The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Sports
Friday, October 2, 2015 — 7

Breakdown: ‘M’ vs. Maryland

By ZACH SHAW

Daily Sports Editor

The last time the Michigan 

football team went on the road, 
no one knew what to expect. 
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh 
was 
making 
his 
coaching 

debut, the starting quarterback 
was a mystery, the defensive 
replacements for NFL Draft picks 
Jake Ryan and Frank Clark were 
unknown and fans wondered just 
how competetive the team would 
be.

One 
month 
after 
the 

Wolverines’ 24-17 loss to now-
No. 10 Utah, those questions have 
been answered. Jake Rudock is 
the starting quarterback. The 
defense is one of the deepest 
and highest-achieving units in 
the country. By outscoring its 
last three opponents 94-14 and 
entering the polls for the first time 
since Nov. 2, 2013, Michigan looks 
like it has the potential to surpass 
preseason expectations.

While everything is going 

right for the Wolverines (3-1), 
everything is going wrong for 
their opponent. Maryland (2-2) 
hosts Michigan after getting 
blown out last week by West 
Virginia, 45-6, and losing by 
three touchdowns to mid-major 
Bowling Green three weeks ago.

Here’s how things break down 

for Saturday:

Michigan 
pass 
offense 
vs. 

Maryland pass defense

Before the season, the edge 

would have gone to Maryland’s 
pass defense. With plenty of 
returning 
defensive 
backs 
— 

including star junior Will Likely 
— pass defense was expected 
to be one of the Terrapins’ best 
units, while the Wolverines rolled 
out a new quarterback without a 
clear replacement at receiver for 
second-round draft pick Devin 
Funchess.

However, 
Maryland’s 

secondary has underachieved, 
allowing opponents to complete 

60 percent of their passes for 267 
yards per game, and gave up 491 
yards in the air against Bowling 
Green.

Michigan has looked more 

capable in the passing game each 
week. The Wolverines rank just 
96th in the nation at 194 passing 
yards per game, but much of that 
has to do with the fact that they 
haven’t trailed in 11 quarters and 
have become a run-first team.

Edge: Michigan

Michigan 
rush 
offense 
vs. 

Maryland rush defense

Michigan has rushed for 732 

yards and 10 touchdowns in its 
last three games and showcases 
its depth more each week. With 
four running backs who have 
started multiple games in their 
collegiate careers, the Wolverines 
might not even have to use their 
lead back, junior De’Veon Smith, 
who tweaked his right ankle in 
last week’s win against BYU.

Likely to be behind early in 

stormy weather, Maryland can 
expect to see a lot of run plays 
Saturday. The question then 
becomes — after allowing over 
200 yards per game and 4.31 
yards per carry in its first four 
games — whether or not the 
defensive front can stop the 
inevitable.

Edge: Michigan

Maryland 
pass 
offense 
vs. 

Michigan pass defense

Perhaps one of the most 

lopsided matchups in the entire 
Big Ten, Michigan brings the 
nation’s fifth-best pass defense 
to College Park, while Maryland 
is still looking for a replacement 
after sixth-year senior C.J. Brown 
and his top two receiving targets 
graduated last year.

None of the Terrapins’ three 

quarterbacks have been up to the 
task yet, completing 50.4 percent 
on their passes and tossing a 
nation-leading 12 interceptions on 
just 125 pass attempts. Maryland’s 
starting quarterback for Saturday, 
junior Caleb Rowe, threw four 
picks in three quarters against 
West Virginia last week.

In Michigan’s corner is an 

upperclassman-heavy 
unit 

that is not only one of the most 
experienced in the country, but 
also one of the best. Whereas 
Maryland gave up 491 passing 
yards against Bowling Green, the 
Wolverines have given up 487 
passing yards all season.

Edge: Michigan

Maryland 
rush 
offense 
vs. 

Michigan rush defense

In 
a 
matchup 
of 
two 

experienced and talented units, 
it’s tough to tell whose numbers 
hold more weight. Behind senior 

Brandon Ross, Maryland has 
piled up 196 yards per game and 
is gaining 5.85 yards per carry. 
Fortunately for the Terrapins, 
they can count on four or five 
backs in any given game to ensure 
their rushing attack is not only 
effective, but creative.

