Mike Hart key to Michigan’s offense
With Hart in the lineup Michigan had a chance
Photo: Larry E. Wright - Ann Arbor News
Yesterday I touched on Mike Hart’s key role in the Michigan offense. Today I’m going to further highlight that importance by taking a look at the drives where he wasn’t in the lineup. That time period stretches from there being 13:35 left in the second quarter to a drive with 4:44 left in the third quarter. It’s nearly half the game, and as you’ll see the drives he missed make up almost half of the offensive drives Michigan had yesterday.
2nd quarter
13:35 drive - [own 20] Hart picked up 4 yards on 1st down, Henne 0-2, punted.
9:39 drive - [own 20] Minor: 16 yards in 4 carries, Henne went 2-4 for 29 yards, Michigan turned ball over on downs.
2:08 drive - [own 32] Minor: 2 carries for 2 net yards, Henne’s best drive: 5-7 for 61 yards, Michigan kicks FG.
3rd quarter
14:54 drive - [App 39] Minor: 2 rushes for 13 yards, Henne 0-2, Michigan kicks FG [short field after Trent’s INT]
8:13 drive - [own 10] Minor: 2 rushes for 5 yards - fumble, Henne 2-2 for 9 yards, TURNOVER at own 32.
4:44 drive - [own 28] Henne: 0-3, 3 and out
TOTALS
Minor: 10 carries, 36 yards, 1 fumble, 0 TDs
Henne: 9-20 99 yds 0 TDs [5 yards per attempt]
Minor had one turnover which was a big play as that fumble at the Michigan 32 resulted in a missed field goal attempt for Appalachian State. But the big issue is that Chad Henne wasn’t able to lead the team to more than 6 points over this stretch. He had one great drive with 2:08 left in the half when Michigan went into the 2-minute offense. Unfortunately Michigan could only make it as far as the Appalachian State 5 yard line and had to settle for a field goal.
You simply expect more from a senior quarterback. Take out the one good drive during the 2 minute offense and Henne actually went 4 for 13 for 38 yards - less than 3 yards per attempt and just below a 33% completion percentage. That’s obviously terrible. Michigan’s offense had 13 drives if you don’t count the last drive with 26 seconds remaining in the game. So these drives account for just under 50% of Michigan’s offensive possessions. It’s simply not enough production on Henne’s part.
Another way to put it is that with Mike Hart in the lineup for a little more than half of the Wolverines’ offensive possessions the Michigan offense scored 26 points. If he wouldn’t have been dinged up and missed so much time there’s a good chance the Wolverines come back to win this game.
If the team can rebound from what is likely the worst loss in the program’s history this could help make the case for Mike Hart to get some Heisman consideration. He’s clearly the most valuable player for the Michigan offense.
I’ll take a look at the defense’s terrible first half performance next.
appalachian state Brandon Minor Chad Henne Michigan Football Mike HartNo Comments
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