Tag: Sherrone Moore

Everything Sherrone Moore said about the Michigan football offense in Week 5

Wealth of insight here. #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The offensive side of Michigan football is still a work in progress, as Blake Corum said on Saturday after the Rutgers game, but with the top run defense in the Big Ten in Nebraska coming up, the Wolverines have to be on their game.

On Wednesday, offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore opened up about where his entire unit stands, what’s working, where things are, and how they look to move forward.

He discussed J.J. McCarthy in Week 3, how the offense fared against Rutgers, the challenges posed by the Huskers, and more. Here is everything he had to say.

Five Takeaways: Michigan football wins Big Ten opener vs. Rutgers

Good, dominant game from #Michigan! #GoBlue

Michigan opened conference play with a 31-7 win over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

Rutgers opened the game with a long touchdown pass, but that was about all its offense could muster. The UM defense locked them down for the remainder of the game and even managed to get a score of their own on a massive pick-six courtesy of Mike Sainristil.

Jim Harbaugh made his return to the sideline, and while there were some hiccups, it was clear Michigan’s head coach was missed. Expect things to trend up from here as the Wolverines get into the heavy part of their schedule.

As the Wolverines advance to 4-0 on the season, here are some takeaways from the game:

‘Michigan method’ concluded on O-line, continuing at backup QB

Looks like some positional battles have sorted themselves out. #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Entering the 2023 season, Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh had said that his intention was to keep what he called ‘the Michigan method’ going this year as it had last. That’s a reference to how he handled the quarterback situation in 2022, when he started Cade McNamara in Week 1, J.J. McCarthy in Week 2, and decided on a starter after that.

The expectation was that multiple positions, particularly on offense, would be subject to that method of deduction in 2023: both offensive line tackle spots, perhaps center, and also for the backup quarterback position. However, we’ve seen no changes from Week 1 to Week 2 in the starting five offensive line, only a rotation at backup quarterback.

Jim Harbaugh said on Monday he’s happy with how left tackle Karsen Barnhart and right tackle Myles Hinton have performed through two weeks.

“Karsen’s kind of really done a great job, Myles Hinton’s done a good job at right tackle,” Harbaugh said. “The one we’re still evaluating is the backup quarterback and we made a mistake. Coach Hart put in Davis Warren ahead of Denegal. This week you’ll see, it’ll be J.J. and if we go to a backup quarterback, it’ll be Jayden Denegal and Alex Orji. So, want to get all those guys looked at in game action. Hopefully in this next game, but if not, I’ll have to carry it to the next one.”

Does that mean the starting five is set? Somewhat, offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore conceded.

For the moment, the starting five on the offensive line is as we’ve seen: tackles Barnhart and Hinton, guards Trevor Keegan and Zak Zinter, and center Drake Nugent. But Moore says that no one’s job is written in cement, it’s etched in sand.

“Yeah, like we always say that the depth chart flows,” Moore said. “So, guys don’t practice or play well, that next week then that can change. But for right now we have our starting five.”

For Moore, the way he looks at it is he has an embarrassment of riches in the room. If you want to be a starter, then you have to play the best. Certainly, the expectation going into the season was that LaDarius Henderson, a transfer from Arizona State, was slated to be the starting left tackle while Barnhart was anticipated to be in a battle for the right tackle position. The best five just turned out to work differently.

“Yeah, just there always is. It depends on how you perform,” Moore said. “Like I told these guys whenever I take over the line that first that first day in camp, I them him I don’t care who starts because I love you all the same. The five guys that practice the best and play the best will be the starters.

“So want to put out the five best guys that are gonna help the University of Michigan football team win. And that’s all it is. It’s not an emotional decision. It’s based on film. So whoever those people are, that’s who I want to be. Those five guys have shown to be the best five so we’ll just continue to work and see who the best five is this week and the next week in the next weeks.”

Fans will get to see the same five as the past two weeks as well as quarterbacks Jayden Denegal and Alex Orji — if all goes to plan — on Saturday night when Michigan football kicks off against Bowling Green. The game will start at 7:30 p.m. EDT and will be broadcast on Big Ten Network.

Michigan announces odd way of covering for Jim Harbaugh during suspension

Weird follows weird… No surprise here #GoBucks

As we all know, [autotag]Ohio State football[/autotag]’s main rival’s head coach, [autotag]Jim Harbaugh,[/autotag] will miss the first three games of this season due to a self-imposed suspension for allegedly violating NCAA rules.

