Jonathan Smith addresses challenge of preparing for Michigan QB situation

Michigan State heads to Ann Arbor for a Saturday night showdown in Jonathan Smith’s first time coaching for the Paul Bunyan Trophy. And that means prepping for the possibility of any of three Michigan quarterbacks.

With Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore saying on Monday he wouldn’t name a starter, the Spartans will have to prep for one of Jack Tuttle, Alex Orji or Davis Warren. But Smith is confident they’ll be ready.

“You prepare what you see on tape and we’ve got tape of all their players that have played offensively,” Smith said.

So far, Michigan has played those three quarterbacks heavily.

Warren earned the starting job going into the season, starting the first three games before being benched. Warren’s bugaboo was turnovers, as he had six interceptions and two passing touchdowns during his time starting, and never showed an ability to execute down-the-field looks.

Then Michigan turned to Orji, and the junior with immense physical talents guided Michigan to a pair of wins with an extremely conservative passing attack and protecting the football while sprinkling in the quarterback run game.

However, Orji’s leash eventually ran out and the Michigan coaching staff turned to Tuttle, a veteran presence who showed some of the best passing flashes Michigan has seen this season but who has also not played in a win yet, including his lone start.

And all this leads to Smith reaching a separate, but related conclusion: The Spartans better be prepared to defend the run.

Despite the ails in the passing game, the Wolverines have managed to sustain a fairly solid run game from the previous Big Ten title teams, averaging 4.8 yards a carry and just a tick over 180 yards per game, and more than a touchdown a game on the ground.

“Again, it is about a run game because this run game of theirs is potent. It can be unique in some of their schemes, they do a nice job with that and so it’s a physical brand of football that we’ve gotta get ready for.”