Highlights: Michigan 20, Northwestern 17

Tag: Northwestern


28Sep 2018
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Preview: Michigan at Northwestern

RUSH OFFENSE vs. NORTHWESTERN RUSH DEFENSE

Michigan is #36 overall (212 yards/game) at running the ball, even after a dominant game last week that saw them run for 285 yards. Karan Higdon has been a difference-maker in his last two games played (25 carries, 292 yards, 2 TD), but he missed the SMU game with an undisclosed injury. The Wolverines will probably be looking to junior Tru Wilson (23 carries, 150 yards, 1 TD) as the primary backup, and it will be interesting to see whether sophomore O’Maury Samuels (9 carries, 49 yards) or freshman Christian Turner (10 carries, 55 yards) steps in next, with junior Chris Evans likely out with a hamstring injury. Up front the offensive line has continued to improve, and left tackle Jon Runyan, Jr. played his best game last week. Northwestern is #42 in rushing defense (130 yards allowed/game) and #59 in yards allowed per carry (3.89). Redshirt sophomore MIKE Paddy Fisher (6’4″, 241 lbs.) leads the team with 28 tackles, followed by sophomore WILL Blake Gallagher (6’1″, 227) with 26 and fifth year senior Nate Hall (6’2″, 231) has 21. The Wildcats are #95 in tackles for loss, led by redshirt junior defensive end Joe Gaziano (6’4″, 275) with 4. Senior defensive tackle Jordan Thompson (6’3″, 292) is second with 3. Northwestern runs a 4-3 or 4-2-5 defense.
Advantage: Michigan

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9Dec 2015
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Recruiting Snapshot: Northwestern

2016 Team Ranking: #48. Northwestern has verbals from eighteen 3-stars and one 2-star.

Cream of the 2016 Crop: The only top-600 player committed to Northwestern is St. Louis (MO) Chaminade cornerback Roderick Campbell, who checks in at #498 in the 247 Composite. Campbell is a 5’11”, 180 lb., tough corner who’s not overly athletic, but he fits in well with what Northwestern has been doing defensively. Fort Wayne (IN) Carroll quarterback Aidan Smith is the #25 pro-style QB, but he’s not a statue. He can run a little bit, but arm strength is a question (video below). The only Wildcats commit offered by Michigan is 6’5″, 270 lb. offensive guard Cameron Kolwich from Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary’s.

2017 Team Ranking: N/A

Cream of the 2017 Crop: Northwestern has zero commitments in the 2017 class.

12Oct 2015
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Michigan vs. Northwestern Awards

Jourdan Lewis


Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . 
Drake Johnson. Jim Harbaugh said that Johnson was dinged up going into this week, so add him to the list that includes starting running back De’Veon Smith, who seemed to tweak his ankle by the end of the game, too. Michigan needs these guys healthy in order to compete. Derrick Green had one nice run where he made a rare (for him) jump cut, but otherwise, he only gets what the offensive line blocks. The coaches have demoted Ty Isaac (2 carries, 13 yards) after his two fumbles last week, and freshman Karan Higdon averaged 2 yards/carry (8 carries, 16 yards). Johnson had 2 carries for 3 yards and 1 touchdown, but he’s a slithery back who needs to be available next week if Michigan wants to have some versatility at running back against Michigan State next week.

Let’s see less of this guy on offense . . . Karan Higdon. I thought Higdon ran hard, but he’s small and inexperienced. Michigan has a huge game next week against Michigan State, and it would be nice if the Wolverines can have their top two running backs (De’Veon Smith, Drake Johnson) available to take most of the snaps.

Let’s see more of this guy on defense . . . Channing Stribling. Stribling has missed two consecutive games with an injury. Harbaugh said last week that it was a one-week injury, but now it’s been two weeks. Jeremy Clark has done a good job in his stead (2 tackles this week), but Michigan gets thin at the position after him, with only the inexperienced Brandon Watson left before you get to position-switchers or true freshmen. I hope can get healthy, especially because the next opponent is the Spartans, who have a decent passing attack.

Let’s see less of this guy on defense . . . no one. Three straight shutouts. Keep doing what you’re doing.

Play of the game . . . Jourdan Lewis’s interception return for a touchdown. First of all, the interception itself was very impressive, as Lewis raked out the ball with his left hand and secured it as the receiver came down on Northwestern’s sideline. But second, the acceleration from 0-to-60 for Lewis on his way down the sideline for a 37-yard score was impressive. Michigan has not used Lewis on offense and rarely done so on special teams, but with his speed and ball skills, Lewis could be a good kick returner or wideout, too. It was exciting to see something turn from a potential reception to a defensive TD so quickly.

Player of the game . . . Jarrod Wilson. I’m going to go with an unsung hero of the team this year, and that’s Wilson. Virtually every other defensive player has received more praise this season, but Wilson led the team with 7 tackles and cleaned up whenever there was a mess to be cleaned. He’s playing fast, hitting hard, and always seems to be in the right spot. There were other guys who had good games (Willie Henry, Jourdan Lewis, Ryan Glasgow), but Wilson has rounded into one of the best safeties we’ve seen at Michigan in a long time. He was always a good athlete, but I imagine quite a bit of credit goes to new safeties coach Greg Jackson.

11Oct 2015
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Michigan 38, Northwestern 0

Jehu Chesson had a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to start the game.


Set phasers to destroy.
Michigan obviously didn’t put any stock in the idea that it was going to be a low-scoring, defensive affair. From the opening kickoff – literally – this was Michigan’s game. For the second year in a row, this was most obvious when Northwestern had the ball and Michigan’s defensive line was just crushing the offensive line backward into the quarterback’s face. I agreed with announcer Matt Millen that Northwestern needed to get quarterbacks Clayton Thorson and Matt Alviti out of the pocket more. It wouldn’t have changed the overall outcome, but it might have generated a few more completions and yards. The Wildcats just don’t have the beef and athleticism up front to deal with Michigan’s explosive front.

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