Michigan vs. Indiana: Five takeaways from the Michigan football victory
Michigan entered Memorial Stadium 5-0 on the year and the Wolverines looked to keep their winning ways against the Hoosiers.
But it looked to be a doozy.
The Wolverines got the ball to start the game and went right down the field after Blake Corum took a 50-yard run to the Indiana one-yard line. Corum took it in for a touchdown one play later. But that was the most Michigan could do on offense in the first half.
Running backs coach Mike Hart collapsed on the sideline and the medical cart transported him off the field. The Wolverines appeared shaken, rightfully so, and the offense appeared to be out of sync the rest of the half. The Michigan defense sacked Connor Bazelak three times in the first half, but the Michigan secondary played unusually poor and the Hoosiers dinked and dunked their way to first downs.
Michigan and Indiana went into the first half tied at 10 a piece.
But the second half was all Michigan. J.J. McCarthy threw his first interception of the season, but he also had his first 300-yard passing game as a Wolverine. Michigan dominated the Hoosiers offense. Connor Bazelak was sacked seven times in the game and Cornelius Johnson caught two touchdown passes.
Michigan defeated Indiana, 31-10.
Here are our five takeaways.
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Pass rush looked as good as ever
Photo by: Isaiah Hole
While the secondary unusually struggled on Saturday — early — against Indiana, the Michigan pass rush was as good as it’s been all season.
The past few weeks, Michigan would get off to a slow start on defense in terms of quarterback pressures. But the maize and blue had consistent pressure on Bazelak the entire game. It’s a good thing that Michigan could generate that pressure because with how easy it was for the Hoosiers to complete short passes, the Hoosiers probably could have dinked and dunked their way down the field more than they did.
The combination of Eyabi Okie, Mike Morris, and Jaylen Harrell was very impressive off the edge.
Michigan recorded seven sacks and there were different times that Bazelak would get hit after barely getting rid of the ball. The Hoosiers’ quarterback has to be sore after the game on Saturday.
Undisciplined day for Michigan
Photo by: Isaiah Hole
Michigan entered the game as the least penalized team in college football. The Wolverines averaged just over two penalties-per-game.
The Wolverines had 10 accepted penalties for 85 yards in the game. That’s not even counting the penalties that were declined, or negated by another accepted penalty.
It was a weird game for Michigan and it seemed like anything that could go wrong would.
The Wolverines can’t afford to have those types of mistakes when facing a top team. This is a great game for Jim Harbaugh and the coaches to put on film and show the team what needs to be corrected for future games.
The maize and blue will want to get this sorted out against Penn State.
Tempo hurt the Michigan defense in the first half but second half adjustments were good
Photo by: Isaiah Hole
Indiana runs an up-tempo offensive attack, which is something that has hurt Michigan in the past, and the Hoosiers were able to bother the Wolverines’ defense on Saturday.
Connor Bazelak attempted 49 passes against Michigan. He didn’t torch the Wolverines downfield, but the quick passes and underneath routes that his receivers would consistently run, would move the chains.
There were multiple times when Indiana had three receivers bunched up together and Michigan would appear to be confused and only had one or two defensive backs lined up against them. If you do the math properly, Indiana would win that matchup every time, and when the Hoosiers would do a quick screen or pass to one of the receivers, they would rack up yards. That was all because the Wolverines weren’t set or ready for the temp that IU brings.
One thing that Michigan has done well all season is its second-half adjustment on the defensive side of the ball. The Hoosiers were forced to punt the ball all four times they had the ball.
Michigan settled down from a defensive standpoint in the third and fourth quarters and made the proper adjustments to fend off that tempo attack.
J.J. McCarthy experienced his first thrown interception but prevailed
Photo by: Isaiah Hole
J.J. McCarthy entered the game as the most accurate passer in college football completing 78% of his throws and not turning the ball over.
The sophomore gun-slinger experienced some growing pains on Saturday against Indiana. Twice he drove the Wolverines deep inside Indiana territory but twice the Wolverines came away with zero points. The first time, the offense sputtered and Jake Moody had a kick blocked, but the second time was purely on McCarthy. He took a shot in the endzone to Ronnie Bell who was double covered, the ball got tipped, and the Hoosiers brought down the first McCarthy interception of the season.
But that was literally the only downside of his day. McCarthy showed why he was a five-star recruit and why he is the starting quarterback at Michigan. He used his legs a couple of times to move the sticks, and pin-pointed throws.
McCarthy did a good job of getting the ball to his playmakers and he ended the day going 28-for-36, 304 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He also had four carries for 26 yards.
If this is the growing pains Michigan will get using McCarthy, then the season should continue to move nicely.
Luke Schoonmaker has become a star in this offense
Photo by: Isaiah Hole
When the season started, Jim Harbaugh said he believed Michigan had the best two tight ends in all of college football; Erick All and Luke Schoonmaker.
All hasn’t played in two games with an undisclosed injury, so Schoonmaker has been the starter. He has been incredible.
Besides Ronnie Bell, Schoonmaker appears to be McCarthy’s go-to guy. When there is a crossing route or a throw to the sticks, it seems to always be Schoonmaker on the receiving end.
Schoonmaker has always been a good blocker, but he has become an incredible pass catcher for the Wolverines and his presence in the lineup has been substantial.
Schoonmaker had nine catches for 67 yards and one touchdown against Indiana on Saturday.
