Michigan at The Voice of College Football

Michigan at The Voice of College Football

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Michigan at The Voice of College Football episodes

  • Get in the Carr & Beat Indiana! - Michigan Mondays

    Episode Notes: Get in the Carr & Beat Indiana! – Michigan Mondays

    Hosts: TJ Ronin & Michelle | MichiganVOCFB | Aired ~October 19, 2026 (post-Penn State win, previewing Indiana)

    Quick Overview

    Victory Monday after Michigan’s win over Penn State. Core focus is the mid-game QB switch from Bryce Underwood to Tommy Carr (who sparked the offense and the stadium), Jason Beck’s evolving play-calling (more north-south/inside runs), the healthy QB-room dynamic, Michigan’s elite defense, and a high-stakes Indiana preview. Win vs. Indiana would shift the season narrative and put Michigan firmly in the College Football Playoff conversation. Strong optimism around Carr as the starter going forward.

    Key Timestamps & Clip-Friendly Segments
    • 01:42–04:00 – Michelle’s Ann Arbor weekend recap (perfect weather, electric atmosphere when Carr entered, post-game at Connor O’Neill’s watching Notre Dame collapse). Strong vibes clip.
    • 04:43–09:00 – TJ’s breakdown of the Underwood-to-Carr decision: gave Bryce the chance to respond after Minnesota; he sank; Carr’s insertion was the correct progression. Bryce’s support for Carr in the second half highlighted.
    • 09:43–13:00 – Wolverine Casual charting data: 45% of run plays between the tackles (vs. 14% season average); better success and explosives in 11 personnel vs. Rhino; Beck showing growth. Visual-friendly stats segment.
    • 13:05–17:30 – Michelle on Carr’s performance (mobility, accuracy, meeting elevated expectations as a freshman); TJ on full investment in Carr for this year and the next two.
    • 19:00–22:00 – TJ’s defense of the process (Bryce responded after Western Michigan, sank vs. Minnesota, supported Carr). Locker-room dynamics and why the runway approach was right.
    • ~26:30–29:00 – Tommy Carr rest-of-season outlook; only 11 days younger than Bryce; healthy room; potential for occasional dual-QB or wildcat usage.
    • 39:50–42:00 – Kuzdal vs. Marshall fit discussion (Kuzdal as one-cut/power option if going north-south).
    • 43:47–46:30 – Michigan Hockey side note (swept #1 Denver; championship-or-bust year; last title 1998).
    • 43:52–48:00 – Indiana as the narrative-changer: playoff talk becomes real with a win; Big Ten landscape is wide open (QB injuries at Ohio State, Oregon uncertainty, etc.).
    • 49:50–56:00 – Indiana preview numbers: 31st total offense / 25th scoring; 10th defense (strong rush D); Michigan’s offensive rankings are pre-Carr and thus outdated. Emphasis on avoiding East-West, protecting Carr, and winning the turnover battle.
    • 59:40–1:02:00 – Defense confidence (short fields, turnovers vs. Penn State); Indiana’s reliance on explosives and third-down issues (1-for-10 vs. Nebraska); Jay Hill’s prior experience vs. Josh Hoover.
    • 1:05:00–1:07:30 – Additional Wolverine Casual charts (A/B gap % and yards per carry pre- vs. post-Penn State; outside runs still inefficient).
    • 1:08:50–end – Closing: full investment in Carr; Beat Indiana and the fan base gets loud. Michelle’s channel (@michelle4040) and Monday 7 p.m. ET slot.
      • Core Discussion Points & Analysis

      QB Situation & Process

      TJ and Michelle both viewed the Underwood-to-Carr switch as handled correctly. Bryce was given the runway to respond after Minnesota (following a solid response stretch after Western Michigan). He did not produce in the first half (two picks, missed layups). Carr entered, executed cleanly, and the team’s energy and execution rose. Bryce’s visible support for Carr was noted as a positive locker-room sign. Full commitment to Carr is now expected for the rest of this season and the next two years. Whittingham’s comments on Carr’s football IQ and work ethic were highlighted. Dual-QB or wildcat concepts (Bryce as a decoy or in limited packages) were discussed as possible but not primary.

      Jason Beck & Offensive Identity

      Data (via Wolverine Casual charting) showed a clear shift: 45% of run plays between the tackles (vs. 14% season average), higher success and explosives in 11 personnel. Outside/East-West runs remained inefficient. Both hosts stressed that Michigan’s offensive line and personnel are built for downhill, between-the-tackles running. Continued growth from Beck is viewed as essential against Indiana’s front. Penalties and self-inflicted errors also appeared cleaned up.

      Tommy Carr Outlook

      High expectations tempered by sample size (two quarters plus limited prior snaps). Michelle was impressed by his mobility, accuracy, and composure relative to the elevated expectations created by Underwood’s struggles. TJ stressed responsible ball security and executing what the offense gives him more than superstar play against Indiana. Freshman moments are possible; the same developmental standards applied to Bryce now apply to Carr.

      Defense

      Consistently praised as elite (#1 in yards per play). Generated short fields and turnovers vs. Penn State. Hosts expressed high confidence it can limit Indiana’s explosive-play reliance, though third-down efficiency and containment of mobile elements remain key.

      Indiana Preview (Key Game)

      • Indiana offense is mid-pack (31st total, 25th scoring); defense is strong (10th nationally, elite vs. the run).
      • Michigan’s pre-Carr offensive rankings are largely irrelevant now.
      • Success path: more inside runs, protect Carr, win the turnover battle, and let the defense do its job.
      • Emotional edge: Michigan is energized at home after the Carr spark; Indiana is coming off a loss and unfamiliar with that mental state under Cignetti.
      • A win makes playoff conversation realistic given the open Big Ten landscape (Ohio State QB uncertainty, Oregon questions, other results). Losses to Minnesota and Iowa are acknowledged but contextualized.

        • Other

        Michigan Hockey’s sweep of Denver noted as a strong side story. Super chats and chart shout-outs (Wolverine Casual) throughout. Closing energy is high: “Beat Indiana and let’s talk some shit.”

        Notable Quotes
        • Michelle on the stadium when Carr entered: “It was a very distinct moment when everyone kind of realized it and everything shifted… I cannot fully describe the pop of energy.”
        • TJ on the process: “You allowed Bryce to fail. And then Tommy Carr got his opportunity… the proper approach was had.”
        • Michelle on Carr: “The way that he met the moment was so impressive to me as a freshman.”
        • TJ on Michigan’s ceiling: “The only thing that’s going to stop Michigan right now is Michigan.”
        • On Indiana: “If we win, the narrative of the season changes… Playoffs become a real conversation.”
          • Overall Takeaways

          Michigan feels like it turned a corner with the Carr insertion and Beck’s increased willingness to run inside. The defense remains the program’s clearest strength. Indiana is the next proving ground—both for Carr’s ability to handle a top-10 defense with a week of prep and for whether Beck sticks with the more physical run identity. A win elevates the season from “intriguing” to “playoff-relevant”; a loss keeps the self-inflicted-loss narrative alive. Optimism is high but grounded in the need for continued offensive growth and clean execution.


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          1 hr 10 min
        • The Pressure Is On! – Michigan Wolverines Call-in Show LIVE 109

          The Pressure Is On! – Michigan Wolverines Call-in Show LIVE 109

          Hosts: TJ Ronin, Johnny Olden Jr.
          Guest: Chuck (College Football Chuck)
          Aired on: MichiganVOCFB
          Focus: Penn State at Michigan preview, Bryce Underwood/Tommy Carr debate, Jason Beck offense critique, film breakdown of Minnesota game, and overall team concerns entering the bye-week game.

          Show Overview

          The episode centers on the high-stakes Penn State at Michigan matchup (spread ~6.5), a frustrated and divided Michigan fan base (roughly 70/30 on Bryce Underwood vs. Tommy Carr), and deep film-based analysis of offensive struggles. Chuck provides a broader college football perspective on Kyle Whittingham’s and Jason Beck’s learning curve, while hosts and callers emphasize that the issues are systemic—not solely on Underwood. Ticket giveaway, FanDuel sponsorship, and midweek portal additions (e.g., Jeremiah Irby) are also covered. Tone is candid, film-heavy, and increasingly urgent about needing results out of the bye.

