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Michigan on high alert ahead of Iowa game: 'They will expose you on the little things'

Anthony Broomeby:Anthony Broome•09/28/22•

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STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 13: Joel Honigford #84 of the Michigan Wolverines warms up before the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium on November 13, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Michigan football has every reason on paper to feel confident about its upcoming game with the Iowa Hawkeyes. Iowa has struggled offensively this season and Michigan dispatched them 42-3 in last December’s Big Ten Championship game.

Despite that, the program remains on high alert heading into its first road game this season.

“It doesn’t give us a lack of confidence, but they’re a new team,” graduate tight end Joel Honigford told the media on Tuesday night. “We’re a new team, so we have to reevaluate them and ourselves. Develop that game plan that’s going to work best against them and execute.

“They will expose you on the little things. So if you’re not focused on your technique and your first step, your release, anything like that, they will expose you on it. You can’t get comfortable with the basics, and you really gotta focus on the first initial points of the play and then also the progression throughout.

“And you can never get lazy or they will expose you. It’s just a lot of guys who know how to play football. They’ve been playing the same scheme for a long time.”

Psychological warfare

Iowa also has a way of playing the mental game with its opponents. Something about Kinnick Stadium has caused top-5 teams to go 1-5 in their last 6 trips to Iowa City. Michigan is among that group, having lost 14-13 in 2016.

“They have their psychological things they do. The pink locker room. It’s gonna be loud,” Honigford said. “They’re gonna be juiced up, we have to focus on us and staying even keel. Not letting the crowd get to us and just playing our brand of football. They’re gonna have their big plays.

“They’re a good football team, no doubt about it. It’s the trust in our game plan and the guys on the field and not getting too emotionally invested. Either way, staying right there in the middle and just playing.”

Colston Loveland getting run early in Michigan career

Michigan’s tight end position has looked a bit different so far this year with a hobbled Erick All giving way to players like Honingford, graduate student Luke Schoonmaker, sophomore Max Bredeson and freshman Colston Loveland. Loveland’s role continues to evolve as he finds his footing at Michigan, but he has always prepared for an opportunity to hit the field.

“I’m always thinking, always thinking that I can play,” Loveland told the media Tuesday. “I always think that I’m good enough to play. Really from the jump I was just trying my hardest to come out every day and get better and better and learn from the guys ahead of me.”

A veteran group of tight ends has helped him prepare for early playing time. Loveland has been a sponge when it comes to advice from his peers.

“Really just watching them every day in practice,” he said. “Seeing how they move, their first steps and point of contact … really just sinks into my mind. I’m always asking them questions and they’re super. They welcome me, and I’m super appreciative of that.”

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