ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- In the past few recruiting cycles, Michigan football has managed to get some higher-caliber wide receiver talent. But it's been a lot of selling something that hasn't exactly been working -- at least not to the level that most top-flight pass catchers gravitate toward.
Last season, the Wolverines had the 107th passing offense, and it was 131st the year before. Even in the three-year College Football Playoff run, the pass game wasn't exactly electric -- it was 82nd in 2023 (the national championship year), 83rd the year before, and, oddly, 68th with Cade McNamara at the helm in 2021.
Now, with Bryce Underwood at quarterback, the former top player in the country, Kyle Whittingham and company want to change the perception of what the maize and blue are capable of through the air. Wide receivers coach Micah Simon discussed how he and offensive coordinator Jason Beck have produced results, and that their past is something they're using to appeal to recruits who are interested in the Wolverines but are perhaps reluctant to pull the trigger.
"We're always going to play to our strengths," Simon said. "That's the No. 1 thing when you create explosive offenses. Whatever we feel the strength of our team is, that's what we're going to play to.
"A couple years ago in New Mexico, we were actually a little more balanced than people might remember. We had a 1,000-yard rusher at running back, a 1,000-yard rusher at quarterback. He also threw for almost 3,000. Had a couple wideouts that were pushing 900 and 800 yards each. So we were super balanced that year. Last year at the other place, a little more run-heavy. But when you have five senior O-linemen and two first-round-pick tackles that's what you're going to lean into.
#going #wolverines #we 're
Last season, the Wolverines had the 107th passing offense, and it was 131st the year before. Even in the three-year College Football Playoff run, the pass game wasn't exactly electric -- it was 82nd in 2023 (the national championship year), 83rd the year before, and, oddly, 68th with Cade McNamara at the helm in 2021.
Now, with Bryce Underwood at quarterback, the former top player in the country, Kyle Whittingham and company want to change the perception of what the maize and blue are capable of through the air. Wide receivers coach Micah Simon discussed how he and offensive coordinator Jason Beck have produced results, and that their past is something they're using to appeal to recruits who are interested in the Wolverines but are perhaps reluctant to pull the trigger.
"We're always going to play to our strengths," Simon said. "That's the No. 1 thing when you create explosive offenses. Whatever we feel the strength of our team is, that's what we're going to play to.
"A couple years ago in New Mexico, we were actually a little more balanced than people might remember. We had a 1,000-yard rusher at running back, a 1,000-yard rusher at quarterback. He also threw for almost 3,000. Had a couple wideouts that were pushing 900 and 800 yards each. So we were super balanced that year. Last year at the other place, a little more run-heavy. But when you have five senior O-linemen and two first-round-pick tackles that's what you're going to lean into.
#going #wolverines #we 're
4 days ago
