Tag: game preview

Preview: Michigan vs. Air Force

RUSH OFFENSE vs. AIR FORCE RUSH DEFENSE

Michigan is #47 nationally with 204 yards/game on the ground, and most of that (123.5 yards/game) is coming from fifth year senior running back Ty Isaac. Isaac (8.0 YPC) was expected to be the #3 back coming into the season, but he has overtaken sophomore Chris Evans (3.4 YPC) and junior Karan Higdon (3.7 YPC). The Wolverines usually try to hit a jet sweep or two per game, and those targets so far have been Eddie McDoom (4 yards), Donovan Peoples-Jones (44 yards), and Kekoa Crawford (uhh…a fumble). Michigan is #53 in rushing average (4.74 YPC) and only has 1 touchdown, so there are things to fix, mostly up front. There has been some talk that right guard Michael Onwenu is on thin ice, and redshirt sophomore Jon Runyan, Jr. is a possibility at that spot. Air Force is #10 in rush defense, although their only game so far was against VMI…except AF was also #10 nationally in 2016. They gave up 3.4 YPC, which was tied for #15 in the country. The Falcons run a 3-4 defense with undersized linemen, notably 263 lb. nose tackle Cody Gessler. The leading tackler so far this season is senior inside linebacker Jack Flor (8 tackles), followed by senior cornerback Marquis Griffin (5 tackles). Senior Grant Ross leads the team with 1.5 tackles for loss. Both inside linebackers are 225 lbs., and senior outside linebacker Ja’Mel Sanders is 6’1″, 200 lbs. They’re undersized but get to the ball quickly.
Advantage: Michigan

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Preview: Michigan vs. Cincinnati

RUSH OFFENSE vs. CINCINNATI RUSH DEFENSE

Michigan put up a respectable 215 yards in the season opener, tying them with none other than Michigan State for #49 in the country. The Wolverines are tied for #64 in rushing yards per carry after going against a solid run defense in Florida. Presumed third-stringer Ty Isaac broke out with 11 carries for 114 yards in the season opener, largely as a third down back. Meanwhile, starter Chris Evans had 22 carries for a mediocre 78 yards. Those carry totals are too high for Evans to sustain, and he should get a bit of a break against Cincinnati. Up front Michigan blocked fairly well in the run game, but the left side (LT Mason Cole, LG Ben Bredeson, C Patrick Kugler) is more reliable than the right. Cincinnati gave up 224 yards on the ground (#104) on 3.73 yards/carry (#75) against Austin Peay. Junior free safety Malik Clements leads the team in tackles with 18, and sophomore WILL Perry Young is right behind with 17. Young also leads the team with 3 tackles for loss. The defensive line goes 258, 297, 260, and 245, so they will be severely outsized. Last year Cincinnati was #75 in rushing yards allowed per game, and that probably won’t change much for the better this year.
Advantage: Michigan

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Preview: Michigan vs. Florida

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RUSH OFFENSE vs. FLORIDA RUSH DEFENSE

Michigan finished #33 overall with 213 rushing yards/game in 2016, but leading rusher De’Veon Smith graduated. The depth chart is probably a little thinner this season, with Chris Evans, Karan Higdon, and Ty Isaac likely to share crunch-time carries. They all put up excellent yards per carry last season, with Evans leading the way. Michigan’s offensive line was #64 in Adjusted Line Yards, and they’ll be starting four guys at positions they weren’t starting at last season. Ben Bredeson returns at left guard, Mason Cole moves from center to left tackle, and there are brand new starters at center, right guard, and right tackle. It’s a concerning unit. Florida was #37 in rushing defense, giving up a little over 144 yards/game, and that’s consistent with their #36 Adjusted Line Yards ranking. Florida’s top tackler, safety Marcell Harris, is out due to injury, and the #2 guy (Jarrad Davis) was a 1st round draft pick. The top available, returning tackler is sophomore middle linebacker David Reese II (49 tackles), a one-time Michigan commit. The Gators have some talent on the starting defensive line in tackle Taven Bryan and end CeCe Jefferson, but the #2 guys at both DT spots are freshmen, and the #2 DE is suspended.
Advantage: Michigan

