Michigan Wolverine Football

Nov 15, 2014; College Park, MD, USA; The Maryland Terrapins take the field prior to the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Byrd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Posted at 6:45am — 11/22/2014

Michigan Wolverine Football: Maryland at Michigan — What May Happen

Last Stand At The Big House

There is nothing epic about Michigan’s last stand this Saturday against Maryland. The result, either way, will not be storied like the OK Corral or other famous last stands. The Wolverines are not defending Thermopylae, no cavalry is encircled; nothing of the sort exists here.

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Michigan is however playing for more than pride. The team is playing for a win to become bowl eligible. Some scoff and mock, but the coaches and players have placed before them a goal with a reward, albeit not of the top shelf variety. There is no doubt a bowl bid would provide some salve for the woes of recent events.

Although the critics and fandom have witnessed deflating play and program-related negative events this season, both the team and those in the stands need to give all, to literally play and root with maximum intensity; to show the name Michigan counts regardless of the now superficial esteem some have placed on the program. The weather could be less than ideal, but this team needs every bit of energy it can draw from, both outside and within.

But the reality is that Michigan needs more than energy, the offense needs to execute, put points on the board, and give the defense breathing room to play aggressively. Devin Gardner may or may not be the final key to a modest 6th victory.

Once, Michigan thought it had a quarterback that could carry the team to major accomplishments. Whether he has regressed, or not progressed, is a meaningless academic waste of time. To analyze why he did not ascend is interesting but also painful. This is pretty much the end of the line, baring a potential gutty performance in Columbus, for Devin’s roll call. He has been hailed, rejected, wrongfully reviled; the cause of instant turnovers, and, it should be noted, steadfast in just playing the game. Devin did not give up on Michigan early in his career. He followed a quarterback who also had throwing and turnover difficulties, but one who could run like the wind. Devin is easy to like, a trait that foul semi-fans have squandered in creating a true picture of his worth as a person. Devin is person-oriented and has been a reluctant face and leader of Michigan football. His most productive days in society may outweigh those on a football field.

The injuries he has sustained are probably more severe than most realize. He has been hampered for much of his Michigan career with leg injuries; most do not realize that such as effect is like a water bucket filling up.

In short, his play can be questioned and his inabilities have never been corrected, either by the staff or by himself. In a talent rich program, Devin would either be on the sideline or at another position. Part of Devin’s inadequacies center on technique, some on innate instincts, and the result is a guy who takes what has been worked on mechanically and organically melts the training to obtain what has been most natural to himself.

Still, with his inadequacies and the associated woes, Devin seems to have survived, knowing life is more than football. He has been derided for smiling and laughing in tough times; a number of observers may counter that such an approach at least provides some benefit and is a better alternative to having an angry meltdown.

Devin will not be released to run and run by Doug Nussmeirer via the game plan, he may do so by his choice, as detailed previously. For Michigan to win Saturday, the offense will need to achieve the bare minimum requirements of ball control through a running game and hitting the key passes on third down. There is no magic minimum number of turnovers, but common sense dictates that fewer is the way to go. The idea of hitting the home run on play action passes still remains just an idea, a floating construct, and a tenet that has yet to be achieved.

Drake Johnson should be ready, as should De’Veon Smith. Smith has been criticized for slowness, but anyone bad mouthing his effort and toughness are off base. Smith seems to be the type of guy who just does not give in to any adversity. He loves to play. Johnson may not have the luxury of large holes as in the Indiana game, but do not discount his ability to turn five yards into ten if a nice hole opens.

Critics have hounded the Michigan running backs for poor vision. Most such critics have never carried a ball once; there is an instinct factor and there is also a coaching factor. Johnson gets to the hole and the edge much faster than Smith and somewhat faster than Derrick Green. Badmouthed or not, the offensive line does appear to be making small strides.

The offensive line has had the luxury of two weeks of preparation and at the very least needs to be assignment sound. Michigan’s success in the running game will come down to how the linemen maintain blocks. So far, the group has gone from missing assignments, to missing blocks, to making blocks but not maintaining them, the last a trait that leads to backs being able to collect extra yards (see MSU as an example).

On the defensive side, everyone will naturally want to know how Taco Charlton and Mario Ojemudia will do. Frank Clark made the edge game work, was getting better, and then he suffers his bad lapse of good judgment; but that is past history. Maryland will go after Mario and Taco and check out their ability to hold the edge or fight off blocks.

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Maryland will test the Michigan secondary, statistically one of the worst units in college football. Quarterback C.J. Brown is somewhat similar to Devin Gardner in that he is a dual threat athlete, has played for different head coaches and offensive coordinators, is a graduate student, and has faced injury. Last year the Maryland offense was hindered by injuries to Stefon Diggs and Deon long. Like Gardner, Brown has put up some good numbers, running and passing, in his career, but has endured tough times with the team.

Maryland has played well enough to win four road games this season. In addition, the Terps have played very well in the fourth quarter.

Special teams seem to favor Maryland, but Michigan’s special teams have played at least average, probably above average. This should be a close game. Maryland has more potential on offense but will face the Michigan defense. Michigan has more potential to run the ball, but Maryland has the potential to pick off Gardner if the running game grinds to a halt.

The best advice is play hard, play well, and play for each other.

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Written by GBMWolverine Staff — Doc4Blu

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