Kyle Whittingham left the biggest question unanswered Monday morning: who will start at quarterback against Indiana?
After the Wolverines put up 21 second-half points with Tommy Carr on the field instead of Bryce Underwood, Whittingham still wasn’t ready to say which one would get the nod Saturday. He said the staff has a plan, but he wasn’t about to give the Hoosiers any help.
“We know exactly what we’re doing with the plan going forward,” Whittingham said. “We’re not going to tip our hand to the opponent, but we have a good plan in place.”
He was also asked later about two-quarterback systems in general, and made clear he’s not a fan of that setup, invoking the old line: “if you have two quarterbacks, you don’t have one.”
The strongest positive from the Penn State game, in Whittingham’s view, was the ground attack. Michigan rolled up 211 rushing yards and three touchdowns, highlighted by Bryson Kuzdzal’s 43-yard burst and Savion Hiter’s 41-yard run.
“It’s about time we got out and had some explosive runs in the run game,” Whittingham said. He called Kuzdzal’s score “outstanding” and said it was good to see Hiter “get loose.”
“It was very positive. … It was good to see the running backs get those creases, and again, it starts up front with the offensive line.”
Whittingham was especially pleased with how the offensive line finished the game. He said the unit played its best football of the season in the second half.
“There’s no question about it,” Whittingham said. “…They came out with a purpose in the second half. … Without a doubt it was their best 30 minutes of football this season.”
There was also a personnel note at tight end. Zack Marshall missed the Penn State game because of a “non-injury situation,” according to Whittingham.
On the offensive side of the ball, Whittingham said Jason Beck’s play-calling was solid, but stressed that execution is still the real separator. He also liked what he saw from right guard Avery Gach, who made his first start while Brady Norton was out.
Whittingham said Gach “did a fine job” and played “at a good level,” and the staff expects to know later this week whether Norton can return against Indiana.
Freshman wide receiver Salesi Moa also earned a promotion of sorts. Whittingham said Moa “did a nice job” as the punt returner against Penn State, and he’ll stay in that role moving forward.
There was a new wrinkle up front as well. Offensive lineman Andrew Babalola was available for the first time this past weekend, though he did not play. Whittingham said he hopes Babalola can get onto the field this season, because it would give the team more flexibility across the offensive line.
Defensively, Chris Bracy came away with an interception and a forced fumble against Penn State, and Whittingham didn’t hold back on the praise.
“He’s a heck of a football player,” Whittingham said. He added that Bracy is “a vicious tackler and a very efficient tackler.”
The pass rush, though, left him wanting more. Whittingham said it was “not quite as ferocious” as he’d like, even if he’s been encouraged by the three usual defensive tackles and freshman edge rusher Tariq Boney, who should keep seeing more snaps as the season goes on.
As for Indiana, Whittingham made it clear the respect is high. He called Curt Cignetti’s team “a good football team,” said Cignetti has “done a phenomenal job there,” and praised the Hoosiers’ veteran lines on both sides of the ball. He also said Indiana has “an amazing staff.”
And if Carr is the one under center Saturday, Whittingham said the full offense will be at his disposal. He praised Carr’s preparation in glowing terms, saying he’s never been around a quarterback who studies more and describing his football IQ as “off the charts, I mean, he’s got a football mind, he’s a football junkie. He is a real student of the game.”
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Michigan Fans Are Stuck Waiting On The Team's Biggest Indiana Decision
Michigan has already made its quarterback call for Indiana, but fans will have to wait a little longer to hear it from Kyle Whittingham. After Tommy Carr helped steady the offense in relief against Penn State, leading touchdown drives and protecting the ball, the conversation around the position has only gotten louder, especially with Bryce Underwood coming off a rough outing that included two interceptions.
Whittingham declined to reveal the starter, leaving the most important question for Saturday still hanging over the week. The decision could shape how Michigan approaches Indiana, and there is at least some intrigue around whether the Wolverines lean on the hot hand, try to get Underwood back on track, or use both in some capacity. For now, the plan is in place, even if the public part of it is still being kept under wraps. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans Penn State Win Raised A Massive QB Question
Michigans 21-18 win over Penn State came with a notable halftime tweak, and it changed the feel of the offense almost immediately. After the Wolverines were blanked in the first half, head coach Kyle Whittingham turned to true freshman Tommy Carr in place of starter Bryce Underwood, and Michigan responded by putting up all of its points after the break.
Carrs line was modest on paper, but it was enough to give the offense some rhythm, with 5 completions on 7 attempts for 47 yards, plus 36 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. The result leaves Michigan with a bigger conversation at quarterback than it had going into the game, especially with a road win in a tight conference game showing how quickly the depth chart can become a moving target. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Heads Into Indiana With One Huge QB Decision Unsettled
Michigan still has not formally announced its starting quarterback for the trip to Indiana, but the expectation is that freshman Tommy Carr will get the nod after Bryce Underwood was benched recently. The uncertainty gives this matchup a little extra edge for a team that otherwise comes in with some momentum, thanks in part to a defense that played well in the win over Penn State and forced three takeaways.
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti is already bracing for the possibility that Michigan may not go with just one quarterback, and has indicated the Wolverines could lean on both Carr and Underwood. Either way, the focus figures to stay on a Michigan defense that will try to make life difficult for Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover while the offense sorts out its direction on the fly. [Read more 🡒]