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Sherrone Moore struggles to show understanding for Michigan’s best players

Vaseline September 14, 2024

Sherrone Moore brought his quarterback into Michigan Stadium on Saturday and his Michigan football team had no insurmountable lead en route to a 28-18 victory.

Oh, the Wolverines had a relatively easy time against Arkansas State when Alex Orji stepped in for starting forward Davis Warren.

Still, a 21-3 lead in the third quarter isn’t exactly a point at which most coaches would feel comfortable removing their starter. Unless the starter has thrown three interceptions.

Moore didn’t want to blame Warren for his two interceptions last week against Texas, telling reporters after the game that the receivers were supposed to intercept the ball.

Hey, the protect the quarterback ethos makes sense, especially when the QB is a first-time starter and the person taking charge of defense is a first-time head coach.

However, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to protect Warren, especially after UM’s disappointing win over Arkansas State, in which Warren had three more interceptions.

“I just can’t take it,” Moore said after the game. “(Warren) put the ball in jeopardy way too many times. So, we made a change. We’ll continue to (evaluate it in) practice and go from there.”

Was Moore surprised that the quarterback he picked struggled?

“Yeah, I was surprised,” he said. “But it’s football, these things happen.”

Whatever Moore saw in Warren in summer camp hasn’t quite translated to this fall’s games. It’s not all on Warren, that’s for sure. But this team and this offense don’t stand a chance if they’re going to lose the ball against a team that can match their strength on the line.

Moore had no choice against the Red Wolves on Saturday. And as for making the right choice for the future?

We’ll see.

It doesn’t help that the best running back is coming off the bench, so to speak. Kalel Mullings has looked better than the starter, Donovan Edwards, for three weeks.

The same can’t be said for Orji, at least not yet. But then again, he hasn’t been given the same chance as Mullings.

What can be said is that Warren has a turnover problem. His three picks on Saturday gave him six on the season in three games. That is clearly not sustainable.

Of his three against Arkansas State, only one wasn’t his fault, or at least not entirely his fault.

On first-and-10 late in the second quarter, Warren went back, felt a little pressure and threw to his right. A defender brushed his arm. The ball wobbled as it came out. Trevian Thomas went low to pick up the swinging pass.

But the other two?

The first came in the first quarter, when Davis sensed the rush and threw it down the left sideline without stepping into his throw. The ball sat upright, a kite dancing in the wind, and as it fluttered down, Charles Willekes had the easiest interception of his life.

He ran the ball back 30 yards, to UM’s 15-yard line. Only a heads-up hustle play by Max Bredeson saved the touchdown. Not that Arkansas State had much of a chance, anyway.

The Red Wolves were outmatched on both sides of the line of scrimmage. They couldn’t run. They couldn’t protect their quarterback — who could run — and they had trouble moving the ball.

And what about the third interception?

Warren threw it high in panic. Semaj Morgan had no chance. Arkansas State’s Dontay Jones, waiting far behind Morgan, happily caught the gift.

The crowd booed.

And now about the boos: Warren at least earned it this time, unlike the boos he heard in the season opener two weeks ago.

Arkansas State has a mediocre defense, at best. And given its poor decision (that first pick) and its poor throwing (the third pick) and its generally sputtering passing offense, which hasn’t shown much against the two teams on the schedule with decent talent in the trenches (Fresno State and Texas)… Naturally He would be booed.

Yes, the running game started, but You could have run through a few holes. Well, maybe not Youbut you get the idea. So it would be crazy to make much of a fuss about the sudden explosion on the ground, which means we still don’t know exactly who these Wolverines are.

UM ran for 301 yards against Arkansas State. Mullings had 153; Edwards had 82. Edwards, for what it’s worth, got the start again. And while he got going midway through the first half, he struggled to start the game.

Mullings, meanwhile, came in and quickly hit a 30-yard touchdown run on a nifty cut and power move to the right side. He broke a few tackles to get into open space. His ability to change direction and his physical strength seem like the combination the Wolverines would want in their No. 1 back. Still, Moore seems committed to starting Edwards.

Stubbornness? Loyalty?

Probably both. Ultimately, the problem is perception, and right now Moore is struggling to show that he has a feel for who the best players on his team are. Yes, it’s hard, and we don’t have access to training, and Moore is nine months into his first head coaching job.

Still, Mullings is clearly more productive than Edwards.

REINER SABIN: Michigan corrects run game against Arkansas State, but fundamental questions remain

And Warren? Well, Orji didn’t start dropping dimes all over Michigan Stadium when he came into the game. But the team moved the ball, at least on his first drive.

It started with a handoff to Mullings, followed by four more. On the sixth play of the drive, Orji took off on a designed run, gaining 13 yards. He then handed off to Mullings two more times. Finally, Orji threw a first-time swing pass to Hogan Hansen from the Arkansas State 9-yard line. The tight end scored.

The crowd began chanting his name. And then stopped as the next two drives ended in punts. Inconsistent, huh?

Well, of course. Plus, they had the same question as everyone else watching:

Will Orji be able to lead runs against better defenses?

No. 11 USC arrives next Saturday and should help answer that question. To beat the Trojans, Moore will have to figure out who should be in charge of his huddle and then help whoever is show more. A lot more.

Let’s see if he can do that.

Contact Shawn Windsor: [email protected]. Follow him @shawnwindsor.