Michigan’s offense is an utter mess.

For the second week in a row, the Wolverines failed to consistently move the football through the air and on the ground. The result? A resounding 31-12 home loss to Texas.

And now the real coaching job for Sherrone Moore begins.

After a sloppy season-opening win over Fresno State, the Wolverines were outclassed by the Longhorns, who look primed to comfortably ease into their new home in the SEC. Michigan totaled just 284 yards — 78 of which came on the final drive against Texas’ backups. The offense committed 3 turnovers and converted just 3 third downs. Michigan’s 16-game winning streak was snapped with the loss.

So how do the defending national champions pick up the pieces after a 19-point home setback in a game that wasn’t even that close?

The company line this week has been to reestablish a ground and pound offense.

“We have to be more consistent running the football,” Moore told reporters. “When you get in games like that versus really good teams, if you get behind and it becomes a throw game, that doesn’t put you in the best position to win — never has. (It’s) never been a formula for us to be successful. So we got to do a better job establishing (the run).”

There’s no doubt the run game defined Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan teams. But through 2 games, the Wolverines have only netted 228 yards on the ground. They rank 101st in the country in rushing. At least in the opener against Fresno State, the Wolverines were able to attempt 34 rushes (which gained 148 yards). Against Texas, however, Michigan only tried 23 runs (which logged just 80 yards). Getting behind early clearly was a huge factor in a lack of opportunities, but had they been more successful early, maybe they could have stayed closer. For example, after Texas took a 7-0 lead, Michigan responded with a drive into the Longhorns’ red zone. On 3rd-and-3 from Texas’ 19, Alex Orji was stuffed for no gain, forcing a field goal. Texas answered with a long TD drive to make it 14-3.

On Michigan’s ensuing drive, Davis Warren threw an interception on 3rd-and-2, an obvious running down for a competent, confident running team. Texas tacked on a field goal and the game essentially was out of hand.

The way the Wolverines have been built under Harbaugh, the mindset was to establish the run and assert their will early in the game in order to open things up through the air. Reestablishing the run would certainly help Warren, the first-year starter who completed 22-of-33 for 204 yards with a late touchdown and 2 interceptions against the ‘Horns.

Putting any QB into more manageable 3rd-down situations would make him much more comfortable. But will that be enough to help this offense be more consistent and explosive?

How prolific can Warren be behind a new offensive line and receiving corps, as well as play-calling that has left a lot to be desired? The line still is developing chemistry, and Warren has not yet developed great timing with a new set of pass catchers.

While Moore praised Warren and his teammates for fighting until the end and scoring in the 4th quarter, it was too little, too late against Texas. Orji, the backup known more for his running skills, didn’t see much action because of the lack of emphasis on the run, but Moore mentioned Jack Tuttle will be throwing more this week and could add to the mix.

After 2 games, there has been increased discussion as to why Moore and his staff did not try harder to land a QB in the transfer portal.

“A lot of things happened,” he said. “For us, it was the QBs we had we feel pretty good with, and those guys performed well in spring … did a good job. And then things happened in the portal, guys go different places and all that, so we got a good beat on who we wanted to get and what we wanted to do. For us to be successful and keep our culture and keep our team the right way, we had the quarterbacks we had here.

“I feel like we can win with our quarterbacks, have confidence in our quarterbacks, and for us to be successful, it’s not just the quarterbacks. Everybody around them has to perform at a good level. They have to perform with detail and not turn the ball over and do things to be successful.”

Michigan will look to work out its issues next in its Homecoming Saturday versus Arkansas State, which comes just 1 week before high-powered USC and its improved defense come to town. The Red Wolves have been porous against the run in wins over Central Arkansas and Tulsa, so Michigan has a chance to get right on the ground if the line can come together. It would be a big first step to reestablishing its offensive identity.

Based on what we thought we knew coming into the season, the running backs and offensive line were supposed to be strengths. Despite losing all 5 starters up front, the thought was the replacements were ready to step in and produce. The plug-and-play plan hasn’t worked yet. The unknowns were supposed to be at QB and receiver, which remains the case. But if the line is underachieving, this offense is going to continue to have major issues no matter who is under center.

About that QB position though …