Game Balls: Too little too late from the Michigan offense

Some were hoping that last week’s failure was just an aberration — or at least a wake-up call — but apparently that was not the case for the Michigan Wolverines. Saturday’s defeat against Indiana saw both sides of the ball fail to live up to the task, and at this point it is clear that the team is just not good enough to compete.

The rest of the 2020 season is going to be a challenge, and the only victories might be of the moral variety, which means clinging to any signs of promise from the younger players on the roster and looking forward to the future. There was a bit of that against the Hoosiers, but on the whole the maize and blue struggled to impressed for the second consecutive week.

Ronnie Bell, WR

There is tons of youth and excitement amongst the receiving corps, but for the Michigan passing game to succeed, Ronnie Bell must be involved. 2019’s leading receiver had a few nice plays coming into this weekend, but he really came to life in Bloomington, brining in six catches for 149 yards and a score, desperately trying to ignite the offense in the second half. Joe Milton is still figuring out how to run an offense, and he needs to lock in on his veteran option to be able to do so.

Cornelius Johnson, WR

Even with all of the speedsters on the roster, the receiver I felt was due to break out this season was Cornelius Johnson. All of Michigan’s big targets have left the team, opening up space for a dominant pass catcher. The sophomore has been quiet so far, but his opening touchdown grab showed a bit of his athleticism and talent. He might be a little boom-or-bust this season in terms of stats, but few players on the roster can match his catch radius.

Daxton Hill, FS

The Wolverines are trying to keep Daxton Hill as a safety, but he is taking on many corner responsibilities right now. Hill was not exactly a complete lock-down artist on Saturday, but he was again the best defensive back on the field for the visitors. At some point teams are going to completely scheme around Hill and attack any other player in the secondary. The former five-star is certainly looking like a legitimate talent; unfortunately, he is fighting the good fight alone out there.

Brad Robbins, P

Unironically, Brad Robbins was one of the most impressive players out there for Michigan. One of two punting options entering the year, Robbins seems to have won the job, booming seven punts against Indiana for an average of 53.6 yards and pinning the Hoosiers back deep on multiple occasions. It is unfortunate that the offense has to punt so much and that the defense needs all the help it can get, but at least Robbins is able to provide some tangible value.