Michigan Football 2025: Rebuilding an offense, hoping our defense remains solid

[Adullin]

The qb was throwing the ball high on short throws, low on long throws, he missed a wide open guy the second to last drive. He didn't pick up on where blitzes came from. Hard to call plays when your qb can't be trusted to throw the ball several feet. 

[Motor City Sonics]

2 minutes ago, Adullin said:

The qb was throwing the ball high on short throws, low on long throws, he missed a wide open guy the second to last drive. He didn't pick up on where blitzes came from. Hard to call plays when your qb can't be trusted to throw the ball several feet. 

He's a freshman.   It's gonna be like this against the good teams.  We hope to see improvement by the end of the season.   This is what you're in for when you start a Freshman.   It's not surprising.   

[MichiganCardinal]

Underwood has been fine.

Let's not forget that a year ago yesterday he was going against Livonia Stevenson's defense. Less than a year ago he was asked to dissect the perilous defensive schemes of the Wayne Memorial Zebras.

True freshmen generally shouldn't play D1 football at the QB position, even when they are generational players like Underwood is made out to be. I'm pretty confident there is absolutely nothing of note behind him on the depth chart, which is why he is playing anyway.

That being said, I think he is doing just fine under the circumstances. Brent Venables is no joke as a DC, and Underwood treaded water without making a costly mistake. The offense was more than one player away last year, and it looks seriously improved. It's not a 2022 or 2023 offense, but it's definitely better. They weren't going to go from 7-5 back to 12-0 overnight.

[gehringer_2]

2 hours ago, buddha said:

this season is going to look a lot like last season.  with all signs pointing toward 2027 as the date for a championship run.  if this year goes off the rails, moore might not have that long.

and what if Underwood starts doubting that playing in this regime meets his career plans and bolts?

Edited September 7 by gehringer_2

[buddha]

i find it hard to believe people are blaming an 18 year old kid in his second start for this game!

i think underwood has looked pretty good for a guy in his second game.  oklahoma's defense is no joke and michigan's oline and receivers are. again.

underwood is a bright spot for this offense.  him and justice hayes are the only good things on the whole offensive side of the ball.

 

[buddha]

college football has general managers now.  where is the blame for whatever brain trust didnt add to michigan's woeful oline in the offseason?

[gehringer_2]

5 minutes ago, buddha said:

college football has general managers now.  where is the blame for whatever brain trust didnt add to michigan's woeful oline in the offseason?

I wonder if lack of activity on the portal was budget driven. I know people don't believe that a program like M ever worries about money, and big donors not withstanding, Manuel having to beg $$ (16M) from the general fund this year is sort of big deal in terms of historical precedent. The program is not supposed to cost the rest of the school money. That's the bases for maintaining peace between the jocks and the gowns.

[Deleterious]

35 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

I wonder if lack of activity on the portal was budget driven. I know people don't believe that a program like M ever worries about money, and big donors not withstanding, Manuel having to beg $$ (16M) from the general fund this year is sort of big deal in terms of historical precedent. The program is not supposed to cost the rest of the school money. That's the bases for maintaining peace between the jocks and the gowns.

Only having 6 home games this year won't help the budget crunch.  

[buddha]

4 hours ago, gehringer_2 said:

I wonder if lack of activity on the portal was budget driven. I know people don't believe that a program like M ever worries about money, and big donors not withstanding, Manuel having to beg $$ (16M) from the general fund this year is sort of big deal in terms of historical precedent. The program is not supposed to cost the rest of the school money. That's the bases for maintaining peace between the jocks and the gowns.

you've been saying this for years.  just like you keep saying that michigan is going to give up football because the professors dont care about it.

how much did larry ellison give them last year?  michigan football is a money making machine.

