Minnesota vs. Michigan: Game Grades and Analysis for the Wolverines

Gut-wrenching. 

That's the only way that this Michigan loss, the most recent in a string of dissatisfying efforts, can be described. Instead of competing during its Big Ten opener against Minnesota, Team 135 was again dumped by a team that it was supposed to beat. 

The Wolverines (2-3) face several crossroads, one of them being at quarterback. During his postgame presser, coach Brady Hoke said that the position would be "re-evaluated" this week after sophomore Shane Morris completed just seven of 19 attempts for 49 yards. 

Get the official box score at NCAA.com. 

Positional Unit	First-Half Grade	Final Grade
Pass Offense	D+ (Only Morris' second start but nothing to write home about)	D
Pass Defense	B (Countess and Taylor with big TD-saving deflections)	C (allowed 167 yards)
Run Offense	C-	D+ (the woes continue)
Run Defense	D- (Cobb's 111 yards were highest total of season)	D- (allowed 206 yards; 183 net from Cobb)
Special Teams	B+	B
Coaching	D (below-average play is from below-average coaching, right?)	D (same story, different loss)

Pass Offense 

Morris completed a 14-yard pass, but that was it for the kid with the golden arm. The former 4-star recruit got his first real taste of Big Ten action, and it wasn't exactly a successful outing. Sustaining several hits, Morris was visibly in pain late in the fourth quarter. 

That play pretty much summed up the day's events. It was not pretty, whatsoever.

Pass Defense

The Gophers didn't go full-out air show Saturday, but Mitch Leidner, their quarterback, was effective in a timely manner. He hooked up with Maxx Williams for the door-slammer in the third quarter, giving Minnesota a commanding 27-7 advantage. He ended the day with 167 passing yards, too. 

He was sacked thrice, but he walked away with The Little Brown Jug.

Run Offense

This is getting tiresome. Each week is the same thing. De'Veon Smith and Derrick Green combined for very little Saturday. But Smith had a 10-yard touchdown run that gave Michigan its first offensive touchdown since Week 3 versus Miami (Ohio). 

Smith led the charge with 57 yards (long of 28). Gardner had 34, Justice Hayes had 10 and Green had eight.

Run Defense

Tony Ding/Associated Press

David Cobb quietly carved the Wolverines defense, which had allowed just 1.83 yards per carry in the three previous games. The superstar Gophers bulldozer almost had his third 200-yard game of the season. And he's only played five games. 

Cobb needed just one half to set a new high (low) for Greg Mattison's run defense, which allowed just 54 yards to Notre Dame in Week 2.

Special Teams 

This will be the only positive grade. Matt Wile pinned Minnesota just feet away from its goal line with 2:17 to play in the first half. Will Hagerup finished the night with 400 punting yards. 

But it's never a good sign when your punter "outgains" your offense.

Coaching

After the loss, Hoke insisted that he's not losing his grip. 

Take that for what it's worth.

Recruiting information and rankings courtesy of 247Sports, and all quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Follow Bleacher Report's Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81.