Michigan Football: 3 key takeaways from Wolverines win over Maryland

The front five controlled the Terrapins

One of the big questions surrounding the Michigan football team entering the season was the offensive line and during the first few games, those questions weren’t answered. Yet, after watching the offensive line the past couple of weeks, it seems like the problem has been solved.

Against Maryland, the fourth-ranked run defense in the Big Ten, the offensive line opened holes consistently and helped Higdon rushed for more than 100 (25 for 104) for the fourth straight game. As a team, the Wolverines also rushed for 171 yards (4.3 yards per rush) and converted a number of times on third-and-short with Higdon and Mason, who scored in the second quarter.

The other thing that continued Saturday was outstanding pass protection. The Wolverines have allowed just eight sacks in the first five games and against Maryland, Patterson wasn’t sacked once. Not only that, he had all day to throw and completed 18-of-27 passes in large part because he had a clean pocket all day.

Michigan’s offensive line may not be elite, yet there’s no doubt, it’s no longer a weakness.