Fri Sep 20 13:28:09 UTC 2024: ## Michigan’s Offense Struggles Against Arkansas State, Raising Questions About O-Line and QB Play

**Ann Arbor, MI -** The Michigan Wolverines eked out a 28-3 victory over Arkansas State in a game that highlighted several weaknesses on the offensive side of the ball. While the running game found success, the offensive line performance and quarterback play remain major concerns.

**Offensive Line Concerns:**

The Wolverines’ offensive line struggled to maintain consistency, raising concerns about their ability to protect the quarterback and open holes for the running backs. Despite significant improvement from the previous week’s game against Texas, the offensive line still fell short of expectations, registering a disappointing positive-to-negative ratio.

Several players, including center Gio El-Hadi and right tackle Link, struggled with missed assignments and poor execution. Notably, El-Hadi’s struggles were particularly concerning considering his experience in the program.

**Quarterback Issues:**

Quarterback J.J. Warren, starting for the injured Cade McNamara, struggled throughout the game, throwing three interceptions. While one interception was a result of a bad throw, the other two were considered egregious errors.

The coaching staff’s reluctance to utilize the more mobile quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, in the game, even against a weaker opponent, has raised questions about their trust in Warren and their overall game plan.

**Promising Developments:**

Despite the challenges, there were a few positive takeaways from the game.

* **Mullings’s Emergence:** Running back Blake Mullings shined with impressive runs and broken tackles, demonstrating his potential to be the team’s starting running back.
* **Charleston’s Versatility:** Wide receiver CJ Charleston surprisingly impressed as a blocker, proving to be a valuable asset in the running game.
* **Orji’s Potential:** While Orji didn’t see significant playing time, his limited appearances hinted at a possible future role as a dynamic running threat, particularly against teams that focus on stopping the run.

**Looking Ahead:**

With the game against USC looming next week, the Wolverines need to address the issues in their offensive line and quarterback play. The coaching staff must find a way to improve the protection for Warren, maximize Mullings’s potential as a runner, and determine the best course of action regarding McCarthy and Orji.

The offensive line’s performance and the quarterback situation will be critical factors in determining Michigan’s success in the upcoming season.

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