MARK SNYDER: Inconsistent play makes U-M an enigma
In a Big Ten full of surprises, two weeks have provided little reassurance for Michigan fans.
Their Wolverines may be the most difficult team to figure out.
Cases can be made for the Wolverines winning the Big Ten title. Though they have just one dominant victory in five games this season, the Wolverines have shown enough flashes on offense and defense to make the case.
But the lack of consistency through an entire game begs the question: Are they improving or just surviving through two Big Ten weeks?
The week-to-week program seems more logical at this point.
Mostly because the Wolverines aren't sure what they're going to get and when they'll get it.
• A massive slate of injuries can, and will, draw most of the concern.
Michigan ended Saturday's win over Northwestern with its fourth-string right guard, Cory Zirbel, and the chances of the first three (Alex Mitchell, Jeremy Ciulla or Tim McAvoy) range from unlikely to improbable to unknown for next week's game against Eastern Michigan. Backup lineman Perry Dorrestein also missed Saturday's game with his own reported knee injury.
Their linebacking corps -- a major problem even when the Wolverines had the starters in the season-opening losses to Appalachian State and Oregon -- now is down two of those three players with John Thompson nursing a leg injury and Chris Graham leaving Saturday's game with his own, undisclosed injury. Starting tight end Mike Massey's massive leg brace in the second half and crutches afterward appeared ominous and a potentially major problem for tight end depth.
It's a ripple effect that has thrust countless young players into larger roles.
While quarterback Chad Henne's return and star performance showed that injuries do heal, returning one injured player while losing another forces a patchwork lineup.
• When the starters are replaced and young players take their spots, it's uncertain what U-M will get. Sophomore Obi Ezeh subbed for Thompson but spent much of the first half adjusting to the added responsibility of making the calls and playing his spot. Junior Carson Butler stepped in at tight end for Massey, but if U-M goes to a two tight-end set, the next options have seen little game action. That's not even pointing to the now-obvious difference between Henne and Ryan Mallett under center, despite Ryan Mallett's occasional flashes of success.
• Trying to plan around Michigan's offensive lulls could be the biggest challenge. The offense was often stagnant with Ryan Mallett instead of Henne -- four straight drives of four plays or less before a punt -- in Saturday's first half. Was that because Northwestern's defense was more intense early than late? Or because Ryan Mallett is still learning to make the right decisions and more accurate throws? U-M coach Lloyd Carr said Sunday on "Michigan Replay" that this week's quarterback decision will be made after evaluating practice. But if Henne doesn't regress physically, he'll probably play until Michigan can get a comfortable lead and rest the second half this time, instead of the first.
• The defense has looked much more impressive the past three weeks and can assume the primary credit for all three wins. With U-M's supposedly potent offense, holding three teams to 16 points or less should win games. But why does it take a first half of Northwestern moving the ball -- even if not scoring multiple touchdowns -- for the defenders to get that halftime surge the players discussed?
"I'm sure watching the whole first half will be frustrating," U-M defensive coordinator Ron English said after the game, saying they weren't physical enough before halftime. "One thing about this team is they want to be good, and they want to do good, but right now it's a work in progress."
That's fair enough against three teams with mediocre offenses.
But progress usually involves moving forward.
And, even after a third straight victory, it's difficult to tell if the Wolverines are swaying side to side or simply biding time to get healthy, waiting to deliver their own powerful punch
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