Michigan Football: 3 takeaways from the Wolverines loss to Notre Dame

Jim Harbaugh and company were out-coached

Blaming a loss on poor coaching is always easy to do but on Saturday in South Bend, it was way too easy.

The Michigan football coaching staff didn’t prepare this team to play. It really was as simple as that. Not only was the defense not prepared, but the team as a whole made a number of just silly mistakes.

The roughing the passer on Chase Winovich was bone-headed and he wasn’t alone. UM was penalized seven times for 52 yards and many of those came while the Irish built their 21-3 lead.

Notre Dame took advantage of Michigan’s blitz and pressure packages with screens, quarterback runs and deep balls early. UM eventually adjusted, allowing just three points in the second half, but it was too little too late.

The offensive play calling was also way too conservative. One change I would make is having Harbaugh call the plays. Pep Hamilton stinks at it and in that aspect, nothing really has changed.

This offense needs a spark and Harbaugh taking over the play-calling duties might just be it. As I said, all is not lost but Michigan football needs to fix things soon or we will all be in for another 8-5 type of season.