Michigan Panthers run all over Pittsburgh Maulers for first USFL win

No kicker, no drawback. 

Head coach Jeff Fisher wasn’t assured within the Michigan Panthers’ kicking recreation Sunday vs. the Pittsburgh Maulers but it surely did not matter: His crew dominated, 24-0. It is the primary win for the Panthers (1-2) within the new United States Soccer League.

Pittsburgh’s particular groups miscues confirmed why Michigan opted for fourth-down and two-point conversion makes an attempt all afternoon. The Maulers missed a 57-yard discipline purpose, had a 46-yard kick blocked and dropped a punt, resulting in a straightforward landing drive for the Panthers. (And that is not counting a later 59-yard try by Pittsburgh kicker Ramiz Ahmed, which went far left within the third quarter.)

Fisher credited his run recreation (244 yards on 42 makes an attempt), punting and protection for the win. Reggie Corbin, a former Illinois operating again, rushed for 133 yards on 20 carries. 

“I believe we’re slowly studying our roles,” Corbin stated postgame. “We’re persevering with to get wholesome. We simply gotta hold going.” 

Michigan scored 16 factors within the first quarter, however neither crew scored once more till about 4 minutes left within the recreation.

The Panthers had an opportunity for extra, if not for some poor clock administration. Michigan was on the Pittsburgh 21 with a contemporary set of downs and 35 seconds left within the second quarter when the Maulers referred to as a timeout. Michigan had no timeouts however within the USFL, the clock stops on a primary down with two minutes left in both half. 

After the Pittsburgh timeout, Michigan ran the ball on first down, a lot to the chagrin of former Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett, who was the colour commentator for the sport. 

“I am not in love with that decision as a result of now you might have this time constraint that you just entered with no timeouts,” Garrett stated on the USA Community broadcast.

Nearly 20 seconds handed earlier than Michigan snapped the ball once more, with 13 seconds left — one other run play. Shea Patterson, the previous Michigan soccer quarterback, tried to spike the ball however officers blew the whistle to sign halftime. Fisher despatched kicker/punter Michael Carrizosa onto the sector to no avail, arguing with a referee as the sector was cleared. Carrizosa, who punted 5 occasions Sunday, missed a 39-yard discipline purpose and an additional level final week earlier than not getting an opportunity at both this week. 

Total, it was a strong opening half for Michigan, which rushed for greater than 100 yards and held Pittsburgh (0-3) scoreless. By three video games, the Maulers have scored simply 20 factors.

To kick or to not kick

Fisher stated postgame that he let his offense know there wouldn’t be many Michigan kicks Sunday. 

“It is sort of the philosophy of our crew proper now that we’re gonna rating factors nonetheless we will,” Fisher stated. “We haven’t been kicking the ball as effectively as we want.”

He stated Carrizosa appeared higher this week and the choice to kick discipline objectives will likely be made on a game-to-game foundation. Fisher repeatedly credited Carrizosa for serving to management discipline place, together with a pair of punts from inside his crew’s 20.

“The (field-goal crew) points had been vital the primary two weeks however they’re getting higher,” Fisher stated. 

QB change

Paxton Lynch helped construct the lead for Michigan earlier than leaving with an damage.

Lynch, a former first-round NFL draft choose, began 3-for-8 — which included a pair catchable passes that weren’t accomplished — for 23 yards. He added 21 dashing yards, a dashing landing and ran in for a two-point conversion. The 6-foot-7 passer sprained his ankle on considered one of his rushes and did not play once more after the primary interval. 

Patterson, the primary total choose within the USFL draft, struggled via the air, ending 8-for-17 for 49 yards, although a few of his higher passes had been dropped as effectively. He ran in a two-point conversion for the sport’s last rating. Patterson started the sport on the bench Sunday after beginning the crew’s two first video games.

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Fisher stated the plan was all the time to play each quarterbacks, however the damage pressured Patterson into prolonged motion. He stated X-rays for Lynch had been adverse. 

“We’re gonna play each of them,” Fisher stated. “They complement one another.”

Pittsburgh alternated quarterbacks, too, although neither Josh Love (10-for-19 for 83 yards) nor Kyle Lauletta (9-for-12 for 42 yards) was in a position to get a lot going. 

‘Desperation time’ 

Michigan’s protection was in a position to quell what little momentum Pittsburgh sometimes constructed with well timed third- and fourth-down stops. The Maulers had been held to 228 yards on 10 drives and misplaced a fumble close to the purpose line.

Coach Kirby Wilson lamented his crew’s “psychological errors” and penalties postgame. 

“The protection was excellent however you flip the ball over (close to) the 5, you leap offsides within the pink zone … it is powerful,” Wilson stated. “If it means altering some personnel or including personnel, we’ll.” 

He stated it was “desperation time” for his winless crew and he was going to simplify the playbook in hopes of higher outcomes. 

A Panthers punt was blocked by former U-M star Carlo Kemp within the third quarter, giving the Maulers the ball in Panthers territory. However Pittsburgh wasn’t in a position to money in, turning the ball over on downs as an alternative of making an attempt a discipline purpose from contained in the 25.

Wilson additionally handed on a fourth-quarter discipline purpose from contained in the 30 after making an attempt a pair of 50-yarders earlier within the recreation.  

Madre London, who performed at Michigan State earlier than transferring to Tennessee, was Pittsburgh’s high rusher, at 68 yards on 10 makes an attempt.

Observe the Free Press on Fb and Twitter for extra information. Tyler Davis will be contacted at tjdavis@freepress.com or on Twitter @TDavisFreep.

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