Michigan Football, 5 Reactions

1.  Michigan's defense is terrible.  So is the offense.

2.  Kyle Whittingham is not there to, and he is not going to, produce Big Ten championships and CFP success.  He is there for three, four, maybe five years to improve the team.  A bunch of coaches and players from Utah will not be a long-term solution.  But he is right:  you've got to get rid of the discontents.

3.  AD Manuel is not going to relinquish the money, power, and arrogance.  

4.  The rest is just a blur.  Underwood has not improved and no one will challenge him.  Wink Martindale seems to have a lot of problems, or hostility, or selfishness and the same goes for almost everyone else.  I don't know what the deal is with Steve Casula, or Poggi, or Jordan Marshall, etc. also.  I do know they don't have a quarterback, or running back, or tight ends, there's one good receiver, and the secondary--safeties and cornerbacks--is extremely vulnerable.  And the d-line is not good.  

That's all I've got.

Edit.  5.  What a mess Sherrone Moore created.  Manuel hired and supported him. Then he closed his ears and eyes to all the sh*t going on.

--

Maize n Brew Portal Tracker

 /\ This is the best source and the comments there are usually reasonable, unlike another popular Michigan blog.  

Here is a little image from that other site.  Smart or stupid, I spin through the forum and may learn something new.  This guy, turns out, was a source.  But get used to the picture.

Then I thought, why do I feel like I have done this before?  Ah, AI...

 

It is going to be a sea change.  You can Google the names if you want:  Is (fill in name) Mormon?

Not wise, in my opinion, if you want to beat Indiana, Ohio State, or Oregon.

 

The Cheesy Bowl, Texas 41 Michigan 27

With the third interception it is over.  It was exciting for three and a half quarters.

Texas is missing nine starters (Michigan three) with several in the portal instead of NFL prepping.

For a while it was neck and neck, Underwood vs. Manning.  

Harbaugh then Moore.

For those interested, there will be lots of news:  the internal (i.e., partially objective) investigation, coaching staff, portal in and out, the remaining recruiting class, and of course what happens to the executive secretary, and Sherrone's home, marriage and family.  I know I will hear and read about.  I wish I could ignore it.  Personally, the thing that interests me most is the Matt Weiss case.  When is he going to cop a plea?

One thing that happened again in the game is a half-assed passing attack.  McCulley is out of eligibility; if Marsh and Underwood leave, Michigan is sunk in 2026 without a massive infusion of transfers.  Cliche:  Underwood has promise but right now he is a below average quarterback; he is not a complete game manager and passer.  And Michigan is totally dependent on a great workhorse running back that/who may not be available next year.

Defensively, Michigan got gashed for 235 yards rushing and some big passing plays too.  Secondary speed and tackling is lacking.  Rumors that DC Martindale will be back are nonexistent.  It looks like turmoil there too.

The good news is the Sherrone Moore and hopefully the Harbaugh era too are for the most part over. 

-- 

I already covered the nausea associated with Biff and Warde in the previous post.  I won't dwell on it.

It is disappointing that Bryson Kuzdzal is the only running back.

I never understood the Jaishawn Barham hype going all the way back to Maryland.  Rolder and Sullivan are much better linebackers. 

Can one believe the internet "evidence" that Steve Casula is a complete asshole?  So far the star is Kendrick Bell.  !!! 

I switched from Iowa-Vanderbilt for this?  Iowa held on.  Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea is a composed, somber, polite interview.  Googles "clark lea extension." He has done an amazing job.  Diego Pavia is really exciting.

Iowa is good and has been consistent all year.  QB Gronowski is 24.  Kirk Ferentz is 70.  Iowa is in that next tier of good teams after the elite three (Indiana, Ohio State, Oregon).  USC, Washington, and Illinois are in that next tier too.  Sorry, I don't believe Michigan would be in this tier if not for their cake schedule.  I know, 7-2 in the B1G but they are more on the level of Minnesota, Nebraska, and Northwestern.  That is Sherrone Moore's other legacy.

