Michigan's Offense WASTES Brilliant Defense in Indiana Loss- TMI Postgame Recap
The Michigan InsiderShow Notes
Michigan's defense did everything necessary to beat Indiana. Its offense did almost nothing to reward that effort, turning a potential signature victory into a bitter 13-6 overtime loss at Michigan Stadium. In The Michigan Insider's postgame recap, Sam Webb and Josh Newkirk break down how Michigan wasted a brilliant defensive performance orchestrated by Jay Hill, whose aggressive play-calling and standout efforts from Zeke Berry, Jyaire Hill, and the rest of the unit repeatedly gave the Wolverines opportunities to seize control. The conversation turns to the offense's continued dysfunction, with sharp criticism of coordinator Jason Beck's play-calling, the persistent reliance on the Rhino package, costly red-zone failures, and an alarming inability to scheme receivers open. Webb and Newkirk also examine freshman quarterback Tommy Carr's rocky first half and late-game resilience, explaining why his struggles further exposed the deeper offensive problems that existed long before the quarterback change from Bryce Underwood. They also question the disconnect between head coach Kyle Whittingham and his offensive staff on critical play calls, and whether Michigan needs to seek outside input to fix an attack that continues to undermine an otherwise outstanding defense. With another winnable game slipping away, the discussion delivers a pointed assessment of where the responsibility lies, why the quarterback change alone was never going to solve Michigan's problems, and what must change before the Wolverines face Rutgers. (00:00) Michigan Loses 13-6 to Indiana in Overtime (00:36) Michigan’s Defense Squanders a Brilliant Effort Against Indiana’s Receivers (01:59) Sam Says the Offense’s Problems Go Well Beyond the Quarterback (03:06) The Third-and-Goal Rhino Call Whittingham Called a Bad Call (04:44) Sam on How Heavy Personnel Limits Michigan’s Passing Game (06:02) Tommy Carr Improves From Week One, but the Loss Isn’t on Him (07:26) Michigan Can’t Scheme Receivers Open, Even Without Rhino (08:21) The Halftime Play-Action Adjustment and the Need for More Shot Plays (10:37) Why Does Michigan Keep Using Rhino: Stubbornness or Inability? (11:06) Red-Zone Failures and a Lack of Ways to Get Guys Open (13:12) The Lack of Tight End Involvement (14:00) Michigan’s Passing Game Has to Help Its Run Game (15:33) Should Michigan Seek Outside Help on Offense? (16:23) The Frustration of Letting a Winnable Game Slip Away (16:47) Musts Coming Out of the Game: No More Calls Whittingham Doesn’t Like (17:57) The Quarterback Change Exposes the Passing Game’s Problems (18:19) Tommy Carr’s Rough Start and His Recovery (19:08) This Game Isn’t About Tommy vs. Bryce (21:00) How Other Teams Scheme Receivers Open With Motion and Stacks (23:13) Coaches Calling Coaches: The Ryan Day and Urban Meyer Example (24:22) Jay Hill’s Game Plan and the Corner Blitz (25:28) Who Whittingham Should Call for Offensive Help (27:34) Is Rhino Stubbornness or Desperation? (28:06) Missing Both Starting Tackles Doesn’t Explain the Ineptitude (28:47) The Third-and-One Call That Could Have Won the Game (29:39) Defensive Shoutouts: Suge, Zeke Barry, Snowden, Bracy and Jay Hill (30:34) Tommy Carr’s Recovery and the Plays Where Nobody Was Open (31:35) Sam Closes by Looking Ahead to Rutgers
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Michigan looked like a different team when Tommy Carr took over at quarterback. What does the Wolverines’ dramatic change in energy, physicality, and emotion reveal about the locker room and its leadership? On this episode of Steady Droppin Dimes, presented by Golden Limousine International, The Michigan Insider’s Sam Webb is joined by former Michigan football captain Jarrett Irons and former Wolverines point guard Daniel Horton to examine the Tommy Carr effect, the pressure that comes with becoming Michigan’s starting quarterback, and why a fresh start elsewhere might be best for Bryce Underwood. The conversation shifts to the hardwood with an early look at Michigan basketball’s national championship defense and whether the Detroit Pistons can contend in a loaded Eastern Conference reshaped by blockbuster moves. (00:00) – Jarrett