These are some of the biggest coaching decisions left to make ahead of the season.
Since Sherrone Moore was hired as Michigan’s head coach back in January, it’s been one test after another. With the departure of Jim Harbaugh, a new window allowing players to transfer opened up. In addition to securing his staff, Moore needed to convince a very talented roster to stay in Ann Arbor.
While the Wolverines lost some big names, Keon Sabb is the first that comes to mind, Sherrone Moore managed to keep most of the returning stars. Now with a new staff in place, he’s got a few more challenges as the season gets closer.
Here are some of the biggest coaching decisions for Moore to make his first year as the Michigan Wolverines’ head coach.
Choosing a starting quarterback
When considering the biggest preseason coaching decisions, selecting the next starting quarterback is top of the list. He has good players to choose from in Alex Orji, Jack Tuttle, Davis Warren, Jayden Denegal and Jadyn Davis, but it seems clear that Orji, Tuttle and Warren are the top three options.
Last week at Big Ten Media Days, Moore outlined some attributes he wants to see in the next man up at quarterback. First on the list? Take care of the football.
It looks like Moore will continue leaning heavily on advice from Harbaugh. It’s not like the importance of protecting the football is anything new, but in Harbaugh’s introductory presser for his current job, he said, “Always protect the football. That’s where it starts.”
While this doesn’t necessarily stem from quotes from Moore, there’s some speculation that one guy could start at the beginning of the season, but another guy could win the starting job mid-season. It’s just another element Moore will need to consider ahead of the season. He doesn’t have the luxury of an easy start like Harbaugh did in 2022 when he named Cade McNamara the Week 1 starter and J.J. McCarthy the starter in Week 2 before naming McCarthy the permanent starter.
Whether Moore names a starter for the season or says the quarterback battle will continue beyond fall camp, this is certainly one of Moore’s biggest challenges ahead of the season.
Keeping the team focused right off the bat
Michigan’s schedule features several big matchups, including the Texas Longhorns in Week 2. While there’s not a lot of concern the Wolverines could drop the Week 1 game to Fresno State — they are still favored to win the game by more than 20 points — it’s still important to make sure your team doesn’t overlook the task at hand.
We’ve seen top teams struggle in season-openers when big games are just around the corner. Moore will have to balance using time in fall camp to prepare for some of the team’s biggest matchups with the understanding that players still need to take care of business in Week 1 if they’re going to keep their goals for the season alive.
Deciding who’s returning punts
If there’s one major concern for Michigan this season compared to last, it’s depth. Michigan has talented players expecting to earn a starting position, but from the outside looking in, there are questions about the next men up.
In April, wide receiver Semaj Morgan was asked about guys returning punts, he listed off Fred Moore, Zeke Berry, himself, and even Will Johnson as guys testing out returning punts and kicks. Having a dynamic playmaker on special teams can make a huge difference in a game, but how will Moore weigh the pros with the cons?
While Michigan managed to win the Big Ten in 2021 without Ronnie Bell, he did receive his season-ending injury on a punt return. This isn’t to say Moore should or shouldn’t go with one of his high-profile playmakers on punt return, but this is an underrated decision for Moore and new special teams coordinator J.B. Brown to make.
Managing player health in the era of the 12-team playoff
The 12-team playoff will extend the season for teams competing to win the National Championship. While you might think it’s a long shot for Team 145, it’s still the goal. Moore made it clear at Big Ten Media Days he’s not content with just one title, he wants to continue to win it year after year.
This season, Moore will have to consider how he’ll keep his team healthy given the extended season, and we know that work starts well ahead of games. In 2023, the Wolverines pulled McCarthy, Blake Corum and other offensive stars early and often. On defense, players rotated throughout the game so much that everyone seemed like a starter. In his first year as head coach, Moore doesn’t have the same luxury since a much tougher schedule is on the horizon.
While the Wolverines still have some games they’ll be heavily favored, it will be much harder for them to go undefeated in the regular season. The good news is Michigan probably doesn’t need to win every game to be one of the top-12 teams. Does that impact how you manage a game and the roster?
Or, let’s say Michigan is undefeated in Big Ten play heading into Columbus on Nov. 30, but the Buckeyes have already dropped games on the road against Penn State and Oregon. Should Moore approach the roster for The Game differently knowing that even with a loss his team would still be the higher ranked team in the conference?
It’s hard to imagine the Wolverines wouldn’t put their best team forward in such an important rivalry game, but in a new era of college football, it’s something coaches may decide to approach differently.