Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 41

Sunday, November 1, 1998 The Detroit News 5C U-M 15, Minnesota 10 Game Report U-M can't even run vs. also-rans TERRY FOSTER Summary Michigan 1 0 I 15 Minnesota 10 0 0 0 10 FIRST QUARTER MINNESOTA Adam Bailey 28 field goal with 9:07 remaining. Drive: 52 yards, 13 plays. Time of possession: 4:51. Key play: Billy Cockerham 12 run for first down at U-M 33.

Minnesota 1, Michigan 0. MICHIGAN Tai Streets 76 pass from Tom Brady with 8:46 remaining. Jay Feely kick. Drive 76 yards, one play. Time of possession: :21.

Michigan 7, Minnesota. MINNESOTA Trevis Graham recovers fumbled snap on U-M punt in end zone with :19 left. Bailey kick. Minnesota 10, Michigan 7. SECOND QUARTER MICHIGAN Jay Feely 18 field goal with 5: 14 left.

Drive: 80 yards, 14 plays. Time of possession: 7:00. Key play: Streets 39 pass from Brady to convert on third down at 23 from U-M 6. Michigan 10, Minnesota 10. THIRD QUARTER No scoring.

FOURTH QUARTER MICHIGAN James Hall sack of Cockerham for safety with 10:42 remaining. Michigan 12, Minnesota 10. MICHIGAN Feely 42 field goal with 6:36 remaining. Drive: 35 yards, seven plays. Time of possession: 4:02.

Key play: DiAllo Johnson 27 pass from Brady for third-down conversion at Gophers' 30. Michigan IS, Minnesota 10. Attendance: 41,310. TEAM STATISTICS 1 ii, ilium iniiiniiiijiiiiiiiiiii)ijiiji 11 .4 ijn.i.mui.winijiimaiiiini k'' i 1 Aaaii. himself for something.

With the meat of the schedule coming up, the A-Train must roll again with reckless abandon. Here is an example. The Wolverines got the ball with 3:22 remaining. Two first downs, and the game is over. But Thomas lost 2 yards on the first play, mostly because the line broke down, and the drive was as good as over.

Michigan ran just 65 seconds off the clock. This gave Minnesota a final shot at an upset, and they nearly pulled it off as a desperation pass glanced off the helmet of DeWayne Patmon in the end zone and barely eluded Minnesota receiver Antoine I Ien-derson. Certainly the offense must mix the run and the pass. However, if Michigan is to succeed, it must follow the basic formula for success by establishing the trenches. Full line? "Oh, I love that," offensive lineman Jon Jansen said.

"That is part of Michigan football, and that will always be a part of Michigan football. It's a tough drill, but that is where the money is made." MINNEAPOLIS Back in the day, when the signature of Michigan football was stamped in power and toughness, players dreaded the grueling drill that was sure to follow a game like Saturday's 15-10 victory over Minnesota at the Metrodome. During the next practice. Bo Schembechler's whistle pierced the air, and he followed with the words that made everyone cringe. "OK.

Give me a FULL LINE." "Give me a nose guard here. A tackle here." Three blockers against four defenders. Running backs were not allowed to run outside of a five-yard box. These drills were physical and draining. They caused short tempers and sent many players crumbling to the earth in agony as backs ducked their heads inside one line plunge after another.

These drills of torture made the Wolverines tougher late in the season, when defenses became bigger and hungrier and weather conditions more unpredictable. Full line at full throttle. Hopefully, Coach Lloyd Carr will remember this drill. The Wolverines (6-2, 5-0 Big Notebook that made it great. Let's give the Wolverines some credit.

They are not the team they were a year ago. However, they've found ways to stay stride for stride with Ohio State and Wisconsin and to return to the Top 25 at No. 22 after opening the season with two losses. "The thing we want to do is win," Coach Lloyd Carr said. "Six weeks ago, we were on our backs and we had to get back on our knees and try to start making a run.

