Tag: game preview

Citrus Bowl Preview: Florida roster notes

Valdez Showers

Players Michigan recruited coming out of high school:

• LB Alex Anzalone: 6 tackles
• WR Alvin Bailey: 3 catches, 49 yards
• DT Khairi Clark: 15 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 1 PBU
• CB Vernon Hargreaves III: 31 tackles, 4 INT, 4 PBU
• DE CeCe Jefferson: 28 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks
• S Marcus Maye: 73 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 2 INT, 4 FF, 6 PBU
• OT Andrew Mike: 3 games played
• S Brian Poole: 36 tackles, 3.5 TFL, .5 sacks, 10 PBU
• LB Matt Rolin: 9 tackles, .5 TFL
• WR Valdez Showers: 6 catches, 64 yards
• CB Jalen Tabor: 33 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 4 INT (2 TD), 14 PBU
• S Quincy Wilson: 26 tackles, 2 INT, 5 PBU

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Preview: Michigan vs. Ohio State

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Rush Offense vs. Ohio State Rush Defense
Michigan is tied for #82 nationally with 161 yards/game on the ground, and they are #77 with 4.23 yards/carry. The Wolverines have a wacky rotation at running back, which has seen leading rusher De’Veon Smith (621 yards, 4.3 yards/carry, 6 TDs) get the bulk of the carries, two 5-star recruits sit on the bench, an injured Drake Johnson grab a carry here or there, and the backup fullback become a steady contributor. Seven players have rushed for 140+ yards this year, including quarterback Jake Rudock and wide receiver Jehu Chesson. The Wolverines are #72 in Adjusted Line Yards and #63 in Power Success Rate. The past two weeks have seen way too many false starts, illegal snaps, and other penalties. Ohio State allows 133 yards/game and is #33 in the country in that category. They are #18 in yardage against/carry at 3.41. In their 4-3 defense, sophomore middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan leads the team with 105 tackles while strongside linebacker Josh Perry is second with 88. Junior defensive end Joey Bosa’s sack numbers are down this year, but he has still made 15 tackles for loss, good enough for #22 nationally. As a team, the Buckeyes are #40 in tackles for loss. The numbers aren’t great, but talent-wise, Ohio State’s front will be as good as or better than any other team Michigan has faced this year. The Wolverines will struggle, but they will likely attempt to get the ball in the hands of two-way player Jabrill Peppers (11 carries, 43 yards, 2 TDs) for a little spark.
Advantage: Ohio State

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Preview: Michigan at Penn State

Rush Offense vs. Penn State Rush Defense
Michigan is #67 in rushing yards/game with 169, and they are tied for #69 in the country – with Utah! – at 4.33 yards/carry. The Wolverines mix and match in the backfield, but the guys seeing the most crunch-time carries are De’Veon Smith (582 yards, 4.4 yards/carry, 5 TDs) and Drake Johnson (212 yards, 4.5 yards/carry, 3 TDs). Michigan also makes heavy use of the fullback, even using 243 lb. Sione Houma as a short-yardage back (131 yards, 4.9 yards/carry, 3 TDs). Michigan has had the same starting lineup on the offensive line all year. That’s neither a good thing or a bad thing – the Wolverines are rated perfectly average at 100.7 in Adjusted Line Yards, which is #73 in the country. The problem with the running game is that none of Michigan’s backs are dangerous unless Smith can break a few tackles. Meanwhile, Penn State is #48 in rushing defense (152 yards/game) and #39 in yards allowed/carry (3.8). Sophomore middle linebacker Jason Cabinda (6’1″, 245 lbs.) leads the team with 71 tackles, followed by monster defensive tackle Austin Johnson (6’4″, 323 lbs.) with 64 and then sophomore safety Marcus Allen with 57. The Nittany Lions make a ton of plays in the backfield, as four of them have double-digit tackles for loss and they are #2 in tackles for loss with 93. The most effective run game penetrator is Michigan native Anthony Zettel, a 6’4″, 284 lb. tackle. Michigan does not run the ball well, and PSU has given up 220+ yards on the ground in four of their last six games, but it’s going to be tough sledding for the Wolverines.
Advantage: Penn State

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Preview: Michigan at Indiana

Rush Offense vs. Indiana Rush Defense
Michigan has struggled to run the ball the past three weeks. After topping 4.0 yards/carry for five straight weeks, the Wolverines have averaged 1.9, 3.7, and 3.6 yards/carry in the past three; that last number came against Rutgers, who didn’t sack quarterback Jake Rudock even once. De’Veon Smith leads the team with 524 yards and 5 touchdowns, and he made it through last week’s game without appearing to re-injure his ankle. He’s the bruiser and needs all the leg drive he can get. Meanwhile, Drake Johnson is the speedster and is averaging 4.9 yards/carry. Ty Isaac is back on the depth chart after two weeks of banishment for an undisclosed reason. Michigan is #66 in rushing yardage (172 yards/game) and #72 in rushing average (4.27 yards/carry). Indiana is #78 in rushing defense (174 yards/game) and #92 in rushing average against (4.73 yards against/carry). Indiana’s leading tackler is linebacker Marcus Oliver with 79. Next on the list is fellow linebacker T.J. Simmons, but the next three are defensive backs: strong safety Chase Dutra, free safety Jonathan Crawford, and cornerback Rashard Fant. Outside linebacker Zach Shaw, defensive end Nick Mangieri, and defensive tackle Darius Lathan share the team lead with 8 tackles for loss each. Indiana runs a 3-4 defense that can function a bit like a 4-3 with Shaw at the end position. Indiana manned up to hold Michigan State to 3.23 yards/carry, and the Wolverines aren’t any better at running the ball than the Spartans. Michigan will probably need to throw the ball to free up the running game.
Advantage: Indiana

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Preview: Michigan vs. Rutgers

Rush Offense vs. Rutgers Rush Defense
Michigan is middle-of-the-pack at #64 with 175 yards/game on the ground, and their yards per carry is #64 also (4.37 average). It is a consistent struggle to get yards on the ground. Starting tailback De’Veon Smith (405 yards, 4.3 yards/carry, 4 TD) has been hobbled with an ankle sprain for several weeks. Backup Drake Johnson (183 yards, 5.1 yards/carry, 2 TD) is rounding into form after tearing his ACL last year, and it would be nice to see him supplant Smith as the primary ball carrier. Regardless, Michigan is over halfway through the regular season, and the rushing totals are fairly meager. Redshirt sophomore Ty Isaac (205 yards, 6.8 yards/carry, 1 TD) has looked promising at times, but he was held out of last week’s game due to an “internal matter.” Rutgers is #55 in rush defense (156 yards allowed/game), but their 4.65 yards against/carry is #90 nationally. Redshirt junior middle linebacker Steve Longa leads the team with 91 tackles, followed by fifth year senior SAM Quentin Gause with 71. Gause leads the team with 9 tackles for loss, while Longa and defensive end Quanzell Lambert each have 4 this year; the team is #74 nationally in TFLs. I haven’t really seen a reason to believe that Michigan can run against a decent rush defense.
Advantage: Rutgers

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