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The annual Michigan football Maize vs. Blue spring game was Saturday afternoon at the Big House, the public's first chance to get a glimpse of the upcoming team in the fall.
The Blue team beat Maize 17-0 which means steak for the boys in blue and hot dogs for those wearing maize. Beyond that, what else stood out at this first peek of what Team 146 will look like? Blake Corum coached the Blue team which was "owned" by Chip Lindsey, while Kris Jenkins coached the Maize team which was "owned" by Wink Martindale.
Below, we answer three key questions about the scrimmage:
It was a mixed bag for the incoming freshman star, as could be expected in his first appearance in the Big House. The start was slow. He was "sacked" on the opening play by Rayshaun Benny (the play was blown dead before he could be hit), then his first completion went for a loss of two yards and the Blue team went three-and-out on its opening drive.
On the next, his opening pass was almost intercepted by TJ Metcalf, but fell incomplete. On third down, he was flagged for a delay of game (despite no crowd noise) then on third-and-13 he forced a pass into double coverage that fell to the ground.
On his third series, he gained some traction. Justice Haynes moved the sticks twice to get into Maize territory, which set up consecutive Underwood completions of 10 and 15 yards. He found a groove with Jalen Hoffman, hitting him underneath for a handful of six and seven yard gains, but the drive was derailed by a holding call which set up third-and-18 when Underwood was intercepted by Tevis Metcalf on a deep ball.
Underwood went into the locker room having completed 7 of 15 passes for 52 yards and a pick.
On the other side, he wasn't as busy. He completed a pair of passes to Hoffman, including one on fourth-and-2 which later set up the Blue team's score. Underwood missed on a wide open deep ball to Channing Goodwin which would've been a 45-yard touchdown and prior to that narrowly couldn't connect with Jamar Browder on a nice deep ball down the right sideline.
NOW WHAT? Three positions Michigan football could target in spring portal window
On third-and-11 in the fourth, he used his legs for the first time and navigated his way through the defense for a pick up of 17.
Overall, Underwood showed his big arm and why the expectations are so high, but this was a good reminder he is 17 years old. He missed open throws, had an interception, multiple delays of game and was sacked three times. There will be growing pains, but obvious reason for optimism.
Like the final play of the day, when Underwood got the ball on a reverse flea flicker and threw it for an 88-yard touchdown to Hoffman.
Underwood finished the day 12 for 26 passing for 187 yards, one touchdown and one turnover.
Haynes, the transfer running back from Alabama, had a number of nice runs. He helped pick up the Blue team's initial first down of the game using tempo and then ripped off a 26 yard carry around the left side of the line which was the biggest play of the first half.
Another notable standout was Hoffman, the junior tight end. Previously described as more as a fullback and blocker, Hoffman's hands were on display in a major way. At first, he was a security blanket for Underwood, catching a pass underneath for a 12-yard pick up on third-and-8 to set up first and goal. Later, he had catches of 6 and 7 yards, another for 9 yards and then on fourth-and-2, caught an 11-yard slant which set up the Blue team's first touchdown of the day.
In the fourth quarter, Hoffman caught a 16 yard dump down on third-and-12 to move the sticks once more.
Hoffman finished with seven catches for 149 yards and a touchdown.
Elsewhere, Bryson Kuzdzal turned heads as a potential third running back option. He ran hard, particularly early in the second half, ripping off gains of 14 and later 31 yards which included a nice stiff arm on Tevis Metcalf as he rumbled up field.
Jadyn Davis, meanwhile, completed 6 of 17 passes for 75 yards and two interceptions, the first on a telegraphed out-route, the next on an overthrown ball, both passes were picked off by Jeremiah Lowe. Davis looked a little better than those numbers indicated and extended plays at times, but he too struggled to connect on anything down field except one 20-yard pass to Logan Forbes in the fourth quarter which was tipped, yet still completed.
It's hard to take away much from the spring game, when coaches don't want to give away too much of their playbook and a number of expected key players like Haynes and Jordan Marshall are limited to the first quarter and others like Marlin Klein didn't see any action at all.
If one thing is clear, however, it's that U-M is not afraid to throw down field.
That's the Chip Lindsey style of offense and that will only help U-M's run game if the defense has to respect the deep ball. It's spring, it's not going to look crisp, but the foundation that's there is at minimum intriguing, if not exciting.
Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football spring game takeaways: Bryce Underwood makes debut
Continue reading...
