Michigan is 3-0 heading into conference play, but the Wolverines should not feel comfortable with how they stand heading into the Big Ten schedule.
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The Wolverines earned a 29-13 victory over Air Force Saturday, but it was hardly a convincing win. Yes, games against option teams can often be tricky, but it wasn't Michigan's defense that had issues. The offense has yet to look anywhere near reliable.
Through three games against Florida, Cincinnati and Air Force, Michigan has 5 offensive touchdowns — three through the air and two on the ground. The defense has scored three touchdowns and Donovan Peoples-Jones returned a punt for a score against Air Force.
Clearly, the offense has issues, and a lot of the problems stem with quarterback Wilton Speight. Air Force quarterback Arion Worthman, who has attempted just 19 passes this season, threw a touchdown pass in this game. Speight finished with a goose-egg in the TD column.
This will be another week Michigan wins but the RZ numbers are terrible and Speight has been one of the most inaccurate passers in power 5.
— Russillo (@ryenarussillo) September 16, 2017
You're not going to believe this but Wilton Speight hasn't completed a pass in the Red Zone this season. 0-10 inside the opponents 20
— Jim Costa (@JimCosta_) September 16, 2017
Wilton Speight in the red zone like… pic.twitter.com/mr8cWL0duK
— Dad Jokes (@_DadLife) September 16, 2017
The quarterback that literally NEVER throws has more touchdown passes than Wilton Speight. Man, life is weird.
— The Wolverine Daily (@WolverineDaily) September 16, 2017
Wilton Speight's decision making this year has just been very strange.
— Pat Forde (@YahooForde) September 16, 2017
Speight has been inaccurate to say the least this year, completing 42 of 77 passes (54.5 percent) and failing to complete a pass in the red zone on the season until late in Saturday's game against Air Force. He completed 2 of 8 attempts in the red zone for just six yards against the Falcons.
Both of his interceptions on the year have been returned for touchdowns (both against Florida) and Michigan is a combined 16 of 47 (34 percent) on third downs on the season.
Michigan has some things to figure out on offense, and they'll need to do it quickly now that the Big Ten schedule is here. Week 1 against Purdue looks tougher than before the season as the Boilermakers have showed up better than expected.
Then it's on to Michigan State in a rivalry game, before Indiana and Penn State. It's no easy stretch for Michigan, who has looked great on defense but hasn't been able to get going on offense.
Jim Harbaugh doesn't have a ton of options if they decide to move away from Speight. Backup John O'Korn played briefly against Florida and threw a touchdown pass, but looked lost for most of his appearance. Redshirt freshman Brandon Peters was involved in a QB battle in camp, but obviously has no in-game experience.
To make matters worse for Michigan, running back Ty Isaac — who has been excellent for the Wolverines, arguably the lone bright spot on the offense — left the Air Force game with an injury. Backup Karan Higdon ran for 64 yards and a score on 12 carries and has both of Michigan's rushing TDs on the season, but Isaac is the tue workhorse. If he can't go next week Michigan could be in even more trouble.
Michigan is a good football team. The Wolverines have an excellent defense and a bunch of potentially great playmakers on offense in Isaac, Tarik Black and Donovan Peoples-Jones.
But if we're seeing the best of Wilton Speight, Michigan isn't going anywhere this year.
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