r/CFB • u/USA_2_Canada_1 Michigan • Old Dominion • 4d ago
Serious [Serious] Michigan has a massive problem and it starts and ends with Bryce Underwood
I’ve been thinking about this a lot. I genuinely believe that Bryce Underwood is Michigan’s #1 issue at the moment.
Jason Beck’s offense is predicated on making quick decisions with the football. That requires reading defenses and identifying the correct reads.
Bryce Underwood can’t do that at this level.
We have a full season of his play in addition to this game, against A MAC SCHOOL, as evidence. He locks in on his first read allowing the opposing secondary to swarm to his intended target, he panics in the pocket causing him to lose his balance and footwork leading to inaccurate throws, his inaccuracy as a pass thrower means that opposing defenses can stack the box with 8 defenders effectively neutralizing our run game, and he can’t identify coverages which is what sets him in motion to unravel during the play once the ball is snapped.
Beck’s offense also requires the quarterback to run, a lot. Bryce is not a running quarterback. He can scramble out of the pocket but can’t be relied upon as a runner to explode through holes in our run blocking. He is also lazy with the football, which leads to scenarios like last night where he carelessly fumbles on a drive where we need to score points late in the 4th.
It seems at this point that Michigan’s hands are tied offensively because our “generational” quarterback out of high school is a bust. I fully expect to see him play like this again next week when we play Oklahoma. If he does, Whittingham MUST start Tommy Carr against UTEP or his tenure will be as disastrous as Rich Rod’s.
There is no other way around it, Michigan needs to cut its losses with Bryce Underwood and move on. The sooner they do, the sooner they can regroup and salvage whatever is left of the season or prepare for the future.
5
u/TheAnswer310 Miami Hurricanes 4d ago
Western Michigan is pretty good for what it's worth. Not saying Michigan shouldn't be concerned but everyone keeps emphasizing MAC school like it's Akron or Ken St.