Michigan football finishes with historically poor pass offense

TAMPA, Fla. — When Jim Harbaugh came to Michigan in late 2014, he came with athe reputation as one of the country's top quarterback gurus.

But as Harbaugh finished his third season Monday with a loss in the Outback Bowl, the Wolverines put the finishing touches on one of the worst pass offenses the program's had in recent memory.

The Wolverines went through three quarterbacks this season, two of whom lost games due to injury. But when it was all over, Michigan finished the 2017 season with nine touchdown passes.

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That's the lowest number the program's recorded since 1975, when freshman Rick Leach led an option-based attack for Bo Schembechler.

"We didn't execute very well," Michigan quarterback Brandon Peters said after the 26-19 loss in the Outback Bowl. "It ultimately lost us the game."

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Peters finished the game 20-of-44 for 186 yards and two interceptions. Add in John O'Korn's lone 17-yard pass and Michigan had 203 passing yards total. The Wolverines eclipsed the 200-yard passing mark just four times all season.

The 2,226 yards put up by Michigan quarterbacks in 2017 was third-worst by the program since 1990.

Michigan's pass offense, coached by Harbaugh and passing game coordinator Pep Hamilton, was one of just four Power 5 teams nationally to not hit the double-digit passing touchdown mark. (Minnesota, Illinois and Rutgers were the other three)

Michigan's quarterback situation is in flux. The Wolverines are hoping to get Ole Miss transfer Shea Patterson eligible for the 2018 season. If that happens, Patterson, Peters and true freshman Dylan McCaffrey would compete for the job.

Hamilton finished his first season at Michigan after taking over for Jedd Fisch last winter. He was paid $1 million this season to coach the team's quarterbacks and coordinate Michigan's pass attack.

In total, Michigan finished the year with an average of 348.9 yards per game, the program's third-worst output since 1984. Michigan also allowed 36 sacks this season, tying the 2013 mark for the worst number over the past decade.

Turnovers galore

Michigan finished with five turnovers Monday, all of them coming in the second half.

The Wolverines finished the season with 21 turnovers total, with 13 coming in their five losses. The five turnovers matched a season-high for Michigan, as the Wolverines also coughed the ball up five times during a 14-10 home loss to Michigan State in October.

Michigan will finish the year -4 in turnover margin.

No 1,000-yard mark

Michigan junior running back Karan Higdon finished just shy of 1,000 rushing yards on the year, ending up with 994 and 11 touchdowns. Higdon had 65 yards on 17 carries Monday but he also had a costly fumble inside the five-yard line.

Higdon and sophomore running back Chris Evans combined for 1,679 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns this season.

Both are expected back for 2018.

Defensive numbers

Michigan sophomore linebacker Devin Bush finished with 100 tackles this season to go along with five sacks and 9 1/2 tackles for loss.

Sophomore linebacker Khaleke Hudson had 82 tackles (17 1/2 for a loss) and 8 sacks. Sophomore defensive end Rashan Gary had 67 tackles (12 for a loss) and 6 sacks.

As a defense this season, Michigan posted 42 sacks and 112 tackles for loss.

Contact Nick Baumgardner: nbaumgardn@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @NickBaumgardner. Download our Wolverines Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!