1 am proud of their effort and attitude. I believe you play to your strengths, and our strength has been defense. But you cannot leave your defense on the field all day long. You had better be able to run the football." The offensive line is young. Jeff Backus, Steve Hutchinson and Dave Brandt are sophomores.

However, we cannot just place blame at their feet. What has happened to the A-Train? Anthony Thomas (9 carries, 24 yards) was the Big Ten freshman of the year last season, when he ran with power and determination. Now he looks like a man trying to feel his way around the field, almost as if he is saving offense Jumes ltonehuek The Detrtiit News Josh Williams, left, and James Whitley sack Minnesota's Billy Cockerham, one of five sacks by U-M. Streets gives spark U-M Minn. FIRST DOWNS Total 10 14 Rushing 4 8 Passing 6 5 Penalty 0 1 3rddown eff.

516 718 4th-down eff. 12 02 RUSHING NoyYds 3323 50136 Avg. rush 2.7 PASSING AttCmps 2719 206 Interceptions 0 3 Avg. per pass 10.4 4.1 SackedYds lost 516 718 Passing yards 282 83 Total yards 259 219 PUNTS NoyAvg. 740.9 638.3 Kick returnsyds.

367 394 Punt returnsyds. 310 414 Int. returnsyds. 30 00 Penaltiesyds. 758 11106 Fumbleslost 00 00 Time of 28:09 31:51 In good hands Michigan's single-game leaders in receiving yards, listing yards, name, catches, opponent and year.

197: Jack Clancy, 10 catches, Oregon State, 1966. 192: Tal Streets, 6 catches, Minnesota, 1998. 188: Derrick Alexander, 7 catches, Illinois, 1993. 184: Jim Smith, 5 catches, Purdue, 1975. 179: Mercury Hayes, 7 catches, Virginia, 1995.

179: Amani Toomer, 7 catches. Boston College 1994. 179: Jack Clancy, 11 catches, Illinois, 1966. U-M STATISTICS jpwti, 1 1 tuff 'YDl-Nrr fTtWTf Ten) edged another also-ran for their sixth straight victory. However, there was disturbing news during the Wolverines' triumph.

They rushed for minus-23 yards on 33 carries and tallied just 10 first downs. When crunch time came and went, the offense failed to move the chains and once again relied too much on its defense. 1 know. I know. The Gophers showed seven- and eight-man fronts.

They blitzed strong safety Tyrone Carter, who played brilliantly and created mismatches with different defensive looks. I understand the difficulties of establishing the run with these 1990s defenses of bigger, stronger and faster down linemen, and linebackers sitting in the box as if they are parked at a truck stop. 1 lowever, if Michigan is to get through the stretch of Penn State, Wisconsin and Ohio State, it must re-establish the power mm DeWayne Patmon, right, is that sealed U-M's victory. The Wolverines have used six interior line combinations in eight games. Jeff Backus and Jon Jansen have started every game since last season at the tackles.

"We've got guys moving around," DeBord said. "This time last year, we didn't have guys banged up, and we were able to continue to get better running the ball. Right now, we've got guys playing out of position. It hasn't created continuity." Chris Ziemann started the first four games of the season at right guard, but suffered a broken leg against Michigan State. David Brandt, Maurice Williams and Steve Frazier have started at right guard.

Frazier started against Minnesota, but redshirt freshman Adam Adkins played most of the game. DeBord said the Wolverines will not abandon their running game, even though their next three opponents are ranked among the top three in the Big Ten in rushing defense. "You've got to run the football," DeBord said. "You can see when you can't run the ball defense on the field all day. You have to be able to run the ball." U-M's offensive strength is its passing game, partly by default, mostly because of Streets.

But there are other fine receivers in Marcus Knight, DiAllo Johnson, David Terrell and tight end Jerame Tuman. It has a chance to be dangerous, if the coaches let it. U-M ran on 10 of 14 first downs at the outset. The coaches kept hammering Anthony Thomas and Justin Fargas into the line, for little purpose and less gain. No, the Wolverines don't have to launch Air Lloyd against Penn State, Wisconsin and Ohio State.

