Michigan Football: Highlights, gut reactions from blowout win over East Carolina

Michigan football absolutely dominated East Carolina on Saturday and here are some highlights, we well as gut reactions to the Wolverines’ win. 

Michigan football didn’t have head coach Jim Harbaugh on Saturday, but it didn’t matter. The Wolverines had J.J. McCarthy and that’s all they needed to notch a 30-3 win.

With his head coach watching in the living room of his offensive coordinator, McCarthy was spectacular for Michigan football on Saturday. At one point, the second-year starting quarterback completed 15 passes in a row.

McCarthy connected with Roman Wilson on a touchdown pass in the first quarter that probably should have been overturned. Still, McCarthy’s stellar day was far from over.

Blake Corum got in on the act in the second quarter, breaking off a 37-yard run and finishing it off with a touchdown soon after.

But McCarthy was the star of the show. At the end of the third quarter (when he was pulled), the junior was 26-of-30 for 281 yards and three touchdowns — all of them to Wilson.

McCarthy’s second touchdown to Wilson came as he eluded the pass rush and threw across his body in an NFL-caliber throw.

However, the best throw of the day might have been the third touchdown pass to Wilson, which only a handful of college quarterbacks can make.

East Carolina did come up with a goal-line stand in the third quarter and the running game had a tough time getting going. Yet, the defense was spectacular, and even without Jim Harbaugh, Michigan didn’t skip a beat.

Here are the gut reactions to an impressive win for the Wolverines.

Gut reactions for Michigan football vs. East Carolina

• J.J. McCarthy is going to be as good as any quarterback in college football. The leap he took this offseason wasn’t just talk. He looks in complete control and played about as well as one could imagine on Saturday.
• The running game struggled. ECU stuffed the box but this offensive line has some work to do if it’s going to win the Joe Moore Award again. The pass protection was great, but the run blocking needs to be better and not getting it in near the goal line was disappointing.
• Blake Corum is back and he was spectacular. He didn’t look quite as explosive just yet, but the jukes were unreal and when he’s truly 100 percent, he’s going to be unreal.
• The Michigan football front seven is every bit as good as advertised. It might be as good as any in college football if the EDGE rushers keep improving.
• Josh Wallace might be Michigan’s best transfer portal addition.
• Roman Wilson is living up to the No. 1. The chemistry between him and McCarthy was obvious.
• Colston Loveland will be the best tight end in the Big Ten this season.
• This team is as good as we thought and today was just the beginning.
• Go Blue!