http://www.michigandaily.com/node/73739
What to Watch for: Connecticut
By Everett Cook, Daily Sports Editor
Published September 18, 2013
1. Does Al Borges change the interior offensive line?
All season long, offensive coordinator Al Borges has said that the starters for the offensive line are penciled in. To be fair, the tackle positions are written in pen and then stenciled over in Sharpie — fifth-year seniors Taylor Lewan and Michael Schofield aren’t going anywhere.
The three interior linemen, though, could be on the move. Borges isn’t pleased with the production of those three spots, particularly in how the group is run blocking. If there was any week for a switch, it would be the one before a bye week.
The trio of linemen — redshirt sophomores Graham Glasgow and Jack Miller and redshirt freshman Kyle Kalis — had all never started a game at the collegiate level before this season. They’ve shown flashes of cohesion and talent, like late drives against Akron and Notre Dame that allowed fifth-year senior running back Fitzgerald Toussaint to gash the run defense, but haven’t been consistent enough to warrant the same Sharpie treatment.
On Wednesday, Michigan coach Brady Hoke listed three players — redshirt sophomore Chris Bryant and redshirt freshmen Ben Braden and Erik Magnuson — who could potentially see a bigger role Saturday. Bryant, in particular, drew a big response.
“Chris Bryant’s a guy that we’ve been excited about,” Hoke said. “He's been banged up a year ago. Had a little bit early in fall camp and probably right in the middle. He got a little banged up again, but he’s back and playing awfully hard.”
If a change is going to come, it will be now or during the bye week before Big Ten play starts. Saturday will be a good road test for this young interior, but it might be the last chance they get to prove to Borges they can be a solid group in between the stud tackles.
“We’re going to continue to force people to compete at the position,” Borges said. “It’s that simple. But to say we’re going to start firing guys left and right, no. We knew if we go through this there’s going to be some growing pains, and there has been in the first three games.”
2. Does Gardner make another costly error late in the game?
In each of the last two contests, redshirt junior quarterback Devin Gardner has made a costly mistake late in the game, both of which allowed the opponent to get back in the game. Without those turnovers, Michigan likely wouldn’t have had to sweat out close finishes (then again, without Gardner, the Wolverines likely wouldn’t have even been there in the first place).
Does this happen again Saturday, in Michigan’s first road contest of the year? All week, the talk from the coaching staff has been about Gardner making the right decisions while also maintaining the aggression and playmaking ability that make him such a dangerous weapon.
“Those are the plays you have to say, ‘Well, when do I cut my losses?’ ” Borges said. “You heard me say it with Denard all the time. When do you do it? There’s a fine line between being a playmaker and making a bad decision. Sometimes, the playmakers step over that line and sometimes the playmakers supposedly step over that line and make a play. So, as a coach, you have to make sure you keep them aggressive, you can’t scare them into playing cautiously.”
One way or the other, Gardner keeping the ball out of the hands of Husky defenders is going to have a massive impact on this game.
3. How do the young players respond in their first road contest?
Early this week, UConn announced that the game Saturday had already sold out, and that it will be the largest crowd in the history of Rentschler Field. Granted, there will be an enormous Michigan contingent there, but it will still be a different, intimidating atmosphere for freshmen or younger players who have never played anywhere but the Big House.
Why have the Wolverines struggled so much on the road the last couple years? According to Hoke, it’s “turnovers, turnovers, turnovers,” but that he has “no idea” why they are happening more on the road than at home.
On Saturday, look to see if those freshman nerves led to the turnovers Hoke so desperately wants to avoid.
4. Do wide receivers not named Gallon get involved?
Freshman tight Jake Butt — who looked more like a wide receiver than a tight end in spring camp — is tied for third on this team in receptions.
But does that say more about his performance or the performances of the other veteran wide receivers that were supposed to make an impact this year?
Besides for fifth-year senior Jeremy Gallon, no other wide out has done much to establish themselves. Senior Jeremy Jackson has three catches. Fifth-year seniors Drew Dileo and Joe Reynolds have five and three catches, respectively.
It’s not just the veterans — redshirt freshman Jehu Chesson caught his first career pass last week.
Against Notre Dame, Gallon could do it all by himself, but it won’t be like that every game. Who else will step up?
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Fri Sep 20, 2013 3:20 am