8 — Friday, October 28, 2016
Sports
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Wolverines seek to remedy offensive woes

It was back to basics this 

week in practice for the No. 11 
Michigan hockey team.

The 
Wolverines 
(3-1-1) 

escaped last Saturday’s game 
against Michigan Tech with a 
tie despite being outplayed and 
outshot by the Huskies, 45-18.

As Michigan prepared for 

a road series against Vermont 
and Dartmouth this upcoming 
weekend, 
it 
returned 
to 

the methods that had been 
successful in the past, such as 
sharpening up its “systems of 
play” and its offense with and 
without the puck.

“We just feel we were on our 

heels last weekend and never 
really got going,” said Michigan 
coach Red Berenson. “That’s 
been a little bit of the story in 
every game. We just thought 
our team had to work harder 
in practice. We have to work 
harder in every drill, our effort 
and execution had to be better 
this week, and I think it is.”

Added 
senior 
defenseman 

Nolan De Jong: “There’s a 
few things we had to tidy up, 
whether it was our entries and 
our decision-making, but also 
some of the stuff around the net, 
whether it’s the offensive zone 
or the defensive zone. But I think 
we’ve had a really good week of 
practice so far and the coaches 
seem pretty happy with it, so 
I think we’re ready to go, and 
we’re excited to get to Vermont 
and get things going again.”

Michigan has been outshot 

in every game this season, 
but according to De Jong, 
improvement can be made by 
limiting the quality of scoring 
opportunities 
opponents 

generate, 
rather 
than 
just 

limiting the total number of 
shots. He believes the teams 
the Wolverines have played 
this year “kinda throw pucks in 
everywhere.”

For 
Michigan, 
it 
comes 

down to reducing the number 
of 
Grade-A 
chances 
that 

opponents receive, whether it’s 
by making sure everyone on 
the ice picks up their defensive 

assignment or boxes out hard in 
front of the net.

The Wolverines have also 

been practicing their offensive 
game. Michigan has struggled 
to sustain a consistent even-man 
attack recently, something its 
coach attributes to sloppiness 
with and without the puck.

“If you’re going to pass me 

the puck, give it to me on my 
stick, not at my feet or not up 
here where I have to catch 
it,” Berenson said. “Give me 
a signature pass, and then I’ll 
take it, handle it and I can pass 
it to him. You give me a bad 
pass, (and) I’ll never get it away 
to him. I’ll be on my ass because 
you gave me a bad pass.

“So little things like our 

passing (and) our play without 
the puck (have) to be better. We 
have to be more dialed-in in our 
zone — we were circling away 
instead of playing the man or 

getting our stick on the puck. 
We were getting outmuscled 
and outhustled on the puck. 
We can’t play like that and win 
games.”

With a home series against 

No. 4 Boston looming in just 
two weeks, Michigan will look 
to fine-tune its offensive and 
defensive play this weekend in 
two games the Wolverines are 
favored to win.

The 
Catamounts 
finished 

15-22-3 last season and are off 
to a 2-1-1 start this year, while 
the Big Green finished 18-16-
1 in the ECAC last season and 
have yet to play a regular season 
game this year.

And 
while 
Michigan 
is 

one of the youngest teams 
in the nation, Vermont and 
Dartmouth aren’t far behind 
— the Catamounts have nine 
freshmen on their roster, while 
the Big Green have 11.

It will be a good chance 

for the Wolverines to clean 
up their play before entering 
the bulk of their schedule. 
That opportunity isn’t lost on 
Berenson, who hopes to see 
specific 
improvements 
from 

his team against Vermont and 
Dartmouth this weekend.

“We’re looking for better 

zone play in the offensive 
zone and more puck control, 
and we’re looking to get out of 
our zone quicker,” Berenson 
said. “We can’t be stuck in our 
zone for a minute at a time and 
then hope that the other team 
doesn’t score. We’ve got to get 
the puck out quicker, we’ve 
got to do better with it in their 
zone and then little parts of 
the game, like faceoffs have to 
be better, blocked shots. Our 
power play and penalty killing 
are still pretty good right now, 
but they can be better.”

ORION SANG

Daily Sports Writer

AMELIA CACCHIONE/Daily

The Michigan hockey team has only lost once this season, but the Wolverines have been consistently outshot.

Behind enemy lines 
with Riley Bullough

Michigan 
State 
linebacker 

Riley Bullough has captured the 
attention of his in-state rivals, 
specifically redshirt sophomore 
quarterback Wilton Speight.

“They’ve got a bunch of good 

guys in the box, with their 
leader Riley Bullough,” Speight 
said Tuesday. “That dude is an 
angry guy. He wants to get in the 
quarterback’s kitchen on every 
play, so I know I have to get the 
ball out as quickly as possible.”

