MICHIGAN OFFENSE STUCK IN NEUTRAL.

Byline: JAMES FIGUEROA Staff Writer

By the time Chad Henne regained his confidence and Michigan figured out how to contain USC's defense, it was too late.

The Wolverines' offense was stymied throughout their 32-18 loss to USC in the Rose Bowl on Monday, unable to establish a good rhythm on the ground or in the air and overwhelmed by a Trojans defense that was often too fast for them.

Henne, who was outstanding as a freshman quarterback in Michigan's heartbreaking 38-37 loss to Texas in the Rose Bowl two years ago, couldn't do much of anything in this one as he constantly found himself fighting off USC's blitzes.

``It was just an all-out disappointment,'' said Henne, who was sacked six times and gave up a crucial interception at the start of the second half that allowed the Trojans to gain the momentum needed to break open a low-scoring game. ``Their speed and their talent just overcame ours.''

The Wolverines, who came into the game as the spurned No. 3 seed that narrowly missed the BCS Championship Game, have now lost their past four bowl games, including a 28-14 loss in the 2004 Rose Bowl to USC that kicked off the streak.

Henne has been on the field for the past three bowl appearances, but Monday's performance stands out as his worst in those games, despite his finishing having thrown for 309 yards and two touchdowns.

Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said that Henne's problems went hand-in-hand with the Wolverines' poor running game. All-American running back Mike Hart tallied a mere 49 yards against USC's defense.

``I thought Henne made some big plays in the first half on third-down-and-long, third-and-14, third-and-12, to keep drives alive,'' Carr said. ``But it's just a matter of time when you can't run the football against a team pressured as well as 'SC that you'll end up getting some sacks, and that's what happened to us.''

Michigan's highly touted offensive line, which came into the game having allowed only 18 sacks this season, wasn't able to provide the protection that Henne is used to working with.

``We just didn't get anything going,'' senior offensive tackle Jake Long said. ``They were bringing different blitzes that we weren't ready for. We had a hard time picking them up.''

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CAPTION(S):

3 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1) Michigan players sport dejected looks as the clock runs out in the Wolverines' loss to USC on Monday at the Rose Bowl.

David Sprague/Staff Photographer

(2) USC's Chris McFoy celebrates his 2-yard touchdown reception, which sparked a run of 16 unanswered points.

(3) USC's John David Booty drops back and looks to pass. Booty hit Dwayne Jarrett for a score on 62-yard pass play.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer

Box:

(1) THIRD QUARTER

(2) FOURTH QUARTER