Three takeaways from Angelique S. Chengelis of The Detroit News after Michigan’s 27-24 win over USC in Week 4.
Experience highs and lows
An effective punter can mean a lot to a team in terms of field position, and Tommy Doman put in his best performance of the season when the Wolverines needed it most.
He had eight punts against USC, four of which landed inside the 20-yard line. The Trojans began those attacks from their 6-, 13-, 8- and 10-yard lines and couldn’t do much from those positions. His contribution didn’t go unnoticed after the game. While defensive tackle Mason Graham praised the offense late in the game for staying on the field and giving the defensive players rest, edge Josaiah Stewart chimed in, adding, “Tommy Doman got us some great field position, so I definitely thank him.”
Doman averaged 49.1 yards per punt. A low point in the kicking game was a mistake by kicker Dominic Zvada, who has played so well this season, making 5 of 5 field goals, including three from 52 yards or more. He was also perfect on extra points before missing an attempt that could have been costly after Will Johnson’s interception return that gave Michigan a 20-10 lead. The kick was low and blocked. This season, Zvada has made 10 of 11 extra points.
Sack day for the line
Michigan had four sacks against USC, matching its total from its first three games. All came from the defensive line, including two by Stewart. Graham, who had perhaps his best performance of the season, was his team’s best player with six tackles and a sack, and tackle Kenneth Grant also had one.
“I think a lot of those sacks were on four-man offenses,” head coach Sherrone Moore said. “I thought Coach (Wink) Martindale did a great job. We gave him a game ball in the locker room with a mix of coverages, a mix of blitzes, a mix of looks, turns and plays that kept (USC quarterback Miller Moss) guessing, because Miller Moss is a good player. We hit him a lot.”
Stewart had eight quarterback pressures – seven in the last three games – and three hits on the quarterback, according to Pro Football Focus. Stewart leads the team with four sacks.
More: Wojo: Wolverines fight their way back and stun the Trojans in the final seconds
Get the most out of the game
Football isn’t always about stats, and Michigan fullback/tight end Max Bredeson is a prime example of that. He’s the energetic captain and former walk-on who fires up the offense before games.
Running back Donovan Edwards, also a captain, has called Bredeson the “heart and soul” of the offense. What was evident against USC was Bredeson’s selflessness as a run blocker, Exhibit B, the block on fourth-and-1 that allowed Kalel Mullings to score the game-winning touchdown.
Bredeson is not the type to stand out in interviews, and after the game he talked about the bond of a team that is still in the development phase this season.
“The best thing about playing Michigan football is you’re playing for somebody else,” Bredeson said. “You’re playing for the guy next to you, you’re playing for Michigan, you’re playing for everybody that’s ever played before you. When you have to run the ball, when you have to grind meat, you’re doing it for more than just yourself. That’s what it felt like.”
This is what it feels like to be Bredeson.
@chengelis
