Report Card: Grading Michigan In A 27-20 Win Over Alabama
By Chris Balas
Grading Michigan football in all facets of a 27-20 overtime victory over Alabama, the Wolverines’ first College Football Playoff win in three tries. U-M didn’t play its ‘A’ game but still got the win, coming back late and capturing the ‘W’ in overtime. The grades:
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Michigan rushing offense: B+
Michigan averaged 4.8 yards per carry in the first half and looked good doing it, especially in the first quarter. Alabama shut them down in the third quarter, holding them to .8, but the fourth quarter and overtime were huge behind a line that exceeded expectations. They finished with 130 yards, averaged 4.1 yards per carry, and got two carries for 25 yards and a score from senior running back Blake Corum in overtime to win it.
Passing offense: B
Junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy shook off a slow start, getting lucky on a called-back interception early to throw for 221 yards and 3 touchdowns. He missed a few throws early but made the big plays down the stretch when it mattered, going 6-for-9 for 87 yards and a score in the fourth quarter. Senior Roman Wilson stepped up huge in the second half and finished with 73 yards and a score. Sophomore Tyler Morris’ 38-yard touchdown was one of the game’s huge plays. Alabama took away the Michigan tight ends, but other receivers stepped up.
Michigan rushing defense: B-
Alabama grossed 221 yards — sack yardage not included — and took control of the game in the third quarter on the ground. They ran for 53 yards in the third quarter and 65 in the fourth, the backs averaging 6.2 yards and 7.8 yards, respectively. Quarterback Jalen Milroe scampered for 63 yards and was well over that without sack yardage. Their ability to run the ball in the second half changed the game, but the Wolverines made key plays in the second half when they needed to.
Passing defense: A
The Michigan pass defense gave up one big play, a 29-yarder on a great catch, but otherwise kept Milroe in check with relentless pass rush and blanket coverage. They only gave up 3 other passing plays of 11 yards or more, sacked Milroe 6 times (5 in the first half), and got the receivers on the ground quickly after the catch. Milroe threw for only 116 yards.
Michigan special teams: D
Kicker James Turner missed a 49-yard field goal and didn’t get a kick off on the second extra point. That nearly cost the Wolverines the game. There were a couple bad snaps on kicks, in fact. Junior punter Tommy Doman averaged 39.5 yards in one of his more disappointing games, and there were two muffed punts that could have been fatal. One led to an Alabama touchdown, and the other was nearly a safety. The outstanding coverage teams on kicks keeps this from being a failing grade.