Oh the sun.  A tough opponent.

Michigan is sort of hanging on.  Texas looks better.  Kuzdzal is not very good and he looks like he is going to get injured.  If Jordan Marshall were playing it would be close.  The box score is telling:  Texas 220 yards, Michigan 120. 

Marsh, McCully, and Underwood are Michigan's best (offensive) playmakers.  But Andrew Marsh disappeared against Ohio State.

Zvada miss.  17-17 halftime.  Michigan closed the yardage gap.

 

Hello Kyle Whittingham

At first I thought WTF!  Five minutes later I thought, pretty OK.  Then and now, when I review the whole dirty situation, I say Brilliant!

Then I heard Warde Manuel (still there) and I almost got sick.  I know these things take finesse, but I read (!) he is a goner.

 Living in Colorado I am perhaps closer, but still distant in philosophy, to Utah than most people.  The populations are still relatively small here.  Utah was the fastest-growing state for years.  It is Morman and very different.

BYU is the U and it is supported/owned by the church.  Everyone is Morman (or knows or wants to live with Mormans) and the University of Utah has a much harder time.  It is not a great school, but the "morality," aka, different lifestyle, catches on.  It is everywhere.

KSL.com and Deseret News are different too, and anyone can read the comments about Whittingham to Michigan.  These people know.  Almost everyone says "I hope he kills it."

And he just may do that.  Positive of course.

Who is the most powerful person on U-M's campus?  The head football coach.  Five years at $8 million a pop means they're serious.

Bye bye gangster players, coaches, and image.

It may take a short while to take out the garbage--the Poggi, Manuel, and others.  But the writing is alredy on the here are already rumors of new staff.  Here's an idea:  Why not put Manuel's desk two feet outside the head coaches door?

More after the jump. 

The minute I laid my eyes on you I knew that you were no good.

 

 “I f—ing love you, man,” Moore said on live TV, tears streaming down his face. “I love the s— out of you, man.”

The Athletic has a composed, journalistic, investigative piece on his downfall.  The incident at Penn State lives in memory.  I was embarrassed.  I could tell it was going to be a long grind.  Post game, or almost any interview or comment, was an exercise in delusion.  Put that together with the weight of the job and the pressure had to be getting to him.

And it is not over.  For Moore, we have yet to see how he will survive and what he will do.  Wife Kelli must have known for a long time.  Three young girls.  She is, of course, living off him.  I have Googled "Sherrone Moore divorce" a number of times because that is what I expect to see.

I thought I had seen mortgage information online in property records.  I'm curious about that too.

Overall, he seemed to be living in the glory, and the glory was fragile or temporary.  

Concubinage, Trinidad and Tobago, mother and aunt in New Jersey and father who knows where.  His entire existence was a lie.  And the work coat--it wasn't a shirt--with Sherrone embroidered on was fake.

He has no resume; former tight ends coach at Central Michigan.  Now everyone knows he is a creepy guy, a liar, and all-around immature and inept.  We're going to see where that lands him.  There is more to come.

It is outrageous that Warde Manuel interviewed no one else then supported the disaster for two years.  Add in the six, eight, or ten firings, arrests, sanctions, etc. over the last few years and there can be no question Manuel is not safe.  The most generous outcome for him has to be a gradual retirement and replacement along with specific oversight.  But a clean break would be best.

From The Athletic piece...  The man didn't audition.  He was suspended and right-hand man involved in everything--that was his experience.

Don't forget it.  Don't sweep it under the rug.  I'm not sick of hearing about it.  Harbaugh could have been stellar, but he chose not to.  Sherrone Moore is one of the sleaziest and incompetent individuals in NCAA football history, and that is saying something. 

Lost in all this is what a bad head coach Sherrone Moore is.  Davis Warren?  2024 was a year of no QB (Orji etc. too) or receivers and a joke of a team (yes we all know the lucky, positive ending).  2025 was a cakewalk schedule and blow-outs against the three decent opponents.  The story of 2025 is a lack of talent; bowl sit-outs may include the three players who could be drafted.  A walk-on running back, two receivers and a freshman QB is not going to cut it against Ohio State.  And two journeyman, no recruiting coordinators is not a good look either.  It is a sad team when Biff Poggi is an upgrade.

Now we know.  His mind, what little there is of it, wasn't even in the game, or team, or school, or his own family.  

What a weird guy.  Never saw him without a Michigan hat, groomed beard, and dark blue Michigan gear.

 

 

 

Sherrone Moore Gone

It wasn't because of his wardrobe.  It wasn't even because of the haircut.

"Inappropriate" relationships do not happen quickly or once.  And then he went all Juwan Howard.

You could tell (or at least I could) that there is something slimy about the guy from the beginning.  

As for the team and the culture it is about power, greed, and entitlement.  Harbaugh brought it to a new level.  The (interim) president, regents, or somebody needs to do something to at least reign it in.  There has to be oversight.

These things don't happen to all of us.  They don't happen on their own.  The firing was announced and effective in one day, just after the hiring of a new assistant coach.  There must be cause to spend the night in jail.

It'll all come out, but slimy is at the heart of it.

What I am really interested in, Thursday 12/11 morning, is the criminal case.  These things move quickly--charge or release.  If he used, or caused, or displayed violence or danger in any way...

On the one hand there is a sleazy affair and all the people associated with that.  Moore's family, wealth, and lifestyle are gone or immeasurably disrupted.  As for his Michigan career all that is left is legal fine-tuning and that is tough to deal with.  

Now, I don't know exactly what happened.  $6 million a year was his salary.  After being notified Wednesday of his firing for cause he apparently went on a local rampage to his wife and girlfriend.  Somewhere out of that the word "assault" emerged.  

All along he tried to portray this calm, hard-working image.  The cracks were there.

As we who follow on the field know, beating Northwestern, Purdue, and Nebraska is not going to cut it. Come on, Davis Warren at quarterback and a walk-on running back against Ohio State?  The team and staff was patchwork.

In many ways Moore is reminiscent of Howard.  He is a mediocre, unproven coach who does not have the verbal or communications skills.

--- UPDATE

Mid Thursday latest news.  This from some AI searching.  Not completely confirmed--he went to wife and then mistress apartment.  Said 'I'll kill myself and you.'  Usually rumors prove true.  The name, address, and apartment complex is out there.  This person worked at U-M since 2021, got big raise and promotion recently. 

Gosh.  I don't know if you can call holding a knife to your own throat assault.

Psychotic, maybe, but assault?

That I think is what happened.  But it seems it is all within character.  It has happened before.  The affair, the family, and the tension is nothing new.  

Remember Tom Phillips, NZ and the protective order.  No one is saying anything.

 

 

 

Ohio State 27 Michigan 9

Thankfully, it is over.

It was a house of cards all year again.

 

Then Maryland and Ohio State

Maryland is pretty much the same as they have been for a few years--feisty, a bit of a challenge, but not close.  This time they came within half a foot of a big play several times which would have made it closer, but only a little.  It is rational:  Mike Locksley is the going or market coach.

And that indeed is the most salacious part of the season climax.  The top five, or maybe 7-8, are powerful. The season is a success and a playoff championship is possible.  Their coaches are not leaving, NIL is intact, and the strong season suggests talent and management cannot be improved much.  The goal is to stay the course.

It started with Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State.  Then the whoppers of Franklin and Kelly.  Luke Fickell is declared safe.  Jonathan Smith and Michigan State is just sad.

Anyway, they're declaring.  They are making choices. 

(Curious--what is the comparison between Malik Washington and Bryce Underwood? Pretty similar.)

All season Michigan has not challenged that level.  They have feasted on out of conference and bottom-dwelling teams.  In their only two tests (Oklahoma and USC) they were blown out.  

They are not in the top ten.  They are barely in the top twenty.  Even if they manage to beat Ohio State I cannot see Michigan in the playoff.

 And I expect the winner will be Ohio State.   

But First, Northwestern

Q.  Who is better?

Why are the Fox announcers so biased?  Theories after disinterest yesterday:  NU cornerbacks not good; TE big and clunky; freshman corner; all Michigan position groups average or below.  Why don't I like the way this team plays?  Is NU more "white" than Michigan.  Why does Moore allow the taunting?  Metcalf and Mangum are the worst. Semaj Morgan.

 If I was choosing between Michigan and Northwestern I would go to Northwestern the smaller, private, excellent school with exposure.  That's just me.  And if I was a football player I would do it because it is a better team atmosphere.

Last year Michigan pounded Northwestern 50-6 at home.  This year Northwestern is as good as Michigan.

With Justice Haynes Michigan was strong at running back.  Maybe with Rod Moore they had a good secondary.  Each remaining position group is Big Ten average or below average.  I don't buy virtually all of what I heard when watching:  Michigan does not have budding prospects.   

The game was 50-50; could have gone either way.  David Braun looks like a better coach than Sherrone Moore. 

Michigan football belongs at the bottom of the top 25. 

 Quarterback ratings.  PFF grades. 

Northwestern and Maryland

I skipped games 7, 8, and 9.  Michigan beat a competitive Washington team nicely then went on to hollow wins against Michigan State and Purdue.

Michigan State is not a pretty picture, and I write that not wishing them ill will.  No one should be in a hurry because there isn't anyone else even with the savings from Mel Tucker, but Jonathan Smith looks like he cannot last.  The main problem on the field is that Aiden Chiles is not as big of a prize as people thought.  Look, there is no such thing as building for the future.

Off the field it looks like a way to permanently get rid of the Tucker stench.  The penalties are very stiff over $10K.  Smith and the Spartans had to forfeit the few wins they had.  I guess ineligible players playing is over the line.

And Bryce Underwood is proving to be no price also, at least this season.  And the goddamn room that the QBs inhabit offers nothing now or ever.  

Michigan vs. Northwestern in Chicago has always been a neutral site for Michigan.  Why not just play on a practice field somewhere.  Maryland started out good but they are not anymore.  Ohio State is a machine.  It can't, it just can't happen again:  Sherrone Moore won't be so lucky this year.

Michigan's bubble?  I wouldn't want to be standing on top of it.  It is not like Michigan is clinging to the top four.  They are clinging to the bottom of the top 25.

 

2025 Game #6 USC 31 Michigan 13

When I watched the USC-Illinois game a few weeks ago I said to myself Where are the stars?  USC is one the very few schools that can actually say they had and can return to glory days.  Put it together with the sun, grass, uniforms, and Rose Bowl (or Coliseum) and they've got it all.  Against the Illini Makari Lemon eventually appeared and it/he was a game changer.  They didn't win, but USC showed they have gears few others can match.  

Why not?  USC is also a great private school with almumi and dollars in a huge market.  The population of L.A. County (alone) is 9.8 million.  The median home price is $900,000. 

Right now I am watching a file (replay) on Sunday morning.  It started with Southern Cal driving down the field and Michigan is getting pushed around just about everywhere.  Every extra hit, attempt at intimidation, and the toughness Michigan promotes are going USC's way.  The runners and receivers are dancing.  Several Michigan defenders are trying to cling on missed tackles.  Oh no, if the defense doesn't keep it in check, what will?  Now, or later, Jaishawn Barham and Jyaire Hill among others have looked silly.

USC is big, strong, fast and motivated.  The stars and talent go deeper than just the ball carriers. 

Do you think Michigan will get it back solely on offense?  No way. 

Reviewing this game is an easy one.  It is a replay of Oklahoma--a beat down, a rout.   Michigan is a decent team (we were all fooled by Wisconsin into maybe thinking more), but the top of the Big Ten is something else.  While Michigan is usually one of those with the ability to pull it off, now they are more likely to look over-matched or worse against the very good teams.

