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Sports
Friday, November 17, 2017 — 7
Behind Enemy Lines:
Wisconsin’s Fumagalli
Jake Butt was the Big Ten’s
tight end to watch last year.
Michigan
will
face
his
successor this weekend in
Troy Fumagalli.
Fumagalli, a senior for No.
5 Wisconsin, finished second
in the conference in receiving
yards last year. He’s in first
place through 10 games this
season,
having
tallied
33
catches for 422 yards and
three touchdowns.
He possesses all the pass-
catching
prowess
of
Penn
State’s Mike Gesicki (or Butt)
— and is also quite the capable
blocker. The Wolverines’ tight
ends are certainly cognizant of
Fumagalli’s skillset.
“Yeah, I watched (his) film
against Maryland when we
were studying for them,” said
sophomore
Sean
McKeon.
“He’s a great tight end, great
technique and pass catcher
for Wisconsin. So I think he’s
going to probably get drafted
this year and go pretty high, so
I think he’s a great player.”
Perhaps the most impressive
thing about Fumagalli is that
he has done all this with just
nine fingers, losing one the day
after he was born from a birth
defect.
The
Daily
spoke
with
Fumagalli at Big Ten Media
Days in July about Wisconsin’s
passing game, his impression
of the Wolverines and whether
he thinks Wisconsin coach
Paul Chryst — who coached the
tight ends when Jim Harbaugh
quarterbacked the San Diego
Chargers
—
shares
any
similarities with Michigan’s
head coach.
Q: How did you injure your
finger?
TF: When I was born, no
circulation got to it, so they had
to cut it off. It’s called amniotic
band syndrome. Two days old.
Q: Does it hinder you in any
way, shape and form?
TF: Nope. Nothing I can
think of, honestly.
TMD: You and Jazz (Peavy)
finished 14th and 15th in the
conference in receiving yards
last year. With both of you
coming, how big of a base does
that give your passing game to
work off of?
TF: It’s big. We’re both
seniors now. I think we’ve
got to set that standard and
move that forward. I think we
both — I can speak for Jazz
too — we do expect to bring
that forward and be a more
pivotal part. But it is big, just
knowing that we can turn on
the film from last year, Alex
(Hornibrook) and us two, and
even A.J. (Taylor) and Quintez
(Cephus), who played quite a
bit, and just know that we can
look at our own film and learn
from that and see where we
need to grow.
TMD:
How
does
that
change the pass coverages you
guys see, with how often you
run the ball?
TF: The biggest thing that
I notice is we always got a lot
of safeties downhill, a lot of
guys in the box. It gives a lot
of one-on-one matchups most
times, which is good, and the
more we can run, the more
play-action works, and we can
bounce those two off of each
other.
Q: What do you know about
Michigan off the top of your
head?
TF: Not a whole lot. I
know that they’re losing a
ton of guys. But I do expect
Michigan to have guys ready. I
think they have a ton of talent,
obviously. They’re going to be
very competitive.
Q: What’s the first thing you
think of when you hear the
word ‘Michigan’?
TF: I guess kind of that
football,
I
don’t
know,
sanctuary that they got going.
They got the Big House and all
that. And a ton of people you
see around, huge Michigan
football fans, and I’ve got a lot
of respect for that and what
they’ve done.
Q: Everyone talks about how
well Ohio State and Michigan
recruit.
Are
they
off-the-
charts talented, or are they
just another Big Ten team?
TF: I think any team can
beat any team, and any team
can lose to any team in the Big
Ten. But yeah, I think those
guys are very competitive.
I got a chance to go against
Hooker
last
year,
(former
Buckeyes’
safety)
Malik
Hooker, I thought he was one
of the better, if not one of the
best, safeties I’ve played all
year. I thought he was very
good instinctually and the way
he hit, it was good.
Q: Going back to Michigan,
do you see any similarities
between you and them with
the pro-style offense and kind
of defense they play?
TF: Yeah. Similar to a lot of
the Big Ten schools, you can
match the physicality they
have. The effort they play with
is also there, I would say.
Q:
Do
you
see
any
similarities
with
Coach
Harbaugh and Coach Chryst?
TF: Uh, I don’t know enough
about Coach Harbaugh. But I
know they used to be friends
back in the day. Forgot what I
heard. Something about how
they used to do some football
thing together. But I’m sure
that they think they are similar.
You know, they’re obviously
pro-style guys and stuff like
that.
What to Watch For: No. 5 Wisconsin
The Michigan football team is
heading into a hostile environment
this weekend. ESPN’s “College
GameDay” will be on the scene
when the 19th-ranked Wolverines
get there, and they will be facing a
top-five opponent.
Sound familiar?
This
time,
that
hostile
environment is Madison, where
the fifth-ranked Badgers await.
And the outcome of Michigan’s
next two contests could very well
determine the entire perception
of its season, as it searches for its
first road win against a ranked
opponent since 2006.
The Wolverines got a tune
up against the likes of Rutgers,
Minnesota
and
Maryland.
