The 2015 Michigan Football Spring Game may not have been as encouraging as some Wolverine fans would have expected.
The offense for both teams struggled heavily to move the ball with consistency, and only Shane Morris and Alex Malzone were the scholarship quarterbacks who dressed, and played in the game.
Morris led the victorious Team Blue, completing 11 of 24 attempts for 135 yards and one touchdown, while throwing an interception.
Malzone, who has been heralded by many as the front-runner for the starting job this Spring completed 15 of 27 for only 95 yards and 2 interceptions.
Hardly the showing anybody was expecting from the quarterback position, and the offense in general. The quarterback play in the Spring Game has Michigan fans clamoring for the arrival of Jake Ruddock to potentially take the reigns.
Running the ball did not seem all too much better either for the Wolverines. Team Blue ran the ball 27 times for only 20 net yards, who gained 22 yards off of 12 carries. Team Maize had a little more success, rushing the ball 22 times for 53 yards. De'Veon Smith led the way with 50 yards on only seven carries.
The defense stole the show however, only allowing seven points scored in the 40 minutes played, and coming up with five sacks, and three interceptions between the two teams.
The Spring Game proved that the defense is ready to go, and that they will be leaned heavily on throughout this season. Defensive coordinator DJ Durkin has a strong core returning, and even with a split squad defense on the field they played lights out.
Redshirt freshman defensive back Jabrill Peppers had an outstanding game as he flew around the field playing both safety positions, nickel, and cornerback.
Peppers was ecstatic with the way the defense played, and expects this team's defense to continue to play at a high level all season.
"We want to be a great defense. That's what Michigan has been built on traditionally," Peppers said after the game.
The first live Spring Game in five years was a success for Jim Harbaugh and his staff, as it brought a new level of intensity to the players.
"It was fun, and it was something that brought the intensity up a bit. Splitting it up added a whole new element of a game like feel, especially with something on the line, the steaks and the pasta and all that stuff," fifth year Senior Desmond Morgan said after the game.
Winners got steaks, and losers got pasta.
Offensively, the Wolverines still have some work to do, and likely will be a bit of a work in progress throughout the season, and may even need to rely on some incoming freshman this Fall to step up and make an impact.
Defensively however, the Wolverines are poised to post another top-10 defense in the country, and potentially ride the wave to a successful season.
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