Offense Notes: Alex Orji, Wolverines 'all have to get better'

The Michigan Wolverines‘ efforts on Saturday on the offensive side of the ball were like watching two different football games. In the first half, we saw the recipe that it will take to win games moving forward with complementary football in all three phases of the game.

In the second half, there were issues on offense again, headlined by a late interception by quarterback Alex Orji, making his second start, that played a part in U-M’s inability to separate down the stretch.

Orji finished the day 10-for-18 for 86 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He has his limitations, but was Michigan ever thinking about making a QB change on Saturday?

“No,” head coach Sherrone Moore bluntly said after the game. “We just talked about trying to get the first down, keep attacking.”

It was technically a step forward from a performance that saw Michigan attempt only 12 passes and rack up 32 yards against USC. But there is still too much meat left on the bone, and Michigan knows that.

“I mean, the offense that we have and stuff that we have for him is wide open,” Moore said. “We’re just trying to get him easy completions and things that he’s really good at. And, you know, there’s progressions you just have to continue to roll through. And if he does those, it’s going to be even better. But for us as an offense, we want to be balanced. So we have to try to keep doing that as much as we can in different situations and we will.”

Orji’s interception had a pair of options open – Donovan Edwards wide open down the sideline, or Colston Loveland open up the seam. He chose option B, but threw the ball inside and without as much drive as the pass needed, resulting in the pick.

“Donovan was open,” Orji said. “I’ve just got to be better in the quarterback position right there. I owe him one. A better ball is a completion to Colston. I’ve just got to stay true to my training and find Dono on that one.”

Wide receiver Tyler Morris caught the touchdown pass from Orji and sees growth from week to week from the signal-caller.

“I think he did well,” Morris said. “I mean, it’s gonna take time for him to grow as the season goes on. Honestly, the interception, from my eyes, it’s not a horrible thing like people might think. The way I saw it as a receiver is that he gave Colston a chance. As receivers, it’s not always going to go perfect every time, but we would rather you trust us and give us a chance.”

Mullings stars again

Michigan was saved again by the heroics of graduate running back Kalel Mullings, who had 24 carries for 111 yards and two touchdowns. He rightfully earned his spot as the top running back in the rotation, and out-carried Donovan Edwards by a 24-9 margin. The Wolverines saw he needed more of an opportunity, and he rewarded them for it.

“He’s an absolute dude, Moore said. “Another 100-yard rushing performance. Obviously, his first start. His preparation isn’t gonna change, he’s going to be who he is. He just wills himself to some of those first downs, remind me of Hassan Haskins all over again. He’s unbelievable, gotta keep feeding him the ball.”

Mullings was told by position coach Tony Alford that he would be getting a bigger opportunity, but his approach never changed. He knew that his chance was coming, but did not change his approach.

“Coach Alford told me today,” Mullings said. “For me, I keep everything the same. I’m always preparing like I’m going to start, like I’m going to be playing every single snap of the game. Nothing really has to change for me. It’s just continuing to do the same thing I do every day.”

Despite being the hero once again, Mullings knows that Michigan has a lot to improve upon and wants to be part of a group that learns how to close out football games.

“We just have to find a way to strain in that second half, strain to finish teams, and like Orj said, strain to play a four-quarter game and complete the game,” Mullings said. “It felt like we were rolling pretty good in that first half, and really let them back into it … we just have to strain to be better, and to execute for all four quarters.”

Miscellaneous Michigan offense notes

• Michigan sophomore WR Fredrick Moore made his first career start in Saturday’s game.
• Freshman offensive lineman Jake Guarnera made his Michigan debut as part of the field goal unit.
• Mullings had two rushing touchdowns in three-straight games, making him the first back since Blake Corum (Purdue through Iowa) five games in a row last year.
• Orji’s second-quarter touchdown pass was the third of his career. Morris’ touchdown was the second of his career and first since his score at the Rose Bowl last year.
• Colston Loveland’s 84 career receptions are tied for sixth all-time for tight ends and his 1,112 receiving yards rank fifth all-time among tight ends at U-M.
• Loveland has led Michigan in receiving in each game he has played this season.