Grin and Bear it

Michigan has no problems, whips Baylor

It turned out that a letdown was not a worry for Michigan. After beating up Colorado last week, there was talk of a possible letdown against a lesser opponent, talk of playing down after a big win. It had happened so many times in the past, but it was not to be this weekend.

The eighth-ranked Wolverines (2-0) played with a similar defensive intensity from last week and corrected some of the mistakes that ailed them against the Buffaloes, mainly the running game, to roll to a 38-3 victory over Baylor (1-2) in front of 10

WARREN ZINN/Daily Michigan tailback Chris Howard ran for 1112 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday's 38-3 blowout of Baylor. Howard, along with Clarence Williams and Anthony Thomas, led a rushing attack that piled up 344 yards on the ground.

6,041 at Michigan Stadium.

Baylor quarterback Jeff Watson ran the option over and over again which kept the Wolverines' defense at bay early on. But the Wolverines' defense adjusted, especially along the line of scrimmage, and dominated an undersized Baylor team for the rest of the game.

"Our goal was to improve this week," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. "We were, as coaches, concerned about a letdown. It is the kind of game where we knew we had the better team, but sometimes when you have the better team you play to the level of your competition. I am very pleased that we played very hard."

Michigan's defense has not given up a touchdown or 100 yards rushing in either of the first two games. The Wolverines were just too big and too fast for the Bears, especially along the sidelines where they were stuffed on almost every drive.

The Wolverines' defense gave up just 92 yards on the ground, 43 more than last week, and 62 yards in the air. In fact, Michigan's defense limited the Bears to just 52 offensive plays; the Wolverines ran 89 plays. Baylor only converted three of 14 third down opportunities - compared to Michigan's eight of 14 - and was forced to punt nine times.

"I think they're a great football team," Baylor coach Dave Roberts said. "For a game between Colorado and Notre Dame, they came out and played extremely well, which is what great football teams do."

The Wolverines' biggest improvement from the previous week was in the running game. They played without starting fullback Chris Floyd, who was suspended for violating team rules, and still managed to rack up 344 rushing yards. Last week against the Buffs with Floyd in the game, they managed just 142 yards.

Baylor's defensive line was embarrassed by Michigan's offensive front and subsequently by the running game all day. The Bears had the worst rush defense in the nation last year and it hasn't improved much. Michigan's backs ran through Baylor's line like it was tissue paper, and were thrown for just 14 lost yards.

"I think they were a little outmatched because we had the advantage of size over them," said Michigan tailback Chris Howard, who rushed for 112 yards and two touchdowns. "Overall, the offensive line did a tremendous job with their blocking. Sometimes I got into the open field and I didn't know what to do because I wasn't use to holes as big as they were today."

The Wolverines were still plagued by unnecessary penalties, getting flagged for 11 for a loss of 90 total yards. In fact, two Michigan touchdowns were called back in the second half on holding and illegal formation penalties.

The first instance occurred in the third quarter. Tailback Anthony Thomas ran outside and made a quick cut inside after wide receiver Marcus Knight set a key block. Thomas raced into the endzone untouched, but a holding penalty negated the touchdown and penalized the Wolverines 10 yards.

In the fourth quarter at third and 22, quarterback Brian Griese hit cornerback Charles Woodson in the far left corner of the endzone. But the Wolverines had just six men on the line of scrimmage and were flagged for illegal formation. Woodson was lined up behind the line. The touchdown was called back and the Wolverines were penalized five yards.

The Bears opened up the scoring early in the first quarter. After Michigan quarterback Brian Griese hit Howard on a screen pass, Baylor's left end Glenn Coy forced a fumble which Baylor safety Rodney Smith recovered. Matt Bryant kicked a 30-yard field goal to give the Bears their only points of the day.

On Michigan's next possession, Griese hit Woodson in the right flat and he raced into the endzone for the 10-yard touchdown. The Wolverines converted the extra point and went up, 7-3.

The Wolverines scored two more touchdowns in the second quarter. On second and three from the Baylor five-yards line, Howard jumped out of the blocks for a 5-yard touchdown run.

Michigan guard Steve Hutchinson pulled a Baylor defender to the right just as Howard cut left for the score. The Wolverines went 47 yards in five plays to go up, 14-3.

On the Wolverines' next possession, Howard capped off a 16-play, 92-yard drive with a one-yard run. Kraig Baker converted to give the Wolverines a 21-3 halftime lead.

The Wolverines opened up the second half with a rushing touchdown from Thomas. In the fourth quarter, Jay Feely hit a 51-yard field goal and running back Tate Schanski ran for a one-yard touchdown.

"Our offense got moving in the second quarter," Carr said. "We had some good long drives in there and I thought we dominated the line of scrimmage up front, but Baylor is an undersized defense and I thought that those kids played hard.

"I think we have displayed a quickness and an intensity that great defenses have, but we're going to be tested this week. You judge a defense on a season ... but we have a long road to go. We have to stay focused on what it takes to be successful, and that is to take care of today."

SARA STILLMAN/Daily
Baylor defenders like Tommie Black often found themsleves on the turf watching Wolverines like Russell Shaw fly by. Michigan gained 188 yards through the air but did most of the damage on the ground, racking up 344 rushing yards.

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