The Michigan Wolverines are still licking their wounds following a dreadful and frustrating 20-14 loss at Minnesota, dropping to 0-2 in Big Ten play for the first time since 2014. Now in the midst of a bye week, Michigan is trying to “reset.”
In addition to having a chance to recover physically entering the grind that will come with the remaining Big Ten schedule, Michigan is attempting to reset mentally. At an inflection point in the season, a reset is exactly what the Wolverines need.
“It’s good
to get our bodies back. We’re five games in, so some people are dinged up,” defensive back Zeke Berry said. Being able to get our bodies back, but also reset ourselves and our brains, so we make sure to go out with a win next week.”
With a season-defining matchup against Penn State on the horizon, Michigan must look themselves in the mirror and address the issues that are holding them back from reaching their full potential following back-to-back self-inflicted losses.
“Everybody has to look in the mirror, including myself,’ wide receiver JJ Buchanan told the media. “Everybody has to look in the mirror and see what they’re doing wrong. We have to look at the film, own up to your mistakes, and just get better.”
The bye week offers an opportunity for Michigan to move on, emotionally and physically, from the previous games that were filled with a whirlwind of highs and lows — culminating with the worst start in conference play in more than a decade.
It’s truly a make-or-break moment for the program. Not only is this a potential turning point for first-year head coach Kyle Whittingham and the coaching staff, but it’s also a watershed moment for quarterback Bryce Underwood and the players.
It appears Whittingham and offensive coordinator Jason Beck are facing a turning point in their first year at Michigan. The offense has slid to one of the worst in the Big Ten, and in order to salvage the season at all, the offense must come to life.
Whittingham explicitly stated that the focus of the bye week will be rigorous self-analysis. The coaching staff must dissect the film and figure out what the offense does best through five games, and try to gravitate toward those strengths.
Solving the quarterback dilemma has to be at the top of the to-do list as well. Underwood has regressed this season, resulting in a pair of pivotal interceptions in the loss to Minnesota. Now, it’s time to decide if he’s the right man for the job.
Whittingham hinted at evaluating who deserves to be on the field. Michigan has been plagued by momentum-killing penalties and unforced turnovers, so the bye week provides a window to evaluate each unit and make necessary changes.
The first five games of the Whittingham era have been disappointing for every facet of the program. It obviously hasn’t been the start to the season that Michigan envisioned, but the team is trying to remain connected, instead of fragmenting.
“We’re staying connected. It’s been a lot of our leaders preaching to not lose yourself,” linebacker Troy Bowles said. “We all came here for a common goal. Just because stuff doesn’t go our way doesn’t mean we start aborting the mission.”
Aborting the mission is simply not an option for Michigan. Even if this season doesn’t live up to the expectations or the standard that the team has for itself, it’s still essential to show some fight and prove that the program is on the right path.
“It’s really just about staying together and trying to get better at the things we’re good at and the things we’re bad at,” Bowles told the media. “We have to focus on ourselves this week and then go get a win against Penn State next week.”
Michigan is using this week to conduct schematic self-analysis, evaluate personnel, and make tough decisions to try to save the season. We’ll have to wait and see if the reset pays off as Michigan hosts Penn State with the season on the line.
