Sherrone Moore quick-hitters: Blue-collar jackets, Michigan punting struggles, 'dangerous' Washington QB

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Wolverines football head coach Sherrone Moore held his weekly press conference Monday morning ahead of his team’s game against Washington Saturday at The Big House. Here are bullet points with the most notable things he said.

Sherrone Moore quick-hitters

• Moore on junior running back Justice Haynes‘ status after leaving the USC game early: “Good. He was better yesterday, so we’ll see as the week goes, but I feel good about it.”

• Graduate quarterback Mikey Keene was one of three quarterbacks to travel to USC but still hasn’t appeared in any games this season. Moore said he’s “healthy” and “we’ll see” if he competes for the No. 2 job this season.

• The message to Michigan’s team coming off the loss and heading into the back half of the regular season is “simple,” that the Wolverines have to “go back to work.” Moore said that’s why he is wearing his blue-collar jacket today.

• Moore said he will “challenge” the offensive line and other position groups this week.

• Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood‘s “poise” and “playmaking ability” have stood out in the first six games. Michigan put more on his plate with RPOs last week. Moore said he still has to become a better decision-maker, citing taking a sack to push U-M out of field goal range and throwing an “ill-advised” interception against USC as examples.

• All of Michigan’s goals are still attainable, but Moore and Co. are looking smaller picture — “our job is to worry about today, then tomorrow, getting better today and winning this game.”

• Senior punter Hudson Hollenbeck has been “a little inconsistent” in games but in practice is punting much better. Moore said he will challenge Hollenbeck this week.

• Michigan blitzed a lot against USC, and Moore was asked if the defense played too aggressively (63.6-percent blitz rate on passing plays). He said, “You could say that, but that the 19-13 win over Alabama last season featured a similar blitz rate.” Moore said Michigan just has to “execute” better.

• Offensively, Moore is pleased that playmakers have emerged in the first half of the season, including freshman wide receiver Andrew Marsh, graduate wide receiver Donaven McCulley and junior running back Justice Haynes.

• Sophomore running back Jordan Marshall “ran hard and physical, made plays,” and was good in pass protection while filling in for Haynes against USC.

• Underwood’s inaccurate passes typically stem from footwork not being ideal — “starts from the ground up.”

• Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. is “dangerous” running, throwing and scrambling.” Michigan has to “be ready” to face him.

• Starting in Michigan’s bye week, Marsh continued to make plays, but more frequently, and was better at alignment and knowing where to go. That led to him earning more playing time, and he’s taken that opportunity and run with it over the last two weeks.

• Senior linebacker Jaishawn Barham has moved to EDGE and “picked it up well.” Moore called Barham a “game-wrecker” and “game-changer.”

• The “vibes” in the building today are that the Michigan team is “disappointed,” but now that it’s been well after 24 hours since the loss, the team has to “attack problems, not people,” and “fix problems and move on ASAP.”