Being from Traverse City, 

Mich., Bullough is no stranger to 
the in-state rivalry. His brother, 
Max, was also a linebacker for the 
Spartans and currently plays in 
the National Football League for 
the Houston Texans.

Bullough was recently ejected 

for targeting in the first quarter 
of the Spartans’ matchup with 
Maryland, but because the call 
was made in the first half, he’ll be 
eligible to play against Michigan.

In four games this season, he 

has 26 tackles and four for loss. He 
was out for three straight games 
due to injury earlier this season.

The Daily talked with Bullough 

at Big Ten Media Days in July to 
discuss the rivalry, what it takes 
to be successful in the Big Ten 
and his cross-country-star sister, 
Holly Bullough.

The Michigan Daily: So the 

talk is that your sister is the best 
athlete in the family?

Riley 
Bullough: 
Yeah, 
it 

always is. But she really is, she’s 
special. She’s coming here to run 

track and cross country so she’ll 
be (in East Lansing) in August. 
So it’s exciting for her, but yeah, 
she’s a freak athlete. She works 
out like three times a day and eats 
insanely healthy, so she probably 
is the best athlete.

Q: Does this team relish when 

people 
— 
opponents, 
media, 

whoever — overlooks them a little 
bit?

RB: Yeah, at this point, I feel 

like it’s part of our identity. I feel 
like every year, there’s people 
doubting us. But I guess we like 
it, because we seem to play pretty 
well. That’s just what we plan on 
doing again this year.

Q: Was it tough being Max’s 

little brother?

RB: It was a lot of fun. We had 

fun growing up. But him coming 
here and doing the things that he 
did — I wouldn’t say it was tough, 
it just put the expectations that 
much higher. I was expected to 
do what he did and more, so I just 
kinda cherished that and relished 
that.

Q: With the way that the 

MSU-U of M game ended last 
year, does that even take the 
intensity up a notch, not that it 
needs it?

RB: I think for sure. I’m sure 

they think that we kinda stole that 
game from them. But that rivalry 
every year is huge, especially if 
you grew up in Michigan. You’re 
either the team down the road or 
you’re Michigan State. There’s 
no in-between, so that’s just kind 
of how it is, and I think that’s the 
way it should be. 

FOOTBALL

KELLY HALL

Daily Sports Editor

ALLISON FARRAND/Daily

Riley Bullough (30) spoke with the Daily at Big Ten Media Days in July.

Breakdown: Michigan’s ‘D’ has edge

Prior to the start of the season, 

this Saturday’s contest between 
Michigan and Michigan State was 
expected to be one of the defining 
games of Big Ten play.

Oh, how things have changed. 

The Spartans have lost their last 
five games and sit at 2-5 on the 
season. They are now fighting 
an uphill battle to become bowl-
eligible.

The Wolverines, meanwhile, 

are 7-0, ranked No. 2 in the country 
and very much in the hunt for the 
College Football Playoff.

But even with the stark contrast 

in the directions their seasons 
have taken, nothing is predictable 
when these two teams meet. The 
Daily broke down what to expect 
when they take the field:

Michigan pass offense vs. 

Michigan State pass defense

Here’s 
guessing 
Michigan 

throws for about 225 yards against 
the Spartans. 

Through seven games, the 

Wolverines are averaging 225.9 
yards 
through 
the 
air, 
and 

Michigan State is giving up 
225.4. It’s probably unlikely those 
numbers will hold exactly, but hey, 
we might as well have fun with 
this statistical coincidence.

In non-numerical analysis, the 

Wolverines are hoping redshirt 
sophomore quarterback Wilton 
Speight can build on what may 
have been his best start of the year 
against Illinois. Speight completed 
16 of 23 passes for 253 yards and 
two touchdowns. Against the 
Spartans, he faces a unit that has 
certainly had its ups and downs.

Two weeks ago, it allowed 

Northwestern 
quarterback 

Clayton Thorson to throw for 283 
yards and three touchdowns in a 
54-40 loss. The week before that, 
Michigan State held BYU standout 
Taysom Hill to just 138 yards 
passing.

The defense that shows up 

against the Wolverines could 
make the difference in deciding 
whether Michigan throws for 
225.4 or 225.9 yards.

Edge: PUSH

Michigan rush offense vs. 

Michigan State rush defense

This matchup should be a little 

more clear-cut. Michigan boasts 
the nation’s 11th-ranked rush 
offense and comfortably rotates 
four backs to do its damage. The 
Wolverines could be without 
freshman 
Chris 
Evans, 
who 

sustained a concussion against the 
Fighting Illini, but depth should 
not be a concern.

