Michigan Football: Takeaways from 78-0 Beatdown of Rutgers

Oct 8, 2016; Piscataway, NJ, USA; Michigan Wolverines linebacker Jabrill Peppers (5) runs with the ball during their game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at High Points Solutions Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

It was one of the most lopsided victories in Michigan football history, and I really don’t know what kind of serious takeaways there are after that.

I don’t even know what to say after that. Do I talk about the Michigan football’s dominance? Do I talk about how embarrassingly bad was Rutgers was?

On one hand, perhaps players like Chris Evans deserve some praise after that game; he led the Wolverines in rushing and had a game reminiscent of the season-opener against Hawaii. But did you see Rutgers? You could’ve run your little nephew out there and he would’ve picked up three or four yards a pop.

Or maybe I could go on about how absolutely dominant Michigan’s defense was, talking about how the Wolverines didn’t allow a completion beyond the line of scrimmage, and how Rutgers didn’t even get a first down until midway through the fourth quarter.

There’s always Jabrill Peppers, who had what I’m gathering to be the pundits’ favorite performance of his thus far. He didn’t even play half the game.

I do need to talk about Rutgers. I’m not an expert in lopsided games, but I can’t think of a sporting event off the top of my head that was so incredibly humiliating for one team. It was fitting that this game occurred one day after the 100-year anniversary of Georgia Tech beating Cumberland by a score of 222-0.

Rutgers’ two best plays of the night were both kick returns, in my opinion. Why Chris Ash decided to let his team walk back onto the field Michigan had just purchased is beyond my understanding.

Oct 8, 2016; Piscataway, NJ, USA; Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Jehu Chesson (86) fails to catch a pass while being defended by Rutgers Scarlet Knights defensive back Blessuan Austin (10) at High Points Solutions Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Backups were just as dominant

Here’s the thing: Maybe it’s because Rutgers had already quit by this point, or maybe it’s because Michigan really is just that much better than the Scarlet Knights, but the Wolverines’ second-stringers dominated the game just like the starters.

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Mop-up duty probably began about halfway through the second quarter, but Michigan unveiled its bruisers on the lower end of the depth chart in the second half.

The offensive line: still taking Rutgers defenders wherever they pleased.

The defensive line: still wrecking havoc in Rutgers’ backfield.

The running backs: still finding creases and imposing their will.

Other than just having fun watching the demolition, I think it’s difficult as a fan to find things that you’re pleased with in the later stages of a game like that. But against the Scarlet Knights, I had a good time watching Michigan’s second-, third- and fourth-string players act like they were the starters.

True freshman safety Josh Metellus led the Wolverines with six tackles (all solo) and had a sack. Khaleke Hudson, another freshman safety, recorded four tackles. Karan Higdon had 114 yards on a team-high 13 carries.

It was like the starters went into the locker room at halftime and just put on different jerseys.

*I fully acknowledge this was a game against Rutgers, therefore results and statistics should not be weighed too heavily.

Jabrill Peppers for Heisman has taken off

I went back and forth between Peppers’ Heisman campaign gaining legitimacy against Rutgers or just picking up speed.

If you’ve been following Michigan since last season, you’re probably more inclined to believe this thing is just picking up speed—because it’s something we’ve been talking about for a while. But for whatever reason, this appears to be the game where national pundits actually took notice of Peppers.

In one half of football he had 74 rushing yards (including a career-long 63-yard run), two touchdowns (almost a third on a punt return that was called back) and two tackles from a multitude of positions on defense.

Harbaugh confirmed after the game that Peppers can in fact throw the ball, and the play where he bootlegged to the right and ran it in for the score was designed to be a pass.

“There’s nothing he can’t do,” said Harbaugh. “This is the darndest thing I’ve ever seen. In my humble opinion, we’re looking at a Heisman Trophy winner — and candidate.”

What Peppers is still missing is a Heisman game or moment. His performance against Rutgers was obviously fantastic, but it was one half of football against a very bad team. He’ll have opportunities to showcase himself to a bigger audience against Michigan State and Ohio State.

For now, though, it’s clearly no longer speculation or optimism to say Peppers is a Heisman contender this season.

Oct 8, 2016; Piscataway, NJ, USA; The Rutgers Scarlet Knight stands next to the National Championship coaches trophy at High Points Solutions Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Rutgers is the worst

I’m done talking about what Michigan did because we all saw it, and honestly, words of mine aren’t going to do that performance justice.

So Rutgers…

You’re awful. Worse than awful, actually—an embarrassment.

I would hate to have been Chris Ash in the locker room at halftime on Saturday. What do you say? “Hey guys, wow, does anyone know how we can get out of here without being seen?”

I completely understand that Rutgers is undergoing a dramatic shift, still only in its infancy in the Big Ten—and geography hasn’t done the Scarlet Knights a favor with being on the east side of the conference—but I thought it looked obvious on Saturday that Rutgers just quit.

Not to take anything away from Michigan’s backups, who came in and continued dominating the game, but the Scarlet Knights were dead and gone long before that point.

How do you not complete a pass beyond the line of scrimmage? Really, a single pass? How do you not move the chains until the game is almost over? It was an awful sight.

One plus from Saturday was that Rutgers punted for more yards (603) than Michigan had on offense (600). Nice job, Michael Cintron. After 16 punts in one night, surely you earned something special from your teammates.