The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1529264
28 THE WOLVERINE ❱ DECEMBER 2024 when the off-target throws are hap- pening. Some of those misses … you're not allowed to get your feet and balance when those things are happening." He had time against the Spartans. Consequently, he completed 13 of 19 passes for 123 yards and a score with no picks. Warren stood 10th in the Big Ten with a 75.3 pass efficiency rating as of Nov. 12 per Pro Football Focus despite throwing 6 interceptions in his first three games. They weren't all his fault, but they all counted against him. But the offensive numbers under all Michigan quarterbacks were flat-out bad through 10 games, and that's been the story of Moore's first team. The Wolver- ines ranked 118th nationally out of 133 teams in scoring at 20.4 points per game, tied for 116th in first downs (159), 129th in passing offense (134.6), and 126th in pass efficiency offense (112.42) through games of Nov. 9. Even rushing offense — the staple of this program the last three years — lan- guished at No. 69, 155.5 yards per game, while another point of pride in recent years, turnovers lost (16), ranked 102nd. Much of the problem stemmed from inconsistent play on the offensive line, where there were five new starters this year. Injuries have forced several differ- ent line combinations, but none of them have worked very well. "I think it's a little bit of both," Moore said of the different lineups being part of the problem versus guys just not doing their jobs. "I think it's guys getting into rhythm and playing together, but at the end of the day we've just got to be better doing that. "We've got to play as one more [often]. That's something I'll dig into, and we'll get it fixed." One positive, though — kicker Domi- nic Zvada. The junior transfer made a 56-yarder against Indiana, his fifth 50-plus-yarder this year and already a U-M career record, and he stood 13- of 14 on field goals through 10 games. He'll likely be a finalist for the Lou Groza Award given to the nation's top kicker, and he'll have a great chance to win it if he keeps it up. DEFENSE HAS BEEN INCONSISTENT, BUT SHOWING SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT On the other side of the ball, defen- sive coordinator Wink Martindale's first group was always going to be dif- ferent this year after losing a fantastic, complementary offense and some out- standing talent to the NFL. Martindale knew it would have a different look even before the season, telling his group be- fore spring that last year's success would have no bearing on this season's. Still, many expected it to be better than it has been. One of the biggest ar- eas of concern — the Wolverines were 103rd nationally on third-down defense through 10 games. They've been unable to get off the field on third-and-short, third-and-long and everything in be- tween. Oregon finished 10 of 15 (67 per- cent) on third downs in a 38-17 win aided by a depleted Michigan secondary with two starting corners out, but they'd been struggling even before Will Johnson and Jyaire Hill went down with injuries. To his credit, Martindale didn't make any excuses after the loss to the Ducks. "I think you play with who you've got," he said when asked about the third- down struggles. "That's a really good team. They're ranked just like Indiana is, high on third down … so some space plays were just missed. We [also] have to find some different ways to affect the quarterback, which is hard to do [when you're] down men and everything else. … "You saw two different halves against Oregon. I like the way we attacked and played at Michigan State. The last three games, I think what I've been most im- pressed with is the fight … each and ev- ery one of the coaches and the kids in these games and how they responded to some difficult situations." It was similar against Indiana, a game in which the Wolverines fell behind 17-3 and gave up two long touchdown drives in the first half to one of the nation's most explosive teams. Indiana entered the game as one of the nation's top scor- ing offenses but managed only three points in the second half against Mar- tindale's group. The U-M defensive line hounded IU quarterback Kurtis Rourke much of the time as well. "I thought they did an unbelievable job in the second half," Moore said. "The fight, the effort. I think they allowed 56 yards [it was actually only 18]. That game … that offense is averaging 40-some- thing points a game. To hold them to 20 was huge." Especially with Johnson still out of the lineup. Depth has been an issue for most of the year, which also factors into third- down woes, but some of the younger Senior quarterback Davis Warren ranked 10th in the Big Ten with a 75.3 pass efficiency rating as of Nov. 12 per Pro Football Focus despite throwing 6 interceptions in his first three games. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL