The 3-2-1: Michigan QB battle rumblings, positions on the rise, and more

Michigan is preparing for the season-opener with Fresno State Aug. 31, in pads and hitting. The too-early returns indicate this team is going to be pretty damn good again, with championship DNA and a lot (a LOT) of talent on both sides of the ball. As we’ve said, the ceiling is probably going to come down to quarterback play.

Here are three thoughts on the QB competition after 7 practices, two position groups we expect to exceed expectations, and one prediction.

Three thoughts on the current Michigan quarterback battle

3. The consternation over who the starting quarterback is for the opener vs. Fresno State is actually pointless. It doesn’t really matter who takes the first snap … it’s who proves himself and wins the job. Cade McNamara earned the right game one two years ago, for example, but it took one start for J.J. McCarthy to supplant him and earn the starting nod.

The expectation here is that Alex Orji takes the first snap against Fresno State … the hope here is that he takes the job and runs with it. As we’ve reported now from our sources and then Quinten Johnson today, former walk-on Davis Warren is probably the best passer so far in camp. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’s the best quarterback, though — you’ve got to do it in games.

But even if Orji plays well, that doesn’t mean the competition is over, because …

2. First games can be fool’s gold. See Joe Milton vs. Minnesota during the COVID year. We were all excited (yes, even us) at Milton’s potential after that one. We ignored the fact that Gophers coach P.J. Fleck all but admitted he was treating the season like an exhibition (and his team played like it) and got too excited about one performance.

We all remember how that tire fire turned out. Yes, it was essentially an exhibition season — that was an asterisk year if there ever was one — and Milton faded, eventually losing out to McNamara. We go back to John Navarre against Bowling Green, too, several years ago when Drew Henson was hurt. He threw for four scores — later, he struggled mightily at UCLA.

We want to see a handful of games before we really feel comfortable saying, “he’s the guy.” And again, a platoon wouldn’t surprise.

1.” If it’s (whoever wins the battle), we’re screwed” is one of the sillier message board arguments this time of year. We’ve said it many times — Wilton Speight, Brian Griese, Jake Rudock, etc. … all had been written off at one point, only to greatly exceed expectations. Guys can improve, and to say “we know who Davis Warren or Jack Tuttle are” doesn’t make sense.

Warren, in particular, has had very little opportunity to show what he can do. Tuttle can make the throws and has experience. He could come on strong (if he can stay healthy).

We understand why everyone wants Orji to win the competition. He’s a special athlete. Hell, we’re in that boat, too. Ultimately, though, you want the guy who gives you the best chance to win, and the Michigan coaches are smart enough to figure that out. Sherrone Moore and Kirk Campbell know what they’re doing, and they’re going to do just that.

Two Michigan position groups we expect to exceed expectations

2. The wide receivers. Michigan junior Tyler Morris is a Ronnie Bell clone, and he’s going to be a handful. He’s soft spoken but extremely talented — there’s a reason he was a top 100 guy. Semaj Morgan has a world of confidence and is ready to take the next step, and we like tight end Colston Loveland as a “big receiver type.” As we’ve reported, they’ll split him out more this year — one poster in chat said last year they were 7-for-7 for 200-plus yards when targeting him that way last year. We haven’t followed up to see if that’s accurate, we do remember big plays when he was in that role.

It would be a bonus if junior Amorion Walker lived up to his vast potential, too. But … there’s talent here.

1. The offensive line. These guys came out for the first padded practice and were physical (more on that in Friday’s ITF). Wherever Brady Hoke is these days, he could probably hear it from there … and he’d be proud.

These guys have been waiting their turn. They’re hungry, and they’re talented. Expect them to move some people this year.

One prediction

Michigan will win two of three games against Texas, Oregon, and Ohio State … and please, football gods, let one of them be in Columbus. That might just break a fanbase that is slowly starting to come to grips with the fact that the Wolverines aren’t going to get the death penalty or vacated wins for “signgate.” They keep inventing new potential scandals, hopeful that something will stick.

We’ve already gone on record as saying Michigan will beat Texas. With the caveat that we concede nothing to any team on the schedule, we’d sacrifice a home loss to Oregon for a win at OSU, with a chance to beat the Ducks in a Big Ten title game rematch.

Sign us up.

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