Last year’s wins over archrival Ohio State and Alabama would possibly be one of the top achievements for HC Sherrone Moore. But even that momentum-winning victories couldn’t hide Michigan’s QB room troubles. With the Championship winning QB JJ McCarthy gone, Moore’s roster struggled at the center. One Big10 coach even confessed how “They would’ve been a serious postseason contender last year if they had a quarterback on the roster.” And that would be a nice way to put it. 

Their QB room combined to throw more interceptions (13) than TD passes (11), finishing with 1,678 passing yards, fewest of any power 4 program. But things have changed with the HC bringing in the No. 6 recruiting class in the country to Ann Arbor. Of course, the headline is top pick Bryce Underwood, whom the HC flipped from LSU, to elevate the program back to the Jim Harbaugh era of winning along with Fresno transfer with 33 career starts in Mikey Keene. But now that they have him, it becomes even more important for Moore and OC Chip Kelly to protect the signal caller.

The sentiment is similar for everyone as one assistant noted how “The focus is on [Bryce] Underwood, but it should be on finding new backs to go with him.” The Wolverines no longer have Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards. But Moore did sign Justice Haynes (Alabama), CJ Hester (UMass) and John Volker (Princeton). Here, Haynes could be the difference maker in the backfield. Now, the lingering question is how exactly will Moore use Underwood? Former NFL star, Gerald V. Dixon, has an answer.

On Wednesday’s episode of the 247Sports podcast, the host questioned Dixon. “What’s their summer agenda to make sure they have success with Underwood as the guy potentially?” Dixon responded, “Yeah, keep the Michigan thing the Michigan thing, especially on offense, and I’m talking about running the football and protecting him in the understanding of you don’t have to be Superman as a young man. Because when you get a young, talented quarterback that comes in, everyone wants to play with the new toy. ‘Let’s see what we can do, let’s RPO, let’s run him, let’s have him throw the ball 30-40 times.’ NO!

“Run the football, you have an offensive line that can get it done. Justin Haynes came over from Bama in the transfer portal, hammer away. Play action, start them out slow, let him throw the ball 20 times, run the ball five to 10 times, and as the season goes along, that’s the bill that you want to have.”

So as far as Dixon’s suggestions go, he does not want to change what the Wolverines have going on already. That’s exactly what an anonymous assistant told Kyle Wood previously, “They’re not going to change that [Jim] Harbaugh identity all that much, and the ground game is how they define themselves.” But the ground game. Well, it’s complicated.

Already, the main piece of the protection game puzzle is missing. That’s none other than Colston Loveland. Counting on the returning ones in the wide receivers room? They don’t have anybody returning that have more than 140 yards receiving last year. Yes, the Wolverines’ wideouts had perhaps the least productive season for the position group in Ann Arbor.

Fredrick Moore came up with 128 yards, Semaj Morgan with 139 yards, and Peyton O’Leary with 102 yards. Long story short— not a single player in the group had even 150 receiving yards. So, Underwood must be in need of some friendly pieces who will help him to get the pigskin out of his hand and come up with dynamic plays. This becomes even more urgent as after a season opener against New Mexico, Underwood is up for a big road challenge in Norman.

A storm is brewing for Bryce Underwood in Sooner Country

The Wolverines are going to have their opening tune-up contest against New Mexico this season. The real grind will begin in Week 2, when Underwood and Co. will be tested on the road against the Oklahoma Sooners. While Moore is yet to crown his starting quarterback, fans are already manifesting it to be Underwood. That’s when his opponent quarterback, Brent Venables’ quarterback John Mateer, enters the chat.

On3’s J.D.PicKell openly favored the Sooners’ quarterback given the uncertainty prevailing in Ann Arbor’s quarterback room. “Michigan, I believe, is going to start Bryce Underwood by nature of how this whole thing has played out over the course of spring and the buzz around there. That’d be [Underwood’s] first road start.” While Underwood must be excited to run the plays with his favorite college football stars, here comes a reality check:

“Now, Bryce Underwood is a bit different, but still, to go on the road to a place like Norman, Oklahoma, for your first-ever college football road start, that’s not an easy task. We’re not teeing it up for 19 to have a whole bunch of success.” Brent Venables’ defense will not let go of Bryce Underwood easily. Venables himself is the man in charge of the defense, his two national championships as a defensive coordinator at Clemson proving the point.

Last year, the Sooners’ defense returned 60 percent of its defensive production. Well, if that’s not enough of a warning for Underwood and Wolverines, here comes some more. PicKell came up with a big prediction for Oklahoma: “I do think that in October-November, with how brutal their schedule is, they’re going to ruin it for somebody.” It’s not just about wins anymore; it’s about making sure Underwood has the protection to lead without fear.