ANN ARBOR, Mich. — On Thursday, Michigan football running back Jordan Marshall called the offense ‘scary’ — in a good way — noting that, unlike last year in fall camp, the offense is getting the better of the defense.
Of course, there is an expected uptick with a new offensive coordinator in Chip Lindsey and a bevy of new quarterbacks, led by Bryce Underwood, it would be improved upon after finishing last in yards per play a year ago. But what if the whole of the unit isn’t just better, it’s a lot better, as intimated by Marshall?
The best people to ask aren’t the coaches or the offensive players; it’s the defensive players, who battle in fall camp against their offensive counterparts. Junior edge rusher Cam Brandt echoed Marshall’s sentiments, noting that the offensive improvement is helping the defense out, too — it isn’t just an aspect of camp where one unit is getting better or the most out of the other; there’s a synergy at work.
“Yeah, they’re definitely throwing some new stuff out there, some exciting things,” Brandt said. “It’s good to see how the defense is doing because we’re getting different looks. They’re throwing different looks at us, and that’s going to prepare us for the season.”
While running back, quarterback, and offensive line are expected to improve, wide receiver — even with the incoming transfers of Donaven McCulley and Anthony Simpson — will continue to be a question mark until we see it. That’s in part due to the coaching staff a year ago proclaiming that the room was more explosive than the national championship year — and results proved that not to be the case. So there are a lot of bodies in the room with potential, but no practical experience in-game to prove the point.
But Arkansas transfer defensive back TJ Metcalf shared three players that he believes will be key factors in the Wolverines’ offensive resurgence.
“Me and Semaj (Morgan) go at it,” Metcalf said. “I’d say Semaj, Donaven (McCulley) — Fred (Moore)’s been flashing. Really those three. I haven’t really competed against a lot of the other guys, mainly just them three.”
Morgan had a one-handed catch in fall camp that has been circulating across the internet. If that’s a sign of things to come, then The Big House is sure to be packed from the August 30 season opener and beyond.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan’s new offense, led by Morgan, McCulley, stuns defense in 2025 fall camp
Reporting by Isaiah Hole, Wolverines Wire / Wolverines Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
