Rise to the Victors: Honest Whitt

ByTrevor McCue

How the Wolverines got there is a much more complicated conversation.

Welcome to Rise to the Victors, your daily start with Michigan sports on the Blue By 90 network with Trevor McCue and Darnell Porter.

Michigan somehow escaped Western Michigan with a win Saturday night after an offensive performance that raised significantly more questions than anyone expected entering Week 1.

And the biggest questions surround Bryce Underwood.

After an offseason filled with positive reports about Underwood’s development in Jason Beck’s offense, some of the same issues that plagued his freshman season resurfaced once the game went live. Kyle Whittingham acknowledged Monday that Underwood’s performance was disappointing compared with what Michigan saw throughout fall camp, but stressed that this was his first live game in a completely new offense and that the Wolverines remain confident in his development.

So how concerned should Michigan fans actually be?

Trevor and Darnell break down what went wrong with Underwood, why the problems went well beyond the quarterback and what Michigan needs to change before Oklahoma comes to the Big House.

Whittingham actually came away more encouraged by the offensive line after reviewing the film, but Michigan didn’t run the football violently enough, struggled on third down, committed costly penalties and turnovers and allowed Western Michigan to possess the football for more than 40 minutes.

There were positives, too.

Michigan’s defense quietly allowed only 3.3 yards per play, missed just five tackles and didn’t surrender an explosive play. Rod Moore and John Henry Daley made successful returns. And JJ Buchanan emerged as a major weapon in the passing game — including, of course, the catch that somehow allowed Michigan to escape with a victory.

Michigan didn’t play well.

Michigan still won.

Now the Wolverines have one week to figure out what went wrong before Oklahoma arrives in Ann Arbor.

🏈 IN THIS EPISODE:

  • How Michigan somehow escaped Western Michigan
  • How concerned should we be about Bryce Underwood?
  • Whittingham’s message about Michigan’s QB1
  • Underwood’s reads and QB run decisions
  • Michigan adjusting Jason Beck’s offense around Bryce
  • What Whittingham saw from Michigan’s offensive line on film
  • Why the running game struggled
  • Michigan’s sloppy penalties and turnovers
  • The defense was actually pretty good
  • The missing piece for Jay Hill’s defense: turnovers
  • Why escaping at 1-0 still matters
  • What has to change immediately against Oklahoma

Rise to the Victors is your daily start with Michigan sports on the Blue By 90 network.

Join Trevor McCue and Darnell Porter every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday morning at 10:30 a.m. for Michigan Football news, analysis, recruiting, basketball and conversation about everything happening around the Wolverines.

Subscribe to Blue By 90 and turn on notifications so you don’t miss a show.

〽️ Rise to the Victors
🎙️ Trevor McCue & Darnell Porter
📅 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday
⏰ 10:30 a.m.
📺 On the Blue By 90 network

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