Undermanned Michigan 'D' too little, too late with adjustments for Ducks

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan's defense broke the trend of having one bad quarter this season before adjusting again.

It was a bad half in the Wolverines' 38-17 loss to No. 1 Oregon on Saturday. And unfortunately for the home team, this happened in the first two quarters of the game.

The Ducks' high-powered offense scored touchdowns on four of their first five drives en route to 470 yards of total offense. Heisman Trophy hopeful quarterback Dillon Gabriel was on point, completing 22 of his 34 pass attempts for 294 yards and a touchdown while rushing for the second score, a 23-yard run that went untouched.

“We just have to do better,” edge rusher Derrick Moore said. “In the first half things didn’t go the way we wanted. We also allowed them to get too many yards past us.”

Oregon completed a total of eight plays of 20 yards or more, four of them against receiver Traeshon Holden (6 catches, 149 yards), who tore through a Michigan secondary and missed his two starting cornerbacks, Will Johnson and Jyaire Hill. Aamir Hall and Zeke Berry, who moved up from the nickel spot, stepped in but were no match for the nation's 11th-ranked passing offense, which had six players catching multiple passes.

More: The offense is shutting down Michigan before it can even get started against No. 1 Oregon

After opening the game with a 12-play, 63-yard touchdown drive, Oregon managed 75 yards in six plays thanks to two chunk plays and a penalty on Josaiah Stewart.

“They ran a lot of quick plays, quick screens, stuff like that — and we didn't do a great job of beating them right away,” said Wesley Walker, who started when Makari Paige moved to the nickel spot. “We gave them a few more yards that they probably shouldn’t have gotten. I would just say that improving our alignment and communication would play a big role in turning around the way we played in the first half.”

Michigan was able to force a three-and-out in the second quarter, but Oregon had the ball again on the next drive – gaining 94 yards in just 10 plays, highlighted by a 38-yard completion to Holden, with Hall defended in man coverage.

“They run RPOs (run-pass options), so no matter how you look at them, they’re either going to run away or pass it on,” Walker said. “Just finding a middle ground and confusing them with what we're showing, I feel like we've just given them their opinion.”

Head coach Sherrone Moore praised Berry (4 tackles, pass breakup) for holding up well against Evan Stewart, Oregon's leading receiver in previous wins over Ohio State and Boise State. Stewart finished the game with just three catches for 16 yards, despite the Ducks' top receiver Tez Johnson leaving the game early due to injury.

“I was really proud of him; “I’m (also) really proud of Aamir,” Moore said. “He had some plays that he wanted to get back, but overall those guys fought hard to keep themselves out of the starting lineup.”

The Michigan defense adjusted well in the second half, forcing the Ducks to three-and-outs on their first two drives of the third quarter…until an illegal formation penalty extended the second drive, giving Oregon only a field goal.

Davis Warren and the offense had an opportunity to capitalize on the momentum in the fourth and cut the deficit to one point, but a turnover on downs and a Ducks touchdown late in the game derailed their fortunes. Michigan set a season high in points and yards and didn't do enough to put much pressure on Gabriel and Co. early on.

“They gave up some points late, but if we get the offense in the red zone, it's going to be a closer game,” Moore said. “It's a team game, but at the end of the day it's a defeat. I give them credit; Coach (Dan) Lanning and his staff are doing a great job building a great team. But we have to keep fighting and do the little things right.”

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