The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com Sports Thursday, September 14, 2017 — 5A Big Ten Breakdown: Week Two No. 5 Penn State Previous result: W, 33-14 vs. Pittsburgh Top performer: Quarterback Trace McSorley — 15-of-28, 164 yards, three touchdowns, one interception Upcoming matchup: vs. Georgia State No. 8 Ohio State Previous result: L, 31-16 vs. Oklahoma Top performer: Running back J.K. Dobbins — 13 carries, 72 yards, one touchdown Upcoming matchup: vs. Army No. 10 Wisconsin Previous result: W, 31-14 vs. Florida Atlantic Top performer: Running back Jonathan Taylor — 26 carries, 223 yards, three touchdowns Upcoming matchup: at Brigham Young Illinois Previous result: W, 20-7 vs. Western Kentucky Top performer: Running back Mike Epstein — 21 carries, 111 yards Upcoming matchup: vs. No. 22 South Florida Indiana Previous result: W, 34-17 at Virginia Top performer: Quarterback Peyton Ramsey — 16-of-20, 173 yards, two touchdowns Upcoming matchup: vs. Georgia Southern Iowa Previous result: W, 44-41 at Iowa State Top performer: Quarterback Nathan Stanley — 27-of-41, 333 yards, five touchdowns Upcoming matchup: vs. North Texas Maryland Previous result: W, 51-41 vs. Towson Top performer: Running back Ty Johnson — five carries, 124 yards, two touchdowns Upcoming matchup: vs. Central Florida Michigan State Previous result: W, 28-14 vs. Western Michigan Top performer: Quarterback Brian Lewerke — 13-of-21, 161 yards, one passing touchdown, two rushing touchdowns, one interception Upcoming matchup: vs. Notre Dame Minnesota Previous result: W, 48-14 at Oregon State Top performer: Running back Shannon Brooks – 17 carries, 91 yards, three touchdowns Upcoming matchup: vs. MTSU Nebraska Previous result: L, 42-35 at Oregon Top performer: Wide receiver Stanley Morgan Jr. – seven receptions, 103 yards, two touchdowns Upcoming matchup: vs. NIU Northwestern Previous result: L, 41-17 at Duke Top performer: Linebacker Paddy Fisher – 18 tackles Upcoming matchup: vs. Bowling Green Purdue Previous result: W, 44-21 vs. Ohio Top performer: Quarterback David Blough – 11-of-13, 235 yards, three touchdowns Upcoming matchup: at Missouri Rutgers Previous result: L, 16-13 vs. Eastern Michigan Top performer – Janarion Grant, eight receptions, 91 yards Upcoming matchup: vs. Morgan State Bush, defense preparing for Air Force’s unique offense The No. 7 Michigan football team (2-0) won’t see an offense like Air Force’s every week. For the most part, it’s an opportunity for the Wolverines to face an out-of-the-box scheme. Michigan’s upcoming opponent presents a unique challenge. The Falcons (1-0) run a triple-option style offense that is full of deceit, trick plays and an ever-changing run game. Air Force had the third- ranked rushing offense last season, averaging 317 rushing yards per game. In the Falcons’ season-opening win against Virginia Military Institute, they rushed for 473. “It’s a well-run offense,” said sophomore linebacker Devin Bush Jr. “They’ve been running it for (11) years. … They know it down to the T, and they’re going to run it to their best ability.” The Wolverines are 24-point favorites over Air Force, but in order to pick up a third straight win, they’ll need to stop an Air Force attack that is one of the best in the nation on the ground. Bush and other members of the defense mentioned that staying disciplined was the most important factor. With so many different looks, the Falcons’ offense can lead defensive players into trying to make plays they shouldn’t. The Wolverines can’t afford to jump at the quarterback when he could toss a quick lateral pass to the trailing running back, who could beat them as well. “It’s hard,” Bush said. “That’s one of the biggest things we’re gonna have to focus on — not doing too much. Not trying to always make that play. You have to trust your teammates. “Do your job. Don’t try to do the next man’s job.” Added sophomore safety Josh Metellus: “The triple-option offense is a lot. There’s a lot of deceiving plays; people going one way, and the ball going completely the other way.” Playing in the secondary, the safeties aren’t as concerned with the triple option as some of the linebackers are, but Metellus noted that they have seen Air Force run a slew of play- action passes. If the safeties and defensive backs get caught sleeping, the Falcons are well positioned to attack through the air as well. Nonetheless, amidst all the triple-option talk, the Wolverines’ defense is still exceedingly confident. “They’re not going to pass the ball too many times,” Bush said. “If they do, we got something for ‘em.” So far, Michigan’s defense has scored more points than it has allowed. The young guns like Bush and Metellus, as well as sophomores Lavert Hill and Khaleke Hudson, are breaking down opponents. And ‘veterans’ like junior safety Tyree Kinnel and senior cornerback Brandon Watson are making the transition from last year’s star-studded defense practically seamless. No matter how well the defense fared against Florida and Cincinnati, though, they admit that preparing for Air Force presents an entirely new challenge. Defensive coordinator Don Brown has been preparing for this game since last April. The coaches talked about this game with players all offseason to make sure that they knew what to expect when this week arrived. Preparing for almost any other opponent wouldn’t call for a change in the game plan, and that’s why the Falcons are so dangerous. “(Air Force) is just a different deal,” said Michigan secondary coach Mike Zordich. “What we have worked on from April through now, you just put that all aside, and you’re doing something totally different.” Zordich also praised the scout team, as emulating Air Force’s running game is no easy task. “Hats off to all our (graduate assistants) and analysts,” Zordich said. “… Every week they study the film of the opponent for the scout team, but there’s a bigger emphasis on it this week because it is such a different offense.” The hardest challenge for Michigan, as Zordich discussed, will be all of the misdirection and deception. In the Wolverines’ offense — which the defense faces every day in practice — there might a trick play here and there. But Michigan’s offense isn’t based around trick plays. Air Force is the opposite. “Now,” Zordich said, “(We) have to be ready for it just about on every down.” SAM MOUSIGIAN/Daily Sophomore linebacker Devin Bush Jr. and the Wolverines’ defense has been heavily tested by the scout team in anticipation of the challenge Air Force will present. TED JANES Daily Sports Writer “Do your job. Don’t try to do the next man’s job.” Want to watch Jim Harbaugh throw his clipboard in real time? Then join the Daily’s sports section! Contact kmsanto@umich.edu and ashabete@umich.edu OR come to either of our remaining mass meetings at 420 Maynard St.: Monday, September 18 Tuesday, September 19 Both are at 7 p.m. BY THE NUMBERS Michigan vs Air Force outlook 24 Point favorites the Wolverines are over the Falcons 11 Years Air Force has been running its triple-option offense 317 Rushing yards Air Force averaged per game last season 21 Points scored by Michigan’s defense in two games this year “(We) have to be ready for it just about on every down.” The Daily provides a brief overview of the Big Ten landscape KEVIN SANTO Managing Sports Editor SAM MOUSIGIAN/Daily Coach Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan football team are one of the four Big Ten teams ranked in the top ten of the AP Top 25 two weeks into the 2017 season.