Gameday Calls: Five bold predictions for Michigan vs. Michigan State
Michigan did enough to beat Rutgers, but our calls were way too aggressive for a Michigan offense that couldn't do to Rutgers what many other teams have.
Michigan did enough to beat Rutgers, but our calls were way too aggressive for a Michigan offense that couldn't do to Rutgers what many other teams have.
Michigan State is walking into the Big House with six straight losses, a banged-up quarterback room and a running-back group missing almost all of the production it expected to lean on this season.
Tommy Carr had a complete performance against Rutgers, with the entire Michigan offense running through its quarterback.
Michigan won Saturday, beating Rutgers 28-21 behind an impressive performance from freshman quarterback Tommy Carr. Whether the Wolverines accomplished much beyond improving their record to 5-3 is another question.
Michigan has spent most of this season asking its defense to survive while the offense searches for answers. Rutgers is the matchup where that script should finally flip.
This is not a matchup where Michigan should have to choose between getting the run game going and letting Tommy Carr throw it. It should do both.
Indiana did not prove Carr cannot be the answer. It did prove, as expected, that changing the quarterback was never going to magically solve everything wrong with this offense.
Michigan found a way to beat Penn State after Tommy Carr changed the second half. Indiana is a much tougher test of whether that offensive spark can become a real identity.
Michigan finally found some offensive life against Penn State. It also found it in a way that will be much harder to duplicate Saturday.
There is real reason to be encouraged by Carr.
There is not enough here to give Jason Beck and Whittingham a blank check and declare the offense fixed.