Report Card: Grading Michigan football in a win at Penn State
Grading Michigan football in all facets of a 21-17 win at Penn State.
Michigan Football Rushing Offense: B+
Redshirt sophomore running back Hassan Haskins ran for 156 yards and averaged 5.0 yards per carry, only losing one yard. He notched 110 yards in the second half alone in carrying the Wolverines to victory.
The running game was inconsistent, though. Thirteen of the 34 planned running plays went for two yards or less, and Haskins was responsible for a lot of his yardage with impressive cuts outside when the middle was plugged. Pro Football Focus’ initial numbers credited him with 102 rushing yards after contact.
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Michigan Football Passing Offense: B-
Freshman Cade McNamara had his work cut out on a cold and windy day, but he was solid. He completed 19 of 29 passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns, including a perfectly thrown ball to freshman receiver Roman Wilson for a 21-yard score. He completed three passes over 20 yards, including the 47-yard game winner to tight end Erick All that covered 42 after the catch.
The downfield passing game still isn’t where it needs to be, but McNamara did what he needed to do. The Wolverines also scored touchdowns instead of kicking field goals.
Michigan Football Rushing Defense: B-
Penn State’s numbers (2.6 per carry) were skewed by sack yardage — Sean Clifford gained 61, mainly on scrambles, but also lost 45 on sacks. Running back Keyvone Lee managed more than expected against the U-M front seven, rushing for 88 yards on 4.4 yards per carry.
Lee rushed for 49 yards and averaged 7.0 per carry in the third quarter alone. He also ran for 25 yards on the Nittany Lions’ only touchdown drive early in the fourth quarter that tied the game, opening things up for the passing game.
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Michigan Football Passing Defense: B
Clifford averaged only 5.1 yards per attempt. He was harassed much of the afternoon by the Michigan pass rush and sacked seven times, hurried or hit on several other instances. Though he threw for 205 yards, about a fifth of that came on one play (44 yards to receiver Parker Washington).
Elite receiver Jahan Dotson notched only 61 yards on nine catches (and 16 targets) with a long of 17. The Wolverines would have taken that and run going into the game.
Michigan Football Special Teams: B
Michigan didn’t get anything from its kick return, and punt returner A.J. Henning still looks shaky at times (two returns for three yards). Kicker Jake Moody didn’t attempt a field goal, but punter Brad Robbins averaged 52.4 yards per punt with a long of 65.
Kick and punt coverage remains outstanding. Moody didn’t have a single kickoff returned, and Dotson managed just nine yards on the Lions’ lone punt runback.
