Michigan Football: Grading Wolverines win over Northwestern
Defense: A
I’m giving the defense strong marks because if you hold a team under 300 yards and under 10 points, you are going to win just about every time you take the field.
The Wolverines did give up a 75-yard touchdown run and that was concerning. Michigan gave up some big plays to Nebraska too and that’s worrisome with Michigan State coming up this week, as well as Ohio State down the road.
The other reason for this grade is that the defense is getting takeaways. It got an interception which helped put the game away and also forced a fumble.
On third and fourth downs, Northwestern was 5-for-16. Also, outside of the 75-yard run, the Wildcats had 25 yards rushing on 22 attempts.
Michigan is now 2nd in the nation in scoring defense, 11th in total defense, and 20th in pass defense. Aidan Hutchinson is 11th in sacks and most definitely first in holding calls, even if many of them aren’t called cause Big Ten refs are terrible.
Michigan defense national stats:
— angelique (@chengelis) October 24, 2021
Total 11th (299.0), rush 24 (116.6), pass 20 (182.4), pass efficiency 22, scoring 2 (14.3), red zone 30, turnovers gained 68 (10), TO margin 19th, sacks 70th (2.14)
Aidan Hutchinson ranked 11 in sacks (6)
Mike Macdonald is doing a tremendous job and so is Steve Clinkscale who is on track to earn the title of co-defensive coordinator and a raise if his pass defense continues to shine.
And with the way DJ Turner played in his first start, allowing just a few short completions, making an impressive tackle and a bubble screen, as well as a wild interception, it should have a good shot.