FootballSaturday, September 27, 2019
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What to watch for on Saturday: No. 20 Michigan vs. Rutgers

All week, an introspective air 
enveloped Schembechler Hall.
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh 
began the week by taking the 
blame 
for 
the 
Wolverines’ 
35-14 loss to Wisconsin on 
Saturday. His players followed 
up by criticizing their lack of 
effort and physicality. Both 
coaches who spoke Wednesday 
— linebackers coach Anthony 
Campanile 
and 
offensive 
coordinator 
Josh 
Gattis 
— 
agreed the performance was 
unacceptable.
None of that will change 
Saturday when Rutgers comes 
to town. ESPN’s Power Index 
ranks the Scarlet Knights last 
among power conference teams. 
In the Harbaugh era, Michigan 
has beaten them by an average 
of 41.8 points per game.
So with victory not in much 
doubt despite the Wolverines’ 
lackluster start, here are five 
things to watch for Saturday 
that will impact the trajectory 
of Michigan’s season:
The final score
Yes, the final score does 
matter.
Obviously, Michigan needs 
to win. A loss would be the 
undisputed worst result of the 
Harbaugh 
era 
and 
legitimize 
concern over his 
future. But with 
the 
Wolverines 
favored by 27.5, 
that shouldn’t be 
too much of an 
issue.
What 
is 
an 
issue 
is 
the 
margin 
of 
victory. A repeat 
of week one’s 19-point win 
over Middle Tennessee would 
amplify concerns that this is the 
same uninspiring team that has 
slogged through its first three 
games.
A look at Michigan’s margins 
of victory over the past two 
years shows how much blowing 
out inferior opposition means. 
In 
the 
Wolverines’ 
10-win 
season a year ago, they won four 
games by at least 35. The year 
before, their biggest margin of 
victory was 25, en route to an 

8-5 finish.
No 
opponent 
has 
better 
exemplified 
this 
difference 
than Rutgers. In the best year 
of the Harbaugh era, Michigan 
beat the Scarlet Knights, 78-0. 
Ten-win seasons in 2015 and 
2018 saw the Wolverines win by 
33 and 35, respectively. In that 
lackluster 2017 season, they won 
by just 21 at home.
How 
Michigan 
uses 
its 
receivers
If there was a positive to 
take 
away 
from 
Michigan’s 
demolition 
in 
Madison 
last 
weekend, 
it 
came 
from 
its 
receivers’ performances in the 
dying minutes.
All offseason, the assumption 
was 
that 
new 
offensive 
coordinator 
Josh 
Gattis’ 
offense would emphasize junior 
receivers 
Donovan 
Peoples-
Jones, Nico Collins and Tarik 
Black. Instead, those three have 
just 33 targets combined so far 
(Peoples-Jones missed the first 
two weeks with injury).
Saturday, they finally became 
a major part of the gameplan, 
but only once the game was well 
out of reach.
“We’re not where we need to 
be in that room,” Gattis said of 
his receivers. “That falls on me. I 
gotta continue to get those guys 
better. We gotta continue to play 
with great detail 
and execute the 
fundamentals 
properly 
on 
each play that is 
important. When 
their 
level 
of 
play 
increases, 
it’ll 
also 
help 
everyone else.”
While 
Gattis’ 
hire was never 
about 
games 
like Rutgers, it will take a step 
toward what was promised with 
an increased emphasis on those 
three receivers.
Zach Charbonnet’s usage
In week two against Army, 
it seemed Michigan had its 
solution 
at 
running 
back. 
Freshman Zach Charbonnet saw 
33 carries and turned them into 
100 yards and a touchdown.
For all the early concern 
about the Wolverines’ offense, 
running back wasn’t one of 
them.

THEO MACKIE
Daily Sports Editor

In first game since the loss in Madison, the Wolverines will look to rebound on both sides of the ball

ALLISON ENGVISKT/Daily
The Michigan football team will get its first shot to move forward from last week’s loss on Saturday against Rutgers.

We’re not 
where we need 
to be in that 
room.

