BOL on YouTube: Alabama-Michigan preview
Join BamaOnLine staff writer Clint Lamb and team expert Jimmy Stein as they preview the College Football Playoff semifinal matchup between No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Alabama in the Rose Bowl. Topics from today’s conversation include:
- How good is Michigan’s defense?
- Why stopping the run matters for Alabama
- How Michigan’s offense differs from Georgia’s
- Is Jaheim Oatis an underrated X-factor in this game?
- And more!
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Why Milroe presents challenge for UM (Preview)
Statistically speaking, Michigan fields one of the top defenses in college football. The Wolverines currently rank No. 1 nationally in scoring defense, giving up just 9.5 points per game. As far as total defense, they’re not far behind at all, sitting at No. 2 while allowing an average of just 239.7 yards (87.1 rushing, 152.6 passing).
From an NFL draft perspective, UM fields a lot of guys on defense who will eventually be playing on Sundays. For example, defensive lineman Kris Jenkins and safety Rod Moore are squarely in the mix to go sometime on Day 2 this upcoming April. Cornerback Will Johnson, defensive lineman Mason Graham and linebacker Junior Colson are all underclassmen who are considered high-quality NFL prospects, too.
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Once again, this group brings talent to the table. There’s a reason it’s one of the nation’s top units. But with that being said, Michigan hasn’t seen a quarterback quite like Alabama’s Jalen Milroe. Yes, the Wolverines have played a few runners at the position. And yes, they’ve also faced several quality passers who are able to strain with their arms. We tend to throw around the words “dual-threat quarterback” too often though, and that’s exactly what Milroe has become over the course of this season.
Now, it is true that he can struggle at times as a passer. There are things Michigan can (and probably will) do to make his life as difficult as possible. Georgia decided to try something new with two spies to prevent his legs from beating them. It was an effective strategy to an extent, but that decision presented other opportunities. And eventually, Milroe and Alabama figured out how to fully take advantage of those opportunities.
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