The chaos after the Michigan vs. Western Michigan season opener was wild, with ninety seconds ticking down and nobody sure who even won, but Michigan quarterback coach Koy Detmer had just one message for Bryce Underwood. Detmer, talking to CBS Sports, laid it out plain: “Give us a chance.” This wasn’t just a casual plea; it was a direct call after Underwood threw the first Hail Mary attempt so far out of bounds no Michigan receiver could touch it. The infamous ruling that Western Michigan’s Micah Davis stepped out before touching the ball, killing the play with one second left, just highlighted the night’s performance and Underwood’s real struggle to evolve as a passer.
The Footwork Fiasco That Sparked a Change
It’s often the little things, right? For Underwood, and frankly, for so many quarterbacks, inaccuracy begins at the feet. That Western Michigan game showed it clearly when, on an early third down in the second quarter, Underwood completely missed a wide-open running back in the flat who would have had an easy first down. That kind of play is exactly what Michigan is relentlessly trying to refine in him. It’s been a known thing that Underwood didn’t really have a true quarterback coach in his first year under Sherrone Moore, but Detmer’s arrival changed the focus. Initially, they leaned into Underwood’s strengths, which meant throwing outside the pocket while on the move. But a real pivot happened during the spring and summer, shifting the entire development focus to his game *inside* the pocket.
Building a Pocket Passer From The Ground Up
Detmer is emphatic about where the fixes start. He said, “Whenever there is any inaccuracy, I think it always starts from the ground up, and I think sometimes whether it be alignment, feet, shoulders, whatever that case may be, is where he can sometimes maybe be a little bit off.” The practice field for Underwood is all about creating maximum stress. They’re making everything as tough as possible, especially with the pocket work and individual drills. Why? Because as Detmer explains, you can feel that rush, that pocket collapsing, and it can mess with your feet, stopping you from getting into your throw. That’s where those maddening inaccuracies come from. So, every single day in individual work and full practice, they are creating those brutal, tougher situations around the pocket. The goal is simple: when game day rolls around, Underwood is better able to step into his throws and stay aligned.
And hey, the passing game might get a boost too. The emergence of another option at receiver, JJ Buchannon, who caught the Hail M, could certainly help spread things out. Michigan is expanding its offense, and how Underwood handles that new pocket focus will be crucial. They’ve got a Big Ten test against Iowa coming up. All eyes will be on whether this ground-up development pays off when it really counts. Let’s see if those tough practice situations translate to clean pockets and accurate throws against a stout Big Ten defense!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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