NFL
By: Joe Cardoso
And here… we… GO
The games that matter are here!
Michigan opens Big Ten play with Iowa, and this game will tell me more about these Wolverines than the first 3 games did.
Michigan sits at 3-0. Iowa is 3-0. Both teams are ranked in the top 20, but are they really top teams?
Both squads dream of winning the Big Ten. Michigan has already given us a little bit of everything this season. A scare against Western Michigan. A statement win over Oklahoma. Then a dominant performance against UTEP. Now comes Iowa. The Hawkeyes bring one of the nation’s best defenses into the Big House, and that is where this game gets interesting.
Michigan has struggled at times to consistently move the football, and turnovers have been an issue. The Wolverines have put the ball on the ground six times in the first 3 games. Against Iowa, those mistakes could be the difference between winning and losing.
Step Up
Andrew Marsh
Michigan is going to need somebody to make big plays in th passing game. Marsh has shown he can stretch the field, and against Iowa’s defense, he is needed. Explosive plays will be HUGE; Michigan won’t get many opportunities when they do, Marsh needs to make them count.
John Henry Daley
I can see this being a defensive game; we have seen flashes from Daley on the defensive line. He was a problem for Oklahoma and now looks to make Iowa’s offense have a very bad day.
Safe to say the Michigan defense has been excellent so far. It will have to do it again.
Bryce Underwood
Well, duh.
Show us how much you have grown. Underwood looked very comfortable against UTEP; two touchdowns. Iowa is a different challenge. The Hawkeyes will look to confuse him, force him to make quick decisions, and capitalize on mistakes.
We don’t need you to be Superman Saturday. Just play smart football and continue to grow as a player who leads this team.
So how do we win? I see three things that have to happen for Michigan to get the W.
- Protect the football
- Establish the run
- Let the defense control the game
This is why I love Big Ten Football and what it is supposed to look like.
Two ranked teams. Two undefeated teams. A packed Big House.
Michigan doesn’t have to be pretty. It needs to protect the football. When the big moments come, Michigan needs its play makers to MAKE plays. Saturday will show us so much about this team. Welcome to Big Ten football.
