Michigan Football: 6 things we learned from Wolverines rout of Penn State

J.J. McCarthy is still a work in progress but passed big-game test

Michigan football’s J.J. McCarthy has all the talent in the world and is close to having it all come together. But he was shaky at times on Saturday.

McCarthy threw a pick-six on a tipped pass and could have had another when he threw a ball up for grabs as he was getting sacked. In the end, the offensive line and the backs carried Michigan to a win, so J.J. didn’t have to.

He still made some big plays in the second half and bounced back from his big mistake. On the first drive of the third, Michigan was down 17-16 and faced third and five. McCarthy ducked under a pass rusher and ran for a first down.

Right after, Donovan Edwards went to the house. That doesn’t happen without McCarthy’s run first and he picked up 56 yards total including another key 21-yard run in the second half.

In the first half, Michigan settled for too many field goals. In the second, it scored three touchdowns and kicked one really big field goal. The offense didn’t punt and while McCarthy wasn’t perfect, his QBR was 77. He completed 17-of-24 passes and if he doesn’t put too much zip on the first swing pass to Edwards, he has a TD pass.

However, his 2-point play to Ronnie Bell was similar and right on the money. His 36-yard pass to Cornelius Johnson set up points, as did his 21-yarder to Edwards. He was responsible for three explosive plays and he’s only going to keep getting better.

That’s the exciting part but this will still be a good learning experience and for the most part, he gets a passing grade in his first big game.