Report Card: Grading Michigan football in a 63-3 win over CMU

Michigan hammered Central Michigan, 63-3, and was dominant from start to finish behind an outstanding showing from freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood. Offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey turned him loose and let the frosh run, leading to a dominant offensive performance. We grade the Wolverines here … 

RELATED: Michigan 63, CMU 3: Notes, quotes, and observations — a lesson learned?

Michigan rushing offense: A+

Alabama transfer Justice Haynes carried 14 times for 104 yards and had a 70-yarder called back. He’s clearly the Wolverines’ top back, but it was good to see Jordan Marshall getting going a bit, too (10 carries, 52 yards). He also had a longer touchdown nullified by penalty. 

But freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood was the story here. The coaches turned him loose, and between that and scrambles he rushed for 114 yards and two scores, including a long of 28. He averaged 12.7 per run and the Wolverines racked up 381 yards on the ground. They dominated even with the backups in for much of the second half, which was fun to see. 

Passing offense: A –

Underwood was outstanding, for the most part, completing 16 of 25 passes for 235 yards and a touchdown in less than three quarters. There were seven passing plays of 15 yards or more, including a perfectly thrown 32-yard touchdown to junior Semaj Morgan. 

The only negatives — a few dropped balls (again, including Morgan and sophomore Channing Goodwin), a bit of leaky pass protection at times that forced Underwood to scramble, and an interception on a first-down deep ball on which the quarterback had a receiver open underneath coverage for a solid gain. 

Michigan rushing defense: A-

The Chippewas only managed 79 yards total, but sack yardage affected the gross. The Central Michigan running backs did nothing, but for the second straight game, quarterback runs were a bit of an Achilles heel. Angel Flores carried nine times for 76 yards, including a 20-yarder. With some mobile quarterbacks on the schedule, Michigan is going to have to tighten this up a bit. 

Passing defense: A+

The Chips were never a threat here, with the Michigan front seven in the backfield when they tried and the secondary doing its part, too. They managed only 60 yards passing, only one “big” completion (18 yards), and 3.0 yards per attempt. Freshman corner Elijah Dotson notched his first career interception, and the Wolverines notched 3 sacks.  

Michigan special teams: C-

Kicker Dominic Zvada missed for the second straight week, this one from 47 yards, and the return game was poor once again. Morgan managed only three yards on two returns and was run into by one of his teammates, lucky to hold the ball on one of them. Frosh Andrew Marsh’s only kick return went for 13 yards. 

The Wolverines didn’t punt and only gave up one kick return for 23 yards.