Michigan Football News: Why Michigan's First Game Was a Solid Beginning Under Sherrone Moore

The Michigan Wolverines kicked off their 2024 season with a solid 30-10 victory over Fresno State in Ann Arbor. This game marked the beginning of a new chapter for the team under first-year head coach Sherrone Moore.

The offense showed promise but also faced some challenges, while the defense delivered a strong performance with key plays from standout players. Overall, it was a positive start for the Wolverines.

In a postgame analysis, former Michigan defensive lineman Ryan Van Bergen highlighted the team's adjustments and the learning curve that comes with a new coaching regime.

“It’s exactly what you thought you’d get from having a new regime in Sherrone Moore, the first time as a head coach with full unbridled restriction on running the team and the program the way he sees fit,” Van Bergen said during the Week 1 postgame show. “We have a lot of new guys all over the place on offense. We have new guys on defense, a new defensive coordinator, same system, but new coordinator. So I think you expect some of the different mishaps that happened and I think you also have to realize that there were not as many big plays as there could have been considering the circumstances."

The Wolverines fielded a mix of new and returning players on both sides of the ball, which contributed to some inconsistencies. However, there were glimpses of the team's potential, particularly in the second half, where they began to establish a more defined identity.

“I don’t think that you can take too much of what you saw offensively for what this offense is going to be and what it can be. I think there are so many weapons. There are so many things around the offense that you’re just gonna have to find this identity and what this team is going to be. And I thought that there were a lot of good takeaways. I think that this team, in my opinion, kind of established an identity in the second half. I think we are smashmouth with [Max] Bredeson getting a lot of reps at fullback and running Kalel Mullings between the tackles. And when they’re tired, that’s when you go to Donovan Edwards on the third down. That’s just the early impression that I have of what the offense was."

Defensively, Michigan faced a competent Fresno State offense, which Van Bergen noted could be competitive in their own conference. The Wolverines' defense held up well against this challenge, showcasing their ability to rise to the occasion.

"Defensively, I was super excited. I think Fresno State’s a good offensive team. I think Fresno State would beat the breaks off of Iowa’s offense. And Iowa has performed pretty well in the Big Ten, taking early shots there at them. But Fresno State’s going to be a team that I think wins eight, nine, maybe ten games. So a good test for Wink Martindale’s defense. And to me, I thought we stood up very well in that test.”

Related: Michigan Football News: Wolverines Select Davis Warren as Starting Quarterback for Clash with Fresno State

Fans can catch more insights and analysis through the team's postgame show, which airs live after every home game. The next opportunity to see the Wolverines in action will be at their home stadium, where they aim to build on this promising start.