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Bryce Underwood Is Still Helping Lead Michigan’s Quarterback Room
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- Bryce Underwood Is Still Helping Lead Michigan’s Quarterback Room
(USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
When Michigan changed quarterbacks at halftime against Penn State, quarterbacks coach Koy Detmer Jr. had two conversations to manage. Tommy Carr needed to be ready to take the field, and Bryce Underwood needed support after being replaced. Detmer said he was closely involved in the decision and that offensive coordinator Jason Beck communicated it to both players.
In his media session this week, Detmer described how Bryce Underwood has handled the weeks since. Underwood has stayed vocal as a team captain and given Carr another experienced set of eyes in the quarterback room. He has played enough football to offer a perspective that matters to a young teammate now taking game snaps, even as he prepares for his own next opportunity.
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Detmer also took responsibility for his part in Underwood's development. Asked what kept things from clicking, he said he wished he could have done more and acknowledged that he was still unsure exactly why the results fell short of what they wanted. He spoke about continuing to develop Underwood through individual drills and team periods, where the staff can coach him through specific situations while keeping him ready to enter a game.
That opportunity could come through a package of plays or a change during a game. Detmer said the staff would welcome chances to use Underwood in situations that suit him, while stressing how quickly a quarterback can be called back into action. He has seen Underwood stay engaged because he enjoys playing and wants to improve, an important trait when practice work may be his best chance to build toward his next meaningful snaps.
Carr's preparation offers a recent example of why those reps matter. Detmer said Carr had studied consistently since arriving and had shown an ability to apply corrections quickly. A coach could make an adjustment during one practice period and see Carr carry it into the next. By halftime at Penn State, Detmer felt confident that Carr could step into the game and handle the assignment. Since then, the coach has been impressed with how calmly Carr has absorbed new material from week to week.
The same emphasis on preparation extends beyond the top two quarterbacks. Detmer singled out Brady for his work with the scout team and said he looks for time before or after practice to work with him, with an eye toward spring development. Underwood's timetable is more immediate. With Michigan State next, he heads into rivalry week balancing two jobs that can change in the space of a single series. He can help Carr see what the defense is doing from the sideline, then be asked to go out and solve those same problems himself.
