Kyle Whittingham said earlier this week he felt like Michigan football was 0-4.
After an even worse loss on Saturday, in which the Wolverines literally gave the game to Minnesota, you wonder how Whittingham will feel now.
This team might as well be 0-5 because 0-2 in the Big Ten after losses to Iowa and Minnesota is about as bad as it gets, especially the way it happened.
Iowa dominated the fourth quarter. Minnesota dominated the entire second half.
Michigan muffed a punt, threw two interceptions, turned it over on downs, and punted. It didn't score at all in the second half. It also didn't score after blocking a punt in Minnesota territory. Bryce Underwood missed open receivers. His linemen didn't block. Michigan couldn't run the ball.
It was a disaster. Here are three instant takeaways from an ugly 20-14 loss for Michigan football.
Kyle Whittingham looks like a mistake
Things could get better. I don't see how they could be any worse, but this is a poorly coached team. Michigan only committed six penalties, but the Wolverines committed three huge turnovers.
Andrew Marsh should never have tried to field the punt on the move. The defense held. It held after the first Bryce Underwood interception, before Minnesota eventually broke through for six.
Michigan started poorly, and it's hard not to blame the coaches. The offensive line is sloppy. The play calls don't make any sense. Bryce Underwood looked like he regressed after playing his best game last week.
We are only six games into the Kyle Whittingham era, but it hire feels like a mistake. This feels like one of the worst-coached Michigan squads we have ever seen.
The offensive line is a major problem
Everyone will point to Underwood having a bad game, which he did. Bryce missed Marsh for a touchdown when he was wide open. He didn't even throw him the ball.
However, part of the problem was that the protection was terrible. Underwood should have made better decisions. Yet, on the second interception, it appeared it was either some sort of run-pass option or the tight end was supposed to come across the formation to block an EDGE.
Either way, it was a disaster. The block was whiffed cause Jaxon Howard got upfield so fast. He was able to hit Underwood's arm, leading to the second interception.
Minnesota took the lead after that and never gave it back. PJ Fleck didn't even go for two to push the lead to seven. That's how confident he was that Michigan couldn't score a touchdown.
Michigan ran the ball 28 times for 79 yards. That's embarrassing. Yet, when you call the same run play that repeatedly loses yards and wastes the talents of your best players, what do you expect?
Bryce Underwood takes a step back
After his best game, Underwood might have played his worst. He was 10 of 21 for 101 yards with two interceptions. He was sacked three times and rushed for just 20 yards.
Underwood really struggled whenever he was pressured. He overthrew open receivers at times. Other times, he didn't even throw when they were wide open.
It was one game, but there were chances for him to make plays to win the game. He just didn't do it.
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