Michigan Football vs. Maryland: Screening Report, Prediction

More: Michigan's football defense is dominant, but Don Brown thinks only of winning

Injury report

Michigan: Outside: WR Tarik Black, P Brad Robbins, DB Benjamin St-Juste, DE Luiji Vilain. Questionable: DT Aubrey Solomon, RB Chris Evans, Rashan DE Gary, WR Nate Schoenle.

Maryland: Outside: RB Lorenzo Harrison III, RB Jake Funk. Likely: OL Johnny Jordan, S. Darnell Savage Jr., S. Antwaine Richardson.

Scouting report

When Michigan has the ball: Maryland's defense has improved a lot statistically this season after the dominant days against Bowling Green and Minnesota. The Terps however gave up more than 400 meters to Texas during a victory for the inauguration of the season and against a defeat against Temple during a week. Maryland has feasted on business figures and has been terrific in third place. The Terps recorded a turnover in every game (eight in total) and lead the conference in third defense with 29%. D.J. Durkin is still suspended, but that is his defense. Maryland will play with three linemen and a linebacker / rebounder and the Terps will divide the wealth. Maryland has 30 TFL this season split between 16 different players, but the overall attack remains mediocre. Nobody was really able to hammer the ball against this team. However, Texas and Temple have been successful in the air, including the Owls. They do not give up a lot of big games, they will cover the press and their athleticism is better than it has been. Improved, yes. How many? We will see.

When Maryland has the ball: When the ground game works, it is explosive. Otherwise, afternoons can be long for Terps. If Maryland manages to make its way to Ty Johnson and Anthony McFarland, there will be big games. But if you make holes against that front and force QB rookie Kasim Hill to fight with his arm, things can get a bit risky. Hill performs 55% of his throws and only two receivers have more than five receptions this season. This is a race first, throw second situation. Maryland is the last of the Big Ten in 10-yard or more passing games (19) and the second in the league in rushes of 10 yards or more (37). Matt Canada's offensive involves a ton of movement in an effort to confuse the defenses. The formations vary, the movements vary (does it sound familiar?) Hill does not run too much. But it's pretty simple here: stop the race, stop Maryland.

Know the enemy

Man on the move: Many of Jim Harbaugh's attacks are designed to hide relatively basic concepts with constant movement and varied formations. Canada, acting head coach and coordinator of the first year offensive in Maryland, is doing much of the same thing, and more. Canada can present the same game in several different appearances, with staggered movement concepts and a general disguise to try to thwart a defense. By the end of the day, however, it's a downhill situation. Pound football, attack the edge with scans where possible and set up defenses for a big game because of the confusion.

About this defense: Maryland plays strong defense. The Terps run for football and many opportunities arise from the haste and effort. At the same time, busts took place. If you avoid turnovers against Maryland and meet deadlines, good things can happen. If you play from behind the chains during the first trials, this defense becomes aggressive. You can take advantage of it, but it is best to play the game of security and force Maryland to match the physical nature to the point of attack.

play hardMaryland had a brutal off season. Offensive lineman Jordan McNair died tragically after a training session in the off-season. Durkin was subsequently put on administrative leave because of allegations that the environment would be toxic. But the 3-1 team under Canada. This group is in competition, there is no doubt. The Terrapins had the fourth best Big Ten recruiting class in 2017 and the fifth best in 2018. This program has talent and is ready to fight against adversity. This certainly deserves to be mentioned here.

Two cents

Earn your shortcomings: Being on a day-to-day basis with Rashan Gary is interesting for Michigan, as the Wolverines will leave plenty of room in the back if he can not play in this game. Whatever the case may be, if the Michigan defensive line systematically manages to fill in its gaps and keep things in the middle of the field, no amount of movement or confusion will matter. The Wolverines have enough playmakers in the space to stop this game if that's the case. Take it off, take Maryland. If contain is lost, Michigan will pursue the riders behind much more than he wants.

Discipline: They are the two most penalized teams in the Big Ten. Michigan is the No. 1 overall flag at 46, but Maryland (who played one game less) has a higher average of 9.3 per game. If Michigan can play pure football, it has the athletes and the defense to do business in this game. If it becomes a flag parade? Who knows what could happen?

Prediction

It's hard to imagine Don Brown's defense stumbling across the floor in a four-quarter home game here. In Maryland, it may be that some things are based on athletics and Canada's confusion, but Brown is adapting as well as anybody else. Maryland's defense has been good against horrible teams and little effective against others. Maryland is more talented than Northwestern. But Michigan should have enough money here at home, as long as he takes care of football and plays the offensive well.

Choice: Michigan 30, Maryland 14