Indiana's Curt Cignetti expects Tommy Carr to start for Michigan
Indiana is preparing for freshman Tommy Carr to start against the Hoosiers on Saturday, though Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham has not named his quarterback.
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said Monday, October 19, that he expects freshman Tommy Carr to start at quarterback for Michigan when the teams meet Saturday, October 24, at Michigan Stadium. The Hoosiers are also preparing for Bryce Underwood; Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham says he has a plan but has not named a starter.
Cignetti's expectation follows Carr's second-half appearance in Michigan's 21-18 win over Penn State. Carr replaced Underwood after halftime and led three touchdown drives, giving Indiana a recent look at how the Wolverines played with him at quarterback.
Why Cignetti expects Tommy Carr to start
Asked whether he needed to watch Carr's high school film, Cignetti said he had watched enough of the Penn State game: ‘You can see what you need to see in the second half of Penn State, in my opinion.’ He added, ‘I'd assume it would be him.’ His assessment is an opponent's preparation, rather than an announcement of Michigan's choice.
Carr completed five of seven passes against Penn State and ran for a touchdown, according to 247Sports. The outlet reported that Michigan's defense forced the three turnovers that preceded the touchdown drives, while running backs Bryson Kuzdzal and Savion Hiter supplied explosive runs. Those contributions helped turn Carr's second-half stint into a win, but they also matter when weighing how much of the offensive change came from the quarterback.
Cignetti said he would not be surprised to see Carr and Underwood on the field together, citing Whittingham's use of two quarterbacks at Utah. He said Michigan had not changed much schematically when Carr replaced Underwood. Cignetti also described Underwood as a quarterback with a strong arm who can make plays with his legs.
Whittingham keeps Michigan's quarterback decision private
Whittingham said Monday that he had decided how to handle the position but would not disclose his plan. Asked about using two quarterbacks, he said that approach had worked for some teams but had rarely been a feature of teams he coached. That leaves Cignetti's forecast unconfirmed ahead of Saturday's game.
The earlier NewsJaws report on Whittingham's undisclosed quarterback plan described Michigan's decision after the Penn State game; Cignetti's comments now show how Indiana is preparing for it. Underwood had started 19 consecutive games for Michigan before Carr entered against Penn State, according to 247Sports.
Indiana enters the matchup 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten after a 19-15 loss to Ohio State, while Michigan is 4-2 and 1-2 in conference play, The Detroit News reported. Cignetti called Michigan's defense a ‘top-flight defense’ and said the game would be a physical challenge. Kickoff is scheduled for noon Saturday, with FOX carrying the game, according to 247Sports.
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Sources and context
- Indiana's Curt Cignetti thinks he knows who Michigan will start at QBThe Detroit News (byline: Angelique S. Chengelis; carried by Yahoo Sports)
- Curt Cignetti: Hoosiers 'assume' Michigan QB Tommy Carr will start against Indiana247Sports
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.