Inability to Make Adjustments Proof Whole Michigan Staff Needs Overhaul

Brady Hoke entered today’s game versus Michigan State desperate for a win to save Michigan’s season. But another embarrassing offensive performance has left the season in shambles and insured that Hoke’s time in Ann Arbor is all but finished.

Despite two weeks to prepare for the Spartans, Michigan showed the same plodding offense that doomed it to failure in earlier losses on the year. 

Under Hoke Michigan has become a joke to some or at best an exhibit of morbid curiosity.

How bad is Michigan?

Almost everything went its way in the first half, and the team still trailed 14-3 at the break. If Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook had been more accurate the Spartans might have put up 28 points or more in the first half.

With the game still within reach, the coaching staff needed to make changes and take advantage of being within striking range. But the offense which has been in a season long slump hit a new low in the first half totaling 37 overall yards with no net rushing yards and barely improved in the second half.

At a time when Michigan needed to show some originality and challenge the Spartans on their home field, the coaching staff made zero adjustments for the second half.

The results were disastrous. 

"We're very disappointed and we should be," said Hoke. "It's a rivalry game and Big Ten game...We're going back to work."

But that work doesn't seem to be showing results on the field.

Hoke may argue that he can fix what's wrong with Michigan but his move to jumpstart the offense during last offseason has been a spectacular failure. 

Quarterback Devin Gardner had another poor performance (13-of-28 and 121 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions) as Michigan fell 35-11. Gardner is a tough player but continues to throw inexplicable interceptions.

Despite being a fifth year senior, Gardner has regressed as a quarterback. He doesn’t decipher defensive coverages and locks onto receivers—giving defenders crucial clues that lead to turnovers.

Gardner wasn’t alone in coming up short versus the Spartans.

Wide receiver Devin Funchess who has been touted as a top NFL prospect dropped passes that stalled Michigan drives. His poor performance earned the derision of former Wolverine Braylon Edwards who has endowed a scholarship to honor the No.1 jersey that Funchess wears.

In the second half Michigan State put the game out reach with two third quarter touchdowns and the rout was on. After the Michigan State offense got on track, Michigan had no way to catch up.

The game was a huge opportunity for Brady Hoke to prove that his program could challenge a top Big Ten rival; instead his team left the field humbled while chants of “Keep Brady Hoke” rained down from the delighted Spartan crowd.

Michigan (3-5) needs to win three of its remaining four games to make a bowl game while Hoke faces almost certain dismissal. Michigan’s problems (poor quarterback play, bad offensive line and inconsistent defense) have lingered since last season. The team has recruited well, but the coaches haven’t been able to translate raw talent into wins.

In a post game interview on the Michigan radio network, Hoke offered the same tired refrain to explain his team's failure, "...We did some things well and other things we need to improve on."

He shook up his coaching staff last offseason hiring Doug Nussmeier to overhaul the offense. That move failed and now after losses to Notre Dame, Rutgers, Utah, Minnesota and Michigan State it’s time to declare the Brady Hoke era over and move on.

Phil Callihan is a featured writer for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotations obtained firsthand

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