But they don't 4 ,1 I Jamrs Uunhuck The Dctmit News congratulated after making a fourth-quarter interception RUSHING Att Yds Avg Lg TD Thomas 18 34 1.9 6 0 Fargas 5 9 1.8 7 0 Shea 1 1 1.0 1 0 Vinson 1 -25 0 0 Brady 8 -42 2 0 PASSING Att Cmp Yds TD Int Brady 27 19 282 1 0 RECEIVING No Yds Lg TD Streets 6 192 76 1 Knight 5 25 14 0 Tuman 4 15 7 0 Thomas 2 18 20 0 Johnson 1 27 27 0 Terrell 1 5 5 0 PUNTING No Yds Lg 8L Vinson 7 286 50 0 PUNT RET. No Yds Lg TD Knight 3 10 9 0 KICK RET. No Yds Lg TD Fargas 3 67 26 0 TACKLES Solo Ast Sacks Tot Sword 5 4 0 9 Hendricks 7 0 0 7 Renes 5 1 0 6 Jones 5 1 16 Hall 4 2 16 Gold 4 1 0 5 Feazell 4 0 2 4 Brooks 3 1 0 4 Patmon 2 1 0 3 Frysinger 2 0 0 2 Epstein 2 0 0 2 Weathers .2 0 0 2 Whitley 11 12 Peterson 11 0 2 Wilson 0 2 0 2 Williams 10 0 1 Campbell 10 0 1 Fargas 10 0 1 Jordan 1 0 0 1 Shea 10 0 1 Miller 0 1 0 1 MINNESOTA STATISTICS RUSHING Att Yds Avg Lg TD Hamner 23 87 3.8 16 0 Cockerham 19 50 2.6 12 0 Evans 8 -1 7 0 PASSING Att Cmp Yds TD hit Cockerham 20 6 83 0 3 RECEIVING NO Yds Lg TD Henderson 2 36 27 0 Johnson 2 32 27 0 Leverson 2 15 8 0 PUNTING No Yds Lg BL Rindels 6 230 46 0 PUNT RET. No Yds Lg TD leverson 4 14 8 0 KICK RET. NO Yds Lg TD Carter 3 94 35 0 TACKLES Solo Ast Sacks Tot Carter 8 2 1 10 Hoffman 5 4 19 Williams 4 5 0 9 Middlebrooks 6 1 0 7 Mezera 4 0 2 4 Scruggs 13 0 4 Schlecht 2 1 0 3 Dimmy 12 0 3 Richard 12 0 3 Hutton 2 0 0 2 Russ 11 0 2 Harden 10 0 1 Osel 10 0 1 Graham 0 1 0 1 Poole 0 1 0 1 Michals 0 1 0 1 Braaten 0 1 0 1 Smith 0 1 0 1 1 Brady gets in mix Late in the third quarter and into the fourth, Michigan quarterback Tom Brady made sey-eral big plays to maintain a lengthy drive for the Wolverines, lie made a a 21-yard pass to Tai Streets to get U-M from deep in its territory.

He also lunged 2 yards on fourth down for a first down, and he recovered a fumble on the Michigan 47 by Anthony Thomas that could have proved costly. "Tom Brady made a great fumble recovery," Michigan Coach Lloyd Carr said. "That was a big play in the game, make no mistake about it." Brady seemed poised to make the tackle if Minnesota's John Schlecht had been able to recover the ball. "He tried to scoop it and run for a score," Brady said. "It bounced off his knee, and I saw the opportunity and I dove right on top of it." U-M keeps Brown Jug Michigan retains the Little Brown Jug the nation's oldest game trophy for the 12th straight season.