The Blue team beat Maize 17-0 which means steak for the boys in blue and hot dogs for those wearing maize. Beyond that, what else stood out at this first peek of what Team 146 will look like? Blake Corum coached the Blue team which was "owned" by Chip Lindsey, while Kris Jenkins coached the Maize team which was "owned" by Wink Martindale.
Below, we answer three key questions about the scrimmage:
How did Bryce Underwood look?
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It was a mixed bag for the incoming freshman star, as could be expected in his first appearance in the Big House. The start was slow. He was "sacked" on the opening play by Rayshaun Benny (the play was blown dead before he could be hit), then his first completion went for a loss of two yards and the Blue team went three-and-out on its opening drive.
On the next, his opening pass was almost intercepted by TJ Metcalf, but fell incomplete. On third down, he was flagged for a delay of game (despite no crowd noise) then on third-and-13 he forced a pass into double coverage that fell to the ground.
On his third series, he gained some traction. Justice Haynes moved the sticks twice to get into Maize territory, which set up consecutive Underwood completions of 10 and 15 yards. He found a groove with Jalen Hoffman, hitting him underneath for a handful of six and seven yard gains, but the drive was derailed by a holding call which set up third-and-18 when Underwood was intercepted by Tevis Metcalf on a deep ball.
Underwood went into the locker room having completed 7 of 15 passes for 52 yards and a pick.
On the other side, he wasn't as busy. He completed a pair of passes to Hoffman, including one on fourth-and-2 which later set up the Blue team's score. Underwood missed on a wide open deep ball to Channing Goodwin which would've been a 45-yard touchdown and prior to that narrowly couldn't connect with Jamar Browder on a nice deep ball down the right sideline.
NOW WHAT? Three positions Michigan football could target in spring portal window
On third-and-11 in the fourth, he used his legs for the first time and navigated his way through the defense for a pick up of 17.
Overall, Underwood showed his big arm and why the expectations are so high, but this was a good reminder he is 17 years old. He missed open throws, had an interception, multiple delays of game and was sacked three times. There will be growing pains, but obvious reason for optimism.
Like the final play of the day, when Underwood got the ball on a reverse flea flicker and threw it for an 88-yard touchdown to Hoffman.
Underwood finished the day 12 for 26 passing for 187 yards, one touchdown and one turnover.
Who else stood out besides Underwood?
Haynes, the transfer running back from Alabama, had a number of nice runs. He helped pick up the Blue team's initial first down of the game using tempo and then ripped off a 26 yard carry around the left side of the line which was the biggest play of the first half.
You must be registered for see images attach
Another notable standout was Hoffman, the junior tight end. Previously described as more as a fullback and blocker, Hoffman's hands were on display in a major way. At first, he was a security blanket for Underwood, catching a pass underneath for a 12-yard pick up on third-and-8 to set up first and goal. Later, he had catches of 6 and 7 yards, another for 9 yards and then on fourth-and-2, caught an 11-yard slant which set up the Blue team's first touchdown of the day.
In the fourth quarter, Hoffman caught a 16 yard dump down on third-and-12 to move the sticks once more.
Hoffman finished with seven catches for 149 yards and a touchdown.
Elsewhere, Bryson Kuzdzal turned heads as a potential third running back option. He ran hard, particularly early in the second half, ripping off gains of 14 and later 31 yards which included a nice stiff arm on Tevis Metcalf as he rumbled up field.
Jadyn Davis, meanwhile, completed 6 of 17 passes for 75 yards and two interceptions, the first on a telegraphed out-route, the next on an overthrown ball, both passes were picked off by Jeremiah Lowe. Davis looked a little better than those numbers indicated and extended plays at times, but he too struggled to connect on anything down field except one 20-yard pass to Logan Forbes in the fourth quarter which was tipped, yet still completed.
What's the major takeaway?
It's hard to take away much from the spring game, when coaches don't want to give away too much of their playbook and a number of expected key players like Haynes and Jordan Marshall are limited to the first quarter and others like Marlin Klein didn't see any action at all.
If one thing is clear, however, it's that U-M is not afraid to throw down field.
That's the Chip Lindsey style of offense and that will only help U-M's run game if the defense has to respect the deep ball. It's spring, it's not going to look crisp, but the foundation that's there is at minimum intriguing, if not exciting.
Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football spring game takeaways: Bryce Underwood makes debut
Continue reading...