Wisconsin, on the other hand, is the
only team left in the Big Ten with
an undefeated record, vying for a
spot in the College Football Playoff.
One
loss
could
all
but
extinguish those hopes for the
Badgers. Here’s what to watch for
this Saturday as Michigan looks to
derail Wisconsin’s playoff hopes
Saturday.
Peters’ party?
There are a lot of things
we’ve learned about Brandon
Peters through the past three
games. The redshirt freshman is
unquestionably Michigan’s starter.
He can manage a game well. And he
has said that he can do anything the
coaches ask of him in this offense.
The time has come to find out
just how true that is.
Michigan’s
run
game
has
excelled
in
each
of
Peters’
meaningful
games,
averaging
288.3 yards through the last three
contests with 10 touchdowns.
Against Wisconsin, though, the
Wolverines may find their first
legitimate opposition to that run
game.
The fifth-ranked Badgers boast
the best rushing defense in the
nation, allowing just 81.5 yards
per game on the ground. For all
the success Karan Higdon and
company have had, Saturday could
be the first time Peters is asked
to legitimately win a game for
Michigan.
“They are a very good defense,”
said offensive coordinator Tim
Drevno. “They’ve got a very solid
front — they’re an odd front.
They like to try to knock you
back, the (linebackers) do a good
job of flowing, the secondary is
outstanding. If you’re looking for
depth, I think they’re all juniors
and seniors.”
It’s undoubtedly encouraging
that Peters has yet to turn the ball
over since taking over under center
against Rutgers. But if Wisconsin
does shut down the ground attack,
taking care of the ball won’t be
enough to escape Madison with an
upset.
Starting slow
To state the obvious, Michigan’s
offense hasn’t been able to start
games with a bang.
Since facing Cincinnati on Sept.
9, the Wolverines have scored
more than seven points in the first
quarter only once.
With
the
exception
of
a
matchup against then-No. 2 Penn
State — during which the Nittany
Lions scored 14 points in the first
quarter — the Wolverines’ defense
has managed to negate Michigan’s
offensive flaw. And really, that’s
been the story of the season.
But another test is on the
horizon, one that this defensive
unit may not be able to limit so
easily. In running back Jonathan
Taylor, the Badgers have the
conference leader in rushing yards
(1,525) and touchdowns (12).
The longer Michigan waits to
counteract that offensive threat,
the more likely it could hurt. If there
were a time for the Wolverines to
come out firing, this Saturday is it.
A one, a two, a 3-4
On Monday, fifth-year senior
center
Patrick
Kugler
didn’t
shy away from admitting that
Wisconsin’s unconventional 3-4
defensive front will be a challenge
for Michigan’s resurgent offensive
line.
Drevno echoed that sentiment
Wednesday, elaborating on the
challenges the scheme may present.
“It’s a little bit different, and
they play a traditional 3-4 where
they’re a yard off the ball with
those defensive linemen,” he said.
“They’re trying to knock you back
and free up the (linebackers).
They’re trying to take away some
different things on that front. So
it’s unique.
“Most people that play that
front want to move the front, so
they start to slant themselves out
of it and bring zone pressure trying
to defeat your passing game and
different things. But they’re trying
to win it on the back end with the
secondary and try to create some
pass rushing, different things,
gonna get to third down and bring
some exotic looks.”
While the Wolverines’ offensive
line has experienced a midseason
renaissance of sorts, it is facing its
biggest test of all Saturday — much
like the quarterback it will be
protecting.
The last straw
There was a time earlier this
season when a small contingent of
Michigan faithful took to Twitter,
advocating for Quinn Nordin to be
this year’s Heisman winner.
For the redshirt freshman
kicker, that must feel like a long
time ago.
With his miss from 31 yards
against Maryland, Nordin has now
failed to convert on a field goal
attempt since Oct. 14 — missing
two extra points in that same span.
The botched attempt against
Maryland yielded an animated
discussion between Nordin and
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh
on the sideline. And Harbaugh’s
message was simple: start making
them.
“He didn’t really snap back,”
Harbaugh said. “I said to (Nordin),
‘I’m giving you one more shot.
You’ve got to make the next one.’
And he said, ‘I got this. I will make
the next one.’ ”
Nothing had changed in that
regard by Monday, as Harbaugh
reiterated his message to Nordin,
albeit with more a more interesting
expression.
“Strap on the iron jock,” he said,
“and kick the ball through the
uprights.”
Breakdown: No. 24 Michigan vs Wisconsin
For the first time since its
blowout loss to then-No. 2 Penn
State, the Michigan football
team is back in the College
Football Playoff rankings.
On the heels of a three-game
winning streak, the Wolverines
have checked in as the 24th-best
team in the country in the eyes
of the College Football Playoff
Committee. While the opponents
Michigan has faced between
then and now are relatively small
fish, the Wolverines will attempt
to fry a big one this weekend.
Saturday, Michigan (5-2 Big
Ten, 8-2 overall) will travel
to Madison to take on No. 5
Wisconsin (7-0, 10-0), eager to
redeem its record against top
competition.
