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.