Melissa: Tommy Carr threw for 167 yards and an interception. Jordan Marshall ran for just 26. And Michigan lost 13-6 to Indiana on the road. If you think that was a bad day, wait until we tell you what’s happening behind the scenes at practice this week.
Ryan: It wasn’t just the score, Mel. It was the protection. The offensive line couldn’t hold up against Tobi Osunsanmi’s pressure, and it exposed every crack in the depth chart. We are four games into conference play, sitting at 4-3, and the margin for error is zero.
Melissa: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network! I’m Melissa, alongside Ryan, your daily guide to Big Ten football. This is the Michigan Wolverines daily show. Today, we’re doing a deep dive into roster battles. We’ve got three things coming up: first, the quarterback competition between Tommy Carr and Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi; second, the offensive line identity crisis with Andrew Babalola and Brooks Bahr; and third, who makes the final cut before Rutgers.
Ryan: Exactly. Remember, we talked yesterday about Roddy Gayle Jr.’s fifth-season clearance being a massive boost. But that doesn’t fix the fact that our passing game stalled completely against Indiana. Josh Hoover only had 81 yards passing for the Hoosiers, but they won because they didn’t turn it over. We did. One interception by Tommy Carr changed the entire momentum of that drive.
Melissa: And let’s not forget Chris Bracy had 13 tackles for us. He was everywhere. But when your offense can only manage two field goals from Nico Radicic, you’re asking too much of your defense. That’s why today is all about who is actually on the field versus who is fighting for snaps. Let’s jump into Segment One: The Quarterback Battle.
Ryan: So, here is the reality. Tommy Carr went 20-of-32. That looks decent on paper, right? But look closer. 167 yards. One interception. In a 13-6 loss where the team scored six points total, those stats are misleading. He didn’t make mistakes often, but he didn’t create big plays either. Against Indiana’s secondary, he was conservative. Very conservative.
Melissa: Conservative is one word for it. I’d call it stagnant. JJ Buchanan caught six passes for 57 yards. That’s good efficiency, but where were the other options? Logan Forbes, Travis Johnson, Jamar Browder—they barely touched the stat sheet. When you’re facing a Rutgers defense that loves to blitz, do you trust Carr to adjust, or do you look elsewhere?
Ryan: That’s the million-dollar question. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi is the backup. He’s healthy. He’s been watching. But does he have the arm strength to beat Rutgers’ physical defensive front? Look at the last game leaders again. Smith Snowden got one sack for us. That means there was some pressure handled, but overall, the pocket collapsed. If Fowler-Nicolosi comes in, he needs to be more aggressive downfield than Carr was.
Melissa: But here’s the thing about Jason Beck, our offensive coordinator. Adam Rittenberg reported that Kyle Whittingham is sticking with Beck. That implies confidence in the system. If the system isn’t changing, maybe the player needs to change. Or maybe Carr just needs to get out of his own head. He distributed passes, sure, but did he attack the holes?
Ryan: He attacked the short zones. That’s what a freshman does when he’s unsure. But Rutgers is different. They’re going to bring heat. If Carr holds the ball one second longer than he did against Indiana, Tobi Osunsanmi-style sacks become routine. We predicted a defensive battle against Rutgers, remember? 20-17? Well, if the offense stays like this, it’s not even 20-17. It’s 10-7.
Melissa: Ouch. Okay, so the message to Carr is clear: no more safety valves. You need to throw into tight windows. But that brings us to the biggest issue on this roster. It’s not just the quarterback. It’s the people protecting him.
Melissa: Before we get into the trenches, I want to take a quick breath. This episode broke down the tough decisions facing Coach Whittingham right now. If you found value in these deep roster dives and tactical breakdowns, please consider supporting the show. Your contributions help keep this network free and daily for all of you fans. Just click the link in the episode description to chip in. It really helps.
Ryan: Thanks, Mel. Let’s talk about that offensive line. Andrew Babalola and Brooks Bahr are starting names, but the depth is thin. Peter Donini, Nathan Efobi, Tommy Fraumann—they’re all battling for rotation spots. Against Indiana, the pass protection scheme failed. Not because of a lack of effort, but because of leverage issues. Indiana’s edge rushers got inside release, and once they were inside, Carr had nowhere to go.
Melissa: And look at the running game. Jordan Marshall had 12 carries for 26 yards. That’s two-point-one yards per carry. Brutal. Jonathan Brown, Savion Hiter, Donovan Johnson—they’re all on this roster list, but none of them could establish a rhythm. When you’re playing Rutgers, you need physicality. Can Manuel Beigel or Ace Hamilton provide that push in the run game? Or are we stuck with Marshall?
