Bob WojnowskiWojo: Michigan still has a long way to go
ANN ARBOR -- This was horrific regression, a nasty reminder of how far Michigan has to go, and a graphic glimpse at what Michigan is trying to become.
Illinois, with its spread-'em-out offense and elusive quarterback Juice Williams, delivered a stunning lesson to the Wolverines and Rich Rodriguez. The Illini did what Michigan's offense dreams of someday doing, as Illinois piled up 501 total yards in a 45-20 romp at Michigan Stadium, the second straight week something bizarre happened here.
That Michigan defense that was supposed to roll while the offense worked with training wheels? Abysmal.
The Wolverines ran out of juice chasing Juice. Williams set a stadium record with 431 total yards, destroying the Wolverines again and again (and again and again) with huge third-down plays, with deft passes and power runs.
We knew there would be wild swings in the Rodriguez era, which is why nothing should surprise anyone anymore. But this is getting a little ridiculous. If the comeback last week against Wisconsin pushed the program one step forward, this was two big wobbles backward. The Wolverines (2-3) are not improving much in Rodriguez's first season, moving in fits and spurts, and that's troubling.
Sometimes quarterback Steven Threet looks sharp enough to make the offense serviceable. And sometimes he looks thoroughly ill-equipped, although his porous offensive line didn't help. Threet was 18-for-35 for 250 yards and was sacked four times.
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