What to Watch for: Penn State

http://www.michigandaily.com/node/74305

What to Watch for: Penn State

By Everett Cook, Daily Sports Editor
Published October 10, 2013

1. What does Michigan’s early game play-calling look like?

Last week against Minnesota, Michigan didn’t throw a single pass in the first quarter. Offensive coordinator Al Borges said it was the first time in his Michigan career that he didn’t call a pass play for the first 15 minutes.

Part of that was the time of possession — Minnesota had the ball for more than 10 minutes in the first quarter, which limited Michigan to eight plays — but part of it was a rededication to the power run game. Michigan’s six-play first drive went 35 yards for a touchdown, and all six plays were runs.

This rendered redshirt junior quarterback Devin Gardner basically useless for the first quarter. When he did start throwing, though, he played one of the most efficient games of his career. He had a turnover-free game for the first time ever and had just four incompletion en route to 235 yards and a touchdown.

For the first time this season, Michigan’s offense wasn’t dependent on Gardner making plays. All the Wolverines needed him to do was be an efficient game manager, a role that he thrived in.

So on Saturday, in one of Michigan’s biggest road contests of the year, where will Borges put the ball? Into the hands of a quarterback with a habit of turnovers but a propensity for incredible plays, or into the hands of the running backs?

2. Does Derrick Green get more than 10 carries?

Yes, that was “running backs” with an “s.” It’s no longer strictly fifth-year senior Fitzgerald Toussaint — freshman running back Derrick Green has officially arrived as a change-of-pace back guaranteed to get some carries. Against the Gophers, Green ran the ball 10 times, the most carries he’s received since Central Michigan.

This week, Borges said that he likes the idea of giving Green more carries, as a way to make sure Toussaint — who is a season removed from a broken leg — isn’t tired by the end of the game.

Green started the season off a little heavier than Michigan coach Brady Hoke would have preferred but has slimmed down to around 235 pounds. He’s still a cannon ball, hitting holes hard making him an ideal short-yardage or red-zone running back and an effective complement Toussaint.

Against Penn State, look for Green to pick up even more of the workload early on in the game. If Borges sticks to the running game, Green will be a part of it.

3. Does Devin Funchess line up primarily as a wide receiver or tight end?

When Gardner did throw, it was primarily to his sophomore tight end. Funchess had his best game in a Michigan uniform, catching seven passes for 151 yards and a touchdown. He caught more catches than the rest of the team combined.

Much of that success stemmed from Borges’ decision to push Funchess out wide, playing more as a wide receiver than a tight end. At times, he returned to his traditional tight-end spot, but his big gains came from the outside. Funchess is 6-foot-5 and one of the best athletes on the roster. Getting him in open space creates mismatches that even the best defensive coordinators can’t plan for.

And frankly, Funchess has never been known for his blocking. When he’s split out wide and no longer on the line, blocking rushers is no longer an issue.

A big issue for the offense all year is getting production out a wide receiver that isn’t fifth-year senior Jeremy Gallon. Funchess in a new role might solve that problem.

4. How deep do Michigan's linebackers play?

Michigan’s defense struggled against the short passing game against UConn three weeks ago because of linebackers playing too close to the line of scrimmage. They couldn’t recover.

Last week, Michigan gave up third-down conversions and quarterback scrambles galore because the linebackers were playing too deep.

So where’s the solid middle? Against Penn State’s pocket-passing quarterback, Christian Hackenberg, it might be the latter. He’s not a threat to run, and it might be more beneficial to have bodies in the passing game.

Ideally, the linebacking corps finds a way to do both. Whether that transition happens by Saturday, though, remains to be seen.