ANN ARBOR, Mich. — If you listen to Michigan football players and coaches describe what the offense looks like now that Chip Lindsey has taken over the offensive coordinator position, you’ll generally get a neutral response. Some intimate that it looks the same (which wouldn’t be terribly great news for the maize and blue) while others say there’s a modicum of improvement. But sometimes, we hear some things that should make fans salivate.

Of course, the passing game should be much more dynamic just by virtue of former No. 1 overall recruit Bryce Underwood choosing to stay home and play for the Wolverines. He and second-year signal caller Jadyn Davis have been battling in spring ball, but if the offense is still more a run-based attack with the occasional pass, how much different could it be?

Redshirt sophomore offensive tackle Evan Link shared more details, and it does sound wildly different in terms of philosophy. Noting the prevalence of downfield passes, the emergence of the quarterbacks (and the receivers) appears to be extant in spring, certainly shedding some optimism on that side of the ball.

“We definitely are throwing the ball a bit more downfield, which is pretty nice to see,” Link said. “Just because Bryce and Jadyn, and all of them really, they throw really, really good deep balls, and we’ve got some good receivers down there to catch them now. And so, I mean, it’s definitely bringing a little bit more fun back to the — I’d say it’s a bit fun to the offense. Every time you’re pass blocking and you see a 70-yard bomb go by, you’re like, ‘Oh, that’s pretty nice, yeah, I guess we can go off the field now,’ so, it definitely brings a little bit of spirits back to everybody, and now it’s good.”

Not only in spring ball but also in fall camp, generally, no matter how high-flying the offense, the defense tends to be ahead. Considering the high expectations of the Michigan defense, if that’s the case, it wouldn’t be a surprise. However, Link says that the offense, particularly in the run game, appears to be winning much more than it was at this time last year, giving confidence to that entire group.

“I’d say pretty good, just because I know there’s a few days we’ve definitely got them in the run game, there’s a few days they’ve got us, but, I mean, I’d say it’s very back and forth,” Link said. “Not as much last year, where we’re dealing with Mason and KG inside, and it’s going to be a problem in the run game. But this year, we’ve got some really good defenders, but I think our unit’s getting a little bit more together, so we’re able to run the ball a bit better, and kind of establish ourselves on the ground. And then obviously, the pass game’s a little bit different, just with Coach Lindsey, it’s different schemes, different everything like that. And I’d say it’s shaken things up a little bit, but I’d say it’s pretty even, just good competition every time.”

Michigan football fans will get to see the new-look offense in action on April 19 in the annual spring game held at The Big House.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan Wolverines offense improving in spring ball with deep throws