The Michigan Insider

On this week’s Michigan Football Breakdown, The Michigan Insider’s Sam Webb joins former Michigan coordinators Al Borges and Ron English for an in-depth look at Michigan’s 21-18 comeback victory over Penn State, the move from Bryce Underwood to Tommy Carr, and preparing for defending national champion Indiana.
(00:00) Sam and Ron English Open the Michigan Football Breakdown
(01:27) Ron English Reacts to the Move From Bryce Underwood to Tommy Carr
(05:39) Ron English Breaks Down Michigan’s Defensive Performance Against Penn State
(08:37) Ron English Names His Defensive Player of the Game
(09:54) Al Borges Joins the Show
(11:08) Ron Says Michigan’s Defense Got Better in Physicality and Tackling
(12:57) Al Borges Gives His Take on the Quarterback Switch
(18:52) Sam and Al Break Down the Rhino Numbers Against Penn State
(23:32) Al Notes Tommy Carr Threw Zero Drop-Back Passes
(28:01) Sam and Al Dissect Bryce Underwood’s First-Half Struggles and Interceptions
(30:58) Sam Asks Whether the Quarterback Change Was Justified
(32:37) Sam and Al Debate Using Bryce Underwood as a Runner
(34:02) Sam and Al Argue Over Rhino Efficiency
(36:47) Sam Revisits Bryce’s Composure After the Interception
(41:54) Sam Compares Michigan’s Heavy-Package Usage to Past Staffs
(45:05) Ron Explains How the Rhino Package Affects a Defense
(47:46) Michigan Starts Getting More Downhill
(50:45) Michigan’s Perimeter Offense and the Stretch Game Against Indiana
(54:28) Ron Breaks Down Penn State’s 16-Play Opening Drive
(56:32) Ron Reviews Penn State’s Two-Minute Drive and Michigan’s Defensive Call
(58:52) Al and Ron Question Michigan’s Four-Minute Offense
(1:02:27) Sam Clarifies the Rhino Comparison to the Harbaugh Era
(1:05:08) Sam Compares Heavy-Package Snap Percentages Across Seasons
(1:10:51) Ron’s Game Plan for Indiana’s Receivers
(1:18:00) Ron and Al Hand Out Their Grades
(1:18:57) Al Gives Tommy Carr His Grade
(1:21:26) Viewer Q&A Begins
(1:22:48) The Case for Starting Tommy Carr Against Indiana
(1:25:06) Al Explains How He Would Build the Game Plan Around Tommy
(1:29:19) Al on Using the Quick Game to Build Tommy’s Confidence
(1:36:31) Al Says Tommy Should Get the Same Leash Bryce Got
(1:38:27) Al Explains the Two-Quarterback “Deuce” Package From His Michigan Days
(1:39:41) Ron Explains the Challenge of Lining Up to Formations and Motions
(1:42:21) Ron on Defending Indiana’s Best Receiver at the Boundary
(1:46:05) Al Grades Gash’s First Start on the Offensive Line
(1:47:03) Final Thoughts: Who Comes Out on Top Against Indiana?
(1:51:24) How Michigan Creates Chunk Plays Against Indiana
(1:53:25) Why the Run Game Shows Up in the Second Half
(1:56:23) Al Borges Gives His Final Prediction
(1:57:56) End of Show

Michigan’s quarterback change sparked a dramatic 21-18 comeback victory over Penn State, but did the Wolverines find a lasting solution to their offensive struggles? On this week’s Monday Morning Quarterback, brought to you by Golden Limousine, The Michigan Insider’s Sam Webb and former Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson welcome special guest and former Wolverine lineman Jack Miller to break down Bryce Underwood’s benching, Tommy Carr’s impressive relief performance, and the team’s response to his emergence. The trio examines Underwood’s struggles, Carr’s poise, and the eye-opening numbers behind Michigan’s rushing success with and without the controversial Rhino package. They also discuss Jason Beck’s play-calling, debate the offensive adjustments needed moving forward, and assess what the quarterback change means for both players. Plus, with highly ranked Indiana bringing a formidable defense to Michigan Stadium Saturday, can Carr build on his breakthrough, and will Michigan’s offense be ready for its toughest test yet?

