-W December 11, 2002 michigandaily.com sportsdesk@umich.edu cbe uidgn aiIU SPORTS 10 Satisfying an, Outback hunger No. 12 Michigan vs. No. 22 Florida Wednesday, Jan. 1, 11 a.m.. Raymond James Stadium. ESPN Blue hopes to avoid another speed trap By Jeff Phillips Daily Sports Editor Last season, Tennessee proved that speed kills. Specifically, speed kills Michigan in bowl games played in the South. The Volunteers dominated the Wolverines in every aspect of the game en route to a 45-17 thrashing. The most impressive display by Tennessee was when quarterback Casey Clausen hit tight end Jason Witten across the middle, and then the 265- pound Witten outran the entire Wolverines' sec- ondary to the end zone. After Michigan lost and Louisiana State han- dled Illinois in the Sugar Bowl, much was made about the SEC's speed or the Big Ten's lack of it. But to Florida coach Ron Zook, last bowl.season was an anomaly. "Maybe back in the early '90s it may have been that way, but I don't think it's that way anymore," Zook said. "If you look at (Michigan's) football team, they are big, strong, powerful and they have speed. In terms of power and speed, I think that's kind of a myth now in terms of the conference." The embarrassment of the Citrus Bowl loss forced the Wolverines to take a closer look at their team speed. It was this team speed on both sides of the ball that played a major part of Michigan's wins this season. Online updates Can't get enough Daily Sports? Tap online for more coverage today of: The men's track and field intrasquad meet and men's swimming and diving. Also, don't forget to go back for coverage over winter break of the following sports: Men's bas- ketball vs. UCLA, hockey in the Great Lakes Invitational and football vs. Florida in the Out- back Bowl. Underachieving Gators too much for Michigan By David Horn Daily Sports Editor Michigan fans can complain all they want about the return trip to central Florida, and they can com- plain all they want about yet another matchup against an SEC opponent. But this year's trip to the Outback Bowl is not just an unnecessary nui- sance. The Wolverines actually have a job to do against Florida on New Year's Day, and that is prove to the country that the Big Ten can run with the thoroughbreds of the SEC. After last year's blowout loss to Ten- nessee in the Citrus Bowl, in which the Volunteers exploited their con- siderable speed advantage to down the Wolverines 45-17, Michigan has another chance to keep pace with a swift-footed SEC squad. MICHIGAN PASSING OFFENSE VS. FLORIDA PASSING DEFENSE: The Gators have been able to limit a team's productivity in the air, but have yet to show that they can dom- inate with their pass defense. Senior Todd Johnson and junior Keiwan Ratliff, both of whom earned sec- ond-team All-SEC honors this year, lead the unit. The Florida defense gives up, on average, just 149 pass- ing yards per game, but that may be enough for the Michigan offense to be productive. Expect Michigan quarterback John Navarre to have a day similar to that of Louisiana State's Matt Mauck, who completed just 13 passes on 20 attempts for 153 yards, but threw for two touch- downs en route to a 36-point offen- sive output for the Tigers. Those numbers are Navarresque, and the Michigan passing game should expect to have a similarly produc- tive day. Edge: Even MICHIGAN RUSHING OFFENSE VS. FLORIDA RUSHING DEFENSE: The Florida rushing defense has been a particularly weak link for the Gators. The unit has given up 167 yards per game on the ground, and has allowed huge games from backs like Florida State's Leon Washing- ton and Auburn's Ronnie Brown. Michigan running back Chris Perry and fullback B.J. Askew have gotten better as the season has worn on, and should be able put together five and six yard carries. That productiv- ity would give Navarre the chance to make shorter passes on second and third down, thereby allowing the efficient but unspectacular pass- ing attack that is required to beat the Gators. Edge: Michigan 0 DAVID KATZ/Daly Wide receiver Ron Bellamy has been a major part of Michigan's passing attack this season. He will need to play well if the Wolverines expect to defeat Florida. Now, with the Wolverines set to play an SEC team on New Year's Day for the fifth consecu- tive season, they are ready get back on the win- ning side. "We have played SEC teams in bowl games since I have been here at Michigan so we are well aware of (Florida's) team speed," Hobson said. "They have a lot of talent and they are a very fast team, but I don't think that is something that will overwhelm us. I think as long as we watch film and prepare it will be a very good game." Michigan wide receiver and Louisiana native Ron Bellamy is quite familiar with the speed in both the Big Ten and the SEC. "I am from the South and the guys from the West and Midwest are just as fast as the guys from the South," Bellamy said. "It is all about execution and who gets their players in the best positions to make plays. That is what it comes down to, but it isn't about who has the faster players. That helps because speed kills, but I don't think they have an advantage over us as far as speed goes." Bellamy has been a key component of an improved Michigan passing attack that has been arguably more successful than Florida's tradition- ally potent assault this season. But despite the Gators' struggles on offense, quarterback Rex Grossman, last season's Heisman trophy runner-up, is still considering entering the upcoming NFL draft. Yesterday, Grossman announced that he has made up his mind but refused to divulge just what that decision is. His play against Michigan could go a long way in determining Grossman's place in the draft. FLORIDA PASSING OFFENSE VS. MICHIGAN PASSING DEFENSE: This year's Florida offense may be its worst in over a decade, but it is not for lack of trying. Florida quarter- back Rex Grossman averages nearly 40 pass attempts per game, and the Gators rank 11th in the nation in See MATCHUPS , Page 12 40 a i I - 1LI