Michigan Football: 3 keys for the Wolverines against Maryland
By Josh LaFond
Can Michigan football start Big Ten play 1-0, and continue the momentum into the meat of their schedule? We look at three keys to beating Maryland.
The Michigan Wolverines have everything going their way right now. Being fairly injury free, dialed in on offense, gelling on defense, and most of all being undefeated, they look every bit the part of a playoff contender yet again.
Now, entering their first real test — and first conference game, the Wolverines look to keep the train rolling and build momentum for a potential monumental matchup against Penn State.
But first, Michigan football needs to handle its business against a high-octane offense, and against a Maryland team that has continuously improved under head coach Mike Locksley year in and year out. So far, the Terps are 3-0, just like Michigan and every team in the Big Ten East outside of Michigan State, and this will be the first real test of the 2022 season.
Can the Wolverines put the Terrapins to rest? Or will they succumb to looking ahead?
Here are our three keys to a Michigan football win come Saturday.
Keep Taulia Tagovailoa in the pocket
Dual-threat quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa might not have a future in the NFL, but he sure as heck has the makings of a coming-out party of sorts this season.
Taulia Tagovailoa is faster than his brother, former Alabama great, and current starting quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, Tua Tagovailoa. But he doesn’t have the same accuracy from the pocket that Tua had.
That’s why Michigan football needs to keep Taulia in the pocket.
He’s at his best when he is making “backyard football” style plays, running around, and making things happen in the scramble drill.
Keep Taulia in the pocket, and make him beat you with next-level throws, the right read in his progression, and elite decision-making.
Don’t let him run wild and settle into the kind of game that he wants to play.