Michigan Football: Are the Wolverines ready for primetime?

After two impressive wins, can the Michigan football team keep its positive momentum going against Penn State Saturday?

It’s exciting to see Michigan Football near the top of the polls this week and to think of the possibilities that might await this increasingly effective team.  The loss to Notre Dame is now seen as a pretty “good” loss, and impressive performances against Wisconsin and Michigan State reflect the continuing dominance of the Wolverine’s defense and the emerging confidence of its quarterback.

Michigan football has momentum, and momentum is the indescribable component necessary to any successful title run.  The Penn State game will be a true test of the Blue’s ability to play at a consistently high level from week to week; this season has demonstrated improvement in almost every area, but consistency has lagged slightly behind.

Any fan who watched the first quarter of the Notre Dame game, the Northwestern game or the Maryland game will remember lack of traction on offense and more than a little permeability on defense.  The Northwestern game, in particular, was a lot closer than Michigan fans would like to remember.  At the end of that game, Michigan led the Big Ten in Penalties, ranked 5th in the nation on penalties, after racking up 11 penalties in that game alone, giving up 100 yards.   In the Michigan State game, a much more successful day for the offense, Michigan again racked ’em up – nine penalties for 99 yards.

That’s the kind of consistency Michigan has to avoid.

Now for the more concerning caution:  The PSU defense is vulnerable to a rushing attack and has shown some weakness on passes up the middle if the field, exactly where the Wolverine tight ends like to go, but they lead the conference in sacks and tackles for loss.

Yes, Shea Patterson has shown a great arm and increasing skill as a game manager, but he has persisted in holding the ball too long when under siege.  Using the consistency metric again, Patterson has been sacked 12 times this season, most of those sacks taking place as Patterson circled in the backfield, at times failing to see the open man.

No matter what plays are called, Patterson can get this team in trouble if he persists in taking tackles for loss.  He has the legs to move outside the pocket and can get to the sidelines or toss the ball away if needed; fans will endure less torture if Patterson can use the field more successfully.

Closing on a more positive note, Michigan has found real balance in establishing a strong running game coupled with the threat of a long ball attack.  Offensive line play has improved dramatically, and Michigan’s running backs, particularly Karan Higdon, have the power to force the edge, opening up play options.  Patterson’s receivers have become familiar with his passing attack and move more efficiently to the ball.  Zach Gentry, Donovan Peoples-Jones, and Nico Collins have demonstrated the ability to put a defense on its heels; a quick strike could cause the Nittany Lion defense to flounder early on.

A win against Penn State is essential to the Wolverine’s playoff ambitions.  A convincing win paves the way to a very close look as the committee considers the outcome of the Alabama-LSU game and the Northwestern-Notre Dame games.  Go Blue!