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Report Card: Grading Michigan in all areas after a 29-7 win over MSU

Chris Balasby:Chris Balas•10/30/22•

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Michigan running back Blake Corum
Mike Mulholland | Getty Images

Grading Michigan football in all aspects of 29-7 pasting of Michigan State. The Wolverines improved to 8-0 after dominating the second half, especially defensively, and smothering the MSU running game.

RELATED: Michigan 29, MSU 7: Notes, quotes, and observations from a defeat without dignity

RELATED: Jim Harbaugh on postgame MSU tunnel incident – ‘Two of our players were assaulted … (one) 10 on 1′ 

Michigan rushing offense: A-

This was pure Michigan football, again — moving methodically downfield 5 to 7 yards at a time, picking the spots in the passing game, but more than anything leaning on Blake Corum to churn out first downs. The Wolverines kept the Spartans off balance because MSU simply couldn’t stop the run. They played their safeties deep most of the time, and half the junior’s carries went for 5 yards or more. 

Corum didn’t rip off the big runs, but he did have a pair of 17-yarders. 

This was also a good day for sophomore quarterback J.J. McCarthy on the ground. He scrambled for a lot of his 50 yards, but there was one 21-yard draw we loved to see. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him become even more of a runner in the weeks to come.

Passing offense: B-

McCarthy threw for 167 yards, airing it out only 25 times against one of the nation’s worst pass defenses. Simply put, head coach Jim Harbaugh likes to rely on his running game, and he should when it’s churning out yardage like it has been. Still — receivers don’t seem to be getting great separation.

Grad student tight end Luke Schoonmaker has become a great weapon for McCarthy. He caught 5 passes for 70 yards underneath the defense and is having an All-Big Ten season. McCarthy averaged 11.1 yards per completion, and grad student Ronnie Bell (53 yards) and sophomore back Donovan Edwards (38) were popular targets.

This passing game does have another gear, though, that needs to be found before the Wolverines travel to Columbus Nov. 26.

Michigan rushing defense: A

Michigan State really has no running game, and that played into the U-M defense’s hands. Receiver Jayden Reed had the long rush, 17 yards on a reverse. That was as much as back Jalen Berger had all game on 9 carries, while Elijah Collins managed only 22 yards on 7 carries. 

Only 5 of the 16 carries for the Spartans’ top two backs went for more than 3 yards. Michigan State ran for 37 yards all game and had -18 yards rushing in the second half. 

Passing defense: C+

The deep, jump ball was one of the only ways Michigan State was going to stay in the game, and the Spartans got it in the second quarter. Receiver Keon Coleman had 104 yards midway through the second quarter and would finish with 155. He caught 5 passes. 

The Michigan secondary did an outstanding job on the other receivers, though, especially talented Jayden Reed. He caught only 4 passes for 17 yards. MSU quarterback Thorne threw for 215 yards and a score, but he also had a ball picked by safety Rod Moore. 

Other than one bad quarter, the Michigan secondary played very well.

Michigan special teams: A

Take a bow, Jake Moody. He made all 5 of his field goals a week after making 4 against Penn State, including one 54-yarder that put the Wolverines up 15 points in the fourth quarter (37 yards). He didn’t have a kick returned, either. What a weapon he’s been. 

Brad Robbins kicked short on his one attempt. We don’t blame the sixth year, however … he hasn’t been getting much work. His one punt traveled 34 yards. 

And we’d still like to see more from Roman Wilson on kick return. He needs some holes to show off his speed … averaged 19.5 yards on 2 returns.

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