Staff Roundtable: Can Michigan Football handle the Hawkeyes?
By Josh LaFond
Who do you want to see step up on offense and defense for Michigan in this game?
Cameron: On offense, I would like Andrel Anthony to get more touches. The dude has like two catches in four games so far. Andrel is too talented to not get the ball in his hands. JJ tried to throw deep to him a few times last week but overthrew him. I want to see JJ try it again. Andrel and JJ have a lot of chemistry between them. They always talk about the countless hours early in the morning spent at Michigan’s practice facility, working to improve their chemistry. Now is the time for Andrel to be unleashed, Part 2. On defense, I would say one of the edge rushers need to step up. I don’t care who it is, someone needs to get more pressure on the quarterback. Michigan’s defensive line is too talented to not get home to Petras at least a few times on Saturday. Petras is one of the least mobile QBs in Power Five, so someone needs to step up on the defensive line.
Brady: I think guys like Andrel Anthony and Darius Clemons could be huge pieces of our offense. Anthony looked like one of our best receivers last year against Michigan State and there’s no reason he can’t dominate Big Ten competition this season. Clemons is a freshman, but he’s got the skills and frame to be a huge contributor at receiver. On defense, I think Mazi Smith is going to need to have a big game. Iowa will try and establish the run and stopping it starts with our interior linemen. I know Smith has been double-teamed a ton this season, but finding a way to bring pressure up the middle is going to be huge.
Josh: Donovan Edwards. We know how talented he is, but with him missing the last 2 weeks due to a soft tissue energy, it’s time for a reintroduction.
Edwards brings something to the Michigan offense no one else does. The ability to be a power runner, a WR, and a really good pass blocker. Michigan will need him to step up this week and in a big way.
Chris: Andrel Anthony needs to get going. He’s one of my biggest disappointments and it’s not necessarily his fault. Coaches need to scheme up some shots to him because he’s too talented to be wasted. Eyabi Okie is the guy on defense. Harbaugh has been talking him up and he needs to deliver this weekend.