What they're saying after Michigan's 28-18 win over Arkansas State

The Michigan Wolverines closed out non-conference play with a 28-18 victory over Arkansas State on Saturday to move to 2-1 on the season, but a quarterback benching headlines the local and national takeaways from the Week 3 win.

Here is a sampling of what people are saying about the team’s effort heading into next week’s game against USC.

Ryan Van Bergen, The Wolverine Postgame Show

Michigan vs. Arkansas State reactions: ‘Expectations are now tempered’
“I’m glad we came away with a win, but I feel like it’s tough to be optimistic about how this team is going to look moving forward with what we’ve seen through the first three weeks. There were some positives from today. I do think the offensive line kind of got some rhythm in the second half and our running game got a little bit of rhythm in the second half.

“Defensively, we did a job. I don’t know how well we did it, but we did a job and my thoughts are kind of coming now to the realization that we have fallen from the top of the mountain a little bit in terms of the talent level we have on the field in terms of coaches that are familiar with who they have as their players and what they want to do with those players.

“My expectations are now tempered. I feel like each week’s going to be a new test, like you said, and see where we can grow, where we can develop. And I feel like we found a few things. This game wasn’t enough. There were some glimpses of an identity offensively and defensively. We played decent and I hope we can get up for USC because I think USC is going to be a huge test. We talk about each week being a test. This is a big one coming up and we need to show that we can be competitive in order to inspire some hope into this season.”

Chris Balas, The Wolverine

Michigan 28, Arkansas St. 18: Notes, quotes, and observations — the QB conundrum
Make no mistake — Michigan starter Davis Warren was one of the biggest problems Saturday, way too careless with the ball. Two of his throws inexplicably bad. 

Maybe a more experienced quarterback would have eaten the ball when senior Donovan Edwards missed a protection rather than throwing it up for grabs, but Warren panicked and changed the game in one terrible decision Saturday. 

The Wolverines had just gotten the offense moving on the ground behind seniors Kalel Mullings and Edwards, and they probably could have grinded their way to another score had they been more conservative. And while we understand the screaming about the play call on first down from its own 38 after 8- and 9- yard Edwards runs, here’s the rub …

This game wasn’t just about winning today. It was about preparing guys for the meat of the schedule and tougher tasks to come.

It would have taken a lot more to go wrong for this game to be competitive in the fourth quarter. But the Michigan offense needs to take step forwards to beat the better teams on the schedule — teams with offenses of their own, like Texas, USC, Oregon, etc. — and that means finding other ways to move the ball. 

This was the game we hoped to see massive improvement. Instead, we saw the turnovers, terrible penalties, turnstile right tackle play, veteran backs blowing protections … and what they really didn’t need, but maybe we all should have expected:

A quarterback controversy.

Scott Dochterman, The Athletic

Five things we learned about the College Football Playoff race in Week 3: How underrated is Tennessee?
Iowa and Michigan were expected to contend for CFP spots, but neither have reached anywhere near the consistency necessary to reach that level. Wolverines quarterback Davis Warren was 11-of-14 passing in a 28-18 win against Arkansas State, but all three incompletions were interceptions. Michigan did run for 301 yards, however. Iowa is similar despite gaining 284 rushing yards in a 38-21 win against Troy. The Hawkeyes’ defense allowed three scores of at least 60 yards, including two passes. Last year, Iowa allowed just two all season.

When it comes to the eye test, only Ohio State and Oregon measure up to the SEC’s upper crust, although USC did beat No. 16 LSU 27-20 in Las Vegas. Perhaps Penn State in the future shows last week’s performance was a one-off situation or Nebraska keeps building momentum behind true freshman quarterback  Dylan Raiola. Maybe Iowa and Michigan become more consistent or USC proves its defensive strides are for real. But it might take some convincing that more than two teams are CFP worthy based on what the SEC brings to the table.

Austin Meek, The Athletic

Davis Warren or Alex Orji? Michigan still has QB questions despite win over Arkansas State
After the loss to Texas, Moore was emphatic about the importance of establishing the downhill running game. The Wolverines did that with Kalel Mullings, who had three runs of 30 yards or more as part of career-best performance. Donovan Edwards chipped in 82 yards on 17 carries as the Wolverines finished with 301 yards on the ground.

“(Mullings) had 153 yards and averaged 10 yards a carry,” Moore said. “The guy’s just a workhorse. Donovan’s no slouch — he ran hard and physical — but Kalel just made some big plays when it was there.”

Inconsistencies up front have kept Michigan from establishing the kind of dominant rushing attack the Wolverines have been known for in recent years. The offensive line, though far from perfect, had its best performance of the season against Arkansas State. The Wolverines found success running behind Greg Crippen and Dominick Giudice, who alternated at center between guards Josh Priebe and Giovanni El-Hadi.

“It’s always good to be plus-300 yards in the run game,” Priebe said. “It’s such a great feeling to get that going and just impose our will and physically dominate.”

David Hale, ESPN.com

College football Week 3 highlights: Top plays, games, takeaways
The good news for Michigan quarterback Davis Warren is every pass he threw in Michigan’s 28-18 win over Arkansas State on Saturday was caught.

The bad news is, three of them were caught by Arkansas State players.

Here’s where we are with the defending champs: After decades rotating through a carousel of quarterbacks who won their position by finding a golden ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were treated to two seasons of J.J. McCarthy and thought perhaps things had changed for good. Instead, Warren is averaging 6.1 yards per pass with two touchdowns and six picks through three games.

Now, USC is on deck next week, and Michigan is left trying to find an answer between Warren or Alex Orji or to hope there’s another QB stashed in Jim Harbaugh’s abandoned storage locker behind those boxes labeled “signals for every opponent, 2020-2023.”

John Niyo, The Detroit News

Niyo: Three games into season, Michigan needs to make change at quarterback
Two isn’t always better than one. But at least it gives you options.

And therein lies the dilemma now for Michigan coach Sherrone Moore, who has a decision to make about his quarterback a month into this season.

Is it time to turn to Alex Orji?

That certainly seems to be the way this is headed — or should be, anyway — after Moore opted to bench starter Davis Warren in the third quarter of Saturday’s 28-18 win over Arkansas State at Michigan Stadium.

This game wasn’t as close as the final score indicated. But that had as much to do with the turnovers Warren committed Saturday — three interceptions, one in each of the first three quarters — as any problems the Wolverines’ third-string defense had in the fourth quarter, when the Red Wolves scored two touchdowns in the final 6 minutes.

And given the circumstances here, with a home date against USC looming on the schedule and Michigan’s best receiving option, Colston Loveland, leaving this game with what could be a significant shoulder injury, it’d make sense for Moore to give Orji the starting nod next weekend.

He’s not the only option, but he’s probably the best one at the moment, based on what we’ve seen from Michigan’s offense thus far.

Isaiah Hole, Wolverines Wire

Five takeaways from Michigan football win vs. Arkansas State
Warren threw three interceptions in the game, which certainly affected the rout that appeared to be on. Oddly, not one Warren pass hit the ground as he ended up going 11-for-14 with the three credited incompletions being the three interceptions.

Alex Orji finally came in in the second half and played well, though he wasn’t asked to throw the ball much. He went 2-for-4 for 10 yards and one touchdown.

It perhaps wasn’t enough to start a quarterback controversy, but the turnovers just cannot happen. Against a team like Arkansas State, yeah, you’re going to usually be OK, but against just about any Big Ten team, three picks will likely end in a loss.

Warren can either stop the turnovers or Michigan will have to find someone else to pass the ball.