Tag: game preview

Mini-Preview: Michigan at Minnesota

I have to be honest, and I’ve been so busy with finishing up the season preview and a bunch of other stuff that I haven’t had time to do a good preview. And tonight while I’m finishing this up, I’m deciding to watch the presidential debate instead of trying to watch a bunch of Minnesota stuff.

HOW TO WATCH

Saturday, October 24th, 2020: 7:30 p.m. EST on ABC

ROSTER NOTES

• Minnesota players offered by Michigan: OL Curtis Dunlap Jr., OL Daniel Faalele, DB Benny Sapp III, DB Benjamin St-Juste
• Minnesota players from the State of Michigan include: LB Trenton Guthrie (Northville), DL Ali Saad (Dearborn), TE Bryce Witham (Grand Rapids West Catholic)
• Minnesota DB Benjamin St-Juste signed with Michigan out of high school before transferring to Minnesota
• Minnesota DB Benny Sapp III is the son of former NFL DB Benny Sapp II, who played with the Chiefs, Vikings, and Dolphins

Hit the jump for more.

Citrus Bowl Preview: Michigan Defense vs. Alabama Offense

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With the lovely triumvirate of holidays, traveling, and illness, I ran out of time to put together a full breakdown of Alabama’s passing offense and rushing offense against Michigan’s defense. So here’s a mini-preview and some final predictions.

Citrus Bowl Preview: Pass Offense vs. Alabama Pass Defense

MICHIGAN PASS OFFENSE

Michigan is #47 in passing offense (252.3 yards/game), #49 in passing efficiency, and tied for #31 in yards per attempt (8.1). All those numbers sound about right. Quarterback Shea Patterson seemed to settle in during the second half of the year, and his yards per attempt were solid the final three weeks (11.6, 11.4, 7.1 against MSU, Indiana, and OSU, respectively). The numbers against Ohio State should have been better, but Michigan’s receivers – mainly Donovan Peoples-Jones – lost their focus and forgot how to catch. Speaking of former 5-star Peoples-Jones, he was somewhat pedestrian during the regular season with 33 catches for 404 yards and 6 touchdowns. Injury did play a part early in the season, but he was outplayed by slot receiver Ronnie Bell (44/705/1) and gargantuan outside guy Nico Collins (33/681/7). Tight ends Sean McKeon and Nick Eubanks are also factors with 36 catches for 464 yards and 5 scores between them. Michigan’s offensive line gives up 1.83 sacks/game, which is #53 in the country.

ALABAMA PASS DEFENSE

Alabama is #9 in pass defense (183.4 yards allowed/game) with the #7 passer efficiency rating defense and the #5 yards per attempt defense (5.9). There had been some concern about their defensive backs going into the season, but they played well overall; however, star cornerback Trevon Diggs is sitting out of the Citrus Bowl to save himself for the NFL, taking his 3 interceptions and 8 pass breakups with him. Sophomore Josh Jobe (6’1″, 189) and redshirt freshman Jalyn Amour-Davis (6’1″, 182) are the possible replacements and should be frequent targets of Michigan’s passing offense. Elsewhere, safeties Jared Mayden (6’0″, 205) and Xavier McKinney (6’1″, 200) have combined for 7 interceptions. Alabama is #52 in sacks, led by senior linebacker Anfernee Jennings (6’3″, 259) with 7.5. Second-leading sacker Terrell Lewis will be hanging out with Diggs and watching the game from their safe space.

Advantage: Alabama. I do think Michigan can get some plays in the passing game, because I don’t see them getting a ton of pressure on the Wolverines. But the defensive backs at Alabama are well coached, so unless Patterson can get some big plays against Diggs’s replacement, there won’t be a ton of separation.

Citrus Bowl Preview: Rush Offense vs. Alabama Rush Defense

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Michigan is #81 in rush offense after twelve games with 150 yards per contest. As a team they average 3.98 yards per carry, which is 89th in the nation, but they’re tied at #37 for touchdowns (26). Freshman Zach Charbonnet had double-digit carries in five out of the first eight games, including weeks five through eight; however, redshirt freshman Hassan Haskins has double-digit attempts in six out of the last seven games. Haskins (561 yards, 5.5 YPC, 4 TD) doesn’t have breakaway speed but does a good job of getting downhill and squaring up his shoulders. Charbonnet (642 yards, 4.7 YPC, 11 TD) has shown a good nose for the goal line in short yardage situations. Michigan’s offensive line is healthy going into the bowl game. All five players earned some sort of all-conference designation, and the left side is anchored by seniors Jon Runyan, Jr. and Ben Bredeson. Altogether, they have disappointingly been unable to push around opposing defensive lines not named Illinois or Notre Dame. Right tackle Jalen Mayfield shows flashes of excellence and superb athleticism, but he’s also prone to some mental mistakes.

Hit the jump for more.

Citrus Bowl Preview: Last Time They Played…

Yesterday I posted some roster notes on Alabama (LINK).

For the 2012 season opener, Michigan scheduled a game with Alabama at Jerryworld, a neutral-site location. At that point Alabama had won 2 of the previous 3 national championships, including the previous season’s. Meanwhile, Michigan was coming off of an 11-2 season and a win in the Sugar Bowl over Virginia Tech.

• Alabama was up 21-0 at the end of the 1st quarter and 31-0 in the 2nd quarter before a Denard Robinson TD made it 31-7 at halftime.
• Michigan would go on to lose, 41-14.
• Alabama QB A.J. McCarron finished 11/21 for 199 yards and 2 TD.
• Alabama RB T.J. Yeldon ran 11 times for 111 yards and 1 TD.
• Devin Gardner started at wide receiver (1 catch, 44 yards, 1 TD).
• Jeremy Gallon caught 4 passes for 107 yards.
• After Robinson got injured, #2 quarterback Russell Bellomy came in to go 0/1 with 1 INT.

Michigan is 2-2 all-time against Alabama, with wins coming in 1988 and 2000, as well as losses coming in 1997 and 2012. All previous meetings other than 2012 have taken place in bowl games.