What we didn’t know was who will be replacing him during that three game stretch. We do now, and it’s quite the odd way of doing things. The Wolverines’ official “X” account, the app formerly known as Twitter, announced that multiple of their assistants will share the duties.

Defensive coordinator, [autotag]Jesse Minter, [/autotag] will take the first game against East Carolina while special teams coach, [autotag]Jay Harbaugh[/autotag] and running backs coach [autotag]Mike Hart,[/autotag] will each have a half as the head coach while facing UNLV. Offensive coordinator, [autotag]Sherrone Moore,[/autotag] will round out the weird coaching carrousel against Bowling Green.

Honestly, given how odd that their head coach is, it makes total sense that the Wolverines would do this. To me it just doesn’t make any sense. They won’t be challenged at all thanks to their ongoing scheduling of cupcake non-conference games, but this is just a little on the strange side of things.

Typically, one coach takes on the responsibilities while the head coach isn’t available, but not Michigan. TTUN always has to make it different and here it is again, trying to reinvent the wheel when there is no need for it.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Contact/Follow @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Michael Chen on X.

Everything Michigan football OC Sherrone Moore said in his fall camp press conference

This will get you pumped up for the offense this year! #GoBluye

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan football is inching closer and closer to the start of the 2023 season and is now seven practices into fall camp. The season is but three weeks away, and the Wolverines are working to get their offense into the fashion they’ve designed during the offseason.

Jim Harbaugh said earlier this offseason that the intention is to be more balanced. On Thursday, offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore indicated that is, indeed, the case.

Moore met with reporters at Schembechler Hall for his first media availability previewing the 2023 season. Here is everything he had to say in his nearly 20-minute media availability.

Michigan football OC Sherrone Moore says the past two years of offensive line dominance is ‘the standard’

This unit is going to be stellar once again!! #GoBlue

Michigan football has had the nation’s best offensive line for two straight seasons. The Wolverines have won the Joe Moore Award the past two years after having outstanding offensive line play and the maize and blue are hoping to add another trophy for their line play in 2023.

Offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore spoke with Jon Jansen on the ‘In The Trenches’ podcast and the first topic of discussion was about the offensive line.

With Michigan winning the Joe Moore Award twice in a row, is there pressure on that unit to win it again? Moore isn’t worried about winning the trophy, but the level of play Michigan has shown the past two seasons is the standard on how that unit will continue to play while he is coaching.

“It’s just the standard,” Moore stated. “You know, not necessarily winning the award every year, but the standard of the level of play, we feel like we’ve raised the standard, raise the bar, and kind of brought it back to the Michigan lines of old and the great offensive lines that have been here. And that was my number one goal. When I took over the position, I told the guys that the standard that we’re holding ourselves to is not accountable to the greats that have played here. And, you know, that’s, that’s really what we’re trying to do and what we what we’ve been doing the past few years and that’s not going to change.”

From last season’s offensive line, Michigan lost left tackle Ryan Hayes and Rimington Award winner Olu Oluwatimi at center. But the Wolverines brought in three high-level transfers from other schools in the 2023 cycle and two of them figure to slot in at starters this year. Moore believes this is the best depth Michigan has had in a really long time and he thinks there are at least 10 guys that could start.

“Yeah, easily,” Moore said on the depth. “I think we’ve had really good lines in the past and the past few years, the 2021 year, I thought the line was outstanding. I thought we had our weak points at times, especially in depth. Last year, I thought we were a little bit better, and built it and we showed it but this year, I feel like both the first and potentially second, we just call it 1A, 1B because we feel like both groups are 1s and everybody knows that if you step in, you got to play the same level. So whether you line up with the first group or the second group, you’re all starters and you got to manage your way and attack it like that.”

With Michigan bringing in talent via the portal, the Wolverines didn’t lose anybody to the portal, which is why the depth is so good. Moore credits the culture on why the players want to stay in Ann Arbor.

“I think just what we build the culture that’s in the room, they all want to be a part of it, they don’t want to leave,” Moore said. “That’s really a credit to the players and what they’ve done and the standard that they hold themselves to. And they know that if they go somewhere else, they might not be held to that same standard. And they won’t feel the same way. Everybody loves winning championships. Everybody loves beating those teams that we know we got to beat and they love being a part of that. But more importantly, I think it’s really what the guys have done as a whole and as a culture in the room.”

