ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- For much of spring ball, we've heard that the Michigan football offense is just being tweaked, going from Kirk Campbell coordinating that side of the ball to Chip Lindsey. However, as spring ball is just over a week from concluding, a couple of offensive players are singing a different tune.
Known more for running, running, and running again, the Wolverines have bolstered that attack this offseason. But with Lindsey coming in, along with freshman phenom quarterback Bryce Underwood, it appears that the passing game is ready to take off.
Will fans be surprised? Junior wide receiver Semaj Morgan thinks that will be the case.
"Yeah, I think they will, and they should be, to be honest with you," Morgan said. "It might be a little different than tradition, but, you know, it's gonna be great for us."
But what will it look like? Fans will get an opportunity to see more on April 19 at The Big House in the annual spring game (which will be televised eight days later). However, as the team prepares for that event, the explosive plays have taken off, the dynamism, too.
There are more sets where there are three receivers on the field rather than one or two, as Michigan is moving away from the 12 and 22 personnel sets in favor of 11 personnel (one running back and one tight end).
"I think Chip Lindsey's offense just came in and just brought a dynamic passing game, can really move the ball down the field," sophomore tight end Hogan Hansen said. "Like in spring ball, I've just felt like there's a lot more explosive plays. And we can really mix it up with creativity, throwing the ball down the field, then just go into your classic Michigan ground and pound, run through your face."
"Definitely more passing. Definitely more 11 personnel, you know," Morgan said. "But from the receiver position, he just really just give us a chance to showcase what we can do and what we already know we can do, really. And I'm just, I'm happy for that because we all work hard. We all work hard. So, we just want it to pay off. And I feel like with Coach Lindsey here, he's giving us a shot to really showcase our talents."
How much has the offense changed because Lindsey has implemented new looks and how much has it changed because of Bryce Underwood? Hansen thinks it's a little bit of column A and a little of column B.
"I think it's definitely a combination," Hansen said. "I mean, the quarterbacks have been playing out of their mind, ball placement-wise, accuracy-wise. And I think the competition in the quarterback room has made it even more special to watch, because I mean, they're just going out there every day and balling."
Fans may get a glimpse at the spring game but really, it won't be certain what the offense looks like until Aug. 30 when the Wolverines host New Mexico.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan players insist new offense a little different than tradition
