The Michigan offense has hit a road bump as of late. After a solid showing against Washington, the offense as a whole — but more so, Bryce Underwood and the pass offense — has put up mediocre numbers against two
of the worst defenses in the conference in Michigan State and Purdue. However, the Wolverines have still been able to find a way to win, so the next objective is to take the next step and play like a playoff team.
Throughout the week, several players and coaches from the program have expressed just how close the offense is to getting back on track and reaching new heights.
“I think if you look at our performance from week-to-week since New Mexico, I think we’ve improved a bunch,” left tackle Blake Frazier said. “I still think that we have a lot to grow on, but I do think that we’re getting really close to how good we can be.”
Frazier has been one of the poster-children for development along the offensive line this season. He started the year in a reserve role, but injuries to both Evan Link and Andrew Babalola — who tore his ACL prior to the season starting — thrust Frazier into a starting role. After getting his feet wet the last two games, he seems primed to take another step forward this weekend against Northwestern.
Offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey was also asked by Maize n Brew about just how close the offense is to taking the next step. He acknowledged the group has suffered some self-inflicted wounds, but expressed a similar sentiment as Frazier.
“I don’t know if we’re ever happy with exactly where we are from my seat,” he said. “There’s some things I think that are self-inflicted that are keeping us from getting to our potential. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited about the progress we’ve made, we’ve improved and all that, but our standard is going to be really high when you talk about where we want to be offensively.”
Meeting that standard is the hard part. Lindsey went on to detail the progress that has been made on the offensive front.
“Each year is different,” Lindsey said. “The offenses goes around the strengths of your players. We all understand that, but I really like the progress we’re making. It’s just the self-inflicted things. Last week, we had the turnovers. We had issues in pass pro as well. So there’s some things to clean up fundamentally with that and with the running backs.”
Lindsey then focused in on the offensive line. While acknowledging the injury bug has bitten the Wolverines, he emphasized it isn’t an excuse.
“Just as a unit, continuing to grow and gel,” he said. “We’ve had some different combinations (along the offensive line) playing, but that’s not an excuse. We have to get those guys all ready to go and, that’s kind of what our goal is and focus is right now.”
The offense will look to continue to progress and develop as they travel to the friendly confines of Wrigley Field in Chicago as Michigan takes on Northwestern on Saturday at noon.
