Sherrone Moore quick-hitters: Biff Poggi, 'coaching hard' this week, injuries, more

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Wolverines football head coach Sherrone Moore held his weekly press conference Monday morning of Central Michigan week. Here are bullet points on the most notable things he covered.

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Sherrone Moore quick-hitters

• Associate head coach Biff Poggi will serve as Michigan’s interim head coach during Moore’s two-game suspension for the Central Michigan and Nebraska contests the next two weeks. Moore said the decision was made because of Poggi’s experience with the program, his relationships with the players and so that the coordinators can do their jobs uninterrupted.

• Moore will be “coaching hard” during the week and will be in the building, team hotel, etc. until close to the deadline of when his suspension begins, which is 12:01 a.m. Saturday. He won’t be able to return to program activities until 11:59 p.m. next Saturday (Sept. 20).

• Moore has “no idea” where or how he will watch Michigan vs. CMU this week.

• Michigan self-imposed the two-game ban for Moore, picking weeks three and four as opposed to the first two. He said it was a collective decision with athletic director Warde Manuel and had to do with him being around a new team — with a new offense and new personnel — for the first two weeks.

• Poggi is with Moore in just about every meeting throughout each week.

• Injury updates: Senior tight end Marlin Klein is “looking better” and will practice this week. Graduate left guard Giovanni El-Hadi is “day to day.” Graduate safety Rod Moore has a “high probability” of making his season debut this week. Senior cornerback Zeke Berry suffered a “very mild lower-body injury” against Oklahoma. Graduate cornerback Caleb Anderson may return this week, and Moore is excited to get freshman cornerback Shamari Earls in the game versus CMU.

• Graduate quarterback Mikey Keene is available in games, but sophomore Jadyn Davis is still the second-stringer at the position. Keene is “full-go” in practice. He’s been working with both the offense and scout team during practice.

• Freshman cornerback Jayden Sanders stepped in nicely after Berry went down with injury in the second half of the 24-13 loss to Oklahoma. Junior corner Jyaire Hill is playing his best football, Moore said, and he’s looking forward to getting more healthy at the position moving forward.

• Moore said he gets recommendations on in-game decisions in real time through Michigan’s analytics. Sometimes, though, he goes with his “gut,” for example on situations when it says to go for it on fourth-and-5 or longer.

• “Consistency” was the biggest issue with Michigan’s offensive line against Oklahoma. All areas are something the Wolverines will work to improve, and it wasn’t “just the players or just the coaches” who were at fault.

• Michigan isn’t looking to “protect” any players except the quarterback, and the Wolverines “will be more aggressive” going forward.

• Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood is an effective runner, Moore noted, and Michigan wanted to use him that way against Oklahoma, but the Sooners shut down some of those opportunities. Moore added that if you run your quarterback, “you better have two.”

• What Underwood learned from the Oklahoma game: “The moment wasn’t too big.” He never “had that wide-eyed look.” To “trust himself and his reads.” He will make plays with his God-given ability, so not to try too hard to make them.

• Moore wants to use graduate wide receiver Donaven McCulley down the field more.

• The identity Moore wants Michigan’s offense to have: “Violent, physical, explosive.” He added that being consistent it important and that will improve as the season progresses.

• Moore is pleased with Michigan’s linebacker depth in wake of senior Jaishawn Barham having to miss the first half in Norman. He said “you don’t blink” no matter who’s in the game.

• Moore indicated that he will get more involved with Michigan’s offensive line, but that he has to focus on all areas as the head coach.