This is the meat of year two and Moore was the damn offensive coordinator before that.  Look at the difference in Riley and Venables (Oklahoma) this year, for instance; they are energetic, motivating, and involved in every play (even calling the plays), not to mention experienced in every facet of the game.  Moore looks dour and emotionless in his black smock, isolation and headset. To me, he is phony.  He knows Michigan fans don't give a rat's ass about Purdue and Northwestern.  He is hiding the stress and the truth; this team is not good and the coordinators are piecing it together.  Do something!

You cannot blame it on the time zone, coach class seats or hotel that is only 4-star either.

Michigan made some progress, complementary football progress, until the excellent Justice Haynes went down. 

Sorry to have to repeat it, Lincoln Riley is a phenom coach with a pedigree and experience.  Sherrone Moore is not that person.  Riley blew it up at Oklahoma and then he smartly realized the USC job is something special and a much bigger opportunity.

Moore and his smashed mouth got smashed again.  And who would have thunk it, Indiana did it too.  When you go around bragging that you're tougher and richer than everyone else your opponents are going to take note and put it right back at you.

I don't know where the depth and talent on USC came from, or how much it costs.  Michigan's glory days--a national championship--were far more recent.

Michigan Football Enthusiasm Meter

4/10

They're a middling Big Ten team and Sherrone Moore doesn't have it in him.

 

2025 Game #5

I almost forgot.  

Donaven McCulley is a revelation--great jumping, catching, staying in bounds, running, and height.  Bryce Underwood is not afraid and that is a "complementary" situation.  Andrew Marsh helps.

Per Moore, who was back, "let it rip."

Michigan Football Enthusiasm Meter

 5/10

As much as I hate to admit it, Michigan has become a good team.  Justice Haynes is a national star, the passing game has improved, and Bryce Underwood has been relatively (two fumbles and several near-interceptions) restrained and successful.  The D has solidified with roles, rotations, and Rod Moore.

The schedule still sucks and the few competitive games will be telling.  Michigan is not within the top three of Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana. Talk of the playoff or Big Ten Championship is way premature.

Michigan is good enough to beat USC.  Same goes for USC vs. Michigan. If I were to make a prediction, Lincoln Riley's record at Southern Cal is unimpressive.  I saw the USC-Illinois game and I'd say the same about that.  Advantages like home field, bye week, time zones, and long-distance travel are not about the teams or the game; 2024, and Michigan is better this season.

I cannot go over halfway on the Enthusiasm Meter with a coach who only appears for 40% of the season.  Talk about laissez-faire!  Moore does seem to be liked by the team.

2025 Football Game #4

So help me, we are off to Nebraska.  As if Oklahoma wasn't enough.

The scriptures of good and bad, right and wrong, and truth or false compel me to predict.  Those with a coach shall win.

Checks schedule.  Don't know how that applies next week vs. Wisconsin.

---

The game happened and the bye week and season drags on.  Wisconsin used to be a tough game.  Maryland could have been if you pick the right time.  Washington is 3-0 with a couple of unwinnable games and the rest a cakewalk like Michigan; Big Ten power rankings I have seen don't think highly of the Huskies and Michigan is at home and a long way from Seattle.  Count 'em:  at USC, Michigan State, and finally Ohio State is what is left.  And it'll get worse.  Some people will think Michigan is a great team and Sherrone Moore is a good coach.

One thing I learned when tearing apart why the Atlanta Braves have regressed as a business and team is that others may be just as bad or worse.  Take the Detroit Tigers.  For a long time they were the best team in baseball.  What do you expect if you start Charlie Morton and then send in Rafael Montero?

Matt Rhule does not inspire me.  He is the guy who made news with the hiring of Dylan Raiola.  How do you really build an upper-echelon team in the Big Ten?  You do the same with a couple of 300 lb. D-linemen.  Then you add the best running back on the market to go with the rest of the portfolio.  Rhule doesn't have a great career wins/losses record to start with.  I don't see Nebraska turning this imaginary corner.

