The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN FOOTBALL Year Quarterback Opponent Rush TDs Pass TDs Total TDs 1969 Don Moorhead Washington 1976 Rick Leach U-M QUARTERBACKS WITH TWO TOUCHDOWNS RUSHING AND PASSING 1976 Rick Leach Minnesota 1977 Rick Leach Navy 1978 Rick Leach Minnesota 1978 Rick Leach 1981 Steve Smith 1982 Steve Smith Northwestern 2 2 2 2 2 Northwestern 3 Illinois 1983 Steve Smith Minnesota 2010 Denard Robinson Indiana 2010 Denard Robinson Wisconsin* 2011 Denard Robinson Northwestern 2 2011 Denard Robinson Nebraska 2011 Denard Robinson Ohio State 2012 Denard Robinson Air Force 2012 Denard Robinson Illinois *Michigan lost Steve Smith would pick up that mantle again in 1981, setting a U-M single-game record with six touch- downs accounted for when he threw for three scores and ran for three more in a 70-21 victory against Illi- nois. He would achieve the two-and- two effort twice more. From 1984-2009, 17 different quar- terbacks would start at least one game for the Wolverines, but not one of them would rush for two touch- downs in the same game that they would throw for two. Until Robinson. He reached the milestone for the first time in 2010 against Indiana, rushing for two scores and throwing for three in a 42-35 win. Robinson did it again against Wisconsin, in the only game among the 16 with two and two to end in a loss (48-28). In fact, in these 16 affairs, U-M has aver- aged 48.4 points per game. 2012 Football Schedule Date Opponent Time/Result Sept. 1 vs. Alabama* L, 41-14 Sept. 8 Air Force W, 31-25 Sept. 15 UMass W, 63-13 Sept. 22 at Notre Dame L, 13-6 Oct. 6 at Purdue W, 44-13 Oct. 13 Illinois Oct. 20 Michigan State W, 12-10 Oct. 27 at Nebraska Nov. 24 at Ohio State Noon * at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas Nov. 3 at Minnesota Noon Nov. 10 Northwestern Noon Nov. 17 Iowa TBA W, 45-0 L, 23-9 Fifth-year senior safety Jordan Kovacs gave credit to Michigan's front seven — the defen- sive linemen and linebackers — for U-M's improved defensive performance once Big Ten play began. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Northwestern 2 3 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 3 2 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 3 2 2 5 4 4 4 5 5 6 5 6 5 4 4 4 5 4 4 DEFENSE HAS IMPROVED IN CONFERENCE SLATE In beginning the season 2-2, Michi- gan's defense ranked among the middling units in college football. The Wolverines listed 54th nation- ally in scoring (23.0 points allowed per game) and 37th in total defense (336.5 yards surrendered per game), but in conference action, the Maize and Blue have been far more formi- dable defensively, yielding just 11.5 points and 245.5 yards per game in starting off 3-1 in the Big Ten. "We did have our struggles at the beginning of the year, but it's those struggles that allow us to be the de- fense we are today, and we're con- tinuing to improve," fifth-year senior safety Jordan Kovacs said. Kovacs heaps praise on U-M's de- fensive line and linebackers, know- ing that their ability to make oppos- ing offenses one-dimensional will greatly aid the Wolverines' cause; in four league contests, opponents have averaged 132.0 yards rushing. "From a defensive back standpoint, we've done a fine job of keeping the ball inside and up front, and we're continuing to get better there, but it's the front seven that has really done a great job," he said. Defensive coordinator Greg Mat- tison helped resurrect the Michigan defense a year ago, and he's working equal wonders this season, though he's quick to give credit to the effort of his defenders. "The preparation — I can't empha- size it enough. This defense appears to be very, very focused on trying to get better each week," he said. Mattison himself receives credit from his players. really the Michigan standard — through the clouds," senior defen- sive end Craig Roh said. "He makes everyone come up to the standard. Even though it may be hard at times, he makes you not only a better player but a better person." While the front seven has been ter- rific, the back four has also played very well in recent weeks, with op- posing quarterbacks accumulating a 101.85 pass efficiency rating against U-M in Big Ten play. Over an en- tire campaign, that mark would rank 11th nationally. "We have great chemistry in our secondary," position coach Curt Mal- lory said. "We meet as a group, the corners and safeties, and we're all together all the time. That's impor- tant when you're meeting, practicing —- that you're communicating with each other. "He's a guy whose standard is cause a slip-up back there is a touch- down, but the more you practice and the more comfortable your guys are with each other, the more confidence they'll have." Michigan's defense has allowed just three offensive plays all year of 40 yards or more — a 40-yard rush and 51-yard pass completion to Al- "The communication is so vital be- NOVEMBER 2012 THE WOLVERINE 41