4 burning questions as Texas dominates Michigan: Where do Wolverines go from here at quarterback?
For the second season in a row, No. 3 Texas went on the street in nonconference play and beat a top-10 group. Final yr, it was an enormous upset over Alabama. This time, the Longhorns bullied the reigning nationwide champions, No. 10 Michigan, in a 31-12 win.
Michigan allowed 24 factors within the first half, which equals the excessive of what they surrendered in any single sport final yr. However the issues for the Wolverines do not begin on that aspect of the ball. As a substitute, Michigan’s QB scenario, puzzling going into the week, appears dire.
Let’s dive into Michigan’s QB quandary, Quinn Ewers’ assertion and rather more in our massive questions shifting out of the largest sport from Week 2.
1. How did Michigan get right here at QB, the place does it go from right here?
The switch portal period is one in all alternative for elite packages. Do not have a confirmed starter at a place? Seize one out of the portal. It occurs extra typically at quarterback than anyplace else as greater than 60% of Week 1 starters for Energy 4 groups have been switch QBs.
That is why it is so puzzling to see Michigan’s scenario underneath heart. Davis Warren, whose private story is unimaginable, is a one-time walk-on. The quarterback he beat out, Alex Orji, is a former three-star recruit who had one profession go going into 2024.
So, why did not Michigan seize a portal quarterback?
Jim Harbaugh’s back-and-forth flirtation with the NFL did not assist. By the point he took the Chargers job on Jan. 24, 2024, the entire high quarterbacks from the winter window have been off the board. Michigan will clearly take its nationwide championship, however Harbaugh’s indecision value them within the winter. The spring portal window was there, too, however solely one of many high 25 QBs in 247Sports’ switch rankings (Jaden Rashada, Demaricus Davis) transferred within the spring; they’d a mixed two begins upon entry to the portal.
Thus, Michigan rolled with what it had. There was numerous optimism in this system that Orji, one of many actually elite athletes at his place within the sport, would make sufficient progress and snatch the job. However he by no means did. The truth is, he regressed within the latter a part of fall camp, which allowed Warren to grab the job.
It didn’t go effectively for Warren towards Texas with the vast majority of his manufacturing coming in rubbish time: 22-for-33, 204 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
Which ends up in a very powerful query of Michigan’s season: The place the heck does it go from right here at quarterback? There are not any straightforward solutions. Michigan lacks elite weapons at broad receiver, and its offensive line is not what it was throughout its three-year run to the Faculty Soccer Playoff. Thus, a pocket passer like Warren is not precisely in an advantageous place. It would be large if Michigan may run a system constructed across the run and make the most of Orji’s legs, however there’s clearly no belief from the employees with what Orji brings to the desk as a passer.
Possibly the reply is skilled backup Jack Tuttle. However he is handled an damage that is largely stored him out of this QB race. Maybe Michigan turns towards true freshman Jadyn Davis, the No. 9 QB within the 2024 class, but that appears like throwing within the white flag for the season.
Michigan wants a spark underneath heart. Sadly for the Wolverines, it looks like they missed their window to seek out one in 2024.
2. What’s Michigan’s celling this yr?
In all probability fancy Iowa.
That is stated as a joke however probably not meant as a slight. Iowa’s received eight video games or extra in eight of the final 9 seasons regardless of some disastrous offensive manufacturing. Iowa wins knife fights with elite protection and particular groups. That appears prefer it must be the system for Michigan as its offense has common simply 4.7 yards per play via two video games, a complete that may have ranked 124th nationally within the FBS final season.
The rating towards Texas won’t point out it, however Michigan’s protection is superb. The Longhorns, with their group pace, could make anybody look foolish. But there stay future draft picks scattered throughout the Michigan defensive beginning 11.
The system is easy: Ball management, a robust run sport and a smothering protection.
As for what that can get Michigan in 2024 — that continues to be to be seen. A somewhat dynamic USC offense is coming to Ann Arbor, Michigan, in two weeks and Michigan nonetheless has remaining video games towards each Oregon and Ohio State. Plus, with out something to lean offensively, the traditional Large Ten video games that Michigan simply ate up within the win column lately are rather more attempting.
Proper now, the very best case situation for Michigan looks like 9 wins. Offenses that appear to be this not often exceed that complete.
3. Is Quinn Ewers the very best QB within the nation?
He is actually probably the most clutch when you take a look at his manufacturing the final two seasons.
The truth is, listed here are Ewers’ stats towards high 10 competitors (three video games towards Alabama, Washington, Michigan) because the starting of the 2023 marketing campaign: 72-for-117, 913 yards and 7 TDs with no interceptions. None of these video games have been at dwelling, by the way in which. That is ELITE manufacturing on the largest potential stage.
Few quarterbacks, if any, can match Ewers’ pure skill. He was the No. 1 total QB within the 2021 class – forward of Caleb Williams – and has had generational prospect hype since highschool. After some modifications following the 2022 season – mechanical, mechanics, understanding the notion of his hair – Ewers is beginning to appear to be the kind of passer everybody as soon as believed he could possibly be.
Plus, it isn’t like there are any sure-fire choices forward of him. Carson Beck, Shedeur Sanders, Cam Ward and some others have an argument right here. However this not like final yr when Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels or Michael Penix have been slam-dunk solutions as elite, NFL-bound QBs.
Ewers, who grew up rooting for Texas, can have each alternative to stake his declare as QB1 because the season goes alongside. However I really feel fairly snug placing him at No. 1 for now.
He is been flawless on the largest potential stage. That is all you ask of a high-level QB.
4. Is Texas’ o-line the very best within the nation?
After working again Jaydon Blue went down briefly within the first half with an damage, Texas discovered itself right down to its third- and fourth-string working backs from the beginning of fall camp. It did not matter. The Longhorns averaged 4 yards per carry towards arguably the very best line of defense in faculty soccer, constructing a 24-3 lead within the first half.
Did I point out Texas didn’t permit a sack?
Steve Sarkisian is already on the quick listing of greatest play-callers within the nation. Ewers, as mentioned above, is likely to be the very best QB. Texas’ broad receiver room, which encompasses a pair of beginning receivers who each sub 10.7 seconds within the 100 meters (and there are a number of different speedsters behind them), is electrical. However that basically would not matter if offensive line struggles. Good factor Texas’ beginning o-line is elite.
Left deal with Kelvin Banks shall be a first-round draft decide come 2025. Texas left guard Hayden Connor has made 28 profession begins. Texas beginning heart Jake Majors has 42 profession begins. Texas proper guard DJ Campbell is a former five-star recruit and has 15 profession begins. The one actual weak point for the unit is true deal with Cameron Williams, who had a number of massive penalties within the first half. However he is additionally somebody the Longhorns employees thinks can emerge as a high-round draft decide.
That unit owned Michigan up entrance. Bear in mind, this Wolverines line of defense options two of the very best DTs within the nation, and Texas received the road scrimmage handily.
If Texas’ o-line performs like this all yr, they will be brutally tough to take care of. Ewers and his weapons is likely to be Texas a nationwide championship ceiling, however the o-line ensures the Longhorns have a championship-worthy ground.