Rotating juniors and seniors 

in and out at will, Michigan’s 
run defense has shown flashes 
of dominance, allowing just 2.52 
yards per carry and 82 yards per 
game. Tack on 17 tackles for loss, 
and Michigan has every capability 
to stall Maryland.

Edge: Push

Special teams

If nothing else, Maryland has 

a clear edge over the Wolverines 
on special teams. Senior kicker 
Brad Craddock was a second-
team All American last season 
after going 18-for-19 in field goals 
and converting all 41 extra-point 
attempts. In the return game, Will 
Likely will likely be the Terrapins’ 
biggest threat to find the end zone, 
as he already has 337 punt return 
yards — 109 more than any other 
returner in the country.

Michigan 
has 
improved 

since last season in special 
teams. Sophomore safety Jabrill 
Peppers has shown glimpses 
of explosiveness in the return 
game, while seniors Blake O’Neill 
and Kenny Allen have brought 
consistency to the punting and 
kicking 
games, 
respectively, 

narrowing the gap evident last 
season between the two programs 
evident last season.

Make no mistake, Maryland’s 

special teams are as good as any 
in the country. The only question 
is — with winds and a hurricane 
knocking on the door — will 
it impact the game enough for 
Maryland to have a shot?

Edge: Maryland

Prediction: 
Michigan 
23, 

Maryland 0

JAMES COLLER/Daily

Jake Rudock will look to build on last week’s performance against BYU.

Michigan heads into 
uncharted territory

By JAKE LOURIM

Managing Sports Editor

Before this season, the Big 

Ten announced 
that this week’s 
Michigan-
Maryland 
football 
game 

would be an 8 
p.m. 
kickoff. 

It appeared at 
the time that 
it might be a 
chance for Big 
Ten newcomer 
Maryland 
to 

knock off the 
Wolverines 
for 
a 
second 

straight year in their first visit to 
College Park.

Now, 
the 
night-game 

atmosphere is gone, and the 
Terrapins’ chances of an upset 
have dwindled as well.

Hurricane 
Joaquin, 
which 

could move through the mid-
Atlantic on Saturday night, forced 
the conference to move the game 
up to noon. The two teams will 
take field moving in opposite 
directions, with No. 22 Michigan 
(3-1) coming off a 31-0 rout of 
Brigham Young and Maryland 
(2-2) limping from a 45-6 loss at 
West Virginia. That makes the 
Wolverines a safer road bet than 
any time in recent memory.

Coming in as a favorite means 

the 
Wolverines 
must 
avoid 

disaster and eliminate variables, 
two tasks coach Jim Harbaugh 
has managed well this year.

Michigan 
has 
some 
room 

for error on Saturday, but the 
worst-case scenario is dropping 
a winnable game and leaving 
College Park at 0-1 in the Big 
Ten. To avoid that, fifth-year 
senior Jake Rudock must avoid 
turnovers and the defense must 
limit big plays.

In the former of those areas, 

Maryland has intercepted four 

passes and recovered just one 
fumble this season. On the other 
side, the Terrapins have four 
touchdown passes of at least 35 
yards, but their true big-play 
threat is punt returner Will 
Likely, who — despite being a 
cornerback — has a team-high 
489 all-purpose yards this season.

Some 
highlight-reel 
plays 

might be Maryland’s best chance 
to stay in the game, and Michigan 
coach Jim Harbaugh is on “high 
alert” in the special-teams game.

“The 
coverage 
units 
are 

going to have to be great, both 
the kickoff coverage and the 
punt coverage,” Harbaugh said 
Monday. “This return game that 
Maryland has is one of the best 
I’ve ever seen in college football, 
and so is their returner.”

The Wolverines can do their 

best to control Maryland’s return 
game, but they can’t account for 
the intangibles, namely the road 
environment and the weather.

But Michigan doesn’t intend to 

let those factors affect the game. It 
will keep the game plan the same, 
even in heavy rain or gusty winds.

