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October 05, 2018 - Image 14

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The Michigan Daily

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7B
TheMichiganDaily, www.michigandaily.com

Playing at home this weekend
will likely help cure some of
those struggles. In three home
games, Patterson has completed
72 percent of his passes, totaling
482 yards and seven touchdown
passes. In two road games, he’s
yet to throw for a touchdown.
Some of that may be contingent
on strength of opponent, sure.
This weekend will help answer
as to how much. Maryland’s
pass defense allows roughly 210
yards per game, a respectable
50th
nationally.
In
general,
the Terrapins will be the best
defense to come into Michigan
Stadium thus far this season.
One of the best determinants
of how effective the passing
game will be — and can continue
to be going forward — is the
continued improvement of the
pass protection.
“Pass
protection
is
going
pretty well,” redshirt junior
left tackle Jon Runyan said on
Monday. “… Shea’s had time, and
when he has time, he can make

unbelievable plays with his arm.”
Maryland comes into the game
with 11 sacks on the season,
and will put Runyan’s words
to the test, especially with big
matchups
against
Wisconsin,
Michigan State and Penn State
looming.

Michigan running game vs.
Maryland run defense

If junior Chris Evans (listed
as questionable) is able to play
Saturday, it will be the first time
both he and Higdon have played
since week two against Western
Michigan. In that game, both got
double-digit carries, combining
for an efficient 23-carry, 245-
yard
performance,
adding
three touchdowns. It’s the duo
that compelled many to think
Michigan’s running game could
be a pillar of this team.
So far this season, results
have been uneven. Against the
Broncos, the Wolverines racked
up 308 yards on the ground.

Against
Notre
Dame,
that
number was just 58. If Michigan
is
to
accomplish
its
goals
this season — beating rivals,
competing for the Big Ten, etc.
— it will have to do so with the
foundation of an above-average
running game.
While Maryland isn’t quite
at the level of an Ohio State or
Michigan State, it’s a step in that
direction. The Terrapins allow
just 104 yards on the ground per
game, good for 18th nationally.

Special teams

There’s a real argument to be
made that the biggest strength of
this Michigan team is not its top-
ranked defense, but its special
teams. Suddenly, junior Will Hart
is one of the best punters in the
country, averaging a staggering
52.1 yards per punt. It’s just
one of the ways the Wolverines’
special teams continue to give
them a subtle advantage week in,
week out. Punt and kick coverage

included.
“It’s been a big deal for us,”
said fifth-year senior special
teams
extraordinaire
Joe
Hewlett. “We really want to be
aggressive and we really kind of
take that to heart. … Going 85-90
yards on our defense is not going
to really happen that often.”
Hewlett also said the group
has been setting — and meeting
— goals. Hewlett said those
goals include giving the offense
an average drive start past the
30-yard line, hold the opposing
team to fewer than 15 yards per
return, and meeting a certain net
punt yards measurement.
After week three, Hewlett
says, the group evaluated all
these measures. They’ve met
them all.
That, of course, goes without
mentioning redshirt sophomore
kicker Quinn Nordin, who has
now hit six of his seven field
goal attempts this season, with a
seemingly limitless leg.

Breakdown

Excluding
Notre
Dame,
Maryland will be the best team
Michigan has faced this season.
It has offensive balance and
defensive talent. If the game is
close, the Terrapins’ rushing
attack could control the game.
It’s not a game the Wolverines
should lose, but it’s absolutely
one they could.
That being said, Jim Harbaugh
is 20-4 at home in his time at
Michigan for a reason. The
Wolverines are hard to beat
at
Michigan
Stadium.
After
a lackluster first half against
Northwestern, expect defensive
coordinator Don Brown to have
his defense ready to wreak havoc
early and often.
Michigan
takes
an
early,
commanding lead and never
looks back.

Prediction:
Michigan
31,
Maryland 13

CAMERON HUNT/Daily
Junior Will Hart is averaging 52.1 yards per punt so far this season as one of the best punters in the nation, giving the Wolverines’ special teams unit a subtle advantage during matchups.

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