FootballSaturday, September 26, 2015
6

Breakdown: Michigan vs. BYU

Wolverines face 

tough test Saturday

By JAKE LOURIM

Managing Sports Editor

In two home games this year, 

the Michigan football team has 
faced less than one quarter of 
adversity. Since the Wolverines 
forced a fumble early in the first 
quarter against Oregon State 
and then scored 35 unanswered 
points, they have rolled.

But Saturday could be an 

entirely different test.

This 
week, 
Michigan 
(2-1) 

faces No. 23 Brigham Young (2-1) 
at Michigan Stadium in its non-
conference finale. The Cougars won 
their first two games in dramatic 
fashion, shocking Nebraska in their 
opener on a game-ending Hail 
Mary, then topping Boise State on 
a 35-yard touchdown pass with 45 
seconds left.

The Wolverines are in for a 

tough battle Saturday. Here’s how 
things break down:

Michigan pass offense vs. Utah 
pass defense

Fifth-year senior quarterback 

Jake Rudock has been under the 
microscope for throwing five 
interceptions in his first three 
games. The three he threw 
against Utah were costly, but the 
last two were not. If he can have 
his first turnover-free game of the 
season Saturday, he will give the 
Wolverines a chance to win.

He has also established a 

wider arsenal of targets, though 
not many have been consistent. 
Thirteen players have caught 
passes, but just two have more 
than five — Amara Darboh has 16, 
and Jake Butt has 14. Michigan 
will look to establish more threats 
in the passing game as well as 
some deep throws downfield.

The Cougars’ passing defense 

struggled in the first two games, 
allowing 308 yards per game, but 
it locked down UCLA’s Josh Rosen 
last week, giving up just 106 yards 
and picking off three passes. BYU 
is tied for first in the nation with 
seven interceptions — including 
four by defensive back Kai Nacua 
— so keeping the football will be a 
challenge for Rudock.

Edge: BYU

Michigan rush offense vs. BYU 
rush defense

The 
Wolverines 
have 
had 

more success running the ball 
this season, and now they might 
have a host of players to carry 
it. Junior running back De’Veon 
Smith leads the team with 53 
carries — almost half of the 
team’s 116 — for 206 yards. But 
junior Ty Isaac had a breakout 
game last week with 114 yards 
and a touchdown, and redshirt 
junior Drake Johnson continues 
to work his way back into the fold 
after he suffered the second torn 
anterior cruciate ligament of his 
career last November.

Much of their success comes 

from an improved offensive line, 
led by fifth-year senior center 
Graham 
Glasgow. 
That 
line 

will face a BYU front headed by 
6-foot-8, 280-pound defensive 
end Bronson Kaufusi.

As with pass defense, the 

Cougars’ rush defense is in 
the bottom half in the country. 
They did, however, slow down 
Nebraska and Boise State before 
giving up 296 yards to UCLA last 
week. Michigan has not yet faced 
a straight 3-4 defense (Oregon 
State 
played 
with 
a 
hybrid 

defensive end-linebacker similar 
to Michigan’s buck position).

Edge: Michigan

BYU pass offense vs. Michigan 
pass defense

BYU’s offense has had the most 

success on the last plays of games, 
but it has moved the ball well the 
rest of the game, too. The Cougars 
recovered nicely from the loss of 
starting quarterback Taysom Hill 
to a season-ending foot injury. 
Hill totaled 340 yards and three 
touchdowns in the opener before 
going down and being replaced by 
Tanner Mangum. Mangum, 22, is 
still a true freshman following a 
two-year Mormon mission before 
college.

He has played more like his 

age than his year in school, 
leading BYU on fourth-quarter 
comebacks 
against 
Nebraska 

and Boise State before the magic 
ran out at UCLA. At 136, his 
quarterback rating is 17.5 points 
higher than Rudock’s. He has 
the ability to throw from outside 
the pocket and has a host of 
big, talented receivers at his 

disposal. The leader is 6-foot-6 
Mitch Mathews, who jumped up 
and caught the Hail Mary in the 
season opener.

Though Michigan has touted 

BYU’s receivers all week, the 
Wolverines also have a capable 
secondary 
to 
defend 
them. 

Junior defensive backs Channing 
Stribling 
and 
Jeremy 
Clark 

intercepted passes last week, and 
Michigan has forced the opposing 
team to change quarterbacks in 
two straight games. But Mangum 
is a different animal.

Edge: BYU

BYU rush offense vs. Michigan 
rush defense

The Cougars have been a pass-

first team, largely by necessity — 
because they’ve faced deficits late 
in games and because running 
back Jamaal Williams withdrew 
from school just before fall camp. 
BYU ranks 111th in the nation in 
rush offense, but running back 
Adam Hine has managed 279 
yards and two touchdowns in 
three games.

Michigan’s stout defensive front 

will match up against a young 
BYU 
offensive 
line 
featuring 

only one senior. Several players 
have emerged on defense for the 

Wolverines early in the season. 
Redshirt junior defensive tackle 
Chris Wormley has seven tackles 
for loss, junior defensive end Taco 
Charlton has forced a fumble and 
senior linebacker Joe Bolden leads 
the team in tackles with 26.

The best-case scenario for 

Michigan 
is 
to 
play 
tough 

defense against the run, force 
BYU into passing situations and 
then bring the pressure against 
Mangum to try to rattle him. If 
the Wolverines can feed off the 
Michigan 
Stadium 
crowd, 
it 

would help.

Edge: Michigan

Special teams

Michigan has made a sizable 

jump in this area since a mediocre 
2014. Senior kicker Kenny Allen 
is 3-for-4 in limited field-goal 
opportunities, 
and 
fifth-year 

senior Blake O’Neill is averaging 
40.9 yards per punt with a 59-yard 
bomb last week.

Then 
there’s 
the 
big-play 

threat: 
redshirt 
freshman 

defensive back Jabrill Peppers, 
who ran back a punt 24 yards last 
week and has the ability to score 
if he finds some space.

BYU is in a similar situation. 

Punter Jonny Linehan has been 

solid (42.6 yards per punt), and 
the Cougars have had limited 
opportunities in the return game. 
The difference maker could be 
kicker Trevor Samson, who is 
a perfect 5-for-5 on the season, 
including 3-for-3 from beyond 40 
yards.

Edge: BYU

Intangibles

After two easy wins at Michigan 

Stadium, the Wolverines are 
back to being doubted, to some 
extent. They went to Utah as six-
point underdogs and face a tough 
test with the tall receivers of 
BYU. Knowing how competitive 
Saturday’s 
game 
will 
be, 

Michigan should play with a little 
extra edge.

The 
Cougars, 
meanwhile, 

were flying high last week after 
two straight thrilling victories 
landed them in the top 25. Then 
they traveled to UCLA and fell 
just short of a monumental upset 
of the Bruins. Has the high worn 
off? The answer will be apparent 
early on Saturday.

Edge: Michigan

Prediction: BYU 28, Michigan 
25

ALLISON FARRAND/Daily

Redshirt junior Jeremy Clark has intercepted a team-leading two passes this season, including one last week against UNLV.

