Michigan Football 33, Northwestern 7: Notes, Quotes & Observations

Workmanlike, ugly at times, run heavy, a couple of inexplicable big plays against the defense — Saturday’s 33-7 Michigan Wolverines football win at Northwestern was more of the same of what we’ve seen all season …

Including a win.

You’d never know it by the reaction of the tough-to-please faction of the fan base, for whom most wins aren’t aesthetically pleasing enough. And true enough, there are times the Michigan offense is like the old Ford Focus you bring out in the winter. It can be tough to start sometimes, sputters along the way and might break down temporarily at inopportune times (say, inside the five-yard line).

It’s also successfully finished every trip (game) successfully so far and will take a 7-0 record into East Lansing next weekend to face an undefeated Michigan State team not without its own warts.

“I thought our guys did another great job of just focusing on the next game,” head coach Jim Harbaugh said. “You have to do that. You have to practice it; have to do it keeping your focus on the game in front of you, lest a team will be painfully humbled. I thought our team did a great job of that.

“Now … we start that process of preparation for the next opponent.”

Admittedly, they could have made it easier on themselves. The Wolverines held a 267-110 edge in total yardage and 53–18 in total plays at halftime despite having kicked off, yet led only 10-7 after giving up an inexplicable, 75-yard touchdown run before the half. It looked like freshman linebacker Junior Colson might have been out of position — the film will tell the story, but that just can’t happen against the better teams on the schedule.

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It was hard to blame a group that allowed only seven points in the half, though, and eventually for the game, for the tight score. The offense continues to be dink-and-dunk behind redshirt freshman quarterback Cade McNamara, who appeared to force some throws into coverage when receivers weren’t open and threw for only 129 yards on 20 completions.