Michigan Football: Grading the Wolverines win over Nebraska
Michigan football notched a 31-point win over Nebraska on Saturday and here is the report card from the Wolverines’ 34-3 victory.
If you weren’t impressed by what Michigan football did to Nebraska on Saturday, then you need to pay closer attention.
Yes, the Michigan passing game needs to improve. Jim Harbaugh said as much after the game, but he’s also right in that if the running game is working, there is no reason to get away from it.
Michigan was getting 5-6 yards a pop against Nebraska and the Huskers aren’t alone. 264 rushing yards amounts to an average day for the Wolverines and Nebraska held up better than I thought.
Donovan Edwards getting hurt had an impact. That’s a big issue if he’s not available for Ohio State because while the receivers sometimes struggle to get open — he doesn’t and McCarthy trusts him. Luke Schoonmaker was out too, another reliable target.
The defense was incredible in its own right and as you can guess, the report card is going to be pretty good this week after a 34-3 win over Nebraska.
Here are the grades.
Offense: B+
This grade is probably too harsh. 34 points is a solid day, especially when you possess the ball for over 36 minutes and average 5.4 yards per carry. If Michigan football can do what it did to Nebraska to say Ohio State, it would win the game.
The formula might not translate. We’ll see. It did last year and this offensive line hasn’t been beaten yet. Guys have off days throwing the ball and the weather plays an impact.
Do you know what’s not impacted by that? The offensive line.
Those guys get the game ball from me and it’s incredible how Sherrone Moore can trot out different combinations in the front five and still get the same results.
Just like in the 90s, when Michigan football was Michigan football, there are NFL players up and down the line and the backups are pros too. I said before the season Karsen Barnhart was a future NFL player as the No. 6.
Still, the timing is a little off in the passing game and it was the fault of both J.J. McCarthy at times and his receivers. But McCarthy has made plays when needed and the Wolverines didn’t have a turnover again. His legs are the X-factor and a two-touchdown night with zero interceptions is nothing to complain about.
It’s only a matter of time before it all comes together. Yet, there was a little meat left on the bone which is why we’ll go with a B+. Some fans are freaking out about nothing.