0 i - - U U U U w 0 W_ v 6B - Football Saturday - October 4, 2008 October 4, 2008 - Football Saturday - 3B The Wolverines will be ahead at the half. Last week's dismal first half and the ensu- ing Terrence Taylor motivational talk should be enough to bully the Wolverines into starting strong Saturday. Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez and multiple players men- tioned the boos at halftime Saturday. Redshirt freshman quarterback Steven Threet and.the offense will come out strong to ensure that doesn't happen again this week. Junior Brandon Minor will be Michigan's best running back against the Fighting Illini. His breakout run against Wisconsin showcased his speed, and freshman Sam McGuffie had a mediocre game. Expect Minor to build off last week's performance with at least one touchdown run against Illinois and McGuffie to have another down game. When the game gets close tomorrow, Rodriguez will play Minor. Illinois will win 35-32. Sure, Michigan came back from a 19-point deficit last week. But the Wolverines just aren't strong enough yet to consistently hang with the best of the Big Ten, and the Illini will be hungry for a win after last week's downer against Penn State. Michigan will run some gutsy plays but come up just short. Breakdown: Illinois at Michigan. Michigan depth chart vs. OFFENSE B1. Redshirt freshman Steven Threet 2. Redshirt sophomore Nick Sheridan .. -y ---. By IAN ROBINSON and NATE SANDALS Daily Sports Editor Michigan rushing offense versus Illinois rushing defense: Scoring has lem for the Illi in the Big Ten (33.2 points pe starts with qua liams, William: true dual-threa Michigan will have no fumbles. The Wolverines had 11 fumbles in their last two games, but no player besides redshirt freshman quarterback Steven Threet has more than one. But 'Illinois's defense has been undetwhelming, so Threet shouldn't. be under too much pressure. Redshirt freshman Avery Horn will emerge as the main kick returner. Running backs coach Fred Jackson called Horn the fastest tailback he has ever coached. That speed will get him to the wedge quicker, which has been a problem with other returners. And he hasn't fumbled yet. Michigan will win 31-30. Both teams are better than their records right now. They're pretty evenly matched, but the Wol- verines get the edge because they're playing at home. Illinois quarterback Juice Williams will give Michigan problems on the ground. Michigan has struggled often against dual-threat quarterbacks in the last few seasons. Williams will be this Wolverine defense's first such oppo- nent. Let's just say, the Juice will be let loose. Junior safety Stevie Brown will have another good game. The Michigan coaching staff named him one of three de- fensive players of the game against Wisconsin. After harsh criticism from fans in the team's first few games, Brown will continue to improve against the Fighting Illini. Illinois will win 27-24. Once again, Michigan will have a strong second half. But Williams will prove too much for the Wolverines. Ifyoujustgo by the stats, this is a Michigan defen battle of mediocrity. The Michigan the conference rushing offense ranks 10th in the Michigan hadt Big Ten. The FightingIllini hold the containing mo same ranking in rushing defense. On the outside,I But the Wolverines have shown the best receive plenty of potential in the ground sophomore Arre game. If it can find a rhythm, Mich- coming off a c- igan has a chance to change the performance ag game with its rushing attack. Whether the Expect to see more of Brandon Williams and k Minor this week after his solid per- one of the mos formance against Wisconsin. Sam ups of the aftern McGuffie will continue to get the pass defense st most carries for the Wolverines and ing Wisconsin's Michael Shaw should be at or near back attempt, ju 100 percent for the first time since Brandon Graha the season opener. and forced a fun Should Michigan establish the On Wisconsin' running game, they'll likelydhave conversion att more success in putting drives defensive tackle together. And should the-Wolver- pressure on the ines get in trouble, Illinois' poor ingoff a doublet defense may bail them out, allowing teams to convert 42 percent of the Edge: Michigan time on third down. not been a prob- ii. They are second in scoring offense er game), and that rterback Juice Wil- s will be the first at quarterback the se faces and leads e in total offense. trouble in the past bile quarterbacks. Williams has one of rs in the Big Ten in elious Benn, who is areer-best 110-yard ainst Penn State. front four can get to eep contain will be t intriguing match- noon. The Michigan arts up front. Dur- last-minute come- unior defensive