game preview Archives - Page 27 of 42

18Nov 2016

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Preview: Michigan vs. Indiana

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

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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

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11Nov 2016

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Preview: Michigan at Iowa

RUSH OFFENSE vs. IOWA RUSH DEFENSE

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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

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4Nov 2016

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Preview: Michigan vs. Maryland

(image via Twitter)

RUSH OFFENSE vs. MARYLAND RUSH DEFENSE

Michigan is #14 in rush offense (249 yards/game) and #22 in yards per carry (5.37). Senior De’Veon Smith retook the rushing lead last week when freshman Chris Evans played sparingly due to a concussion he suffered two weeks ago, but four players have 348+ yards. One to watch is sophomore Karan Higdon (7.6 yards/carry, 6 TDs), who seems to be gaining more and more trust from the coaches. Michigan’s offensive line struggled with Michigan State’s defensive line last week – especially Malik McDowell – but Maryland isn’t so talented on the defensive line. They’re #108 in rushing defense (220 yards allowed/game) and #96 in yards allowed per carry (4.8). The team is led by Shane Cockerille with 73 tackles; Cockerille was recruited by Michigan as a QB/S athlete and has grown into a 6’2″, 235 lb. ‘backer. Defensive tackle Kingsley Opara has 8 tackles for loss, but the defensive line is slightly undersized and lacks a dominant nose tackle to plug the middle. They’ll slant a lot and try to hit gaps, and it will be up to Michigan’s offensive linemen to wash them out of the play.
Advantage: Michigan

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21Oct 2016

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Preview: Michigan vs. Illinois

RUSH OFFENSE vs. ILLINOIS RUSH DEFENSE

Michigan is #15 in the country with 255 yards/game and tied for #13 (with Illinois) at 5.67 yards/carry. Pre-season afterthought Chris Evans leads the team with 400 yards on 8.3 yards/carry, though he’s just third on the team in carries behind De’Veon Smith (336 yards, 5.5 yards/carry) and Ty Isaac (297 yards, 5.6 yards/carry). It would be remiss of me not to mention fullback Khalid Hill, whose meager 1.6 yards/carry on 13 attempts has netted 7 touchdowns – he’s the goal-line guy. Illinois is #86 in rush defense (185 yards allowed/game) and tied for #78 in yards allowed per carry (4.32). Linebacker Hardy Nickerson (6’0″, 230 lbs.) leads the team by a wide margin with 58 tackles, but two of the next three guys are defensive backs. Defensive end Carroll Phillips (6’3″, 240 lbs.) has made 11 tackles for loss this season. He made 9 TFLs in the first three games (Murray State, North Carolina, Western Michigan) and has just two in the last three games (Nebraska, Purdue, Rutgers). The other end, Dawuane Smoot, is also pretty disruptive (8 TFLs). The Illini have a solid defensive line, but their linebackers leave something to be desired. Michigan’s offensive line has taken a step forward this year, so it won’t be the easiest of sledding, but the Wolverines should do a pretty good job against an undersized front.
Advantage: Michigan

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7Oct 2016

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Preview: Michigan at Rutgers

RUSH OFFENSE vs. RUTGERS RUSH DEFENSE

Michigan is #36 with 210 yards/game and #40 with 4.9 yards/carry. De’Veon Smith (325 yards, 2 TDs) continues to be the bell cow, but Ty Isaac (198 yards, 2 TDs) stepped up with a more decisive effort last week. Karan Higdon (145 yards, 3 TDs) didn’t play last week after a breakout game two weeks ago, and Jim Harbaugh said the reason did not have to do with injury. The team will be affected by the significant knee injury to left tackle Grant Newsome, who will be replaced by redshirt sophomore Juwann Bushell-Beatty. Rutgers is #116 in rushing defense as they give up 227 yards/game, though their 5.26 yards allowed/carry is good enough for . . . #115. While not quite as devastated by injury as Penn State, the Scarlet Knights are missing defensive end Quanzell Lambert and their best linebacker, Greg Jones. The top tackler is safety Kiy Hester (36), followed by sophomore linebackers Deonte Roberts (33) and Trevor Morris (30). Defensive end Julian Pinnix-Odrick and Hester each have 5 tackles for loss.
Advantage: Michigan

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