Michigan Lost To Utah, It's Not Time To Panic

Michigan played. Jim Harbaugh coached. The Wolverines lost 24-17 to Utah. Interceptions proved pivotal. The surface narrative: same old Michigan. That’s not the case.

The Wolverines weren’t good. But, as Michigan fans have become well aware, there are degrees of failure. Based on last night’s performance, Michigan’s offense needs a substantial tune up. That’s a significant upgrade over last year’s flames and sparks flying as it careened off a cliff.

A few points that should be made…

Utah is good. They are a solid Pac 12 team. They beat USC, UCLA and Stanford last season. The Utes took Arizona State to double overtime on the road. They were jumping all over Oregon last year, before this happened. Utah has a particularly stout defense. Sure, they lost Nate Orchard. But, they return a deep, veteran front seven. That group led the nation in sacks and tackles for loss last year, against a big boy schedule.

Maybe Utah is not equipped to win a loaded Pac 12 South. But, presuming projections are more or less correct, the Utes are the best team Michigan will face outside of Michigan State and Ohio State.

[RELATED: 2015 College Football Predictions]

Michigan’s O-Line was not that bad. Michigan didn’t establish the run. Part of that is work to be done. Part of that was Utah. Part of that was running backs not seeing holes. Here’s a counterpoint: Michigan’s pass protection improved dramatically. Jake Rudock threw 43 passes. He was not sacked. Time to throw was seldom an issue. That is a major step forward for Michigan after the past couple years.

The passing game is fixable. Rudock completed 63 percent of his passes. Amara Darboh stepped forward as a leading receiver (8 catches, 101 yards, 1 TD). Jake Butt was what people expected (8 catches, 93 yards, 1 TD). Receivers were getting open down field. Rudock overthrew three of them.

Rudock understood the system. He was making the right reads. Not quite having the chemistry down with a true freshman slot receiver, after a few weeks together, is to be expected. Rudock will get more comfortable. Michigan’s staff will get a better read on what he can do. The Wolverines will run the ball better on other teams. Michigan’s offense has a ceiling, given its personnel. There was nothing last night to call for radical readjustment.

It’s week one. Michigan has multiple kinks to work out. They shot themselves with a pick six. The Wolverines were also in the game, in the fourth quarter, on the road, against a good opponent. They aren’t going to win the B1G in Harbaugh’s first year. No one predicted them to do so.

Last year at this time Michigan’s offense was coming off a 10 yards/play performance at home against Appalachian State. Georgia Tech will probably go flying up the polls after averaging nine yards/carry against Alcorn State last night. Opponent affects perception. Ohio State lost to a worse team by two touchdowns at home last year in week two and still won the national title. It’s a long season.