Friday September 8, 2006 sports.michigandaily.com sports@michigandaily.com SOe RTSgan Baily 12 a hippewas enter Big House for intrastate battle By Scott Bell and hands or, worse yet, the numbers Michigan rushing offense Stephanie Wright and ended up falling incom- vs. Central Michigan rushing Daily Sports Editors plete. Steve Breaston nabbed defense: four balls for 68 yards in the Mike Hart was spectacular The Wolverines sent a mes- first half, but he didn't catch any against Vanderbilt last week,- sage to their critics last week: after halftime. Not that Henne amassing 146 yards on 31 carries. This year's defense is ready to should escape blame entirely: The junior tailback turned runs kick some butt. With six sacks, The Wolverines' signal caller that should have been stopped 11 tackles for loss and countless had his share of errant passes en just past the line of scrimmage punishing hits in the Vanderbilt route to completing just 10-of- into six-yard gains, often carry- backfield, the Wolverines had 22 passes for 135 yards. ing multiple Commodore defend- Commodore quarterback Chris Even so, Michigan will torch ers on his back while doing so. Nickson on the run. the Chippewas through the air But Hart wasn't the lone Michi- This weeknNo.1 0 Michigan if their pass defense is anything gan running ack to turn in an (1-0) takes on Central Michi- like it was last week. Central impressive performance. Sophokr, gan (0-1), which nearly came Michigan gave up 323 passing more Kevin Grady showed off back to beat Boston College in yards and three touchdowns in his new figure with 31 yards on its season opener a week ago. its season-opening loss to Bos- five touches and the game's lone As a result, the Chippewas will ton College, a team that aver- rushing touchdown, and fresh- probably bring a little extra aged just 243 yards through the man Brandon Minor took his first confidence with them when air per game last year. Eagles career carry for 24 yards. they enter Michigan Stadium quarterback Matt Ryan com- The Wolverines' deep back- tomorrow pleted an impressive 68 percent field is imposing, but Central Here's a look at how the intrastate of his throws. Michigan's rush defense is brim- battle shapes up: If the Chippewas hope to con- ming with confidence after its tamn a Wolverine passing attack standout dehut against Bostoi Michigan passing offense that is unquestionably itching to College. The Eagles averaged 145 ANGLA CESER/DaoIs vs. Central Michigan passing break out, they will have to be rushing yards per game a season Mike Hart will lead the Michigan ground attack against Central Michigan on Saturday. defense: better this time around. ago, but the Chippewas held them A week ago, Michigan's to just 85 yards on the ground last ing his underdog Chippewas in be wise not to, either. Young circa 2004. receivers couldn't seem to Edge: Michigan week. Central Michigan's rut- the game with 221 yards pass- When Central Michigan remember how to fulfill their stopping ability is nothing new. ing and a touchdown pass. Edge: Michigan decides to run out of its typi- No. I job requirement. About The Chippewas' 'D' led the Mid- But Boston College is no Mich- cal shotgun formation, it will six of quarterback Chad Henne's American Conference against the igan, and with a week of tape on be Ontario Sneed shouldering passes hit his receivers in the run last season, allowing just 114 LeFevour, Ron English's aggres- the load. Last week, he picked yards per game. Still, Michigan's sive defense should be chomp- Central Michigan rush up 47 yards on the ground on depth at running back and its new ing at the bit to get its hands on defense vs. Michigan rush seven carries. zone-blocking scheme will likely the young quarterback, who will defense. be too much for Central Michigan make his first collegiate start on The Chippewas' leading Edge: Michigan to handle. Saturday. rusher last week was also their I l Pilot's license not required. . SUBURBAN SAB 1.866.385.8380 omr nd f 355.s ld . wmuE chtn aautcd Michigan's front four got Edge: Michigan pressure on Vanderbilt all game long in its opener, ending the game with six sacks and 11 tackles for loss. The defensive Central Michigan pass end tandem of LaMarr Woodley offense vs. Michigan pass and Rondell Biggs accounted defense: for four of those sacks and will Last week marked a very look for more of the same pres- impressive debut for Central sure Saturday. Michigan quarterback Dan When LeFevour does get LeFevour. The redshirt fresh- the ball off, he'll probably be man made the best of an oppor- looking in just one direction. tunity that presented itself when Vanderbilt quarterback Chris then-starter Brian Brunner was Nickson didn't even try chal- injured in the game's first series lenging cornerback and All- against Boston College. LeFe- America candidate Leon Hall your never looked back, keep- last week, and LeFevour would leading passer. LeFevour had 72 yards rushing on a dozen carries, with two of them going Special teams: for scores. Normally, Michigan When Breaston fields a kickoff fans would cringe at the thought or punt, you expect to see an elec- of a mobile quarterback enter- trifying return, maybe even atouch- ing the Big House, but if last down. But last week, the fifth-year week was any indication, the senior struggled to simply catch the Wolverines may have finally ball. The Wolverines' kicking game found the recipe for containing wasn't much better. Kicker Garrett mobile quarterbacks. Rivas completed a48-yardfieldgoal Outside linebackers Shawn - the longest of his career - but Crable, David Harris and Prescott he also had a poorly kicked 42-yard Burgess did an outstanding job attempt blocked. As for fan favorite containing the quarterback in Zoltan Mesko, nerves seemed to get the middle of the field, which the best of redshirt freshman in his prevents him from breaking big first game as Michigan's punter. plays a la Troy Smith or Vince See CENTRAL, page 14 4 Iii~ MRSSIVE ATTACK JNY~1 . o o e Y o L~, a T nrT ' I a a I