2024-10-07 08:40:03
SEATTLE — Free Press sports writer Tony Garcia looks back at Michigan football in Week 6 and its 27-17 loss to Washington as the Wolverines reach the halfway point of their season and head into their first of two bye weeks.
Next up for the Wolverines: No. 23 Fighting Illini
Matchup: No. 21 Michigan (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) at No. 23 Illinois (4-1, 1-1).
Kickoff: Time TBA Oct. 19; Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois.
TV/radio: TV TBA; WXYT-FM (97.1).
Tony Garcia’s three things we learned
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Tuttle time: The quarterback carousel has landed on Jack Tuttle. He had his moments Saturday, good and bad, capped by his final five drives going three-and-out, three-and-out, fumble, interception and end of game. But Tuttle, 25, looked every bit the part of a quarterback in his seventh year of college. He navigated the pocket mostly well, worked through his progressions more than Davis Warren (and far more than Alex Orji) and kept his eyes downfield to create a competent passing attack. When he took over for Orji, each of U-M’s first three possessions went at least seven plays and 55 yards, en route to 17 straight points.
“The first three drives, that’s really who we are,” Tuttle said of the scoring drives he led. “In the back half, we just missed some opportunities. Me personally, I’ve gotta be better at protecting the ball. Can’t fumble, can’t do that.”
Tuttle’s final stats — 10-for-18 for 98 yards, one touchdown and one interception — were similar to Orji’s the previous week (10-for-18 for 86 yards, one score and one interception), but Tuttle looked more competent, thanks to big plays like his perfect 22-yard pass over the deep middle to Amorion Walker, his touch pass on a 16-yard swing route to Semaj Morgan and his check-down to Donovan Edwards for a gain of 15. Michigan’s offense couldn’t stop turning the ball over under Warren and was one-dimensional (or no-dimensional) under Orji, desperately reliant on the run game. In Tuttle, U-M appears to have the player it hoped would win the job outright when J.J. McCarthy left for the NFL after last season.
“He brought us a spark,” Edwards said. “I loved before he went in the game, he told everybody, ‘Listen to me, look at me.’ Everybody gave him their eyes. He has great leadership abilities and capabilities. I’m grateful that he got out there and was able to show what he can do.”
FREE FALL:Wolverines plummet in polls after Week 6 loss to Washington
Pass defense a major issue: For all the flak the passing offense has drawn, perhaps the pass defense should take its share of the blame. Michigan now ranks No. 114 in the nation in passing yards allowed per game (259.8) after giving up a season-high 315 Saturday. Injuries have been costly — from Rod Moore (ACL) to depth pieces such as Ja’Den McBurrows, Jaden Mangham, Aamir Hall and Micah Pollard — but young pieces Jyaire Hill and Zeke Berry are healthy and each was torched by the Huskies.
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