[gehringer_2]

1 hour ago, buddha said:

you've been saying this for years.  just like you keep saying that michigan is going to give up football because the professors dont care about it.

how much did larry ellison give them last year?  michigan football is a money making machine.

read the docs. The Athletic department had to get $16M from the general fund to close their deficit. You can believe what you want, that's the budget that was actually approved at the Regent's meeting. Sure they make money, and they burn through it like Beasley with his rent money. With more money now due to the players, they have been thrown out of balance in a way they haven't been in my memory. The Athletic department almost always returns at least some money to the GF or else funds some kind of project for the general student body like IM facilties. That  buys them goodwill North of Hill Street. It's pretty much the same deal at most BiG's. As long as the Athletic dept turns a profit, everyone is happy. When they can't do that, nobody is happy.

 

Edited September 7 by gehringer_2

[romad1]

20 hours ago, MichiganCardinal said:

Underwood has been fine.

Let's not forget that a year ago yesterday he was going against Livonia Stevenson's defense. Less than a year ago he was asked to dissect the perilous defensive schemes of the Wayne Memorial Zebras.

True freshmen generally shouldn't play D1 football at the QB position, even when they are generational players like Underwood is made out to be. I'm pretty confident there is absolutely nothing of note behind him on the depth chart, which is why he is playing anyway.

That being said, I think he is doing just fine under the circumstances. Brent Venables is no joke as a DC, and Underwood treaded water without making a costly mistake. The offense was more than one player away last year, and it looks seriously improved. It's not a 2022 or 2023 offense, but it's definitely better. They weren't going to go from 7-5 back to 12-0 overnight.

quick question: Livonia Stevenson ever been cited in MTF before?  

[RedTeamGo!]

22 hours ago, gehringer_2 said:

and what if Underwood starts doubting that playing in this regime meets his career plans and bolts?

This is the question and I immediately thought of it when he was bickering with Haynes on the sideline (which really isn't a big deal, it is an intense sport and Haynes seems like a hardass) - However, if Underwood truly is getting $4 mil this year, and the whole season looks like it did against Oklahoma with regard to playcalling and WR play, I mean, wouldn't he be kind of crazy to stick around for the next 2 years of his career? Especially with LSU going to be needing a QB next year. 

During the recruiting process Underwood made it very clear he wanted to play down south. He did not want to play at Michigan (or Ohio State). LSU always has NFL WRs running around the field. I am sure they can pay him millions as well. Would anyone be surprised if he bolts? 

Edited September 8 by RedTeamGo!

[gehringer_2]

16 minutes ago, RedTeamGo! said:

This is the question and I immediately thought of it when he was bickering with Haynes on the sideline (which really isn't a big deal, it is an intense sport and Haynes seems like a hardass) - However, if Underwood truly is getting $4 mil this year, and the whole season looks like it did against Oklahoma with regard to playcalling and WR play, I mean, wouldn't he be kind of crazy to stick around for the next 2 years of his career? Especially with LSU going to be needing a QB next year. 

During the recruiting process Underwood made it very clear he wanted to play down south. He did not want to play at Michigan (or Ohio State). LSU always has NFL WRs running around the field. I am sure they can pay him millions as well. Would anyone be surprised if he bolts? 

One game isn't enough to mean much - yet. But it's just to highlight that there are so many wildcards now that didn't exist in the past.

[Deleterious]

I would consider any talented player as a year-to-year rental that you have to convince to stay.  

[Deleterious]

 

[buddha]

3 hours ago, RedTeamGo! said:

This is the question and I immediately thought of it when he was bickering with Haynes on the sideline (which really isn't a big deal, it is an intense sport and Haynes seems like a hardass) - However, if Underwood truly is getting $4 mil this year, and the whole season looks like it did against Oklahoma with regard to playcalling and WR play, I mean, wouldn't he be kind of crazy to stick around for the next 2 years of his career? Especially with LSU going to be needing a QB next year. 

During the recruiting process Underwood made it very clear he wanted to play down south. He did not want to play at Michigan (or Ohio State). LSU always has NFL WRs running around the field. I am sure they can pay him millions as well. Would anyone be surprised if he bolts? 

bryce underwood made it very clear he wanted to get paid.  and he did.

every player is a one year rental.  i'm more concerned about marshall leaving than underwood.

[RedTeamGo!]

1 hour ago, buddha said:

bryce underwood made it very clear he wanted to get paid.  and he did.

every player is a one year rental.  i'm more concerned about marshall leaving than underwood.

Just to be clear, I wouldn't be that "concerned" about it if i I were UM fans. They should be able to get just about anyone they want out of the portal. I agree Underwood was about the money, but, if he starts to think by staying at UM it is going to hurt his future earnings (NFL) and he could still get paid somewhere else, I would be shocked if he wasn't thinking about it. 

I agree about Jordan Marshall. If he doesn't get much run this year, he might bolt for Cincinnati, Kentucky, Louisville, Tennessee, etc. 

Haynes is a legit back, and I get why Michigan took him, but at same time I was surprised. I thought Marshall was primed to burst onto the scene this year. He can't be happy about UM bringing in Haynes. 

[buddha]

51 minutes ago, RedTeamGo! said:

Just to be clear, I wouldn't be that "concerned" about it if i I were UM fans. They should be able to get just about anyone they want out of the portal. I agree Underwood was about the money, but, if he starts to think by staying at UM it is going to hurt his future earnings (NFL) and he could still get paid somewhere else, I would be shocked if he wasn't thinking about it. 

I agree about Jordan Marshall. If he doesn't get much run this year, he might bolt for Cincinnati, Kentucky, Louisville, Tennessee, etc. 

Haynes is a legit back, and I get why Michigan took him, but at same time I was surprised. I thought Marshall was primed to burst onto the scene this year. He can't be happy about UM bringing in Haynes. 

next year michigan has the #1 back in the country coming in, that's why i think he will leave.

[RedTeamGo!]

18 minutes ago, buddha said:

next year michigan has the #1 back in the country coming in, that's why i think he will leave.

That too, ha 

[Mr.TaterSalad]

I can't fully indict Moore for the failures on Saturday and the overall state of the program is in just yet. Do I have a ton of confidence in his coaching? No. Do I think he's a great X's and O's coach? Not really. Do I think he's a good "leader of men" type of coach? That remains to be seen. Do I think he is a good recruiter? At least somewhat I do. I think he has brought in a couple of solid classes now of new recruits. As Buddha said, he needs to work the transfer portal better. He also needs to prove he can develop players and get their full potential out of them. Something Harbaugh turned out to be very good at after a period of time.

I think Moore deserves more time to try and prove he's a better coach than what he's shown from an in-game stand point. I think he deserves more time to show he's got a better system for player development. I'm at least giving him this full season to see what he can do. If it doesn't go off the rails and we can win 8 or 9 games, I'm willing to give him next season too. If it does go off the rails and we're trending into Rich Rod or Harbaugh the Covid year territory, I'm going to pull the plug for someone better.

The fact is that Jim Harbaugh skipped town like a bitch and left the program empty and under investigation. While I'm elated at having won the National Championship under Harbaugh's watch, **** him for how he left the program high and dry in the end. He basically pulled a Pete Carroll at USC, knowing that there were violations committed and penalties coming as a result. He skipped town so as not to have to face any of the punishment. He left that for Moore to deal with.

I don't know if there is any coach in America that could step into the murky situation Moore did with an empty recruiting class, an NCAA investigation, and pending penalties coming down against the program. I mean, maybe a Nick Saban or Urban Meyer could have done better than Moore has and sooner. But it feels like most coaches asked to take over such a situation would have failed, at least in their first year. As a result of that, I'm willing to give Moore additional time to prove himself. Hell, he beat Ohio State sooner into his tenure than Harbaugh did. Sherrone did it in a year, it took Harbaugh 6 years to do it.

[romad1]

5 minutes ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

I can't fully indict Moore for the failures on Saturday and the overall state of the program is in just yet. Do I have a ton of confidence in his coaching? No. Do I think he's a great X's and O's coach? Not really. Do I think he's a good "leader of men" type of coach? That remains to be seen. Do I think he is a good recruiter? At least somewhat I do. I think he has brought in a couple of solid classes now of new recruits. As Buddha said, he needs to work the transfer portal better. He also needs to prove he can develop players and get their full potential out of them. Something Harbaugh turned out to be very good at after a period of time.

