After three ugly games for the Michigan football offense, head coach Sherrone Moore finally announced a change at quarterback.
The Wolverines are going with Alex Orji against USC. Hopefully, it goes better than it did for Davis Warren, who won the job at the end of the fall camp but couldn't perform on the big stage.
Warren threw more interceptions in 2.5 games than J.J. McCarthy did all last season and if there is one thing we know about this Michigan football offense, it's not good enough to overcome mistakes.
The Wolverines have to take care of the ball and they have to be able to run it. That's why Orji makes the most sense and here are three keys to finding success on offense with him at quarterback.
The O-line needs to improve
The coaching staff has refused to make any changes to the starting offensive line even though Greg Crippen clearly came in and made an impact against Arkansas State at center. Dom Giudice graded out higher according to Moore. The competition will continue he said, but it doesn't sound like there will be any changes to the offensive line this week.
Regardless of who plays, the production needs to improve. It was better against Arkansas State but they have one of the worst run defenses in college football.
The true test will come on Saturday against USC. If Giudice and Evan Link continue to struggle, the staff has to look at other options. At least at center. Maybe Link really is the best they have at right tackle right now, which is troubling.
But either way, the offensive line needs to start controlling the line of scrimmage again or it's hard to see this offense finding any semblance of success.
Throw the ball to the backs
I have been pleading with Michigan football to feature Donovan Edwards in the passing game for three years. At this point, it feels like it won't happen even though outside of Colston Loveland, he's the best pass-catching threat on this team.
Just line him up wide a take a shot. Put him in the slot. At least force the defense to react. However, if this offense is going to succeed with Orji at quarterback, Edwards, Kalel Mullings, and Max Bredeson all need to get involved.
Mullings has shown that he can be a weapon in the passing game too, he just needs more opportunities, like Edwards. Bredeson has improved as a receiver and most teams think of him as a blocker, so it feels like there are chances to get creative and get easy completions.
That's what Orji needs -- easy completions to players who can do something after the catch. Colston Loveland might be out this week, but Marlin Klein flashed last week. Tyler Morris and Semaj Morgan are also good underneath receivers.
The staff just needs to get creative and to me, that means finally getting the running backs involved.
Alex Orji needs to make good decisions
Davis Warren is on the bench now mostly for one reason: Poor decision-making. If Warren just takes a sack in the first quarter against Arkansas State, Michigan football can live to see another down.
Instead, Warren threw off his back foot and gave the Red Wolves one of the easiest interceptions you'll ever see. It was inexcusable. The third interception was a bad throw and a bad decision.
Warren has a decent arm, but this Michigan offense isn't loaded with playmakers. He was taking too many risks and not being sound in his decision-making.
For Orji, it will be even more important. He'll have to make plenty of zone-read decisions, and also decisions throwing the footbal. He needs to make the right decision -- more often than not.
The right read. The right throw and doing it over and over again. That's how Orji can keep this job, but if the decision-making isn't there, Michigan football might be up a creek without a paddle.