Preview: Michigan vs. Colorado

RUSH OFFENSE vs. COLORADO RUSH DEFENSE

Michigan is #45 in the country in rushing offense with 212.5 yards/game. They’re #36 in yards per carry (5.31) despite not having a running threat at quarterback. Freshman RB Chris Evans has received the most carries through two games, but starter De’Veon Smith missed a good chunk of game one after a rib injury. Those two seem to be the top two runners at this point, with Ty Isaac also getting a fair amount of looks with the top group. I think Michigan has been telegraphing their toss sweeps so far, though hopefully that’s due to fairly weak opponents. Over the past few years, the left side of the line has seemed to be strongest, but this year it appears to be center Mason Cole, right guard Kyle Kalis, and right tackle Erik Magnuson doing the heavy lifting. Starting left guard Ben Braden did not look very good last week when he returned from injury. Colorado is #29 in rush defense (95.5 yards/game) and is #74 in yards allowed per carry (3.98). That’s not a great ranking, especially when considering that the Buffaloes have only faced Colorado State and an FBS team so far. They run a 3-4 defense with a big nose tackle (Josh Lupou is 6’3″, 325 lbs.), and there’s a lot of experience all the way across the defense. The linebackers are undersized, and weakside inside linebacker Kenneth Olugbode (6’1″, 220 lbs.) is second on the team with 9 tackles. Both the outside linebackers are 230 lbs., and the game is mostly about speed. I’m not impressed with Lupou at NT and think Mason Cole can wear him down. If Michigan wants to run the ball, they need to run right at this 3-4 defense with De’Veon Smith and get them tired.
Advantage: Michigan

Hit the jump for more on the matchup.

PASS OFFENSE vs. COLORADO PASS DEFENSE

The Wolverines are #42 in passing offense with 267 yards/game through the air, but Wilton Speight has spurred a #14 spot in passer rating (180.25). Central Florida stacked the box last week and allowed Michigan’s receivers to run roughshod over an overmatched secondary. Michigan’s standout trio of TE Jake Butt, WR Amara Darboh, and WR Jehu Chesson has combined for 23 receptions, 385 yards, and 6 touchdowns. The Wolverines are tied at #27 by giving up 2 sacks, and the weakness so far has been the left guard position. I would expect Colorado defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt to try to exploit whoever plays at LG, whether it’s fifth year senior Ben Braden, freshman Ben Bredeson, or redshirt junior Pat Kugler. Up front, I think it will be interesting to watch OLB Jimmie Gilbert (6’5″, 230 lbs.) go up against Grant Newsome, who I think has some weaknesses against quality pass rushers. Colorado will play a lot of Cover 2, and CB Chidobe Awuzie is a quality corner. Overall, the Buffaloes have decent size in the defensive backfield and won’t get outmuscled, but I think they can be beaten if the pass protection holds up.
Advantage: Michigan

RUSH DEFENSE vs. COLORADO RUSH OFFENSE

Michigan hasn’t done a great job in the category of rush defense (#90 at 178 yards allowed/game; #91 with 4.29 yards allowed/carry), but 87 of those yards allowed came on one run against UCF, and a big chunk of the remainder came on quarterback scrambles. The traditional rush defense has actually been very good, aside from two good runs by UCF backs. Michigan can and should be dominant up front, even without backup NT Bryan Mone and starting DE Taco Charlton. Jabrill Peppers leads the team with 19 tackles from the SAM linebacker position, and weakside linebacker Mike McCray II was the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Week in week one. A perceived weakness at linebacker has turned into a strength with those two and Ben Gedeon, though that’s about where the depth ends. Colorado is #20 with 261 yards/game, but their 4.62 yard average is tied for #62 in the nation. Junior RB Phillip Lindsay (5’8″, 190 lbs.) averages 4.6 yards/carry and has 4 touchdowns, but the biggest concern is QB Sefo Liufau (6’4″, 230 lbs.) on scrambles. The Wolverines defense has shown a tendency to forget about the QB on passing plays, and Liufau is a guy who can rip off some big chunks of yardage. It might be important to keep an eye on backup WDE Chase Winovich, who will probably be getting his second start in place of Charlton. He’s a little undisciplined at times. I’m not very impressed with Colorado’s offensive line, and I think Michigan’s bigger, stronger, and tougher up front. The biggest concern is them getting worn down if they’re on the field too long.
Advantage: Michigan

PASS DEFENSE vs. COLORADO PASS OFFENSE

Michigan is #9 after only allowing 103 yards/game through the air. They’re #6 in passer rating allowed and have yet to allow a passing touchdown, making 2 interceptions along the way. It helps that they have played two fairly weak teams, both of which have used two quarterbacks (Hawaii due to undperformance, UCF due to injury). Michigan will probably be lacking All-America cornerback Jourdan Lewis for the third straight week, and I think that might finally hurt them against the Buffaloes. McCray leads the team in sacks with 2.0, and he and CB Jeremy Clark each have 2 pass breakups. This will be the biggest test so far, and offensive coordinator Darrin Chiaverini comes over from pass-happy Texas Tech, where he learned a thing or three about spreading the field. Colorado is #17 in passing offense (326.5 yards/game) and #13 in passer rating, with 5 touchdowns and 0 interceptions thrown so far. Wideout Shay Fields (5’11”, 180 lbs.) averages 31.4 yards/catch, and slot receiver Devin Ross (5’9″, 180 lbs.) catches a lot of screens. Tight ends aren’t much of a factor. Colorado has only allowed 1 sack so far. We’ve seen teams in the past spread out Michigan, take advantage of linebackers in space, and wear out the pass rush. I’m a little concerned about the matchups on the outside if Lewis can’t play, and I think Fields against Channing Stribling is a good matchup for the Buffaloes.
Advantage: Colorado

ROSTER NOTES

• Players recruited by Michigan include OT Shane Callahan (who originally attended Auburn) and WR Juwann Winfree (who originally attended Maryland)
• Offensive coordinator Darrin Chiaverini is a former Colorado WR whom you may remember for his NFL career with the Browns, Falcons, and others
• Defensive line coach Jim Jeffcoat was a star defensive end for Arizona State and then the Dallas Cowboys; his son is former 5-star recruit Jackson Jeffcoat
• Defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt was Jim Harbaugh’s linebackers coach with the San Francisco 49ers and was reportedly under consideration for the DC job at Michigan

LAST TIME THEY PLAYED . . . 

• Michigan won by a score of 27-3 in 1997, and Michigan leads the series 3-1 all-time
• Jerame Tuman caught 5 passes for 126 yards
• Brian Griese was 21/28 for 258 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception
• Clint Copenhaver, Tommy Hendricks, Dhani Jones, and Charles Woodson each made 1 interception

PREDICTIONS

• Jourdan Lewis’s absence or presence will make a huge difference in this game
• Michigan gets its first decent challenge of the year
• Potential for rain could also make a big difference
• Michigan’s offensive line wears down Colorado in the second half, and Smith runs for 80 yards
• Colorado’s tempo wears down Michigan, and the Buffaloes gain 400 yards of offense
• Michigan 31, Colorado 17

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