Free Press sports writer Tony Garcia looks back at Michigan football's 31-12 loss to the Texas Longhorns and identifies four reasons for U-M's first home loss in four seasons.

Running regression

In case Michigan’s tight Week 1 win over Fresno State was not enough of a reason to believe it, Saturday’s performance vs. Texas was proof positive of one major thing: it ain’t 2023 anymore. Just about everything Michigan had done well the past three years was not on display in this first top-10 matchup of the season.

It starts with the running game, long a strength, which was entirely dormant. Donovan Edwards, who was pedestrian in the opener, looked slightly more effective but still nothing like elite runner. He ran eight times for 41 yards and led the team while Kalel Mullings, who appeared the bell cow in Week 1, was limited to just six touches and 25 yards. Even when U-M brought in backup quarterback Alex Orji as a runner, the telegraphed decision proved easy for three Longhorns to decipher as they held him to a loss of a yard on his two attempts.

Michigan, which ran 22 times for 82 yards as a team with a long of 12 by Edwards, is at its best when it runs the ball. If the Wolverines don’t have (or find) a run game to lean on in order to alleviate some of the pressures on the passing attack, it’s hard to envision the offense looking terribly different. After running backs coach Tony Alford berated himself for not getting redshirt freshman Benjamin Hall in the game in Week 1, he did get Hall three carries for 14 yards late in this one, but that didn't change the tide.

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One week after running 15 times for 36 yards in the first half, U-M managed just 39 in the first two quarters.

"The thing we talked about on offense, we've got to run the ball more and more efficiently," head coach Sherrone Moore said Monday. "Do the things to help us move the chains and get the ball in the end zone, which we're not doing enough."

Defensive deficiencies

There was an expectation the offense could struggle to get going given it was replacing 10 of 11 starters from a year ago. Michigan’s defense, meanwhile, not only replaced multiple starters at every level but the unit’s coordinator and every position coach on that side of the ball, but many imagined the unit would pick up where it left off thanks to preseason All-Americans Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant and Will Johnson. As it turns out, that’s not quite how it’s gone down.

The group, which a season ago ranked No. 1 in the nation in points against (10.4) and total defense (257 yards per game), now ranks tied for No. 70 in both scoring defense (20.5 points) and total defense (316.5 yards) respectively.

For the second consecutive week, U-M was (at least by its standards) torched though the air. Heisman trophy candidate Quinn Ewers shredded the Wolverines secondary as he completed 24 of 36 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns as four different players either caught six or more passes or had 50 or more yards thought the air.

The run defense didn't fare much better. U-M's stout interior wasn't exactly pushed around, but the Longhorns also used end-arounds to supplement the run game. In the end, they tallied 32 rushes for 143 yards (4.3 per attempt) and a touchdown as U-M managed just four tackles for loss and no sacks.

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"Guys just got to tackle, guys just got to make plays," Moore said. "Guys are in position or not communicating so there's too many wide open things happening and that's the big piece for us we've got to get fixed."

Quarterback concerns

For many Michigan supporters, one of widely identified trouble spots has been quarterback. After back-to-back years with a top-10 player at the position, U-M had a competition in the offseason between former walk-on Davis Warren and running threat Alex Orji, a battle ultimately won by Warren. Though many expressed their displeasure with the passing attack, which racked up just 49 yards on 11 attempts in the first half, Warren finished 22 of 33 for 204 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions; and there's reason to believe it's not all his fault for the lack of production.

According to Pro Football Focus, Warren (75.8) was the highest graded offensive player on U-M's team while his head coach explained both of his turnovers (a ball off a wide outs hands and then a wrong-route by another receiver) were not solely his fault.

"Still feel like we can win with our quarterbacks," Moore said. "For us to be successful, it's not just the quarterback, everybody around him has to perform at a good level. Perform with detail, not turn the ball over. ... people point toward the quarterback, well it was the same thing last year − J.J. (McCarthy) threw three picks in a game and it was all on J.J.

"We feel confident in our quarterback and everybody around him has to execute their job at a high level as well."

Wide receiver woes

One week after all pass catchers not-named Colston Loveland combined for eight catches and just 34 yards, things were only somewhat better. Michigan's wideouts did finish with 10 catches for 113 yards and one score, however, other than C.J. Charleston's 22-yard grab in the first quarter, almost all of the production came in the second half once the game was essentially over.

Semaj Morgan led the way with five catches and 45 yards, highlighted by his 31-yard touchdown reception late, while no other pass catcher other than Loveland (eight grabs, 70 yards) had as many as three catches or 25 yards through the air.

"Gotta do a better job of just creating separation," Moore said. "There are times where there's separation and route spacing is good, but it's not detailed and not good enough all the time. For us, it's just about going back to the basics. Simple, simple is good. Letting our guys play fast, not making anything too complicated for them."

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 4 reasons behind Michigan football's 1st home loss in 4 years to Texas