Michigan football eager to showcase ‘explosive’ offense in Citrus Bowl

ORLANDO, Fla. — With 1 crippled near and small near to play for, nan Michigan discourtesy could look a small different travel Wednesday.

The abrupt firing of caput coach Sherrone Moore connected Dec. 10 followed by nan consequent departure of violative coordinator Chip Lindsey has thrust Steve Casula into nan play-calling domiciled for nan Citrus Bowl crippled against Texas (3 p.m., ABC).

And by each accounts, Casula is looking to unfastened things up a bit.

“I emotion nan crippled plan, by nan way,” interim caput coach Biff Poggi said earlier successful nan week. “The crippled scheme is really special.”

While Poggi grounded to elaborate, his players person done it for him. Speaking earlier believe Saturday successful Florida, Michigan backmost Bryce Underwood said he was excited for nan crippled scheme successful nan works.

“Excited to play this game, travel out, beryllium explosive,” Underwood, who threw for 2,229 yards and 9 touchdowns this season, said. “That’s nan main thing.”

Michigan vanished nan regular play 9-3 but 56th nationally successful full offense, averaging 398.9 yards per game. The Wolverines grounded to apical 400 yards successful six of their games, bookended by a 163-yard capacity successful their 27-9 nonaccomplishment to Ohio State connected Nov. 29.

Much of their accumulation came successful nan tally crippled this year, pinch a rushing discourtesy that classed 15th and topped 213 yards per game. Meanwhile, nan passing onslaught hardly eclipsed 185 yards per game, ranking 108th nationally.

“We mightiness not person showed it nan full year, and there’s reasons for that, but we person a batch of talent successful this room,” reserve moving backmost Bryson Kuzdzal said. “A batch of group want to spell retired location and make plays and person things to show.”

This will people nan 2nd consecutive vessel crippled Casula, nan team’s co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach this year, has been fixed nan telephone sheet. Last year, Michigan fired its violative coordinator, Kirk Campbell, earlier nan ReliaQuest Bowl. The Wolverines coiled up beating Alabama, 19-13, successful a wild, rain-soaked crippled successful Tampa that saw nan beleaguered discourtesy amass 190 rushing yards.

To beryllium fair, Michigan has shown betterment complete past twelvemonth connected discourtesy pinch Underwood astatine quarterback. Freshman receiver Andrew Marsh besides emerged arsenic a prima successful nan marking, catching 42 passes for 642 yards and 3 touchdowns.

“I can’t hold to watch Bryce Underwood aft 15 much practices,” Casula told reporters connected Sunday. “I consciousness nan aforesaid measurement astir Andrew Marsh. Bryson Kuzdzal has been outstanding. I can’t hold to watch Donaven McCulley play successful his first assemblage vessel game. It was thing that was really important to him, and a extremity of his, and he’s practiced really well.

“The tight ends, we play a batch of ‘em, and selfishly I’m ever excited for those dudes without a doubt.”

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Aaron McMann is nan main hit writer covering nan University of Michigan shot programme for MLive Media Group, wherever he's worked since 2014. He went from covering precocious schoolhouse sports successful nan Flint area to a...