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Michigan football: Previewing the Wolverines against Maryland

By Christopher Mangum

COLLEGE PARK, MD - NOVEMBER 02: Aidan Hutchinson #97 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates during the game against the Maryland Terrapins on November 2, 2019 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - NOVEMBER 02: Aidan Hutchinson #97 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates during the game against the Maryland Terrapins on November 2, 2019 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images) /
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Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /

Previewing the Michigan offense against Maryland

The Wolverines come into Saturday’s game against Maryland with underwhelming offensive numbers outside of their stellar run game.

Though Penn State has a good defense, Michigan struggled to move the ball at all until the later stages of the game; even then The Wolverines only managed to accumulate 21 points. Though the offense will likely perform better against a less-talented Maryland defense, look for Michigan to make significant strides in their offensive execution this week.

Michigan football will once again be led by junior quarterback Cade McNamara. McNamara threw for 217 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions at State College last weekend.

On the season, McNamara has thrown for 1,883 yards, 12 touchdowns, and only two interceptions. Though McNamara’s numbers are nothing to gasp at, he has been incredibly safe with the football and has led his team to a 9-1 record, which has been more than enough to secure his position as starting quarterback.

Michigan’s strong spot on offense has been its run game. Led by senior running back Hassan Haskins, who ran for 156 yards against a tough Penn State defense the week prior, the Michigan rushing attack is ranked 9th among Power-5 schools.

Hassan Haskins will likely lead the Wolverines in rushing statistics as he has done all season, with a total of 985 yards and 11 touchdowns in 10 games. If Michigan’s offensive line gets a push, Haskins will run all over the Terrapin defense.

The co-star of the Michigan run game is sophomore running back Blake Corum, who did not travel with the team last week after going down with an injury against Indiana the week before. The status of Corum for the Wolverines game against Maryland is unknown at this time.

Nonetheless, Michigan football will likely continue to play how they have played all season long: run the ball and pass if and when they have to.

If the Wolverines can establish the run game early, head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Josh Gattis will likely not move away from it until they absolutely have to or until they choose to open up the playbook to keep McNamara loose before Ohio State.

Maryland will enter the game with the 91st ranked total defense, along with the 77th ranked rushing defense and ranked 105th in passing yards allowed.

Though Michigan’s offense has been underwhelming at times this season, expect the Wolverines to manhandle the less-talented Terrapin defense.

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