Defense
Defensive line: B+
Going up against a backup right tackle and right guard, Michigan’s defensive line feasted on the Golden Gopher offensive line. Defensive end Kwity Paye was a monster. He had four total tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks. His partner in crime, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, had six total tackles and a pass deflection.
The interior defensive line was a strong force. Defensive tackle Carlo Kemp had four total tackles with a tackle for loss and a sack. Defensive tackle Donovan Jeter had a tackle but came up big when he caught a fumble in the air and returned it for a touchdown to give the Wolverines the lead for good. Finally, defensive lineman Julius Welschof played well with two tackles with a half a sack.
Linebackers: B+
The linebacker group saw an unexpected player step up: Viper Michael Barrett played a fantastic game with seven total tackles, one-and-a-half tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble. He also got involved in the kick return game as he had a 66-yard kick return that was almost returned for a touchdown. While Barrett was the most explosive linebacker, Josh Ross was the leading tackler with nine total tackles and an interception.
Cam McGrone played well despite wearing a cast on his left hand, finishing with five total tackles, a tackle for loss and half a sack. Mohan Williams and Adam Shibley also contributed with one tackle from each of them.
Cornerback: B
The new starting duo at cornerback, Vincent Gray and Gemon Green, went up against Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman, possibly the top wide receiver in the Big Ten and the NCAA. While he had nine catches for 101 yards, he was held out of the end zone and had only a few big plays for the offense. Gray finished with four total tackles, while Green had two total tackles with two pass deflections.
Minnesota finished with 197 passing yards, so if you eliminate Bateman, they held the other receivers to just 96 yards. The duo at cornerback did well with what they were up against. If they can slow Bateman, that can give them the confidence to slow down anyone they go up against.
Safety: B-
The starting duo of Brad Hawkins and Daxton Hill was a tale of two different stories. Hill was playing well in coverage and had three total tackles, but he left the game with an injury. Head coach Jim Harbaugh spoke about it after the game. “Dax had to leave the game,” Harbaugh said. “Being evaluated, so we’re seeing where that is.”
Hawkins struggled in coverage but finished with seven total tackles. Freshman Makari Page played and made his collegiate debut, finishing with three total tackles but was lost in coverage on a play, and it ended up being a big gain for the Golden Gophers. Safety was the weakest point of the defense, but if the unit can get Hill back for a full game, that would be helpful. Page is a freshman who is still learning, so he should improve as the season goes on.
Punting/Kicking: F
The worst unit of them all was the kicking and punting group. While punter Will Hart only saw the field once to punt, it was blocked by Minnesota and gave them great field position to score and take the early lead.
Kicking the football was not Michigan’s specialty as kicker Jake Moody missed all three field-goal attempts. Luckily he made all seven extra-point attempts, but missing every field goal in a big game like that isn’t a good sign for your kicker. Harbaugh commented after the game on why the other kicker Quinn Nordin wasn’t given a chance despite the woes from Moody.
“Quinn Nordin has been working through something,” Harbaugh said. “Got healthy and then had a little bit of a setback during the week. But I think he’ll be fine going forward.”
Punt/Kick Return: B+
Michigan never saw a punt return, and the kick return game was an interesting thing to watch all game long. Minnesota was without its starting kicker, punter and placekicker, so every kickoff wasn’t going deep to the usual returner in Jackson. Most of the kicks were sky short kicks, and one of them was a squib kick that bounced to Barrett, who returned it 66 yards.
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