GBMWolverine
Fansided

5 things we learned in Michigan Football win over Maryland

By Chris Peterson

Sep 24, 2022; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh on the sideline against the Maryland Terrapins at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2022; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh on the sideline against the Maryland Terrapins at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 5
Next

Michigan football got tested in the Big Ten opener and due to some of the Wolverines’ own mistakes, Maryland made it a game, and here’s what we learned. 

In a game that felt very similar to the 2021 Big Ten opener for Michigan football against Rutgers, the Wolverines found a way to put together an ugly win against Maryland on Saturday.

The score didn’t necessarily sound super ugly at 34-27. Maybe we would have felt better had the game ended 34-19 and Maryland didn’t have the onside attempt to try and get a final possession to tie the game.

But make no mistake, Maryland had the ball in a one-possession game in the fourth quarter. RJ Moten came up with a huge play and the defense finally got some pressure.

Blake Corum was also special. J.J. McCarthy had his struggles and we start with the quarterback as we look back at Michigan football’s win over Maryland and five things we learned.

J.J. McCarthy is going to have growing pains

After three cupcakes, we should have known that McCarthy was going to have some bumps in the road and he did on Saturday. The deep ball was off and some misses down the field kept this game closer than it needed to be.

McCarthy was also too loose with the football. He fumbled the ball twice in the first half and he also had a pass that was nearly intercepted in the red zone with Michigan up five in the fourth quarter. It was a bad throw and a bad decision that nearly took points off the board.

At the same time, McCarthy was 18-for-26 for 220 yards and two scores. He only managed five rushing yards due to the sacks but still averaged 8.5 yards per pass.

I’m a little worried about the receivers and how Maryland was able to cover them so well, but as I said, if McCarthy hits one or two of those deep balls, the passing game hits close to 300 and this game has a much different feel.

It was a good learning experience for McCarthy and the fact that it comes in a win is a positive. He’ll need to be better next week against Iowa and my bet is that he will be.

Home/Michigan Football