Everybody talking about Paige Shiver's GMA interview like it's the only thing that matters for Michigan football this offseason, and sure, the program has to deal with the fallout from the Sherrone Moore situation. But here's what nobody is connecting: the Wolverines ranked 94th nationally in red zone touchdown percentage last season at barely 54 percent. That's not just bad, that's historically bad for a program that used to hang its hat on pounding the ball in from the 5-yard line. And now with the distraction of an "open secret" relationship that leadership apparently didn't address, you think that offensive staff is focused on fixing the red zone issues? No chance.
Mark my words: Michigan's red zone efficiency drops below 50 percent this season if the coaching staff doesn't get its head straight by fall camp. The portal additions are nice on paper, but none of them have proven they can convert in tight spaces against Big Ten defenses. The offensive line lost multiple starters to the draft, and the new pieces haven't gelled yet in spring ball. Meanwhile, every opponent is going to study the tape from last year and realize you can pack the box, force Michigan into third-and-long, and watch them settle for field goals.
The Shiver story is a symptom of a deeper problem. The athletic department let a culture develop where staff relationships became an "open secret" and nobody stepped in. That same lack of accountability shows up on the field when you can't punch it in from the 3-yard line. The red zone is where discipline and execution matter most, and right now this program lacks both. Watch the spring game stats when they come out. If Michigan's first-team offense can't convert at least 70 percent of their red zone possessions into touchdowns against a scout team defense, you know the season is cooked before it starts.
Indiana won a national title running a precise red zone offense that converted at 87 percent. That's the standard. Michigan is miles from that, and the off-field chaos isn't helping anyone focus on the fundamentals.