We preview this weekend's Maryland/Michigan matchup, and explain which team has the advantage in every phase of the game.
Michigan's Rush Offense vs. Maryland's Rush Defense
The Wolverine rushing attack had been making huge strides in every game this season (308 yards against WMU, 197 versus SMU, 285 against Nebraska), but then took a bit of a step back last week against Northwestern.
Although the team rushed for 180 yards against the Wildcats, it only averaged 4.3 yards per attempt.
With junior running back Chris Evans out with injury (his status remains questionable for this weekend), senior Karan Higdon served as the workhorse at the position, carrying a career-high 30 times for 115 yards and two scores.
His 3.8 yards per touch were underwhelming, but the offensive line deserves plenty of blame there.
The unit simply hasn't run blocked well this season, evidenced by Pro Football Focus (PFF) revealing that fifth-year senior right tackle Juwann Bushell-Beatty and sophomore center Cesar Ruiz are the only two U-M linemen who have graded out as a 60 or higher in the run blocking department this season (64 is considered average).
"If the offensive line can stay low and move guys off the line, they'll be fine 80 percent of the time," former Michigan All-Big Ten offensive lineman Doug Skene said on Chris Balas' Thursday podcast. "Just one or two blocks where you're too high can screw up an entire play."
On the flip side, the Maryland front seven has actually been very good this season, allowing just 104 yards per game (18th best in the country).
The unit has made a complete turnaround since last season when it surrendered 190.8 yards per contest (93rd).
The return of fifth-year senior defensive end Jessie Aniebonam from injury has been a huge boost, as has the addition of redshirt junior defensive end Byron Cowart, who was the No. 1 player in the country out of high school and left Auburn after spending just over two years there.
Those two will be joined by senior Mbi Tanyi and redshirt sophomore Oluwaseun Oluwatimi as the starters at defensive tackle, although fifth-year senior Brett Kulka, redshirt juniors Oseh Saine and Keiron Howard, and sophomore Bryce Brand will be heavily in the mix as well.
Fifth-year senior Tre Watson and redshirt junior Isaiah Davis will be the team's primary linebackers, although freshman Jordan Mosley (who played 62 snaps in the team's last game against Minnesota, fourth most on defense) could also see plenty of action, along with fellow freshman Durell Nchami.
Incredibly, the Terrapin front seven has held all four of its opponents to 3.9 yards per rush or fewer this season, most recently limiting Minnesota to 2.4 two weeks ago.
The unit has also racked up tackles for loss at a high rate, recording 7.5 per game (25th nationally), while Michigan has been stopped in its own backfield an average of 5.2 times per contest (which ranks a respectable 39th).
The numbers would likely suggest that Maryland has the advantage here, but Higdon has seemingly found a way to consistently get the job done this season, and is good for a few game-changing runs per outing (his four rushes of 40 yards or more are tied for the second most in college football).
Advantage: Michigan
