Tag: game preview

Orange Bowl Preview: Michigan Defensive Backs vs. Florida State Receivers

Travis Rudolph (image via Chop Chat)

I’ve been posting highlights of commits, top whatever lists, etc. on the Message Board (LINK), so check it out if you get a chance.

MICHIGAN

Starters: Michigan features a two-time First Team All-American in senior cornerback Jourdan Lewis (5’10”, 186 lbs.), who missed the first 25% of the season with a hamstring injury. He still ended up with 23 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, and 12 passes defended (tied for #8 in the conference). He owns the school record for pass breakups and generally shuts down his receiver. On the other side is 6’2″, 175 lb. senior Channing Stribling (27 tackles, 3 TFLs, 1 sack, 4 INTs, 12 PBUs), a lanky corner who has struggled in the run game but has had good coverage most of the year. Senior free safety Dymonte Thomas (6’2″, 199 lbs.) has improved from some early-season struggles and ended the regular season fourth on the team in tackles with 61, along with 1 INT and 7 PBUs. Senior Delano Hill (6’1″, 215 lbs.) has 47 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 3 INTs, and 3 PBUs. This is one of the top few secondaries in the country.

Key backups: Sophomore safety Tyree Kinnel (5’11”, 206 lbs.) is one of just a couple guys worth mentioning after a regular season that included 15 tackles and 1 TFL. He’ll spell either of the other safeties. The other guy is redshirt sophomore nickel corner Brandon Watson (5’11”, 203 lbs.), who was addressed with the linebackers and plays some on the outside. Watson is physical but not a great athlete.

Hit the jump for a look at FSU’s receiving targets.

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Orange Bowl Preview: Michigan Linebackers vs. Florida State Running Backs

Dalvin Cook (image via Miami Herald)

Previously: QB vs. QB, Michigan RB vs. FSU LB, Michigan WR vs. FSU secondary, Michigan OL vs. FSU DL

MICHIGAN

Starters: Michigan’s top three tacklers are the three starting linebackers, and they rarely come off the field. The most well known is redshirt sophomore Heisman finalist Jabrill Peppers (6’1″, 205 lbs.), the SAM linebacker – a hybrid S/LB – who ended the regular season with 71 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 1 interception, and 7 quarterback hurries. Peppers plays all over the place and will have his hands full with Florida State likely choosing to run right at him since he’s undersized for a linebacker. The leading tackler is 6’3″, 247 lb. senior middle linebacker Ben Gedeon. He made 98 stops (tied for #10 in the conference), 15 TFLs, and 4.5 sacks. Gedeon is much improved this season, a good athlete, a heavy hitter, and an effective blitzer. The WILL linebacker is 6’4″, 248 lb. redshirt junior Mike McCray II (71 tackles, 13 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, 6 PBUs), who plays a lot like Gedeon, though he’s more instinctive in defending the pass. The trio makes for Michigan’s best linebacker corps in . . . a long time.

Key backups: Michigan doesn’t substitute much, but the most likely true linebacker to play is 5’11”, 232 lb. freshman Devin Bush (11 tackles, 0.5 TFLs), a backup WILL. Redshirt sophomore Brandon Watson (5’11”, 203 lbs.) will also likely play some on defense, and he’s a backup for Peppers at SAM, though he’s used more like a slot corner.

Hit the jump for a look at Florida State’s running game (a.k.a. Dalvin Cook).

