A 25-point win over a team with decent athletes isn’t akin to hiking barefoot over a 10-mile stretch of Arizona asphalt in August.
So why the discomfort? Why do some feel the Big Ten season sneaking up a little too soon, like an assault on Everest after a successful rock wall experience?
There’s plenty to like about Michigan’s 45-20 lassoing of SMU’s Mustangs, a decidedly uncooperative bunch when it came time to take their Big House beating and go quietly. Junior quarterback Shea Patterson connected on all but four of his 18 throws, carving up the visitors like so much horse meat.
Sophomore wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones caught as many touchdown passes in one game (three) as U-M wideouts caught in 13 a year ago. Junior safety Josh Metellus turned momentum on its head with a 73-yard interception return touchdown to close out the first half.
In short, the Wolverines did what they needed to do to move forward at 2-1, putting their opening-game slip at Notre Dame a week farther in the rearview mirror.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh certainly found himself playing up the positives.
“They’re really doing well,” Harbaugh stressed. “They really practice well; they practice hard. It’s really a focused group. I enjoy going out every day to practice with this team — I’m champing at the bit to get back out there this week. There are a lot of positives.
“I thought the offensive line, the pass protection was really good today. It’s coming along steadily. The receivers are really doing a good job, getting separation and catching the ball. Things we can get better at? Attacking the ball when it’s in the air. We had the one interception — there’s a great teaching point.
“I’m really excited about getting them coached, getting to practice, continuing on. Onward.”
What, us worry?
Well, there is the little matter of 13 penalties for 137 yards, the Wolverines awash in flags like they were visiting the United Nations headquarters.
Some were clearly bogus, like the pass interference penalty on a throw that sailed five yards out of bounds. That one cost the Wolverines not only an eventual touchdown on a marathon, 16-play drive, but also junior viper Khaleke Hudson for the first half of the Big Ten opener against Nebraska.
The interference call kept alive an SMU drive, and on the very next play, officials flagged Hudson for targeting and ejected him. That’s two heave-hos in three weeks, if you’re keep score.
Harbaugh is.
“Are we going down that road that we’re going to review every play that’s in that box area?” he pointedly mused. “Running backs are going to be going through there, they’re going to be lowering their head. Defenders … it’s a battle to see who can get lower when you have a runner versus a tackler.
“Interesting it wasn’t called on the field; it came from the booth. That seems like a high level of scrutiny to be placing on a play between the tackles.”
That’s not the only high level of scrutiny. It continues for Michigan’s offense, to prove it can produce against teams that aren’t a combined 1-5. The Wolverines’ defense gets some, too, after yielding a combined 39 first downs to Western Michigan and SMU.
After leading the nation in third-down defense (26.1 percent) a year ago, they’ve demonstrated a worrisome early penchant for allowing third-down conversions, including several from favorable down-and-distance situations.
The bottom line is, are they ready for prime time (AKA the Big Ten season)? Answer: To be determined.
All that said, take a look at what’s ahead. If Michigan faces uncertainty moving into the conference, it’s got a whole lot of company, like …
• Nebraska — The Cornhuskers are 0-2, having lost to Colorado and Troy, and seeing a game against Akron postponed. Scott Frost’s crew can’t even beat the weatherman … so far.
• Northwestern — An escape at pitiful Purdue, followed by losses to Duke and Akron, the latter at home after leading, 21-3. The bruises are beginning to match the uniforms.
• Maryland — Yes, the Terps beat Texas. They also got smoked at home by Temple.
• Wisconsin — A funny thing happened to the Badgers on their way to 12-0 and the Big Ten West versus Big Ten Best showdown in Indianapolis. Nobody’s laughing in Madison after Saturday's 24-21 loss to BYU at home.
• Michigan State — The Sun Devils pitchforked the regular ones in the smokin’ hot Hades Bowl already, so everything isn’t cool in East Lansing.
And so on. Yes, Ohio State obviously packs a punch, but the Buckeyes aren’t invincible, like TCU demonstrated before it self-destructed. And that one’s a long way off, anyway.
Time to scrape off the rough edges, quickly. Whoever does it the best, and the fastest, can make a run in a vulnerable league.
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