Michigan’s first availability report for Indiana brought a mix of the expected and the unsettling, even after the Wolverines snapped back into the win column with a 21-18 victory over Penn State.
The biggest new names are Rod Moore and Enow Etta. Moore exited last week’s game after a diving interception and did not return, though he was back on the field with teammates afterward.
After the game, Kyle Whittingham said Moore’s injury did not seem serious or long-term. Etta’s presence is more surprising, since there was no previous indication he had been hurt.
He recently spoke with reporters, which suggests he should be available this weekend.
That matters because Indiana is coming in with a run game that has been effective this season, and Michigan needs Etta on the field.
The Hoosiers, meanwhile, did not list anyone on their injury report as of Wednesday night.
Michigan’s offensive line remains the clearest area of concern. Right tackle Andrew Sprague has been OUT since Week 3 against UTEP, and Whittingham recently described his injury as perplexing. At this point, it is not known whether Sprague will play again this season.
Brady Norton is also back on the report as Questionable after missing last week. Avery Gach filled in for him against Penn State and would be the expected starter again if Norton can’t go, especially after grading out well in that game.
Blake Frazier is another Questionable name, adding to the uncertainty up front. Last week, Jake Guarnera carried that designation. With Indiana bringing one of the Big Ten’s better defensive lines, Michigan could use every bit of health it can get on the offensive front.
Dom Nichols has now been listed as Questionable for the fourth straight week. He has appeared in every game, but he was very limited against Minnesota before Michigan’s bye week. Nichols played against Penn State, though Tariq Boney has continued to pick up more reps while Nichols has not been at 100%.
In Other News...
Michigan's Defensive Front Has A Huge Chance To Flip Indiana Game
Larry Black knows this matchup from both sides of the line. The Michigan defensive tackles coach spent part of his playing career at Indiana, and he still remembers the 2010 meeting when he lined up against his brother Jibreel Black, who was then at Michigan. Now hes helping shape a Wolverines front that could be central to how this one plays out, especially with both teams bringing enough defensive punch to make every possession feel important.
Turnovers may be the biggest swing factor, and Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham has stressed the margin for error there. Black, for his part, sounds eager for the chance to see his group make an imprint against his old program, with the interior defense in position to affect the game in a way that goes beyond the usual box score. For Michigan, the path to controlling Indiana may start with the line of scrimmage, where Blacks background gives this game a little extra edge. [Read more 🡒]
Urban Meyer Sees One Important Thing In Michigan's QB Switch
Michigans quarterback switch at halftime against Penn State was less about making a statement than finding a way to get the offense moving. Bryce Underwood gave way to Tommy Carr after the Wolverines struggled to establish rhythm, and the change gave the staff a fresh look without forcing a wholesale rework of what they wanted to run.
Urban Meyer pointed to one important part of the move: Carrs skill set is close enough to Underwoods that Michigan could keep leaning on the same run-pass menu. That showed up in the second half, when Carr was able to operate the offense on RPOs and quarterback counters and finish a speed option play in the end zone, the kind of continuity coaches hope for when they turn to a backup in the middle of a game. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Heads Into Indiana With A New Concern Up Front
Michigans first injury and availability report for the trip to No. 6 Indiana immediately put the spotlight on the offensive line, where Andrew Sprague was listed as out and Andrew Babalola was marked probable after missing previous games because of injury. For a Wolverines team heading into one of its toughest tests of the season, any uncertainty up front matters, especially when the opponent is ranked sixth and the margin for error figures to be slim.
There was at least some encouraging news elsewhere, with Kyle Whittingham saying safety Rod Moores injury appears minor after negative x-rays and that he should be okay. Even so, his status for the next game remains unclear, leaving Michigan with a few moving parts to monitor as it tries to sort out its health before facing Indiana. [Read more 🡒]