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Preview: Michigan at Ohio State

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RUSH OFFENSE vs. OHIO STATE RUSH DEFENSE

Michigan is #19 in rush offense (235 yards/game) and #25 in yards per carry (5.23), but they’re #68 in Adjusted Line Yards. The line has been struggling, especially since left tackle Grant Newsome was lost for the season in the Wisconsin game. True freshman Ben Bredeson has just been okay at left guard, while fifth year senior right guard Kyle Kalis has had a rough couple weeks. Running back De’Veon Smith played a great game last week with a career-high in yards on 6.9 yards/carry. Backup Chris Evans has had a few good weeks and has averaged 7.4 yards/carry this season. Michigan doesn’t have the speed or athleticism to run outside much, so Smith will have to run right at the defense and try to churn out yards inside. Ohio State is #89 in Adjusted Line Yards on defense, #18 in rush defense (119 yards allowed/game), and #17 in yards allowed per carry (3.37). The defensive line is just so-so against the run, but the linebackers are outstanding and very athletic. Junior Raekwon McMillan (6’2″, 243 lbs.) leads the team with 71 tackles, followed by sophomore linebacker Jerome Baker (6’1″, 225, 64 tackles), sophomore safety Malik Hooker (6’2″, 205, 60), and junior linebacker Chris Worley (6’2″, 228, 48). The linebackers can all run sideline to sideline, and McMillan is solid stopping the inside run, too. Michigan has shown that they can run against stiff defenses at times, but if they can’t, it’s going to be a long day for the offense.
Advantage: Ohio State

Hit the jump for more on Ohio State.

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Preview: Michigan vs. Indiana

Options are limited. She’s wearing red and white, so she counts, I guess.

RUSH OFFENSE vs. INDIANA RUSH DEFENSE

Despite a rough outing against Iowa last week, Michigan is still #19 nationally with 236 yards/game and #23 with 5.31 yards/carry. Some fans are getting antsy with De’Veon Smith after he averaged just 2.3 yards/carry last week and failed to burrow out of the endzone, resulting in an Iowa safety. Meanwhile, freshman Chris Evans is averaging 7.82 yards/carry through ten games. The Wolverines offensive line struggled, too, and right guard Kyle Kalis was largely to blame for the safety on Smith. Michigan is #55 nationally in Adjusted Line Yards. On the other side, Indiana is #72 in Defensive Adjusted Line Yards. They’re #52 in rushing yards allowed (156 per game) but a respectable #31 in yards allowed per carry (3.74). Maryland, Michigan State, and Ohio State are the only three teams to top even 3.7 yards/carry on them, and Penn State with Saquon Barkley averaged a measly 1.71 last week. Linebacker Tegray Scales (6’0″, 230 lbs.), linebacker Marcus Oliver (6’1″, 240), and strong safety Marcelino Ball (6’0″, 210) lead the team with 94, 74, and 68 tackles, respectively. Scales (15.0) and Oliver (10.5) lead the team in tackles for loss. Statistically, it seems like Michigan would have an edge, but based on last year’s inability to run against the Hoosiers and the struggles last week, I’m not sure about that.
Advantage: Indiana

Hit the jump for more on Indiana.

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Preview: Michigan at Iowa

RUSH OFFENSE vs. IOWA RUSH DEFENSE

Michigan is #15 in rushing (252 yards/game) and yards per carry (5.52). They’re #29 in Adjusted Line Yards with an offensive front that has been a bit of a revolving door on the left side. Freshman Ben Bredeson and fifth year senior Ben Braden are now the starters on the left, while the other three starters have played every game. Starting running back De’Veon Smith had his second 100-yard game of the season against Maryland last week with 19 carries for 114 yards and 3 touchdowns. All the tailbacks average more than 5.1 yards/carry, and the guy dragging down the rushing average is fullback Khalid Hill . . . who’s the short yardage option and has 9 touchdowns. Iowa is #118 in defensive ALY, #72 in rushing defense (177 yards allowed/game), and #65 in yards allowed per carry (4.29). Linebacker Josey Jewell (6’2″, 235 lbs.) leads the team by a large margin with 87 tackles, which is 19 more than fellow linebacker Bo Bower (6’1″, 235). Defensive end Parker Hesse (6’3″, 250) is a solid run defender with 5.5 tackles for loss. The Hawkeyes run a rather predictable 4-3 defense, but they’re usually disciplined and well coached.
Advantage: Michigan

Hit the jump for more on the Michigan-Iowa matchup.

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