Football Midseason Report: Five most telling stats of the first half

Rushing yards per game: 197.3
Get senior tailbacks Carlos Brown and Brandon Minor healthy at the same time, and Michigan’s rushing production is more impressive than No. 2 in the Big Ten and No. 23 in the nation. Besides a blip when the Wolverines put up a measly 28 yards against Michigan State, Brown, Minor and the other Michigan tailbacks have been beyond solid.

Turnover margin: -0.33
It’s a statistic that’s obviously not where the coaching staff would like it to be. But after finishing a dismal No. 110 in the nation last year with an atrocious -1.2 margin, Michigan will accept being just below zero. After center David Molk returns from injury, expect the fumbles at quarterback to fade.

Passing defense: 246.5 yards per game
It’s lonely at the bottom. Six games in, the Michigan defense finds itself in the cellar of the Big Ten after giving up 246.5 passing yards per game. Chalk some of that up to talented receivers like Notre Dame’s Golden Tate and Michael Floyd, but you can’t ignore the talent void opposite cornerback Donovan Warren. After moving from safety to cornerback last week against Iowa, Troy Woolfolk looks like he could be Warren’s counterpart in the backfield.

Fourth down conversions: 71 percent, 5-for-7
It’s still early and the sampling is small, but the Wolverines have proven themselves time and again on the down that matters. Against Notre Dame, quarterback Tate Forcier capitalized on decisive play calling when he ran for a 31-yard touchdown on a fourth down.

Brandon Graham’s 1.67 tackles for loss per game
Sure, he didn’t have a sack during the first month of the season, and it might make you think he’s slipping, but Brandon Graham is finding his way around the double teams. His 1.67 tackles for loss per game puts him at No. 15 in the nation. Although Graham was left off the Rotary Lombardi semifinal list, he’s still contributing with solid numbers you would expect from the senior defensive end.