Michigan Football has got one big problem
By Connor Boyer
What is the biggest issue that Michigan football’s struggling offense must fix heading into the Big Ten season?
It has been very uncomfortable the last couple weeks as Michigan’s offense continues to struggle. It took until the 4th quarter of Michigan’s game against Air Force for the offense to score it’s only touchdown. Michigan football still was able to win the game. That’s the good news, Michigan is a team that can find different ways to win games, that’s what great teams do.
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When the offense is struggling, the defense and special teams were able to step up and pull out a tough victory for the Wolverines. However, there is one area where Michigan football has to get better, or this could end up costing them as the competition starts to get tougher.
The red zone offense has been absolutely atrocious. Out of the 10 trips the Wolverines have made to the red zone this year, only once have they been able to come away with a touchdown. Only 1 team in all of the FBS has a worse touchdown percentage when visiting the red zone, that’s out of 130 teams.
What’s the cause of Michigan’s troubles in the red zone?
What’s so alarming is you can’t pin the red zone struggles on one thing or one person. It’s not just continued lack luster play from quarterback Wilton Speight. Although he does have his fair share of blame.
On Michigan’s first drive last Saturday they moved the ball to the Air Force 18 yard line. Speight missed an open Grant Perry which would have given the Wolverines a first down inside the 10 yard line. He would miss another opportunity when Michigan made it back to the red zone in the second quarter. Speight sailed a pass on first down from the Air Force eight over the head of Kekoa Crawford, never even giving his wide out a chance to make the play. To be fair Speight did get hit as he was throwing the ball, but this was yet another drive that ended in a field goal.
It’s not all on Wilton Speight.
The issues Michigan football has experienced finishing off drives are deeper then just one player. UM has not been able to pound in the ball on the ground either. Michigan would find itself deep inside Air Force territory again in the third quarter. They would run the ball five times from within the 30 yard line, the longest run in those five attempts, was two yards.
Even the play calling seems to slow down when Michigan football threatens to score.
Michigan did not even pass the ball to a tight end inside the red zone once on Saturday. Which is very questionable considering the tall, athletic, tight ends Michigan has on its roster. To not even attempt to exploit the mismatch against Air Force’s smaller defensive players leaves you scratching your head. I’m not sure if Jim Harbaugh or Tim Drevno was the one who was calling the offense on Saturday but there definitely needs to be some improvement with the play calling going forward. It could be small changes that could make the difference. For example, when in the red zone try attacking the edge and run the ball outside instead of straight up the middle, which was getting stuffed by Air Force.
How concerned should fans be?
Michigan has to get this problem fixed. Good teams put points on the board and don’t leave them on the field. This is a trait that is pretty uncommon for Harbaugh coached teams. Maybe it’s Michigan playing better than expected competition through the first 3 weeks. Maybe it’s growing pains of a young inexperienced offense. Whatever the case, this is a habit the Wolverines must break.
It’s definitely cause for deep concern, but I am still optimistic. As I mentioned before, Michigan is a strong enough team. Their defense and special teams has bailed them out when the offense hasn’t been clicking on all cylinders.
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But Michigan has to figure out a way to get the ball in the end zone. I expect that they will, and you should to. Jim Harbaugh teams always tend to improve as the year goes on. Let’s just hope that improvement happens sooner rather than later, and let’s hope it happens before it costs Michigan the game.