Michigan football needs better performances out of starting quarterback Wilton Speight. If not they need to find someone else.
The No. 7 ranked Michigan Wolverines faced their final non-conference opponent of the season today against the Air Force Falcons. It’s the second consecutive home game for the Wolverines and another chance for quarterback Wilton Speight to prove he should be the set in stone starter.
However, Michigan struggled with Air Force, much like they did against the Cincinnati Bearcats one week ago. Speight did not throw a single touchdown pass and the entire Michigan offense was held out of the end zone through the first half.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh has to start thinking about turning to a different option behind center. Speight has not established himself as the best option in any of the three Michigan games yet this season.
Entering the game, Speight had only thrown three touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s not the type of talent that will take Michigan’s offense to new heights. But, he has to be able to manage the offense to some degree of efficiency.
The ground game opens up when Michigan is able to have some threat of a passing game. Yet, neither senior running back Ty Isaac nor sophomore Chris Evans is able to find much room to run yet this year.
Whether it be former Houston transfer quarterback John O’Korn, sophomore Brandon Peters, or freshman Dylan McCaffrey, Michigan needs to try someone new beside Speight. The defense is having too much pressure put on their shoulders and it will end up costing Michigan during conference play.
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It’s time for Speight to hit the bench before Michigan faces the Purdue Boilermakers and Michigan State Spartans in their first two Big Ten games of the year.