          Timestamped Key Segments & Notes

          ~00:01:31 – 00:05:30 | Intro, FanDuel Shoutout & Penn State Game Takes

          Hosts introduce Chuck. Immediate focus on Penn State at Michigan. All three lean Michigan.

          • Chuck: Takes Michigan after film study; sees little Penn State does well and views a loss as a rough sign for the rest of the season.
          • Johnny: Takes Michigan off fandom but calls it a pick’em; notes Michigan doesn’t exploit opponents’ weaknesses well (especially running the ball).
          • TJ: Takes Michigan to cover; hopes Kyle Whittingham has the team ready. Concerns about Michigan’s inability to score.
            • Key quote (Chuck): “I watch Penn State and there’s nothing they do well… I don’t see how Penn State has something that Michigan can’t handle.”

            ~00:04:15 – 00:05:40 | Ticket Giveaway Announcement

            Two sets of Row 6 tickets for the Penn State game. Requirements: membership, follow, repost, comment “Go Blue” with username. First winner already determined (DetroitLionSixteen / Christian); second drawn at end of show (Xavier Ely).

            ~00:06:00 – 00:10:00 | Fan Base Frustration & Overall Team Outlook

            TJ notes Twitter frustration and a 70/30 split favoring Tommy Carr over Bryce Underwood. Asks Chuck for wide-view take.

            • Chuck is concerned about the learning phase for Whittingham (new to Michigan) and Beck (scheme/personnel fit). Risks of a 6-6 or 5-7 season, portal/QB questions, and whether the learning curve ends before things spiral.
            • Surprise at execution level given Whittingham’s track record and Kerry Combs’ special teams background. Biggest surprise is Beck’s offense not clicking immediately—Chuck was a big Beck fan from New Mexico/Utah and expected a strong downhill run + QB-run marriage.
              • Key quote (Chuck): “Sometimes there’s a learning phase… and a lot of times, unfortunately, that ruins your season.”

              ~00:10:50 – 00:13:00 | Bryce Underwood Performance & Future

              Chuck is “somewhere in between” the 70/30 camps.

              • Not ready to move off Underwood now (progress early, then setback; can’t abandon a major investment after one bad game as Michigan’s coach).
              • Does not view him as the long-term QB who develops into a consistent passer capable of leading to a title. Possible complementary role if reads/running improve; open to Tommy Carr or another option for a more prolific offense.
              • Wants Underwood to take ownership publicly and carry himself more like a traditional QB.
                • Hosts note sideline selfies and flashiness concerns. TJ has previously compared aspects of Underwood’s demeanor to a receiver.

                ~00:13:50 – 00:25:30 | Deep Film Breakdown – Minnesota Game Run Reads (Offense Issues)

                Chuck walks through stills/clips of run concepts (power read, trap, option, etc.). Narrative that Underwood was “guessing on reads” (started by some analysts) is overstated.

                • Michigan at its best with Hogan Hanson in and threats that force defensive respect.
                • Mixed bag of blame: correct reads by Underwood in multiple spots; offensive line missing blocks/assignments (Nataphobia, others); Beck adjustments (second puller, speed option); occasional wrong reads or miscommunications by Underwood; Minnesota adjustments (extra LB, slanting DEs); backs (Savion Heider) missing explosive opportunities with poor vision.
                • Examples include unblocked LBs on motion looks, wrong defender read on power, and personnel (Hoffman/Johnson) not commanding respect like Hanson/Marsh.
                  • Key takeaway (Chuck): “It’s definitely not all on Bryce… it’s kind of a mixed bag… cluttered in general.” Issues pile up with different people responsible each time. Beck shows in-game adjustments but not yet strong self-scouting of tendencies.

                  ~00:25:30 – 00:29:00 | Tendencies, Self-Scout & Tight End / Rhino Discussion

                  Hosts press Beck on using film of Michigan’s own tendencies against defenses. Chuck hopes the bye produces a self-scout; so far limited in-game adjustments.

                  • Agreement that heavy Rhino usage stems partly from TE blocking limitations (Hoffman not effective; Hanson is the preferred answer—threat that defenses respect, not elite but not awful as a blocker).
                  • Whittingham/Beck both historically like TEs; current personnel is driving the package usage, which further crowds the box and limits passing threats.
                    • Key quote (Chuck on Hanson): “He’s clearly a threat that defenses respect from what I see on film.”

                    ~00:29:00 – 00:31:30 | Penn State / Indiana as Runway & Tommy Carr Snaps

                    TJ frames upcoming games as Underwood’s runway. Chuck notes backup QB snap increases (especially if starter is struggling) are not standard for established QBs; signals a shorter leash. Hosts acknowledge Carr’s reps are rising.

                    ~00:31:30 – 00:35:00 | Does Carr Fix the Issues? + Broader Offense Critique

                    Chuck: No—if you can’t run consistently or create explosives, problems persist regardless of QB. References Ty Simpson’s situation as a cautionary example.
                    Hosts stress issues are bigger than one player. Defense praised (especially LBs under Alex Whittingham; front and secondary strong). Offense lacks complementary football and winning habits (“find ways to lose”).

                    ~01:36:00 – 01:39:00 | Midweek Transfers (Jeremiah Irby & Others)

                    Discussion of Irby (corner, Boise State background with turnovers/tackles) and TE addition. Viewed as positive roster upgrades (especially defensive). Hosts note these were likely in the works independent of record; court eligibility timing made them midweek. Winning would have framed them as “championship moves.”

                    ~01:39:00 – 01:42:00 | Winners Find Ways vs. Current Mentality

                    Comparison to Indiana finding ways to win (vs. Nebraska) and past Michigan championship teams. Current team plays not to lose in spots and lacks that edge. 2022 class fifth-year context briefly noted.

                    ~01:43:00 – 01:55:00 | Ticket Winners, Final Thoughts & Wildcat / Scheme Simplicity

                    Winners announced (Christian / DetroitLionSixteen and Xavier Ely). Jason thanked for ticket donation.

                    • Consensus lean toward Michigan win via improved run game vs. a weak Penn State team, but high frustration.
                    • Wildcat on 3rd-and-1 disliked by Chuck (unnecessary with Underwood’s size/athleticism; better as short-yardage smash with Marshall).
                    • Beck’s scheme described as relatively simple/user-friendly (Whittingham’s own words early); limited reads. Underwood’s decision-making is the recurring issue.
                    • If Underwood struggles again (especially multiple turnovers), Carr likely sees meaningful snaps.
                      • Key quotes:
                    • Chuck: “Penn State sucks. I really, really hope that Michigan sucks less.”
                    • Multiple: Frustration that a talented roster should be in better position; bye must produce visible improvement or fan base will “crash out.”

                      • ~01:55:00 – 02:03:00 | Closing Calls, Coaching Scale Question & Outro

                      Late discussion on whether Underwood’s performance scales with coaching (high-school comparison by Chuck). Hosts urge fire and complementary football. Show ends with “Go Blue / Fuck Ohio.”

                      Key Takeaways
                      • Offense problems are multi-factorial (OL execution, scheme/adjustments, TE personnel forcing Rhino, QB reads/decisions, back vision). Not solely Underwood, but his decision-making and consistency are the clearest recurring issue.
                      • Chuck is patient short-term with Underwood but unconvinced long-term; bye and Penn State game are critical data points.
                      • Defense (especially linebackers) is a clear strength.
                      • High urgency: fan base patience is thin after recent seasons; results out of the bye are expected.
                      • Portal additions viewed positively and as planned rather than pure desperation.

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                        2 hr 3 min
                      • Bryce Starting, Tommy Carr Emerging? / Michigan Wolverines LIVE 271

                        Michigan Wolverines LIVE 271

                        Hosts: John D’Adamo & TJ Ronan
                        Presented by: FanDuel
                        Guest: Marty Leap (Penn State Nittany Lions / Voice of College Football)
                        Focus: Post-bye week outlook, Kyle Whittingham press conference, Bryce Underwood still starting vs. Tommy Carr emerging, broader team issues, and Michigan–Penn State preview.

