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Grading Michigan football in all facets of a 34-11 loss to Georgia

Chris Balasby:Chris Balas•12/31/21•

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Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh

Grading Michigan football in each area after a disappointing, 34-11 loss in the Orange Bowl.

Michigan Rushing Offense: D-

Four runs accounted for 59 yards of Michigan’s net rushing total of 88 yards, and two of those were quarterback scrambles. Redshirt freshman Cade McNamara’s 18-yard run on the first offensive play came when he took off after his pocket collapsed. Later, freshman J.J. McCarthy ran for 12 yards after being pressured. 

U-M’s running backs managed only 65 yards on 16 carries (4.06 per carry) and 22 on seven carries in the first half. The Wolverines had negative-one yard rushing in the second quarter, at which point Georgia all but put the game away. A Blake Corum lost fumble hurt the comeback effort in the second half.

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Michigan Passing Offense: D-

A couple nice deep balls from McCarthy — 43 yards to freshman running back Donovan Edwards, and 35 and a score to frosh receiver Andrel Anthony for the only Michigan touchdown — saves this from a failing grade. McNamara had one nice deep ball to Roman Wilson (42 yards) to set up a field goal, as well. 

At least five dropped passes plagued both quarterbacks. The receivers struggled, and Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said Daylen Baldwin lost the ball in the lights on one of McNamara’s two picks. McNamara’s first interception came after a missed pass interference call. 

But protection was poor much of the game. The U-M offensive line was overmatched throughout, and Harbaugh went with McCarthy much of the second half just so he could scramble away from pressure. 

Michigan Rushing Defense: D

Georgia’s offensive line controlled the Michigan front seven on the way to 190 yards, 5.4 per carry. The Bulldogs set the tone in the first quarter with six carries for 40 yards, added 38 in the second and moved the pile at will behind its big line. 

Georgia bled clock for much of the second half, and there was little Michigan could do to stop it. The Bulldogs ran for 82 yards in the fourth quarter and controlled the clock. 

Michigan managed only one tackle for loss all game for minus-one yard. 

Passing Defense: F

“Game manager” Stetson Bennett completed his first nine passes for 101 yards in the first quarter and had 151 in the second quarter. It could have been worse if head coach Kirby Smart hadn’t called off the dogs. 

Michigan’s defensive ends couldn’t get to the quarterback, nor could anyone else. Bennett finished with 310 yards and three touchdown passes, one coming when corner Vince Gray lost a ball in the lights (per Harbaugh), and he could have finished with 500 yards had they kept the foot on the gas. As it was, they had four completions of 35 or more yards, including match-ups on linebackers in which the speed was too much. 

Running back James Cook exploited U-M with a 39-yard touchdown and a 53-yard gain out of the backfield. 

Special Teams: C

Nothing special here. Michigan punt returner A.J. Henning had a 16-yard runback, but there were no kick returns. Kick coverage was solid (two for 25 yards), and senior kicker Jake Moody was good again (ditto punter Brad Robbins). 

Moody made his only field goal attempt, from 36 yards out, and Robbins averaged 44.5 per punt. 

Special teams were not a factor Friday.

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