Michigan football winners and losers after loss at Washington

Washington jumped out to an early 14-0 lead against the No. 10 Michigan Wolverines, and that proved to be too big for the team to overcome, despite the best efforts of some of the team's playmakers. The Wolverines were locked in two quarters of play and ended the game the same way they started.

There seemed to be a spark when Jack Tuttle came into the game at quarterback, but things changed pretty quickly in the second half and the team completely collapsed after he turned the ball over twice. And although the defense was already struggling before the offense stalled, it found itself in difficult situations and couldn't stop Washington's potent offense.

Here are our winners and losers as we reflect on a tough loss for the Wolverines.

Winner: Defensive Line

As expected, the defense had some great performances. Josaiah Stewart, Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant and TJ Guy all made big appearances. Graham only had half a sack but blocked a field goal. Guy filled in for Derrick Moore and grabbed 1.5 sacks, and Stewart, returning from injury, also grabbed a sack. This group was the paragon of defense throughout the game.

Loser: Secondary

There have been some signs of improvement in the secondary in recent weeks, but away against Washington the unit looked completely lost. The Wolverines allowed Will Rogers to complete 21 of 31 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Denzel Boston averaged 16 yards per catch, while Giles Jackson averaged 19.5 yards on his four catches.

It wasn't just one guy in secondary school either. Jyaire Hill had several situations where he lost his footing and gave up a big play. Will Johnson was hit by a late pass interference call that allowed Washington to extend its lead. Brandyn Hillman was also blocked for a late hit on the passer on the same play. Zeke Berry tried to pass the ball but failed to make a tackle. Makari Paige made a great play that gave the Huskies an early score.

Michigan's lowest-rated players, according to Pro Football Focus, were all in the secondary – Berry, Hill, Johnson, Hillman and Wesley Walker.

Winner: Donovan Edwards

Edwards had a big play when he ran for a 39-yard touchdown late in the second quarter, showing once again what he can do in a big game when put in space. Michigan has players who can help get the offense going, and Edwards reminded the fan base that he can get into the end zone on any play. He led Michigan with 95 rushing yards, an average of 6.8 yards per carry. He also caught two passes for 23 yards.

Loser: personnel decisions

How do you manage a roster when one of your stars – Edwards – is finally doing what you'd like to see, but the starter – Mullings – has been your workhorse in recent games? At the end of the day, Edwards and Mullings each carried the ball 14 times, and Mullings and Edwards' planned plays seemed uninspired.

Aside from the running back situation and the obvious quarterback carousel, they haven't given anyone a chance at right tackle despite some major growing pains from Evan Link. He had a 51.2 pass blocking rating and a 61.0 run blocking rating, and it felt much worse watching him play yesterday. It's hard to understand why they don't approach this in the same way as some other positions.

Loser: Jack Tuttle's turnovers

It's difficult to assess Tuttle's performance as he clearly gave the team the boost it needed in the second and third quarters, but turnovers can't happen. Tuttle was 10 of 18 for 98 yards, a touchdown, an interception and a fumble. He's a veteran who perhaps tried too hard and didn't protect the ball, and that cost the Wolverines the game.

Although Tuttle has had his ups and downs, it feels like the team can do even more with him at quarterback. He helped lead Michigan down the stretch and put points on the board on multiple occasions. He moved out of the pocket, kept his eyes down and even picked up yards with his feet when no one was open. However, if he wants to remain Michigan's starter, turnovers simply can't happen.

Winner: Ernest Hausmann

Ernest Hausmann came up big with an interception and helped get Michigan's offense back on the field. He also recorded a team-high 12 tackles, including eight solo tackles. He gave the Wolverines another chance to win on Saturday night and seems to be finding his rhythm week after week.