end am had two sacks mble on one of them. s final two-point ompt, true freshman e ike Martin got quarterback, com- team. offense vs. Michigan ight be second in in rush defense, called this statistic use it includes sack ting for sack yards, are third in the con- the run. ing 'running back (not to be con- y) is averaging 6.7 He sprained his left Statelast week but 96 yards. Williams r ground threat. In Michigan has had g mobile quarter- be this team's first Michigan is to hold returns. Illinois has coverage in the Big ponents more than RB I 1. Freshman Sam McGuffie 2. Junior Brandon Minor FB 1. Redshirt sophomore Mark Moundros 2. Sophomore Vince Helmuth 1. Junior Greg Mathews 2. Sophomore Toney Clemons W R 1 Redshirt LaTerryal Savoy 2. Sophomore Zion Babb -T 1. Freshman Martavious Odoms SL I 2. Sophomore Toney Clemons 1. Freshman Kevin Koger E 2. Fifth-year senior Mike Massey IT 1.Redshirt sophomore PerryDorrestein LI 2. Redsbirt sopbomore Bryant Nowicki LG 1. Redshirt junior Mark Ortmann 2. Redshirt freshman Mark Huyge DEFENSE D E 1. Fifth-year senior Tim Jamison 2. Redshirt sophomore Greg Banks D T 1. Fifth-year senior Will Johnson 2 Sophomore Renaldo Sagesse N T i Senior Terrance Taylor N 2. Fresbman Mike Martin DE SL 1. Junior Brandon Graham 2. Redshirt freshman Ryan Van Bergen 1. Fifth-year senior John Thompson 2. Sophomore Marell Evans ML1. Redshirt sophomore Obi Ezeh L 2. Fifth-year senior John Thompson W L 1. 0ed"0irt s"0m"re Jnas Mouton L2. Senier Austin Faster C B 1. Fifth-year senior Morgan Trent 2. Sophomore Troy Woolfolk S 1. Junior Stevie Brown F2. Redshirt freshman Michael Williams S 1. Senior Brandon Harrison 2. Fifth-year senior Charles Stewart Edge: Michigan Michigan passing offense versus Illinois passing defense: Illinois rushingo rushing defense Michigan mi the conference but some have. Michigan won't fumble in the return game. The fumbling has to stop eventu- ally, right? The return game looked especially bad against Wisconsin when junior Greg Mathews and fifth-year senior Morgan Trent both put the ball on the ground. Holding on to the ball will be such a big point of emphasis this week that the re- turners won't dare drop the ball, more out of fear than anything else. Freshman Michael Shaw will be Michigan's premier running back. Shaw has been slowed by injury since week two, when he broke out for two big gains. He didn't see the field against Wisconsin and saw just minimal time at Notre Dame. He should be back to full strength tomorrow and he will make a difference in the game. Michigan will win 30-28. After last week's comeback, Michigan will be riding high in the Big House. Expect Illinois to take a lead in the first half, but once again the Wolverines will grab the upper hand thanks to superior conditioning and halftime adjustments. The Michigan coaching staff misleading beca would love to see redshirt freshman yardage. Correc quarterback Steven Threet come the Wolverinesa out and play solid for a full 60 min- ference againstt utes. Illinois' lead So far this season, Threet has Daniel Dufrene been the epitome of inconsistency. fused with And He looked like a decent Division- yards per carry.! I quarterback in the second half shoulder at Penn against Wisconsin, but that was still carried for just minutes after he led the Wol- is Illinois' other verine offense through one of the recent years, R worst halves of football in recent trouble stoppin memory. backs. This will Threet may struggle through opportunity. the air against the Fighting Illini. Junior Vontae Davis is a stalwart Edge: Michigan in the secondary for Illinois and he will have Threet thinking twice Special Teams: before he throws in that direction. The loss of Junior Hemingway The key for 3 to mononucleosis does nothing but on to theballoni restrict Michigan's already stag- the worst kickc nant passing attack. Ten, allowing op C RG 1. Redshirt junior David Moosman 2. Redshirt sophomore John Ferrara RT 1. Redshirt sophomore Stephen Schilling 2. Freshman Patrick Omameh 1. Redshirt freshman David Molk 2. Redshirt junior Tim McAvoy CB 1. Sophomore Donovan Warren 2. Freshman Boubacar Cissoko SPECIAL TEAMS K 1. Fifth-year senior K.C. Lopata 2. Fifth-year senior Jason Gingell P 1. Redshirt junior Zoltan Mesko"' 2. Redshirt sopho- more Bryan Wright KR 1. Freshman Mar- tavious Odoms 2. Redshirt fresh- man Avery Horn PR 1. Junior Greg Mathews 2. Sophomore Dono- van Warren Edge: Illinois Illinois passing game vs. Michigan passing defense: 26 yards per return on average. But Michigan has been fumbling on returns far too often and if it doesn't clean up the act, the defense See BREAKDOWN, Page 7B Note: Depth chart as predicted by Daily football writers.