It is 8-0 at the Metrodome and has won 45 of its last 56 games against Minnesota. Sacks and more sacks Michigan entered the game leading the Big Ten in fewest sacks allowed with nine. But it allowed four sacks, including two by Ben Mezera for minus-15 yards. 'The Wolverines had their share of sacks they got to Billy Cockerham five times, including two by Juaquin Feazell, who entered the game without a sack. James Hall leads the team with four.

Minnesota totaled 219 yards on offense, including 136 rushing. "Our job is to keep them from scoring, and give our offense good field position," Feazell said of U-M's defense. "The fact we're Michigan makes teams play us hard and when they stay in the game long, it makes them enthusiastic and gives them a feeling they can win." Safe way to go The Wolverines got a safety for the third time in their last four games. On Saturday, Hall was credited with sacking Cockerham for a 4-yard loss and the safety to give the Wolverines a 12-10 lead. killed themselves there," Carr said of the Gophers, who were penalized Michigan schedule pate Sept.

5 Sept, 12 Sept, 19 Sept. 26 Oct 3 Oct. 17 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Date Nov.

7' Nov. 14 Nov. 21 Nov. 28 Opponent at Notre Dame Syracuse Eastern Mich, Michigan St. at Iowa at Northwestern Indiana at Minnesota Opponent Penn St.

Wisconsin at Ohio St at Hawaii at 1, L. W. W. Noon By Angelique S. Chengelis The Detroit News MINNEAPOLIS When Michigan has needed a boost offensively this season, the Wolverines have gone to senior receiver Tai Streets.

Streets delivered again in a 15-10 victory against Minnesota on Saturday. He had six receptions for 192 yards, 5 yards short of the single-game record set by Jack Clancy against Oregon State in 1966 and a school record for the most receiving yards in a road game. It was Streets' sixth career 100-yard game and third this season. "Tai has been a big-play guy the entire season," junior quarterback Tom Brady said. "Everyone knows that.

We were in the huddle two games ago, and we called a deep ball and Aaron Shea looked at me and said, Tommy, it's all covered, just I(xk to That just shows you how much our teammates regard Tai." Streets, who is 6-foot-4, had a definite size advantage over Minnesota cornerback Craig Scruggs, who is six inches shorter, and made the most of it. Streets beat Scruggs for a 76-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. He took advantage of Scruggs again in the second quarter on third-and-23 from the Michigan 6 when he caught a 39-yard pass from Brady. "He really does go up and get the ball," Brady said. "When you're backed up in your own end zone and you throw it deep to Tai, it's as good as caught." During that same drive, Streets had a 23-yard reception.

"They were playing a lot of man-to-man, and I feel I can get open (in that coverage)," said Streets, who leads the team with 38 receptions for 609 yards and seven touchdowns. "Every game I try to make a big play or a block or catch balls." Quotable Michigan Coach Lloyd Carr, on the game: "We felt we had a good plan against the eight-man front and that we could run the football. Obviously, we didn't." Line continues change Offensive coordinator Mike DeBord said part of the reason the Wolverines have had a hard time establishing the run they totaled minus-23 yards against Minnesota is because of their unstable offensive line. WOJO Continued from Page iC Streets caught six passes for 192 yards, including a 76-yard touchdown. Brady was i9-for-27 for a career-best 282 yards, without an interception.

The Gophers stacked the line and dared U-M to beat 'em through the air. From now on, the Wolverines can't be timid to do it. "That's exactly what we're going to do," Coach Lloyd Carr said. "But I'll never be resigned to (not running the ball). I believe you play to your strength, and our strength is our defense.

You can't leave the ir If three times in the drive that set up the safety. Numbers game The Wolverines' defense has allowed just one touchdown during the last 18 quarters and has allowed just three points a field goal by Indiana last week in the second half of Big Ten games this season. Quotable Brady on the Michigan offense: "You hate to be backed up, you hate to be third-and-long, but we're finding a way to win. That's what's good about our offense. We're finding a way to score when we need to." Quotable II Carr, on his team: "Six weeks ago (after an 0-2 start), we were on our backs and we had to get to our feet and then try to make a run.

