The Michigan Wolverines have one of the best rushing offenses in college football, ranking No. 12. Michigan also has a passing offense that’s a work in progress, ranking No. 105 in passing offense. However, with Michigan coming off a bye week, could Michigan’s offense putting quarterback Bryce Underwood under center more help out the passing game?
Earlier this week, Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore talked about the pros and cons of being under center, in the pistol formation, and in shotgun.
— “Under
center and pistol are the same, except it’s three yards of difference, right, because you’re going to turn your back to the defense on a play-action pass or a naked on both of those. We’re working both. We’re working all of them.”
— “The pros in under center are that you’re not giving your tell from the defense from a pass-run standpoint, per se, based on where the back location is, because the back location is the same. When it’s a play-action pass, you’ve got to get the depth in the pocket, and you’re going to have your back to the defense, but that’s also a con because then you turn your back to the defense for a longer amount of time. There’s pros and cons for everything, but we’re doing a good job of self-scouting and making sure we’ve got a good balance of both.”
Michigan’s fresh off a bye week, and from Moore’s comments, it sounds like Underwood could be under center more this Saturday against Northwestern and in subsequent games. With Michigan’s rushing attack being as potent as it is, it makes sense to maximize the potential of the play-action pass, and that’s best done under center or in the pistol. Underwood’s production is exponentially greater when he utilizes play-action.
Underwood’s averaging 10.4 yards per attempt in play action and just 5.8 when there’s no play action. Underwood is 53-of-85 (62.4%) in play action for 883 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. He’s 81-of-135 (60%) for 788 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions when not in play action.
It’s time for Michigan’s passing offense to evolve and run more passing plays under center and in the pistol. New Michigan offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey has heavily favored the offense being run out of the shotgun, but a more varied approach could be coming.
