Head coach Sherrone Moore announced on Tuesday that he relieved offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell from his duties. Campbell was in his first year as offensive coordinator after being co-offensive coordinator in 2023.
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This was expected by anyone and everyone, and some might be surprised it didn’t happen earlier. Michigan scored its fewest points per game (22.3) since Brady Hoke’s final year in 2014, when the Wolverines averaged 20.9 points.
Here are Michigan’s final regular season offensive rankings:
#64 in yards per carry (4.43)
#69 in rushing yards per game (160.67)
#111 in points per game (22.3)
#121 in passing touchdowns (11)
#122 in yards per play (4.85)
#128 in passer rating (111.25)
#128 in total offense (294.3)
#130 in passing yards per game (133.6)
#132 in passing yards per attempt (5.5)
A fall back to Earth from 2023 was expected, considering Michigan lost its top six offensive linemen, a couple drafted receivers, a drafted tight end, a first round quarterback, a program record-breaking running back who got drafted, etc. The only starter Michigan returned from the national championship season was tight end Colston Loveland, and he missed one-third of the year due to injury.
However, Michigan did have an experienced offensive line (except for a redshirt freshman right tackle who beat out a couple veteran tackles), two solid players at running back, and a solid tight end room. He also had a 6’3″, 235 lb. athletic freak at quarterback, but nobody on the staff could figure out how to effectively use him.
Was it going to be great? No.
Should it have been better than #128 in total offense? Absolutely.
Personally, I think Campbell can be a solid coach if he finds himself in the right position. He did some very creative things on offense, and he schemed up more open receivers than what most fans saw – the quarterbacks just weren’t good enough or protected enough to see them. Some of the stuff Michigan did over the past couple years with flea flickers, motions, end arounds, etc. was stuff I’ve literally never seen before. I don’t think Campbell did a good job of preparing Alex Orji to be a starting quarterback in 2024, so I wouldn’t hire him if the goal is to institute a QB run game.
Where does Michigan go from here? Well, first-year tight ends coach Steve Casula – who has offensive coordinator experience elsewhere – will take over play calling duties for the bowl game, and I think Casula should return in 2025 as tight ends coach. Names being bandied about for the permanent replacement include former Mississippi State and Florida head coach Dan Mullen; Tulane offensive coordinator Joe Craddock; and Toledo head coach Jason Candle.
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