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