ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- While Jason Beck has been fired as the Michigan football offensive coordinator, that doesn't exactly mean an immediate overhaul of the offense. In fact, the playbook is quite set now that the Wolverines are entering Week 11.
But with a new playcaller in Jim Harding, who can at least set and reset the offensive agenda based on what's already in the playbook, the hope is that the offense will improve going forward.
Harding doesn't exactly have extensive playcalling experience, though he was the co-offensive coordinator at both Wyoming for a year and a couple of years at Utah. But head coach Kyle Whittingham says that the time to make wholesale changes is past. So the offense, instead, will rely on more of a collaborative effort.
"We can't do major changes at this juncture," Whittingham said. "It will be collaborative. It has been collaborative. It's never just a one-man show. You can only do so much at this point in the season. There will be a few different wrinkles for sure. To say there's going to be a complete overhaul, that's not really feasible."
That said, WolverinesWire asked Whittingham what changes he'd like to see or what kind of changes can be made going forward. Whittingham more so shared what he'd like to see work better compared to what things the team would be able to shift from a schematic standpoint.
"Well, play more efficiently up front. That's where it starts," Whittingham said. "Play more efficiently at quarterback positions. As good as Tommy played two weeks ago, it was a big drop-off for this game with efficiency. He'll be the first one to tell you that. Missed quite a few throws that were very makeable throws and completions that should have been had. But, again, it's a combination of things.
"But you might see some things a little bit different in the throw game. But, again, it can't be a wholesale change. Just subtle changes here and there, formational changes, and just different ways to attack."
Whittingham will leave it to the offensive coaches who remain to oversee the effort of trying to fix that side of the ball with three games remaining. He says that he will remain aware, but he won't get involved in the playcalling, still.
"No, leave it up to the offensive coaches," Whittingham said. "Obviously, be aware of what's going on and what we're doing schematically and personnel and all that type of thing. But that's not my role to be a play caller."
Michigan has a tough task ahead on Saturday with a road trip to Oregon. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. EST.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football's Kyle Whittingham outlines changes after Beck firing
