Michigan is heading into a new chapter with freshman Tommy Carr set to make the first start of his career, and the quarterback shakeup has already brought plenty of noise. After the Wolverines beat Penn State, former coach Biff Poggi offered a defense of Bryce Underwood - and aimed the blame somewhere else.
Poggi’s take was simple: the problem isn’t Underwood. It’s the fit.
“Part of what's happened is the scheme doesn't fit the personnel,” Poggi said on The Jim Rome Show. “Not only Bryce, but the offensive line, the tight end room, and the running backs.”
He doubled down on that point with another exact quote on the matter: “The scheme doesn't fit the personnel, not only Bryce but the offensive line, the tight end room and running backs.”
But the way the Penn State game played out makes that argument harder to sell. The numbers in Carr’s relief appearance suggest those same parts of the offense looked better once the freshman took over. Carr’s longest pass against the Nittany Lions went to tight end Hogan Hansen, a small detail that undercuts the idea that the tight end room was uniquely stranded by the system.
That’s why the criticism has shifted so quickly toward Underwood after he was benched. Poggi may be pushing back on the backlash, but the production under him has never exactly screamed “untouchable.”
Even in the three games when Poggi was the interim head coach - against Central Michigan, Nebraska and Texas - Underwood’s line was mixed. Against Central Michigan, he went 16-for-25 for 235 yards with one touchdown, one interception and nine carries for 114 yards and two scores.
Against Nebraska, he finished 12-for-22 for 105 yards and added eight carries for 61 yards and one touchdown. Against Texas, he was 23-for-42 for 199 yards, two touchdowns, three interceptions and 14 carries for 69 yards and one score.
Michigan went 2-1 in those games, which mattered. But the passing numbers never quite matched the hype, and the turnover total was impossible to ignore. His rushing production stood out, though that part of his game has never really been in question.
None of this is to say the coaching staff has been spotless. There have been questions about the offensive scheme and whether it fits. But that debate is going to get answered fast if Carr looks sharper against Indiana, or even just a little better than Underwood.
Poggi can pin it on the staff if he wants. In Ann Arbor, though, that opinion doesn’t carry the same weight anymore.
In Other News...
Michigan Suddenly Has A Chance To Make Saturday Matter Again
Michigans quarterback switch to Tommy Carr gave the offense a much-needed spark in the second half of its recent game, and it comes at a moment when every possession feels a little heavier. The change helped steady a unit that had been searching for rhythm, and now the Wolverines get a chance to see whether that adjustment can carry over into a matchup that suddenly matters a lot more than it did a week ago.
Indiana is headed into Saturday with CBS Sports analyst Brad Crawford putting the Hoosiers on upset alert, which only adds to the stakes on both sidelines. For Michigan, a win would keep its College Football Playoff and Big Ten hopes in play, while Indiana has the same kind of pressure on its side of the ledger, making this one of those late-season games where the margin for error keeps shrinking. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Still Has One Big Lineup Concern Ahead Of Indiana
Michigans latest availability report for Indiana brought no real surprises, but it did reinforce the same issue that has shadowed this matchup all week: the offensive line remains a major concern. The Wolverines have several players listed across the report as out, questionable or probable, and that uncertainty leaves the front five as the biggest area to watch as kickoff approaches.
There was at least some encouraging news on the injury front, with coach Kyle Whittingham suggesting safety Rod Moores issue is minor and not likely to keep him out for long. Offensive tackle Andrew Babalola also appears close to returning, which would help a group still trying to get closer to full strength at just the right time. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan's Offense Has A Fit Problem Fans Can't Ignore
The fit issue around Michigans offense has become hard to overlook, especially with a roster that was built for a pro-style, gap scheme approach. Former assistant Biff Poggi recently pointed out that the Wolverines are trying to make pieces work in a system that does not naturally match what they have on hand, and he suggested the results have reflected that mismatch more than any single play call or personnel decision.
Poggi also drew a distinction between the quarterbacks and the scheme, saying Tommy Carr may be better suited to what Michigan is asking for right now, while Bryce Underwood could thrive in a different setup. His bigger point was even simpler: the Wolverines have generally looked better when they play north-south football, not when the offense leans into the east-west style that has too often defined the discussion this season. [Read more 🡒]