Although it wasn’t the smoothest start for the Michigan offense on Saturday against Fresno State, the Wolverines managed to secure a 30-10 victory. Davis Warren, making his first career start, completed 15 of 25 passes for 118 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. He had only a couple of poor throws, including an underthrown deep pass to Fred Moore that led to an interception. Given that it was a primetime debut, fans will need to be patient with Warren, especially with a tough matchup against Texas on the horizon.
The Michigan defense lived up to expectations. Despite some blown coverages, they largely held their ground. Fresno State managed just one touchdown drive; otherwise, the Wolverines were in control. They allowed only nine rushing yards and intercepted quarterback Mikey Keene twice. Zeke Berry picked off a pass on Fresno’s first drive, and Will Johnson returned an interception 86 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
However, the Wolverines have areas to improve before next Saturday. The offensive line requires attention, and Warren needs to feel more comfortable in pressure situations. Additionally, getting Donovan Edwards involved more would be beneficial.
Here are some important insights from the national media.
Stuart Mandel from The Athletic shares his final thoughts, noting that two of the Buckeyes’ anticipated rivals in the Big Ten didn’t inspire much confidence. Defending national champion Michigan was only up 16-10 against Fresno State in the fourth quarter, showcasing an offense that appeared to struggle after losing its starting quarterback and entire offensive line. Surprise starter Davis Warren completed 15 of 25 passes for 118 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. However, he eventually orchestrated a 75-yard drive, and Will Johnson’s pick-six helped the Wolverines secure a 30-10 victory.
Austin Meek from The Athletic discusses Michigan’s title defense beginning with uncertainty and quarterback concerns as Texas approaches. In an age where QB-hungry programs can utilize the transfer portal, it’s unusual for a team of Michigan’s stature to start a season with so little quarterback experience. Warren, a reliable backup, was never seen as the successor to J.J. McCarthy, while Alex Orji was viewed as a developmental player in need of improvement as a passer. Michigan opted to trust its internal options over those in the transfer portal, and it remains to be seen if that decision was wise.
Warren took the lead as Michigan’s starting quarterback on Saturday night, completing 15 of 25 passes for only 115 yards, along with a touchdown and an interception. Orji made brief appearances, running for 32 yards on five carries and throwing a 3-yard touchdown pass to Donovan Edwards on the team’s first drive. Regardless of who was behind center, Michigan struggled to produce big plays through the air.
And what about Michigan? The defending champs went to battle without Harbaugh or J.J. McCarthy or a host of other players who won their rings before leaving for the NFL, but the Wolverines won anyway, using their trademarked brute force to upend Fresno State 30-10. Sure, Michigan found its replacement for McCarthy when Sherrone Moore put on a jacket he hadn’t worn in three years and found $20 and Davis Warren in the pocket, but isn’t this exactly the formula we’d expect from the Wolverines? Same as it ever was.
No. 9 Michigan held a narrow 16-10 lead with 10 minutes left in their game against Fresno State, amid an inconsistent offense featuring quarterbacks Davis Warren and Alex Orji. The Wolverines managed just 269 yards, and the betting lines may shift more in favor of Texas as they prepare for their Week 2 clash. While Michigan boasts a top-tier defense, it remains to be seen if that will suffice against a challenging schedule.
For Michigan, this situation was somewhat anticipated due to the changes in the coaching staff and player roster following last year’s national championship. However, the quarterback situation appears quite chaotic. Former walk-on Davis Warren secured the starting position over junior Alex Orji, a former four-star recruit, which likely reflects the staff’s lack of confidence in Orji’s passing abilities.
Warren completed 15 of 25 passes for only 118 yards, along with one touchdown and one interception. While that was sufficient for the Wolverines to win 30-10 against Fresno State on Saturday night, it won’t be enough as they prepare to host the Texas Longhorns next Saturday at the Big House.
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