Bowling Green
13th MAC2-10
Michigan
7th Big Ten7-5
Bowling Green @ Michigan preview
Michigan Stadium
As great as quarterback Denard Robinson has been so far, Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez has to be scratching his head about his defense.
The 22nd-ranked Wolverines (3-0) allowed Massachusetts a whopping 439 yards last week in a 42-37 win over the Minutemen at Michigan Stadium. The week before, they gave up more than 500 yards in a 28-24 win at Notre Dame.
It’s a defense that is thin due to injuries and inexperience, but things will have to get fixed in a hurry. The Wolverines, who host Bowling Green (1-2) Saturday, have a week to fix their defensive problems before opening Big Ten play at Indiana on Oct. 2.
Rodriguez said the defense played tentative against UMass as the game went on and the overall play on that side of the line wasn’t even good enough for the coaching staff to name a defensive player of the game.
Making matters worse against UMass was that the defense couldn’t keep the Minutemen off the field, even after building a 35-17 lead well into the third quarter. UMass scored 20 points in the fourth quarter and pulled to 42-37 with enough time to attempt an onside kick, which failed.
If the defense keeps struggling, the pressure will increase on Robinson, who has been nearly flawless in running Rodriguez’s spread offense. Robinson leads the nation in rushing (186 yards per game) and total offense (410) and is a threat to make a big play every time he touches the ball.
He was at it again against UMass, which had built a 10-point lead in the first half. He completed 10-of-14 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 104 yards and another score. He completed four passes of 36 or more yards. Michigan finished with more than 500 offensive yards for the second straight game, including a career-high 126 yards and three touchdowns from running back Michael Shaw.
Bowling Green shouldn’t keep Michigan from going 4-0, but, then again, UMass also wasn’t supposed to threaten an upset. The aggressive Falcons are coming off a 44-28 win over Marshall, in which they returned two interceptions for touchdowns and forced five turnovers. Backup quarterback Aaron Pankratz played well in place of starter Matt Schilz, who sprained the shoulder of his throwing arm. It’s unclear if he will be back for Michigan.
Michigan is banged up on defense. Linebacker Mike Jones is out for the season with a broken leg. Linebacker Brandon Herron (ankle) and linebacker/safety Carvin Johnson (knee) are questionable.
Michigan, which is 26-1 against the Mid-American Conference, is 1-0 against Bowling Green. The Wolverines beat the Falcons 42-7 in 2000.
The 22nd-ranked Wolverines (3-0) allowed Massachusetts a whopping 439 yards last week in a 42-37 win over the Minutemen at Michigan Stadium. The week before, they gave up more than 500 yards in a 28-24 win at Notre Dame.
It’s a defense that is thin due to injuries and inexperience, but things will have to get fixed in a hurry. The Wolverines, who host Bowling Green (1-2) Saturday, have a week to fix their defensive problems before opening Big Ten play at Indiana on Oct. 2.
Rodriguez said the defense played tentative against UMass as the game went on and the overall play on that side of the line wasn’t even good enough for the coaching staff to name a defensive player of the game.
Making matters worse against UMass was that the defense couldn’t keep the Minutemen off the field, even after building a 35-17 lead well into the third quarter. UMass scored 20 points in the fourth quarter and pulled to 42-37 with enough time to attempt an onside kick, which failed.
If the defense keeps struggling, the pressure will increase on Robinson, who has been nearly flawless in running Rodriguez’s spread offense. Robinson leads the nation in rushing (186 yards per game) and total offense (410) and is a threat to make a big play every time he touches the ball.
He was at it again against UMass, which had built a 10-point lead in the first half. He completed 10-of-14 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 104 yards and another score. He completed four passes of 36 or more yards. Michigan finished with more than 500 offensive yards for the second straight game, including a career-high 126 yards and three touchdowns from running back Michael Shaw.
Bowling Green shouldn’t keep Michigan from going 4-0, but, then again, UMass also wasn’t supposed to threaten an upset. The aggressive Falcons are coming off a 44-28 win over Marshall, in which they returned two interceptions for touchdowns and forced five turnovers. Backup quarterback Aaron Pankratz played well in place of starter Matt Schilz, who sprained the shoulder of his throwing arm. It’s unclear if he will be back for Michigan.
Michigan is banged up on defense. Linebacker Mike Jones is out for the season with a broken leg. Linebacker Brandon Herron (ankle) and linebacker/safety Carvin Johnson (knee) are questionable.
Michigan, which is 26-1 against the Mid-American Conference, is 1-0 against Bowling Green. The Wolverines beat the Falcons 42-7 in 2000.