Here is what I will do. I will provide you with, hopefully, a concise preview on what to expect out of Utah - the players to watch for, and the matchups to exploit. There is nothing I can effectively write about Michigan, because frankly, nobody knows what it's going to look like. This ain't Mike DeBord's offense, and will hopefully not lend itself to the predictibility that failed the previous regime. It is impossible to preview a question mark, because there is nothing you can expect out of a question mark - it simply exists: large, looming. The question for Michigan fans is whether that question mark explodes into fireworks, or whether it will deflate into a crumpled mass of what used to be a really fun moon-walk. All Michigan fans can do is wait around until 3:30 on Saturday, praying for fireworks.
UTAH OFFENSE:
Quarterback: Brain Johnson returns for his third year as the Utah starter - but he didn't exactly follow the normal path. He redshirted in 2006 for knee surgery, and when he returned last year, it took him awhile to get back into the flow. Relevent stats for last year:Passing completion/attempts: 181/272
Percent: 66.5%
Total Yards: 1847
TD/INT: 11/10
Rushing: 150 yards, 2 TD's
Those stats were nearly all significant drops from his 2005 season, when he threw for ~2900 yards and 18 TD's. Which quarterback shows up for Utah will largely determine their success against Michigan. Those paying attention at home know that Johnson did miss some time last year with a broken collar bone, but the yardage and TD totals are still down, even if you take the missing time into account.
Running Back:
Both Derrell Mack and Matt Asiata bring the power in the rushing game. These guys aren't the types that will burn you, but they will move the chains. Utah lost Asiata to injury in last season's opener, but with both backs healthy, they have a great power running combo that will keep Michigan's defense busy. The good news for Michigan is that this type of attack plays into what used to be their strength. Given the relative lack of turnover and the continued use of the base 4-3, this shouldn't change too much: Michigan should be able to stop this running attack. Both backs are very good - but they're at Utah for a reason. Given the whole "Michigan as question-mark" metaphor, however, these two backs demand attention.
Offensive Line:
Sophomore guard Caleb Schlauderaff is probably Utah's best player here, and that's not good. He was a former 1 star to Scout, and the aforementioned "sophomore" label tends to send up some red flags. However, he is supplemented by two other offensive linemen that crack the "pretty good" mark in Zane Beadles and Robert Conley. Given Schaffer's penchant for blitzing, I expect this line to have their hands full all day.
Receivers:Senior Brent Casteel leads the way here, and if "brentcasteelforheisman.com" is any indication, expectations are high. [upon further investigation, that site is registered, however, it is currently showing "symptoms of an overdoes." My guess is that it was registered, and is currently void of content. - B2]. He missed most of last year with knee surgery, but his 10 TD's in 2006 is impressive. He's a senior with something to prove, and he will be a major contributing factor in Brain Johnson's quest to regain form.
UTAH DEFENSE:
The summary of the defense for Utah is that the front 7 are bad, the secondary is good. The Mike Linebacker is appropriately named Mike Wright, and he will be the leader on an interior defense that was decimated by attrition. He was a walk on. The secondary, on the other hand, should be quite good, with senior CB Brice McCain leading the way. McCain also returns kicks, and runs for President [boooooo - ed.].
I'm not going to make a special place for him, but kicker Louie Sakoda is excellent.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH FOR:
Michigan's bevy of RB's vs. Utah Interior D
If there is one thing about Michigan that we're fairly certain of, it is that they will deploy several RB's, sometimes 3 at a time. If there is another thing we can be fairly certain of, it is that Rich Rodriguez will try to run the ball early and often. If Utah's interior defense - currently dressed as a big fuzzy question mark - can hold Michigan's running game (whatever form it takes) in check, then Michigan's offense will have failed.
Michigan QB dejour vs. Utah Secondary
Regardless of the success rushing attack, there will come a point in Saturday's game that the Michigan QB will be asked to throw. This could take on many forms, including screens, slants, etc., but there will a point in time when the Michigan QB lofts the ball through the air with the desired outcome being that the receiver catches it, and moves upfield. He will be doing this into the strength of the Utah defense. If Sheridan/Threet/Feagin/Brown are forced into tough throws, it's turnover central.
Utah Power Rush vs. Michigan Front 7
Just as critical to Utah, the rushing attack must get off the ground. There are several factors that play into this. First, the Utah Offensive line have to be able to hold thier blocks long enough for Mack/Asiata to get into the Linebackers. If they can do that, the RB tandem has a good chance of moving chains, keeping the defense honest, and opening things up for Johnson's passing game. Michigan's front 4 look to be the best we've seen in some time, and if they start penetrating, they could make Utah's offense look like what everyone expects Michigan's offense to: unprepared, inefficient, and fail.
Brian Johnson vs. Himself
Man vs. Self; how literary of me. What I mean is simply this: Brian Johnson is a dicotomous quarterback. If he's rattled, pressured, and taken out of synch, he will suck. But if he gets on a roll and gains confidence, he has the skills to beat you. What Johnson needs to realize is that, in all likelyhood, he is going to get hit this game. Shaeffer (Michigan DC) brings heat, and frankly, the Utah O-line has no business stopping it. If Johnson allows this to take him out of his rythm, he will take himself out as a contributer to the offense. If Utah is going to be successful, they will need Johnson to be the potential MWC MVP that he is capable of being. It will be Michigan's job to make sure that his ass hits the turf as much as possible.
Pray for fireworks.
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