ANN ARBOR -- Jim Harbaugh is not going to be a demure coach.
Shane Morris is Michigan's No. 1 quarterback, at least for the moment.
Michigan's offense needs a lot of work.
It is tough to take much out of a 40-minute spring game, but the estimated 45,000 that spent a chilly April afternoon at the Big House learned those three things.
Harbaugh spent the four ten-minute quarters pacing up and down the field, stationing himself about 15 yards behind the offenses on every snap. When the teams had to punt, and that happened a lot on a day dominated by the defense, Harbaugh marched off the 40 yards that were used for each virtual kick.
He informed the game officials when they needed to change the clock -- by as little as two seconds -- and he gave out hugs and backslaps for big plays.
In other words, he was exactly what the fans came out to see -- an energetic coach who obviously loves his job.
"I was very pleased with the whole day," he said Harbaugh. "I'm happy with the way these guys have competed and worked all spring, and this was a nice finish. We got them out in front of a great crowd and let them do what they've been practicing.
"They put their heads down and ground out another day of work. That's what you love to see."
The running game had the hardest time, with the two teams combining for 73 yards on 49 carries, but Harbaugh wasn't too worried.
"Pass blocking is a lot easier in a game like this, because those are one-on-one battles," he said. "In the running game, you are using schemes where guys team up to block, and suddenly, you have half the starters mixed with second-string guys on both lines, and it is hard to get a flow."
According to Harbaugh, Morris was already listed as No. 1 on the depth chart before the game, but he solidified his position. He wasn't hugely impressive, but he showed the abilty to take something off his fastball and threw the game's only touchdown pass.
"Shane has done a nice job of progressing through the spring," Harbaugh said. "He's picking up the fact that he needs to throw a pass that can be completed, not always the hardest one he can throw. He just needs a little more help from his receivers."
Morris did throw one interception, a hard throw that went through his receiver's hands and bounced up into the air like a punt. But he was much more impressive than true freshman Alex Malzone, who looked uncomfortable reading a college defense.
Morris was 11-of-24 for 135 yards, while Malzone completed 15 of 27 passes for 95 yards and two interceptions. Team Maize's longest completion was on a wide-receiver option pass, with Jehu Chesson hitting Mo Ways for 30 yards.
Morris, though, isn't counting Malzone out of the race to start the opener against Utah on Sept. 3.
"This is going to be a great competition," Morris said. "I'm proud of Alex, because you look at how far he's come this spring, and then you remember that he's hasn't even gone to his prom yet. I'm going to have to work hard to stay ahead of him."
Morris will also have to stay ahead of redshirt freshman Wilton Speight, who sat out the game with an undisclosed injury, and transfer Jake Rudock, who started the last two seasons at Iowa.
"We've been posting depth charts all spring, because we want the guys to know where they stand, and based on what he's done this whole time, Shane is ahead at the moment," Harbaugh said. "But this competition is going to rage all summer, starting tomorrow and going all the way to the first game of the season."
Morris does get the reward for winning the first part of the competition -- he and his Team Blue teammates dined on steak Saturday night, while Team Maize got yet another portion of spaghetti.
