The Michigan football team returns to the field tomorrow afternoon looking to improve upon last year’s disappointing season. The Wolverines are flying a little under the radar in the preseason, but there are a lot of reasons to think it could be a special year. Michigan opens the march to Pasadena with Central Michigan.
CMU Rush Offense vs Michigan Rush Defense
Central’s best unit will be their running attack this season. The Chips return Zurlon Tipton who neared 1,500 yards in 2012. Tipton will be hands down the best running back in the MAC this season and will probably be drafted in the middle rounds next spring. The one thing working against Central will be trying to replace 4 offensive linemen, including the number 1 draft pick. While Coach Enos has been cranking out good lineman from Central during his time in Mount Pleasant, it will take the Chips a few games to get acclimated up front. I will be looking to see how well Michigan’s front four hold blocks to give all three linebackers free lanes to make tackles. It will also be interesting to see how much Frank Clark has improved his run stopping. If you remember, Clark only played in assumed passing downs for most of 2012 because of his inability to hold contain on the outside. Look for Central to run at the edges to test Clark, any SDE and especially Cam Gordon. I think the Maize and Blue are just too talented in the front seven to be burned all game by Tipton. Advantage Michigan.
CMU Pass Offense vs Michigan Pass Defense
Central Michigan is breaking in a new quarterback against a blitz happy defensive coordinator. Kody Kater will be the starting signal caller for the Chips, and he will be looking for their best receiver from 2012, Titus Davis. CMU does not have a big receiver that the small Michigan corners will likely struggle against. I will be looking to see how the front four can get pressure on Kater, and how often Mattison will need to dial up a blitz. I think the Wolverine defensive line will have a big day, accumulate 3+ sacks, and pressure Kater into at least one interception. Advantage Michigan.
Michigan Rush Offense vs CMU Rush Defense
This will probably be the most anticipated matchup of the day. Central is not a good defensive team, but Michigan is breaking in 3 new interior lineman. Glasgow, Miller, and Kalis cannot be any worse than the inside 3 from 2012. I expect to see the CMU defensive line on skates all afternoon. I will be looking for how well and often Kalis pulls to the left side so Michigan can involve the nation’s best OL in the rushing attack. On top of the offensive line questions, Michigan will be looking to sure up the running back depth chart. As it stands now, Fitz is the hands down starter, but tomorrow will be a good battle for primary backup. Drake Johnson won the spot in fall camp, but look for De’Veon Smith and Derrick Green both to get their fair share of attempts tomorrow. I think Smith will take over the backup job sooner rather than later. Advantage Michigan.
Michigan Pass Offense vs CMU Pass Defense
All Michigan fans have heard this offseason is about Devin Gardner’s potential. He impressed at every stop in the last 8 months, and has been talked about as a dark horse candidate for the Heisman. Tomorrow we will get to see how true all of this talk was. Even though Amara Darboh will be out for the season, Michigan has a few quality options still. Jeremy Gallon has a crazy connection with Devin, which should propel him to one of the better receivers in the conference. Opposite of him, Gardner will look for Jehu Chesson as the primary deep threat, Drew Dileo out of the slot, and Devin Funchess over the middle. While this group is far from the best receiving corps to wear the winged helmet, it is a more than capable group especially if Devin performs as expected. I will be looking for Jeremy and Funchess to have a big game tomorrow. Advantage Michigan.
This game is much more of the usual opener for the Wolverines than last year against Alabama. I expect Devin and Fitz to get some good work in throughout the first half, and then hand the reins to Shane Morris and the freshman running backs. Central could turn out to be one of the better MAC teams by the end of the year, but Michigan is just too talented and should be on a mission to put distance from the disappointing 2012 campaign. Michigan rolls 48-16.
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