                        Show context: Results phase after the bye. Fan base largely agrees things must improve regardless of QB stance. Oklahoma win noted as a quality result, but overall performance and record create urgency. Special note that Michelle is out of town and John will be out next week; regular schedule returns afterward. Marty Leap joins later for the Penn State breakdown.

                        Opening & Early Super Chats (~02:20–09:00)
                        • Welcome and standard calls to like, subscribe, share, and use Super Chat.
                        • TJ frames the moment as “result time.” Fan base is frustrated; the staff and players need to step up. Oklahoma win has value even if the record limits its impact.
                        • Super chats touch on Sprague’s absence, Babalola returning to practice sooner, and Witt not buying into Michigan traditions/rivalries/Big Ten style. Quinn’s comment that it’s time to shop for a new coach is noted; hosts say red flags are piling up but started earlier.
                        • Brief basketball (Mike Boyden, depth, free throws, freshmen) and hockey (dominant, need to beat Denver, “natty or bust”) side discussion. Hosts urge patience until later in the season before setting expectations.
                        • Super Chat on Bryce: “If Bryce sucks again, Whit better bench him.” Hosts agree Indiana should not beat Tommy Carr’s first start and will address how the QB situation is likely to play out.
                          • Kyle Whittingham Press Conference & QB Situation (~09:40–~18:00 and continuing)

                          Press conference clip highlights (Whittingham):

                          • Emphasizes ball security and turnovers: if the turnover problem is not fixed rapidly, “something’s got to give.”
                          • On Bryce Underwood: 6’4”, 230, runs like the wind, strong arm, year of experience plus five games this year. Staff still feels he gives the best chance to win at this point.

                            • Hosts’ analysis (primarily TJ, with John):

                            • Bryce remains the starter for Penn State. Many expected Tommy Carr to get the Penn State game; instead Bryce gets at least the start/beginning.
                            • Runway is no longer infinite. TJ sees Whittingham laying groundwork for Tommy Carr if Bryce does not perform.
                            • Tommy Carr received ~50% of snaps during the bye week (Whittingham called it by design). Hosts are skeptical this was purely standard bye-week backup work; it looks like an active evaluation/competition. Tommy’s name was mentioned among players who stood out in the bye (along with others, notably not Underwood).
                            • Bryce has a roughly two-game window (Penn State and Indiana). If he does not play at the level Michigan needs and show consistent improvement/cleaner football, Tommy comes in—even mid-game against Indiana if they are getting smoked.
                            • Good news framing: Fans will get one of two outcomes soon—Bryce improves and everyone wins, or Tommy gets the opportunity. Portal shopping remains a longer-term reality if neither works.
                            • John notes a caller’s prediction that Bryce starts vs. Penn State, looks good enough to keep the job, Michigan squeaks by, then Indiana crushes them and Tommy is inserted in a worse spot.
                            • TJ stresses Bryce should get the chance to respond (he responded after prior struggles) but does not get an unlimited leash. He is not a “forever Bryce” guy; patience is limited to confirming whether it can click.

                              • Key quote / takeaway:

                              “If Bryce does not play at a level that is what Michigan needs out of its quarterback… I do see Tommy Carr coming in… A change at quarterback is very, very close.”
                              Tommy Carr’s opportunity is “soon.”

                              Broader Team Problems (Bigger Than Just the QB) (~18:00–~32:00)

                              TJ argues the QB is not the sole issue and the simple “change the quarterback” answer is incomplete:

                              • Coaching staff is a problem (not out yet, but red flags mounting).
                              • Special teams are a problem.
                              • Running game is a problem (ranked in the 120s; not solely because of Bryce—box has been loaded for years).
                              • Penalties are a major issue (one of the most penalized teams offensively; many line penalties—primarily on Harding and the line).
                              • Offense ranked ~115th; schematic and execution issues beyond the QB.
                              • Jason Beck is limiting the offense (half-field reads prominent; using Rhino packages to create them). Last year’s offense had more explosiveness/deep balls. Beck has not fully adapted to the personnel (O-line used to power/Sharon-style run game, not zone/Hogan Hanson stretch blocking). He is stuck on Rhino even while shifting somewhat toward 11 personnel.
                              • Offensive line is okay in pass pro (often near max protection with extra blockers) but run blocking has been poor. Not playing elite or even really good.
                              • Situational play-calling consistency is lacking (better first-half creativity/flea-flickers/wildcat at times; second half goes flat and horizontal).
                              • Loss to Minnesota (first since 2014 under Hoke) and overall standard (should be competing with Ohio State/Georgia for 10–11 wins and playoff contention) make the urgency real.

                                • On the coaching staff / Whittingham:

                                • Whittingham said not much is changing; focus on what has worked and don’t panic over “one or two setbacks.” Hosts push back—offense ranked in the hundreds is more than a couple of setbacks; there are schematic issues.
                                • Some hope for gamesmanship (not tipping hand vs. Penn State).
                                • Whittingham’s stoic/composed approach in chaos is noted; some want more visible fire (comparisons to DeBoer, Cignetti, Saban, Harbaugh, Kirby Smart’s leaked “fuck the scoreboard… fuck these bitches up” speech).
                                • Punt returner change: Marsh is out at the position (inconsistent, muffs, bad decisions). Whittingham attributed it to injury; hosts call that misleading and prefer a direct explanation. New returner not announced.

                                  • TJ’s bottom line on the next two games:

                                  If Bryce plays at a Minnesota level again, TJ joins the “bench him” crowd. But throwing Tommy in against Indiana is not ideal; a controlled look would be better. If Bryce struggles and the running game, penalties, and sloppiness continue, the focus shifts harder to Beck and Harding.

                                  Penn State Preview with Marty Leap (~1:44:00 onward)

                                  Marty joins for keys and prediction. Discussion covers both programs’ coaching situations (Campbell vs. Franklin historical comparison, fan-base patience, personality fit in central Pennsylvania, three coaches in ~70 years at Penn State).

                                  Marty’s keys & outlook:

                                  • Defense: Contain Bryce Underwood’s legs. Penn State has generated a lot of pressure (high QB pressures, fewer sacks) but has not finished. Rushing up the pocket and allowing Underwood to escape into cleared space is dangerous. QB run has hurt them (Temple, Wisconsin). Injuries (e.g., Max Granville, Achilles) have hurt the pass rush.
                                  • Offense: What version of Rocco Becht shows up? Better vs. USC (21/32, 289, TD) but still hesitant, bails early, underthrows deep balls that were open (missed potential game-icing throws to Eskildson). Can’t rely on the run game.
                                  • Prediction: Ugly, low-scoring defensive battle. Michigan wins 15-13 or 12-10 type score at home. Not a fun watch for neutrals. Marty is not picking Penn State until they prove they can win again after the recent stretch.

                                    • TJ / John keys:

                                    • Michigan’s offense must execute against Penn State’s defense; Bryce must play well. If Bryce struggles and Michigan’s defense holds, Tommy enters.
                                    • Turnover margin is critical: Michigan ~116th (negative margin); Penn State ~15th (+5). Whittingham said the margin must improve or something has to give. Winning the turnover battle + solid Bryce play + offense executing = Michigan win.
                                    • Special teams (kickoff coverage, punt return) must improve—Penn State has a dynamic returner in Zay Robinson (strong averages, multiple long returns). Michigan ranks near the bottom in opponent kickoff returns.
                                    • Michigan needs disciplined football (limit penalties); Penn State should try to force undisciplined play (jumping offsides, gimmicks).

                                      • Predictions:

                                      • Marty: Michigan 15-13 / 12-10 range, ugly.
                                      • TJ: Michigan 19.
                                      • John: Michigan 13, Penn State 9. All see a low-scoring defensive slugfest; Big House is a slight edge.

                                        • Marty notes the Big House has historically been a house of horrors for Penn State (blowouts, few wins outside COVID year). He promotes Penn State VOCFB content (X: MartyL_53; weekly live postgame + midweek videos).

