While the Michigan Wolverines’ 24-13 loss at the Oklahoma Sooners deflated some of the early-season hype, it is still early September and this season is far, far from over.
Bryce Underwood and his 9-for-24, 142-yard, 0-touchdown performance was not good enough, even in a hostile environment against a ferocious defense. Running back Justice Haynes took 19 carries for 125 yards, led by a 75-yard touchdown run. Based on what head coach Sherrone Moore had to say on the latest episode of the “Inside Michigan
Football” radio show, expect Haynes and the rest of the running backs to carry a heavier load moving forward.
“Consistent execution. You know, how we help them in the game plan with less things and make it more simple for them will be a big part of it,” Moore said. “…We have the skill, we have the talent to go be good, and we just need to go do that consistently.”
This is not a knock on Underwood, but merely a mini-reset to return to Moore’s run-heavy philosophy. The best way to ease Underwood into college football is to provide him with a dominant rushing attack, and re-establishing those physical principles against Central Michigan this Saturday is key.
“Whether it be spacing in the passing game…timing in the run game…not really the what to do, but more the how and executing at a consistent level,” Moore said.
The Chippewas should pose a much slighter threat to the Wolverines, and expect the basics to propel Michigan back into the win column.
Quick Hitters
- Young guys to watch for in the coming weeks.
- Moore had rave reviews about depth running back true freshman Jasper Parker, noting, “He will (get on the field) at some point. He’ll definitely open some eyes because we think he’s going to be a really good player.” Moore also highlighted wide receiver Andrew Marsh and edge rusher Nate Marshall, with the latter being a guy that “really sticks out.”
- The relationship between Haynes and Marshall
- Haynes was also a part of Monday evening’s radio program, and he talked about his love for fellow running back Jordan Marshall and how the tandem already has a brotherly relationship. With Haynes assuming the bulk of the rushing duties and leadership responsibilities, Marshall has an excellent mentor to continue his encouraging trajectory. Running backs coach Tony Alford raved about the two, saying, “(Haynes has) got a high football IQ, but just embracing the culture of the way that we do things…Jordan Marshall in particular, has really done a great job of bringing him in and open arms and teaching him whatever he needed to know.”
- The difference between Underwood and J.J. McCarthy
- The former five-star quarterbacks have often been linked with their similar routes in Ann Arbor. The key difference for Moore, however, is Underwood has been thrown into the fire immediately, while McCarthy was more patiently developed. “It is more difficult when you are the guy and you are counted on every snap, versus you have packages. So (Bryce is) in a position where mentally he can handle, and we just got to help him as a staff and the players around him to execute better.”
