Offense notes: Michigan's slow start sets the tone, turnovers make matters worse

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Michigan Wolverines football’s offense had a tough time the entire night in a 34-11 Orange Bowl loss to Georgia, but a slow start set the tone.

The Maize and Blue drove but turned it over on downs at the Georgia 36-yard line on their first possession, went three-and-out on their second drive, and wound up with just two first downs and 42 yards at the end of the first quarter. At the half, the Wolverines had 101 yards and just three points, trailing 27-3 after being down 17-0 at one point.

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Michigan’s largest deficit of the season entering the night was four points, and the Wolverines weren’t able to dig themselves out of a huge hole against a Georgia team headed for the national title game against Alabama.

Michigan faltered in the red zone, failing to score twice in three trips and settling for a field goal in the other, went 8 for 15 on third downs and totaled a season-low 325 yards (88 rushing, another season-low, and 237 passing).

“Congratulations to Georgia,” head coach Jim Harbaugh said. “They played a heck of a game in all phases. I loved the way our guys fought. It wasn’t our best, but certainly was theirs. They played extremely well.”

Redshirt freshman quarterback Cade McNamara completed 11 of his 19 pass attempts for 106 yards, and saw his receivers drop multiple balls. Sophomore tight end Erick All led the way with four grabs for 63 yards, and was one of 10 Michigan players to notch a reception.

Michigan Turnovers Made Matters Worse

The Wolverines also uncharacteristically failed to take care of the ball, registering three turnovers for the first time since giving it away four times at Wisconsin Sept. 21, 2019. The turnovers came on three straight possessions — one late in the first half and the other two to begin the third quarter — hurting the Maize and Blue’s cause in attempting to mount a comeback.

McNamara threw two interceptions — one along the sideline intended for second-year freshman wideout Roman Wilson late in the second quarter and another intended for redshirt junior Daylen Baldwin in the end zone in the third. Harbaugh explained that Baldwin, who stopped his route, lost the ball in the lights.

“Had some fourth downs, didn’t convert those, and then unfortunately we turned the ball over a few times,” Harbaugh said. “We lost the ball in the lights one time on an offensive throw and they got an interception in the end zone.”

Second-year freshman running back Blake Corum fumbled near midfield on a third-and-three with just over eight minutes remaining in the third quarter.

J.J. McCarthy Receives Extended Playing Time

Freshman quarterback J.J. McCarthy notched a career-high 17 pass attempts, with seven completions for 131 yards. He played the majority of the second half, and led the Wolverines to their only touchdown drive, throwing a 35-yard touchdown pass to classmate Andrel Anthony with 4:25 to play.

Georgia recorded seven tackles for loss and four sacks, the most Michigan has allowed in a game all season, and added two quarterback hurries, harrasing the Maize and Blue. The Bulldogs’ success at the line of scrimmage played a part in turning to McCarthy in the second half.

“The protection just wasn’t as good as it needed to be,” Harbaugh said. “J.J. gave us more of a chance to escape it, avoid it and run because that was the reason we made that switch.

“We’ve got two great quarterbacks. We make no apology for that.”

Michigan actually outscored the Bulldogs in the second half and amassed 224 yards after the break, but didn’t do enough to make it a close game at the end.

“Our offense was moving the ball there in the second half,” Harbaugh said. “We had those drives — could have converted on two drives before, but got to give credit to the Georgia defense. They’re a tough team to score on.”

Miscellaneous Michigan Football Offense Notes

• Redshirt sophomore running back Hassan Haskins rushed nine times for a season-low 39 yards.

• Haskins entered the game with 1,288 yards rushing and eclipsed 1,300 yards with his fourth carry of the game, becoming the first Wolverine to top 1,300 yards rushing in a season since Denard Robinson in 2010 (1,702 yards). He is the first U-M back to reach that mark since his position coach Mike Hart, who had 1,361 rushing yards in 2006 and 1,562 rushing yards in 2007.

• McCarthy’s touchdown pass to Anthony marked their second touchdown connection of the season, with the other coming in the loss at Michigan State.

• Michigan’s 325 total yards mark the lowest amount for the program since last season against Penn State (286).

• Eleven points are the least Michigan has scored in a game since the 2020 campaign versus Wisconsin (49-11 loss). That was also the last time the Maize and Blue failed to score more than one touchdown in a contest.

• Michigan had seven plays of 15-plus yards, including two that were gains of 40 or more yards.

• Michigan rushed for less than 100 yards for the first time since last year’s loss to Wisconsin (47). The Wolverines have rushed for 100 or more yards in 66 of Harbaugh’s 85 games at the helm.

• The Wolverines threw for 237 yards, the fourth-most a Georgia opponent has accumulated in a game this season.

• Michigan was shut out in the first quarter. The last time a team was shut out in the first quarter of an Orange Bowl was Oklahoma in a 2018 loss to Alabama.

• The Wolverines’ three points through three quarters marked the least in an Orange Bowl since Florida State lost to Oklahoma Jan. 3, 2001, and had two points at the end of the third stanza.