Michigan football, the 3-2-1: Surprises, improvement and a prediction

Michigan takes on Maryland today in College Park, a two-plus touchdown favorite over the Terrapins. U-M has everything on the line the next two weeks — here are three areas of surprise this year, a pair of expectations for the future and one prediction.

THREE BIGGEST SURPRISES THIS YEAR

3. The secondary. Everyone expected this to be the weak link after a disappointing 2020 season, but this group has been good. Credit new defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald for playing to his team’s strengths and not putting his corners on an island every play, but there are still times they are. They’ve risen to the occasion. 

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Veteran Vince Gray looks like a different player, much more confident. Corner DJ Turner looks like a rising start, and safety Rod Moore might be, too. He was outstanding last week at Penn State in replacing R.J. Moten in long stretches, and Moten had been solid this year. 

What was once a concern for the Michigan football future now looks like a potential strength. 

2. Hassan Haskins. People were chuckling a bit at Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis when Haskins was talking about potentially going to the NFL after this year. 

They aren’t laughing now. 

We’ve called Haskins an average back in the past. He’s taken his game to another level this year, to the point he’s now one of the more complete backs in the country. He’s an elite pass blocker, has gotten more patient as a runner and has made the offensive line better with his yard after contact — 104 alone last week at Penn State. 

Haskins will need a huge game next week against Ohio State if the Wolverines are going to pull the upset. We wouldn’t bet against it. 

Enjoy him. This will be his last year in a Michigan unform, even though he has eligibility remaining.

1. Andrew Vastardis. We called for the sixth-year senior’s replacement before the season. Now, we can’t imagine the offense without him. 

Those who missed it, watch how Cade McNamara and his teammates feel about him … 

He’s played through pain for the program, and now that he’s healthy, he’s showing what he can do. He’s not perfect, but he makes the right calls 98 percent of the time, battles on every play and has been an outstanding captain. 

Last year, No. 68 was just a guy on an inconsistent line. Now, he’s one of the top linemen on a much-improved line. He’ll be a doctor in about five years, too. 

Winner.

TWO BIG REASONS FOR THE MICHIGAN FOOTBALL TURNAROUND

2. Mistake-free football.

No team is perfect. There are missed blocks, missed assignments, etc. But this team protects the ball, thanks in large part to redshirt freshman quarterback Cade McNamara. 

“The leadership, the DNA. If you’re going to take everything from the DNA of everything you want your quarterback to be — smart, physical, tough composed, someone that can handle themselves under pressure — he displays all those traits.

Michigan is ninth nationally in turnovers (eight) and 20^th in turnover margin (.60). They’re one of 11 teams to have not given up a passing play over 50 yards, a huge upgrade from last year. 

Add it up, you get winning football. 

It’s not always sexy, but it’s effective. 

1. Return of the Jackhammer — and the culture. We’ve said for a few years Michigan wouldn’t have a chance to be ‘back’ until head coach Jim Harbaugh was. He’d lost his edge, seemed like a different guy — not disinterested, but distracted — and now seems engaged, excited and back to the Harbaugh of old. 

His team has fed off it, offensive coordinator Josh Gattis said. 

“You saw the cohesiveness of this team [last week],” he said. “The camaraderie, the togetherness. I think that’s what led to make this team very special this year. You’re talking about a team really defying all odds for a lot of people coming into this year. 

“The leadership of these players, they bought into each other. Talk about a team that was in a very bad place at the beginning of the year that had to commit to loving each other, believing in each other and the leadership of coach Harbaugh to bring this team along.

They may not remember every game, but they’ll remember the feeling. 

“Special moments like that you’ll remember the rest of your life. That just shows how tight knit this family is, this team,” Gattis said.

ONE MICHIGAN FOOTBALL PREDICTION

Michigan and Ohio State will be playing for the Big Ten East Division title Saturday, and it will be a fourth quarter game. 

It’s past time the Wolverines played their best in the rivalry game. It’s one thing to lose — it’s another to get embarrassed and play poorly. 

Even in the 2016 loss, a game in which the Wolverines deserved a better fate, they shot themselves in the foot too often. They may not win next week, but they’ll play a clean game and give the Buckeyes a battle.