FootballSaturday, September 7, 2018
6B

Breakdown: Michigan vs. WMU

By ETHAN WOLFE

Daily Sports Writer

Six days after losing to No. 8
Notre Dame, the sky still isn’t
falling and Michigan football is
still playing in its home opener
on Saturday against Western
Michigan.
But what happened in South
Bend was more realization than
revelation — the oft-praised
Wolverines (0-1 overall) had
problems to manage on both
sides of the ball. The offensive
line alone provided a season’s
worth
of
concerns
limiting
Michigan’s potential.
But Jim Harbaugh announced
that he had no plans to make
personnel changes just yet. So
the same rotation that took the
field Sept. 1 will get its chance at
redemption in front of its home
crowd against the Broncos (0-1).
Western Michigan lost its
season opener in a shootout at
home to Syracuse, 55-42. While
the
Broncos
showcased
an
explosive offense, their defense
was
the
polar
opposite,
a
concern that set the Wolverines
as the 25.5-point favorite to win.
Here’s how Michigan matches
up against Western Michigan on
Saturday.

Michigan
pass
offense
vs. Western Michigan pass
defense

Tackles Jon Runyan Jr. and
Juwann Bushell-Beatty would
have been better off as ghosts
on some plays against Notre
Dame. All three sacks came
from Runyan on the left side,
but Bushell-Beatty had his own
struggles surrendering pressure
on the right. Even established
players struggled. Sophomore
center Cesar Ruiz allowed a
hurry that resulted in a Notre
Dame interception.
Michigan has a more than
capable quarterback in junior
Shea
Patterson,
who
has
weapons at his disposal in a
deep tight end and wide receiver
group. But Patterson will need
time to throw — a proposition
that looks feasible against the
Broncos’ weak defensive front.
Western Michigan gave up
just 11 completions against the
Orange, but got burned for 226
yards
and
two
touchdowns
when
the
Broncos
were
already getting pummeled by

the Syracuse rushing attack.
Western
Michigan’s
defense
totaled two sacks and three
hurries,
hardly
surpassable
numbers
against
stronger
competition. It also floundered
against taller receivers — a fate
that could bode well for 6-foot-
4 Nico Collins. Saturday could
be a breakthrough opportunity
for the Wolverines’ unproven
offense.

Edge: Michigan

Michigan
run
offense
vs. Western Michigan run
defense

Michigan’s supposed running
back rotation never came to
life against Notre Dame. Senior
Karan Higdon toted the ball
21 times for 72 yards and a

touchdown, while junior Chris
Evans recorded just two carries
the
whole
night.
Higdon’s
touchdown
—
the
offense’s
lone score — came in what was
essentially garbage time late in
the fourth quarter.
The coaching staff clearly
sees Higdon as a three-down
back, despite rushing for only
3.4 yards per carry behind a
flat-footed offensive line. If
there was ever a time to rotate
with Evans and No. 3 back
Tru Wilson, it’s in the non-
conference slate.
The running game should
have no trouble getting back
on track, though, against the
Broncos. Against the Orange,
Western Michigan surrendered
200
rushing
yards
to
Eric
Dungey, who now holds the
Atlantic
Coast
Conference’s

single-game
quarterback
rushing record. The Broncos
also allowed five touchdowns on
the ground.
Michigan is yet to establish
a prominent run game, though
history
suggests
that
will
be short-lived with Western
Michigan’s
front
seven.
Patterson doesn’t have to be a
hero in this one.

Edge: Michigan

Western
Michigan
pass
offense vs. Michigan pass
defense

Cornerbacks
coach
Mike
Zordich
knew
Notre
Dame
would catch the ball against
his secondary. The Fighting
Irish’s primary receivers were
no less than four inches taller

and 20 pounds heavier than his
defensive backs, and their size
was on full display in the first
half before a relative shutout in
the second half.
Safeties Tyree Kinnel and
Brad Hawkins led the way
with eight and six tackles,
respectively, while fifth-year
senior
cornerback
Brandon
Watson intercepted a pass. Star
corners Lavert Hill and David
Long struggled early on, but
regained their footing.
The defensive back rotation
may not have much work to do

EVAN AARON/Daily
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines head into Saturday’s matchup with Western Michigan 0-1 after falling to the No. 12 Fighting Irish, 24-17, last Saturday.

For in-game updates
Follow @MikeDPersak, @ethanewolfe,
@Max_Marcovitch and
@MWCalcagno on Twitter during
Saturday’s game.