The Wolverine

February 2012

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/52988

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 48 of 91

MICHIGAN FOOTBALL 2011 All-Opponent Team OFFENSE QB — Braxton Miller, Ohio State: The true freshman hurt the Wolverines with both his arm and his legs, completing 14 of 25 pass attempts for a season-best 235 yards and two scores, while he rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries (6.2 yards per carry) in a performance that kept Michigan's streak-snapping victory in doubt until the last drive. Also con- sidered: Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech; Dan Persa, Northwest- ern; Tommy Rees, Notre Dame. RB — Edwin Baker, Michigan State: After rambling for 147 yards and a touchdown against the Wolverines in 2010, Baker accounted for more than half of Michigan State's total offense production this year with a season-high 167 yards on 22 carries (6.7 yards per carry), including a one-yard touchdown plunge. Also considered: Cierre Wood, Notre Dame. RB — Marcus Coker, Iowa: Coker ran for 132 yards and both of Iowa's rushing scores. His off-tackle 13-yard scamper early in the fourth quarter gave Iowa a 24-9 lead and would end up being the difference in a 24-16 win for the Hawkeyes. Also considered: Ronnie Hillman, San Diego State. WR — Michael Floyd, Notre Dame: Floyd followed up a 131-yard, one touchdown receiving performance against U-M in 2009 by upping the ante with 13 catches for 159 yards under the bright lights of Michigan Stadium's first night game this season. Also considered: Jordan White, Western Michigan; Marvin McNutt, Iowa. WR — Danny Coale, Virginia Tech: Coale ran wild through a struggling Michigan secondary during the Sugar Bowl, catch- ing eight balls for 117 yards (14.6 yards per reception), twice keeping drives alive on third-and-long situations. Thankfully for Michigan, replay officials ruled Coale's one-handed, 20-yard touchdown catch in overtime was incomplete. Also consid- ered: A.J. Jenkins, Illinois. TE — Drake Dunsmore, Northwestern: Opposing tight ends were largely negated by Michigan coverage schemes this season (the Wolverines yielded only a single touchdown to a tight end), but Dunsmore managed to escape the clutches of the U-M secondary for seven catches and 73 yards. Also con- sidered: Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame. OL — Notre Dame: While offensive linemen never seem to get the credit they deserve, the Notre Dame OL shined under the brightest lights in Michigan Stadium history. The Irish bludgeoned the Wolverines for 513 yards, including 198 yards on the ground, and did not yield a sack. Also considered: Michigan State; Eastern Michigan. DEFENSE DE — J.R. Collins, Virginia Tech: Michigan's offense never got on track during the Sugar Bowl, and Collins was a major reason why. The undersized defensive end caused headaches off the edges, finishing with seven tackles, including one in the backfield. Also considered: Broderick Binns, Iowa. DE — William Gholston, Michigan State: While Gholston's performance against Michigan may be remembered for some less-than-sportsmanslike actions, his physical play caused havoc in the U-M backfield throughout the game. He finished with three total tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks. Also considered: Gerald Gooden, Purdue. DT — Thomas Nardo, Iowa: Nardo was a menace in the middle, mucking up Michigan's interior run game while also SPECIAL TEAMS PK — Drew Basil, Ohio State: Michigan entered the regular- season finale against Ohio State without having yielded mul- tiple field goals to an opponent all season. Basil changed that, connecting on two attempts. He also boomed four touchbacks on seven kickoff attempts. Also considered: Justin Myer, Vir- ginia Tech; Brett Maher, Nebraska. P — Jay Karutz, Eastern Michigan: Karutz punted five times for an average of 43.5 yards, including a 53-yard long, and placed three inside the 20 to help the Eagles limit the Wolver- ines' average starting field position to their own 16-yard line. Also considered: Ben Armer, Western Michigan; Brandon Wil- liams, Northwestern. FEBRUARY 2012 THE WOLVERINE 49 making plays sideline-to-sideline. He compiled eight total tackles to help Iowa's defense slow U-M's potent offense. Also considered: Jerel Worthy, Michigan State; Corey Marshall, Virginia Tech. DT — Kevin Pickelman, Michigan State: Pickelman crammed the interior, making four stops, including two for loss, and chasing down Denard Robinson once — a rare feat for a mammoth defensive tackle. Also considered: Kawann Short, Purdue. LB — Max Bullough, Michigan State: Bullough was the anchor in the middle for a Michigan State defense that man- handled the Wolverines in the trenches, yielding only 82 rush- ing yards. He posted eight tackles, including one tackle for loss, and also caused a key fumble. Also considered: Denicos Allen, Michigan State; David Nwabuisi, Northwestern; Dan Fox, Notre Dame. LB — Tyler Nielsen, Iowa: Nielson helped Iowa consistently fend off a pressing Michigan offense. He tallied 13 total tackles, including two tackles for loss, and recovered a fumble. Also considered: Joe Holland, Purdue; Miles Burris, San Diego State LB — Lavonte David, Nebraska: In a game where Michi- gan's offense gutted the Blackshirts, the All-Big Ten linebacker hunted Michigan ball carriers down, recording 17 total tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Also considered: Bryce McNaul, Northwestern CB — Johnny Adams, Michigan State: The Spartans were up only a touchdown with their heels pressed against their own goal-line late in the fourth quarter when a blitzing Adams bombarded a helpless Denard Robinson in the backfield to force a turnover on downs at the Spartans' 10-yard line. Adams finished with eight tackles and a sack, and he broke up two passes. Also considered: Jordan Mabin, Northwestern. CB — Josh Johnson, Purdue: Johnson was one of the only bright spots for a Purdue defense that allowed more than 500 yards. He was in on eight tackles, intercepted a pass and broke up another. Also considered: Larry Parker, San Diego State. S — Isaiah Lewis, Michigan State: With MSU clinging to a 21-14 lead, Michigan's comeback aspirations were slashed when Lewis snagged a Robinson pass and ran 39 yards for a game-icing touchdown. Lewis also made six tackles. Also con- sidered: Jordan Bernstine, Iowa. S — Ibraheim Campbell, Northwestern: The redshirt fresh- man twice snuffed out U-M scoring threats with interceptions inside the Wildcats' 5-yard line, one of which led to a Northwest- ern scoring drive. The first-team Freshman All-American added nine stops. Also considered: Brian Peters, Northwestern.

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of The Wolverine - February 2012