ANN ARBOR >> As Michigan approaches the second half of the regular season, the Wolverines are still seeking an offensive identity.

That they’re still searching should come as no surprise, as the 24th-ranked Wolverines (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) have had a topsy-turvy first half that has seen three quarterbacks play, with two sharing the first six starts. When Michigan plays at No. 22 Illinois on Saturday, its first game in two weeks, Jack Tuttle will be the third quarterback to start a game this season. Davis Warren started the first three and Alex Orji the next three.

Tuttle, who has been recovering from an injury to his right (throwing) arm, missed spring practice and was limited in preseason camp. He was medically cleared the week before the Wolverines’ last game at Washington on Oct. 5, practiced the week of the game and relieved Orji with Michigan trailing, 14-0. He sparked the Wolverines to three consecutive scoring drives and the lead, but Tuttle committed two costly fourth-quarter turnovers in the 27-17 loss.

While the Wolverines know that they’re not embarking this weekend on a new season, it feels like a new start and a step toward developing some balance in the offense.

“I think we’re really finding our identity,” fullback/tight end Max Bredeson, a team captain, said Tuesday night after practice. “The past week has been great practices, and the bye week has been a help with that, especially (Tuesday). You could feel a great energy, a collective knowledge of who we are and what we’re going to be.”

Lead running back Kalel Mullings, who ranks fifth in the Big Ten with 589 rushing yards (6.5 yards per carry) and has six touchdowns, said the offensive focus is on finding consistency, which Tuttle may help generate. The Wolverines rank 119th in total offense (306.3) and 130th in passing (115.0), but they are 39th in rushing, behind Mullings and Donovan Edwards. Edwards ranks 16th in the Big Ten with 353 yards and three touchdowns and averages 4.8 yards per carry.

“The second half of the Washington game, we were able to move the ball for a little bit but we still need to find ways to continue to be consistent,” Mullings said Tuesday. “That’s one of our biggest problems, is just sustaining drives. We were able to do that for spurts but when push came to shove, there was still some stagnant time. So still attacking it, still trying to improve that in order to be the best we can be.”

Michigan ranks 73rd nationally and 14th in the Big Ten in third-down conversions, at 39%. Indiana leads the Big Ten (54%). Avoiding 3rd-and-long is always the goal for any team, but it seems light a heightened concern for Michigan.

“I feel like it’s winning first and second down,” Mullings said when asked to define what he meant by consistency. “I feel like if we can get to 3rd-and-short, knowing Coach (Sherrone) Moore, we’ll probably go for it on fourth if we don’t get it. As long as we can just find ways to win first and second down and get to that 3rd-and-short, then we’ll be able to sustain drives.”

Mullings knows that a big part of Michigan’s offense is — and has been for the last several seasons — effectively running the ball. With the quarterback switch to Tuttle, a veteran who has a handful of starts during his long college career, the Wolverines may finally be able to move closer to finding offensive balance. The receivers have had a minute role in the first half of the season, and Tuttle could be the answer to getting them more opportunities.

“A huge part of our identity is running the ball,” Mullings said. “But football is football, (and) we got to be able to do everything. And as backs, we just look to do our jobs. And we can’t help what defense we’re playing against. We’re just trying to do the best we can. But finding more consistency through throwing the ball will definitely pay off in the throwing game, and in the run game, as well.”

Being able to find some consistency in the run and pass games will open things up for the offense. That’s what the Wolverines hope Tuttle can direct.

“It feels like it for sure,” Mullings said of Tuttle’s potential to establish balance.