There was some cathartic about the Michigan football win over Washington on Saturday.
Fans were panicked after last week, rightfully so. Sherrone Moore's response was to get back to work. He embodied that with his "blue-collar shirt" this week, something that got him mocked.
Moore didn't care. He was sending a message, a message his team clearly received, as we saw on Saturday.
"It felt like Michigan football"
The second-year Michigan football head coach acknowledged that there were some tough conversations had over the past week on offense, defense, and special teams, among players and coaches.
They responded. It wasn't perfect, as in mistake free. Michigan football had four dropped passes, three of which essentially ended what should have been scoring drives, although two took place on the same drive.
Michigan needs to cut out the penalties, although that holding call on Max Bredeson is one of the worst you'll ever see. The Wolverines also need to clean up things in the kicking game, and as far as knowing when or when not to challenge.
Those are fixable things. What can't be fixed overnight is a broken culture. Some suggested Michigan's might be headed in that direction.
Saturday's 24-7 win over Washington was a direct contradiction of that. Wink called a good game. The defense tackled, swarmed to the ball, and got after the quarterback. Most importantly, they stopped the run. When you do that, as Moore pointed out, it makes life hard on the quarterback.
Michigan football ran for 187 yards. Washington was held to 40. The Huskies were also held 32 points below their scoring average. Jordan Marshall, Michigan's RB2, toted the rock 25 times for 133 yards and a touchdown. His long gain was 14, and his key to success was fighting for extra yardage, which he did all day.
Underwood added 25 yards on the ground, including one 17-yard run for a first down. He was also nearly flawless, throwing the ball with 21 of 27 passes completed for 230 yards and two touchdowns. Underwood didn't come close to an interception. Yet, if his receivers had held onto the ball, he would have connected on 25 of 27 passes, probably for over 300 yards.
As the pieces get better around Underwood, and they should considering three redshirt freshman played most of the game on the offensive line, Underwood's production should improve, too.
Still, the fact that he has three turnovers in seven games is special. It's maybe his most impressive stat. Yet, Underwood looked as comfortable as he did, because the offensive line opened some holes, against a run defense allowing just 3.6 yards per carry.
Michigan football ran for more yards than any other team against Washington, Ohio State included. The 17-point margin could have been wider, if the offense didn't have three drives inside the 40 that ended without points.
The defense looked like the defense we expected to see this season. Washington couldn't run and a dual-threat quarterback, Demond Williams, averaging over 64 yards per game on the ground, was held to -19. The sophomore had under 200 total yards, after being credited with over 500 total yards week.
The win kept Michigan in the College Football Playoff hunt and the race for the Big Ten championship. Every goal is still on the table, and as Sherrone Moore said after the win, "It felt like Michigan football."
Yes it did.