For the second time in as many tries, Michigan football started a game poorly away from home and no one could put their finger on a reason why.

Northwestern entered Saturday's game in Evanston, Ill. off a bye week with extra time to prepare for Michigan

Entering Week 1, Notre Dame was a solid team. Michigan eventually settled down in both games. Too late against the Irish, in time against the Wildcats.

"Both sides of the ball, they outplayed us in the first quarter," Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday when asked why this happened vs. the Wildcats. "Thought our team responded the next three."

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There are many questions about what's real and what's not as it relates to the Wolverines. They'll all be answered soon. But whether or not this group has another gear during games where the opponent has anything resembling a quality plan — especially on the road — is still No. 1 topic.

And as time wears on, the possibility that Michigan is exactly what we've seen so far this year continues to rise.

A terrific defense that does have flaws, an offense that pummels the weak and plods with middling results against the rest, and a team that's walking a tightrope in challenging situations.

Michigan's defense ranks No. 1 in the country in total yards allowed per game through five weeks and has held foes to a national best 3.6 yards per play. The pass rush has produced 16 sacks, tied for fifth nationally. The Wolverines have already made 47 tackles for loss and remain one of the most challenging units in America to play against.

This unit is capable of shutting down most everyone on Michigan's schedule and, at the very least, probably capable of managing the damage when it comes to the top offenses — namely Penn State at home and Ohio State on the road.

It's not perfect. No group is. This defense is prone to a bad quarter, as we've seen twice now at Notre Dame and Northwestern. The defensive pass interference calls are a product of Michigan's man-to-man scheme, but opposing quarterbacks are completing a paltry 5.1 yards per attempt.

We know all of this. What we don't know is whether or not this will be enough.

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Michigan's offense has averaged a whopping 7.3 yards per play in three home games against bad teams. The other two games have produced 5.1 yards per play, marginal at best.

Quarterback Shea Patterson is a more accurate passer than anything the Wolverines produced a year ago, though this offense is still very much a methodical, physical system that runs the ball and takes underneath chunks to set up a few vertical shots per game. This is not an explosive attack. Scoring bunches of points in a short amount of time isn't easily accomplished with this strategy.

If you're playing a bad defense? Sure. Against anyone else? This stylemeans wasted drives are brutal.

How can Michigan change this?

Remember that tightrope?

There have been calls to get more designed runs for Patterson, which could be productive given how he scrambled Saturday against Northwestern. But keep in mind he's 205 pounds, he had a season-ending injury last year and the most productive rushing day of his career was a 73-yard performance in a 35-point loss as a true freshman at Ole Miss. This isn't something to build an entire scheme out of.

How about more vertical shots in the passing game?

Surprisingly, Michigan is tied for third in the Big Ten in completions of 20 yards or more (16). The Wolverines are No. 12 in the league in pass attempts per game at 25.4. The offensive line has improved its pass protection since the opener, making the idea of more deep shots plausible. The team is gaining a solid 5.24 yards per carry.

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But is it good enough against Wisconsin, Michigan State, Penn State or Ohio State? We don't know.

In so many ways, what you see with Michigan is what you're going to get. The style is not going to change. Neither is the overall plan of attack. This team has to play excellent defense for four quarters, and avoid turnovers and be efficient on offense.

That is the formula.

Michigan has seven games left on its schedule. To have any hope of playing for a Big Ten title, it'll likely have to win at least six. Maybe all seven.

The margin for error is slim at best.

Just like a tightrope.

Contact Nick Baumgardner: nbaumgardn@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @NickBaumgardner.

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