                                        Closing Super Chats & Wrap (~2:00–end)
                                        • Discussion of coaching fire/passion (DeBoer, Cignetti, Kirby, Harbaugh).
                                        • Personnel vs. scheme on the O-line; calls for more power/duo/inside zone that the line is used to. Beck has made some adjustments but still leans on wildcat/jet elements that stagnate.
                                        • Recruiting/portal outlook: O-line is a must; other positions (tight end, corner, QB) likely addressed. High-school class is small.
                                        • Reminder of Thursday call-in show and Saturday postgame.
                                        • Final call: Figure it out and perform. “Go Blue and fuck Ohio.”

                                          • Overall takeaway: Bryce Underwood starts vs. Penn State with a short leash (roughly two games). Tommy Carr is being prepped and is close if Bryce does not improve. Hosts see larger issues (Beck’s scheme/adaptation, O-line run blocking, penalties, special teams, coaching consistency) that a QB change alone will not fix. Penn State game is expected to be an ugly, low-scoring defensive battle decided by turnovers, discipline, and whether Bryce can play cleanly enough.


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                                          2 hr 14 min
                                        • The Great QB Debate - Michigan Wolverines Call-in Show LIVE 108

                                          Michigan is on a bye after the Minnesota loss, and the fan base is split roughly 70-30. TJ Ronin and Johnny Olden spent the show on Kyle Whittingham, Jason Beck, the penalty problem, and whether Bryce Underwood still gets the ball coming out of the bye.

                                          Show setup

                                          Hosts: TJ Ronin and Johnny Olden Jr. MichiganVOCFB call-in, episode 108. Bye week, no game to grade. TJ frames the room as angry and divided, about 70-30, and says the Bryce Underwood–Tommy Carr debate is the live topic. Second hour is tied to Super Chats and memberships. FanDuel read is Lions -5.5 vs. Arizona; both take Detroit, with a nod to Drew Petzing knowing the Cardinals.

                                          Kyle Whittingham: Johnny is out
                                          • ~4:10–6:15. Johnny is done with Whittingham. He says Whittingham was pushed toward a figurehead role at Utah, has no fire or attention to detail, and cannot coach week to week in the Big Ten. Western Michigan was a fight: undisciplined, penalties stacked, offense abysmal.
                                          • Scheme complaint lands on Beck too. Johnny wants downhill runs with the two bruiser backs, not Rhino/read-option stuff that forces Underwood to read everything. Whittingham, as CEO, should have killed that weeks ago.
                                          • Johnny does not care about the Utah résumé. “What have you done for me lately?”
                                            • TJ is concerned, not out
                                            • ~8:35–10:20. TJ agrees on the red flags: slow starts, no juice, 10–12 men, penalties. He says this is the most penalized Michigan team of the decade. He is not firing Whittingham yet. His read is that Whittingham trusted the defense (playoff-caliber under Jay Hill) and let Beck run the offense, and the bye is when real changes should show.
                                            • Kerry Combs, Beck, and Whittingham all concern him. The line that sticks: Whittingham in Week 5 saying he does not have an answer, and calling this the biggest challenge of his career despite the most talent he has had.
                                            • ~11:00–13:20. Johnny does not buy the “we’ll get it fixed, I don’t know how long” answer. Buyout talk lands around $20–25 million. TJ says Michigan already paid a roughly $30 million bill and will pay this one if the losses pile up (Penn State, Michigan State, Ohio State, on top of Minnesota). Johnny’s picture: lame-duck year, then out if it gets bad enough.
                                              • Penalty numbers
                                              • ~14:30–15:10. TJ’s on-air look-up: 2026 is at 7.6 penalties and 66.4 penalty yards per game. Closest recent comp is the 2020 COVID year at 5.6 penalties per game, about two fewer flags and 20 fewer yards. That is the cleanest “this staff is not the disciplined Utah brand” stat on the show.
                                                • The QB debate

                                                Johnny on Underwood (~16:30–19:10):

                                                • Cannot read the field. Locks on the first receiver. Fine early if he gets in a groove; once it goes bad or the game is on him, he regresses fast.
                                                • Iowa was the exception because Iowa does not change much. Minnesota’s last two drives were the break for Johnny: locked on, threw into double and triple coverage, and on the last play faked a read, flipped his body, and chucked it. Johnny says the delayed tight end was open. PJ Fleck’s timeout saved an earlier interception into triple coverage, and Underwood came back and did the same thing.

                                                  • TJ’s counter (~21:10–27:30):

                                                  • Do not burn the season off two bad games. Western Michigan and Minnesota were unacceptable. Oklahoma, UTEP, and Iowa were usable data points, and the 70 percent was quiet then.
                                                  • Underwood was not the only regression vs. Minnesota. Andrew Marsh is scared to return punts. Whole offense is broken, which is why TJ wants Beck addressed.
                                                  • Fan anger is cumulative, plus expectations were higher. Winning covers ugly quarterback lines; losing does not. He cites the old USC win with Alex Orji barely throwing.

                                                    • Zach Marshall leak (~23:50–25:30):

                                                    • Johnny is not surprised. He had been in Marshall’s TikTok live two weeks earlier; Marshall agreed Beck was a problem. Johnny says some of the leaked complaints are fair, but Marshall trusted the wrong person. Three outcomes: team crumbles, stays inconsistent, or the leak forces coaches and players onto the same page. Build the offense around the quarterback you actually start.

                                                      • TJ’s plan out of the bye (~26:35–31:00):

                                                      • Underwood starts. Two-game leash: Penn State, then Indiana. He does not want Tommy Carr’s first start to be Curt Cignetti.
                                                      • If Underwood lays another Western Michigan, the hand is forced even inside that window.
                                                      • No playoff urgency. Do not rush the decision on a Friday of the bye.

                                                        • Johnny’s counter:

                                                        • The rest of the schedule is hard. Waiting means Carr still debuts into Penn State, Michigan State, Rutgers types who have not beaten Michigan in a while and smell blood. If you are going to start him, give him first-team reps these two weeks and build the offense to him. TJ hates taking reps from the starter you claim you are still developing.
                                                          • Later-hour final thoughts

                                                          The back half (from ~2:07) is a panel, not just TJ and Johnny.

                                                          • Ben: Start the Carr clock. Staying with Underwood looks like 7-5 or 6-6. Carr might not be better, but there is a chance. TJ grants the development-clock argument and notes the locker room is still behind Underwood.
                                                          • Keith: Bowl eligibility is in doubt. He can see four or five more losses with Underwood. Best arm on the roster, not the IQ for a Big Ten job. Western Michigan throw is the proof of the arm.
                                                          • BW: Foundation over the quarterback soap opera. Clean up penalties, scheme better, run for 200. He thinks it is scheme and details, not “wrong players.” Did not sign up for a Utah-style fade. Two darker notes: how the Underwood recruitment went down, and the coaching fit.
                                                          • Defense credit (~2:12): Jay Hill has the defense sixth nationally and playing elite. Nobody is talking about it because the offense is wasting it.
                                                          • 2027 framing: One voice wants Carr now so Michigan knows whether it needs a portal quarterback. Staff is likely having that exact bye-week talk, and pulling Underwood is on the table because the coaches are taking heat. Dampier comes up as a name; the panel is already skeptical. Counter: a competent quarterback should lighten the box. Johnny’s better argument is that even when Michigan could run last year, Underwood still could not read pressure, and this year’s run scheme does not fit the backs. One-dimensional became zero-dimensional.
                                                          • Johnny’s close (~2:16): Blame Underwood or Beck if you want. The number one problem is Whittingham. He would not fire him today. Lame duck through the year, top three ready (Jay Hill, “Dilly,” whoever), new coach the moment the season ends. The fan-base kill shot is losing to Ohio State. They already lost the Little Brown Jug; last Minnesota loss of that jug was 1977.
                                                          • TJ’s close: Another week before anyone knows if the run game, the flags, the personnel, or Underwood actually moved. Most talent Whittingham has had, and he is botching it.
                                                            • Sideline color that stuck
                                                            • Big Ten basketball media day question to Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKinney: do they feel pressure to pick up for football? Hosts treat that as rock bottom. Rivals “feeling bad” is not to be trusted.
                                                            • No guaranteed wins left. Western Michigan should have been a loss. Sparty may have the better quarterback. Someone floats Jonathan Smith as a better scheme fit.
                                                            • Underwood as captain: hosts say they never see him settle the offensive line or lift the sideline. He smiles and talks to nobody when it is bad.
                                                            • Nobody on the show can remember a sideline shot of Whittingham talking to Underwood, or inspiring any position group. Johnny calls that weird for a head coach and a quarterback. Theory floated: Underwood is not Whittingham’s guy, and a $12 million collective decision may be above the coach’s head. TJ thinks any “you can’t bench him” order is fading. Whittingham told Underwood in Florida he was the guy.
                                                            • Harbaugh never really recruited Underwood. Panel splits on whether that was NIL timing or Harbaugh seeing something.
                                                            • Whittingham publicly said it is not only Bryce and not only Beck. TJ’s read: he is saying everything is broken, including the quarterback, in political language.
                                                              • Clip timestamps
                                                              • 4:12–6:18. Johnny: “I’m out on Witt.” Utah figurehead, no fire, Western Michigan as the evidence.
                                                              • 9:00–10:30. TJ: most penalized Michigan team of the decade, but not ready to fire him. Combs, Beck, Whittingham all concern him.
                                                              • 14:34–15:08. Penalty stat: 7.6 flags and 66.4 yards per game vs. 5.6 in 2020.
                                                              • 16:29–19:05. Johnny on Underwood’s locks, the Fleck timeout, and the last-play fake read.
                                                              • 26:37–28:20. TJ’s two-game leash: Penn State and Indiana, then Carr if it is still broken.
                                                              • 2:12:00–2:12:35. Jay Hill and a top-six defense nobody is crediting.
                                                              • 2:16:42–2:17:50. Johnny: Whittingham is the problem. Lame duck, then a pre-loaded hire.
                                                              • 2:18:35–2:19:00. Little Brown Jug. Last time was 1977.
                                                              • 2:23:00–2:24:45. “Have you ever seen Witt and Bryce talk?”
                                                                • Where they landed

