Sherrone Moore quick-hitters: Michigan's opportunity vs. Texas, Davis Warren's first start, an 'animal' on defense, more

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Wolverines football head coach Sherrone Moore met with the media Monday morning ahead of his team’s matchup with Texas. Here are bullet points on the most noteworthy things he said.

RELATED
• MMQB: The first impression for Michigan football, what corrections have to be (quickly) made
• Snap counts, PFF grades from Michigan’s win over Fresno State

Sherrone Moore quick-hitters

• Moore is “super excited” for the “challenge” of Michigan hosting Texas this Saturday. He said Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has done a “great job” with his team. He pointed out that quarterback Quinn Ewers is a “great player” with “fast” skill position players around him. The offensive line is “as good as you’ll see” in college football. The Texas defense “played really well” in a shutout win over Colorado State.

• Moore was pleased to see his players weren’t “scared of the big stage” in the opener against Fresno State. He aid the rhythm and momentum got going for the offense late in the 30-10 win but noted there are things to “clean up” with the run game fundamentals.

• Moore was asked what Michigan fans should know about senior quarterback Davis Warren, and he said he’s a “fighter.” Moore noted that Warren battled and beat cancer, saw his senior season canceled due to the coronavirus, walked on at Michigan, was a third-stringer but has competed and won the starting job.

• A former Oklahoma offensive lineman, Moore was asked if he’s heard from any former Sooners about playing rival Texas, and he said it’s important because he’s at Michigan — choosing not to look back at his past as a player. “It’s all about the Wolverines,” Moore said.

• Michigan players “come here” to play in big games like this weekend’s contest.

• The final touchdown-scoring drive against Fresno State helped the confidence of the offense. Moore noted that there were other drives where the Wolverines moved the ball, but they just have to “get it in the end zone.”

• Warren was “calm” and his “eyes didn’t get too big” in his first career start.

• Michigan has some “route detail things” to clean up with the wide receivers.

• Warren facing the adversity that he has helps him in his role as starting quarterback. Moore noted that throwing an interception like he did Saturday night “doesn’t compare” to the type of adversity Warren has overcome in life.

• Both Warren and junior Alex Orji, who played nine snaps Saturday, will grow in their enhanced roles as time goes on. Moore believes they can “only getting better by doing it,” and added that their confidence should increase, too.

• Graduate quarterback Jack Tuttle “will be back to throwing” at some point, but Moore didn’t give a timetable.

• Senior EDGE Josaiah Stewart has grown the most in that he got stronger over the offseason. Moore called him an “animal” and “everything you want” in an edge rusher.

• When asked why Orji didn’t win the job over Warren, Moore said he didn’t “lose it” but Warren was better — higher completion percentage, made more plays against the Michigan defense, etc. — and “took it and won it.”

• If Texas keys on and attempts to take away Michigan junior tight end Colston Loveland, who had 8 catches against Fresno State, the Wolverines have other answers, per Moore, who listed off some of the receiving corps and said the run game is also a factor. The Wolverines will “go to the next read” and use “a lot of other weapons” … “can’t take it all away.”

• It was a pregame plan to take out senior center Dominick Giudice for a stretch in favor of classmate Greg Crippen, who logged 13 offensive snaps off the bench. Moore thought Giudice played well “for a first start,” but said he does have some areas he can improve in. He said Crippen and Giudice will “keep competing.”

• Junior cornerback Will Johnson grew “as a leader” on and off the field this offseason. His work ethic is at a high level.

• Moore isn’t worried about senior running back Donovan Edwards‘ confidence after a quiet first game. He noted that Edwards had a longer run called back due to a penalty and said that it was “one thing here, one thing there,” as to why he didn’t have more production. He’s confident that “all those things will happen for him.”

• Moore didn’t have any concerns about the defense’s stamina in the fourth quarter against Fresno State, simply saying that the unit allowed only [9] rushing yards.