Michigan Wolverines survive Iowa despite sputtering offense

It was a must-win game for the Michigan Wolverines Saturday afternoon at home against the tight end factory known as the Iowa Hawkeyes.  Despite being able to take care of business, it was a very uninspiring victory in Ann Arbor.

Although the Michigan Wolverines blew out Rutgers a week removed from being embarrassed by the Wisconsin Badgers, it didn’t provide much closure for the Michigan fanbase.  It was a date with the Iowa Hawkeyes this past Saturday that fans were eager to judge this Jim Harbaugh led team once again.

If that 52-0 victory over a terrible Rutgers team left Michigan Wolverines fans satisfied–it shouldn’t have.  Games like that are strategically sandwiched into the schedule in-between more significant games allowing the better teams time to rebound and prepare for the following week.  I don’t know if that’s the truth, but I tend to believe it.  As the season wears on and teams become crisper, the schedules tend to become stronger.

The Michigan Wolverines defense stood tall, holding Iowa to a mere 3 points despite marching into Wolverines territory multiple times only to come up empty.  The defense forced four turnovers, three interceptions, and a fumble.  It was a win for Michigan because Iowa entered the football game with just one turnover on the season.

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The 10-3 Wolverines win over Iowa isn’t something to celebrate.  Sure, celebrate the day of because a win is a win, but the Wolverines left us very underwhelmed, especially on offense Saturday.

Shea Patterson only completed 14 of his 26 pass attempts for 147 yards.  Patterson was unable to throw a touchdown but tossed an interception.  This is not nearly good enough for a big-time football program.  The lacking production from the quarterback position is very alarming, especially when your head coach is supposed to be a ‘quarterback guru.’  Jim Harbaugh hasn’t been able to elevate Patterson’s game. In fact, he’s regressed from last season.

The Wolverines have a host of playmakers on offense, but Patterson’s inability to deliver the football often leaves the offense to sputter.  Between Donovan Peoples-Jones, Tarik Black, Nico Collins, and Ronnie Bell, there are plenty of options for Patterson in the passing game, especially in Josh Gattis‘ spread look, but yet the struggles continue.

We should have known right from the get-go when Jim Harbaugh proclaimed he hoped to play two quarterbacks in every game this season.  If you’ve got two quarterbacks, you’ve really got none. Zach Charbonnet produced the lone Wolverines touchdown with a two-yard scamper, but he only totaled 42 yards on the day, averaging 3.2 yards per carry.  That production won’t cut it against the better teams in the Big Ten.  Everything in this Josh Gattis offense doesn’t seem to be producing.

Jim Harbaugh needs to consider taking over the play-calling duties or make a mid-season change if they have any hope against Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Ohio State.

Michigan travels to Illinois to lock-up with the Fighting Illini at noon next Saturday afternoon.