I'm certain I have written this before:  Nebraska has to compete with schools, alumni, market appeal, and just plain more money.  You can hoot all you want about the way it used to be.  This is the modern-day Big Ten.  Even moribund UCLA is throwing money around.  

I was wrong.  I went with the underdog and sentimental favorite.  At first I thought, this is fun--Nebraska is going right down the field!  They should have been up 10-0 but instead were down 10-0.  Then, seldom do you see a field goal kicker (Zvada) show power and aggression.  It was not as close as the final score suggests.

Nebraska is worse than Michigan.  Raiola, the whole offense who can even play baseball at the same time, was generally helpless.  The Nebraska defense doesn't have the horses or jockey that Michigan does.

That is why Michigan won, depth, strength, and power on offense and swarming athletes on defense.  All this plus a nasty edge that Nebraska lacks.  If I were a Nebraska fan thinking "we're back" I would think again.

Luke Fickell is in even worse shape.   I watched the Maryland game before I couldn't take it anymore. Football in Madison is not the place to be nor is watching the boring game.  Fickell and his team look lost; his "it is what it is" pregame interview" said it all.

As for Michigan, Biff Poggi said it too.  His dog could coach these guys.  The whole replacement coach routine reeks of Juwan Howard and Michigan basketball.

What is left besides the three games mentioned is Wisconsin, Washington, Purdue, Northwestern, and Maryland.  Money and a malleable coach post-Harbaugh for Manuel is corrupt and it is all because one man has survived everyone else, from numerous coaches--Harbaugh counts about 5X-- to the president.  Sherrone Moore is the luckiest guy in Michigan.  He'll probably survive but it will be a dull, drawn-out tenure; we, more accurately they are stuck with him.  He would be a much better coach if he had five years of MAC coaching experience.

Odds of winning rest of schedule.  Michigan has two games left with a reasonable chance of losing.  No Oregon or Penn State or Indiana.

Michigan Football Enthusiasm Meter

 3/10.

 

2025 Football Game #3

Central Michigan.

Biff Poggi does not look healthy.  Sherrone Moore wasn't even there.

Too much individualism and nastiness. 

It is only a 12-game season.  I'm sorry, Nebraska isn't a good team either. 

Michigan Football 1-10 Enthusiasm Meter

2/10 

 

2025 Football Game #2 (Oklahoma 24 Michigan 13)

Some Reactions

Sherrone Moore again proves he's not worth effort for Michigan 

 Michigan-Oklahoma wasn’t supposed to be about Sherrone Moore. But that’s how it ended up

 One Comparison That Explains Our Outdated Philosophy

 Position and PFF Grades - Few Stars

 

The Game

Oklahoma has a fast-talker.  OMG, it's Venables.  Against weaker teams Michigan does not just wear the opponent down, they knock the quarterback out of the game.  Everyone agrees the Oklahoma defense is elite.  Can Michigan wear the rest of the team down?

The bigger question is:  How long can Michigan take this beating by Oklahoma?  Semaj Morgan could not stand.

We have seen Michigan games.  Usually they make a game of it.  Klein is not just questionable, he is out.

The offensive line is not moving forward.  

Sherrone Moore and Michigan are getting smashed.

Boy was I wrong thinking that Michigan would do the hitting.

Now we have the defensive second team.  Michigan player Brandon Hillman on the turf too.

Michigan had a stop with an overthrow interception.  Earlier it was close and now a roughing the punter.  Also the facemask first down.  McCulley?  No receivers.  Very heavy second and 2.  Then, barely a couple on 3rd down.  Another Michigan player, El Hadi, down. That's three.  How many Michigan players are barely standing?

Zvada missed.  (See pre-game musings after the page break below).  Underwood and Haynes fighting on the sideline.

