Michigan's Run Game, Offensive Output At Wisconsin Impressed Jim Harbaugh

There weren’t a lot of big running plays in Michigan’s 38-17 win at Wisconsin, but the Wolverines ran enough to keep the Badgers honest. That opened it up for the passing game, and redshirt freshman Cade McNamara did his part in hitting enough throws and protecting the ball to rout Paul Chryst’s team in a big road victory.

Michigan only ran for 112 yards, but it seemed like a double that given how well the Badgers had played the run in 2021. They entered as the nation’s top rush defense, allowing only 23 yards per game against, and were still No. 1 after Saturday’s loss.

U-M was close to breaking a few, but some shoestring tackles limited the total. Head coach Jim Harbaugh was pleased, nonetheless.

“There were some good, tough yards being made,” Harbaugh said. “The big runs were like eight and nine [yards]. It’s very rare you get a 50-yard run in a season, let alone to think that would be happening every single game.

“Three, four, eight, nine … those are big runs, big plays [in this game]. I would assess it that once again, they really ran hard.”

Redshirt sophomore Hassan Haskins ran for only 47 yards with a long of eight, but he set up a flea flicker touchdown pass to Cornelius Johnson in the first quarter. He also provided a play Harbaugh said probably went unnoticed, but not by the team.

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"Some of Hassan’s best stuff was pushing J.J. [McCarthy] In on the quarterback sneak, with the enthusiasm he did that … the strength to push J.J. those last six inches over the goal line [for a touchdown],” Harbaugh said. “Just little stuff he does all the time … he’s just such a great football player.

“The other thing is, Blake Corum is tough. That is a tough dude. Some of the hits he took would have killed a lesser man. Tremendous respect for Blake Corum and the other guys. There was some hitting, some tackling going on, and those guys just jumped back to their feet. Sometimes that’s more impressive than a 60-yard, breakaway touchdown run.”

Corum managed 46 yards with a long of seven.

McNamara, meanwhile, threw for two touchdowns and McCarthy one to lead a passing game that put up 253 yards. Receiver Roman Wilson, the offensive player of the game, caught six passes for 81 yards, while Johnson caught two touchdown passes.

McNamara did a great job keeping plays alive, Harbaugh said, when he was being pressured.

“There were some real bright spots from the game. The one that really struck me the most was he was able to extend the play, buy time, some free runners,” Harbaugh said. “Talk about not taking a sack — there were a couple instances where there were free runners at him and he was able to sidestep, had that sense of where to escape in the pocket and then find a receiver, find an outlet for the ball. That’s something that’s really good … just that ability to play dodgeball as a quarterback. Just move out of the way, keep your eyes downfield and find a receiver. That was outstanding.

“He threw some great balls, some receivers really stepped up. Cornelius Johnson made a tremendous catch in the back of the end zone. He got another touchdown catch on the flea flicker. Daylen Baldwin asserted himself, and that was great to see, and then Roman Wilson of anybody had the best day offensively. Player of the game, etc. Fabulous type of catches. Erick All, as well.

“It was good to see.”

Special teams played a part, too. Jake Moody’s three field goals proved huge, and punter Brad Robbins flipped field position and gave the offense room with some of his kicks.

“Three great field goals by Jake and Brad did a great job holding again. Also, the punts, both those punts landed exactly as the five-yard line, one we were able to recover [a fumble]” Harbaugh said. “Great job by Joey Velazquez. Good thing Joey loves to do curls … he likes to do curls, good thing because he had to curl that ball in and hold it. That was a big play.

“Brad had another kick he fielded at the five. Two inside the 10, and the one we got that was big. They both have been doing a great job.”

All of it will be necessary again for a key road, night game at Nebraska Saturday night, but the Wolverines passed their first big test with flying colors.

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