What they're saying after Michigan's double-digit loss at Washington
The Michigan Wolverines fell to 4-2 on the season in a 27-17 loss at Washington on Saturday night in a rematch of the national championship game from 10 months ago. A quarterback change and further questions about the defense headlined the stories coming out of the game.
Here’s a sampling of what the local and national voices are saying about the setback in Seattle.
Chris Balas, The Wolverine
Washington 27, Michigan 17: Notes, quotes, and observations – a spark, fire … and a dud
The Jack Tuttle era has begun at Michigan, and while it started out providing great optimism, it ended in way too familiar fashion — with quarterback turnovers leaving concern about the immediate future. This time they were costly in a loss, a 27-17 setback at Washington in what was a winnable game, even with all the injuries.
And there were several. Playing shorthanded, down two starters on the offensive line, several contributors on defense, U-M seemed dead to rights when Washington went up 14-0 with 9: 38 remaining in the second quarter. The crowd was deafening, the Michigan defense gassed from being on the field so long.
But what a difference the threat of a passing game makes. We heard a ton of “if Jack Tuttle is the savior, this team is in trouble” talk when the 7th-year senior was sidelined with a setback, but it didn’t take a savior to get the Wolverines back in Saturday’s game. It took a guy who knows how to play the position, has the instincts — and with respect to Alex Orji, that wasn’t him, and has never been.
At the end of the first half, in fact, Washington head coach Jedd Fisch said what even college football novices realized when he proclaimed they’d have to play “normal defense” because of Tuttle. In other words, they couldn’t just bring everyone to the line of scrimmage and play the run, try to make Orji throw.
Ryan Van Bergen, The Wolverine postgame show
Michigan at Washington postgame reactions: Glimmers of hope fade in crunch time
“It was good to see that they responded to being punched in the mouth. Start with something positive. Jack Tuttle comes in, the offense moves down the field, and finds some success. Donovan Edwards finally kind of emerges and has himself a series. And you kind of get this hope driven up in you as a Michigan fan that we’ve got a solution here.
“There were some things that we just couldn’t overcome. I’m sure we’ll get into a lot of the details, but, we missed Myles Hinton today and our offensive line has consistently has been what it has been. And to me, if we’re going to start somewhere, that’s probably where I would start is thinking about offensive line and how we’ve had those struggles and haven’t gotten better in that position.
“But overall, just to see the glimpse or glimmer of hope and have it pulled away from you that our offense is just going to continue to sputter. There doesn’t seem to be any real potential to raise our ceiling that we thought we saw from the first four games. Defensively could have been better, but when the offense is that bad, it’s going to be a long day at work when you’re playing defense.”
Jayna Bardhal, The Athletic
Vanderbilt’s historic upset of No. 1 Alabama, plus a spooky first Saturday in October
The Wolverines turned to seventh-year QB Jack Tuttle as their problems at the position continued this week. And while Tuttle delivered a brief spark, it quickly fizzled in a 27-17 loss to Washington as the Huskies got a little revenge after last year’s title game loss. While the offensive issues are a known flaw of the Wolverines, the defense’s rough start didn’t help their cause. Playoff hopes for Michigan (which entered the game with just an 8 percent chance of making the field) look like a lost cause with a tough schedule ahead and two losses already in the books.
Austin Meek, The Athletic
Michigan’s flaws on full display in loss to Washington: Takeaways from title game rematch
Michigan entered this game with a 4-1 record and a No. 10 national ranking, but anyone who watched the Wolverines realized they had issues. The quarterback situation was top on the list, and after a brief spark from Tuttle, it’s still there.
This loss all but eliminates Michigan from the conversation for the College Football Playoff — the Wolverines entered Saturday with just an eight percent chance of making it per The Athletic’s model. Michigan’s schedule gets significantly tougher in the second half of the season with games at home against Oregon and on the road against Illinois, Ohio State and unbeaten Indiana. With an off week ahead, Michigan will need to do some soul-searching and figure out how to keep this season from sliding downhill.
Isaiah Hole, Wolverines Wire
Five takeaways from Michigan football’s loss at Washington
Thus far, the defense has played some high-end offenses, but so did last year’s defense in the tail end of the season. And despite having many of the same players, this unit looks lost and without many answers.
Washington moved the ball with ease, Michigan failed to generate pressure, and all of the issues that the unit had against Texas came back early and often. Credit to the many times they bent but didn’t break, but they broke more often than they simply bent. Though it’s many of the same key players from last year and the same system, Wink Martindale needs to find some answers. Because both of his predecessors were better.
Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press
Michigan football, QB Jack Tuttle hope 3rd time hits: ‘He’s giving us the best chance’
Michigan’s handling of the quarterback room in the offseason seems questionable, with the Wolverines opening the season with Tuttle as the only player with more than 15 pass attempt at the Division I level. And the 25-year-old Tuttle has suffered multiple injuries.
But re-hashing old decisions likely — certainly — doesn’t help now. If there’s anything to be saved from the season, it’s by approaching the final six games with optimism: U-M can feature Tuttle operating as J.J. McCarthy Lite, leading a balanced offense with poise and precision.
“There’s always a sense when you’ve got a seventh-year guy playing that he’s got a chance to be good,” Moore said. “He’s played a lot of college football, but it’s our job to coach football and the doctor’s job to tell us when he can play, so that’s what we did.”
Shehan Jeyarajah, CBS Sports
The Wolverines have played with fire in nearly every win this season, but a double-digit loss to Washington wasn’t in anyone’s plans. The Michigan passing offense was bad enough that the Wolverines inserted seventh-year quarterback Jack Tuttle. Washington outgained them by nearly 150 yards and quietly diced up the UM secondary to the tune of 315 yards and two touchdowns.
After a loss in the national title game rematch, Michigan’s path forward looks much scarier. A road trip to Illinois next week won’t be fun, and games against Oregon and Ohio State were always potential losses. Getting into the top 10 and CFP conversation always felt a little tenuous, but losing to the rebuilding Huskies sets the floor far lower.
