Kyle Whittingham isn’t ready to say who Michigan’s quarterback will be against Indiana, but the signs point to a change in approach after what happened in the Wolverines’ win over Penn State.
Whittingham said Monday, Oct. 19, that he has a plan for the Week 8 game against No. 6 Indiana, but he wasn’t about to spell it out publicly. Michigan is 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the Big Ten heading into the matchup with the 6-1, 3-1 Hoosiers.
“We saw good stuff out of what Tommy did in that second half, and we know exactly what we’re doing,” Whittingham said. “The plan going forward, we’re not going to tip our hand to to the opponent, but we have a good plan in place, and that’s about all I can say on that right now.”
That uncertainty follows another rough outing for Bryce Underwood. After the bye week, he went 5 of 11 for 43 yards and threw two interceptions, including one in the final 30 seconds of the first half when Michigan was inside field-goal range. That extended a tough stretch for Underwood: four turnovers across four quarters, no touchdowns and only seven points over the previous three halves.
Tommy Carr took over in the second half and didn’t light up the stat sheet, but he did what the coaches needed most. He completed 5 of 7 passes for 47 yards and avoided mistakes.
He also added a real boost as a runner, carrying four times for 36 yards. That included a 22-yard run that nearly went for a touchdown and a 12-yard scoring run on a speed option on third-and-9 near the goal line, which turned into the eventual game-winning points.
“Tommy is a very good runner,” Whittingham said. “He's deceptively fast, and when you look at the measurables, the short shuttle, the long shuttle, all the things you do at the the combine, Tommy's numbers are one of the best on the team.”
Michigan had been blanked in the first half but came alive after the break, putting up 21 points. It was only the second time in six games the Wolverines reached 20 or more. Carr was part of that surge, but so were a run game that finally showed up behind Bryson Kuzdzal and Savion Hiter, plus a defense that forced three key turnovers, two of them leading to short fields.
Still, Whittingham said Carr’s presence gave the offense a lift.
“That's the exact term, a spark for the offense, and he provided it,” Whittingham said. “That's not to be disparaging against Bryce.
It was just a chance for them to really elevate their play to help out the new quarterback. That's what I’ve seen through my 30-40 years of coaching.
You get a backup quarterback in, everybody gets a little bit excited.”
The next challenge is a big one. Indiana brings a defense that ranks No. 4 nationally in scoring defense at 12.9 points per game, No. 4 against the run at 75.4 yards per game and No. 10 overall at 270.6 yards allowed per game.
Whittingham also said he has never been a fan of rotating quarterbacks, which makes it sound like Michigan is preparing to lean on one signal-caller rather than split the job. If Carr is the guy, Whittingham said the offense would not be pared down.
“Full playbook,” Whittingham said. “There's not a quarterback that I've ever been around that studies any more than than Tommy Carr, and his football IQ is off the charts.
I mean, he's got a football mind. He's a football junkie, and he is a real student of the game.
“The plan that we're not revealing was talked about last night ... we're here evaluating everything on Sundays and giving everyone a chance. We all watch the film separately.
Then we watch it together as an O and D. Then I go into the offense and defense and talk about the game with each unit, and so it was towards the end of the night last night when we came to the conclusion.”
In Other News...
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 🡒]
Michigan Should Watch Utah's QB Decision Before Indiana Closely
Utah still has a quarterback decision hanging over its upcoming matchup with Indiana, and Kyle Whittingham didnt tip his hand when he met with reporters this week. He said a plan is in place, but he stopped short of naming a starter, leaving the Hoosiers to prepare without knowing exactly who will be under center.
Whittingham did sound encouraged by what he has seen elsewhere on offense, pointing to the Utes recent rushing production and the play of the offensive line. He also singled out the contributions and availability of several individual players, a reminder that the quarterback situation is only part of the picture as Utah works through the final stages of game prep. [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 🡒]