On Saturday No. 17 Florida is set to square off against No. 11 Michigan in a match-up that will air on ABC, Chris Balas previews the Wolverines for Inside the Gators for our Behind Enemy Lines series.
After a disappointing spring game, how has quarterback Wilton Speight looked in fall camp?
CB: Really good. There was a faction of the fan base that really wanted him to get passed over by one of the young guys … specifically redshirt freshman Brandon Peters. Peters faded, while both Speight and fifth-year senior John O’Korn improved dramatically. Speight doesn’t have the biggest arm, but his pocket presence is outstanding and he knows the playbook inside and out. He really worked at his craft this summer, and it’s showed.
Speight played injured in the last two games of the season, including FSU, and he had offseason surgery, from what we heard. He’s earned the respect of his teammates and will likely be a captain next year … they expect him to improve upon his very solid, third-team All-Big Ten first season.
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What is expected from a Michigan defense replacing so many starters? If you were Florida offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, how would you attack this defense?
CB: This defense will arguably be more athletic than the one that sent eight guys to NFL training camps, and the ‘lack of experience’ card is somewhat overblown. Last year’s second-team defensive line played a lot last year, and at times was better than the first team line. Fifth-year senior Maurice Hurst was snubbed for All-Big Ten honors last year, but he’s Pro Football Focus’ No. 1 interior pass rushing prospect. He dominated in the Ohio State game last year. Nose tackle Bryan Mone has been a rising star for three years now (injuries robbed him of most of the last two), but he’s a huge presence in the middle that will make it tough to run. Everyone knows about sophomore defensive end Rashan Gary.
The linebackers should be good, led by fifth-year senior captain Mike McCray … it’s the secondary that’s the concern. The corners got picked on in fall camp, and one of them is still up in the air. Sophomore Lavert Hill really came on and has been very good, but the safeties are new, too, and any game plan should probably start by testing them, since the Wolverines are 90 percent press man coverage under defensive coordinator Don Brown and won’t change.
Brown’s defenses have been elite for the last several years, wherever he’s been … including at Boston College, where he didn’t have half the talent and got no support from a B.C. offense that went three-and-out 40 percent of the time. They led the nation in defense.
We think they’ll be okay.
Similarly, how do you think the Wolverines will game plan for a Florida defense that is thin at linebacker and likely to play true freshmen in the secondary?
CB: Michigan brought in a new pass game coordinator in Pep Hamilton (Cleveland Browns) who worked with Harbaugh in the past, and he’s added elements of a quick passing game slated to get the ball in the hands of the playmakers. The young receivers are very talented, inexperienced, but they trust them. At least one freshman will be in the starting lineup.
They’ll take their shots downfield, try to lull them to sleep (remember Vernon Hargreaves a few years back) and catch them off guard, but Jim Harbaugh wants to run the ball. Don’t be surprised to see a healthy dose of sophomore running back Chris Evans, who has built on a season in which he averaged 7.0 yards per carry and had a very nice game in the Orange Bowl against Florida State. Don’t be surprised to see a few quick hitters with the fullbacks and plenty of the tight ends. Sometimes you’ll see three of them on the field at the same time.
Do you expect any Michigan true freshmen to see significant playing time in Dallas?
CB: Freshman receivers Tarik Black and Donovan Peoples-Jones will play a lot, and one of them will start. True freshman punter Brad Robbins looks like a future All-American, but how will he perform on the biggest of stages in the opener? That’s a lot of pressure for a first game.
As many as 12-13 guys will play on special teams and as backups, as well. IMG Academy’s Cesar Ruiz will be the backup at center, linebacker Josh Ross will be in the two-deep and defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon, as well as end Kwity Paye. But they won’t be relying on freshmen (other than the receivers) to help them win.
Has anything from fall camp changed your post-spring outlook of a 10-2 season for the Wolverines?
CB: No … still seems about right. There’s always that stretch of four games or so that’s going to define the season — this year it’s Florida, at Penn State, at Wisconsin and Ohio State. The middle two are very tough road environments, and everyone knows how tough the Buckeyes are. That’s why this game is so important for the Wolverines, as we’re sure it is for the Gators, as well. It’s winnable for both teams, and really one of the keys to the season.
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