Free Press sports writer Nick Baumgardner grades Michigan’s 35-14 win over Rutgers on Saturday at Michigan Stadium.
Free Press sports writer Nick Baumgardner rates the Wolverines on a scale of 1-10 after their 35-14 win over Rutgers on Saturday:
7
This was awful for a quarter and a half. But after that, Michigan looked like a consistent, functional offense for perhaps the first time this season. Brandon Peters had a lot to do with this, of course, but Michigan’s ground game — which had been improving in recent weeks — really took off after the pass attack was able to relieve some pressure. Michigan rushed 51 times for 334 yards and four touchdowns, easily its best day of the year and its best as a team since a 481-yard rushing day during a 78-0 win at Rutgers last season. This wasn’t the Big Ten’s best defense, by a long shot. But Michigan’s offense, with Peters completing 10 of 14 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown, handled an over-matched opponent the way it’s supposed to handle an over-matched opponent.
More: Brandon Peters gets call, Michigan’s offense finds life vs. Rutgers
The offense hadn’t been asking much from its quarterback in recent weeks, just enough to keep a defense honest. On Saturday, that mission was accomplished as Michigan racked up 471 yards.
6
Rutgers moved the ball with a few chunk plays, including one that’s likely going to cost Don Brown a bit of sleep. Wide receiver Janarion Grant’s 65-yard run on a designed option keeper looked similar to what Penn State ran during a long touchdown run with Saquon Barkley last week in Happy Valley. That wasn’t the only drive to find success, as Rutgers took advantage of two chunk passes — a 30-yarder to tight end Jerome Washington and a 21-yarder to Hunter Hayek — during an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter.
More: Jim Harbaugh hints Brandon Peters is Michigan football’s starting QB
Still, the Wolverines limited Rutgers to 195 yards. Michigan had five sacks and 11 tackles for loss. Rashan Gary, Maurice Hurst and Devin Bush Jr. each had two tackles for loss and Chase Winovich had 1 1/2 sacks.
3
Bit of a rocky day, all things considered. Quinn Nordin missed his first field goal in 10 tries in the third quarter, a 37-yard attempt. Ambry Thomas ripped off a 32-yard kickoff return, but immediately was flagged for delay of game after he spiked the ball in celebration. Donovan Peoples-Jones fumbled during a punt return, but Michigan recovered.
The only silver lining, really, was Brad Robbins — as he landed two punts inside the 20 and had a long of 48 yards.
7
No one in the Big Ten needed a convincing win more than Michigan. Not for anyone else, but for itself. The Wolverines finally found some life — and maybe some hope — with Brandon Peters at quarterback and the offensive line had its best overall day of the year.
Contact Nick Baumgardner: nbaumgardn@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @NickBaumgardner.
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