Michigan OC Chip Lindsey looking for answers at wide receiver: 'We need those guys to take a step'

ANN ARBOR – If the Michigan Wolverines’ passing game is going to take a step forward this year, a lot of things have to go right. None more so than the wide receiver room, which left a lot of meat on the bone in its performance last season.

Junior wideout Semaj Morgan led the position group with 27 receptions, while its yardage leader was Tyler Morris (248 yards), who transferred to Indiana this offseason. Michigan’s quarterback situation hamstrung much of the production sans Colston Loveland, but a renewed sense of optimism there has the team optimistic for a rebound.

But as far as contributors go, new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey says it is too early in camp too name any position battle leaders.

“It’s a little early in training camp,” Lindsey said. “But I think for us, we need those guys to take a step. But we also need to take a step at other positions to help them. Quarterback, offensive line, and being able to run the ball like we need to, to help take some pressure. But I see those guys pushing themselves to improve every day. [Wide receivers coach] Ron Bellamy does a great job with it.

“There’s competition there that we’re rotating some guys. And in training camp, you’re still trying to figure out your team and say, ‘These guys are good at these things. They’re good at those things.’ You try to get them to do them over and over and over. I think the key is what do we do well, and then how do we do it over and over and over? And then how does it fit that week, schematically, who you’re playing? Right now, we’re just trying to identify that.

“It’s good, you get a lot of guys a lot of reps, mix them in with each other, different quarterbacks and different lines. Then sit down and evaluate. Tomorrow’s an off day for the players. So, as a staff, we’ll be able to start maybe doing some of that. But really, we’ve had one day in pads, so there’s still a lot to look at.”

Michigan added two transfers this offseason in Donaven McCulley and Anthony Simpson, and a trio of true freshmen in Andrew Marsh, Jamar Browder and Jacob Washington. In-house options Morgan, Fredrick Moore, Kendrick Bell, Peyton O’Leary and I’Marion Stewart will also compete.

The Wolverines have a lot to narrow down to get to a comfortable, playable number.

“I think our goal is to have, if you were really trying to, if in a perfect world, you want six guys who you feel really good about playing all the time and letting them kind of rotate,” Lindsey said. “Hard for those wideouts to play 70 snaps a game, 80, whatever it is. There’s a lot of running involved in there. And here at Michigan, we’re going to go block some, too. So they’re going to have to be physical.

“So I think for us, it’s getting [Kendrick] Bell back, having the guys we had this spring. That was huge. That helps us some, I think. But at the end of the day, it’s a really good competition. And they’re being pushed on, ‘hey, do we get lined up right? Do we convert the route right?’ If it’s a choice route or something like that. And competition’s good for everybody. And I think that’s the key.”

Michigan is excited about what McCulley could bring as a veteran, though. He took ownership of the room this offseason and recently switched to the famed No. 1 jersey. Lindsey says they are pushing him as hard as they can.

“He’s a former quarterback,” McCulley said. “He’s got a good demeanor about him from that standpoint. I think, too, for him, getting here in the spring, going through the spring with us and getting the opportunity to learn the offense has been huge.

“He’s got a lot of talent. He’s rangy. He can run. So it’s just, for him, just becoming the best version of him, I think, is what we’re pushing him to be. And he’s accepting that challenge for sure.”