michigan football
U-M Offense Ranks Fifth
In Big Ten In Big Plays
W
ith Devin Gardner a dangerous
threat as a passer and in the
running game, tight end mismatches
in sophomore Devin Funchess and
freshman Jake Butt, and a proven
receiver in fifth-year senior Jeremy
Gallon, the Michigan offense produced 5.5 big plays — 20 yards or
more — per game in the first seven
weeks of the season. However, in the
first three games of November, U-M
generated only 10 total big plays, and
entered its Nov. 23 contest at Iowa
with 49 this season.
The offense's lack of big plays recently has coincided with its overall
struggles. In going 1-2 against Michigan State, Nebraska and Northwestern from Nov. 2-16, the Maize and
Blue averaged 236.0 yards and 15.3
points per game, down from 446.4
yards and 42.4 points in their first
seven contests.
"The one thing you've always got
Redshirt junior quarterback Devin Gardner and the U-M offense averaged 236.0 yards and
15.3 points per game in the first three games of November.
photo by Lon Horwedel