As No. 1 Oregon heads to Michigan this Saturday, Ducks coach Dan Lanning is looking forward to the challenge the Wolverines present. Specifically, he’s preparing for Michigan’s two-headed QB and the run defense.
Last week, No. 1 Oregon demolished No. 20 Illinois, 38-9. The week before, it delivered a 35-0 whooping to Purdue. And one week prior before that, the Ducks came away with a 32-31 victory over No. 2 Ohio State .
Needless to say, Oregon has been pretty dominant this season. But that doesn’t mean head coach Dan Lanning and the Ducks are underestimating the Michigan Wolverines .
“(I’m) certainly excited about the challenge in front of us now, going to Michigan, a talented team,” Lanning told the media this week. “I think the last I looked, they’ve got five guys that are projected to be drafted in the first round. They’ve got talent across the board and certainly have the ability to play a really good game, so it’s gonna be a good challenge for our guys.”
Oregon has passed every challenge it’s faced this season with flying colors. And while the Wolverines certainly can be a challenge, they haven’t exactly proven their ability to play a really good game. It’s been a rocky season for Michigan in terms of consistency and continuity.
Namely, the Wolverines’ quarterback struggles have served as a barrier. But against Michigan State , when Davis Warren returned from a four-game hiatus on the bench, there seemed to be a semblance of certainty. With Warren able to avoid turnovers, as well as Alex Orji tapping in to bolster the run game, Michigan actually had a game plan it was able to execute. That didn’t go unnoticed by Lanning, and Oregon is prepared for the threat of the Wolverines’ quarterback tandem.
“Obviously, Orji played again last game as well, so it’s different depending on who’s in the game,” Lanning said. “They’re both capable and can win in different ways. But I think (Warren) played well in the last game, and I think getting in a rhythm and finding some consistency is probably important for them. But they both can beat you in different ways. They can throw the ball, obviously they do a great job of establishing the run game, and that’s something that (Orji) will bring in a little bit more as he comes in.”
As Lanning said, getting in a rhythm and finding consistency is important for Michigan. Eight games into the season, that is still an elusive feat for the Wolverines But after flashing life against the Spartans last week, a strong showing against Oregon could help establish rhythm even more. But the Ducks have allowed the 10th fewest points per game this season, making that a big challenge.
In addition to preparing for Michigan’s two-quarterback offense, Oregon is keen to tear apart the Wolverines’ defense. Specifically, the Ducks are hoping to find holes in the defense to establish the ground game.
“Something we’re preparing for is the ability to be able to run the ball on a team like this,” Laning said. “I think that’s important when you play in games like this. (Michigan’s) always been a really physical run game team. They’ve always done a good job of running well, and I think our offense and our team is most efficient when we have a good run game going. So that will be an important piece for us to try to figure out.”
Last week, Oregon tore up Illinois’ run defense for 229 yards. Not only is the Ducks’ run game elite, but the Wolverines have also struggled to stop the run as of late.
Through the first five games of the season, Michigan allowed just 68.8 rushing yards per game. But over the past three games, Michigan has allowed 154.67 rushing yards per game, a massive rise. With the Wolverines’ defense struggling to limit the opposition’s rush attack, and Oregon’s run game firing on all cylinders, Michigan certainly has its work cut out for it.
Between preparing for Michigan’s quarterback duo and trying to dismantle their run game defense, the Ducks aren’t underestimating the Wolverines, regardless of how each team’s season is going.