After losing in primetime to a good Oklahoma team last weekend, the Michigan Wolverines return home and host Central Michigan University. This has all the makings of a get-right game for the Wolverines, who are favored by 27.5 points. With a big game at Nebraska on the horizon next week, Michigan needs to dominate and evade what may be an early-season trap game.
Here are three things Michigan needs to do to win this afternoon.
Dominate against the run
As my colleague Kyle Yost pointed out earlier this week, Central Michigan
averaged just 1.72 yards per carry at Pitt last week. This came after running backs Nahtree Biggins and Trey Cornist combined to rush for more than 200 yards against San Jose State the week prior.
Michigan needs to replicate what Pitt did in order to make sure this game isn’t close. Avoiding chunk plays and earning tackles for loss on first and second downs are key components in heavy favorites avoiding an upset. Michigan is coming off allowing 138 rushing yards to Oklahoma last week, so if the Wolverines can cut that total in half, the Chippewas don’t stand a chance.
Make life difficult for all three of Central’s QBs
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “If you have two quarterbacks, you have none.” Well, what does it mean when you have three?
Central Michigan has been running a three-quarterback system — yes, you read that right — and while each of them have decent counting stats, head coach Matt Drinkall not naming a guy as the starter says a lot about how CMU feels about the players in that room.
Michigan doesn’t have to throw the kitchen sink at these guys when it comes to blitzes and coverages, but complicating things for each passer would be a good idea. Picking off one or two of those quarterbacks could also force CMU to panic.
Keep things simple on offense
In his weekly radio appearance on Monday, head coach Sherrone Moore said he wants to simplify the offense moving forward, to the dismay of certain sections of the Michigan fan base. Offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey reiterated that sentiment earlier this week.
“I think simplifying means doing what we’ve proven in practice probably that we’re good at,” Lindsey said. “Each year is different, so I think really focusing on getting back to the fundamentals and basics of what we’re able to execute, because a lot of plays look good on paper, right? And then you get out there and you don’t wanna ask your guys to do things maybe we’re not real good at.”
A simple offense may not work against the powers of the Big Ten, but coming off a mediocre offensive performance last week, keeping things simple may be the medicine that Bryce Underwood and this offense needs. Michigan has the talents on both sides to dominate this game without having to call trick plays and complicated passing concepts. Call simple run plays, throw quick passes, throw in a fake when you need to — you don’t have to re-invent the wheel here.
What are your keys to victory here? Are you going to bet Michigan against the spread (0-2 this season)? Let us know in the comments.
