Report Card: Grading Michigan in a 50-6 win over Northwestern
Michigan captured its most fulfilling win of the year, dominating for the last two and a half quarters in a 50-6 victory over Northwestern. The Wolverines were balanced on offense and dominant on defense — we grade their efforts in all areas:
RELATED: Michigan 50, Northwestern 6: Notes, quotes, and observations — that old, familiar feeling
Michigan rushing offense: A-
A tale of two halves here, with Michigan running for only 14 yards on 12 carries in the first half but exploding in the second half. The Wolverines finished with 201 yards rushing, Donovan Edwards with 65 (6.5 per carry) and Kalel Mullings 92 (7.7 per rush, 3 touchdowns). U-M rushed for 106 yards in the third quarter alone.
Passing offense: B
Veteran Davis Warren had his first interception in several games with a bad throw, but he completed several good passes, too, going 26-of-35 for 195 yards and a touchdown. He ran the two-minute drill nicely before the half and navigated the pocket well to lead the Wolverines to a 17-6 lead. A 94-yard second quarter was huge.
Michigan rushing defense: A+
Northwestern managed 10 total yards rushing with sack yardage included — without, the Wildcats only rushed for 2.3 yards per carry. Twenty-two of the team’s 48 yards came on two carries. Only three other rushes by backs went for four yards or more.
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Passing defense: A+
Northwestern quarterback Jack Lausch was under pressure much of the day, sacked 6 times. Some of those were coverage sacks due to blanket coverage from the secondary, but this was truly a team effort between the men up front and in the back end. Lausch managed only 106 yards passing and was picked off twice. Thirty-nine of those yards came on one play in which the receiver caught an underthrown ball on his back.
Michigan special teams: A-
Kicker Dominic Zvada is an absolute stud. His 56-yard field goal in the first half gave the Wolverines a 10-0 lead, and he later added a 28-yarder. Punter Tommy Doman kicked only once for 48 yards, but it was returned 27 when Michigan lost the edge. A 63-yard kick return from Michigan freshman Jordan Marshall was electric, a sign of things to come (?).
