Written by Lloyd Ribner III (@Ribner3)
The Hoosiers will need an explosive performance, like that of Tandon Doss in 2009, if they hope to have a shot at upsetting the Wolverines in The Big House.
Welcome back to our series previewing the 2013 Indiana
football schedule week-by-week. Last time we got together we took a look at the
Hoosiers first road trip, which also happened to be the Old Brass Spittoon
Game. This week Indiana again heads to the Mitten State, but instead of East
Lansing, they will find themselves in Ann Arbor.
Let the audible groans commence.
The series between Indiana and Michigan is a long-standing,
yet one-sided match-up. The two schools first met on the gridiron back in 1900,
and have played 61 times since the turn of the century. Unfortunately for the
Hoosiers, they have won just nine of the contests with their last victory
coming way back in 1987. In fact Indiana’s victory that year marked the only
time they had topped the Wolverines since 1967.
However, this game is not played in the history books, but
instead on the field. So lets take a look forward at this years match-up
between Michigan and Indiana.
Week 8: Michigan
Wolverines
Time & Date: 3:30
pm, Saturday, Oct. 19th
Venue: Michigan
Stadium (Ann Arbor, MI)
TV: BTN
Wolverines at a
Glance:
Head Coach: Brady
Hoke (19-7 (12-4), 2 years)
Last Season: 8-5
(6-2, 2nd Big Ten-Legends)
Offensive Formation:
Multiple
Defensive Formation:
4-3
Returning Starters:
Total: 12
Offense: 6
Defense: 6
Specials: Kicker
Returning Team
Leaders:
Passing: Devin
Gardner (59.5%, 1,219 Yds, 11 TD, 5 INT)
Rushing: Fitzgerald
Toussaint (514 Yds, 4.0 Avg, 5 TD)
Receiving: Jeremy
Gallon (49 Rec., 829 Yds, 16.9 Avg, 4 TD)
Preseason Magazine Predictions
for Michigan:
Athlon: 10-3 (6-2),
1st Place Big Ten Legends
Lindy’s: 1st
Place Big Ten Legends
Phil Steele: 3rd
Place Big Ten Legends
Why the Wolverines
could win:
As has been the case historically,
you do not have to look far to find reasons as to why Michigan could beat the
Hoosiers this year. For starters, the
Wolverines are ranked number seventeen in the nation, the second highest
ranking for a Big Ten team to start the season.
The coaching staff has had
consistency since Brady Hoke has taken over the reigns in Ann Arbor. Al Borges and Greg Mattison are his
coordinators who are both amongst the best in the nation at their respective
positions.
On the Offensive side of the ball
Borges finally has a quarterback in Devin Gardner that is more passer than
runner. That will allow the offensive coordinator to further implement the type
of offense he has always envisioned since coming to Michigan. To help the
process a pair of running backs should be able to carry a heavy load. Returning starter Fitzgerald Toussaint should
provide a veteran presence as he in the backfield. With his more than 1,500
yards career rushing yards under his belt the rising senior has the experience
that could lead to a big final season of colligate ball. Joining him in the backfield equation will be
true freshman Derrick Green. The Virginia native was a top-five running back in
the class of 2013, and considered by many to be amongst the players who are
most ready to step in right away and contribute in his first year on campus.
Another weapon that start Devin
Gardner will have at his disposal during his first full year on the job will be
Jeremy Gallon. The Florida native is a big play threat anytime the ball is in
his hands. Last season he averaged nearly 17 yards per catch on his way to 829
yards overall. With an offense that will be directed by a signal caller who is
more likely to use his arm as opposed to his legs, those numbers could take a
spike up during Gallons final season in the maize and blue.
On the other side of the ball Greg
Mattison has done an exceptional job of turning around a Wolverines defense
that just two years ago was amongst the worst in the nation. In 2012 the unit
ranked 20th nationally allowing just 19.8 points per game, including
six games where they held their opponents to 13 points or fewer.
The cherry on top for the
Wolverines is kicker Brendan Gibbons who was amongst the most efficient kickers
in the nation last season. He converted
all 45 of his extra point attempts to go along with his 89-percent field goal
percentage.
Why They Won’t Pull
it Off:
While there seems to be a great deal of optimism around the
Wolverine program, there are many potential question marks as well.
For starters, the Wolverines are relying on a quarterback who
has just five starts under his belt. In addition while the backfield has a ton
of talent, Fitz Toussaint is coming off a season where his production was
obviously diminished and then had his season abruptly end with a broken leg.
The Wolverines other option in the backfield is freshman Derrick Green, who has
all the talent in the world, however, when a player has never played a down of
college football there always have to be questions asked to whether or not he
can be a factor.
The biggest question mark on the entire team may very well
be the offensive line. While it is anchored by the best tackle in the
conference in Taylor Lewan who is back for his senior season, outside of that
there are major holes to be filled. It looks as if the Wolverines will be
starting a pair of freshman at the guard spots as well as a first year starter
at center.
Final Analysis:
The Hoosiers will have their hands full in Week Eight up in Ann Arbor.
This game will likely provide the Hoosiers with their toughest
of the season up until this point. While to this point Indiana would have
played against quality offenses like Missouri and top flight defenses like that
of Michigan State, the Wolverines will be the first complete team that Indiana
will have to line up against. By that I mean that they actually have both an
offense and a defense that very well could be ranked in the top-25 in the
nation.
While I think by this point in the season the Indiana
defense will have improved from the train wreck that was 2012, I believe that
for the Hoosiers to have a chance to win this game they will need two specific
things to happen.
First of all they will need big plays in all facets of the
game. They will need a big return or two to provide a spark, a big play from
Shane Wynn or a running back that allows the offense to take a breath and a big
play on defense that can swing the turnover battle in their direction.
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In addition, the Hoosiers need to impress their tempo and
style of play onto the game. They must be able to make the Wolverines
uncomfortable with their style from the first snap of the game.
Unfortunately, none of this is easy to do ever, let alone
when matched up against a talented, well coached and disciplined team like the
Wolverines. Add to that the fact that this game will be played at The Big
House, and it will be one of the toughest tests on Indiana’sschedule all
season.
I do believe that this game will be a lot more fun to watch from a Hoosiers
perspective than most of the 61 previous meetings between the two schools
Indiana Chance of
Winning: 10%
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