If there’s any one thing we know about Jim Harbaugh and his coaching tree, it’s that he’s deathly averse to running the quarterback. Sherrone Moore has proved to be no different, at least through his first 15 games. In game No. 16 against Central Michigan last week, the script was flipped as Bryce Underwood was allowed to run young, wild and free, going for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
Will the Michigan coaching staff allow Underwood to continue running the ball once Big Ten play starts?
To date there
have been conflicting quotes by the staff. Sherrone Moore has repeated several times he doesn’t like to expose quarterbacks to injuries. Just last week, Moore was quoted as saying, “If you run your quarterback you better have two.”
However, after the Central Michigan game, interim head coach Biff Poggi had a differing opinion. “(Underwood)’s got a green light to do whatever he wants because he’s one of the great playmakers I think in the country.”
It’s highly unlikely Poggi went rogue and didn’t follow advice from Moore, who is suspended for one more game before returning after the bye week. Unleashing Underwood’s legs was likely agreed upon by the coaching staff as a whole.
Poggi’s quote makes it seem as if Underwood’s legs will be a much more vital part of the Michigan game plan moving forward. However, what the coaches say publicly and what actually happens aren’t necessarily the same thing. While the narrative seems to have shifted towards a more dual-threat tactic this week, I’ll believe it when I see it.
How much do you think Underwood’s rushing ability will be unleashed this week against Nebraska? Is the coaching staff serious about giving him the green light or is it just lip service? If the training wheels are put back on, how frustrated will you be with the coaching staff moving forward?
These are all questions we will find out the answer to in time but for now it’s merely speculation. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