                                                                Johnny is out on Whittingham as the head coach and leaning toward starting Carr’s clock, but he would let Whittingham finish as a lame duck. TJ still wants Underwood out of the bye on a short leash and thinks the bye is the first fair window for scheme fixes. Both agree Minnesota was not good enough, the penalty profile is historically bad for this decade, and the defense is the only unit playing like the preseason pitch. No one on the show thinks the season is fixed until Penn State shows something.


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                                                                2 hr 36 min
                                                              • Start The Carr? / Michigan Wolverines LIVE 270 Part 2

                                                                Start The Carr? — Michigan Wolverines LIVE 270, Part 2. Hosts John D’Adamo and TJ Ronin. Bye-week debate on Bryce Underwood’s runway, Tommy Carr, Jason Beck, Kyle Whittingham’s buyout, and the Chip Lindsey reporting.

                                                                Core take

                                                                TJ is in the minority (~30%) that wants one more look at Bryce after the Minnesota regression before flipping to Tommy Carr. He is not defending sustained poor play. His line: either Bryce responds, or Tommy starts — and that fork is close. John and chat lean toward the change now. They agree the defense should not be thrown out with the offense.

                                                                Segment notes

                                                                Protect Tommy’s development (0:00–2:10)

                                                                TJ argues Michigan should ease Tommy in the same way he wanted Bryce eased last year. The “microwave” demand for instant results blew that up. He tells chat disagreement is fine; insults, misinformation accusations, and personal attacks are not. He frames his confidence as pattern recognition from consulting work, not emotion, and says he has no problem being against roughly 70% of the fan base on this take.

                                                                Clip: 0:10–0:31 — “Protect Tommy’s development… we just fast-forwarded through that because we’re a microwave society.”

                                                                Sherrone “romance” super chat (2:13–4:46)

                                                                Adam Lamparello jokes the real story is romance and a redemption arc for Sherrone Moore. Hosts push back: the fan base was miserable under Sherrone (“goldfish memory”), and calling him back is not a plan. Side note that his wife stayed loyal. Whittingham’s buyout is floated at $5 million — “not financially tied” — with the caveat they can cut bait. They do not want to lose the defense; if the scheme fails, hire a more pro-style OC. Chip Kelly as OC next to Jay Hill is the hypothetical. OC history named: Josh Gattis, Kirk Campbell, Matt Weiss.

                                                                Clip: 3:03–3:24 — “Goldfish memory… you were miserable with Sherrone… Whittingham’s buyout’s only five million.”

                                                                Titanic / don’t open Christmas early (4:49–7:20)

                                                                Chat calls TJ the guy on a deck chair on the Titanic. He runs with it: fan base jumping lifeboats with Tommy Carr’s face on them while the band plays. Counter: Rome wasn’t built in a day; Harbaugh took seven years and a chunk of the fan base was out on him before the title. Christmas-present frame — Tommy is the gift under the tree. Open it too early and you lose the surprise. Best case is Bryce figures it out and you still get a Tommy year later. Worst case, the Tommy season comes anyway.

                                                                Clip: 4:49–5:27 — Titanic / lifeboats with Tommy’s face.

                                                                Clip: 6:22–6:45 — “If you allow a little time… Bryce does figure it out… if it doesn’t, you get your Tommy Carr season.”

                                                                Why no portal QB (7:21–8:19)

                                                                TJ: portal QBs were scared off by Bryce’s NIL, and Bryce was given the keys. With a guaranteed starter, Fowler-Nicolosi was about the ceiling of what they could land. Not a real open competition this offseason.

                                                                The Penn State deal (8:40–10:35)

                                                                TJ’s public offer: if Bryce’s first half against Penn State looks like the second half against Minnesota, the staff makes the change. Leash is short. Outcome is binary — Bryce figures it out, or Tommy starts. He is not arguing for an endless runway if the Minnesota version continues. He wants the response to the regression, with training wheels off.

                                                                Clip: 9:06–9:29 — “If Bryce plays the first half against Penn State like the second half against Minnesota… the coaching staff is going to make that change… either Bryce figuring it out or Tommy Carr starting.”

                                                                Chase Herbstreit / Carr hype (11:00–12:44)

                                                                Chase is not the answer unless they’re up big; arm talent isn’t there (spring game). Conspiracy jokes that he’s a Ryan Day “spy” get laughed off — he’s here for a better deal and a broadcast path. Tommy hype is amplified by the CJ Carr legacy and by how he’s looked in limited snaps (spring, UTEP). TJ: reasonable belief he could be more consistent, but not enough evidence yet.

                                                                Juice, Chip Kelly, Michigan Metal (12:45–15:20)

                                                                TJ wants more fire from Whittingham; slow starts and lack of juice bother him. Chip Kelly as 2027 head coach is a no — he doesn’t recruit, and his own comments suggest he doesn’t want another HC job. Michigan is not a “linear” landing spot anyway. Shout-out to Michigan Metal (@Michigan_metal) for All-22 and for pushing back on Connor Stalions. Frame for the show: town square, debate ideas, answers will reveal themselves.

                                                                Utah OC aside (16:51–17:40)

                                                                Who called the Utah offense that hung ~50 on Ohio State? Andy Ludwig. Long OC résumé (Utah, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin, San Diego State, Cal); he later stepped down.

                                                                Buyout correction (18:26–20:46)

                                                                Steve asks who they’d hire if Whittingham has to go if there’s no improvement. TJ first says zero chance he’s fired. They reconcile the numbers: ~$5 million if he’s poached; if fired without cause he’s owed 75% of remaining base salary — about $24.75 million if fired this year. That is not happening. Other reasons to stay put: defense is the strength, this is mostly an offense problem, board of regents turnover, AD change, new president in about two months. New AD will want a year to evaluate. Best realistic move is an OC change, and even that is uncertain because Whittingham pulled Beck and company out of good situations and they followed him.

                                                                Clip: 19:30–20:08 — Fired without cause ≈ $24.75 million. “That’s not happening… the defense is great… it’s an offense issue.”

                                                                Poll: who’s the problem? (22:08–23:42)

                                                                252 votes. Jason Beck 40%, Bryce Underwood 37%, Kyle Whittingham 12%, run game 11%. About 63% say the biggest issue is not Bryce. Hosts: fan base wants a pound of flesh; TJ isn’t there, but the frustration is real. Christmas-present closer again.

