It took a little while for the Michigan Wolverines to get going on Saturday afternoon, but once they did, there wasn’t much UTEP could do to slow them down.
Michigan overcame two first-half turnovers and a 14-7 deficit to score 38 unanswered points on its way to a 52-17 victory. The Wolverines led by just three points at halftime before exploding for 28 points in the third quarter and turning what had been a surprisingly competitive game into a rout.
The performance was also easily Michigan’s strongest
of the young season, according to Pro Football Focus. The Wolverines earned an 84.4 overall team grade, compared to 78.0 against Oklahoma and 74.4 against Western Michigan.
Here’s a closer look at how Michigan’s offense and defense graded out in the win.
Offensive team grades
Michigan earned an 80.0 offensive grade, its highest of the season by a wide margin. The Wolverines were particularly impressive in pass protection, earning an 88.4 pass-blocking grade, while also posting a 75.6 passing grade, 75.9 rushing grade, 72.5 receiving grade and 64.2 run-blocking grade.
Offensive snap counts (snap count \ overall grade)
- Jalen Hoffman — 15 \ 50.1
- Tommy Carr — 11 \ 91.1
- Jordan Marshall — 31 \ 85.1
- JJ Buchanan — 60 \ 77.6
- Blake Frazier — 62 \ 74.8
- Andrew Marsh — 50 \ 73.7
- Bryce Underwood — 62 \ 72.2
- Tomas O’Meara — 4 \ 70.8
- Brady Norton — 70 \ 70.4
- Evan Link — 70 \ 67.8
- Nathan Efobi — 70 \ 66.9
- Hogan Hansen — 13 \ 66.7
- Salesi Moa — 28 \ 65.4
- Jake Guarnera — 62 \ 65.0
- Houston Ka’aha’aina-Torres — 11 \ 61.7
- Bryson Kuzdzal — 19 \ 61.2
- Jimmy Pisani — 1 \ 60.0
- James Kavouklis — 2 \ 60.0
- Crandall Quinn — 3 \ 59.7
- Peter Donini — 3 \ 59.6
- Manuel Beigel — 29 \ 59.6
- Dan Taraboi — 3 \ 59.6
- Eli Owens — 15 \ 59.4
- Mason Bonner — 2 \ 59.2
- Savion Hiter — 17 \ 58.6
- Jaime Ffrench Jr. — 9 \ 58.4
- Donovan Johnson — 2 \ 58.1
- Channing Goodwin — 9 \ 57.8
- Travis Johnson — 23 \ 57.1
- Marky Walbridge — 11 \ 56.3
- Avery Gach — 4 \ 56.0
- Zack Marshall — 25 \ 50.4
- Kendrick Bell — 6 \ 50.4
Five highest-graded offensive players (min. 5 snaps)
1. Tommy Carr — 91.1
2. Jordan Marshall — 85.1
3. J.J. Buchanan — 77.6
4. Blake Frazier — 74.8
5. Andrew Marsh — 73.7
Tommy Carr’s 91.1 grade came on only 11 offensive snaps, but the true freshman certainly made the most of his first collegiate action. He completed both of his passes for 23 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown to fellow freshman Salesi Moa, and added 17 yards on three carries. PFF gave Carr a 90.0 passing grade, the best of any Michigan quarterback this season.
Marshall was Michigan’s highest-graded regular contributor at 85.1. He carried the ball 12 times for 59 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game with an injury, while PFF credited him with an 84.8 rushing grade. He forced two missed tackles and gained 35 of his PFF-charted 56 rushing yards after contact.
The biggest development, though, may have come at wide receiver. Buchanan and Marsh both finished among Michigan’s five highest-graded offensive players after combining for 17 receptions, 197 yards and two touchdowns. Marsh posted his first 100-yard game of the season with 10 catches for 105 yards, while Buchanan caught seven passes for 92 yards.
PFF gave Buchanan a team-best 75.6 receiving grade, with Marsh right behind him at 74.4. Marsh was especially dangerous after the catch, generating 84 yards after contact according to PFF’s charting.
Blake Frazier, meanwhile, continued an encouraging start to the season with a 74.8 overall grade. His 82.2 pass-blocking grade was excellent, and he did not allow a pressure across 27 pass-blocking opportunities.
Five lowest-graded offensive players (min. 5 snaps)
1. Jalen Hoffman — 50.1
2. Zack Marshall — 50.4
3. Kendrick Bell — 50.4
4. Marky Walbridge — 56.3
5. Travis Johnson — 57.1
Michigan’s lowest grades largely belonged to rotational players, but the tight ends once again had an uneven afternoon.
Hoffman played 15 snaps and earned a 50.1 overall grade, including a 50.2 run-blocking grade. Zack Marshall wasn’t much better overall at 50.4, although his 68.7 pass-blocking grade was respectable.
