Michigan Football: Wolverines’ Mid-Season Standouts

Oct 17, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive end Chris Wormley (43) celebrates his sack of Michigan State Spartans quarterback Connor Cook (18) in the first half at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

A 5-2 start was actually somewhat expected of Michigan football, with losses to Utah and Michigan State. But the way the Wolverines played (and sometimes dominated) during the first half of the season was well beyond expectations.

We’ve seen a quarterback in Jake Rudock go from a shell of himself to something of a reliable arm and manger. We’ve watched a veteran offensive line finally actually look like a veteran offensive line. Power running isn’t completely there, but it’s definitely on its way back. The defense went from being a strength to being the best in the country.

Michigan Wolverines

Seeing progress from one week to the next was something you couldn’t expect under Brady Hoke for the last four years. But through seven games under Jim Harbaugh, that’s the standard.

Players are playing to their potential, and that has Michigan geared up for what will be a very revealing second half of the season.

The Wolverines are on a bye this week (which really sucks after such a heartbreaking loss), but they’ll kick off the second stretch of the season with a trip to Minnesota on Oct. 31.

This season is far from lost. Last year seven teams with at least two losses played in New Year’s Six bowls, and Alabama played in a national semi-final game with two losses.

Hope’s there. The Wolverines just need teams like Ohio State, Michigan State and Iowa (?!) to start doing them some favors.

What I’m really here to talk about though is how none of this even seemed possible a couple months ago. So why the sudden shift?

Michigan has had a few standout first-half performances, and I’m here to highlight those.

Next: DT Willie Henry