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PASADENA, Calif. – Trevor Keegan didn’t watch Alabama’s final play Monday in the Rose Bowl. Instead, the Michigan offensive lineman buried his head into the turf and said a prayer while Alabama’s Jalen Milroe tried to gain the 3 yards necessary to extend the game.
Milroe gained none. Michigan’s defensive line made sure of it.
The Michigan crowd’s reaction told Keegan that the Wolverines had made the stop, and he launched his helmet high into the California sky.
The Wolverines won 27-20 in overtime by stuffing a fourth-down play they knew was coming.
Multiple Michigan players I spoke with in the locker room after the game said they fully expected Milroe would try to run it into the end zone on fourth-and-3.
I could make a sign-stealing quip, but that wouldn’t be right. This was just common sense.
“I think everybody in the stadium thought quarterback run was coming,” Michigan offensive lineman LaDarius Henderson said.
“If I was them, I probably would have done the exact same thing. He’s their best player on offense. You want to put the ball in your best player’s hands, but we all knew it was coming.”
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) runs against Michigan defensive back Makari Paige (7) during the second half of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024.
Alabama’s offense encountered serious limitations throughout the game. Milroe’s runs ranked as the Tide’s best weapon.
Michigan’s blanketing secondary took away Milroe’s usual dose of deep completions, and his 116 passing yards were a season low. Milroe used his legs to ignite Alabama after halftime. His 15-yard run in overtime created Alabama’s red-zone opportunity. With the season on the line, offensive coordinator Tommy Rees once again trusted his quarterback’s athleticism.
“It’s going to be in No. 4’s hands,” Michigan…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/why-michigan-expected-alabamas-play-161712117.html
Author : USA TODAY Sports
Publish date : 2024-01-02 16:17:12
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