I think Moore deserves more time to try and prove he's a better coach than what he's shown from an in-game stand point. I think he deserves more time to show he's got a better system for player development. I'm at least giving him this full season to see what he can do. If it doesn't go off the rails and we can win 8 or 9 games, I'm willing to give him next season too. If it does go off the rails and we're trending into Rich Rod or Harbaugh the Covid year territory, I'm going to pull the plug for someone better.

The fact is that Jim Harbaugh skipped town like a bitch and left the program empty and under investigation. While I'm elated at having won the National Championship under Harbaugh's watch, **** him for how he left the program high and dry in the end. He basically pulled a Pete Carroll at USC, knowing that there were violations committed and penalties coming as a result. He skipped town so as not to have to face any of the punishment. He left that for Moore to deal with.

I don't know if there is any coach in America that could step into the murky situation Moore did with an empty recruiting class, an NCAA investigation, and pending penalties coming down against the program. I mean, maybe a Nick Saban or Urban Meyer could have done better than Moore has and sooner. But it feels like most coaches asked to take over such a situation would have failed, at least in their first year. As a result of that, I'm willing to give Moore additional time to prove himself. Hell, he beat Ohio State sooner into his tenure than Harbaugh did. Sherrone did it in a year, it took Harbaugh 6 years to do it.

I endorse all this including the castigation of how Harbaugh left things. 

[buddha]

1 hour ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

I can't fully indict Moore for the failures on Saturday and the overall state of the program is in just yet. Do I have a ton of confidence in his coaching? No. Do I think he's a great X's and O's coach? Not really. Do I think he's a good "leader of men" type of coach? That remains to be seen. Do I think he is a good recruiter? At least somewhat I do. I think he has brought in a couple of solid classes now of new recruits. As Buddha said, he needs to work the transfer portal better. He also needs to prove he can develop players and get their full potential out of them. Something Harbaugh turned out to be very good at after a period of time.

I think Moore deserves more time to try and prove he's a better coach than what he's shown from an in-game stand point. I think he deserves more time to show he's got a better system for player development. I'm at least giving him this full season to see what he can do. If it doesn't go off the rails and we can win 8 or 9 games, I'm willing to give him next season too. If it does go off the rails and we're trending into Rich Rod or Harbaugh the Covid year territory, I'm going to pull the plug for someone better.

The fact is that Jim Harbaugh skipped town like a bitch and left the program empty and under investigation. While I'm elated at having won the National Championship under Harbaugh's watch, **** him for how he left the program high and dry in the end. He basically pulled a Pete Carroll at USC, knowing that there were violations committed and penalties coming as a result. He skipped town so as not to have to face any of the punishment. He left that for Moore to deal with.

I don't know if there is any coach in America that could step into the murky situation Moore did with an empty recruiting class, an NCAA investigation, and pending penalties coming down against the program. I mean, maybe a Nick Saban or Urban Meyer could have done better than Moore has and sooner. But it feels like most coaches asked to take over such a situation would have failed, at least in their first year. As a result of that, I'm willing to give Moore additional time to prove himself. Hell, he beat Ohio State sooner into his tenure than Harbaugh did. Sherrone did it in a year, it took Harbaugh 6 years to do it.

i think there were better coaches available but this administration was left with little wiggle room thanks to harbaugh.

with that said, a little vision may have gone a long way.  make him the interim coach and conduct a full search the next year.  and there were TONS of coaches who would sign up for michigan.

i'm still mad they missed out on jedd fisch.  he's had some bad luck at washington, but he can coach.

[buddha]

sherrone moore was not ready for the michigan job.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

Well, Underwood tried throwing a pick on his very first throw of the game. Luckily CMU dropped a gifted INT and we ended up scoring on the drive. 

[Deleterious]

Not watching the game, but I see Underwood already has 5 carries for 70 yards.