Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood is known as a dual-threat type who can make things happen with his feet, but we haven’t gotten to see much of it through two games. Head coach Sherrone Moore said there would be more of it in the future, and offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey explained how Wednesday.
Through two games, Underwood has basically been a non-factor in the run game. Oklahoma, especially, had him under wraps for most of the game, both running and passing. The hope from the fan base is that it will open up a bit more in the weeks to come, and Lindsey provided some optimism.2026 four-star guard Willie Burnett breaks down Mississippi State decision2026 four-star guard Willie Burnett breaks down Mississippi State decision
“I think quarterback runs are in our game plan every week,” the Michigan O.C. said. “In fact, last week, I think three that I know of, but we had to give the ball just based on what the defense was doing. Another was a design keep run that we didn’t block correctly, but we’ll continue to have that opportunity.
“It’s definitely something we want to showcase when possible and when it makes sense, and Bryce is very capable of doing a great job with that.”
All you had to do was watch a Sunday night game between Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson and Buffalo’s Josh Allen to know what a weapon it can be, he added. But not all of it is scripted either when it comes to running the quarterback. Lindsey watched film of Underwood when the quarterback was at Belleville High to get an idea what he could do, and he promised to continue to build around his skill set.
“I think anytime you’re recruiting guy, which I wasn’t here during that process, but you’re saying, ‘okay, he’s really good at these things. He can scramble and make plays,’” Lindsey said. “When you watch football, like the Sunday night game those guys, those two quarterbacks are obviously probably the best in the world right now with Buffalo and the Ravens. What you see is they make a lot of plays off schedule.
“Bryce is very capable of doing that. It’s something I think he did the other night a couple of times. You saw that, I think the one throw to [Michigan receiver Donaven] McCulley and then one of the balls to the back. We probably lean more on what we’ve seen him do here than there, but it’s definitely a starting point for us, for sure.”
As for Moore’s comment that “you’d better have two quarterbacks” if you’re going to run one for fear of injury, Lindsey was careful in his response. It’s clear, though, that there’s a huge drop-off between No. 1 and No. 2, especially with Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene not yet back to full strength. The Michigan quarterback room isn’t deep behind Underwood.
“You’ve got to coach the game and play,” Moore said. “There are opportunities for [Underwood] to run that haven’t come up because I think teams expect him to run some. If you’re reading the defensive end and he stays in his spot, you’re not going to pull it and take the risk. You’re going to hand the ball off.
“But I’m very confident in the guys we have. I think Jaydn Davis has made a lot of progress. Jake Garcia and Mikey are capable. Mikey’s still working through his trying to get healthy, but no, I don’t think that’s a factor at all. I think the hardest thing coming from high school is learning in the game that guys are bigger … they’re faster. You’ve got to learn to take care of yourself, understand when the play is over, go down or go out of bounds.
“Bryce is making a lot of strides in that area. You saw him scramble the other night and, get down on the ground, which was really good … scramble, make a good throw to Donoven. But I think it’s just a matter of playing, getting him some reps, and again, getting in the rhythm of the game.”
Michigan took their first loss of the season in a ranked matchup at Oklahoma on Saturday. Even so, pending some offensive growth and improvement from the maize & blue, Greg McElroy isn’t worried about the Wolverines coming out of what happened in Norman.
On ‘Always College Football’ on Monday, McElroy provided ten takeaways coming out of week two. After first applauding the Sooners, McElroy’s second was that the Wolverines will be alright despite the 24-13 loss.
“Takeaway #2 – Michigan is going to be just fine,” McElroy said.
Of course, much of the optimism around Michigan relates to QB Bryce Underwood, the true freshman who made his second-ever start this past weekend against OU. As for Underwood, McElroy sees the potential already as a quarterback who “is going to be a star”. That said, McElroy knew that Saturday wasn’t their night considering the issues the Wolverines’ offense, at least at this point of the season, had against the defense for OU.
“Watching that game back? We’ll start with what they have on the offensive side, and we’ll start with Bryce Underwood’s performance. You’re going to watch and look at the 9-24 for 142 and you’re going to say, ‘That’s just not a winning stat line!’. But there were some really positive moments,” said McElroy. “There were a couple times in which he took advantage of Oklahoma, who would uncover when he scrambles to his right and a guy is open down field. That shows poise. That shows feel. A lot of young quarterbacks in that scenario? They become a runner and they never come back to being a passer. Bryce Underwood kept his eyes downfield, hit what would have been an eight, nine-yard run. Instead, it’s a 25-plus yard throw. That was really encouraging. I also thought he threw a really nice ball down the right sideline on the move as well. He also played and had some moments where he really felt like a freshman. There were some misses. There were a couple throws in which I don’t think it was the best decision to throw it in that direction.
“I think Bryce Underwood is going to be a star. I really believe that. His makeup, his willingness to cut it loose? Didn’t agree with every decision he made in the game. And I felt like the offensive play calling, for the most part? It was a little conservative. But, I understand that. You have a young player. You trust your defense. You don’t want to put too much on his shoulders. I think he’s capable of more. There wasn’t just a won of traditional drop back, read it out, pure progression stuff. That’s okay. It’ll get there. I know it’s in the offense. But, if you look at the Oklahoma defensive plan, they were completely selling out against the run. Most of the game, they had safeties that were playing eight, ten yards deep at the absolute most. And, the Wolverines kind of demonstrated a bit of a lack of willingness to just take some shots downfield. Maybe it has to do with the fact that they don’t really love their wide receivers. I think they have a couple guys that are alright. I don’t know if I’d go as far as to say any of their wideouts are true, game-changing difference makers, and that’s okay. That’s at this point. Maybe, here in two weeks, they develop a little more rapport, there’s a little more chemistry, there’s a little bit more trust that the staff has with Bryce Underwood and with that group as a whole.”
That’s now the one concern moving forward for him when it comes to Michigan. At just 23.5 points per game on an average of 6.0 yards per play, and at 7.1 yards per pass attempt by Underwood, McElroy wonders if the Wolverines are going to have enough firepower this season, especially with the run game, offensive line, and defense all in place around the passing game led by the Five-Star+ freshman.
“But, I kind of look at it, man? They’re going to have to be able to manufacture some big plays. They’re going to have to be able to manufacture off play-action,” said McElroy. “They run it well, they’re too good up front to not be able to challenge downfield. But, against great defensive personnel, how much will Michigan be able to move the football? If you look at some of the teams that are on their schedule, if they can’t develop a little bit more aggressiveness offensively, how are they going to keep up with the likes of an Ohio State, who we know, defensively, is off the charts good this year?…They’re going to have to score.
“If they want to win national championships, they’re going to have to score. Right now, there are some concerns about them being able to do that right now. When you look at Michigan, I think they’re going to have to be able to develop some offensive continuity. Because, if they can’t just break off 75-yard runs, will they be able to methodically move their way down the field? That’s something I look forward to watching.”
Michigan has a lot of promise based on what they’ve shown through two games with their new quarterback in Underwood. McElroy now wants to see how that, specifically in the pass attacks, developed throughout this season in Ann Arbor.
“I don’t think all is lost for them,”said McElroy.
