Post-spring thoughts on Michigan football quarterbacks: Why Alex Orji is the best option

Recently we have released Michigan football depth chart projections for the offense and defense heading into the 2024 season.

That opening game against Fresno State is getting closer and closer. We are a little over three months away and the Wolverines have just finished adding to their roster. At least they are mostly done as another defensive tackle or offensive lineman could still be possible.

There won’t be any new quarterbacks though. Michigan football will head into the season with the five guys it brought into spring ball: Alex Orji, Jack Tuttle, Davis Warren, Jayden Denegal, and Jadyn Davis.

Tuttle was out during the spring with an injury. Warren and Orji were the most productive — Orji generated the most buzz during spring practice. Warren had the most productive spring game. However, there wasn’t a pass rush and in the second half, he did a lot of his work against backups.

Overreacting to a spring game is one of the worst things you can do. Neither quarterback had the full complement of weapons or even a cohesive offensive line. Orji, who is a true dual threat, didn’t have a single designed run called, so it wasn’t a fair showcase of his ability.

But looking ahead to the fall, Orji makes the most sense and we’ll explain why in our post-spring thoughts on Michigan fooball quarterbacks.

Alexi Orji is the best option for Michigan football at quarterback

Warren and Tuttle are nice options. But their ceiling is probably Cade McNamara of 2021. If they could play like that, Michigan would take it. Tuttle is the closest thing in my opinion. He was a former four-star quarterback coming out of high school. He’s got arm talent and was impressive last season in limited attempts.

Yet, the problem with Warren and Tuttle is they aren’t a threat in the running game. J.J. McCarthy was, at least when he was healthy, and still, teams loaded the box with eight guys.

Michigan still ran into a loaded box over and over again. That’s why the Wolverines actually ranked third in the Big Ten in rushing yards. It’s also why anyone who says Michigan football relied on the running game, didn’t actually watch Michigan last season.

The running game got the Wolverines into plenty of tough spots early in the season. McCarthy often bailed out Michigan on third-and-long. That won’t happen this year with Warren and Tuttle. Even if they are successful, they are going to be game managers more than playmakers.

And that’s ok. McNamara wasn’t special either — look at his play last season with Iowa — and Michigan football won a Big Ten championship with him.

However, he was good enough to make teams pay for loading the box. That’s what Michigan needs out of the quarterback this season. Orji has a lot to prove as a passer, but also as a runner, he will have to be accounted for in a way McCarthy didn’t have to last season.

Alex Orji brings something no one else does

Michigan ran the zone read with McCarthy but there were plenty of times where it felt like he wouldn’t keep it, regardless of the read. The Wolverines didn’t want to expose him to hits and that was a sound strategy.

It’s also why if Orji runs a lot, another quarterback will be needed because it will be a grind in the Big Ten. But forcing teams to defend a true running quarterback isn’t something this offense has done over the past few seasons. At least not regularly.

We have seen glimpses of it in the past with McCarthy. But this season, the QB run game should be unleashed. It can take some pressure off the passing game, while giving the offense more favorable numbers when opponents stack the box.

Teams are going to stack the box and without Orji to keep some defenders honest, it could be tough sledding for the running game this season, which will make life even more difficult for Warren or Tuttle if they end up starting.

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