Michigan Football: Would a change at quarterback help?

Chris Breiler | Sep 8, 2024

Michigan quarterback Davis Warren (16) is sacked by Texas linebacker Barryn Sorrell (88) during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, September 7, 2024. / Junfu Han/Detroit Free Press / USA TODAY NETWORK

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Michigan Wolverines

We're only two weeks into the 2024 college football season and many within the Michigan fan base are already calling for a change at quarterback. Senior Davis Warren won the starting job during fall camp and has looked a little shaky through two weeks, completing 37-of-58 attempts for 322 yards, 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. While his completion percentage of 63.8 percent is good, the Michigan offense has looked far from impressive through the air.

According to CBS Sports, the Wolverines rank dead last in the Big Ten in passing offense through two weeks, averaging just 162.5 YPG. That statistic wouldn't be as alarming if the Michigan rushing attack was as strong as many believed it would be heading into the season, but the Wolverines have also struggled in that area as well. Given the performance we all witnessed against Texas on Saturday, it's not all that hard to see a scenario where this Michigan squad suffers five or more losses this season if things don't improve quickly.

Michigan quarterback Davis Warren (16) looks to makes a pass against Texas linebacker Barryn Sorrell (88) during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, September 7, 2024. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

But is a change at quarterback the answer in Ann Arbor? Head coach Sherrone Moore doesn't think so.

“No,” Moore said when asked if he considered making a quarterback change. “The two picks, like I said, it’s a whole team effort. Interceptions aren’t always just on the quarterback. It’s got to be a whole collective effort on things.

“He (Davis Warren) did a good job of putting the ball where it needed to be. The one throw he had down the seam was probably his worst throw, where the guy was open. But besides that, the two picks that happened -- because one was tipped in the receiver’s hands and the other one, we didn’t run the right route. In that case, he did a good job managing it. So, we’ve got to do a better job as pass catchers too.”

Although most fans will likely push back on Moore's assessment that a change isn't needed at quarterback just yet, he's probably right. The reality is that the Michigan offense is struggling as a whole in essentially every area. The offensive line is still very much a work in progress, there's no marquee wide receiver who's a gamechanger at that position, and the rushing attack - something that is supposed to be Michigan's bread and butter - was nearly non-existent on Saturday. I'm not sure how a change at quarterback solves any of those issues moving forward.

With only 2 attempts through the first two weeks, it seems fairly obvious that Moore and offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell don't have much faith in Alex Orji as a passer. There are some who believe that a move to true freshman Jadyn Davis could provide a spark for the offense, but it could also mean throwing a young QB into a bad situation where every element around him is struggling. The only move that would make sense at this point would be if seventh year veteran Jack Tuttle were healthy enough to play. He was listed as "questionable" heading into the Texas game and there does seem to be some optimism that he can make a return this season. Until Tuttle is healthy enough to return on Saturday's, Warren will likely remain the best option moving forward.

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