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Michigan practice plans don't translate into games

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Michigan football is on track for its worst season record since 5-7 in 2014 (not counting the 2-4 mark in the six-game 2020 season).

The 2014 season was, of course, coach Brady Hoke's final year before Jim Harbaugh was hired to revitalize the program.

Head coach Sherrone Moore acknowledged Monday that there is a gap between what happens during the week and Saturday's performance, after another debacle last week when Michigan (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) had a bye week had behind but managed to score its fewest points in a decade in a 21-7 loss to Illinois.

“I feel like we protect it a lot better in practice and it just doesn’t translate to the game,” Moore said. “We have to figure out as coaches and as a team how to translate all of these things into a game. There are things you do in practice that need to be replicated in the game.

“For us as coaches, it’s about simplifying things and doing less so we can get better at those things, especially offensively. We will work towards that.”

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According to players like wide receiver Tyler Morris, the staff has decided to “simplify” things for the offense moving forward. Speaking Wednesday morning on WXYT-FM (97.1), Moore addressed several topics, including revenue issues.

Once again, Moore called it “the No. 1 focus” for the team. Michigan now enters its game against Michigan State (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) as just a 3½-point favorite; Over the summer, some sportsbooks had Michigan up by 24 points, and on Sunday the prediction came out that Michigan had the advantage by 6½ points.

MSU earned an impressive 32-20 win over Iowa, while UM suffered consecutive losses for the first time since 2020. Worse than the loss was the fact that after a week off, UM didn't seem any more cohesive than before the break.

Especially in attack.

“The most important thing we have to do is keep it simple,” Moore said. “Not too easy when the defense knows everything, but we keep it simple so our guys can execute a plan and let these guys compete, let these guys go out there and show (their skills) and take care of the football.”

The best way to do that? Honestly, probably stop throwing the ball so much.

UM has had little success with its quarterback carousel this year, from senior Davis Warren, who had two touchdowns and six interceptions, to junior Alex Orji, who didn't complete a pass of more than 16 yards in three starts, to the seventh. The QB of the Year, Jack Tuttle, has committed four turnovers in his last five quarters and has more interceptions (seven) than touchdowns (six) in his career.

It cannot be overstated how important a consistent rushing attack is for UM. Not only is Kalel Mullings, who has 110 carries for 676 yards and seven scores, the team's best prospect, but there is evidence that running the ball is extremely important in this rivalry game.

The team with the most rushing yards is 48-6 in the last 54 meetings between UM and MSU.

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“It will definitely be a big factor in the game,” Moore said Wednesday. “I think we’re ready to lean into that.”

Statistically, the Wolverines have a slight edge with the No. 45 rushing attack (180.3 yards per game) and the No. 9 run defense (92.1 yards per game). MSU is No. 53 in run stopping (131.1) and No. 90 in rushing (133.3), but the Spartans put together their best rushing performance of the year as they rushed for 212 yards on 40 carries against a strong Front from Iowa made it.

“On offense, they want to run the ball and get action out of it,” Moore said of MSU coach Jonathan Smith’s offensive philosophy. “Do things that complement the running game … then solid defense, stay in control and play with great fundamentals.”

While the run is important, as UM discovered in 2024, the Wolverines can't be completely one-dimensional. That's been a major theme this year, and program participants admit the difficulties are confusing.

Morris, who was dubbed the “alpha” of the wide receiving corps by position coach Ron Bellamy during the offseason, has just eight catches for 73 yards. Leading wideout Semaj Morgan has 17 catches for a meager 106 yards (6.2 yards per catch).

It's different than what reportedly happened throughout offseason practice at Al Glick Fieldhouse, when offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell told ESPN he didn't want to just be a downhill run team, but instead: “My job as a coordinator is to be a downhill run team.” , (skill players) of football because they will provide the explosiveness.

Instead, tight end Colston Loveland (344 yards) has more receiving yards than every wideout combined.

“There are times when we look really good in practice and we just need to carry that over into the game even more,” Morris said Tuesday. “We mess up little details in practice all week that we're good at. I think that just comes from calming down a little bit during games and just going out there and executing.”

OPINION: Michigan's major regression is unacceptable. Sherrone Moore is responsible

Moore said twice this week that he would not take away the rules of the game from Campbell, who made a bird's eye move into the box last Saturday trying to bring “some juice” to the sideline. It didn't work, but that doesn't mean it's time to give up in Ann Arbor.

With MSU coming to town for their annual rivalry, this is a perfect opportunity to regroup and find a way to get the talent moving from State Street to the Stadium and Main.

“We're 4-3, there's no sugarcoating, we didn't play well enough to be where we want to be,” Moore said. “But the best part is you have the opportunity to play your in-state rival, a game that means everything.”

Make “Hail, Yes!” your favorite Michigan Wolverines podcast. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify).

Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @RealTonyGarcia.

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