Sherrone Moore shares thoughts on Michigan offense after watching film of Oklahoma loss: 'Third down was the biggest thing' preventing rhythm

Michigan Wolverines football‘s offense sputtered in a 24-13 loss to Oklahoma Saturday night in Norman, with the Wolverines putting up only 288 yards and gaining 12 first downs.

Junior running back Justice Haynes had a 75-yard touchdown run on the first play of the third quarter, and graduate wideout Donaven McCulley pulled off an incredible catch off the back of a defender for a 44-yard gain, but Michigan’s plays in between weren’t all that successful.

“Consistency with execution in what we needed to do, whether it was the run game or the passing game, whether it be spacing in the passing game, whether it be timing,” head coach Sherrone Moore said of what the Michigan offense needs, while appearing on the ‘Inside Michigan Football’ radio show. “In the run game, just consistency with each guy on each block and knowing how to do it. Not really the what to do, but really the how — and executing that at a consistent level.

“So, taking a look at all that and all avenues on offense to make sure that we dwindle it down to the things that we’re really, really good at, and executing it at a high level.”

Even when put in fortunate situations, the Michigan offense failed to deliver. The Wolverines went three-and-out after junior defensive back TJ Metcalf‘s interception, and settled for a field goal following a muffed punt recovery by sophomore linebacker Cole Sullivan. Capitalizing off of opponents’ mistakes is something Michigan will focus on on.

“It’s a huge emphasis, and something we’re looking at as a staff to make sure that we fix,” Moore noted. “It’s always a continual process, whether you have a young quarterback or an old quarterback. Went through the same issues at some point with [former Michigan quarterback] J.J. [McCarthy].

“We will get those things fixed, and it’s all about what the guys can do well and do well consistently. That’s what we’re going to continue to try to do.”

Asked why the offense never got a rhythm, Moore said it came down to third downs. Michigan went 3-of-14 on the all-important down, failing to sustain drives.

“Third downs. Third down was the biggest thing. When you look at the third-down battle, they were 9-of-17 and we were 3-of-14,” Moore said. “So, you don’t convert on third downs and you don’t continue those drives, then that’s the biggest thing.

“Because you could have a drive where the first down goes for 8, the second down goes for 1 or 3, 3, and you don’t get the third down, then you don’t get the rhythm. So, you have to get that first third down to catch that rhythm of a drive.”

Oklahoma has a strong defense, run by head coach and play-caller Brent Venables, who’s won three national championships as a coordinator. The Sooners’ high-level outfit was certainly a factor.

“I think it had to do with, one, our execution, but, two, they did a really good job of the things that they did — and they executed,” Moore said. “In this game of football, we always talk about it, it’s not always the what, it’s the how, and how you execute, how you do things. So, we have to do those things better for us to be successful.”

Michigan’s offensive line was disappointing, allowing 10 pressures in the pass game and having an inability to open up holes — or at least create stalemates at the line of scrimmage — in the passing game. The Wolverines also suffered an injury to graduate left guard Giovanni El-Hadi, a team captain. He’s now day to day, with a timeline for his return uncertain.

“It didn’t really change what we wanted to do,” Moore said of junior guard Nathan Efobi coming in for El-Hadi. “Nate was always going to be the next person in, regardless of whatever guard went down.

“And he did a good job. Obviously, if he was as good as Gio, he’d be the starter, or if he was better. But I think for what we asked him to do, he did a really good job, and he’ll continue to get better.”