Michigan Football: Week 3 proves sky isn’t falling yet for Wolverines

Idle week clarifies better understanding of where Michigan football stands moving into the meat of a rugged schedule.

Even though Michigan football had a much-needed off week, valuable lessons were learned before its showdown in Madison. Division rivals endured costly losses, while others performed at different ends of the spectrum respectively.

The results opened countless eyes as to what the Wolverines can accomplish if they realize their absurd potential that has not shown up in the two victories of the early season.

However, the heralded speed in space offense for Josh Gattis’s system appears to be a total bust thus far. With arguably the nation’s top receiving core, they haven’t been finding the holes in space that fuels Gattis’s scheme. Up front the lineman are having a hard time opening consistent gaps for backs to run through. Throw in the erratic play of Shea Patterson, and that spells a recipe for disaster for a Badger club that has to be licking its chops to square off with Michigan.

All is not as grim as it sounds though. Quick fixes can quell those bad misfortunes enough to find wins in otherwise underwhelming performances. Calling more crossing routes, wideout bubble screens, and basically dinking and dunking their way down the field can loosen up defenses for seemingly better production of the offense. It would be quite wise for the coaches to even study Ohio State’s offense and pick the brains of their rival to seek some solutions that can help the offense ease the worries of a work in progress.

Traveling for the first road test of the year, Michigan is anticipating good fortunes within the program as well. Two of its premier offensive leaders are expected back against a formidable Wisconsin foe.

Donovan Peoples-Jones and Jon Runyan look primed to return in a more than welcomed sight for everyone involved with Michigan football. Both starters can’t fix all of the issues, but at full force, the maize and blue should find the rhythm it has been searching for sooner rather than later.

Remember, Michigan was 1-1 at this point in 2018 and reeled off ten straight. At 2-0 and rolling into Madison, the Wolverines still have everything in front of them. It is without a doubt not going to be a sight for the soft-minded on Saturday.

If Michigan can somehow conquer the Badgers for the first time on the road since 2001,  things can certainly turn in the right direction. For that to happen though, Harbaugh and company must execute at their best in every facet of the outing.

With two weeks to prepare a win at any cost must be the thought process. Shutting down the naysayers would be icing on the cake. As ugly as the two wins have been, things can be redeemed in the blink of an eye. Week three of the schedule proved that to us all, while waiting for the unknown that beckons the current period onwards.