Michigan Football: 3 takeaways from a concerning win over Arkansas State

Michigan's defense bailed out Arkansas State's offense early on third and long on the opening series, but the Red Wolves doinked a field goal off of the uprights and took the ball over on downs. Then Michigan's run game got humming with a 30-yard touchdown run by Kalel Mullings. He found the endzone twice and established a new career high for his resume with 150-plus yards on the ground.

Late in the opening stanza, Davis Warren threw the first of his three interceptions on the afternoon. For the record books he only had three passes that were not converted to his pass catchers because they were all to the other team. The Wolverines went back to the run game and Donovan Edwards found paydirt for his only rushing score on the day. Michigan football hit the locker room up by three scores.

In the third period, Colston Loveland caught a pass and landed awkwardly on his arm/shoulder. He never returned to the lineup after that. It was the second time landing on it and he was in street clothes on the sidelines afterwards. His status for USC is unknown, just like the starting quarterback position for next Saturday.

Alex Orji entered the contest and drove 80 yards for another score, but is was basically all runs. He aired it out one play for Frederick Moore and it was overthrown. Jake Butt blamed Moore on the broadcast. The Red Wolves scored two late touchdowns on the backups and cut the deficit to 10. It was a sour ending for Michigan's second win of 2024.

Here are three takeaways from another concerning performance by Michigan football.

1. With all the mistakes, it felt almost like a loss

Turnovers, penalties and late scores by Arkansas State muddled a distasteful win for the Wolverines on Saturday. Davis Warren gave the ball away on two errant throws. The one where he got his arm hit was not all his fault. Regardless, he was benched and Alex Orji didn't grab the bull by the horns to say he should be the starting quarterback from here on out.

Early on, Wink Martindale's defense was shooting itself in the foot. They were penalized with a late hit out of bounds and roughing the passer to extend Arkansas State's possessions. They settled in once they gave up a field goal, but were taken advantage of by the backup quarterback when the game was decided and the second and third stringers were in.

The Red Wolves got in the endzone twice in the last five minutes. On the flip side, Alex Orji attempted only four passes. The rushing attack was practically unstoppable all day, but without a passing game, Michigan football is far too one-dimensional. The finish to this was hard to watch.

2. Greg Crippen may have earned the starting job at center

When Michigan's rush offense was at its best on Saturday, it was because Crippen was paving the way most of the time. The offensive line opened consistent holes for Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards to run through. Michigan football had its biggest gain of the year so far with a 38-yard scamper for Mullings that resulted in six.

They kept Dominick Giudice in the game to get him some reps which was understandable, but Crippen appeared to be more impactful when he was in the lineup. Crippen was in on the Edwards house call and he also helped Mullings reach the endzone for the second time on the afternoon. Overall Crippen played on three of Michigan's scoring plays, compared to just one for Giudice. Some on social media even agreed and were convinced that Crippen is the guy to go with now.

We'll see what the coaches say when they watch the tape this week and how the two are graded by Pro Football Focus and the staff. Nevertheless it was Michigan's most paramount performance to date, most notably on the ground.

3. Who starts at quarterback against USC?

Three games into the season, Michigan football has a cataclysmic problem at the most important position in football. Davis Warren has more interceptions than Alex Orji has completions. Read that one again. That is utterly inexcusable for such a prestigious program that is coming off a once-in-a-lifetime season.

Orji's two completions could have been made by just about anyone on Saturday. It was the wide open pass that he missed to Frederick Moore that would have calmed the masses if it would have been completed for a score.

Warren made some accurate throws to Moore, Marlin Klein and Colston Loveland, but you can't force it like he did in the victory and expect to stay in it. Jack Tuttle remained on the injury report as questionable, which signals that the coaches don't think he is ready yet or would make a difference anyways.

The best option may to go with Orji and just use wide receiver screens, short routes and end arounds to move the ball down the field. USC and others will undoubtedly stack the box and blitz heavily to pressure whomever the quarterback is into costly mistakes.