I am going to miss Gary Danielson and Brad Nessler are maybe the best thing about the new Big Ten.

C.J. Charlston is still around.  Is Goodwin the other guy from last year?  Kendrick Bell has never been much of a threat.  Klein was a bright spot.  Don't they have another tight end?

The TV coverage is bad.  What about the sideline fight?  News on the injuries?  ESPN still has that damn news/promotion garbage.  At least the stats are on espn.com only because they have the game.

14-0 is dominant.

---

21-7 now midway through the third quarter.  Zeke Berry is down too.  It is a rout.

I'm thinking about my predictions.  Sherrone Moore doesn't deserve it; or rather, he hasn't earned it.  Michigan is not a deep team.  With a few exceptions, they are not an experienced team.  They have had some breaks to keep them in this game.  They are getting beaten.  Oklahoma has a better defense and a decidedly better quarterback.  Oklahoma does not have a smash running game; either does Michigan.

McCulley made a really nice catch on a long ball.  There is still a whole quarter to go but I think this one is over.  TJ Guy dirty hit.  Mateer strong legs and good at avoiding Michigan slashers.  He has been an excellent compliment--leading rusher--to the Oklahoma ground game.  He is durable and Michigan has not stopped him.  He has 55 rushing yards; Underwood has -5.

Now the clock is running down quickly.  The depleted, worn down Michigan defense (Tre' Williams #0) cannot stop them.

Sherrone Moore hasn't earned it. It feels like I have written this a hundred times.  He was fortunate the  end of last year.  Then he got lucky they bought Underwood.

Oklahoma 24 Michigan 13. 

 

After the jump, the preamble (writings before the game).  Many people were thinking Michigan was a playoff team.

2025 Football Game 1

The story of course is Bryce Underwood (or Larry Ellison) but I'll put that side of things on the back burner for a moment.  He is better than I expected or have probably ever seen.  He is a strong and accurate passer with above average decision-making.  As a result, the passing game is a huge improvement over last year.

Witness Jayden Davis, a higly-rated recruit, who when last seen looked like a deer in headlights.  His running was (is?) ineffective and indecisive and he could not (cannot?) pass at all.  He looks confused.

Underwood is not that player, person, and or professional football player.  But the receivers are still not great.

Hausmann and Barham--I'm fine with the targeting call--are much bigger and seemingly faster, or at least more comfortable with the defensive scheme.  Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale has the defense still playing as well as the roster allows; it is not a team of high NFL draftees. The most dominant characteristic (good but mostly bad) is nastiness.

Chip Lindsey appears competent if not experienced--the offense with Underwood is totally rejuvenated.  Even with, again, a lack of real stalwarts on the OL, Michigan has two rugged, experienced, and top-echelon running backs.

The placekicking is elite.

I was distracted in writing this by trying to figure out New Mexico Lobo football.  Mendenhall, Bob Davie, Rocky Long, and even Brady Hoke come into the conversation.  They looked motivated and competitive.  There is no reason to imagine that they have the resources and budget that Michigan does.

Michigan with only six home games could be a bit of an equalizer.  The Big Ten schedules in terms of rivalries and top teams is a joke.  Michigan will certainly have a wining record and bowl.

The bigger picture still involves two things:  players as professionals is here and the prevailing logic says you have to compete.  I am grateful the Big Ten has Fox and CBS and NBC contracts because things have really changed.  Right now, the way it looks is that if Underwood is injured or has mental breakdowns the team is doomed.  Davis Warren even if healthy is a disaster and I'm doubtful Mikey Keene can do what Underwood can.

I'll say this for Sherrone Moore, at least he is low key.  The second is, he is still a leftover from the culture and embarrassments of recent times who has benefited from the money cannon and a couple of unlikely wins last year.  We'll all be reminded when he is suspended again.

Underwood is definitely mobile.  But we haven't seen him run yet.

Improvement over really bad cannot dominate the overall outlook. 

Michigan Football 1-10 Enthusiasm Score

3.5/10