Michigan attempted just 12 passes in its win over USC last week, and nearly four times as many runs. That won't necessarily be the formula in the weeks ahead, but it worked in Alex Orji's debut as the starting quarterback.
"For us, we've shown that whether it was last week or in years past, there are going to be a couple games like that a year where we need to run the ball more to win the game," Sherrone Moore said Wednesday on 97.1 The Ticket. "And all we're worried about is winning."
To keep winning, Michigan will likely have to depend more on Orji's arm, or opposing teams will sell out to stop the run. Moore says that Orji is up to the challenge.
"Alex has the ability to pass the ball, he has the ability to throw it down the field. The throws he made in the game, especially the competitive ones, we thought were ones that either our guy could make or nobody. Thought he did a good of taking care of the football, but there's definitely things we'll do to keep the balance moving forward," said Moore.
Like building Orji's throwing confidence early in the game, Saturdya against Minnesota.
"I think we'll give him some early throws, some different things that make him feel comfortable," said Moore. "We did that last week a little bit throwing a quick screen to Semaj (Morgan on the first drive). But there's other ways we can distribute the ball to our tight ends, receivers, backs to get them involved in the passing game.
"But also, we're going to do whatever we need to do to win, whether it's throwing it as many times as we need to or running it."
Orji alone ran it more times than he threw it last week. Michigan ran it 45 times total for 290 yards -- compared to 32 passing yards, its lowest total since 1987. Moore said that Michigan has a firm grasp on Orji's strengths as a passer, which they'll try to accentuate moving forward.
"He's been exposed to the whole offense throughout fall camp and spring, so we know the things he's good at, what he can do, especially in the passing game," said Moore. "So we'll definitely put an emphasis on the things that he's really good at to make sure that he's successful and the team is successful."
Other highlights from Moore's interview on 97.1 The Ticket
On whether Kalel Mullings has supplanted Donovan Edwards as the No. 1 RB: "I think we've got two great backs. Obviously when you have a back average nine yards a carry, it's pretty incredible, so (Mullings) had an unbelievable game. But Dono, if you look at his game if he doesn't have the fumble, he averaged five yards a carry. That's a pretty good day. So we've got two great backs and we'll continue to use both of them.
On potentially using Edwards more as a pass-catcher: "We'll do some of that, but when you do that, you've got guys like Semaj Morgan, Tyler Morris, Fred Moore, Kendrick Bell, you've gotta spread it around. But we'll definitely use his ability in the passing game moving forward."
On subbing out key defensive players like Will Johnson and Mason Graham: "Those guys need the rest physically for them to be at optimal level. Thought the guys that went in there and subbed did their job. They're obviously not those players, but to win those type of games that are physical and long and you want to create some thump on the line of scrimmage or in the secondary, those guys are going to need a breather a little bit."
On what makes Will Johnson special: "First, it's his mom and dad. He's blessed with great genes. Beyond unbelievable people, but obviously them and our lord and savior blessed Will with some genes that other people don't have. He's a freakishly talented person, but he works his tail off to sustain and surpass that talent. Because he's not just talented -- he's smart, he's tough, he's dependable. He's everything you want in a player.
"And the guy just works, man. He's always watching film, he's a football junkie, he's never satisfied with, 'Oh, I got a pick six, or I got this, or these ratings.' He just wants to be the best that he can be and that's what he does every week."
