It’s been an undoubtedly disastrous start to head coach Kyle Whittingham’s tenure, as the Michigan Wolverines have stumbled to a 4-3 record and 1-3 mark in Big Ten play.
With only five games remaining in the regular season, there doesn’t appear to be much optimism around the program. However, in order to salvage this season in any type of way, Michigan’s coaching staff must improve drastically across the board.
“We have to coach better at every single position,” Whittingham told the media on Monday.
“We’re just not getting that done right now, and that’s plain and simple. We’re not getting the job done from a coaching standpoint at this point in time.”
Michigan ranks among the nation’s worst offenses, hasn’t established an identity under Whittingham, and is totally out of sync at times. Specifically on offense, the coaching staff has done a poor job of putting players in position to succeed.
“There are plenty of issues to go around, but it all starts with coaching,” Whittingham said. “If we’re not playing well enough up front or at the receiving spot, then we’re not coaching well enough. That’s our mentality. That’s my mentality.”
The Wolverines have struggled to produce a reliable run game, generate explosive plays or finish drives in the red zone. All those problems were exposed once again as Michigan failed to score a touchdown in a 13-6 overtime loss to Indiana.
Despite reaching the red zone four times, the Wolverines scored just six points and let a potential signature win slip right through their fingers. The poor performance isn’t a personnel issue, it falls on the responsibility of the coaching staff.
“The essence of coaching is getting things in the scheme that your players can do and can execute, but we just haven’t been able to find that yet,” Whittingham said. “We’re seven games in and still searching for that unfortunately.”
Whittingham arrived with expectations of having a physical identity, and building an explosive and efficient offense. However, inconsistent execution and questionable play calling have left the Wolverines desperately searching for answers.
“It’s important to get better each week,” Whittingham said. “It hasn’t been a complete disaster because we’re a few plays away from being 6-1 or maybe even better. We just have to finish games better. That’s been the issue.”
Michigan’s defense has demonstrated that it can keep games close, but the offense has to hold up its end of the bargain and provide some significant production — specifically late in games — or the rest of the season will be a lost cause.
In order to finish the season on a high note, the offense has to turn things around. That obligation mostly falls on the shoulders of offensive coordinator Jason Beck, who has been scrutinized a lot in his first year with the program.
“I have a lot of confidence and faith in the guys on the coaching staff,” Whittingham said. “There are a lot of proven track records on this coaching staff. I’m responsible for everything in the program, but I’m not a micromanager.”
Whittingham might not want to micromanage Beck as the play caller, but something has to change because it’s clearly not working right now. The schedule isn’t very forgiving either as the Wolverines face a tough stretch to end the season.
Michigan takes on Rutgers and Michigan State before finishing the season with difficult matchups at Oregon, vs UCLA and at Ohio State. If the offense hasn’t improved by then, Michigan ‘s season could be in store for a frustrating conclusion.
The Wolverines are running out of time to turn this season around, and the responsibility starts with the coaching staff. If the staff can’t deliver changes soon, a season that began with high expectations could come completely crashing down.