                                                                Chip Lindsey reporting (23:43–26:56)

                                                                Wolverine notes Chip Lindsey was paid $750K to leave (hosts assume Mizzou covered it). TJ shares what he was told over the summer: concepts practiced during the week never got called on Saturday, including Donovan Edwards in the passing game. Frustration from players and staff. Chip was technically QB coach, but day-to-day work with Bryce sat with a coach transcribed as Synagoga. Sherrone reportedly did not want Chip working directly with Bryce while they fought over whose plays got called. TJ stresses he is not Sam Webb or Balas — occasional group-chat info, not a daily pipeline, and he will not burn sources.

                                                                Clip: 24:14–24:47 — “They would run plays and concepts during the week and they would never see the light of day on Saturday… Donovan Edwards not being utilized in the passing game.”

                                                                Donors and close (27:00–32:26)

                                                                TJ: donors are frustrated after the Minnesota loss — unsurprising. No specific Underwood-donor chatter beyond that. Sign-off: Thursday show at 8 p.m. Eastern. Next Michigan Monday moves to Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern because of John’s Vegas trip (not Tuesday); Michelle can’t make that one. Community post coming. TJ will own it if Tommy gets the job and is the answer. Closing rant on Ohio State fans and Dave Portnoy being bounced from Fox — “Fuck Ohio.” Go Blue.

                                                                Quick hits
                                                                • Position: one more response game for Bryce, then the change is on the table. Not a defense of repeated Minnesota-level play.
                                                                • Portal: Bryce’s NIL and a promised starting job killed real QB competition. Fowler-Nicolosi was the realistic add.
                                                                • Staff heat: Beck leads the fan poll (40%). Whittingham buyout if fired without cause is ~$24.75M, so an in-season firing is a non-starter. OC swap is the only live lever, and loyalty cuts against it.
                                                                • Reporting: Lindsey was handcuffed on Saturday calls; Edwards’ passing role was practiced and not used; Sherrone didn’t want Lindsey on Bryce day to day.
                                                                • Schedule: Thursday 8 p.m. ET; next week’s show is Monday 8 p.m. ET, not Tuesday.
                                                                  • Shorts timestamps
                                                                  • 0:10 — Protect Tommy / microwave society
                                                                  • 3:05 — Goldfish memory on Sherrone
                                                                  • 4:49 — Titanic deck chair vs. Tommy lifeboats
                                                                  • 6:22 — Christmas present / best of both worlds
                                                                  • 7:29 — Portal QBs scared of Underwood’s NIL
                                                                  • 9:06 — Penn State leash deal
                                                                  • 19:41 — $24.75M buyout if fired without cause
                                                                  • 22:24 — Poll: Beck 40, Bryce 37, Whittingham 12, run game 11
                                                                  • 24:14 — Plays practiced, never called; Edwards in the passing game
                                                                  • 29:33 — Fuck Ohio / Portnoy close

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                                                                    34 min
                                                                  • Start The Carr? / Michigan Wolverines LIVE 270 Part 1

                                                                    Michigan Wolverines LIVE 270, Part 1 — “Start the Carr?” Hosts John D’Adamo and TJ Ronin. Presented by FanDuel. The show is a bye-week reaction to the Minnesota loss, the Zach Marshall group-chat leak, Jason Beck’s scheme, and whether Bryce Underwood or Tommy Carr should start against Penn State.

                                                                    Cold open and sponsor (0:00–2:48)
                                                                    • Frame: “Is it time to start the Carr?” Film, the leak, and what’s next.
                                                                    • FanDuel TNF: Cowboys favored by 8.5 over Tampa Bay. Baker Mayfield is hurt; both hosts take Dallas. John is reluctant as a Bucs fan.

                                                                      • Clip: 1:50–2:48 — both pick Dallas despite John’s Bucs lean.

                                                                      OL super chat (2:48–4:15)

                                                                      Austin: “Write Fano and Wilkes blank checks for 2028.”

                                                                      • TJ: Fano cannot start yet. The OL is saved by development and the portal, not one freshman.
                                                                      • Sprague and Babalola should enter the rotation once healthy. Competition should heat up.
                                                                      • Shocked Michigan did not add a portal lineman. Guarnera returns. Babalola is the future left tackle. Guard is the biggest question. Nathan Afobia and Norton have been a struggle bus at guard.

                                                                        • Clip: 3:05–3:45 — “what’s only going to save our offensive line is development and potentially portal.”

                                                                        Zach Marshall leak (4:45–11:16)

                                                                        TJ frames it. Leaks were already discussed on Michigan Monday without naming the player. He was told to lay low and did. He had the messages before they went public.

                                                                        What Marshall said (paraphrased, not posted on screen):

                                                                        • Beck’s scheme is mostly power read. Tight ends are not a real factor.
                                                                        • Frustration after a tight-end room meeting.
                                                                        • Beck is telling Underwood where to throw it.
                                                                        • Offense is worse than under Sherrone. Blitz them and there is no answer. Extra OL on the field every play. Different versions of power read every snap.
                                                                        • Explicit: “Bryce is a good quarterback. This is a Beck problem.” He told the chat not to let it leave. It leaked within about 30 minutes of TJ seeing it.

                                                                          • Takeaways:

                                                                          • Post-loss locker-room venting is normal. This was tame compared with what usually stays private. Wins cover it up; losses leak. Bob Knight comparison.
                                                                          • Marshall apologized and took ownership. He is not the only player who feels this way.
                                                                          • Team is still behind Bryce. Marshall’s own texts said that. Parents have told TJ the same.
                                                                          • Fan base is too emotional and too quick to dismiss. Have faith the staff is working, or at least wait for data.

                                                                            • Clip: 9:14–9:32 — “This is where teams either come together and figure it out or break.” Clip: 10:31–10:55 — Marshall took ownership; he is not the only one who feels that way; team is behind Bryce.

                                                                            Diagnosis: Beck, Bryce, and the run game (11:16–22:40)

                                                                            John: Beck is at fault for some calls. They will show film. The problem is Beck does not have to call a perfect game for Bryce to be serviceable. They are “same floor, different elevators” on the diagnosis.

                                                                            TJ:

                                                                            • Beck did not call a perfect game vs Oklahoma or Iowa. Iowa’s biggest issue was kickoff coverage and special teams.
                                                                            • Playoff is gone. Priority is program health, development, and direction. Defense is fine. Jay Hill, keep going. Problems are everywhere else: Tighter, Toby, Norton, not just Bryce.
                                                                            • Fan split is stuck where it was after Western Michigan: about 70 percent want to move on from Bryce, 30 percent want patience. Nobody changed their mind. They went quiet for three weeks because he was good enough vs Oklahoma, showed progress vs UTEP, then had his best Michigan game vs Iowa.
                                                                            • Minnesota was a step back. Locking on receivers, missing open guys, guessing RPOs instead of knowing them (Devin Gardner and Jake Butt).
                                                                            • Run game is producing less than half of last year. About 93 yards a game without Bryce’s production, same quarterback. Loaded boxes are real, but Michigan ran the ball the last several years with loaded boxes, including last year without a Joe Moore line. The run scheme has been bad since Week 1. That does not erase Bryce’s accountability.
                                                                            • Change for the sake of change. No patience for development.
                                                                            • Devin Dampier, Year 1 under Beck (Year 2 of his career, at New Mexico): 57 percent, 2,700 yards, 12 TDs, 12 INTs. This fan base would have benched him. He never would have had the portal-darling year.
                                                                            • Bryce does not get an unlimited runway. If this continues, sink or swim. TJ is not “Bryce till the end of the year.”

                                                                              • John: We know what we have with Bryce, an inconsistent quarterback who looks better when the defense stays static (Iowa) and struggles when it changes (Minnesota). Very few data points on Carr. It is feasible Carr looks better and Michigan finishes 9-3 and reaches a good bowl.

                                                                              Audio glitch around 17:10–19:00 (buzzing / mic mute). Side note from John: a lot of Sherrone-era players are learning a new offense after power run.

