ANN ARBOR >> With Michigan’s lackluster receiving game this season, it’s been a bit of a chicken or egg dilemma. Is the lack of production from the receivers because of the three-quarterback carousel? Or is it something inherent among the receivers, like route-running issues or being unable to create separation?

The answer likely falls somewhere in the middle.

After Michigan’s loss at Illinois last weekend, its second straight, the players spoke about the deficiencies being “little things” across the board. As the Wolverines (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) prepare to face Michigan State (4-3, 2-2) Saturday night at Michigan Stadium in the annual game for the Paul Bunyan Trophy, they’re still trying to determine which of three quarterbacks will start and figure out how to clean up the numerous deficiencies on offense.

That goes for the receivers, as well. Tight end Colston Loveland leads the team with 344 receiving yards on 36 catches and has two touchdowns. Michigan’s wide receivers have accounted for 342 yards and two touchdowns on 38 catches; sophomore Semaj Morgan tops that group with 17 catches for 106 yards and a score. The leading receiver in the Big Ten this season, Maryland’s Tai Felton, has 64 catches for 803 yards and six touchdowns.

“I think it’s obvious that we need to pick it up,” receiver Tyler Morris, who has eight catches for 73 yards and a touchdown, told reporters Tuesday night after practice. “Just get the ball going. Gotta be consistent. I think there have been times when we’ve shown that we are hard to stop once we get rolling, but we’ve had trouble getting rolling.”

Michigan is among the nation’s worst in turnovers this season with 15, including nine interceptions. Those have been drive killers and stopped the team from, as Morris said, finding a groove on offense. “I think we just gotta focus on doing all the little things and just keep being us,” Morris said. “Keep being consistent and just do the little things right and just keep it going. When we do get rolling, we can’t have little mistakes or things that set us back.”

That’s easier said than done. Michigan had Davis Warren start at quarter-back the first three games, Alex Orji the next three and Jack Tuttle started at Illinois. This certainly isn’t ideal for any offense. Michigan is 118th in total offense (308.6 yards) and 129th in passing offense (128.3 yards).

Last season with J.J. Mc- Carthy running the show, Michigan was led in receiving by receivers Roman Wilson, who had 48 catches for 789 yards and 12 touchdowns, and Cornelius Johnson, who had 47 catches for 604 yards and a touchdown.

“We’ve been blessed with having (McCarthy) the last couple years,” Ron Bellamy, Michigan’s receivers coach/ pass game coordinator, said this week. “You’ve had one constant quarterback, so obviously the chemistry is there. That hasn’t been the case this year. We’ve had so many reps together that it’s not like in the NFL where a quarterback goes down and you get a guy off the street. There is chemistry with all of our quarterbacks … and we all speak the same language. We watch film together, so there’s continuity amongst the two groups.”

Against the Spartans, Loveland said the Wolverines will have to take what MSU’s defense gives them.

“The easy completions, the easy stuff, get us going, get us in rhythm,” Loveland said Monday night on the “Inside Michigan Football” radio show.

PAUL BUNYAN TROPHY

MICHIGAN ST. @ MICHIGAN

The Wolverines (4-3, 2-2) host the Spartans (4-3, 2-2) Saturday at the Big House for their annual rivalry game. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. Watch on BTN.