Highlights, gut reactions from Michigan football win over Purdue

Michigan football drubbed Purdue, despite some rust, and here are the gut reactions as well as the highlights from the Wolverines’ win. 

Saturday night’s 41-13 win over Purdue was probably the least impressive Big Ten win of the season for Michigan football, which is saying something because the outcome was never in doubt.

The Wolverines grabbed a 14-0 lead early in the first quarter. J.J. McCarthy bombed a pass to Donovan Edwards. And Blake Corum finished the drive with the first of three rushing touchdowns.

Will Johnson intercepted his third pass in two seasons against Purdue, which allowed Michigan football to build a 20-0 lead.

Purdue was able to kick a couple of field goals in the first half — including one right before the half after Michigan was stopped on a fourth-and-short at its own 30-yard line.

Still, the offense scored three second-half touchdowns — the first on a 44-yard run by Semaj Morgan who looked like he was shot out of a cannon on an end around.

Blake Corum added his third touchdown run of the night soon after, tying him for second in school history with Tyrone Wheatley (47).

And then, McCarthy went over 300 yards on a pass to Roman Wilson who also went over 100 yards receiving. Donovan Edwards got the touchdown. Purdue added a score in garbage time, but even without Connor Stalions, Michigan football won going away.

Here are the gut reactions.

Gut reactions to Michigan football win over Purdue

• J.J. McCarthy didn’t have his “best game” and still threw for 335 yards on 24-of-37 completions. If that’s a bad day, Michigan football has arrived.
• No Connor Stalions no problem. The two-game total is 90-13 but who’s counting? That’s an average margin of victory of 38.5 points. The average margin of victory in the four Big Ten prior to that was 37.25.
• The Michigan defense is so damn good. That and J.J. McCarthy are the biggest reasons to believe this team can contend for a national title.
• Michigan’s running game is a concern. It has to be better next week against Penn State. The pass blocking has to be better too.
• Donovan Edwards had a positive night. It was a step in the right direction at least.
• Didn’t like the fourth-down call to Kalel Mullings. On that big a play — give it to Corum or at least put him on the field.
• It’s always good to get the rust off after a bye week. Glad it was this week and not next because Penn State is going to be a war.
• .We haven’t heard the last on the Jim Harbaugh thing. Hopefully, he’ll be on the sidelines next week. Either way, Forever Go Blue!