Penn State vs. Michigan Football 2009
Tough Nittany Lions Defense Braces for High-Scoring Wolverines
Michigan ranks ninth in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision with an average of 37.3 points per game. Penn State is giving up just 8.7, second fewest in the FBS. So something's got to give in the 3:30 p.m. contest at Ann Arbor, Mich.
In particular, the game will be a clash of the Wolverines' highly rated ground attack and Penn State's rugged run defense. Michigan (5-2 overall, 1-2 Big Ten) is eighth in the FBS with an average of 235 rushing yards per game. Penn State (6-1, 2-1) is yielding only 75.4, ranking sixth.
Coach Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions gave up only 37 in their 20-0 Big Ten shutout of Minnesota last weekend. Michigan, meanwhile, was rolling up 461 in its 63-6 obliteration of over-matched Delaware State.
That victory, which saw the Wolverines gain a season-high 727 yards in total offense, enabled coach Rich Rodriguez's Wolverines to snap a two-game losing streak.
Now they'll try to prevent a two-game skid in their series with Penn State. Michigan leads 10-4, but the Nittany Lions won 46-17 last year to end a nine-game losing streak in the series.
Saturday's game will be telecast by either ABC or ESPN.
Nittany Lions Offense Bouncing Back
After sputtering in a 21-10 loss to Iowa, Penn State's offense has averaged 510 yards per contest during a three-game winning streak. On the year, the Nittany Lions are recording 432.7 yards and 29.6 points behind running back Evan Royster and quarterback Daryll Clack.
Royster has rushed for 641 yards and four TDs, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. Clack has thrown for 1,654 yards – including 287 last week. The senior is completing 62.4 percent of his passes, with 13 touchdowns against seven interceptions.
His deep receiving corps includes four players who averaging at least three catches per game. The leader is 6-foot-5 sophomore Derek Moye, who’s made 27 catches for 472 yards and four TDs.
The group also includes Chaz Powell (21 receptions, 316 yards, 3 touchdowns), Graham Zugg (21 catches, 257 yards, 2 TDs in 6 games) and tight end Andrew Quarless (21 catches, 224 yards).
An area in which the Nittany Lions have struggled is on return teams. They’re averaging 15.4 yards per kickoff return, ranking 119th in the 120-team FBS. Penn State’s just 95th in punt returns (5.27 yards).
NIttany Lions 5th in Total Defense
Penn State ranks fifth in the FBS in total defense, allowing only 238.9 yards per game, and one reason is inside linebacker Josh Hall, who’s made a team-high 69 tackles along with two interceptions.
Hall has more than twice as many tackles as linebacker Sean Lee, the No. 2 player on the list. But Lee has missed three games because of a bad knee. He still has 34 tackles, including 7.5 for losses.
Ranking No. 3 in tackles is star outside backer Navorro Bowman, who’s made 33 stops despite missing two games because of a groin injury.
The Nittany Lions also benefit from a pass rush that’s averaging three sacks per game. The leader in that department is tackle Jared Odrick, who has five of them among his 8.5 tackles for loss. End Jack Crawford has put up similar numbers – 9 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
A strong Penn State secondary features A.J. Wallace (2 interceptions, D’Anton Lynn (5 pass breakups) and Nick Sukay (27 tackles, 4 pass breakups).
Wolverines Rest Leading Rushers
Rodriguez rested his banged-up running back corps last week. Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown sat out, and the Wolverines relied on young runners like Vincent Smith, Michael Cox and Michael Shaw to run over DelawareState. Obviously, they’ll want to use their full arsenal vs. PennState.
Brown, who is recovering from a concussion, leads Michigan with 336 yards and three TDs in three games. He’s averaging 7.6 yards per carry. Fellow senior Brown has run for 274 yards and four TDs, gaining 4.8 yards per attempt.
Freshman QB Denard Robinson is the team’s third-leading rusher, with 273 yards and five TDs on 5.8 yards per carry. But he’s been playing behind Tate Forcier, who’s more of a passing threat.
Forcier, who saw limited action last week, has connected on 57.9 percent of his passes for 1,027 yards and nine TDs, with four interceptions. He’s also run for a pair of touchdowns to help an offense that averages 426.6 yards per game.
Michigan’s leading receivers are Martavious Odoms (19 catches, 238 yards), Darryl Stonum (12 catches, 189 yards), tight end Kevin Koger (12 receptions, 174 yards, 2 TDs) and Junior Hemingway (11 receptions, 146 yards, 2 TDs in 6 games). Stonum is also a threat as a kickoff returner.
Defensive End Graham Stars for Michigan Defense
Brandon Graham was expected to have a big year for Michigan, and the defensive end is really beginning to kick things into gear. He’s made 30 tackles, leading the Wolverines in tackles for loss (12) and sacks (5).
The Wolverines have also received productive play from cornerback Donovan Warren, who’s made 35 tackles, recorded three interceptions and broken up seven passes.
The tackling leaders are linebacker Obi Ezeh (55), safety Jordan Kovacs (45), linebacker Stevie Brown (43) and linebacker Jonas Mouton (40).
But it’s been very much an uphill struggle for the Wolverines’ defense, which is giving up 21.9 points and 363.3 yards per game. The Wolverines have played four BCS opponents, and three of them managed more than 400 yards.
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