Preview: Michigan vs. Maryland

 

Taulia Tagovailoa (image via SI)

RUSH OFFENSE vs. MARYLAND RUSH DEFENSE
Michigan is #17 in rushing offense (231 yards/game) and tied for #9 in yards per carry at 5.98. They have also scored 15 rushing touchdowns, which is #2 in the nation behind Minnesota. Starting running back Blake Corum leads the squad with 235 yards on 34 carries (6.9 yards/carry), and his 7 rushing touchdowns are tied for #1 in the country with Minnesota's Mohamed Ibrahim. It's unclear whether star sophomore Donovan Edwards (15 carries, 90 yards, 2 TD) will be back for this game, so the primary backup may be true freshman C.J. Stokes (22 carries, 114 yards, 1 TD). Maryland is #49 in rushing defense (118.3 yards allowed/game) and #44 in yards allowed per carry (3.29). They have yet to allow a team to average more than 3.6 per rush. Their leading tackler is 6'1", 200 lb. junior safety Beau Brade with 27 stops, followed by 16 from true freshman Jaishawn Barham (6'3", 230), who caused a stir during his recruiting cycle by silently committing to Maryland, publicly committing to South Carolina, and then signing with the Terps. Maryland is tied for #100 in tackles for loss with just 13 so far. Maryland's two starting defensive tackles are JUCO transfers, and there are five transfer starters total; all four starting defensive lineman are seniors or fifth year guys.
Advantage: Michigan

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PASS OFFENSE vs. MARYLAND PASS DEFENSE
Michigan is #44 in passing offense (266 yards/game) but #12 in passing efficiency. The passing efficiency is largely on the back of some big plays that have garnered 10.5 yards per attempt. Michigan quarterbacks have only thrown 5 touchdowns and 1 interception. Former starter Cade McNamara is out for a while with a bum knee, so new starter J.J. McCarthy (88.2% completions, 3 TD, 0 INT) should be the only guy to play unless there's an injury or a package for freshman Alex Orji, who has 5 rushing attempts but just 1 pass. Leading receiver Ronnie Bell has 14 catches for 181 yards and 1 touchdown. Last season running back Donovan Edwards caught 10 passes for 170 yards against the Terrapins, and Edwards is expected to return from an ankle injury this weekend. The Wolverines are tied for #59 in sacks allowed (1.67 per game), and right tackle Trente Jones has given up a couple. Maryland is #107 in pass defense (273 yards allowed/game), but they have only allowed 5.8 yards/attempt (#24) and a 113.3 PER (#37). Last week SMU threw for 369 yards and 3 touchdowns, but it was on 54 attempts; SMU's Rashee Rice went off for 11 catches for 193 yards. The Terps are tied at #45 in sacks (2.3 per game), but no consistent threat has shown up. The leading sacker is DT Henry Chibueze (6'2", 310) with 2. Maryland's top corner is senior Jakorian Bennett (5'11", 195), who has 5 pass breakups so far this year. Michigan has a lot of tough targets to cover, so it will be a challenge for Maryland.
Advantage: Michigan

RUSH DEFENSE vs. MARYLAND RUSH OFFENSE
Michigan is #38 in rushing defense (102.7 yards allowed/game) and #31 in yards allowed per carry (2.96). Last week Connecticut ran 33 times for 86 yards, and Michigan has only allowed 1 rushing touchdown. Sophomore linebacker Junior Colson leads the team with 17 tackles, and the only other guy in double digits is part-time player Michael Barrett with 12. With the cupcakes Michigan has been playing, their starters haven't had to play very much in the second halves of the first three games. Meanwhile, Maryland is #54 in rushing yards per game (189.3) and #8 in yards per carry (6.16). The top three running backs all average 8.0 yards per carry or more, with starter Roman Hemby (6'0", 200) at 32 carries for 294 yards and 3 touchdowns. They run behind a solid but unspectacular offensive line. The most noteworthy lineman is probably left tackle Jaelyn Duncan (6'6", 320), who has some NFL Draft potential. Somehow Maryland always seems to have a stable of explosive running backs (except last year), and this year is no different, but they don't always have the line to make them consistent. Of course, it helps the run game when the QB and wideouts can make an impressive passing game.
Advantage: Michigan

PASS DEFENSE vs. MARYLAND PASS OFFENSE
Michigan is #3 in passing defense (91.3 yards allowed/game) and #1 in passing efficiency defense. Michigan's defense is good but not that good. They've played bad teams so far this year, which props up the stats. Michigan is tied for #28 in sacks (2.7 per game), but nobody has more than 1. Again, a disclaimer is necessary: these bad teams don't think they can sit back and be safe, so there have been a lot of quick throws and screens to avoid sacks. Maryland's offense is really propelled by a solid passing game. Taulia Tagovailoa (5'11", 200) is completing 77% of his throws for 10.2 yards/attempt, 6 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Former 5-star WR Rakim Jarrett (6'0", 190) has 11 catches for 196 yards and 1 touchdown, and Florida transfer Jacob Copeland (6'0", 202) is averaging 21.5 yards/catch and has 2 touchdowns on just 6 total receptions. And I didn't even get to veteran Jeshaun Jones (6'2", 185), who had 51 catches and 6 career touchdowns coming into this season. Overall, Maryland is tied at #20 in passing offense (310 yards/game) and #10 in passing efficiency. This will be a great test for a pass rush and defensive backfield that haven't really been pushed too hard in the first three weeks. I think the Terrapins will make some big plays.
Advantage: Maryland

ROSTER NOTES

• Maryland players offered by Michigan: LB Jaishawn Barham, RB Ramon Brown, LB Jordan Cannon, OT Jaelyn Duncan, DT Austin Fontaine, RB Colby Mcdonald, QB Taulia Tagovailoa, TE Weston Wolff
• Maryland players from the state of Michigan include: LB Jordan Cannon (Orchard Lake St. Mary's)
• Maryland offensive coordinator Dan Enos was Michigan's QB coach for about two weeks one time

LAST TIME THEY PLAYED...

• Michigan beat Maryland 59-18 at Maryland in 2021
• QB Cade McNamara completed 21/28 passes for 259 yards and 2 touchdowns
• RB Donovan Edwards caught 10 passes for 170 yards and 1 touchdown
• LB Mike Barrett threw a lateral on a kickoff return to WR A.J. Henning, who returned it 81 yards for a touchdown
• DE Aidan Hutchinson and OLB David Ojabo were both held without a sack

PREDICTION

• Michigan 38, Maryland 28