Mike Germanese
Writer
The Michigan Wolverines (3-1, 1-0) sit right where most experts had them heading into the Wisconsin game. Even with the expected start, Michigan still has several questions to answer if it wants to be considered a playoff contender. Those questions could be why the Wolverines dropped in the AP rankings from 19th to 20th, despite being off this past Saturday. Wisconsin will be Michigan’s first chance after a two-week hiatus to prove they should be taken seriously as a playoff contender.
Creativity, time management, and costly penalties have been a problem for the Wolverines seemingly all season. If Sherrone Morre doesn’t figure out the fix fast, Michigan will have wasted a second straight season since he took over. Something he can’t afford to let happen with any goodwill for the national champion run gone. If he does, there should be no reason why Michigan isn’t playing in the CFP this season.
In their biggest games this year, Michigan has been plagued by the same problems from a year ago. And considering Moore was given plenty of opportunities to learn and grow last season, these same issues shouldn’t exist.
Last season, Michigan’s offense had zero creativity, but when you don’t have a quarterback, it’s difficult to do anything. Yet this season, even with Bryce Underwood under center, the creativity in big games is still not there. Underwood wasn’t asked to do much against both Oklahoma and Nebraska. Michigan again depended on the run game, but unlike Oklahoma, the Wolverines were able to do enough with it to win against Nebraska.
Michigan’s passing game with Underwood seems to go dormant at times while the wide receivers haven’t done the young QB any favors.
Now all eyes will be on new OC Chip Lindsey to see if he can fix the problem. Lindsey somehow needs to find a way to get the wide receivers in a position to be successful. But it’s also on the wide receivers to execute and catch the more catchable passes. It wouldn’t hurt to make “some” of the more difficult catches, too.
In the Nebraska game, Michigan failed to call a timeout to end the first half and handed Nebraska seven points. Last season, it wasn’t just seven points they handed Indiana; it was the game. Late in the game, Michigan failed to call a timeout for a chance to get the ball back, instead letting the time just tick away.
Against Nebraska, they did it again; this time, it was Biff Poggi who did it instead of Moore. Instead of using a timeout to stop the clock and force a Nebraska punt to end the first half, the Wolverines let Nebraska attempt a Hail Mary. The play ended up being successful, and Michigan went into the half tied instead of with the lead.
Michigan got away with the mistake just like they did with the Brandyn Hillman taunting penalty. Hillman gets called for unsportsmanlike conduct on a play he wasn’t involved in, which resulted in Nebraska going from a fourth and 17 to a first down. These are the type of mistakes Michigan has avoided in the last few years of the Jim Harbaugh era. If Michigan can correct the mental/coaching mistakes, there is no reason Michigan shouldn’t be 11-1 heading into Ohio State.
Come Nov. 1, Michigan will either be a contender or a bystander when it comes to the CFP. The next four games will tell us everything we need to know about Team 146. It will also shed light on whether Moore is the right man to lead the program or if Michigan made a mistake by not conducting a national search when Harbaugh left.
Cody Croy
Writer
Defensive Coordinator Matt Patricia and the Buckeyes have agreed to a new contract that will keep him in Columbus, ending speculation that he could return to the NFL. Patricia, who has been in Columbus for one year, set historic numbers in his first season as defensive coordinator. Matt Patricia and the Buckeyes ultimately fell short […]
Stephen Leonard
Writer
Desperation is a stinky cologne, but the Buckeyes are desperate for wins following the loss to Michigan State. Ohio State relied on every ounce of manpower against #15 Michigan State. They have been down a starter in John Mobley Jr for weeks, but without Devin Royal, the game felt like a prayer. Amare Bynum was […]
Stephen Leonard
Writer
The Buckeyes had not lost back-to-back games yet this year coming into tonight. Ohio State started the night in Joe Lunardi’s bracketology as one of the first four out of the 64-team tournament. With Selection Sunday looming and no ranked wins to show for it, the Buckeyes face a must-win scenario. The Buckeyes came out […]
