Texas defenders are "buzzing" at the chance to play versus Michigan's offense
Against the Texas Longhorns, the Colorado State Rams ran the ball 32 times for 118 yards. Through the first three quarters, the Air Raid CSU offense rushed 25 times for 86 yards, good for a mediocre 3.4 yards per carry.
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Colorado State ran the ball seven times for 32 yards in the fourth quarter, an indication they wanted to get the game over with and get out of Austin after the Rams entered the final 15 minutes down 45-0.
Things will be different at Michigan for the Longhorn defense. The Wolverines ran the ball 34 times for 148 yards against Fresno State, numbers that appear similar to Colorado State’s total though put together with different intent. Michigan ran the ball 34 times compared to 27 passes because that’s its focus. Colorado State ran the ball 32 times compared to 24 passes because the pass game was not working at all.
Michigan will look to run, run, and run some more to keep the passing opportunities for Davis Warren or Alex Orji to a minimum. That’s the type of game Texas linebacker David Gbenda relishes.
“This is just an amazing opportunity, top down, regardless of position,” Gbenda said Monday. “They’re a great outfit, and our whole team is buzzing.”
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian admitted on Monday that a lot of what his team has seen during the course of training camp had some correlation to the Michigan game plan. Those are idiosyncracies the Longhorn defense is starting to see in preparing for the trip to Ann Arbor.
“Its really fun to just pay attention to the little details and get an understanding of the opponent regardless of the game,” Gbenda said. “It’s always fun to decipher film and see how people move, what they do, what they don’t like, what they do like, how they respond to different things. It’s always interesting because you’re basically getting to learn what these people are.”
Much will be made about the battle in the trenches. Michigan’s offensive line wants to establish the line of scrimmage and succeed in the run game so as to control the game clock and limit Texas’ opportunities for big plays. They wouldn’t mind a big run or two, like the ones Donovan Edwards put on tape at the end of last season.
Key players on the Longhorn defense, like defensive tackle Alfred Collins, know then what they have to do to prevent Michigan from enacting its gameplan.
“Fundamentals will really help us succeed in this game,” Collins said Monday. “That’s what it comes down to. Just dialing it in during the week on all the little drills, I feel like that will help us.”
Michigan is no option team. They aren’t going to abandon the pass whether Warren or Orji is under center. Tight end Colston Loveland is one of the best in the country at his position, and his presence provides a unique challenge for the Longhorn defense.
“He’s a great player,” Gbenda said. “The way they run the offense through him is amazing. He’s also a very stout blocker, so he’s the ideal tight end you’d want on your team.”
When they look for him, the Longhorns will want to get to the quarterback.
Texas did not record a sack against Colorado State but did net five TFLs. As mentioned, that had to do more with the Longhorns defense than proficient blocking by the Rams O-line. Not only did Colorado State not move the ball on offense, they didn’t move the ball despite getting the football out very quickly after the snap.
The Michigan offense, like Texas’, may look to set up deeper passing opportunities that take longer to develop. For Collins, that means the chance to attack the Wolverine passer.
“Most definitely,” Collins said. “I want a sack or two.”
As a defense, the Longhorns know they will have their hands full with whatever Sherrone Moore calls on Saturday. It’s a battle they’re excited to take part in.
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“We’re just excited for this great opportunity to go in the Big House,” Gbenda said.