One of those players that stuck around is Gio El-Hadi. El-Hadi saw playing time last year due to injuries and he played well. He may not get to start this season with the incoming transfers, but Moore said he just needs to continue to perfect his craft.

“Yeah, I think it’s just continuing to perfect his craft,” said Moore on El-Hadi. “The big emphasis for all these guys is to continue to study the game outside of football. So not just in the building but as much as you can outside and all these guys really buying into that. I get text messages and calls at night about stuff they’re watching, which is crazy sometimes I’m like, ‘Dude, it’s 11:30 and you’re texting me about this’ but that’s what I want and then that’s what they’re doing so I think for him just to continue to 1. follow those guys and watch what they’ve done to get to the level that they’re at, and 2. be patient and understand that your time as the guy will come but through just continue to perfect the craft and attack every day.”

Due to La’Darius Henderson, Drake Nugent, and Myles Hinton all coming into the fold, fans may not get to see the young guns that were a part of the last few recruiting classes. Moore was asked to share which young players had good springs and he immediately talked about the young centers, Raheem Anderson and Greg Crippen.

Yeah, do the guys — first of all start at the center position,” said Moore. “Both Greg Crippen and Raheem Anderson had outstanding springs. I thought both of those guys have matured mentally, but more important physically for the stuff you know, I watched — watch both of them walk into spring ball and just watch — first of all when you look at their backs, Herb emphasizes that so much the shoulders how wide they are, but also how much fast twitch and then more confident they are. I think both of those guys had a really, really good spring inside. And very excited about their futures and what they did. Those would be the guys that I highlight, especially in the interior and I thought Gio did a great job, obviously, Keegan and those guys who participated in spring ball did outstanding. But really those guys really hit it on the head and then the young guy Amir Herring he’s got a bright future. Still figuring it out, but he’s gonna be a really good player for us.”

One of the big competition spots on the offensive line is between Trente Jones and Karsen Barnhart at right tackle. Last year, Jones started the season, but Barnhart took over when Jones went down with an injury and Barnhart never looked back. Moore says it’s a tight competition for that spot.

‘It’s tight,” Moore stated. “It’s gonna be fun fall camps gonna be super fun. Like last year, it was a battle to the end. And then you know, Trente started it and then he got hurt and Karsen never let it go. But you know, right now it’s just it’s up in the air of who’s gonna be the starting tackle. People ask me that. Like, I don’t know. I’ll figure that out. I know we got four dudes, five dudes that could start at most anywhere in the country, and just excited to figure out how the pieces fall.”

Michigan kicks off its season on Sept. 2 against East Carolina at home.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbzardvge799bm2 player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

What J.J. McCarthy is doing in 2023 that ‘really changes the game’

Will he take his game to the next level this fall? #GoBlue

What Michigan football does in 2023, it will be largely a product of how much quarterback J.J. McCarthy stays the same, progresses, or regresses.

Of course, the hope is that he progresses tremendously entering his second year as a starter and third season as a whole.

Generally, teams that perform well over the course of the season and that win national championships have veteran leadership, especially at the quarterback position. McCarthy was still young last year, and still had the shackles on, somewhat. This year, though the Wolverines could still be quite run-heavy, the hope is that the former five-star signal caller takes his game to the next level and that the Wolverines can reach the promised land by season’s end.

Now, McCarthy has had a winter conditioning cycle and spring practice to differentiate between his first season as a starter and where he’s at now. How has he changed?

Offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore spoke with Jon Jansen on the ‘In the Trenches’ podcast on Wednesday and noted that some of the things he’s seen from the young quarterback have the potential to be game-changing.

“First thing is confidence, just his confidence,” Moore said. “He was always a quiet, confident kid. But now you can see it exuded in the way he just walks around, the way he approaches the film room, the way he walks on the field. When he gets out of the huddle or he looks to the sideline for a play, the dude just looks like he’s dynamic just in the way he approaches everything.

“He always had the arm talent, strength, and all that. What he’s done now with his body — started to form his body even more. But mentally into the game. He knows the playbook like we do. And I think when a quarterback does that — and he’s always around like — besides if he’s not in class, he’s here. So when a quarterback starts doing that, especially your starter, that really changes the game.

“And then from a leadership standpoint, he’s starting to take that ownership. And you know, he’s got it. We’ve got so many good leaders on the team. You don’t want too many guys talking but I always told him as a quarterback, you have the trump card to get it how you want it to be done.”

So, that’s what Moore has seen, what does he need to continue to see from J.J. McCarthy moving forward? Really, it’s quite simple: keep doing what you’re doing and trust in what you’re doing.

