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It wasn’t pretty, but odds are Michigan’s 27-24 win over Minnesota is the type of game we should get used to from the Wolverines this season.
The Wolverines finished with 241 yards of offense, with running back Kalel Mullings providing 111 of them on the ground. Mullings also scored two of Michigan’s three touchdowns in a featured role for the second consecutive week. The offense will need to continue leaning on him; he looks like the only reliable source of big plays.
The passing game remains … a work in progress. The good news: in his second start, Alex Orji eclipsed his 32 yards passing against USC. The bad news is he still finished below 100 yards, completing 10 of his 18 passes for 86 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Still, Michigan is 4-1 and 2-0 in Big Ten play, and it at least has an identity.
With the lack of a passing attack, defenses will continue to focus on stopping Mullings and the Michigan rushing attack. That will force Michigan to rely on defense and special teams to keep it in games as well, which both did in spurts against Minnesota. The Wolverines defense finished with five sacks, nine tackles for loss and forced two turnovers Saturday; the special teams unit blocked a punt.
The first turnover forced resulted in a three-play, 16-yard touchdown drive for Michigan. The blocked punt set up an 11-yard touchdown. Those were two short fields the Wolverines offense desperately needed. Of Michigan’s 11 offensive possessions, only two of them covered more than 40 yards. Five covered 10 yards or fewer.
It’s a difficult way to win a…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/michigan-must-win-ugly-with-one-dimensional-offense-but-hot-big-ten-start-shows-that-identity-can-work/
Author : Tom Fornelli
Publish date : 2024-09-28 20:40:55
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