Yo, did you *see* Michigan’s opener under Kyle Whittingham? Absolutely wild! They snagged the win against the Western Michigan Broncos at home, a Hail Mary from Bryce Underwood to JJ Buchanan on the final damn play. Talk about a heart attack finish to kick off the Whittingham era! But honestly, after that game, there’s a lot more to unpack than just the final score.
The Defense Stepped Up… Mostly
If there was anything to even remotely cheer for, it was the defense. Jay Hill’s unit did what they were supposed to, holding Western Michigan in check for most of the game. We’re talking some serious individual standout performances, no joke. Linebacker Troy Bowles was an absolute beast with 12 total tackles and two tackles for loss. Edge rusher Dom Nichols was right there too, racking up nine total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and two quarterback hits. In the secondary, cornerback Jyaire Hill and safety Chris Bracy also brought it, with Bracy getting nine tackles and Hill adding seven tackles and one tackle for loss. The Broncos only managed 89 passing yards and 132 rushing yards. That’s a solid stat line, and yeah, it was “just enough” for the win. But let’s be real, the fact that “just enough” was needed after *that* game shows how much work is left.
What the Heck Was That First Quarter?!
Okay, deep breaths. Because almost everything else was just a straight-up disaster, especially at the start. Kyle Whittingham’s Utah teams were legendary for their discipline and fundamental soundness, right? Well, that sure as heck didn’t show up in his Michigan debut. On the Wolverines’ *first* drive, Bryce Underwood totally missed center Jake Guarnera’s snap! He had to scramble just to get the ball, then heaved a prayer to JJ Buchanan, who somehow pulled off an incredible one-handed grab to keep the drive alive. You gotta be kidding me. On top of that, there was an illegal formation penalty on the *opening* drive, and then another one on the *second* drive. And don’t forget the near Underwood interception on that second drive, which thankfully got reversed after a review. Then Andrew Marsh muffed the first punt return he got his hands on. Seriously? The sloppiness was off the charts.
This team has to clean up those bone-headed mistakes, and they need to do it NOW. Because next weekend, the Oklahoma Sooners are rolling into town. If they play like *that* again, a Hail Mary won’t save them.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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