, simply looks awful. Maybe he'll turn out OK, maybe not. Stonum is pretty good on KO returns, but Gallon is still pretty shaky on punt returns. He's supposed to be very good, so it just might be redshirt freshman nerves. Time and experience will probably solve his issues.
BuckFanHater
Sun, Sep 12, 2010 : 4:16 p.m.
Hey GrantwStephens...the punter is a true freshman and he is nervous as heck right now...give him time and I feel that he will setlle in just fine. It's early and a long season. He will be great like Mesko eventually. Even if it takes a year to get there. Gibbons on the other hand scares the heck out of me. He is not a true freshman and he got beat out last year for the starting job by a walk on. He is in his second year on this team and he holds a scholorship. Back in July I predicted to my friends that our place kicker could shank a ball left or right of the goal post as the final seconds are ticking off the clock on November 27th in Columbus. That is one of my worst nightmares!!! This part of the game needs to improve. Not to mention the horrible play by the secondary. I heard so many good things about Cam gordon in the off season but so far I haven't seen enough to give me any confidence in his play at all. I hate to call out a player but he needs to watch film and catch up quick!!!!!
diablo_cheese
Sun, Sep 12, 2010 : 11:29 a.m.
Corners have played awesome the last two weeks for what they are. Safety has been just the opposite. Play calling concerns me with the off. Are they just not wanting to put much on tape for game 5 and beyound? Mich last drive was so much more creative then anything they showed in the secound half. This game should of been a blow out with what nd brought to the table. Open up the play book for denard and let him break every college record.....go blue
umgoblue47
Sun, Sep 12, 2010 : 10:07 a.m.
the kicking game is a work in progress and i think it will improve... 3 and out is that the best you got? blame the coach again... pretty lame... go blue...
grantwstephens
Sun, Sep 12, 2010 : 9:44 a.m.
I love to see all of these people talking about how DRob is the entire team. They act like they know more about Michigan's offense than DRob and the Rich Rod do. Its both comical and pathetic at the same time. For me I'm going to stick with what DRob says and right now its all about the O line a recievers. I havent seen him take any credit. As for the kicking game and secondary they suck. I havent seen a comment from anyone praising them so I'm not understanding why 3 and out and all these others keep running their mouth about it. I guess theres so few things to take shots at Michigan about these days you have to go after true freshmen kickers.
tulsatom
Sun, Sep 12, 2010 : 8:36 a.m.
Just because a kicker does well in practice doesn't mean he won't choke under pressure in a big game. I thought the field goal kicking by Gibbons and punting was pretty bad all day. Ironically, Denard Robinson's pooch (sp?) punt was the best one of the day. U-M needs to find kickers and punters who can handle the pressure in real game situations, and I'm not sure how they can simulate that in practice.
kilroy
Sun, Sep 12, 2010 : 6:39 a.m.
But for bad officiating which allowed a Notre Dame touchdown even the ball wasn't carried over the line, and absolutely rotten field goal kicking by Michigan's Gibbons, the score would have been 40 to 17.
Richard
Sun, Sep 12, 2010 : 6:01 a.m.
Congrats to the Wolverines for an excellent game and win! Being from NH, I was at the game last weekend against UCONN, and couldn't believe how well the quarterback brought this team together. I sat at my inlaws yesterday watching the game and listening to the band play. I think the band needs to be at every road game, they also give the team incentive to play hard. Jordan Kovacs is another player to be commended. Congrats to him for his interception. Keep up the great work team and let's show the Big Ten, Michigan is back, big time. Go Blue!
Mick52
Sun, Sep 12, 2010 : 12:29 a.m.
I betcha Mr. Gibbons will be kicking about 500 field goals in practice this week.
Robbie Webb.
Sat, Sep 11, 2010 : 11:02 p.m.
Haha! Oh 3 and Out, way to call out Will Hagerup had one bad punt the entire game. Alot of those guys on the field are Rich Rod's. Again, PAY ATTENTION!
NC Wolverine 20
Sat, Sep 11, 2010 : 10:40 p.m.
DR's run was the longest in ND stadium history. Ever. Dick Panin ran 88 yards against ND in East Lansing.
jameslucas
Sat, Sep 11, 2010 : 10:19 p.m.
Shoelaces was an RR recruit, nice to see "his guy" doing so well.
3 And Out
Sat, Sep 11, 2010 : 10:13 p.m.
The kicker and punter were RRs recruits. Nice to see "his guys" doing so well.
clarklaker
Sat, Sep 11, 2010 : 10:10 p.m.
Hello Shoelace
jameslucas
Sat, Sep 11, 2010 : 10:05 p.m.
Can Michigan have Shoelaces kick feild goals?