Keys to the Game: Michigan vs. Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl - can U-M win?

This isn’t exactly what the Michigan players and fans meant this spring when they talked of “running it back” — a rematch with Alabama with nothing on the line. But that’s where we are, and we might as well make the most of it. At the very least, it’s an opportunity to get some of the young guys some run and several more practices for some of next year’s starters.

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While some were hoping for a more “winnable” game — maybe the Pinstripe Bowl vs. Boston College or something — this is a warm weather exhibition, essentially, that doesn’t mean a whole hell of a lot. It’s just the reality of college football today compared to decades ago, when the Wolverines celebrated like they won a national title when they beat ‘Bama in this bowl game in 1988 (then called the Hall of Fame Bowl). 

But you still want to win, and that will be the goal Tuesday. Head coach Sherrone Moore insisted a few weeks back it was his only goal. 

“I just want to win,” he said. “We’re going to do everything we can with all the guys that we have there to go win. That’s the number one goal — to go win. And we talked about recommitting just like we did two weeks ago in the bye week … recommitting to your wives, recommitting to each other, and doing everything we can to be successful. 

“I think we’re in a really good place right now mentally, physically, spiritually. We just want to do everything we can to win.”

Here are the keys for an undermanned Michigan team to pull an upset:

Michigan Key No. 1: Slow the Alabama run game, led by Jalen Milroe

This is going to be tougher without defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant in the middle, Josaiah Stewart on the edge, etc. But what an opportunity for the young guys to show what they can do. Guys like Trey Pierce, Cam Brandt, Dominic Nichols, etc. are eyeing next year, and if they can hold up against this Alabama line and a quarterback in Milroe who pressures defenses with his feet … well, that’s a good sign. 

But it won’t be easy. ‘Bama QB Milroe didn’t have a great year, but if the line is getting movement up front, he will make you pay. He rushed for 104 yards in a win over Auburn and 185 in a blowout win at LSU, 117 in a win over Georgia.

If he gets his Tuesday, Michigan will have a tough time winning (and probably would anyway even if he didn’t). But the ‘Bama passing game isn’t great, and as one colleague on the Crimson Tide side told us, “They only have four wide receivers.” So, stack the line, make them throw, and see what happens.

Key No. 2: Find some way — any way — to manufacture offense 

And good luck with that. This Alabama defense has lots of athletes and all due respect to Ohio State’s “best damn team in the land money can buy” is the best Michigan will have faced this season. 

Michigan leaned on two guys for much of its offense this year — junior tight end Colston Loveland and senior running back Kalel Mullings — and neither will be playing in this game. Left tackle Myles Hinton seemed far and away U-M’s best offensive lineman this year, and he’s out. The line was leaky with him in there, so how is it going to protect quarterback Davis Warren without him?

Mullings, frankly, made chicken salad out of chicken droppings a lot of the time this year, getting a lot of his yardage after contact to move the ball on the rare occasion the Wolverines were able to. Warren won’t really have any weapons to throw to … so where will the offense come from?

We don’t know, but we do know interim offensive coordinator Steve Casula has his work cut out for him. 

Michigan Key No. 3: Take some chances on both sides of the ball

Unlike the Rose Bowl, Alabama has decided advantages at just about every position with the Wolverines’ best players sitting out. This is a game in which the coaches are going to have to break tendency — they aren’t running the ball down this team’s throat, so more first down passes, some new formations, etc. — and Wink Martindale will probably have to blitz much more than he did against Ohio State in what was a masterful performance for him and his group. 

The Michigan corners are probably going to have to be trusted more than they usually would be, the safeties more involved in slowing the run. It will be interesting to watch the chess match unfold. 

The breakdown: Michigan football vs. Alabama

We enter this one with low expectations, but genuine excitement to see what some of the young guys waiting in the wings can do. That’s been the wish of some fans for years, right? “This game doesn’t really matter, so why not put some of the young guys in and give them a shot.” 

Well — you get your wish, and what an opportunity for them. Jordan Marshall at running back (and yes, Ben Hall), the young guys up front on defense, some of the tight ends and receivers — they’ve got a chance to show what they can do on a national stage. No, it’s not a premier bowl game, but the two “name” programs” will draw a large audience for as long as the game remains somewhat close. 

Flat out, it’s going to take some breaks and a game plan similar to (and that breaks the way of) the one at Ohio State. Get some bounces, excellent special teams play, outstanding defense, and just enough offense to pull out an ugly victory. 

We’re not saying it’s impossible, but it does seem highly unlikely. There is a big difference between 7-6 and 8-5, or at least there was in the past, but it’s not really so much anymore. This team beat the rivals in a down year, including a victory in Columbus. Get this one, and it’s gravy.