What to Watch for: Minnesota

http://www.michigandaily.com/node/74135

What to Watch for: Minnesota

By Zach Helfand, Daily Sports Editor
Published October 3, 2013

Four games through the 2013 season, the No. 19 Michigan football team is still the same riddle it was when it began the year. The Wolverines, it seems, are not as good as they showed in impressive early wins over Central Michigan and Notre Dame. Two subsequent ugly wins proved that.

But, they’re also not quite as bad as their performances against Akron and Connecticut would suggest, either. That leaves them somewhere in between.

Michigan is still undefeated and, in a wide-open Legends Division, remains a viable contender. Whether it can push for the division title largely depends on just a few moving pieces, mostly on the offensive side of the ball. An early test against an improved Minnesota team should provide some more clarity.

Here’s what to watch for on Saturday:

1. Can Devin Gardner protect the ball?

This, of course, is the most important question for Michigan entering Big Ten play. When Gardner doesn’t turn the ball over, he is one of the best offensive weapons in the conference.

When he does, he is the Wolverines’ biggest liability. The turnover bug has been maddening — last season, Gardner never threw more than one interception in his six games as the starter. This year, he has thrown multiple interceptions in three out of four games. In three straight games, he has had a turnover returned for a touchdown.

The frustrating part for Gardner and his coaches is that he hasn’t repeated his mistakes. He has found new ways to give the ball away. At first, he found trouble when he tried to throw the ball rather than accept a sack. But since, he has exhibited poor reads, or even throws lacking his typical accuracy.

Whether because of the run of turnovers or something else, Gardner’s throws were off against UConn. For the first time, he completed fewer than half his passes.

The good news for Michigan is that he has performed up to his ability in the past. Last year, Gardner threw for 1,319 yards, completed 59.5 percent of his passes and scored 16 total touchdowns.

It all started with a start against Minnesota with just one week to prepare at quarterback. In that game, Gardner was 12-for-18 for 234 yards and three total touchdowns. If he can use this year’s game to right the ship, the Wolverines will be just fine.

If not, it could be a long Big Ten season.

2. Will changes on the offensive line make a difference?

Behind Gardner, the offensive line has been the most troubling part of the Michigan offense. The tackles have been as advertised. But inside of fifth-year seniors Michael Schofield and Taylor Lewan, the interior has been overpowered by weaker opponents.

That prompted Michigan coach Brady Hoke to make a change during the two weeks in between games. Redshirt sophomore Jack Miller has been pulled at center, replaced by redshirt sophomore Graham Glasgow, who shifts over from left guard. Chris Bryant, another redshirt sophomore, will take Glasgow’s place at guard.

Before the game against UConn, fifth-year senior Fitzgerald Toussaint struggled on the ground. When he finally broke out two weeks ago, he found room only on the outside of the line.

Some of Gardner’s struggles, too, can be linked to the line. He has been sacked nine times and hurried another 11 times.

At 6-foot-4, 314 pounds, Bryant has the size and strength but has been battered by leg injuries. Glasgow worked at the center position during camp and has played significantly better than the other two interior linemen so far. And Kalis has been unspectacular but shows the most potential.

This week will be a useful barometer for the re-tooled interior. Ra’Shede Hageman is arguably the best nose tackle in the conference.

3. Which offense will we see?

A long four weeks ago, against Notre Dame, the Michigan offense looked like it had finally fulfilled the vision of offensive coordinator Al Borges. Michigan totaled 460 yards in that game. The offense had 25 first downs and scored 41 points against the feared Notre Dame defense.

Series after series, the Wolverines showed new, dangerous looks: the traditional power-I formation, shotgun, pistol, read option, quick pitches, stretch runs, defense-stretching throws over the top.

Gardner was precise enough with his arm to keep the secondary back. But he was dangerous enough with his legs to force the defense to respect the quarterback run.

In the red zone, Michigan was near unstoppable.

But there were cracks in the offense, even if they weren’t apparent at the time. Notre Dame shut down the interior run, so Borges attacked the edge. The offense required Gardner to make the correct decisions.

Later, against Akron and UConn, those problems bit the Wolverines. Without effective inside rushing, the ground game became one-dimensional. Gardner faltered. Suddenly, Michigan looked flat. At times, it looked helpless. Borges, who found a rhythm against Notre Dame, couldn’t against Akron or UConn.

When Michigan’s offense clicks, it has the talent to run Minnesota off the field. But when it’s off, the result is ugly.

4. Will Michigan need the defense to save it again?

For all the problems on the offensive side of the ball, the defense has been encouragingly steady. Against UConn, the defense allowed just one touchdown on a full drive. (UConn’s offense scored once more after a turnover in the red zone.)

The Gophers shouldn’t provide much more of a test. They rank 10th in the Big Ten in total offense, ahead of lowly Michigan State and Purdue.

Michigan’s defense has been vulnerable in the area behind the linebackers and in front of the safeties, but Minnesota hasn’t shown an ability to throw the ball: it ranks last in the conference in passing yards.

The Wolverines needed the defense to bail out the offense against Akron, with a late goal-line stand. Against UConn, junior linebacker Desmond Morgan’s one-handed interception helped save the game.

The defense should be able to smother Minnesota. But Michigan can’t rely on it to save the day every game.