Rutgers Preview

Time: 12:00 

Location: Big House

Weather: 72 and Sunny

TV: BTN (Jake Butt and someone else)

Line: Michigan -24

It's time to start the regular Big Ten season with the pre-season or non-conference over.  Michigan at times has looked unstoppable and disinterested other times.   Michigan's focus now needs to be squarely on the goal at hand and that is another Big Ten Championship.  

Rutgers comes in very much like Rutgers has under Greg Schiano, a tough hard-nosed football team that plays solid defense and likes to run the ball.  The issue will always be trying to attract elite talent to the Garden State's top college football program.   Rutgers does have some athletes, QB Gavin Wimsatt has thrown for over 400 yards and ran for 144 as a dual threat, RB Kyle Monanga was the Big Ten offensive player of the week as he ran for 143 with 3 TD's against VA Tech, and this name might be familar to Wolverine fans DL Aaron Lewis who was a 2020 Michigan signed recruit that only lasted a few months before he headed home to Rutgers.  Lewis has 12 tackles, 1 Sack, and 1 TFL this season so far. 

Dear Jimmy, 

Welcome back to your regular duties on the sideline.  Sorry to hear about your former player at Stanford and I'm sure his family appreciated you being at his service.  

I would assume your return to full head coaching duties has been welcomed by the coaches and players as your squad got very sloppy last week in a win against Bowling Green.   The easy part of the schedule is now in the rearview mirror and it's time to focus on the Big Ten and another championship.  

JJ looked like Patrick Mahomes the first 2 games but regressed against Bowling Green and made some bad decisions and wrong reads that cost him 3 interceptions and Michigan additional scoring opportunities.   I'm sure you and QB coach Kirk Campbell have worked with him all week on that.  

Your starting defense has only given up field goals and hopefully you'll be getting your important secondary pieces back in Will Jonhson and Rod Moore.  There is a pretty strong rumor that Mason Graham has a hand injury that will cost him a few games.  Time for Cam Goode and Ken Grant to get more snaps.  Their size should be a huge benefit against a Rutgers team that likes to run the ball. 

I know every team will stack the box to stop Michigan's running game but we have to find a way to run the ball more effectively.  I 100% support a balanced offense and throwing the ball to open the running game.  Michigan just needs to expect loaded boxes at this point and start with the pass.   Michigan's TE's are way underutilized right now.  

This Rutgers team is solid and undefeated.  They are very similar to Michigan in the way they approach the power run game and defense.  Michigan's defense has struggled in the past with mobile QB's and will need to keep LB Michael Barrett in as a spy.  If Rutgers is going to win this game, they have to run the wheels off QB Gavin Wimsatt and get lucky on defense a few times.   This team was beating your squad at halftime last season 17-14.  

If Michigan can stop the run and avoid costly turnovers your team will be victorious in your first game back.  It's time for Michigan to play a real opponent and show the country the quality team you really have.  

Michigan 38 Rutgers 14