U-M must pick up the pieces

Two days after Michigan's stunning loss at Illinois, it is time to pick up the pieces.

And there are plenty of them, scattered pretty much across the board -- offense, defense, special teams, and coaching.

With three games left, beginning with Purdue on Saturday at Michigan Stadium, and Michigan on the cusp of bowl eligibility, the time is now to not only pick up those pieces but to start figuring out a way to make them fit.

Michigan (5-4, 1-4 Big Ten) lost in hideous fashion, 38-13, against an Illinois team that is the worst in the conference. Perhaps worse than the final score was how U-M lost -- missed tackles that allowed big, no, enormous plays, and on offense, collapsing under pressure and missing golden opportunities to score.

"Every person in the program has to take it upon themselves to do all they can to get things playing at a high level to prepare and when they get the opportunity to play, make the most of it," Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said after the Illinois loss.

"We'll get back to work and see what we can do."

Rodriguez also said the Wolverines have a lot to fix. No doubt about that.

But can they fix things with three games to go?

Big plays hurt

Losses are losses, of course, but the last two have been most glaring. The Wolverines have been shut out in the second halves of both games and have been outscored, 73-23.

Defensively, the Wolverines have been consistent in at least one area -- allowing big plays.

Penn State, in its 35-10 victory, had one big-play score, a 60-yard pass from Daryll Clark to Andrew Quarless. Illinois had touchdown runs of 70 yards by Mikel Leshoure early in the third quarter and 79 by Jason Ford with 1:45 left in the game.

"We just didn't respond," Michigan defensive backs coach Tony Gibson said. "I don't know what to tell you other than that we were missing tackles, not getting off blocks."

Key injuries

And offensively, no one can underestimate what the loss of center David Molk has meant to the offensive line.

Molk's absence for most of the season -- he started four games and is done for the year because of a torn ACL -- forced a lineup shift that isn't nearly as strong, particularly on the right side.

Certainly the chronic ankle/foot injury tailback Brandon Minor has had to play with this season has kept him from being a factor and taking some of the pressure off the quarterback.

Rodriguez was, quite appropriately, void of any ability to find positives from the Illinois loss. Not that anyone was asking him to.

"It's hard to look at positives when you lose and when you know you're not playing as well as you need to play," he said.

So now, with three games to go, it's time to pick up the pieces.

That's a start.

angelique.chengelis@detnews.com">angelique.chengelis@detnews.com