Michigan Football Searching for Offensive Identity

No. 24 Michigan football headed into the bye week with an apparent newfound starting quarterback in Jack Tuttle. The Wolverines have a top 40 running game in the country this season, but they have yet to establish themselves through the air. It seems the bye week gave Michigan a sense of improvement. 

“I think we’re really finding our identity,” fullback/tight end Max Bredeson, a team captain, said Tuesday night after practice. “The past week has been great practices, and the bye week has been a help with that, especially (Tuesday). You could feel a great energy, a collective knowledge of who we are and what we’re going to be.”

Aside from tight end Colston Loveland, running back Kalel Mullings has been the only skill position player to stand out on offense this season. Mullings is ranked 23rd in the country with 589 rushing yards, and he’s gotten in the endzone six times. Tuttle gives Michigan some hope in the passing game, but the receivers have been a non-factor to this point. Mullings said the Washington game put some of the offense’s issues at the forefront. 

“The second half of the Washington game, we were able to move the ball for a little bit but we still need to find ways to continue to be consistent,” Mullings said Tuesday. “That’s one of our biggest problems, is just sustaining drives. We were able to do that for spurts but when push came to shove, there was still some stagnant time. So still attacking it, still trying to improve that in order to be the best we can be.”

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What Does Michigan Want to be on Offense?

Michigan scored on three straight drives after Tuttle went behind center, including the opening drive of the second half, but failed to keep its momentum. Mullings said the Wolverine offense is lacking consistency. 

“I feel like it’s winning first and second down,” Mullings said when asked to define what he meant by consistency. “I feel like if we can get to 3rd-and-short, knowing Coach (Sherrone) Moore, we’ll probably go for it on fourth if we don’t get it. As long as we can just find ways to win first and second down and get to that 3rd-and-short, then we’ll be able to sustain drives.”

Michigan is converting 39% of its third downs this season, which is only about four percentage points lower than where it finished last year. A lack of a passing attack can certainly hinder success on third down, especially on third-and-long. Mullings said offensive balance would help everyone. 

“A huge part of our identity is running the ball,” Mullings said. “But football is football, (and) we got to be able to do everything. And as backs, we just look to do our jobs. And we can’t help what defense we’re playing against. We’re just trying to do the best we can. But finding more consistency through throwing the ball will definitely pay off in the throwing game, and in the run game, as well.”

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