Michigan lost 30-28 on Saturday to Iowa.  The Wolverines should be proud of their effort.  Iowa was artificially ranked #12 so winning would have been “an upset.”  Conversely, Michigan outplayed Iowa and should be horrified that five turnovers and atrocious third-down conversions wasted that effort.  As with everything this Michigan season, there are two ways of viewing it.

The Wolverines are 4-2.  The two losses could both have been wins.  Despite outplaying Michigan, MSU only beat them in overtime.  Michigan beat themselves against Iowa.  However, the Indiana and Notre Dame games were even as well.  Michigan could be 6-0, but without Tate Forcier’s heroics, they could be 2-4, as they were last season.

Rodriguez’ spread offense has clicked this season.  The team has scored 28 or more points in five out of six games.  They have been far smoother with appropriate style quarterbacks.  Then again, they have not run or passed the ball consistently.  They have turned the ball over 13 times in six games, five on fumbles.

Greg Robinson’s defense has been much quicker and at times more imposing.  Brandon Graham was a meast against Iowa. But, they have been prone to overcommitting, leaving them subject to playaction and misdirection.  Inexperienced secondary players routinely take poor angles.  The combination leaves them subject to big plays, such as Tony Moeaki’s two touchdowns.  The defense has been better.  It has also presented a new set of problems.

The ultimate dichotomy came with the decision to send backup Denard Robinson out for the last series against Iowa.  The Hawkeyes had no answer for him on the previous drive.  Riding Robinson’s momentum was admirable and gutsy, but it was also stupid.

Entering that drive, Robinson was 6-13 passing with 2 INT that season.  Michigan had 1:30 left with no timeouts, neutralizing his running.  What happened, a poor read and catastrophic interception was likely, perhaps more likely than a drive down the field.  Conventional wisdom, choosing Forcier and the three last-minute touchdown drives on his resume, was probably the better choice.

Michigan’s freshman and sophomores have been both precocious and inexperienced.  Rodriguez and his coaching staff have been both brilliant and baffling.  Michigan’s season has been either a vast improvement on the road to excellence, or more of the same failure.  It’s whatever you want to read into it.