Here’s how the Wolverines
match up with the Badgers on
Saturday.
Michigan pass offense vs
Wisconsin pass defense
Redshirt
freshman
quarterback
Brandon
Peters
may have received his first taste
of game action on the road last
Saturday at Maryland, but he
will have the biggest test of his
young career in Madison.
Michigan has faced plenty
of stingy defenses this year,
but none can hold a candle to
Wisconsin. The Badgers have
the top-ranked defense in the
country, and they also rank first
in both team passing efficiency
defense and rushing defense.
Wisconsin allows an average
of just 247.6 yards per game and
has notched 15 interceptions
while
allowing
merely
11
touchdowns. The Badgers are
the only team in the nation
holding opponents to a passer
rating below 95, as they have
given
up
just
eight
scores
through the air.
If Wisconsin’s defense posts
even an average performance,
Peters could be in for a long day.
Edge: Wisconsin
Michigan run offense vs
Wisconsin run defense
The Wolverines’ ground game
has been on a good run of late,
but it will be at less than full
strength at an inopportune time.
Junior Karan Higdon and
fifth-year senior Ty Isaac are
both
dealing
with
injuries,
though the severity of each
has been kept relatively under
wraps. Higdon left the game
against Maryland and did not
return, while Isaac has missed
Michigan’s past two contests.
Whether or not they end up
suiting up against the Badgers,
the load will be left to sophomore
Chris Evans. Though Evans has
come into his stride in recent
weeks,
Wisconsin’s
rushing
defense is even better than its
passing
defense.
Opponents
average a measly 81.5 yards
rushing and have scored just
three touchdowns against the
Badgers this season.
The Wolverines’ resurgent
ground game may come to a
screeching halt Saturday.
Edge: Wisconsin
Wisconsin pass offense vs
Michigan pass defense
If there is one area of the game
in which Michigan can gain the
upper hand, it will be up to its
secondary to make it happen.
The Wolverines aren’t far
behind
Wisconsin
in
team
passing
efficiency
defense,
ranking third in the nation while
allowing one less touchdown
than their counterpart through
the air this year. Michigan is
second in passing yards allowed,
as opponents have gained an
average of just 144.5 yards.
Badger
quarterback
Alex
Hornibrook has thrown for 17
total touchdowns in addition
to an average of 186.3 yards per
game, but he leads an offense
that places more of an emphasis
on the running game.
The Wolverines will have a
chance to take advantage of this
matchup, and they can’t afford
to waste it.
Edge: Michigan
Wisconsin run offense vs
Michigan run defense
Penn
State
running
back
Saquon Barkley deserves all
the plaudits he receives, but
Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor
isn’t far behind as one of the best
backs in the Big Ten.
Considering how Barkley ran
all over Michigan to the tune of
108 yards and two touchdowns,
that isn’t a good sign for the
Wolverines.
The Badgers are a ground-
and-pound team, and Taylor
leads the charge. He averages
152.5 rushing yards per game
and has scored 12 touchdowns
on his own. Michigan has a
strong defense, allowing an
average of just 110.3 rushing
yards, but it might not be enough
to stop Taylor.
In a battle of two highly-
ranked defenses, the Wolverines’
unit doesn’t quite measure up.
Edge: Wisconsin
Special teams
This phase of the game will be
a decided by a contest of kickers.
Redshirt
freshman
Quinn
Nordin has endured a rough
stretch of late, missing three
consecutive field goals and two
extra points as well to drop his
season record to 14-for-19.
Wisconsin
kicker
Rafael
Gaglianone may have been tested
less often, but he maintains
markedly better, making 10 of
his 12 field goals, good for an
80-percent completion rate.
Earlier this season, it would
have been hard to bet against
Michigan’s
special
teams
unit, but with Nordin’s recent
struggles, that is no longer the
case.
Edge: Wisconsin
Intangibles
The Wolverines have a lot on
the line in this game, as they
would drop out of the Big Ten
championship picture with a
loss.
But the Badgers have a lot more
at stake. An undefeated season
and a spot in the College Football
Playoff hang in the balance.
Camp Randall Stadium, one of
the most energetic environments
in college football, will likely be
an even more hostile atmosphere
for Michigan than that of Beaver
Stadium last month.
While the Wolverines will
seek to play the spoiler, the odds
are stacked against them.
Edge: Wisconsin
Prediction: Michigan 24,
Wisconsin 31
KEVIN SANTO
Managing Sports Editor
FOOTBALL
KATELYN MULCAHY/Daily
Redshirt freshman quarterback Brandon Peters will face his biggest test yet.
The Daily spoke with the Badgers’
tight end about his team’s pass game
ORION SANG
Daily Sports Editor
AMELIA CACCHIONE/Daily
Wisconsin senior Troy Fumagalli is arguably the best tight end in the Big Ten.
BETELHEM ASHAME
Managing Sports Editor
KATELYN MULCAHY/Daily
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh’s team is unlikely to pull off the upset Saturday.