Michigan thrashed utterly out-manned Penn State 49-10 in front of a raucous home crowd Saturday afternoon, giving the first real glimpse to just how frightening Michigan can be … and just how much ground PSU has to make up on their way back to elitism.
From the opening jump, when PSU got the ball deep in their own territory and proceeded to go backwards to the point where they needed every blade of grass to avoid a safety, you could see this one was going to be a long jaunt for them.
The only time in the first half that PSU could stop the Wolverines was when Jehu Chesson dropped a ball he’d catch 99 times out of 100 and they turned the ball over on downs. By the time it was over, Michigan would roll up 515 yards, including 326 on the ground in what had to be a ghastly bullying for PSU to watch.
The Nittany Lions seemed to know they had a possible flogging on their hands. Down seven and facing a fourth and five in Michigan territory in the first quarter, they proceeded to attempt to go for it, leaving the Wolverines with the ball near midfield. In the second half, down 28-0, they’d opt for a field goal attempt inside the 10, the ole “well, let’s just get points here so we don’t have the indignity of a shut out” move.
De’Veon Smith ran for 8.0 yards per carry for 107 and a score. Karan Higdon averaged 9 for 81 and two scores. Overall, four Wolverines averaged 6.7 yards per carry or more.
Michigan just looks bigger, more fundamentally sound, and yes, significantly faster than any incarnation of the Wolverines in recent memory. In rummaging the closet of sacrificial lambs Hawaii and Central Florida, it was evident. But everyone always wants to know how it’s going to be against teams that aren’t paid to take a thrashing for a day.
PSU is a traditional powerhouse, albeit one mired in a period of time where they’re neither really bad nor capable of being really good. What they aren’t is chopped liver, and Michigan wandered through their defense and offensive line like a heat seeking missile of scythes.
Fire breathing Jim Harbaugh and Don Brown look like they have this team humming, and the sky truly is the limit. This isn’t fodder only for homers. This is a damn good football team with speed all over the joint. Quarterback Wilton Speight had easily his best game, looking utterly comfortable with PSU defenders breathing down his neck to the moment he had to throw the ball.
As for Penn State, the offensive line still is a major issue. James Franklin dropped to 1-14 overall against top 25 teams in his career, including 0-6 while in State College. Those sorts of things are somewhat arbitrary, but coaches are often measured against how they perform against the other elites at places like Penn State.
The chasm for 2016 and possibly beyond betwixt Michigan and Penn State is large. There are better days ahead for PSU, for sure. The only problem for the rest of the Big Ten? There are for the 49-10 winners, too.
