The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Friday, October 5, 2012 - 7
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The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Friday, October 5, 2012 - 7
Breakdown: Blue will answer
questions against Purdue
By ZACH HELFAND
Daily Sports Editor
Things happen when you're a
football team with a .500 record
or when you've committed six
turnovers in your most recent
game. Things like being just a
three-point favorite against Pur-
due.
The unranked Michigan foot-
ball team's first Big Ten game
looks a lot more questionable than
it did four weeks ago when it was
ranked No. 8. It's not just the two
losses this early in the season,
losses that came against two top-
10 teams. It's not the record so
much as how the Wolverines have
arrived at that record.
At times, the defensive line has
been gashed in the running game
and the offensive line has been
bullied.
Michigan has missed too many
assignments and turned the ball
over too many times. Last year's
glut of turnovers for the defense
has turned into a famine. Redshirt
junior running back Fitzgerald
Toussaint has stalled.
Yet despite it all, a wide-open
and talent-deficient Big Ten beck-
ons. The Wolverines remain one
of the favorites to win the con-
ference, but the gap between the
Michigans and the Purdues of the.
Big Ten world is as close as its ever
been.
Michigan pass offense vs. Pur-
due pass defense
In the pass game, Michigan can
expect quite a different look than
it saw against Notre Dame. That
cannot possibly be a bad thing for
the Wolverines.
Two weeks ago, the Fighting
Irish defense pressured senior
quarterback Denard Robinson
into four consecutive intercep-
tions. On three of those intercep-
tions, Robinson was hurried or
knocked down, and was hustled
into poor decisions. (His final
interception was a Hail Mary).
Purdue tends to not bring pres-
sure at all, though defensive tackle
Kawann Short, who averages a
sack per game, can wreak havoc
all by himself. Instead, the Boil-
ermakers will rely on its talented
secondary to shut down Michi-
gan's receivers while Robinson
enjoys time in the pocket.
Cornerback Josh Johnson
should shut down any Michi-
gan receiver he covers - he has
recorded two of the team's eight
interceptions this season - and
there isn't much drop off in the
rest of the secondary. Robinson's
best option will likely be freshman
tight end Devin Funchess who
should exploit Purdue linebackers
that have struggled in coverage.
Notre Dame and Marshall had
success through the air against
Purdue this year, combining for
763 passing yards, mainly because
the Boilermakers couldn't get to
the quarterback. Still, Michigan
has a lot to prove in the passing
game. The edge goes to the team
that has generated plenty of inter-
ceptions this year.
Edge: Purdue
Michigan rush offense vs. Pur-
due rush defense
The Purdue rush defense
begins and ends with Short, who
commands attention from the
offensive line. Other than Short,
though, Michigan has the advan-
tage.
Robinson should have success
on designed runs, but the lack of
blitzes frees up Purdue lineback-
ers to spy and limit Robinson's
scrambling ability.
Toussaint's production could
dictate the outcome of the game.
Last week's game showed the
effects of shying away from the
run on the road. Michigan must
control the edge and spring Tous-
saint.
Edge: Michigan
Purdue pass offense vs. Michi-
gan pass defense
The big question mark entering
Saturday's game is the status of
quarterback Robert Marve
Marve tore his ACL for the
third time of his career in the
fourth quarter against Notre
Dame on Sept. 8. Purdue coach
Danny Hope said that he "couldbe
ready" for Saturday's game.
Caleb TerBush has played in
Marve's absence, as he did for
much of last season, and he has
performed solidly, if unspectacu-
larly.
TerBush has completed nearly
64 percent of his passes for seven
touchdowns and 531 yards, with
four interceptions. But as Michi-
gan and its five consecutive inter-
ceptions against Notre Dame can
attest, four interceptions isn't too
bad. Whoever gets the start will
have plenty of speedy options at
wide receiver. Antavian Edison
(24 receptions, 285 yards and five
touchdowns) is the main target,
though O.J. Ross has hauled in 27
receptions and Gary Bush adds
four touchdowns.
The screen is the staple of the
Purdue offense, though. They
love slip screens. They love tunnel
screens. They love bubble screens.
That puts pressure on the sec-
ondary to make tackles in space
against some shifty ball carriers,
something it has struggled to do
this year.
Edge: Push
Purdue rush offense vs. Michi-
gan rush defense
Michigan's line play has been
frustrating this year. Purdue's has
too.
Despite the mediocre play in
the trenches, Purdue averages
more than 200 yards per game on
the ground, largely due to running
back Akeem Shavers, who aver-
ages 4.1 yards per carry.
