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Miami Report Card

Miami at Michigan

Pass offense

C

Outside of a couple fumbles, one of which he lost and which led to Michigan's first field goal (and a 10-0 lead) in the first quarter, quarterback Daniel Raudabaugh was fine. In fact, he deserved much better. Several of his passes were dropped. "If we catch two or three of those dropped passes," Miami coach Shane Montgomery said, "that might be the difference in the game."

Run offense

C

Thomas Merriweather deserves a B for gaining 77 yards on 21 carries, a workmanlike effort, but on Miami's other 11 attempts the result was minus-29 yards. Most of those, but not all, came on quarterback sacks. The blocking along the interior line was decent, especially when you consider the loss to injury of Bob Gulle.

(7 of Michigan's first 9 runs went for 5 or more yards)

Pass defense

A

It didn't hurt the RedHawks that the Wolverines can't throw the football to save their lives. Well, maybe a slight exaggeration. Still, the Wolverines did pass for only 103 yards, and 50 of those came on Michigan's first play from scrimmage when quarterback Steven Threet threw a little swing pass to Martavious Odoms, who refused to go down for 50 yards — half the way he seemed to have RedHawks hanging off him. But after that, almost nothing. There were no sacks, but plenty of pressure.

Run defense

B

Seven of Michigan's first nine running attempts went for 5 or more yards. After that, Miami's defense against the run was much better, sometimes dominating. The RedHawks did give up a couple big plays to Michael Shaw (36 yards) and Sam McGuffie (26 yards), but this was Michigan. Everybody gives up at least a few long plays to Michigan. Special mention goes to linebacker Clayton Mullins (four tackles for loss, 10 overall), and Joey Hudson, Jeff Thompson and Morris Council (each with a tackle for loss).

Special teams

A

In addition to Jake Richardson's big day (seven punts for a 53.9-yard average), place-kicker Nathan Parseghian went 2-for-2 on field goal attempts, making him 4-for-4 for the season. "I'm experienced," Parseghian explained. "I'm a fifth-year senior. But I really wish we could kick more extra points." So far in 2008 he is 1-for-1 on PATs.

Intangibles

A

The RedHawks could have fallen apart after Michigan took its 10-0 lead, especially with the pressure of the noise from 106,724 cascading down from the bleachers. "We were a little shell shocked to start with," Mullins conceded. "After we held them to a field goal and a three-and-out, out confidence level went through the roof. We felt like we could play with them."