Michigan football shouldn’t have any problems beating Bowling Green on Saturday but here are three things that the Wolverines need to improve.
The final non-conference game of the regular season shouldn’t be a challenge for Michigan football as the Wolverines enter Saturday’s game as a 40.5-point favorite.
Michigan has failed to cover the spread in the last two weeks, but the Wolverines also called off the dogs and didn’t play their starters in the fourth quarter.
The point is, they could have covered if that was a priority. Obviously, the priority is winning games and getting better. Big Ten games start next week and Rutgers isn’t looking like a pushover at 2-0.
While Michigan football has been really solid during the first two weeks — the starting defense hasn’t allowed a point and J.J. McCarthy leads college football in completion percentage — there are still things that need to improve and here are three I’m focused on against Bowling Green.
Short-yardage/red-zone situations
These things tend to go hand-in-hand but so far in 2023, the Wolverines are 0-for-2 on fourth-down conversions. We all remember how that was an issue in the TCU game and how red-zone failures essentially cost Michigan a shot to play for the national championship.
That needs to be fixed. The Wolverines are scoring on 80 percent of their red-zone opportunities, but they need to get more touchdowns against good teams, meaning they need to execute against teams like Bowling Green.
Fourth-and-short playcalling has maybe been too predictable. I’d like to see McCarthy get on the move with a run-pass option. We’ll see if a short-yardage scenario comes up for the first-team offense, but I want to see better execution if it does.
Taking away the football
Hitting and sacking the quarterback is certainly important. However, great defenses are usually great at forcing turnovers, and through two games, Michigan football has been a little lackluster in that department with just one takeaway.
Is it something to worry about? Not yet. It’s too soon at this point. But it would be nice to see the Wolverines get a couple of turnovers.
Of course, when guys like Rod Moore, Will Johnson, and Makari Paige — three impact defenders aren’t playing — it can have an impact on things. Johnson and Moore combined for eight interceptions last season and there’s reason to believe that number could be 10 in 2023.
But they have to get on the field. Johnson and Paige have practiced this week. Moore is still working his way back. Getting those guys back in the lineup will help, but regardless this defense is too good to have one takeaway in two games.
The running game
Honestly, I’m not too concerned about the running game at this point in the season. Defenses have loaded up to stop it and Michigan has been content to pass the ball because McCarthy is a superstar and has plenty of weapons.
Yet, Bowling Green doesn’t have a great run defense. ECU was at least a top-20 run defense from last season, so it made more sense.
UNLV surrendered more yards but didn’t allow an explosive run to Blake Corum or Donovan Edwards. Edwards still doesn’t have a 20-yard-plus run this season.
The offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage more and it takes time for that group to gel, especially with two new starters and Karsen Barnhart playing at a new position.
But, Bowling Green has allowed 4.3 yards per attempt and 160 yards per game on the ground so far this season. Michigan is averaging 4.7 yards per attempt, which has been classified as “struggling.”
I won’t go that far. Yet, Donovan Edwards is only getting 2.6 yards per attempt and I’d love to see that number improve this Saturday night at the Big House.