“We’re kind of a weatherproof 

team, I think, so it’s not something 
that 
we’re 
really 
concerned 

about,” said tight ends coach Jay 
Harbaugh. “We’ll play anywhere. 
We’ll play on the moon, or Mars. 
They found water there, so maybe 
that’s our next spot.”

Still, the conditions aren’t ideal 

for Michigan’s first-ever trip to 
College Park. The Wolverines 
lost last year’s meeting in Ann 
Arbor, 23-16, missing out on their 
sixth win. A loss at Ohio State the 
following week dashed their bowl 
hopes for good.

While it’s too early in the 

season for a must-win game, 
Maryland is in a similar position. 
The Terrapins have struggled this 
season and face question marks at 
several positions. It’s Michigan’s 
job to exploit them, just as it was 
Maryland’s last year.

FOOTBALL

‘M’ blanks Maryland

By CHRIS CROWDER

Daily Sports Writer

In the Michigan women’s 

soccer team’s last match, it 
allowed its first goal in 39 
seconds 
to 
rival 

Michigan 
State. 
In Thursday’s match against 
Maryland, though, the defense 
led the way, making it difficult 
for the Terrapins to score.

The Wolverines (3-1 Big Ten, 

8-4 overall) put last week’s 
loss behind them, shutting out 
Maryland (0-4, 5-7) to win, 1-0, 
in College Park.

Michigan coach Greg Ryan 

said 
the 
Terrapin 
attack 

might be better than that of 
the Spartans. He knew the 
performance against Michigan 
State was not indicative of his 
team’s ability. With a relentless 
offensive attack and a defense 
that might as well have been 
a stone wall, the Wolverines 
outplayed Maryland throughout 
the game.

Michigan 
came 
close 
to 

scoring in the 10th minute of 
the game on its third corner 
kick. 
Senior 
midfielder 

Christina Murillo crossed it to 
the right side of the six-yard 
box, and after two deflections, 
junior forward Madisson Lewis 
had a chance to put the ball into 
the net at the left post. But her 
header sailed harmlessly over 
the goal.

Lewis had another shot on 

goal in the 17th minute off 
of a counterattack. After the 
Wolverines cut through the 
defense with an advantage, 
Lewis blasted a shot, but it was 
saved by Maryland goalkeeper 
Rachelle Beanlands.

“In the first half, we just 

continually attacked,” Ryan said. 
“The attack pressure we created 
was fantastic. We controlled the 
game because we had the ball 
more than they did.”

Finally, 
the 
Wolverines’ 

attack paid off in the 35th 
minute. A cross outside the 
18-yard 
box 
deflected 
off 

of a Terrapin defender, and 

freshman 
midfielder 
Abby 

Kastroll was in the right place 
at the most opportune time. 
Kastroll ended up with the ball 
at her feet and nobody but the 
goalkeeper in front of her, and 
she easily scored from six yards 
out, giving Michigan a 1-0 lead.

“(Kastroll) just dominated 

Maryland’s players when she 
was attacking throughout the 
game,” Ryan said. “Defensively, 
she was outstanding as well.”

Despite a couple of Maryland 

scoring 
opportunities, 
the 

Wolverines’ lead was intact at 
halftime, and with seven corner 
kick opportunities to boot. For 
comparison, before Thursday’s 
match, Michigan averaged 8.5 
corner kicks per game.

Maryland 
had 
limited 

opportunities for the equalizer 
due 
to 
Michigan’s 
stifling 

defense, which switched to 
a five-player back line in the 
second half. The Terrapins had 

a corner kick with 12 minutes 
left in the game, but the service 
hit the outside of the net. The 
Wolverine defense continued to 
be nearly impenetrable for the 
rest of the contest, as it earned 
its fifth shutout of the season.

“(Compared to the match 

against Michigan State), our 
focus, our concentration and 
the energy we brought to the 
game (were) what was really 
different,” Ryan said.

While the defense played 

virtually mistake-free ball, the 
offense had many opportunities 
to score, but failed to capitalize 
numerous times. Still, the sign 
of a more aggressive offense 
is promising as Michigan gets 
deeper into Big Ten conference 
play.

