Michigan looking to avoid predictability with Alex Orji at QB, build off performance in pass protection

For the foreseeable future, Michigan Wolverines football will roll with senior Davis Warren as the starting quarterback and junior Alex Orji as the change of pace.

The Maize and Blue haven’t used Warren on any designed runs this season, but Orji has had 32 of them for 172 yards and also scrambles effectively on passing plays.

Orji was Michigan’s most productive rusher in its 24-17 win over MSU last weekend, with the 6-foot-3, 235-pounder going for 64 yards and a touchdown on 6 attempts. All 10 of his snaps came on run plays — 6 for him and 4 for someone else.

They worked against the Spartans, but a big question is if the Wolverines will be able to get Orji going on the ground even if opponents suspect a run is coming. In one respect, quarterback runs help because there’s an extra blocker, but on the other hand, opponents may sell out to stop it based on a lack of passing threat.

“That’s always a balance,” Michigan offensive line coach Grant Newsome said. “You never want to get into a situation where — with anything — you have a big indicator or big tendency. It’s something we were conscious of last year, and something that [tight ends] Coach [Steve] Casula has done a better job than I did last year with [senior fullback / tight end] Max [Bredeson]. Hey, every time Max is in the game, it can’t just be a direct fullback run, even though he’s obviously elite at it.”

For reference, Bredeson saw 238 offensive snaps in 2023 — 195 of which came on run plays.

Trying to avoid predictability is a constant battle for offenses across the country, not just Michigan’s.

“So it’s always a balance,” Newsome reiterated. “And it’s a balance with receivers and alignments and splits and personnel groups. That’s something you look at, and [offensive coordinator] Coach [Kirk] Campbell looks at, every single week in multiple different respects — looking at tendencies, looking at trends, because defenses look at them.”

Orji can throw, but he hasn’t been asked to very much outside of his three games as Michigan’s starter, against USC, Minnesota and Washington. In three games that he’s served strictly as a changeup of sorts (MSU, Texas, Fresno State), he’s attempted just 2 passes compared to 13 rush attempts.

However, Orji did connect on some throws when he was Michigan’s starter, even if the numbers were dismal for that role. For the season, he’s 23-of-43 passing for 148 yards and 3 touchdowns.

“The good thing is that it’s not like you’re bringing in a wildcat tight end,” Newsome noted. “He’s still a good thrower of the football. You hope defenses respect that, and then if they don’t, it’s on us to make them pay for it.”

Michigan gave ‘best’ pass protection effort against MSU

Michigan had gone 16 games allowing at least 1 sack until Saturday’s stellar performance against the Spartans, who didn’t tackle the quarterback for a loss. Warren was pressured, in fact, on only 14.3 percent of his dropbacks.

“It was definitely our best effort,” the assistant coach said. “Any time you have no sacks, no penalties, no turnovers, you feel good about it in that respect. Still stuff to improve on.”

This week, Michigan will take on the No. 1 team in the country, Oregon. The Ducks present a completely different type of challenge, too. MSU ranks 116th in the country with a 23.3-percent pressure rate, while Oregon stands 23rd at 34.7 percent.

Michigan will have to up the effort against the Ducks, who boast a defensive tackle in Derrick Harmon who leads interior defensive linemen with 32 pressures and multiple edge rushers who can create havoc. One of them is Jordan Burch, who has 5 sacks in as many games but has missed the last three tilts with injury. Burch returned to practice Tuesday and is ‘questionable’ for Saturday’s tilt at Michigan Stadium.

“Obviously, an elite player,” Newsome said of Burch. “A dynamic pass rusher, strong, all the attributes you look for with a good edge type player.

“It’s across their defensive line. Harmon, who we’ve obviously seen before at Michigan State, is playing really, really good football as well. We’re gonna respect them, but we’re excited to go meet the challenge.”