FootballSaturday, September 16, 2017
6
Breakdown: Michigan vs. Air Force
About a week ago, everybody
seemed to think the Wolverines
were unstoppable. An offseason
full of questions and concerns
was put to rest when the
Michigan football team stomped
Florida in the biggest season
opener it has had in years.
Then came the Cincinnati
game. It should have been an
easier win, but it turned into
a reality check instead. The
Wolverines left the game with
a second win, but there was
undoubtedly room — and a need
— to improve leading up to the
Big Ten season.
No.
7
Michigan’s
final
non-conference game is this
Saturday against Air Force, a
disciplined opponent with a
unique offense that has had two
weeks to prepare.
The Falcons crushed Virginia
Military Institute (VMI), 62-0,
in their season opener two
weeks ago, and haven’t played a
game since. That said, Michigan
is a 23.5-point favorite to win.
Here’s how the Wolverines
match up against Air Force on
Saturday.
Michigan pass offense vs.
Air Force pass defense
Even though redshirt junior
quarterback Wilton Speight has
had some shaky moments already
this season, Michigan coach Jim
Harbaugh has clearly stated
that Speight will remain the
starting quarterback. Speight
has completed 52 percent of his
passes, and has tallied 402 yards
with three touchdowns and two
interceptions.
Despite the two pick-sixes,
Speight connects well with all
three starting receivers — junior
Grant Perry, sophomore Kekoa
Crawford and freshman Tarik
Black. Speight has spread the
wealth amongst them, as each
starting wide receiver already
has a touchdown catch.
Air
Force’s
pass
defense
allowed
40
passing
yards
and just six first downs in its
opening game, but in terms of
overall ability, VMI obviously
doesn’t match up with the
Wolverines.
The
Falcons’
defensive
coordinator
Steve
Russ emphasizes the importance
of stopping the run, but has
said that he likes to disrupt the
passing game with blitzes fairly
often.
The more Air Force blitzes,
the more chances Speight has to
hit his receivers for big plays.
Edge: Michigan
Michigan run offense vs.
Air Force run defense
The
Michigan
run
game
involves a three-man rotation
— fifth-year senior Ty Isaac,
sophomore Chris Evans and
junior
Karan
Higdon.
The
Wolverines start most drives
by handing the ball to Isaac.
Against Cincinnati, he rushed
for a career-high 133 yards.
Isaac’s best speed comes when he
is running to the outside. While
he doesn’t have a touchdown
yet, he has established himself
as the lead runner, and another
100-yard outing from Isaac is
very possible.
Evans’ best asset is his speed.
He hasn’t broken free for any
major plays so far in 2017, but
he sets himself apart from Isaac
and Higdon in the open field.
Higdon has Michigan’s lone
rushing touchdown, and the
coaches seem to favor him in the
red zone. Over the course of the
season, Higdon may not gain as
many yards as Isaac or Evans,
but he will be a key player when
it comes to hammering the ball
into the end zone.
Simply
put,
Air
Force
probably won’t have an answer
for Michigan’s running backs.
The Falcons lost 11 of their
top 12 tacklers from last season,
and much like the Wolverines,
only
one
defensive
starter
returned — linebacker Grant
Ross. Michigan hasn’t displayed
a prominent run game yet, but if
Isaac or Evans manages to find
a gap, they’ll run right through
Air Force’s rush defense.
Edge: Michigan
Air Force pass offense vs.
Michigan pass defense
Air Force quarterback Arian
Worthman has reason to be
pretty
nervous.
Michigan’s
defense is averaging five sacks a
game, and they don’t hit lightly.
Worthman tossed for 172 yards
and two touchdowns against
VMI, but he won’t have nearly as
much time to throw against the
Wolverines.
Junior safety Tyree Kinnel
is leading the defense with 15
tackles, a sack and a pick-six.
Right behind him is sophomore
linebacker Devin Bush Jr., who
has 14 tackles with two sacks.
The
quarterback
pressure
could come from anywhere,
and it probably will come from
everywhere. Whether it is from
linebackers like senior Mike
McCray and sophomore Khaleke
Hudson or defensive linemen
like sophomore Rashan Gary,
Worthman will not be given
much time to relax.
On the off chance that he does
have time to throw, Michigan’s
secondary
has
already
returned two interceptions for
touchdowns — so his odds aren’t
too great there either.
Edge: Michigan
Air Force run offense vs.
Michigan run defense
This breakdown hasn’t been
very kind to Air Force. However,
the
Falcons’
run
offense
deserves respect. It’s the one
area they could truly threaten
For in-game updates
Follow @Kevin_M_Santo, @tedjanes7,
@orion_sang and @betelhem_
ashame on Twitter during
Saturday’s game.
SAM MOUSIGIAN/Daily
Sophomore defensive end Rashan Gary and the rest of the defensive line will be tasked with figuring out a complicated and unconventional triple option offense.
TED JANES
Daily Sports Writer
BY THE NUMBERS
Michigan’s defense on the year
3
Touchdowns scored through two
games.
15
Tackles for Tyree Kinnel — a team
high.
6
First downs allowed on the ground
this year.
1.4
Yards per carry for opposing
offenses.
See BREAKDOWN, Page 7