He’s seen tremendous progress from the Michigan football quarterback thus far, and he doesn’t see it slowing down anytime soon.

“I think just trust in himself,” Moore said. “Trust in his progression, trust all that, and just go with them — just like he did in the spring. You really saw that in the spring carryover from the fall. Instead of sometimes you felt like he was he’s out there just making plays, and now he’s going through the progressions, going into the reads, knows exactly where the ball is gonna go. He’s on time with his feet, and everything just looks so comfortable for him. It just looks kind of like he’s in a video game sometimes.

“So just excited to watch him do that. And to continue to do that as he goes through fall.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal title=”An offer for Wolverines fans” description=”For the best local Detroit news, sports, entertainment and culture coverage, subscribe to the Detroit Free Press.” url=”https://subscribe.freep.com/offers?gps-source=CPSMGMIDARTICLE&utm_source=smg&utm_medium=inline&utm_content=wolverineswire&utm_campaign=smgtolocal” button_text=”$1 for 3 months”]

Sherrone Moore says Michigan football doing creative things to get RBs the ball more

Started salivating when he spoke about the plans for this year! #GoBlue

When you have the best running back in college football and another who’s likely top five, you need to find a way to get them the ball. The problem? There’s only one football to go around.

That’s where Michigan football finds itself heading into 2023 with star running back Blake Corum returning and Donovan Edwards, who replaced him late in the season after Corum’s meniscus injury, set to break out this season.

Wolverines offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore was effusive in his praise of their capabilities. Speaking with Jon Jansen on the “In the Trenches” podcast, Moore shared what makes Corum and Edwards so good, and why they’re excelling where others perhaps are not around the country.

“The sky’s the limit, people say, it’s through that,” Moore said. “These guys are special. And everywhere — I was just watching some film of this past year. And just to watch the little things that those guys do that people don’t notice: the little cuts, little moves that make somebody miss on the first, second, or third level. They’re running over the guy, jumping over somebody, outrunning them. And then the ball skills that they both have are — they’re elite.

“So they’re as an elite as a group, two-tandem group, that I’ve been around. And even better human beings and workers and guys and leaders and everything you want. Like they’re just outstanding individuals, outstanding humans, and just excited that we get to coach them.”

So, how will Moore go about getting them both the ball?

He’s being a little mum about the nuts and bolts of it, but Moore says the Wolverines do have some creative ways they use to get both involved. Edwards, of course, can be an effective pass catcher, but he was limited last season with a hand injury.

“The cool thing is, it’s like there’s a whole bunch of puzzle pieces, you’re trying to fit them all together to make this masterpiece of what we want this offense to look like,” Moore said. “And when you have two dynamic players like that, you have to figure out ways to get them the ball in different ways. And obviously not gonna tell you how those ways, maybe we could talk about it off the mic!

“But I think we have some really creative things that we’re doing with those guys, because they are special talents. But at the same time being very smart with how we do it and when we do it, and how we’re attacking people. So just excited to put them in their different positions, because we’ll have a great plan and we’re starting that right now.”

Corum and Edwards might be the headliners of the running backs room, but the Wolverines have plenty of other capable backs to turn to, as well.

Moore is pleased with the progress of converted linebacker Kalel Mullings, but also notes Benjamin Hall, the former three-star freshman who wowed in the spring game, has the capability to really show out when given a chance this fall.

“Kalel Mullings obviously stood out,” Moore said. “He’s big, he’s strong, he’s physical. And he’s pretty fast. And he’s got tremendous ball skills for a guy his size. So very excited about him. C.J. Stokes is another guy who’s really coming on in spring. But this young Benjamin Hall kid, man — he’s got some dynamic abilities, very — built low to the ground, thick, huge legs. His legs are like Blake’s, maybe a little bigger. But he’s got a great future and excited about him and Cole Cabana, both. Cole kind of had some injury stuff he’s working through, and he’s getting better. And he’s fine now, but excited about those young backs.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal title=”An offer for Wolverines fans” description=”For the best local Detroit news, sports, entertainment and culture coverage, subscribe to the Detroit Free Press.” url=”https://subscribe.freep.com/offers?gps-source=CPSMGMIDARTICLE&utm_source=smg&utm_medium=inline&utm_content=wolverineswire&utm_campaign=smgtolocal” button_text=”$1 for 3 months”]

Sherrone Moore excited about Michigan football WR potential in 2023

#Michigan really needs this group to step it up in 2023. #GoBlue

Last year at this time, it had appeared that Michigan football had as deep of a wide receiver group as any other program. Many, here included, were looking at the depth and thinking it was finally the year the pass game would break out, especially with running back Hassan Haskins heading to the NFL.

However, Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards stole the show, as the run game continued to prosper, perhaps at the expense of the pass game.

That said, later in the season when the Wolverines tried to move the ball through the air, it wasn’t quite as explosive as envisioned, even with new quarterback J.J. McCarthy. It wasn’t until the Ohio State game, the regular season finale, that we saw that aspect of the Michigan offense click. But click, it did.

Now entering 2023, will the pass game be more of an emphasis? That will be dependent, in part, on McCarthy, but also the wideouts.

Speaking with Jon Jansen on the ‘In the Trenches’ podcast, offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore shared his enthusiasm for the pass catchers, noting that they have a chance to be special this year.

“They have the potential to be as good as any group in the country,” Moore said. “And it’s just on the continual work hours that they have and what they’ve been doing. (Cornelius Johnson) had an outstanding spring, fixed some things that he wanted to fix. We put him in a couple different positions to see how we would manage and he’s just a smart football player, savvy football player.

“Roman continues to be Roman. Fast, explosive, and doing all the things he’s doing. (…) And then, the other guy that showed up was in the spring was Peyton O’Leary, a guy who you know who really, really stood out and he did that all spring. So excited to see him get his chances and roll and just keep rolling with this group. The young receivers are super dynamic and exciting. So excited for the future of this group and where they are.”

With that in mind, will the offense change at all to feature the pass game? Corum and Edwards both return, and Moore is quite happy with the state of the offensive line, yet again.

He says that he likes where the Wolverines are trending in terms of the aerial attack, noting how much work was done in the spring. But there just needs to be more consistency from the position if they’re to do what he believes the group is capable of.

“I think we have areas that we need to fix, things that we need to be able to exploit defenses more,” Moore said. “And we got to be more consistent, whether that’s ball placement, catches, all those things. And that just gives you more confidence when you’re game-planning things. And I think in the spring, we fixed a lot of those areas, which is really going to help us when we get to the fall.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal title=”An offer for Wolverines fans” description=”For the best local Detroit news, sports, entertainment and culture coverage, subscribe to the Detroit Free Press.” url=”https://subscribe.freep.com/offers?gps-source=CPSMGMIDARTICLE&utm_source=smg&utm_medium=inline&utm_content=wolverineswire&utm_campaign=smgtolocal” button_text=”$1 for 3 months”]

Sherrone Moore unconcerned with fan opinion of offensive strategy

Just win. #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan football is entering 2023 with a national championship or bust mentality, which it should, given that it has the fifth-most returning experience across college football. The offensive side of the ball is particularly loaded, especially with J.J. McCarthy returning at the helm as the starting quarterback for the second-straight year.

But, Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards will also be in the backfield, which leads to the question: how much will Michigan run and how much will it pass on a game-by-game basis?

This week, offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore said that while the intent is to do both relatively evenly, whatever a particular game dictates is what the Wolverines will do.

“Yeah, we want to be balanced, be able to do both,” Moore said. “Really, the division is what our players are good at, what J.J. wants to throw. How we’re going to attack the defense every week is going to change. There will probably be a game we’ll run the ball more and people will be mad at us. And if it helps us win, we’ll be OK with it.”

The past two years, fans took to social media to voice their displeasure when Michigan started out being quite run-heavy, with the usual caveat stated, ‘This style of play cannot beat Ohio State.’ The first year, despite OSU’s weakness being against a physical run game early in the season, it made more sense. But the maize and blue’s style of play was capitulated by fans even last year until the rout over Penn State, when Michigan ran the ball for over 400 yards.

When it comes to fan opinion, Sherrone Moore insists that those who bleed maize and blue should just leave it to the experts.

“Whatever we got to do to win, that’s what we’re gonna do,” Moore said. “We’re not going to value the opinions of people that don’t understand what we’re doing. We’re gonna do whatever it takes to win. So whatever that is, in that game, if it’s throw, pass, we’re going to do. So that’s the vision and built it around our players.”

As shown late in the season last year, Michigan does have the ability to do both run and pass, and while it would behoove the Wolverines to pass more given the talent it has at quarterback and receiver, if they can run the ball, as expected, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see next season play out quite similarly to the past two.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]