I am proud of the effort and attitude." Quotable III Streets, on the lack of a running game against Minnesota: "It seems like we didn't improve this week. Offensively, we can't (play like this). Offensively, we have to try do something, more that we did (against Minnesota)." Injury update Sophomore Maurice Williams, who had started the last two games at right guard, has a sprained ankle and did not play. Carr said Williams could have played if needed. Junior Steve Frazier, who started four games this season center, started in place of Williams, but redshirt freshman Adam Adkins played most of the game at right guard.

AngeliqueS. Chengelis Result 36-20 38-28 29-20 29-17 W.12-9 12-6 21-10 15-10 Time Noon Noon Midnight Attendance 111,012 110,438 111,238 70,397 47,129 110,863 41,310 Series leader PSU, 3-2 U-M, 42-10-1 U-M, 54-34-6 U-M, 1-0 Tiuid Melnturf "The Detroit News Punter Jason Vinson (38) loses control of the ball. Minnesota recovered for a touchdown. effectively what happens. You can't go out and throw it every down." Brady agreed.

"They were daring us to throw the ball," Brady said of the Gophers. "We did and we took advantage of them deep on some plays, and we got the ball under have the luxury of wasting first downs to establish the run. In fact, with its current average of 136.8 yards per game, U-M is on pace for its worst rushing season since 1963. The most important running play Saturday? Brady's diving recovery of Thomas' fumble. "It's tough, because Michigan football isn't going out and airing it out," said Brady, who still would love to do it.

"It's controlling the ball and playing good defense." The defense is saving the season, and Streets is playing like a senior who knows where he's going. And yet, U-M struggles mightily to top 12 points. The neath, too. We've got to find a way to run the ball, too. We can't go through the Big Ten and not run the ball.

Unfortunately, you can't control the clock when you're throwing the ball." Leave a message for Angelique S. Chengelis at 222-14'ji, Big Ten's upcoming bruisers are a combined 22-1, with the three best rushing defenses in the league. Offensive coordinator Mike DeBord is reluctant to abandon the run, and that's understandable. But it's too late to establish anything now. If the Wolverines are incapable of controlling the trenches, they'd better adjust quickly.

The defense was good enough to win six in a row against middling competition. It's time to force the offense to pitch in more, take chances, keep foes guessing. No sense waiting any longer. leave a message for Bob Wojnowski at (33) 223-4648 Schedules Notre Dame Sept. 5, Michigan.

W. 36-20 Sept. 12. at Michigan 45-23 Sept. 26, Purdue.

31-30 Oct. 3, Stanford, 35-17 Oct. 10, at Arizona 28-9 Oct. 24, Army, 20-17 Oct. 31, Baylor, 27-3 Nov.

7, at Boston College Nov. 14, at Navy Nov. 21, Louisiana St. Nov. 28, at Southern Cal Eastern Michigan Sept.

3, Northern Iowa, 13-10 Sept. 12, at Ball 13-7 Sept. 19, at Michigan, L. 59-20 Sept. 26, Marshall, 26-23 Oct.

3, at Kent, 26-17 Oct. 10, Central 36-23 (OT) Oct. 17, at Western 45-35 Oct. 24, Northern Illinois, 26-14 Nov. 7, at Ohio Nov.

14, at Akron Nov. 21, Toledo Western Michigan Sept. 3, No. Illinois, 37-23 Sept. 12, at Indiana, 45-30 Sept.

19, at Toledo, 35-7 Sept. 26. Ohio, 37-35 Oct. 3, NE Louisiana, 27-14 Oct. 10, at Vanderbilt, 27-24 Oct.

17, Eastern 45-35 Oct. 24, at Central 26-24 Oct. 31, at Kent, 48-23 Nov. 7, at Ball St. Nov.

14, Bowling Green i 'i.