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    • Michigan football was once again taken in by QB’s lax ball security
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    Michigan football was once again taken in by QB’s lax ball security

    Vaseline Posted on

    Free Press sportswriter Rainer Sabin answers three questions after No. 10 Michigan football lost to Washington 27-17 on Saturday in Seattle.

    Has Michigan’s offense found new life with Jack Tuttle?

    After replacing starting quarterback Davis Warren with Alex Orji for the fourth game of the season, the Wolverines pulled off a gutsy win over USC and barely outlasted Minnesota. In both victories, Michigan teetered on the edge of catastrophe, showing just how small the margin for error was with Orji under center. While Orji was more risk-averse than Warren, he was also a much less skilled passer. Under his command, the offense became one-dimensional and at times barely functional. It completely collapsed on Michigan’s first three possessions against Washington. UM moved the ball a total of 47 yards in 16 plays, punting every time. After Washington grabbed a 14-0 lead on Will Rodgers’ 16-yard touchdown pass to Giles Jackson, Michigan found itself in a tough situation. So head coach Sherrone Moore called on Jack Tuttle to replace Orji and rejuvenate the fading Wolverines.

    THE GAME: Michigan offense comes alive with QB change and crumbles late in 27-17 loss at Washington

    Tuttle, who was injured in the offseason and was listed as out or questionable in the first four games, did just that by showing more pocket presence than Orji. He kept his eyes on the field and pinned down the defenders just long enough to clear some running lanes for himself. On the first drive, he directed a seven-play, 75-yard march, scrambling twice for a total of 14 yards. Immediately after the second of those two runs, Donovan Edwards raced 39 yards to the end zone. It was the first of three consecutive possessions that resulted in points. Tuttle had his fingerprints on each and coolly led Michigan down the field. On a third-and-10 play during UM’s opening drive of the second half, he delivered a 22-yard strike to Amorion Walker that kept UM’s momentum going. Six plays later, he bought time by maneuvering past the pocket before sending an eight-yard pass to Colston Loveland, who was standing unguarded in the end zone. Thus, the Wolverines had a 17-14 lead and their mojo was restored.

    But soon after, the momentum waned and Tuttle fell victim to the same problem – lax ball security – causing Warren to lose the job. In the fourth quarter, with the game tied at 17, Washington’s Voi Tunuufi stripped him of the ball. The lost fumble gave Washington the go-ahead goal. Then, on Michigan’s ensuing possession, Huskies safety Kamren Fabiculanan jumped in front of Loveland to catch Tuttle’s pass with 3:24 left in regulation. Within minutes, Tuttle scored two goals and his inspired 2024 debut went up in smoke.

    Is Donovan Edwards back?

    The sudden boost Tuttle provided overshadowed Edwards’ unexpected resurgence. The senior running back from West Bloomfield repeatedly pierced the Huskies and helped Michigan stay ahead while turning in his best performance since his six-carry, 104-yard, two-touchdown masterpiece against Washington in Michigan’s College Football Playoff championship victory last January. Before Saturday, Kalel Mullings had beaten Edwards while running the Wolverines’ offense. Mullings accounted for 34.8% of the team’s total yardage and carried Michigan to victories over USC and Minnesota.

    Mullings’ steady production was in stark contrast to Edwards’ spotty production, leading some outsiders to wonder if he would be better served as a part-time receiver. But en route to rushing for 95 yards on 14 carries, Edwards showed why offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell still had confidence in him as a runner.

    Can Michigan get off the mat again?

    The Wolverines have been through a lot through the first six weeks of the season. They have gone through multiple quarterback changes. They were demolished by Texas at home. They sweat it out in a pair of close wins over USC and Minnesota. At several points, they had to advance without some of their top players, including Loveland, star cornerback Will Johnson and edge defenders Josaiah Stewart and Derrick Moore. But this team has been pretty resilient so far. To quote the head coach: the club did not hesitate for a moment. Certainly not on Saturday. Despite missing Moore and two of its starting offensive linemen – left tackle Myles Hinton and center Dominick Giudice – it remained competitive. Trailing 14-0, Michigan fought back and then stormed past Washington in the third quarter, pushing the Huskies to the brink in a hostile environment.

    But after losing the lead and then the game, the Wolverines’ strength will now be tested once again. The reigning champions enter the bye week with a 4-2 record and their season at a crossroads.

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