The Boilermakers' rushing
stats become much less impres-
sive when you take out the 392-
yard anomaly against Eastern
Michgian. Purdue gained just 90
yards on the ground against Notre
Dame, for example, significantly
less than Michigan's total against
the Fighting Irish.
The Michigan defense has been
slowly improving and had its best
showing of the seasons last week.
A forgettable Purdue rushing
attack won'treverse the trend.
Edge: Michigan
Special teams
Remember that Short guy? He
even dominates on special teams.
Short has blocked a mind-
blowing three kicks in just four
games this year, adding to the two
he blocked in 2010 and the one he
blocked in 2011. Purdue's place
kickers are even less tested than
Michigan's. Sam McCartney and
Paul Griggs have each made the
only kicks they've attempted.
Return man Raheem Mostert
has struggled to get going this sea-
son, averaging less than 23 yards
per return. Last year he averaged
10 yards more per return and a
scored touchdown.
Edge: Michigan
Intangibles
Michigan has many questions
to answer on Saturday. How will it
respond to the tough loss to Notre
Dame? Can it play well on the
road? Will Toussaint be a factor?
The bye week helps. Plus,
Michigan recognizes its road
struggles and has taken steps to
correct past mistakes. The Wol-
verines' goal is always a Big Ten
title, and that campaign starts
Saturday.
Michigan gets the edge.
Edge: Michigan
FINAL: Michigan 31, Purdue 21
Seniorferward A.1. Treais is Michigan's lone captain this fall, flanked by assistants Lee Motfile and Mac Bennett.
Berenson, captains axze
freshman hazing at 'M'
By LIZ VUKELICH
Daily Sports Writer
The most nerve-racking part
of Michigan hockey coach Red
Berenson's early days in the
NHL was lying in a bunk bed
on a train traveling to games,
waiting for the rookie hazing to
start. He didn't
know exactly
what he was Blue vs.
waiting for, White
but it would
come sooner When: Sunday
or later - and 4:50 p.m.
it wouldn't be, Where: Yost
fun. Ice Arena
Berenson
didn't go into specifics on the
treatment he received at the
hands of his teammates in the
"old-time hockey" days of the
early 1960s. Though he says that
the hazing didn't bother him too
much at the time, he recognizes
that similar kinds of treatment
can be rough on rookies, espe-
cially freshmen starting their
collegiate careers. That's why
Berenson instituted a policy
change in advance of the season
that aims to remove the fresh-
men hazing and humiliation
from the Michigan hockey team.
"We've taken the freshmen
things out of our program,"
Berenson said Wednesday after-
noon. "There's no more fresh-
men carry the pucks, no more
freshmen load the bus, freshmen
eat last. They've earned the right
to be here."
Berenson uses sophomore for-
ward Alex Guptill as an example.
By the end of his freshman cam-
paign, Guptill established him-
self as the Wolverines' offensive
leader, walking away from the Wolverines, and Berenson even
season with team-high 16 goals, notices a difference in their on-
33 points and a CCHA Rookie of * ice demeanors.
the Year trophy to show for it. "(Treais) is a little bull out
But at the end of every away there," Berenson said. "Whether
game, those accolades didn't it's a sense of being a senior or
mean much - Guptill still had being a captain, I notice a change
to fulfill his freshman duties and in him on the ice."
load the bus for the return trip to The coaches anticipate the
Ann Arbor. captains to have their best sea-
Granted, doing the team's son yet - if the trio plays any-
grunt work isn't as bad an ini- where close to as well as they
tiation into Michigan as the did last season, Michigan will
kind Berenson experienced in have answered some of the ques-
the NHL. But he sees how it can tions surrounding its offensive
become a slippery slope. production. Treais' 15 goals put
him in second place for Michigan
scoring and Moffie led the team
inassists while drivingthe defen-
"W e've taken sive corps. Already, it's become
fairly easy to characterize the
the freshmen captain's different leadership
styles. Treais is the self-pro-
things out of claimed "even-keeled guy" who
quietly leads by example, while
our program . Moffie is easily the most vocal of
the three ("Gregarious and even
outrageous at times," according
to Berenson). Bennett finds him-
"I never liked the whole haz- self situated somewhere in the
ing thing," Berenson said. "I middle of the two.
think some of the players think The three personas seem to
it's a chance to get back at what compliment each other, and -for
happened to them. They want to now, the captains say they're
make it worse rather than better. focusing on settinga good exam-
"We've had captains that got ple for the team as the season
too carried away, and they forgot gets underway.
what they're supposed to do." "I feel like it's my team now,
But Berenson doesn't expect which is a pretty special feeling,"
his current trio of captains - Moffie said. "There are no days
senior forward A.J. Treais and, off for me anymore. Maybe some
senior defenseman Lee Moffie days, I'd come here and hide out
and junior defenseman Mac Ben- a little bit, (but) now all the spot-
nett - to take part in any haz- light's on us."
ing. Though none of them have Added Bennett: "The last two
been a captain before, all three years I would come in and kind of
have happily embraced their worry about myself. Now I have
new leadership positions for the to worry about everyone now."
