We can debate who should take the next snap all week. I want to talk about what happens after that snap.
I want Michigan’s quarterback trusting his reads and letting the ball go. I also want an offensive plan that helps him do it. Those two things belong in the same conversation.
Changing the name at quarterback doesn’t automatically make the next third down easier. A young player still needs protection, a clear read and an answer when the defense takes that first option away. That is where I want the discussion to go.
Give him a clear first answer.
I’d like to see an early rhythm: a manageable completion, a run the line can build on and a play that puts a defender in conflict. That doesn’t mean avoiding every risk. It means asking the quarterback to make a decision he understands, then giving him room to make it.
An incompletion isn’t automatically a bad call. A completion isn’t automatically a good one. I want to look at whether the play created an opportunity and whether the offense took advantage of it.
Have a plan for the smaller field.
Near the goal line, there is less space to work with. That is where I want the offense to arrive with answers instead of hoping something opens up.
My preference? Use motion to learn something about the defense. Make it defend more than one possibility. Give the quarterback a clear decision and an outlet. The exact call can change with the personnel and the look across the line; the need for a coherent plan doesn’t.
Hold the plan and the execution accountable.
The players have to execute. The coaches have to put them in position. We don’t have to choose only one of those things to discuss.
I’m interested in what changes from drive to drive. Does the offense return to something that worked? Does it adjust to a look that caused problems? Does the quarterback look more decisive as the game goes on? Those are useful questions whether your preferred starter is in the game or not.
I’m still behind this team. I want the conversation to be honest, specific and about the football. We can expect better without turning on the players.