Michigan’s football team extended its win streak to five games on Saturday, thrashing Maryland 45-20 in College Park.
The 18th-ranked Wolverines didn’t punt and finished with 443 yards of offense without committing a turnover. They improve to 9-2 and 7-1 in the Big Ten ahead of next week’s showdown against No. 1 Ohio State.
Here are some observations and takeaways from Michigan’s victory:
-- What a balanced performance from Michigan, despite missing its top two running backs in Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall. It totaled 215 yards through the air and 215 on the ground while averaging 6.1 yards per play.
-- Bryce Underwood made some elite-level throws, with his best coming on a fade to Andrew Marsh in the end zone for a first-quarter touchdown. He finished 16 of 23 passing for 215 yards and two scores – one of his tidiest performances of the year.
-- Former walk-on Bryson Kuzdzal earned his first career start in the backfield and shined in his first opportunity as the featured back. The junior from Grand Rapids might not be as physical as Marshall and Haynes but showed good burst and vision, rushing for 100 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. Marshall warmed up Saturday and could be back for the OSU game, but Kuzdzal looked the part of a No. 1 running back, at least for one game.
-- The only negative for the offense is the loss of fullback and senior captain Max Bredeson. He is the tone-setter on that side of the ball and an emotional leader for the team. He suffered an ankle injury in the first half and did not return, with head coach Sherrone Moore saying the initial prognosis didn’t look good. Michigan would have to make some major adjustments offensively if he misses next week’s game.
-- Maryland QB Malik Washington entered Saturday having been sacked just three times all season. The Wolverines got to him three times, all on critical downs as well. Midway through the second quarter, Jaishawn Barham sacked Washington on a third-and-4 from the Michigan 9, leading to a field goal and keeping it a two-score game. Tre Williams’ sack in the third quarter also forced a Terrapins field goal, while Derrick Moore’s led to a turnover on downs.
-- It wasn’t a flawless defensive performance from the defense, though. It allowed eight plays of 15-plus yards, including six that went for at least 20 yards. Against Ohio State next week, allowing that many explosive plays could be problematic.
-- It didn’t end up mattering, but Sherrone Moore bungled another two-minute drill to end the first half. Poor clock management cost the Wolverines a shot at points when it was a 21-10 game. Underwood scrambled for a first down to get to the Michigan 49 with 14 seconds left. Instead of calling a timeout or spiking the ball, the Wolverines allowed several valuable seconds drain off the clock before snapping it. Underwood was sacked with two seconds left to end the half, but Michigan could have called a timeout for one final play.
-- Drops have been an Achilles heel for Michigan’s offense this season, but no team has more than Maryland. It had 34 entering Saturday and added several more. Washington’s one interception went through the hands of Shaleak Knotts and into the arms of Michigan safety Mason Curtis. The Terrapins also had a costly drop in the end zone.
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