                                                                              Clip: 15:08–16:23 — three quiet weeks, then Minnesota regression. Clip: 21:35–22:10 — Dampier Year 1 under Beck, “y’all would have had him benched.”

                                                                              How they should handle the QB job (24:24–28:40)

                                                                              TJ expects Bryce to start vs Penn State:

                                                                              1. Staff will try to correct Minnesota.
                                                                              2. Locker room is behind him.
                                                                              3. One poor game after three games of progress in a true first healthy year. Last year was regression with no quarterback coach.

                                                                                4. Other points:

                                                                                • First half vs Minnesota, Bryce was the best offensive player. Run blocking is not there. Pass protection has been fairly solid. Harding and the staff have said the run blocking is not where it needs to be.
                                                                                • Ten men on the field. Andrew Marsh muffed a punt and failed to fair-catch at the 30, costing about 15 yards on a critical drive. Bryce cannot do that.
                                                                                • Do not grade him on the JJ McCarthy curve. JJ had Cade McNamara, a Joe Moore line, and a stronger staff. This fan base wanted Bryce to start immediately last year. TJ was in the minority and wanted a gradual intro, the JJ path. Mikey Keene was hurt. Michigan botched the onboarding. He was not taught to read defenses last year.
                                                                                • Window is closing because jobs and careers are on the line. He sees a student learning. Bad half sent him back to old habits in chaos, trying to do too much.
                                                                                • Do not rush Carr just because the playoff is gone. Do not burn a second true freshman.

                                                                                  • Clip: 24:28–24:50 — three reasons Bryce still starts vs Penn State. Clip: 25:58–26:14 — ten men, muffed punt, fair-catch mistake.

                                                                                  Blueprint film and half-field reads (28:40–30:40)

                                                                                  John, setting up the Blueprint segment:

                                                                                  • First half, Beck dumbed the offense down. Almost entirely half-field reads. Marshall and the Rhino clear to the other side. Bryce only had two receivers to read.
                                                                                  • Some “option reads” were not reads. Beck told him where to go.
                                                                                  • Second half he opened it up. Risk: the defense only has to read half the field and can blow it up.

                                                                                    • TJ: Bryce clearly cannot read option reads. Coach it. Devin Gardner’s line is repetition. TJ watched the full Blueprint show and has about 15 bullet points. They pivot into a live response to the Devin Gardner / Jake Butt Blueprint film.

                                                                                    Clip: 28:58–29:50 — Beck limiting the offense to half-field reads in the first half.

                                                                                    Later argument (roughly 31:00–2:26, Part 1 close)

                                                                                    The rest of Part 1 stays on the same fork, then opens super chats.

                                                                                    • Playoff math: TJ says the season is cooked after Iowa and Minnesota, with Western Michigan a possible committee smudge. John says running the table and beating Indiana, Ohio State, and Oregon still gets you in. Chat poll is mostly “no” on Carr running the table. John lands on “more likely,” not a bet.
                                                                                    • Carr sample size: fewer than about 15 snaps. TJ likes how smooth the little he has seen looks, but will not crown him. Fan base is treating him like the savior. Size is the real concern (listed around 180, up toward 195, LSI program). Arm strength is not the issue. The throw to Moa is enough. He is not bulking in-season.
                                                                                    • Evaluation plan: week-to-week. Three games of progress, then regression. Give Penn State to see if he gets back on the path. If not, make the change. Same developmental curve will apply to Carr. Process of elimination, not an overcorrection.
                                                                                    • Staff conviction: if Whittingham and the staff have conviction in Carr, TJ agrees they have to change. He does not think they know yet. Whittingham’s first meeting told Underwood he was the quarterback and the leader. Glowing Carr comments since February are legitimate, not pure PR. No leak that the staff is out on Bryce.
                                                                                    • Portal path: if both QBs struggle, TJ thinks Whittingham keeps Beck and they get Dampier, because coaches stick with what they know. If Beck is fired, Dampier does not come. John is not sure Dampier wants Michigan. TJ says they did not pursue him when Whittingham arrived. Bryce had the full keys.
                                                                                    • Scheme critics: ball-knowers are questioning Beck, not just Underwood. Run scheme is broken. Passing scheme is more acceptable. Bryce is missing simple RPO reads and checkdowns, and he takes sacks instead of throwing it away. The one time he threw it away was 4th-and-5, the one time he could not. Game-on-the-line throws out of bounds are a red flag. Sideline chirping at coaches and Koi Detmer Jr. while playing like this is how you get benched. The $12 million deal creates an expectation he starts, until it doesn’t.
                                                                                    • OL names for Penn State: hope Sprague is cleared, Babalola is in the mix, Blake Frazier is good. Afobia is a liability. Guarnera is the only current starter who looks like a Michigan lineman. Argument for Frazier and Sprague. Norton over Afobia. Walbridge is interesting.
                                                                                    • Identity: some of the base wants Sherrone Moore football back. TJ wants a middle. Power spread can be modern if you have the horses. Luke Fickell comparison. Arthur Smith vs Chip Kelly split. Northwestern’s offense under Kelly looks like a problem. Glad Michigan does not play them. Ohio State does.
                                                                                    • Accountability order that surfaces late: scheme and run game, Whittingham getting the roster ready, Beck, then Bryce. Not a one-variable problem.

                                                                                      • Clip: 2:00:44–2:01:20 — “quit taking losses and throw the ball out of bounds.” Clip: 2:05:56–2:06:22 — QBs did not want to sit behind Bryce. That is why the portal failed. Clip: 1:54:50–1:55:10 — if both QBs fail, Whittingham keeps Beck and they get Dampier.

                                                                                      Where the hosts land
                                                                                      • TJ: Not out on Bryce. Start him vs Penn State. Correct Minnesota. If the regression continues, cut the project. Do not burn Carr into a broken run game and a loud locker room. Development curve over ranking and NIL.
                                                                                      • John: More open to Carr now. Known commodity in Bryce is inconsistent. Carr is a low-data, higher-upside bet for a 9-3 type finish. Still not betting the playoff on either.

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                                                                                        2 hr 27 min
                                                                                      • What's Next!? - Michigan Mondays

                                                                                        Michigan Mondays on MichiganVOCFB with TJ Ronan and Michelle is a bye-week reflection after the Minnesota loss. The hosts treat it as a start-to-finish offensive disaster, with the only real credit going to the defense, and they spend most of the hour on scheme, discipline, Bryce Underwood versus Tommy Carr, and the Harbaugh-return idea.