Irons Returns After Michigan’s Season-Saving Win (04:07) – Irons Says Michigan’s Players Clearly Responded to Tommy Carr (07:40) – Carr’s Poise Under Pressure Impresses Sam and Irons (09:30) – Irons Says Leadership Is Built Through Relationships (13:36) – Sam and Irons Discuss Bryce’s Bye-Week Training Trip (18:49) – Sam Says Bryce May Have Been Given Too Much Leadership Responsibility Too Soon (22:07) – Sam Rejects the Idea That Michigan Deliberately Sabotaged Bryce (25:12) – Bryce’s Inability to Recover From Adversity Becomes the Bigger Concern (28:56) – Michigan Must Build on the Concepts That Have Actually Worked (32:22) – Irons Says Great Coaches Fit the Scheme to Their Players (35:21) – Irons Says Carr Has Clearly Earned Respect Inside the Locker Room (37:07) – The Panel Discusses What Comes Next for Bryce Underwood (43:03) – Horton Says Carr Has a Chance to Establish His Own Michigan Legacy (44:59) – Horton Pushes Back Against Overhyping Carr’s Penn State Performance (49:26) – Irons Says Carr Helped Save Michigan’s Season but Cannot Do It Alone (51:07) – Carr’s Moxie and Sibling Rivalry Become Part of the Discussion (55:47) – Irons and Horton Explain How Their Football Families Shaped Them (58:33) – Irons Says Michigan Does Not Need Carr to Be a Savior Against Indiana (1:02:44) – Sam and Horton Debate How Much Carr Actually Showed (1:07:36) – Sam Lays Out the Offensive Blueprint He Wants Against Indiana (1:11:55) – Horton Says Michigan’s Quarterback Problem Has Been Bigger Than One Player (1:15:08) – Carr Has at Least Proven the Stage Is Not Too Big (1:19:09) – Michigan Basketball Returns With a Different Championship Roster (1:22:01) – Michigan’s Development Will Determine Its Championship Ceiling (1:24:20) – Horton Says Elliot Cadeau Can Become a National Player of the Year Candidate (1:25:33) – Horton Calls Michigan’s Backcourt One of the Best in the Country (1:27:22) – Horton Expects Roddy Gayle to Play Like a Veteran (1:28:30) – Michigan’s Biggest Basketball Question May Be Frontcourt Physicality (1:29:58) – Sam and Horton Discuss the Pistons’ Place in the Eastern Conference (1:32:58) – Horton Says Detroit’s Growth Has to Come From Within (1:35:42) – Carr’s Familiarity With Michigan Reinforces Confidence in His Composure (1:36:15) – Sam Says Player Movement and NIL Donor Changes Are Now Normal (1:38:07) – Michigan Will Likely Explore the Quarterback Portal (1:42:02) – Horton Likes Michigan’s Backup Point Guard Options (1:42:43) – Horton Likes Yaxel Lendeborg Learning From Draymond Green (1:44:53) – Detroit Still Needs Another Offensive Creator Beside Cade Cunningham (1:46:48) – Michigan Women’s Basketball Preview Is Coming (1:48:50) – End of Show
In this episode, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz break down the Michigan football team’s upcoming home matchup against No. 6 Indiana, and the keys for the Wolverines to pull off the upset in Ann Arbor. They open with a look at the keys for Michigan’s offense. They discuss the Wolverines switching to Tommy Carr as starting quarterback, the importance of avoiding turnovers, why getting the ball out quick might be an asset in this matchup and other opportunities for Michigan to have success moving the football. In the second half of the episode, they look at the keys for the Wolverines’ defense, including the value of pressure and forcing Josh hoover into uncomfortable throws and situations, the threats that Charlies Becker and Nick Marsh present, the Hoosiers’ run game in recent weeks and more. They close with their final thoughts on the matchup, and score predictions for the game.
Michigan football welcomes the defending national champions to the Big House as the Indiana Hoosiers make the trip to Ann Arbor. IU isn't the same team that dominated college football in 2025 -- they eked out wins over Northwestern and Nebraska, and their 22-game winning streak came to a close last week against Ohio State. But they're still one of the nation's best teams, boasting an elite rush defense and an offense full of weapons. Matt Weaver of Peegs/247Sports joins Behind Enemy Lines to break down Indiana's strengths and weaknesses to help us prepare for Saturday's clash at Michigan Stadium.
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?