U-M’s Moore: ‘Looks like’ QB Jack Tuttle will start vs. Illinois

Two days after Michigan made another change at quarterback in a loss at Washington, head coach Sherrone Moore said it “looks like” veteran Jack Tuttle will get the start next weekend.

Appearing on the “Inside Michigan Football” radio show Monday night, Moore reemphasized his comments from Saturday night — saying Tuttle “came in and gave us a huge spark, and that was a positive,” referring to Michigan’s three straight drives with points.

But Tuttle, back for his seventh year behind center, also committed two costly turnovers late that thwarted any hope of a comeback in the 27-17 loss.

“Gave us a lot of momentum on offense, and he’s beating himself up still,” Moore said. “I had to call him (Sunday) night and tell him, ‘Hey, we got your back, you’re good.’ He only practiced for a week and a half, really, and to get him back was a huge boost for us.”

Tuttle finished just 10 of 18 for 98 yards passing but presented a down-field threat unlike Michigan’s previous starter, Alex Orji, completing three throws of 15 yards or longer.

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While unwilling to discuss his medical issues on Saturday, Tuttle dealt with complications from the torn UCL in his right elbow suffered last year that set him back this offseason. The Wolverines opened the season with former walk-on Davis Warren at quarterback, but after six interceptions in their first three games moved on to Orji.

Orji failed to eclipse 100 yards passing in his first two starts and presided over three empty drives to open Saturday’s game at Washington, prompting the Michigan staff to insert Tuttle.

“He practiced really well, and so did Orji, but you knew how good Jack was and the experience that he had,” Moore said. “I felt that at some point that’d be the play, putting him into the game at some point. And he just did a really good job and took advantage of the opportunity.”

Moore echoed his comments Saturday night about Tuttle, in his seventh year after previous stints at Utah and Indiana, giving Michigan “the best chance to win” moving forward. The Wolverines, at 4-2 and 2-1 in the Big Ten, are on a bye this week ahead of the Saturday, Oct. 19, game at Illinois (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS).

“We’ll do everything we can to keep the competition going,” Moore said. “But I think right now, (Jack) gives us the best chance to win. We’ll continue to process that as an offense, as a team, but it looks like the direction we’re heading.”

The Michigan offense continues to flounder through six games, ranking 100th in college football in scoring (23.5 points per game) and 118th in total offense (306.3 yards). Those figures have been dragged down by a non-existent passing attack in recent weeks, with Michigan ranking 130th in FBS in passing yards (115) per game. The hope is that Tuttle can help improve that.

“The biggest priorities for me (this week) is to make sure our run and pass game are complementary,” Moore said on the radio show. “Formationally, structurally, in the run game. We’ve got to continue to strain (and) get better.

“We’re getting better in the run-game, but I want to see more down-the-field shots, the play-action game come alive, the passing game come alive more. And I think it will, but we have to work on it.”

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