Ryan: Marshall is a power runner, but he needs lanes. If the interior linemen—Jake Guarnera, Avery Gach, Luke Hamilton—can’t create double teams, Marshall hits a wall. And against Rutgers, you will hit a wall. Their front seven is nasty. You need your tight ends to block effectively too. Mason Bonner, Hogan Hansen, Jalen Hoffman, Zack Marshall—they can’t just be receiving threats. They need to set the edge.
Melissa: Right. So the battle isn’t just who starts at tackle. It’s which combination of linemen can handle a five-man pass rush. If Carr gets pressured again, the receivers need to find soft spots in zone coverage. But if the rush is constant, it’s man-to-man, and then it’s a nightmare for everyone. Did you see how Charlie Becker caught three passes for 32 yards for Indiana? That’s minimal production, but it’s consistent. We need that kind of reliability.
Ryan: Becker wasn’t even their leading receiver. Turbo Richard rushed for 68 yards on 19 carries. The Hoosiers played keep-away. They controlled the clock. That’s how you win 13-6. They didn’t need big plays. They just needed to not lose. Michigan needs to stop trying to be clever and start being fundamental. Block the run, protect the quarterback, throw the check-down. Simple stuff. But it requires execution from every single guy on that roster.
Melissa: Which leads me to the wideouts. Braydon Alford, Kendrick Bell, Jaime Ffrench Jr., Salesi Moa, Andrew Marsh, Channing Goodwin. That’s a lot of bodies. But who is winning the battle for targets? JJ Buchanan had six catches. That’s almost half the team’s receptions. Is he the clear number one, or is someone else stepping up?
Ryan: Buchanan is the safe option. He knows the system. But if you want to stretch the field, you need speed. Andrew Marsh has it. Jamar Browder has it. But against a team like Rutgers, speed alone doesn’t matter if you can’t win the physical battles at the line of scrimmage. The receivers need to fight through jams. If they don’t, the quarterback throws the ball away. And throwing the ball away doesn’t move the chains.
Melissa: So the message is: win the physical battle. No more easy outs. Every snap matters. Especially with Rutgers coming to town—or rather, us going to New Jersey. The stakes are higher than ever. We’re 4-3. One loss puts us in serious danger of falling out of playoff contention. And remember, the bubble watch headlines are already talking about upsets. Week 8 was chaos across college football.
Ryan: Chaos is exactly what Michigan can’t afford. Now, let’s talk roster cuts. Who is trending up? Who is trending down? After that performance against Indiana, I think we know who is trending down. It’s anyone who didn’t contribute meaningfully. But looking at the full roster, I’m worried about the tight end room. Hogan Hansen and Jalen Hoffman haven’t shown enough separation to be primary options.
Melissa: I agree. Mason Bonner seems to be the favorite to stay, but Zack Marshall needs to prove he can block. If he can’t, he’s just another body on the sideline. On the offensive line, I think Brooks Bahr is holding his own, but Andrew Babalola needs to step up. If Babalola struggles against Rutgers’ defensive ends, expect Blake Frazier or Evan Link to see increased reps.
Ryan: And what about the running backs? Jordan Marshall is struggling. If he doesn’t improve in practice this week, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Micah Ka'apana or Bryson Kuzdzal get more touches. You need a change of pace. Rutgers will sit on Marshall’s style if they read the film correctly. They saw the 2.1 yards per carry. They’ll stack the box.
Melissa: So, final predictions. Who makes the cut? I think we keep the core group intact. Carr starts. Buchanan starts. Babalola and Bahr start. But the practice squad gets shuffled heavily. Specifically, the wide receiver corps. We need fresh legs. I’m predicting Logan Forbes gets more time in the slot against Rutgers.
Ryan: I’ll go with that. But I also think Brady Norton sees more action on special teams if he’s cleared. Special teams can win a close game. And this feels like it’s going to be close. Chris Bracy will have another huge game. He’s the heart of this defense. If the offense can’t score, Bracy has to keep them in it.
Melissa: Alright, folks. That’s the roster battle preview. Michigan vs. Rutgers is Oct 31st. It’s going to be ugly, it’s going to be physical, and it’s going to determine if this season is salvageable. Stay tuned for the post-game reaction.
Melissa: To recap: Tommy Carr needs to be sharper, the offensive line must improve its pass protection, and the running game needs a spark against Rutgers’ physical front. If you enjoyed this deep dive, please subscribe, rate, and review the show wherever you listen. Share it with a fellow Wolverine fan!
Ryan: We’ll see you after the game. Go Blue.
Melissa: From the Beatline Podcast Network, I’m Melissa, with Ryan. Thanks for listening!