Michigan is sticking with the same two key pieces on offense, at least for now.
On Monday, Kyle Whittingham said Bryce Underwood will remain the Wolverines’ starting quarterback and Jason Beck will continue to handle play-calling duties. That keeps Michigan pointed in the same direction after back-to-back losses left the team at 3-2 heading into Saturday’s home game against Penn State, which has also stumbled recently after dropping three straight and sitting at 3-3.
The quarterback question had started to bubble after Michigan’s loss to Minnesota two Saturdays ago, with some wondering whether the Wolverines would turn to true freshman Tommy Carr. Instead, Underwood stays in the job. Whittingham also said Carr took half of the reps with the first unit during the bye week, but that was intentional rather than a sign of an imminent switch.
For now, Whittingham made it clear he views Underwood as the best option to help Michigan win. He added that if Carr can help the team win games, he’ll get on the field.
Beck, meanwhile, will remain in charge of the offense, and Whittingham doesn’t expect major personnel changes coming out of the bye. He had already said he wants Michigan to get back to a downhill run game, noting that the offense drifted away from that for too long.
That approach ties directly into the rhino package, which Beck discussed this offseason and which has ended up being a far bigger part of Michigan’s offense than many expected. The set is being used more than 20 times per game, and Whittingham said that usage will continue the rest of the season.
He believes the heavy personnel gives Michigan an edge physically, even if that’s been tough to prove through five games. The bigger issue has been how the Wolverines have used it. Beck tried leaning more on horizontal runs and edge attacks, but Michigan’s roster is built more for going north-south.
Whittingham suggested the rhino package could still be useful if it’s deployed the right way. Either way, it’s not going away.
In Other News...
Michigans QB Debate Hits A Boiling Point Before Penn State
Michigans offense has spent much of the season looking like a unit still searching for its footing, and the latest stumble against Minnesota only sharpened the questions around Bryce Underwood. Under pressure, the quarterback had trouble finding rhythm on the road, reinforcing the pattern that he has been more comfortable at home than away from Ann Arbor. With Penn State next on the schedule, the Wolverines are carrying more than just ordinary game-week adjustments into the matchup.
The coaching staffs role in all of this is hard to ignore, because the offensive plan has not done enough to make life easier for Underwood when the temperature rises. A bounce-back showing is still very much in play against Penn State, especially if Michigan can clean up the design and execution around its young quarterback, but the larger concern is whether the offense can show real progress rather than another brief uptick before the next hard landing. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Heads Into Penn State With A Growing Offensive Line Concern
Michigans offensive line has spent much of the season absorbing hits, and the timing has hardly been ideal as the Wolverines keep pushing through the heart of their schedule. Andrew Babalola is expected back at practice soon after missing about a month, which would give the group at least one much-needed body as the staff continues to manage a unit that has been stretched by injuries.
Andrew Sprague remains out with an undisclosed injury and does not appear close to a return, leaving Michigan thin at right tackle and short on reliable depth up front. Kyle Whittingham updated the situation this week, and the larger concern is clear: even with one lineman trending back, the Wolverines are still trying to protect a position group that cant afford many more losses. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Suddenly Faces A Defining Home Test Fans Cant Ignore
A bye week gave Michigan a chance to reset, but the next stretch hardly looks forgiving. The Wolverines return to action against Penn State after back-to-back losses, with Bryce Underwood still set to remain the starting quarterback as the offense tries to steady itself and get the season back on track.
The schedule only gets more demanding after that, with the Big Ten announcing Michigan will host unbeaten Indiana on Oct. 24 at noon ET on FOX. The Hoosiers are ranked No. 5 after beating Nebraska and now have Ohio State ahead of them, which means the meeting in Ann Arbor could carry a lot of weight by the time it arrives. [Read more 🡒]