Michigan Football: Highlights, gut reactions from win over Northwestern

Michigan football was a little rusty after the bye week but the Wolverines notched the win and here are some gut reactions.

The week after a bye and prior to a rivalry game are always dangerous. And for Michigan football, both of those things happened against Northwestern on Saturday.

The Wolverines are playing undefeated Michigan State next Saturday and following a bye week, it could have been a perfect environment for a trap game.

For a half, it looked like it, as Michigan football led just 10-7 at halftime. Blake Corum got the Wolverines on the board in the first half, but two failed red-zone trips (FG and fumble), plus allowing a 75-yard touchdown run allowed Northwestern to trail by only three.

However, in the third quarter, Michigan fed the ball to Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins and as it has pretty much all season, proved to be effective.

Corum went over 100 yards for the first time in a Big Ten game and made a key run on a third and five before eventually finding the end zone to extend the lead to 17-7.

Then, after a stop, Cornelius Johnson, the starting wide receiver, really changed the dynamic with a blocked punt.

Haskins eventually punched it in for a touchdown to push the lead to 17.

On the next Michigan football possession, and after a couple of J.J. McCarthy runs, which led to a field goal, it was 27-7 all of a sudden.

Then, DJ Turner, who was already having a heck of a game, made an incredible interception, which gave the ball right back to the Wolverines and shut the door on any comeback.

https://twitter.com/BigTenNetwork/status/1451983922749837315

Well, Haskins shut the door when he scored his second rushing touchdown a few plays later — his second score of the game along with Corum. Both went over 100 yards.

Here are some gut reactions from Michigan football’s seventh win:

Gut reactions

• Throwing the ball down the field is an issue and will bite Michigan.
• The red zone offense has to improve. 10 points on three goal-to-go situations in the first half won’t cut it.
• Part of the issue is the quarterback. Some are the conservative playcalling.
• This was Cade’s worse game since Rutgers. Makes you worried about Sparty.
• The one or two play spurts of McCarthy are maddening. Let him have a series.
• McCarthy made throws at the end Cade just can’t.
• Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins are the best RB duo in America.
• This team misses Zak Zinter.
• Chuck Filiaga struggled and got Cade drilled for a sack.
• The rush offense did what was expected but was still impressive.
• You aren’t beating MSU, Penn State, and Ohio State averaging 4.6 per pass.
• Aidan Hutchinson was held like 50 times.
• DJ Turner had a day. He’s progressed.
• 7-0 is 7-0. Clinched a winning season.
• Go Blue.
• Beat State.