(00:00) Shea Patterson and Jack Miller Join Sam Webb for Monday Morning Quarterback
(02:19) Shea and Jack React to Michigan’s Dull First Half Against Penn State
(05:13) Jack Says Switching to Tommy Carr Was the Right Call
(06:24) Shea Praises Tommy Carr’s Poise as Michigan Brings Back the Quarterback Run
(07:32) Jack Explains Why the Team Rallied Around Tommy Carr
(09:55) Sam Breaks Down the Rhino Numbers: 48% of Snaps, Four Yards a Play
(11:27) Jack Explains Why Rhino Invites Extra Defenders Into the Box
(14:07) Jack Wants Michigan to Spread Out and Run Downhill
(16:54) Jack Previews Indiana’s Defensive Line and What Michigan Needs
(21:34) Shea Breaks Down Bryce’s Two First-Half Interceptions
(24:03) Sam and Shea Question Michigan’s First-Half Play Calling
(29:05) Shea on What Bryce Is Going Through After the Switch
(32:53) Sam Calls Rhino “a Piece, Not the Platter”
(37:16) Shea and Sam Praise Tommy’s Poise on the Corner Blitz Throw
(38:15) How Michigan Can Get Outside Against Indiana
(41:26) Shea Explains What Changes for Tommy When He Becomes the Starter
(47:45) Overtime Q&A Begins
(48:21) Shea on Whether Starting Against Indiana Could Rattle Tommy
(51:18) Shea and Sam Discuss Bryce’s Trip to an Outside Quarterback Trainer
(54:33) Why Michigan’s Second-Half Play Calling Worked Better
(55:46) Shea Says Bryce Should Stay Ready but Not Share the Field
(57:11) Shea and Sam on Quick Game Against Indiana’s Front
(1:01:18) Shea on the Pressure of Being Michigan’s Quarterback
(1:02:38) Will Jason Beck’s Play Calling Face More Scrutiny?
(1:08:55) Sam on Why Michigan Missed Its Chance to Hire a Veteran Quarterback Coach
(1:13:52) Sam on Downhill Running, Split Stretch and Less Rhino
(1:15:22) Why Opponents Keep Attacking Michigan’s Boundary Corners
(1:17:29) Shea Remembers Being Benched Against Wisconsin
(1:18:33) Shea on How Bryce Handled the Benching and Prepares This Week
(1:21:42) Shea Praises Tommy for the Throws He Didn’t Force
(1:23:10) Shea’s Score Prediction and Keys to Beating Indiana
(1:27:44) Shea’s Message to Tommy Carr Before Indiana
(1:29:10) Sam Makes His Closing Case Against Overusing Rhino
(1:31:42) Shea on How the Locker Room Will Handle the Unnamed Starter
(1:33:40) Sam Explains How Harbaugh’s Teams Used Heavy Personnel Differently
(1:35:29) Sam Wraps Up Monday Morning Quarterback

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz break down the Michigan football team’s 21-18 win over Penn State, in which the Wolverines switched quarterbacks at halftime, forced three second-half turnovers and snapped a two-game losing skid with their first Big Ten win of the season.
They open with a look at Michigan's offense, which was a tale of two halves with Bryce Underwood and then Tommy Carr playing as quarterback. They discuss why the run game looked better, what Carr did and did not do well, how they would handle Michigan's quarterback situation moving forward and more observations from the offensive side of the ball.
In the second half of the episode, they look at the Wolverines' defensive performance. They discuss Michigan's three takeaways, fourth-quarter struggles, dominant run defense, improved pass-rush and some issues in coverage.
They close with a discussion on how the win changes their view on Michigan's upcoming slate of games, including Indiana next week.

Tommy Carr provided the spark, Michigan's defense delivered the big plays, and the Wolverines finally found a running game. But did the 21-18 comeback victory over Penn State reveal the formula for saving Michigan's season? The Michigan Insider's Sam Webb and Josh Newkirk break down Carr's electrifying second-half debut, the quarterback decision now facing Kyle Whittingham, and the offensive changes that helped turn a disastrous first half into a dramatic win. Sam digs into the reduced reliance on the Rhino package, the return of effective downhill rushing, and why those adjustments may have been just as important as the quarterback switch. The duo also examines Chris Bracy's breakout performance in a turnover-fueled defensive effort. Was this a genuine turning point or did Michigan simply escape a bad Penn State team? Sam and Josh explain what must improve immediately — from third-down execution to offensive line play and personnel usage — before a much tougher Indiana team comes to town.

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz break down the Michigan football team's home matchup against Penn State, and the keys for the Wolverines to get back into the win column against a slumping Nittany Lions squad.
They open up with a look at the Wolverines' offense. They discuss what needs to change for Michigan's run game to find more success, and the impact that could have on the rest of the offense. They also discuss turnovers, Bryce Underwood's attempt to bounce back, and the holes in Penn State's defense.
In the second half of the episode, they look at the keys for Michigan's defense. They break down the Nittany Lions' offense, the importance for the Wolverines to reignite their pass-rush and clean up their tackling, Michigan's success stopping the run and the Wolverines' fourth-quarter dilemma so far.
They close the episode with other factors to watch, and their score predictions for the game.