Highlights and gut reactions to Michigan Football win over Colorado State

Michigan football dominated Colorado State on Saturday, especially on defense, and here are our gut reactions to the Wolverines’ win.

No season-opening game is perfect and that was true for Michigan football. The Wolverines were a little sluggish offensively, but they still won with ease over Colorado State in the 2022 opener.

Many Michigan football fans were focused on the quarterback competition between Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy going into the game and McNamara got the first start.

Three of his first four passes were bad incompletions but Cade also hit Roman Wilson for a 61-yard catch-and-run touchdown. However, the offense also stalled three times in the red zone, settling for three Jake Moody field goals.

The other touchdown drive, which featured a Blake Corum touchdown run, featured seven consecutive runs. Cade finished 9-of-18 for 136 yards. J.J. McCarthy went 4-for-4 for 30.

Michigan football’s defense dominated though (the only score was in garbage time). The big concern was the pass rush but that was quieted, at least on Saturday, as Braiden McGregor, Derrick Moore, Mike Morris, Jaylen Harrell, and Eybai Anoma all made an impact on the edge.

Anoma, the former five-star prospect that started his college career at Alabama, got a sack in his first game. Derrick Moore also had a sack and drew a holding call. Harrell was outstanding too and forced the fumble that DJ Turner returned for a touchdown to put Michigan in front 30-0.

In the second half, J.J. McCarthy got a chance and ripped off a few long runs including a 20-yard touchdown run. The Wolverines pushed the lead to 44-0 after a touchdown run by Donovan Edwards and while Michigan football wasn’t flashy, it was effective in an impressive win.

Gut reactions to the win by Michigan football over Colorado State

• Cade McNamara wasn’t sharp. Outside of the 61-yard touchdown which was about a five-yard pass, he averaged 4.4 yards per attempt. That’s bad.
• J.J. McCarthy will make his first start next week and may never give the job up.
• The offense is a big play waiting to happen with McCarthy.
• Michigan’s offensive line was a little disappointing.
• The pass rush looked just fine.
• Jesse Minter looks like a great hire.
• DJ Turner played like an All-American.
• Mike Morris was an animal.
• So were Jaylen Harrell, Braiden McGregor, Derrick Moore, Mazi Smith, and Junior Colson.
• The defense played so well there are too many names to mention.
• Enjoyed the Will Johnson sighting.
• I want more downfield passes. The offense seemed conservative.
• Michigan was super clean. Very few mistakes. Good coaching.
• Only two completions of 20 yards or more was disappointing.
• It surprised me that neither running back got 100 yards.
• Roman Wilson is still underrated.
• This looks like a double-digit win team.
• Go Blue!