Michigan’s offense is heading into the season opener with a young quarterback who, by his coordinator’s account, has spent the fall turning raw talent into something a lot more polished.
Jason Beck said Bryce Underwood’s biggest growth hasn’t come in the form of flashy throws or eye-catching highlights. It’s been the day-to-day stuff: sharper reads, cleaner decisions and a steadier command of the offense.
“Throughout this fall camp it’s been much more steady, much more consistent, much more predictable day in, day out” with Bryce’s reads and decisions, Beck said.
That consistency, Beck said, is what separates the quarterback he saw in spring from the one Michigan is preparing to put on the field now. Underwood is getting the ball out faster, making choices with more conviction and showing a better grasp of what defenses are trying to do.
“He made a really nice jump that you would hope would happen from spring to fall,” Beck said.
Beck, in his first year as Michigan’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, said the Wolverines have already installed the full offense for Underwood. At this point, the work is about repetition and getting the freshman ready for the different looks he’ll face once the games count.
“There’s not other stuff we’re going to get to,” Beck said. “It’s now like, here’s our offense.”
That doesn’t mean Michigan is treating every position like a fixed depth chart. Beck made it clear the Wolverines plan to use personnel groups and matchups to shape playing time across the board.
At receiver, Channing Goodwin has moved into a meaningful role after missing spring practice while recovering from surgery. Beck said Goodwin would be Michigan’s No. 3 receiver if the room were ranked strictly that way, but the way the Wolverines rotate personnel means more than three wideouts will see the field.
Five receivers beyond Andrew Marsh and JJ Buchanan are expected to play, with usage tied in part to the package Michigan wants on a given snap.
The backfield looks similar. Jordan Marshall is the top running back, Beck said, but Savion Hiter and Bryson Kuzdzal will also get carries. Beck said he goes into games with target numbers for his top players and keeps track of whether those guys are getting enough work.
“If somebody’s just hot, man, keep it going,” Beck said. “We’re not gonna take away from somebody because he’s playing so great.”
Up front, Michigan plans to rotate three guards - Brady Norton, Nathan Efobi and Evan Link - with all three expected to see similar snaps. Beck said each has earned enough in camp to make it tough to sit any of them down.
At tackle, Blake Frazier has separated himself. Beck said Frazier built on a strong finish to last season and raised his level again during fall camp, enough to become one of the three most consistent offensive linemen on the roster.
“He was more consistent, played at a higher level, and really just kind of took over that position,” Beck said.
The opener will also throw Michigan’s line into a tricky matchup. Beck described the opposing defense as multiple, deceptive and hard to pin down, with different fronts and coverages that force constant adjustments in protection and quarterback reads.
“It’s not a static thing,” Beck said. “That’s the same playing in and play out.”
Behind Underwood, freshman Tommy Carr has been tabbed as the No. 2 quarterback. Beck said Carr has picked up the offense quickly and praised both his instincts and athleticism, especially when a play breaks down. The biggest question, Beck said, is how Carr handles a real game in a stadium.
Saturday will be a new stage for Beck, too. The opener will be his first game calling the offense for Michigan, and he said he’s “fired up, ready to go” for the home opener.
He’s also coaching a group that leans heavily young. Beck said most of Michigan’s offensive players are third-year players or younger, and that showed at times in spring when he saw fundamentals and habits that needed work.
But he’s liked what’s followed. The players have taken coaching well, and Beck said that willingness matters.
“They’re great kids. They work really hard,” Beck said.
In his view, youth can actually help, because younger players are less set in their ways and more open to change.
As the Wolverines get ready for kickoff, Beck isn’t talking about ceilings or floors for Underwood or the offense.
“I don’t really put any limits, minimums, floor, ceiling,” he said. “You’re just pushing to improve as fast as you can.”
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