Michigan Football: 3 stats that defined Wolverines win over NIU

Cade McNarama is nearly perfect (8-for-11 ,191 yards and TD; QBR 80)

Michigan football fans, at least some of them, were very concerned by the Wolverines’ lack of pass offense against Washington, despite winning by 21 points.

As Jim Harbaugh explained this week, Washington is very good in the secondary. We knew that going into the game, so why attack strength when you can expose a weakness?

At any rate, those who feel Michigan can’t throw the ball had to like what they saw on Saturday as the Wolverines racked up 223 yards in the air, including an 87-yard bomb from McNamara to Cornelius Johnson, which just happens to be Cade’s second TD pass of at least 74 yards.

When’s the last time any Michigan quarterback had two touchdowns that long in three games? And we want to complain?

On Saturday, McNamara was 8-for-11 for 191 yards. He had an average per attempt of 17 and his QBR was 80. For the season, his passer rating is 175.8, and he’s completing 65 percent of his throws, not to mention the fact he hasn’t turned the ball over.

He also led Michigan football to a touchdown on every offensive drive of the first half. It was just Northern Illinois, but it’s hard to imagine McNamara playing any better.

This team is built on the run and McNamara doesn’t have to be the star. He just needs to be efficient and make plays at the right time, which he’s done masterfully so far in three games.