Report Card: Grading Michigan in all facets of a 24-15 win at Penn State
Grading Michigan football in all facets of a 24-15 win at Penn State. The Wolverines overcame distractions and the absence of head coach Jim Harbaugh to handle the Nitany Lions in their den, getting senior running back Blake Corum’s best game of the year in the process. The grades:
RELATED
Michigan derails Purdue
Santa Ono’s message to Big Ten
Michigan rushing offense: B+
Yes, it was pretty much all or nothing. There will still several “inefficient” plays from the backs. Eleven of Corum’s went for three or less minus short yardage runs, and six of junior Donovan Edwards’ 10. But there was also a handful of big plays that were the difference in the game, including three big touchdown runs from the backs. They came against one of the nation’s top defenses.
Passing offense: Inc.
McCarthy threw 8 times total — 8 — and didn’t have an official pass in the second half (the one he threw ended up in a pass interference call). He completed 7 of them for 60 yards, but it was clear early the coaches weren’t comfortable with the pass blocking. That will need to get better if the Wolverines are going to win a national title. It seemed play action could have worked a bit more Saturday and this didn’t have to be a fourth quarter game, but … all’s well that ends well.
Michigan rushing defense: C+
This Penn State offense hasn’t been running the ball very well, but it put up 167 yards and 4.7 yards per carry even though it was one-dimensional without the threat of a passing game. They put up 104 yards in the first half alone and had way too much success on first down on too many plays. Minus one carry, though — a Kaytron Allen 34-yarder — they didn’t break any big ones. The Michigan defense also forced and recovered a fumble on one carry early in the second half (Rayshaun Benny), a critical play in the game.
Passing defense: A
The shine is off Penn State quarterback Drew Allar. He looked completely overwhelmed against the Michigan pass rush and secondary, completed only 10 of 22 passes for 70 yards and a score and was off much of the afternoon. His receivers didn’t help him much, but he didn’t see the field very well, either. He missed some open receivers. Overall, though, the pass rushers and defensive backs were very good in coverage.
Michigan special teams: B+
Kicker James Turner made his only field goal, and junior punter Tommy Doman was solid, not great on his five punts. He averaged 39.2 yards per kick and dropped one inside the 20. Return man Jake Thaw needs to be better — he had 3 returns for only 7 yards despite having room — but he was part of the conservative game plan and made no mistakes. The coverage teams were very good, as usual, with Doman putting his kickoffs through the end zone.
