Experienced quarterback returning from injury could ignite Michigan football’s offense

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Michigan Wolverines football team’s fire is out on the offensive side of the ball, and they need a spark.

Reports coming into the season indicated that athletic quarterback Alex Orji was the presumptive starter. After two weeks, it’s clear he is not the guy. He only comes into the game to run a basic, predictable quarterback power play, which goes nowhere.

The most memorable pass he threw through two games wasn’t the touchdown to running back Donovan Edwards for one yard; it was the sprint right option play, where he bounced a pass to wide-open receiver Tyler Morris, and the rest, as they say, is history.

The fanbase (and now that he officially signed his contract) Sherrone Moore and his coaching is looking for someone to take their reigns as QB1 as Davis Warren continues to struggle through two games after surprisingly being named the starter ahead of the Fresno State season opener.

Read: Defense shines in season opener, leading Michigan football to victory over Fresno State

Yes, the line is struggling to make simple blocks, and the running game is ineffective alongside wide receivers who seem unable to create space down the field.

A change could salvage the season ahead of week three against Arkansas State but if it’s not Orji who only comes in one play at a time to perform a predictable run play then who?

When asked about freshman quarterback Jaden Davis maybe getting some run, Moore said they were not going to him after the week two humiliating Big House beat down.

“Um, no, the two picks, like I said, it’s a whole team effort,” said Moore. “The interceptions isn’t always on the quarterback. It’s got to be a whole collective on the whole thing, so he did a good job of putting the ball where it needed to be. The one throw that he had on the seem was probably his worst throw. The guy was open, but besides that, the two picks happened because one was tipped out of the receiver’s hands, and then the other one, we didn’t run the right route. So in that, he did a good job managing it, so we have to do a good job as pass catchers, too.”

Moore and his staff told anyone who would listen that they were not going into the portal but would instead roll with what they had in the quarterback room.

They told everyone that Orji and Warren were battling it out, but no one pulled away with the starting job. He even waited until kickoff to inform the NBC broadcast to give Warren the nod officially.

The real question is, why did he wait so late to name the starter? It sure wasn’t because of play, as Warren and Orji are struggling and seem unable to complete a pass.

This seems harsh, but we can only go by what we’ve seen so far, and so far, he hasn’t thrown a relevant pass through two games.

But maybe Moore waited until minutes before kick-off to announce the starter because of the health of seven-year quarterback Jack Tuttle.

Injuries have plagued Tuttle since he signed his letter of intent with the Indiana Hoosiers in 2018.

Reports indicate that he tore part of his UCL in his throwing shoulder last season, which is why he has been on the shelf until now.

“Jack’s throwing more this week, and it looks like he will be ready to go,” Moore said.

The 25-year-old is in his second season with the men in maize. He backed up J.J. McCarthy during Team 144′s historic undefeated season, leading to their first championship run since 1997.

Tuttle has completed 15 of 17 passes for 130 yards and one touchdown for the Wolverines.

Tuttle previously backed up Michael Penix at Indiana, so it’s safe to say that, with his knowledge and experience, he is the leader the Wolverines need to revive the season and put some juice back into the offense.

While at Indiana, he tossed the pigskin for 901 yards six interceptions and five touchdowns before injuries placed him on the shelf.

At this point, the team is 1-1 with no offensive identity, and as long as he stays healthy, he could be the spark that sparks the fanbase and his teammates to go on another magical run in the 2024 season.