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    • Michigan Wolverines Football is looking for more from receivers
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    Michigan Wolverines Football is looking for more from receivers

    Caradoc Wyn Posted on

    Ann Arbor – Since Michigan had a lackluster receiving game this season, it was more of a chicken-and-egg dilemma. Is the receivers’ lack of performance due to the three-quarterback carousel? Or is it something inherent in the recipients, such as B. Routing issues or inability to create separation?

    The answer is probably somewhere in the middle.

    After Michigan’s loss at Illinois last weekend, its second in a row, players spoke of the deficiencies being “minor things” across the board. As the Wolverines (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) prepare to face Michigan State (4-3, 2-2) in the annual Paul Bunyan Trophy game on Saturday night at Michigan Stadium, they are still trying to Find out which of the three quarterbacks will start and figure out how to address the numerous deficiencies on offense?

    This also applies to the receivers. Tight end Colston Loveland leads the team with 344 receiving yards on 36 catches and two touchdowns. Michigan’s wide receivers racked up 342 yards and two touchdowns on 38 catches; Sophomore Semaj Morgan leads this group with 17 catches for 106 yards and a score. The Big Ten’s leading receiver this season, Maryland’s Tai Felton, has 64 catches for 803 yards and six touchdowns.

    “I think it’s obvious that we have to keep going,” receiver Tyler Morris, who has eight catches for 73 yards and a touchdown, told reporters Tuesday night after practice. “Just get the ball moving. Must be consistent. I think there were times where we showed we were hard to stop once we got going, but we had trouble getting going.”

    With 15 turnovers, including nine interceptions, Michigan is among the worst in turnovers this season. Those were drive-killers and, as Morris said, prevented the team from finding a groove on offense.

    “I think we just have to focus on the little things and just be ourselves,” Morris said. “Stay consistent, just do the little things right and just keep going. “When we get going, we can’t have little mistakes or things that set us back.”

    That’s easier said than done. At Michigan, Davis Warren started at quarterback in the first three games, Alex Orji in the next three and Jack Tuttle at Illinois. This is certainly not ideal for an offensive. Michigan ranks 118th in total offense (308.6 yards) and 129th in passing offense (128.3 yards).

    Last season with JJ McCarthy in charge, Michigan was led in receiving by receivers Roman Wilson, who had 48 catches for 789 yards and 12 touchdowns, and Cornelius Johnson, who had 47 catches for 604 yards and a touchdown.

    “We’ve been fortunate to have (McCarthy) the last couple of years,” Ron Bellamy, Michigan’s receivers coach/passing game coordinator, said this week. “They’ve had a consistent quarterback, so obviously the chemistry is there. That wasn’t the case this year. We had so many reps together that it’s not like the NFL where a quarterback goes down and you pick a guy off the street. All of our quarterbacks have great chemistry… and we all speak the same language. We watch films together, so there is continuity between the two groups.”

    Against the Spartans, Loveland said the Wolverines have to take what the MSU defense gives them.

    “The simple finishes, the simple things get us going, get us in the rhythm,” Loveland said on the “Inside Michigan Football” radio show Monday night.

    But it wasn’t consistent to open up to these simple completions either. Bellamy, a former Michigan receiver, was asked Wednesday if receivers seemed to be having trouble creating separation this season.

    “You’re asking if the boys are opening? “That’s what you’re asking?” Bellamy said. “They do. Yes, they do.”

    But Bellamy was less clear about what the problems were and how to fix them. He mentioned several times the goal of players playing like “one in 11.”

    “We have to be better just defending, throwing and catching together, quarterback and receiver,” Bellamy said. “An eleventh. There’s a glitch somewhere and it needs to get better. I won’t shy away from it and will give you my honest assessment of what I see.”

    Bellamy said he didn’t “do enough” as a coach to get more production from the receivers. He mentioned getting players to play with more detail and confidence.

    “As a coach, the kid is a reflection of you as a coach,” Bellamy said when asked how he can do more to prepare his position group. “If you don’t make it, I’ll coach it or allow it to happen, and I’m too proud of this place. I love this place. I love Michigan. I love Michigan football. And I’m going to work my butt off. I’ll do whatever we need to do, not just myself, but all of us coaches, staff, players, just to make sure everything goes right.

    “We don’t like how it feels. This is not what we are used to. This is not what the program is based on, and believe me, we are working hard to fix this problem.”

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    Caradoc Wyn
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