“I told them after the game, 

‘You guys have found yourselves 
again,’ ” Ryan said. “ ‘(How you 
played tonight) is what you have 
to bring into every game.’ ”

WOMEN’S SOCCER
What to watch for Saturday

By MAX BULTMAN

Daily Sports Editor

With a Category 4 hurricane 

bearing down on Capital One 
Field at Byrd Stadium, Saturday’s 
game between Michigan and 
Maryland was moved from 8 p.m. 
to noon ET.

That likely won’t stop Michigan 

fans from showing up, as the No. 
22 Wolverines are ranked in the 
Top 25 for the first time since 
November 2013, and expectations 
under coach Jim Harbaugh are as 
high as ever.

Assuming the game is played, 

here’s what to watch for when 
Michigan takes on Maryland.

1. Raining cats and dogs

While the earlier start could 

help shield fans and the athletes 
from the potentially catastrophic 
conditions, 
it’s 
not 
like 
the 

Wolverines and Terrapins will be 
squaring off in a sunny meadow.

Winds of around 20 miles per 

hour are expected throughout 
the game, which is more than 
enough to impact play calling for 
both teams. Don’t expect to see 
many pass attempts or long field 
goals, and look for both teams to 
turn to their running backs on 
offense.

A run-heavy game bodes well 

for Michigan’s stout defensive 
line, and it could also mean a 
quick game — an added bonus 
with the hurricane approaching.

2. Will De’Veon Smith play?

Michigan’s workhorse tailback 

injured his ankle in the third 
quarter against BYU but said after 
the game he expected to be ready 
for Maryland. However, he also 
wore a boot as a precautionary 
measure, and Harbaugh was mum 
on the running back’s status in his 
Monday press conference.

Smith’s status shouldn’t affect 

the outcome of the game — the 
Wolverines are heavy favorites 
— but it could be an indicator of 
how severe the injury is. Then 
again, with a stable of capable 
backs itching to play, Michigan 
could opt to rest Smith even if he 
is healthy, just to be safe.

If Smith isn’t in the lineup, look 

for redshirt sophomore Ty Isaac 
and junior Derrick Green to get 
the lion’s share of the carries, with 
redshirt junior Drake Johnson as 
a change-of-pace back.

3. Fear of a letdown/looking 
ahead

Coming off a 31-0 win over 

BYU, there is some risk of a 
letdown for the newly ranked 
Wolverines. What’s more, No. 
16 Northwestern comes to Ann 
Arbor a week later, setting up a 
dangerous bookend around an 
underwhelming Maryland team.

But with Harbaugh at the 

helm, you can expect Michigan 
to be well prepared, if not at peak 
levels of motivation. Harbaugh 
said his message to his team after 
the win over BYU was simple: 
“Congratulations, 
outstanding 

game and onward.” If that isn’t 
enough, the Wolverines can also 
look to the fact that the Terrapins 
beat them at the Big House last 
season.

For Maryland, knocking off a 

ranked Michigan team, however 

unlikely, could inject life into 
an otherwise ugly season. The 
Wolverines aren’t on upset watch, 
but don’t be stunned if they don’t 
look as polished as they have in 
recent weeks.

4. In all Likely-hood

Maryland’s star cornerback/

return specialist Will Likely gives 
fits to special teams units, just like 
he does to writers with limited 
vocabulary who want to describe 
a probable series of events.

Harbaugh has sung Likely’s 

praises all week, and Michigan 
will likely avoid him all game if 
it can. Still, Likely will make his 
impact felt just by being in the 
Wolverines heads. He is averaging 
28.1 yards per punt return and 
has already returned two for 
touchdowns this season. He’s 
almost as dangerous on kickoffs, 
where he is averaging 21.7 yards 
per return and has an 85-yard 
touchdown return.

Punting to Will Likely is a bad 

idea. Don’t expect Michigan to do 
it. 

Michigan at 
Maryland

Matchup: 
Michigan 3-1; 
Maryland 2-2

When: 
Saturday 
12 P.M.

Where: Byrd 
Stadium

TV/Radio: 
BTN

JAMES COLLER/Daily

De’Veon Smith is battling an ankle injury he suffered in last week’s game.

MARYLAND
MICHIGAN 

0
1