                                                                                        Setup
                                                                                        • 00:01:41. TJ opens Michigan Monday with Michelle after a rough weekend. They skip the Lions and frame the show as reflection week: Minnesota, the Underwood–Carr debate, and the Harbaugh thesis. FanDuel shout-out.
                                                                                        • 00:03:02. Hate-watch talk turns to Georgia–Alabama. Michelle likes Alabama at home by more than 1.5, citing momentum off Mississippi State and Alabama’s track record against Kirby at Bryant-Denny. TJ takes Georgia on program strength. Not betting advice.
                                                                                          • Minnesota
                                                                                          • 00:04:49. Michigan versus “the fighting PJ Fleck.” Michelle says she over-bought the roster, the stars, and the coordinator upgrades, and even kept some optimism after Iowa. Minnesota wiped that out.
                                                                                          • 00:05:56. “There was no fight.” Start-to-finish disaster except the defense, which stayed on the field an “ungodly” amount of time. Offense cannot do anything right. She is hesitant to sell silver linings.
                                                                                          • 00:06:45. TJ says last week’s optimism, multi-area growth, is gone. Kerry Combs kickoff coverage and the punt return are flagged as red marks. Andrew Marsh’s muffed punt is later cited as not Bryce’s fault.
                                                                                          • 00:07:22. Coaching versus talent. Michelle: coaching. Talent is there (Underwood, Savion Hyder, Buchanan, Marsh). Production, especially the run game, does not match. She calls the run regression coaching malpractice. O-line remains an ongoing concern.
                                                                                          • 00:08:45. TJ’s numbers: last year under Sherrone Moore, same quarterback, about 186 pass and 210 rush per game. This year through five games, passing is still about 180, but the run is down to 92.6 without Bryce’s numbers. Fan argument is that boxes are loaded because of Underwood. TJ’s counter: they loaded the box last year with worse receivers.
                                                                                          • 00:10:30. Fan-base split he does not like: Carr versus Underwood, and coaching versus roster talent. He says some respected people fired back at a post he made after frustration leaked publicly.
                                                                                          • 00:11:12. Defense credit to Jay Hill. Hill got the ball back more than twice late. Offense did not answer.
                                                                                          • 00:12:08. Whittingham’s presser: no answers. Michelle does not know what is worse, having answers and not changing, or admitting you are as lost as the fans. She was very high on him off the Utah resume. Camera body language looks tired, exhausted, over it. Lack of energy, anger, and answers scares her more than the score. She wonders if he was ready to step aside at Utah and this job found him.
                                                                                          • 00:14:28. TJ’s concern is a longer learning curve than expected, especially on offense. Beck may still be figuring it out. Two theories: personnel does not fit the scheme (Rich Rod / Ryan Mallett parallel), and the competition is harder than Utah, where Beck had two first-round offensive linemen. Week 1 Western Michigan, Week 2 Oklahoma, then Iowa and Minnesota. East-west concepts they said they would stop still showed up and failed. Spread-without-power has not been sustainable in the Big Ten outside Oregon. Fickell at Wisconsin and Maryland are the failed comps.
                                                                                          • 00:17:28. Michelle: he is probably capable of an identity shift, but coaches keep trying to make the scheme work. Marshall and Hyder were supposed to be among the best backs in the country. A mobile Underwood should have fit what Beck did with Devin Dampier. It has failed.
                                                                                          • 00:18:10. Dampier deep dive. Year 1 under Beck (New Mexico, second college season): 57.9 percent, 2,700 yards, 12 touchdowns, 12 interceptions. Fans calling for a benching of Underwood would have benched that version too. Utah was Dampier’s later year with Beck.
                                                                                            • Locker room and issue ranking
                                                                                            • 00:20:09. Frustration is leaking. TJ was told to stay quiet, then screenshots went public and a player was named. He will not name the player. Two takeaways: the team still believes in Bryce, and some players think it is the system and are frustrated with Beck. Whittingham has said the runway is not infinite.
                                                                                            • 00:22:28. Michelle’s top three: play-calling that does not fit personnel, penalties and discipline, and Bryce going bad when he goes bad.
                                                                                            • 00:23:23. TJ’s ranking: 1) Jason Beck, 2) Kyle Whittingham and discipline, 3) Bryce Underwood. Two things can be true. Do not overcorrect. Fix one thing, then evaluate. Whittingham called this the biggest challenge of his roughly 40-year career and said they will figure it out, timeline unknown.
                                                                                            • 00:25:48. Michelle is irked by that “biggest challenge” line. Michigan has the resources, brand, fan support, and talent. Compared with being out-resourced at Utah against Oregon and USC, this should have been the easier job. TJ: they expected a smoother jump. Cignetti from James Madison is the counterexample of a coach ready for the stage.
                                                                                              • Bryce vs. Tommy Carr
                                                                                              • 00:27:46. TJ: fans are letting Minnesota erase Oklahoma-to-Minnesota progress. Until the second half, Bryce was the best offensive player, and that was close to unanimous. Penalties, a turnover, and the muffed punt wrecked drives. If Bryce is not the sole problem, Carr is not the sole solution. Carr has one notable throw against UTEP backups.
                                                                                              • 00:29:25. Michelle agrees he is not the primary problem. Discipline and unclean play put them in bad spots. She does not love the interceptions. Bryce plays better when the staff shows confidence. Mechanics erode when that confidence looks gone. Not an excuse, but observed. Premature Carr start risks trashing a promising backup and spiraling Bryce. Season is likely over for the Big Ten title and the playoff at 0-2 in league play. Oklahoma win looks worse by the day. Next year matters more: Bryce and Marsh as juniors, Hyder still there. Do not scrap the future with this year’s quarterback panic.
                                                                                              • 00:47:45. Leadership question. Players want Bryce to succeed. He is described as a hard worker with locker-room respect. Carr is younger and has not been asked to lead. TJ: players think it is Beck, not Underwood. Bryce still did not play well Saturday.
                                                                                              • 00:56:52. TJ’s position: Bryce starts against Penn State out of the bye and sinks or swims. If consistency is still not there, open a real competition. Michelle does not want alternating drives. She would rather see Carr in packages, the way JJ McCarthy was used behind Cade McNamara in 2021, not a full start that symbolically buries Bryce. JJ’s first year was not clean either, and that roster had a Joe Moore line and a staff with a pulse.
                                                                                                • Super chats
                                                                                                • 00:49:29. Has Witt lost the locker room? TJ: no, but frustration is normal and part of growth. Michelle: Utah’s room was built by him. At Michigan he was retaining portal-risk guys from a messy end to last year. Hold is more tenuous.
                                                                                                • 00:51:50. “Fire everybody, take Fleck, Braun, or Chesney.” Michelle: overreaction. Fleck would not be the name if Michigan had won. She has long liked David Braun. Bob Chesney is real, and she was wrong to doubt him. TJ has had some Chesney curiosity.
                                                                                                • 00:53:20. Ryan Hall wants a QB1A/1B into Penn State and Carr to start. TJ: already 0-2 in the league, but ripping the band-aid feels irresponsible.
                                                                                                • 00:54:13. Confirmed leak: Beck sat with a position group. Also accurate: surprise team meeting at 5:30. Separate chat says Beck was told to mold the offense around Bryce. Both hosts think the scheme was adjusted for him.
                                                                                                • 00:54:56. Devin Gardner line that Bryce is guessing, not reading. TJ pushes back: reads showed up against Iowa and UTEP. Work in progress, not a finished product.
                                                                                                • 00:55:50. Mike Middleton: fix the run, stand with Bryce.
                                                                                                  • Harbaugh thesis
                                                                                                  • 01:03:32. Ben Herbert is the piece Michelle did not want to lose in 2023. Secret sauce was strength and endurance, not Connor Stalions. Make Herbert say no, even if the role is S&C only.
                                                                                                  • 01:04:44. Chargers struggling, Herbert not looking like the quarterback Harbaugh sold. Seat could warm. Show-cause: appeal window closed, Michigan did not appeal, suing the NCAA now is dead. He is not coming back.
                                                                                                  • 01:06:12. Even without the show-cause, Team 144 is not rebuildable. Pre-NIL roster (McCarthy, Corum, that line, Roman Wilson) plus selective portal pieces. Harbaugh advocated pay but was not a portal/NIL operator like Cignetti. Different era.
                                                                                                  • 01:08:41. Jay Harbaugh as a future name? Michelle: interesting, but no head-coaching experience. After Sherrone Moore, she will not elevate a first-time head coach. Special teams are a real problem. Freudian “special needs” slip, walked back.
                                                                                                  • 01:10:55. Other names: Braun, Rhett Lashlee (translation question), Fleck. Fleck’s veteran years look like 8–10 wins, young years dip, similar shape to Ferentz. Michelle does not want to be Iowa either. Her current interesting name is Chesney / James Madison. Portal and NIL fluency matter. Fleck reads more old-school to her.
                                                                                                  • 01:13:50. TJ walks Fleck’s Minnesota arc, including an 11-2 and Outback year and a COVID dip, and says he is better than the reputation. Joke landing spot: “Fuck Ohio.”
                                                                                                  • 01:15:20. John Gruden. Michelle was not ready for the question, would be in as a fan, does not see the university hiring him. TJ thinks Gruden would take the job and the energy would be a problem for opponents. Not happening.
                                                                                                    • Close
                                                                                                    • 01:16:22. They went over an hour. Disagreeing is fine. TJ frames himself as risk-averse. Off next Monday for the bye. Michelle suggests enjoying a weekend Michigan cannot lose. Penn State is the next real test. Tuesday show with John D’Adamo. Thursday call-in. They will watch the Blueprints Bryce breakdown and react, not live-react. Ryan Hall gifted 10 memberships.

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                                                                                                      1 hr 18 min

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