Keys to the Game: Michigan vs. UNLV

Game two of the Michigan exhibition — er, nonconference — portion of the season is upon us with UNLV coming to town as a 36.5-point underdog, the second week in a row we’ve seen that number. The Rebels have a first-year coach in Barry Odom and a long way to go to be competitive against better teams. They did start the season with a 44-14 win against an overmatched Bryant squad.

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But this is a rebuild, and it’s probably going to take some time. There was some excitement when Odom hired former Louisville and Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino as his offensive coordinator, but Petrino left for Texas A&M after only a few weeks. It’s now up to little-known Brennan Marion to put together a game plan for a nasty Michigan defense. Odom insisted they were more concerned about themselves than U-M.

“The approach we take from the time the game was over on Saturday to getting ready for a Monday practice — which we had a really good one — is trying to build a game plan in all three phases to give our kids a chance to be successful,” Odom said. “You get into the arena and you should be so prepared and so ready to go play there’s not a pregame talk or a motivational tactic that our team needs.”

They could probably use a bit more talent, however, to compete with the nation’s No. 2 team. Here are the Michigan keys to sending the Rebels back to Vegas with their first loss of the year.

Michigan Key No. 1: Stop the run — including the quarterback

The Michigan defense dominated the line of scrimmage last week against ECU, and we expect that will be the case again this week. UNLV ran over Bryant for 268 yards a week ago, including a 69-yard touchdown run on the game’s first play, but that was fool’s gold. Bryant had no athletes on defense, was undersized, and tackled poorly. The Rebels, 44-14 winners, probably could have won without throwing.

UNLV has a revamped offensive line and a decent running back in Vincent Davis, a Pitt transfer. Quarterback Doug Brumfield, a 6-foot-5, 225-pounder, can run, too. He ran for 71 yards and a score on 7 carries. The Michigan front seven will need to keep him in the pocket they way they did ECU’s Mason Garcia last week and also prepare for some designed runs for him. Secondary coach Steve Clinkscale said UNLV had a better passing game than ECU, but Brumfield completed only 11 of 18 attempts for 86 yards with a pick last week.

Michigan Key No. 2: Be prepared for another team dead set on stopping the run

Michigan quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell did a great job last week adjusting when ECU went with its ‘zero’ defense and brought the safeties to the line of scrimmage on the snap — and so did junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy. He’s getting more audible responsibility and used it well against the Pirates, Campbell said Wednesday, in checking into some successful plays. He’ll likely get even more as the season progresses.

But they still could have had more running game success had a few guys not missed assignments or been better in certain areas last week. Many wanted to criticize the line, but the Michigan tight ends need to be better, and the backs, too. It will help having offensive coordinator/line coach Sherrone Moore back with his guys Saturday after missing the first game due to suspension.

Michigan Key No. 3: Be prepared for tempo on defense

ECU was more methodical in getting to the line and taking time before running plays. UNLV will be more like the old UNLV Runnin’ Rebels basketball teams in wanting to move quickly. That puts pressure on a defense to be ready to go at the snap. They also had receivers open deep that Brumfield just overshot, so the Michigan defenders will have to be ready at the snap.

“Guys wide open and just overthrew them by a couple of feet,” Clinkscale said. “I think you always see a big difference from week one to week two, and I think they’ll probably correct that and his timing will be better. His receivers will run under the ball … so, I think he’s the first one that stands out. They have a couple of receivers that are really fast guys.

“… They can put points on the board in no time, just watching those guys. Of course, they run a different offense, a ‘Go-Go’ offense. Just having great eye discipline has been the biggest focus for us, and allowing our guys upfront to do their job and not allowing them to create the big shots and plays that they want.”

The breakdown: Michigan football vs. UNLV

Make no mistake — Michigan dominated against ECU, adjusting against a team entirely focused on stopping the run. The defense was fast to the ball, the communication outstanding in the secondary even with junior safety Rod Moore and sophomore cornerback Will Johnson out with injury. They’ll be back soon — maybe this week — but it won’t change the game plan if they aren’t. UNLV does have some players and some speed.

“It’s a talented UNLV team that’s coming in here. It will be an exciting game,” interim head coach Jay Harbaugh said. “They’re really good. They have a lot of really good players — they hit the portal really hard. Coach Odom is doing a really nice job. It’s clear that he’s got the Rebels on the move. A lot of speed, a lot of good skill players … it will be a challenge for our defense.”

That remains to be seen. But we do expect the Wolverines to put up a lot of points on offense, and to win going away.