Was the Big Ten supposed to be a cure for insomnia?
Michigan coach Lloyd Carr's past two games have teetered on the edge, where one mistake paves the way for a game and heart-breaking big play. Not exactly nappy time.
"They don't allow you to get a lot of sleep," Carr said of his team's past two performances. And neither does preparing for the Big Ten's Teflon team - Indiana. In his nightmares, should he ever get to sleep, Carr probably sees Indiana's freshman quarterback, Antwaan Randle El, slithering through his defense and finding a way to finally eke out a close game.
And, what's worse, Randle El runs the option.
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| MARGARET MYERS/Daily Lloyd Carr might be having nightmares about Indiana quarterback Antwaan Randle El. One thing that might help him rest easily is the recent play of Justin Fargas. |
Like a calculus problem they just can't solve, the option has stumped the Wolverines, even when the defense has known what - or who - to study. This week, the slippery Randle El will be on all of the Wolverines' crib notes.
"We need to come up with a game plan where we can keep Randle El deep in his own territory as much as we can," Carr said.
What goes a long way toward that end is actually tackling the person carrying the ball, something that hasn't always been elementary for the Wolverines this season. Despite their recent success, it might be tougher against someone who's as hard to hold on to as a water weenie.
"Any time a defense over commits on him, that leaves the pitch and the option open," Carr said.
Indiana's shiny new freshman might have Carr up nights, but Justin Fargas, will keep him awake, too. In the somnolent world of Michigan's ground game this season, Justin Fargas is like a jolt of double espresso. And the way he played Saturday night, he looked like he might have been in an Evanston coffee house before the game.
His 31 carries were only part of his opening night. He played on both kick and punt coverage, too. His one kick return (yes, he did that, too) went for 28 yards, and Carr called it the biggest play of the game, since it set up the game's only touchdown.
But even bigger might have been what Fargas didn't do - fumble. With a ball that was as slippery as, say, Randle El might turn out to be, Fargas never lost his grip. And at Michigan, that's almost as important as the 120 yards he gained.
"What you saw there was one of the finest efforts by a true freshman since I've been in coaching." Carr said.
If Fargas hangs on, both to the ball and the starting job he earned with his rain dance Saturday, Carr might find himself finally sleeping easier.
McCall hangs it up: Patrick McCall, originally brought to Michigan to play tailback and converted to defensive back, is no longer part of the Wolverines.
McCall will be transferring because of lack of playing time, Carr said.
The Carson, Calif. native apparently asked to be moved to defensive back early in the season. He recorded Michigan's first sack of the season against Notre Dame, but had seen little playing time since.
Walking wounded: Linebacker Dhani Jones and tailback Anthony Thomas remain banged up from the Iowa game two weeks ago.
Neither Jones nor Thomas made the trip to Northwestern this weekend. Both are listed as "day-to-day," Carr said.
Rain dance: Punter Jason Vinson split the Big Ten special teams player of the week award. The other recipient of the award this week was Illinois punter Steve Fitts, after the Fighting Illini were pummeled by No. 9 Wisconsin this weekend.
10-20-98
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