Sophomore running back Karan 

Higdon continues to put together 
a breakout season with 214 yards 
and three touchdowns in his last 
two games, and senior De’Veon 
Smith is still his usual workhorse 
self. Redshirt junior Ty Isaac has 
seen an increased role this season, 
too, and could get even more reps if 
Evans can’t play.

And 
then 
there’s 
the 

Hammering 
Panda. 
Redshirt 

junior fullback Khalid Hill has 
been a force at the goal line this 
season for Michigan, and he has 
the stat line to prove it. Hill has 
25 yards rushing on 15 attempts, 
but more than half of them 
(eight) are touchdowns. He also 
caught a touchdown this season, 
which likely makes him the most 
productive fullback in the country.

Michigan State, meanwhile, 

is having a down year in rush 
defense, and it’s 66th-ranked unit 
will likely have its hands full all 
game against an offense that has 
proven a commitment to smash-
mouth football.

Edge: Michigan

Michigan State pass offense 

vs. Michigan pass defense

The big question is who starts 

at quarterback for the Spartans. 
Redshirt freshman Brian Lewerke 
started in their 28-17 loss to 

Maryland last week, but senior 
quarterback Tyler O’Connor is 
still an option after he missed last 
week’s game with an injury.

But whoever it is, he won’t be 

in for a fun day. Michigan’s pass 
defense is currently giving up 
the fewest yards in the nation, 
and its cornerbacks are playing 
at a truly elite level. According 
to Pro Football Focus College, 
opponents are 11-for-39 for 131 
yards, zero touchdowns and four 
interceptions while throwing at 
them.

Michigan 
State’s 
receiving 

corps is strong with players like 
R.J. Shelton and Donnie Corley, but 
even they likely won’t be enough to 
overcome the Wolverines’ stingy 
secondary.

Edge: Michigan

Michigan State rush offense 

vs. Michigan rush defense

It doesn’t get any easier for 

Michigan 
State’s 
offense 
on 

the 
ground. 
The 
Wolverines 

are giving up just 96 yards on 
the ground per game this year, 
good for fourth-best nationally. 
The Spartans, meanwhile, are 
averaging a modest 155.29 yards 
a game.

Michigan’s 63 tackles for loss 

are also fourth-most in the nation, 
which doesn’t bode well for an 
offense that will already have to be 
cautious in the passing game. L.J. 
Scott has carried the load for the 
Spartans early in the year, racking 
up 464 yards on 93 carries, and 
Gerald Holmes has tacked on 272 
of his own. But against Michigan, 
it’s a whole different challenge. 
The Wolverines rotate two full 
defensive lines, keeping them 
fresh for constant pursuit in the 
offensive backfield.

If Scott gets hot, Michigan 

State could have a real chance on 
Saturday. If he doesn’t, it could get 
ugly.

Edge: Michigan

Special teams

The Wolverines have had some 

notable struggles in the kicking 
game, but Saturday, all eyes will be 
on the punter.

Fifth-year senior Kenny Allen 

is averaging 42.3 yards per punt, 
and he has consistently given the 
Wolverines strong field position. 
But 
after 
Michigan 
State’s 

unforgettable botched-punt return 
touchdown to snatch victory at the 
end of last season’s meeting, Allen 
just needs to keep special teams 
mistakes to a minimum.

The 
Wolverines 
rank 
14th 

in the country in special teams 
efficiency, compared to 70th for 
the Spartans. Sophomore Tyree 
Kinnel has developed a penchant 
for altering punts, and redshirt 
sophomore Jabrill Peppers is the 
ultimate weapon on returns.

Michigan will need Allen to be 

solid kicking field goals, but as long 
as the Wolverines can avoid major 
mistakes, they should be in good 
shape against an average unit on 
the other side.

Edge: Michigan

Intangibles: 

The Wolverines say they’ll treat 

Saturday like a championship 
game, but that’s how they say they 
treat every game. To the Spartans, 
this game could salvage their 
season.

Michigan State sits at 2-5, and 

without a win Saturday, the season 
can’t be considered anything other 
than a disappointment for a team 
coming off a College Football 
Playoff appearance. For Michigan, 
a loss could have dire playoff 
ramifications.

And while the Wolverines 

will no doubt be out for revenge, 
the Spartans will be absolutely 
desperate to snap their losing 
streak and spoil a potentially 
special season for their rival.

Edge: Michigan State

Prediction: 
Michigan 
31, 

Michigan State 9

MAX BULTMAN

Managing Sports Editor

FOOTBALL

