After watching the whole game without the distractions of live streaming, my reactions are more positive.
Davis Warren is a capable passer with pocket presence. Orji is an interesting wrinkle. I don't even know what year they are or what each has in eligibility. That is exactly the point. Both quarterbacks have been around for at least a couple of years. I wonder how much each is paid. Whether successful on the field or not, both are professionals inasmuch as it is their career. Orgi is 20 and Warren is 22. Can Orji learn to pass? Now is the time to refine it, not learn how to do it, so probably not and Michigan's offensive is pro. Warren is not going to become a runner or scrambler and without it his game is limited. Tuttle and freshman Davis, pros too, were not in the cards.
What if Michigan with Edwards and Mullings and Orji had run all over Fresno State from the start? It would not have mattered. That alone is not going to win in the Big Ten. The receivers showed some energy and Loveland is a beast. Edwards is the wildcard; Warren has to make strides.
Earlier I watched Iowa and Cade McNamara. It is back to those short passes until or unless. Mullings showed flashes too and maybe he could be another Hassan Haskins. The offensive line appears stable, i.e., unproven potential.
On defense the Wolverines have a lot of experience in Paige, Will Johnson, Quinton Johnson, Hausmann, newcomer Barham, Rolder and new starter Jyaire Hill; Ja'Den McBurroughs and TJ Guy, not so much.
Todd Blackledge is one of my favorite announcers and the game makes for easy listening in the background. There was one stretch when Michigan players looked nasty, mean and dirty. Things were not going well and it was too close for comfort; spoilt. Then things improved on the field. Coach Moore was featured on camera picking his nose. To his credit, he is composed and well-spoken when he realizes.
I almost forgot:
The other team in last year's championship, Washington, is not ranked. Michigan has a lot left; the offseason was not especially productive in terms new faces on the field (Priebe and Barham are important fill-ins and the kicker despite two new starters and K Zvada proved excellent). Sherrone Moore will be tested--this week, for starters--and they are going to need leadership. On the field, the need is a) running back(s) and b) one quarterback.
I watched most of it because I was curious.
Before I get started, Jedd Fisch. Why didn't Michigan hire him?
I have a bad feeling about Sherrone Moore. Give him a chance is the right thing. An assistant with no head coaching experience already involved in scandals and turnover as Michigan head coach. It is a huge position.
On to the team and he game.
There were no "new" players save for about three--OL, linebacker, and excellent kicker--transfers who came in, I believe, under the former coach. No freshmen played a significant or any role. The team on the field is from last year.
Davis Warren is perhaps capable as a fill-in, but not as the starter and go-to guy; aside from short, simple passes he offers nothing. Alex Orji is a bit beneath that. Michigan's wide receivers, in conjunction, are not much of a threat.
Michigan has several standout players--Loveland, Graham and Grant, etc.
In addition to the passing game, the running game may be average or below. Donovan Edwards and Kalel Mullings probably are what they are. How could Ohio State let Edwards do that? Again, no one else even played.
Will Johnson, I missed the ending and interception. It seemed he was benched for being too cocky and going for interceptions.
Fresno State did not look like an above average team. Michigan was outplayed and outgained for about half of it. Michigan had an interception and boost right from the start. Loveland was very good until he dropped one. Save for the interception at the end, only a few determined Mullings' runs late in the game really made a difference.
The defense shut the rather feeble Fresno State offense down. Particularly for Edwards, the offensive line including Bredeson did not distinguish themselves; specifically, the center position appears to be unclaimed.
I have to wonder what the reaction will be like during and after the Texas game next Saturday.
Conclusion after one game: Head Coach Sherrone Moore and staff did very little to a) improve the roster and b) to develop a new offense.
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