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It appears as if Michigan could pass more as better teams appear on the schedule, deviating from the 75-25 run-pass ratio we’ve seen thus far. For the most part, the Wolverines haven’t needed to, but against teams like Wisconsin — the nation’s top run defense, which allows just 23 yards per game — the chances of Michigan winning the game on the ground are likely slim.
And if the maize and blue have to pass it, they might be pretty good at it. At least that’s what Wisconsin defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard thinks.
Some have viewed the Wolverines’ reliance on the ground game as being an implicit distrust of what they have under center. Starter Cade McNamara has yet to attempt more than 17 passes in a game and Michigan has had middling success passing, depending on the game. The pass game was strong in Weeks 1 and 3, but in 2 and 4 against Washington and Rutgers, it wasn’t nearly as efficient.
As Leonhard sees it, the fact that we haven’t seen more of McNamara passing is strictly because Michigan hasn’t had to just yet.
From ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg: ($)
“They have not had to force the ball down the field and really put the ball in the quarterback’s hands much,” he said. “That’s the benefit of winning games and winning them big. I think they have more confidence in the quarterback than it appears. There’s people coming out and acting like it’s an issue for him. I don’t think it is. They just haven’t had to win a game that way yet.
“So we’ve got to go in there and understand that they can be a more balanced offense than they currently are. We have to force them into being that.”
Certainly, the balance aspect has been indicated directly by Jim Harbaugh, as well. It’ll be interesting to see if Michigan football has a lot more in its arsenal now that it’s getting into the nitty-gritty of the conference schedule feeling like every game is that much more of a ‘must-win.’
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