a s' t bu a Michigan looks to- rebound against Air Force U U v W By ZACH HELFAND Daily Sports Editor This week, the pregame discus- sion was again about unmatched recrtsiting classes. The dialogue touched on size disparities and about game- changing speed Air Force at that one side had Michi and the other side didn't. Only this Matchup: Air week, the roles Force 1-0; are reversed. Michigan 0-1 Michigan, in When: Satur- week two, had day 3:30 P.M. suddenly become Where: Michi- Alabama circa gan Stadium week one. TV/Radio: "They're pret- ABC ty darn quick," said Air Force coach Troy Calhoun. "They're pretty darn big. "And they're very, very good. They're gonna have a bunch of guys out there that had a bunch of stars after their name when they were in high school." Sounds familiar, and for No. 19 Michigan, its task this week should be familiar: Prove it can dominate Air Force just as Alabama dominat- ed Michigan. This week, the gap in talent and athleticism is arguably larger, but that might not show on the field. If Alabama wins through the sheer force of its talent, Air Force wins despite its lack of talent. The Falcons move, they pitch, they pull and block downfield. They fake, they counter and they option, and when your head starts spinning, they throw play-action passes over it. Earlier this week, -senior defen- sive end Craig Roh likened the Air Force triple-option attack to "mass chaos". "There's Army in there, there's Navy in there," said Michigan coach Brady Hoke, who referred to the other service academies' offen- sive systems. "The midline series, the veer series, but then there's also some pro-style offense. They give you a lot of looks, a lot of different formations. There's a lot of window dressing that goes along with it." Calhoun said this year's iteration of the triple-option relies more heavily than in years past on zone reads and toss sweeps with a good amount of play action passing. The Falcons are built to feast on a Michigan defense that looked unsure and undisciplined last Saturday. "If your eyes aren't where they need to be, if you're not physical at the line of scrimmage,you're going to have problems," Hoke said. Against Idaho Statelast week, Air Force rushed for 484 yards, an average of 8.3 per attempt, and scored an other-worldly seven touchdowns on the ground.- Michigandid not face a triple- option offense last year, and they won't face another aside from the Falcons in 2012. Defenses, even strong ones, that are unfamiliar with the Air Force offense tend to struggle. The Falcons gained more than 400 yards of total offense against its three toughest oppo- nents last year - Notre Dame, TCU and Boise State - including 565 yards against the Irish. Compare that to teams accus- tomed to defending the triple option, Army and Navy, both of which held Air Force to less than 400 yards. The Falcons gained more than 250 more yards against Notre Dame than they did facing the Midshipmen. "As a coach I'll be dead honest with you," said defensive coordi- nator Greg Mattison. "I don't care who you're playing, getting 500 yards is a lot of yards." For a run-heavy team, Air Force does not chew up much clock. Opposing teams averaged slightly more time of possession in 2011 than the Falcons. And opposing offenses last year averaged more plays per game (68) than Michi- gan averaged last year (66). Yet when Air Force establishes the run (and doesn't score on a quick strike), the wait between a punt and the next possession can be excruciating. Michigan must counter with efficiency, something which offen- sive coordinator Al Borges admit- ted was lacking against Alabama. Senior quarterback Denard Rob- inson completed less than half of his passes (11-for 26) and Michigan converted just three third downs outof12. The way to exploit the Fal- cons' defense, though, is through the air. Idaho State completed 42 of 53 passing attempts for365 yards and two touchdowns. Michigan performs best when Robinson ignites the offense with his legs. After the loss to Alabama, Borges said he pulled Robinson aside and told him, "I don't want you to think you lost the game, although there'll be people who want to make you believe that." Borges continued: "We didn't run the ball." The return of redshirt junior running back Fitzgerald Toussaint from suspension helps, but bynow, Robinson is a known commodity. To free up running lanes, Robin- son will have to pass. "You're not going to hit them all, but if you can hit, you know, Redshirt junior ta half your shots, it makes a big dif- able to adapt pr ference in the run game," Borges All week, Mi said. "People just can't force as quit. Ina way, tf last. Michigan wa "You completely change the nate? Can they mindset of the defense when return? you're plucking away at them in "Coach Hoke the passing game." game of football Michigan has the skill to domi- "And I think, nate, but, like Alabama, the Wol- He paused ag verines must impose their style in his head on th and tempo on the game. tougher? Whose Otherwise, Air Force will have game like (Alab, a shot. Of course, Michigan looks to dominate play, but does so with SHOOTOUT respect. Hoke said he addlressed From Page 3 the team during the week about sacrifice and service. Special Teams Someone asked Calhoun this If there was week whether his team would be for Michigan la intimidated by playing in front of freshman Denn the masses at Michigan Stadium. ing kickoffs. He Would his team crumble, like speed and agili Michigan did, against a superior have been looki team? He chuckled. man, and Hokev "When you got to wake up when moving him to t somebody's banging on your door chart this week. at 4:15 in the morning," he began, Redshirt ju "within 24 hours you've had all 'Brendon Gibbon your hair cut off, and you have to talized in Mic be dressed in a certain outfit in 25 "brunette girls" seconds, and get up and do all these ing the 2012 Sug extra push ups and flutter kicks at kick a field goalt 4:15 in the morning day after day But chances after day, after a while, I won't say as good as hisI you're numb, but you're going to be part Parker Her able to move into a variety of ele- 15-for-18 on fielt ments and environments and be season and misse ilback Fitzgerald Toussaint returns Saturday. etty well." chigan talked about how the service academies never his week provides an ideal test. s dominated last week, but can the Wolverines domi- regain discipline? Will the toughness, the resiliency said it on Sunday, we really need to see if we love the l," said redshirt junior tackle Taylor Lewan. "he paused. "It's just..." ain, this time longer, as though formulating the thought e spot. He chuckled and then finished: "Who's gonna be e team wants to be tougher. And we can't have another ama)." s one bright spot st Saturday, it was is Norfleet return- e has the type of ty the Wolverines ng for in a return wasted little time in he top of the depth nior placekicker ns, forever immor- higan lore for his comments follow- ar Bowl, has yet to his season. are he's at least Air Force counter- rington, who went d goal attempts last red his only attempt- last week - a 43-yarder. Edge: Michigan Intangibles Though many of his players are relatively new to the triple option, Hoke has prepared for coach Troy Calhoun's unique offense before, when he was coaching San Diego State in the Mountain West confer- ence at. While there, Hoke split the two games he played against the Falcons, losing in 2009 and then avengingthe loss in 2010. A little bit has changed, though, as Calhoun has since incorporated a no-huddle offense to make the sys- tem more difficult to defend. Also, Calhoun has seen Hoke's defense, as has Air Force's quarterback Dietz, who started against San Diego State in 2009. Edge: PUSH FINAL SCORE: Michigan 41, Air Force 20 FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @THEBLOCKM IT'S GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL 8 FootballSaturday - September 8, 2012