Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham has won a lot of games in his career, but all there’s been a lot of during his time at Michigan is ineptitude.
After Michigan’s 13-6 loss to Indiana, Whittingham made a few quotes that are questionable and lack a sense of urgency.
Pretty good football team?
Whittingham’s Quote: “If that’s the No. 6 team in the country, then we’re pretty good. We’re a pretty good football team, even though we’re sitting here at, what, 4-3.”
Trevor’s Take: No, that’s not how it works. Your offense isn’t even pretty bad. It’s one of the worst in the nation and one of the worst in Michigan history at this point. You are 4-3 for a reason. That reason is because Michigan’s offense is painful to watch.
Whittingham won’t say offensive coordinator Jason Beck is struggling
Whittingham’s Quote: “Well, last year, Jason was exceptional. And we had exceptional results. And so I’m not going to say that he’s struggling.”
Trevor’s Take: Well, he’s struggling and last year means absolutely nothing. That’s like saying you had a great steak at Outback last year and they’ve burnt it to a crisp the last seven times you’ve been there but the kitchen is still top notch! To say Beck’s struggling would be an understatement, yet Whittingham can’t even say that he is.
Whittingham’s evaluation of the attempted 3rd-and-goal pass to an offensive lineman that ended in a sack
Whittingham’s Quote: “No, that was not a good call at that point in time. Do I have the ability to overrule? I can overrule anything in the whole program. And so like I said, it circles back to me. But it was a very disappointing outcome and a call that I know Jason wishes he had back because it really was damaging.”
Trevor’s Take: If Whittingham can overrule anything in the program, why wouldn’t he overrule such a horrible play before the ball is snapped? Jason Beck continues to use the Rhino package (extra offensive lineman) and continues to tout that it has had been one of Michigan’s best formations — there is no best when you are No. 125 in total offense. All Michigan had to do was run it up the gut for one yard, instead Beck opted for trickery against a great IU defense. This put Tommy Carr in a disadvantageous situtation in his first career start. The Whittingham era has been defined by his inaction to this point in key situations. Why in the world would he not intervene? This play was that bad. In fact, it’s one of the worst plays I’ve ever seen called in that type of situation.
Whittingham doesn’t judge a season game by game
Whittingham’s Quote: “I don’t judge the season in segments or game by game. You just look at the whole body of work.”
Trevor’s Take: What?! Football is the shortest sports season of them all. If you aren’t judging down by down, quarter by quarter, and game by game, what are you doing? Michigan is seven games into the season, plenty enough of a “body of work” to make some harsh but true judgments. Two of which are Jason Beck shouldn’t be Michigan’s offensive coordinator moving forward and Kyle Whittingham’s quotes are not going to inspire the locker room. What’s going on? I don’t know and Whittingham sure doesn’t.