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Michigan - from mediocrity to the brink of greatness to pathetic.

Sunday, November 13, 2005

Michigan has gone from mediocrity to brink of greatness

By Bob Wojnowski / The Detroit News
Bob Wojnowski

ANN ARBOR -- From where they were, which was nowhere, it's fascinating to see the Wolverines now, somewhere potentially special. It has taken a leap of faith and a load of effort, and just the right amount of imagination.

Michigan's season has been saved from disaster, but for it to be remembered, there's another giant leap, now looming. And here's a statement you couldn't have summoned five weeks ago without the use of hallucinogenics: The Wolverines look ready for Ohio State.

It became clear after about, oh, 37 seconds of U-M's 41-14 pasting of Indiana on Saturday that its purpose was twofold. Get out the kinks. Insert the wrinkles.

Last month, we saw complacency in U-M. We saw blank stares and injury scars. Now we see urgency, a 7-3 team emerging from a 3-3 puddle, a defense using its depth and an offense finding creative ways to be dangerous again.

Steve Breaston ran all over the Hoosiers, returning punts and kicks, catching three passes (one for a touchdown) and throwing one (an incompletion) as the Wolverines coasted to a 41-7 halftime lead. Breaston looked revived and so did quarterback Chad Henne, which gives U-M legitimate hope against OSU's terrific defense.

Emotion supplies boost

This is where Michigan's sloppy start might help. Coach Lloyd Carr and his staff discovered they couldn't hammer opponents the traditional way. Without Mike Hart, who rested his injured ankle but should be ready for the Buckeyes, the Wolverines appeared lost early in the season.

"I just think we kept fighting, even when some things didn't go our way," Breaston said. "This team is playing with a lot more emotion. What kept us going was we knew the type of team we really were."

Now, with a little help from their good friends in East Lansing, the Wolverines amazingly could snag a share of the Big Ten title. A lot can be traced to their defense, to the rejuvenation of Gabe Watson and Pierre Woods, and the development of youngsters. Give coordinator Jim Herrmann credit. His defense has been superb of late.

That's not U-M's biggest concern now. Henne and the offense, inconsistent much of the season, will face an OSU run defense ranked third in the country. The Wolverines had better not think they can line up and mash the Buckeyes.

Fine-tuning offense

That's why the Indiana tune-up was all about honing the passing game, about getting Henne comfortable and showing enough trick plays to make Ohio State think. Speedy Antonio Bass ran a few times, part of U-M's plan to use its playmakers. Henne came out flinging, completing 17 of 24 with three touchdowns, all in the first half.

"I think he played very well," Carr said. "When you sit up in the stands, or you sit on the sofa watching on TV, it looks easy. It's so easy to say he didn't do this, he didn't do that. But I think he's had a very good year. He's a much better quarterback than he was a year ago."

Hmm. I'll say he's a better quarterback than he was a month ago, and U-M is a much better team than a month ago. In an admirable turnaround, the Wolverines have found ways to win. To validate their recovery, they need to find one more. The encouraging news for them is they suddenly have options available.