It was a hot start to season for Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood, going 5-of-5 on Michigan's first drive for 61 yards. Underwood capped off the opening drive with a QB sneak to put Michigan up 7-0. However, Michigan's offense and Underwood became ineffective up until the last drive of the game. A 47-yard Hail Mary from Underwood to JJ Buchanan gave Michigan a 13-12 win, but Underwood's performance was largely poor.
Underwood threw an interception at the end of the half that netted Western Michigan three points. He also fumbled with two minutes left in the fourth quarter, leading to three more points for WMU. Underwood threw other passes into contested traffic and was fortunate to escape the game with only two turnovers.
Underwood acknowledged he "had a few" mistakes "that could have cost" Michigan the game. And while recognizing his play wasn't up to snuff is a good first step, is there any hope he will improve as a sophomore?
After the game, Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham was asked about Underwood's performance and called it "not outstanding."
Whittingham still held firm that Underwood "improved dramatically" during fall camp. However, Saturday's showing looked like more of what Underwood has been to this point in his career — inconsistent with sloppy footwork and mechanics. A quarterback who either forces throws or is simply too tentative.
"I'm not saying that Bryce played a bad game. This isn't on Bryce Underwood. It's on me," Whittingham said. "And I've got to figure out a way to have these guys better prepared and be able to get into a rhythm offensively. It's like we never got into a rhythm after that first drive. We always found a way to screw it up. We were like 0-of-5 or 0-of-6 before we converted a third down, I believe. And you just can't win football games like that. We were very fortunate to win, obviously."
Whittingham said he doesn't talk to Underwood much during games and lets offensive coordinator Jason Beck and quarterbacks coach Koy Detmer Jr. be the ones who are in his ear the most.
"Leave that to Jason Beck and Koy Detmer, the voice he hears all week long," Whittingham said. "And anything from me is just to say, 'Hey, hang in there, keep competing. You're our guy,' and just vote some confidence."
Underwood is Michigan's 'guy', but that could change with other performances that, as Whittingham put it, are not outstanding.
