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TheMichiganDaily, www.michigandaily.com
What to Watch
For vs. Rutgers
With two losses on the
season, it might seem as if the
Michigan football team (2-2 Big
Ten, 5-2 overall) doesn’t have
much left to play for.
But
according
to
the
Wolverines, that isn’t at all
the case. Even with a lowly
opponent like Rutgers — which
suffered a notorious 78-0 loss
to Michigan in its own stadium
a season ago — coach Jim
Harbaugh and his team spent
the week stating that there
would be no drop-off in their
effort level.
While the Wolverines might
be tempted to overlook them,
this isn’t the same Scarlet
Knights team as in 2016. The
new-and-improved
Rutgers
(2-2, 3-4) will likely pose a
larger challenge than expected,
and Michigan can’t afford any
more slip ups this season.
Here’s what to watch for
when the Wolverines face the
Scarlet Knights on Saturday:
1. Will Brandon Peters see
the field?
With each incomplete pass
fifth-year senior quarterback
John O’Korn threw against No.
2 Penn State, anticipation built
for an appearance from the
redshirt freshman signal caller.
Though Peters never ended
up taking the field in State
College, the Michigan faithful
have made it clear that a change
will be desired under center
and no interceptions.
Edge: Michigan
Rutgers
pass
offense
vs.
Michigan pass defense
The Scarlet Knights reopened
their
quarterback
competition
after their original starter, Kyle
Bolin, had a horrific game in
Rutgers’ 56-0 loss against Ohio
State, when he threw for under 60
yards. Giovanni Rescigno has held
the starting job ever since.
Rescigno, a Michigan native,
led his team to two straight wins,
but he completed just 50 percent
of his passes for a combined total
of 176 yards.
He
shouldn’t
pose
a
big
threat to the Wolverines’ fifth-
ranked pass defense. Sophomore
cornerback Lavert Hill is drawing
comparisons to former Wolverine
and All-American Jourdan Lewis,
and
he
leads
the
secondary
with seven pass break ups, two
interceptions and one pick-six.
Penn State’s receivers got the
better of the Wolverines last week,
but expect Hill and the others to
come into this weekend hungry
for a win.
Edge: Michigan
Special teams
With only one special teams
touchdown, the Wolverines’ punt
and kick returners haven’t made
as much of an impact as last year.
Two freshman handle Michigan’s
returner duties: wide receiver
Donovan Peoples-Jones takes the
punts and defensive back Ambry
Thomas returns kickoffs. Both
have shown potential — Peoples-
Jones returned one punt for a
touchdown against Air Force —
but neither have made a significant
impact.
Defensively
though,
the
Wolverines haven’t allowed a
single special teams touchdown.
Rutgers returns each punt an
average of 10 yards and each kick
an average of just 14, which should
not threaten Michigan’s special
teams defense unit much.
In
the
kicking
game,
the
Wolverines have the advantage as
well. In close games at the start
of the year, redshirt freshman
kicker Quinn Nordin proved to be
a difference maker.
With light wind and just a two
percent chance of rain in the
forecast, Nordin will be expected
to hit every field goal he takes
within 50 yards this weekend.
Edge: Michigan
Intangibles
Both teams have plenty of pride
on the line. The Wolverines want
to return to the AP Top 25, and
Rutgers wants to wash out the foul
taste of last year’s 78-0 whooping.
Having slipped out of national
attention,
Michigan
hopes
to
improve after the team’s worst
loss since Harbaugh arrived.
Junior receiver Grant Perry
said that the Wolverines want
to take out all their frustration
on Rutgers. If they do that, the
Scarlet Knights don’t have much
of a shot.
Edge: Michigan
Prediction:
Michigan
31,
Rutgers 0
BREAKDOWN
From Page 6
AMELIA CACCHIONE/Daily
Fifth-year senior quarterback John O’Korn may not remain the starting signal caller for the Wolverines for much longer if his offensive struggles persist Saturday against the Scarlet Knights in Ann Arbor.
BETELHEM ASHAME
Managing Sports Editor