WOMElS S OCCEaRl
i dl l Oeads m1iild
By ALEJANDRO ZUNIGA
Daily Sports Writer
Sitting in prime position to
make a run for the conference
championship, the No. 23 Michi-
gan women's soccer team has
taken the Big Ten by surprise this
season.
The Wol-
verines (4-0- Michigan at
1 Big Ten, N'Westem
10-2-1 overall) Matchup:
have relied on Mich. 10-2-1;
stout defense N'Western 11-2
and timely When: Sat-
goals by junior urday 7 p.m.
forward Nkem
Ezurike and the Where: Lake-
offense to mark side Field
their second Stats:
10-win season MGoBlue.com
in three years.
But overshadowed by Michigan's
remarkable back four and its
opportune offense is a solid mid-
field that has been instrumental
inthe team's success:
The Wolverines' midfield has
already accounted for eight goals
and nine assists, but its confident
style of play has provided the big-
gest boost to the team. Anchored
by fifth-year senior Clare Sta-
chel and junior Meghan Toohey,
the middle four sets up offensive
attacks, supports the defense and
effectively controls the pace of
the game.
Perhaps the most exciting
member of Michigan's midfield
is sophomore Christina Murillo.
Since her return from the under-
20 women's World Cup in Japan,
Murillo has tallied only one goal
and one assist, but contributes
to the team in ways that aren't
reflected on a statsheet. The
sophomore controls the ball like
a professional, makes pinpoint
passes from 30 yards away and
has surprised many goalkeepers
with long-range, powerful shots.
And she does it all with a soft-
spoken humility.
"I don't care how many goals I
score, as long as the team is win-
ning," Murillo said.
Michigan coach Greg Ryan
knows that having a player like
Murillo is rare. After she scored
the game-winning tally against
Oakland on Sept. 9, Ryan said he
felt like Murillo was playing at a
level above everyone else: faster,
stronger and smarter.
"I don't see many college play-
ers playing the way she is right
now," Ryan said. "She's not play-
ing like a college student - she's
playing like a pro."
The Wolverines face North-
western on Saturday on the road
knowing that if they don't win,
they risk dropping further behind
conference-leading Penn State.
The fourth-ranked Nittany Lions
(5-0,11-2) are perched atop the Big
Ten with 15 points. Despite being
undefeated in conference play,
Michigan trails by two points
because of a draw with Iowa.
The Wolverines have never
finished first in the Big Ten, but
Murillo hopes to change that this
fall.
"We're performing to the best
of our abilities right now," Muril-
lo said. "Our biggest goal is to win
the Big Ten championship."
Halfway through the confer-
ence schedule, Michigan is poised
to do just that. The midfield has
controlled the tempo of every
match, and its ball movement and
precise passes have worn down
opponents. It will look to assert its
dominance in the remaining Big
Ten games, but that won't be easy.
Standing in their way on Saturday
are the Wildcats, who have not
lost to the Wolverines since 2005.
This year, Northwestern is
struggling to find the back of the
net, but has improved since last
year. The Wildcats (0-5, 4-7-2)
have already doubled its 2011 win
total.
Northwestern's attack, led by
junior forward Kate Allen, has
only scored once in five confer-
ence matches, but the Wildcats'
solid defense has kept them in
almost every game this season.
Breaking them down will pres-
ent a challenge for Michigan's
midfield, but Murillo knows how
much a win would mean for the
team.
"Beating (Northwestern)
this weekend would prove how
much the soccer program has
improved," Murillo said.
Facing a conference opponent
on the road is never easy, espe-
cially in a must-win scenario. But
the Wildcats are a college team.
And, according to Ryan, Murillo
just isn't at that level.
OCTOBER 11,2012 n 3:00 P.M.
Rackham Auditorium . 915 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor
Keynote policy lecture by Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker,
founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Miki Orihara, soloist of the Martha Graham Dance Company
Tribute remarks from President Mary Sue Coleman,
family members, and other special guests
Information: 734-615-3893
fordschool.umich.edu
Gerald R. Ford K
School of Public Policy '
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