Since Michigan lost to Ohio State on Nov. 26, 2016, shifting the tides of the Jim Harbaugh era, there have been few weeks like this one at Schembechler Hall.
Theo Mackie
Managing Sports Editor
Football
Unlike last year, when quarterback Shea Patterson completed over half his passes to the trio of Ronnie Bell, Nico Collins and Donovan Peoples-Jones — even when no one in that group was open — junior quarterback Joe Milton showed that he was capable of throwing the ball to anyone in the 49-24 victory.
At some point on Saturday, Jim Harbaugh came to a realization.
To put it shortly, the move didn’t work. Mason got pushed around on the defensive line, and by about the fifth game of last season, he started to move back to offense full time. Now he’s back down between 255 and 260 pounds, and back in a role he loves.
With so many new players stepping into significant roles, the onset of the pandemic presented an opportunity for the Wolverines to build trust in one another. It was clear they had accomplished just that on Saturday night, when the team’s first-time starting quarterback and a nearly brand new offensive line looked like a veteran unit.
For years, Joe Milton has operated behind the scenes, preparing for his moment in the spotlight.
Blocking is something All has worked on diligently since arriving in Ann Arbor last year, and in the grand scheme of things, is significantly more meaningful than a drop here or there.
What you will get is a masterclass in offensive efficiency, thanks to the game plan of offensive coordinator Josh Gattis.
In his debut as a starter on Saturday night, the junior quarterback was Michigan’s leading ball carrier, with eight rushes for 52 yards. And that might just be more important to the success of Josh Gattis’s offense than anything Milton did in the air.
For Milton, it was a dream debut. For Michigan, it was the vindicating culmination of four years of scouting and development.