Michigan plays well and loses. Michigan plays poorly and loses. At this point, it feels like the Wolverines are stuck between a rock and a hard place, and running back/captain Jordan Marshall can't seem to figure out where the disconnect is.
"I’m confident in saying that I think we’re a better team than both of the past teams we played, but we have not performed that way. And for me, I think the scary thing is that I don’t know how to respond because I’m so used to having all the answers, and it just doesn’t … these things that we’re doing don’t show up at practice," Marshall said.
"Everybody has to look at their self in the mirror, and I’ve said this more than once, but we have to be more connected. I don’t know. We have to be more connected outside the building, in the building. It has to all come together, and we’re playing as parts right now."
It seems like there are a lot of disconnects for the Wolverines, from not bringing reps from practice into games to not even playing together as a team. It is going to be hard for Michigan to come back from a loss like this, even with the bye week up next.
Michigan has a lot of problems and not a lot of answers
It feels hard to know where to begin when it comes to Michigan's problems. I know where the problem doesn't lie, and that is with the defense. Michigan's defense has had its problems with undisciplined penalties, sure, but Jay Hill's unit is the real reason the Wolverines were still in that game until the end.
Twice, Michigan turned the ball over in their own territory thanks to an interception from Bryce Underwood and a muffed punt from Andrew Marsh. On both of those following drives from Minnesota, the Wolverines' defense forced field goals out of the Golden Gophers, keeping Michigan well within reach.
It was the offense that could not get anything going in either the passing game or the run game. When the offense finishes with a total of 180 yards and only one touchdown, you know it has been a rough game.
Underwood looked uncomfortable in the pocket, especially when the Minnesota defensive line kept him contained and forced him to throw the ball. His passes were all over the place, with a good mix of overthrows and even a few underthrown passes. There is also the problem of struggling to throw the ball to someone not named JJ Buchanan or Marsh, making this pass game very one-dimensional.
The run game struggled due to the poor play of the offensive line. Michigan's offensive line has been a key problem so far this season due to injuries and never getting a chance to fully gel with the rotation of guys coming in and out.
Even head coach Kyle Whittingham admitted to the Wolverines having a lot of problems and not a lot of answers. Hopefully, some issues can be fixed during the bye week because Michigan still has Indiana, Oregon, and Ohio State on the schedule this season.
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