Michigan didn't need any extra help in its near-perfect 31-13 win against MSU on Saturday, but the Spartans gave them plenty.
Penalties were a problem for the Green and White throughout the day, from early in the first quarter to the end of the game. Some were because of poor concentration, such as false starts and offsides, while others came from the Spartans being overly aggressive.
MSU committed 11 penalties for a total of 87 yards. Three of the yellow flags resulted in first downs for the Wolverines.
The Spartans were flagged for offsides twice on U-M's first drive. U-M quarterback Chad Henne was able to draw defensive tackles Ogemdi Nwagbuo and Clifton Ryan across the line of scrimmage as he barked out the snap cadence.
"If the quarterback under center says 'Hut!,' then backs away, you think he's got the ball, so even I was jumping sometimes," junior bandit Sir Darean Adams said. "It's a good game plan they ran."
In the third quarter, senior defensive back Demond Williams broke up a third-down pass intended for wide receiver Mario Manningham. U-M would have been forced to punt, but junior safety Nehemiah Warrick was flagged for a late hit on Manningham, giving U-M a first down. Manningham caught a 27-yard touchdown pass three plays later.
Penalties even came on kicking plays, as MSU players twice went for a block and were flagged for roughing the kicker.
"We all wanted to play hard," MSU head coach John L. Smith said. "I don't know that it's nerves — I don't want to say that. I can't say it's a lack of effort."
When it rains, it pours
The Spartans already were reeling from the loss of sophomore running back Javon Ringer, who is out for the season with a sprained knee. Two more key players went down with injuries Saturday, including Ryan.
"Cliff got hit in the calf," Smith said. "He got a contusion in his calf and it tightened up. I don't think it was anything further than that. That's what it was early, and we iced it down and tried to get him to go. But I would expect Cliff — hopefully — to be able to bounce back and go this week."
Senior wide receiver Matt Trannon's luck went from bad to worse. Trannon already was nursing a sore hamstring and was injured again in the fourth quarter against the Wolverines. He caught a pass from senior quarterback Drew Stanton and ran toward the sideline, but pulled up with a limp before being tackled.
"To my knowledge, it's not an Achilles," Smith said. "I just saw him in the locker room and he said it was an ankle. So, I'm assuming it's an ankle sprain."
Troubled tight ends
Junior tight ends Kellen Davis and Eric Andino were removed from the MSU dress list before the start of the game. Smith did not discuss the reason for the players' absence, but said the Spartans' initial game plan suffered as a result. The offense intended to use a variety of two- and three-tight end sets to match up better with the Wolverines' front seven and develop a running game.
"We've got to revamp in a short period of time," Smith said. "We tried to throw (freshman offensive tackle Rocco Cironi) in there, who never played tight end. We threw an '80' number on him. He gave us an effort. He came out and played hard, tried to do all he could do."
The lack of depth forced Dwayne Holmes to play much more than usual. The sophomore tight end is usually reserved for run blocking at the line of scrimmage, but he was all over the field against U-M, splitting out as a wide receiver to run pass routes and lining up as a fullback in I-formation. He had two receptions for 22 yards.
"That's a lot of snaps for him," Smith said. "He's never had to take that many."