Worth noting: The offensive line as a whole had an excellent afternoon in pass protection. Michigan’s five starting linemen combined to allow only two pressures, both hurries, on PFF’s charting. Neither resulted in a sack or hit.
Starting tackles Evan Link and Brady Norton were especially impressive. Link earned an 86.2 pass-blocking grade, while Norton posted an 85.9. Frazier wasn’t far behind at 82.2.
Defensive team grades
Michigan’s defense earned a 79.1 overall grade, including an 80.2 against the run, 74.3 as a pass-rushing unit and 74.4 in coverage.
The Wolverines held UTEP to just 150 total yards and 2-for-12 on third down. After surrendering two touchdowns following Michigan turnovers in the first half, the defense allowed only three points after halftime.
Defensive snap counts (snap count \ overall grade)
- Jonah Lea’ea — 20 \ 92.0
- Tariq Boney — 16 \ 82.8
- Enow Etta — 14 \ 78.9
- Benny Patterson III — 11 \ 77.0
- John Henry Daley — 19 \ 76.6
- Chase Taylor — 21 \ 75.7
- Jacob Oden — 13 \ 74.7
- Max Alford — 11 \ 71.8
- Rod Moore Jr. — 22 \ 71.5
- Trey Pierce — 16 \ 71.4
- Ted Hammond — 4 \ 70.3
- Markel Dabney — 4 \ 68.3
- Mason Curtis — 23 \ 67.9
- Nathaniel Staehling — 18 \ 66.1
- Jo’Ziah Edmond — 14 \ 65.5
- Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng — 13 \ 65.2
- Jyaire Hill — 33 \ 64.2
- I’Marion Stewart — 10 \ 63.9
- Nico Andrighetto — 1 \ 63.9
- Jordan Young — 25 \ 63.6
- Troy Bowles — 27 \ 62.9
- Smith Snowden — 30 \ 62.7
- Jamari(on) Vincent — 4 \ 62.6
- Cam Brandt — 13 \ 62.6
- Carter Meadows — 16 \ 62.5
- Ernest Nunley — 4 \ 62.5
- Bobby Kanka — 14 \ 60.3
- Nate Marshall — 9 \ 59.1
- Lugard Edokpayi Jr. — 9 \ 58.7
- Dom Nichols — 17 \ 58.4
- Aisea Moa — 12 \ 57.9
- Deyvid Palepale — 14 \ 57.6
- Shamari Earls — 34 \ 50.9
- Chris Bracy — 24 \ 47.7
- Aden Reeder — 4 \ 34.2
Five highest-graded defensive players (min. 5 snaps)
1. Jonah Lea’ea — 92.0
2. Tariq Boney — 82.8
3. Enow Etta — 78.9
4. Benny Patterson III — 77.0
5. John Henry Daley — 76.6
No Michigan player graded higher than Lea’ea, whose 92.0 overall grade came on 20 defensive snaps. Intercepting UTEP quarterback E.J. Colson Jr. late in the third quarter and returning it for a touchdown also might have had something to do with it. PFF also credited him with a hurry on 10 pass-rushing snaps.
Tariq Boney continued to make a strong early impression as well. The freshman earned an 82.8 overall grade, an 82.0 pass-rush grade, and an 80.8 run-defense grade. He generated two pressures on six pass-rushing snaps — one sack and one hit — and recorded three defensive stops.
JHD was similarly disruptive. He generated three pressures on eight pass-rushing snaps, consisting of a sack and two hurries, earning a 74.6 pass-rushing grade. He performed even better on PFF’s “true pass sets,” earning an 82.5 pass-rush grade and winning two of his three opportunities.
The Wolverines’ defensive front was also stout in the middle, thanks in part to the efforts of Enow Etta, who posted a 76.0 run-defense grade, while Benny Patterson III registered a 70.8 mark against the run and recorded a sack.
Five lowest-graded defensive players (min. 5 snaps)
1. Chris Bracy — 47.7
2. Shamari Earls — 50.9
3. Deyvid Palepale — 57.6
4. Aisea Moa — 57.9
5. Dom Nichols — 58.4
The most notable struggles came in the secondary. Chris Bracy received a 47.7 overall grade and a 39.6 in coverage. He was targeted once and allowed an 18-yard reception, while PFF also charged him with a missed tackle.
Shamri Earls made his first career start but finished with a 50.9 overall grade and 36.3 run-defense grade. He allowed just one reception on three targets, although that completion went for 45 yards and a touchdown.
Smith Snowden also had an unusual split. His 62.7 overall grade was solid and his 71.7 coverage grade was actually Michigan’s best among defensive backs with significant coverage snaps, but PFF gave him a 37.8 run-defense grade and charged him with two missed tackles.
Coverage as a whole was hardly a major problem. UTEP quarterbacks completed only eight passes all afternoon, and Michigan surrendered just 111 passing yards.