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Orange Bowl Preview: Wrap-up, Notes, Predictions

I hope you’ve enjoyed the football previews this week. I don’t follow a lot of other Michigan blogs, but I think you’ve probably found more content here this week than at any other independently run Michigan site. Here’s a wrap-up of this week’s posts, as well as some additional thoughts:

• QB vs. QB
• Michigan RB vs. FSU LB
• Michigan WR/TE vs. FSU DB
• Michigan OL vs. FSU DL
• Michigan LB vs. FSU RB
• Michigan DB vs. FSU WR/TE
• Michigan DL vs. FSU OL

WHEN AND WHERE

• Today, December 30, 2016 at 8:00 p.m. EST
• Miami, FL
• Televised on ESPN
• Jim Harbaugh (2-1 in bowl games) vs. Jimbo Fisher (4-2 in bowl games)

ROSTER NOTES

• Florida State players recruited by Michigan: OT Abdul Bello, LB Josh Brown, DE Brian Burns, OT Landon Dickerson, QB Deondre Francois, WR George Campbell, QB Malik Henry, LB Dontavious Jackson, OT Roderick Johnson, CB Marcus Lewis, DT Derrick Nnadi, RB Jacques Patrick, RB Amir Rasul, DE Janarius Robinson, LB Josh Sweat, WR Auden Tate, DB Levonta Taylor, TE Naseir Upshur, DE Jalen Wilkderson, OT Jauan Williams
• WR George Campbell III was committed to Michigan at one point and was a high school teammate of Michigan center Mason Cole
• Offensive lineman Andrew Boselli is the son of former NFL left tackle Tony Boselli

Hit the jump for more on the Michigan vs. Florida State matchup, along with a bonus picture of Michigan fan/model Elle Johnson.

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Orange Bowl Preview: Michigan Defensive Line vs. Florida State Offensive Line

Roderick Johnson (image via 247 Sports)

MICHIGAN

Starters:

• SDE: Fifth year senior Chris Wormley (6’6″, 302 lbs.)
• DT: Fifth year senior Matt Godin (6’6″, 294 lbs.)
• NT: Fifth year senior Ryan Glasgow (6’4″, 299 lbs.)
• WDE: Senior Taco Charlton (6’6″, 272 lbs.)

Football Outsiders has Michigan’s defensive line at #4 in Adjusted Line Yards, and that reinforces the idea that Michigan has one of the top few defensive lines in the country. That’s good because they are huge (three guys who are 6’6″!) and experienced. The top NFL prospect is probably Charlton (37 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 9 sacks), who has been dominant at times. Next is Wormley (38 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 5.5 sacks), who will play strongside end and defensive tackle at times. Glasgow (40 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 4 sacks) has turned from being excellent at holding up to double-teams to now getting penetration throughout his career. Godin (26 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1 sack) plays less than the other three and isn’t as effective, but he’s a solid-level starting player. The unit is #2 in Standard Down Line Yards and #1 in Adjusted Sack Rate. Of course, Michigan has other players who rotate in and play well, but there aren’t many weaknesses among these top four guys.

Key backups: Backups at all four spots are worth mentioning here. Number one overall recruit from 2016 Rashan Gary (6’5″, 287 lbs.) rotates in at strongside end and has 24 tackles, 5 TFLs, and 1 sack on the year. He hasn’t been a terror off the edge as a pass rusher, but he’s very consistent and does his job well. Redshirt junior Maurice Hurst, Jr. (6’2″, 282 lbs.) is a viable NFL prospect and is Michigan’s quickest interior defensive lineman. He’s made 30 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks this season. Redshirt sophomore nose tackle Bryan Mone (6’4″, 310 lbs.) played the best game of his career against Ohio State in the regular season finale and has 9 tackles and 1 TFL. Redshirt sophomore Chase Winovich (6’3″, 245 lbs.) came out of nowhere to turn into an effective pass rusher, and he now has 33 tackles, 8 TFLs, and 5.5 sacks. A couple of these guys can rotate in at a time and Michigan won’t really skip a beat.

Hit the jump for a look at FSU’s offensive line.

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