Previewing Michigan’s battle with Wisconsin, position-by-position

A top-15 showdown, the No. 11 Michigan Wolverines travel to Madison to face the No. 13 Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday (12:00PM ET, FOX).

Michigan beat Wisconsin, 38-13, in Ann Arbor in 2018, but hasn’t won in Camp Randall Stadium since 2001 and has looked less than stellar offensively through their first two games in 2019.

Wisconsin, on the other hand, has looked about as impressive as possible. Routing the USF Bulls and Central Michigan Chippewas by a combined score of 110-0, the Badgers have been efficient in all phases of the game.

The College Football Playoff hopes of two programs and an opportunity to move into the top-10 all hinge on Saturday’s action. Let’s take at a look at how these two teams stack up, position-by-position.

Quarterback

Completing over 76% of his passes (45-59), Jack Coan won the job for the Badgers in fall camp and we have seen why so far. Starting the final four games of the 2018 season in relief of Alex Hornibrook, Coan went 2-2 while passing for 515 yards and five touchdowns. He has already matched the five touchdown tosses this season and has surpassed last season’s yardage total with 564. However, this Michigan unit will likely be the best defense Coan has faced as a starter.

Fumbles have been an issue, but Michigan’s Shea Patterson is still one of the Big Ten’s most talented quarterbacks. The senior has not thrown an interception and has passed for 410 yards and three touchdowns for the 2-0 Wolverines. The former No. 1 quarterback recruit in America, expect Michigan to open up the offense and show us a more dynamic Patterson in Madison.

EDGE: Michigan

Running backs

A Heisman Trophy candidate and quite possibly the best running back in the country, the Badgers are led by junior Jonathan Taylor. Rushing for 1,977 yards as a freshman, Taylor was even better as a sophomore with 2,194 yards. Through the first two games, he has totaled 237 yards on 35 carries (6.8 YPC).

Recording just eight receptions in each of his first two college seasons, Taylor has showcased an expanded role as a receiver out of the backfield in 2019. Registering his first two touchdown receptions in the season-opening win over USF, he has already caught five passes for 65 yards and three scores.

Rumors of an injury concerning Michigan freshman Zach Charbonnet have surfaced, but former Wolverine and host of the In the Trenches Podcast, Jon Jansen, seemed to dismiss this rumor.

“There has been no surgery,” Jansen said.

“I’ve confirmed that with those inside Schembechler Hall, and I saw Zach yesterday (Wednesday) walking around the building with no limp, no crutches. I don’t know where this rumor started, but to all of my knowledge it’s not true, and I fully expect to see him line up again as the starting running back when they face Wisconsin.”

The team’s leading-rusher, Charbonnet has ran for 190 yards on 41 attempts (4.6 YPC). After him, the Wolverines’ next highest-rusher is sophomore Christian Turner at just 69 yards.

Injured in the season-opening win over Middle Tennessee State, it is unclear if senior Tru Wilson will suit up for the game.

EDGE: Wisconsin

Wide receivers

Returning to the program after an investigation into allegations of sexual assault, junior Quintez Cephus is the Badgers’ leading receiver with 169 yards on nine catches. Missing the entire 2018 season after being temporarily expelled from the university, Cephus eclipsed 500 yards in 2017.

Senior A.J. Taylor (87 yards) and redshirt junior Kendric Pryor (72) are each closing in on the 100-yard mark.

One of the most obvious criticisms of Michigan’s attack vs. Army was the lack of attacking on the perimeter. Featuring three possible National Football League prospects, the Wolverines have one of the B1G’s best collections of playmakers on the outside.

Struggling with foot injuries during his of his first two years in Ann Arbor, junior Tarik Black has always been dripping with potential. Leading the team with 104 yards on seven receptions, Black is averaging 14.9 yards per catch.

Sophomore Ronnie Bell has turned into a weapon out of the slot for Patterson, recording nine catches for 99 yards. Junior Nico Collins has caught five footballs for 81 yards and a score.

Junior Donovan Peoples-Jones has yet to play in 2019, and was spotted in a walking boot prior to the team’s game vs. Army. He has been practicing however, and has not been ruled out for the contest.

EDGE: Michigan

Tight ends

Catching 36 passes for 456 yards and four touchdowns a year ago, redshirt sophomore Jake Ferguson has carried that success into 2019, logging six receptions for 69 yards.

Stepping up in the wake of Zach Gentry’s graduation, redshirt senior Sean McKeon is showing he is capable of handling the team’s No. 1 tight end job.

Hauling in a 28-yard touchdown vs. Middle Tennessee, McKeon has snared four passes for 72 yards this season.

This is one of the closer decisions on this list, but Ferguson’s 12.4 yards per catch in 2018 give him the nod.

EDGE: Wisconsin

Offensive line

Returning only one starter, redshirt junior center Tyler Biadasz, the new-look Badgers offensive line is gelling nicely.

Redshirt senior Jason Erdmann and redshirt sophomore Josh Seltzner look likely to get the start at left and right guard, respectively. Both redshirt junior left tackle Cole Van Lanen and redshirt sophomore right tackle Logan Bruss are seen as future possible All-Big Ten selections.

Out for the first two games with an injury, redshirt senior left tackle Jon Runyan Jr. is expected to return for this one. Taking his normal spot alongside left guard Ben Bredeson, hopefully the All-Big Ten honoree’s return leads to a decrease in false start and holding penalties for this unit.

Starting in Runyan’s place, it will be interesting to see how redshirt freshman Ryan Hayes factors into the mix moving forward.

EDGE: Wisconsin

Defensive line

His third season as the Badgers’ defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach, Jim Leonhard employs a 3-4 scheme. Headlined by redshirt juniors Isaiahh Loudermilk and Garrett Rand, Wisconsin is allowing just 20.5 rushing yards per game. Redshirt sophomore Matt Henningsen has been solid, too, registering four tackles, one TFL and one sack.

However, sophomore nose tackle Bryson Williams will miss the game with a left leg injury.

For the Wolverines, sophomore Aidan Hutchinson leads the team with 2.5 TFL and is tied for second on the team with 0.5 sacks. Redshirt senior Carlo Kemp has chipped in 10 tackles, and junior Kwity Paye completed the other half of the sack with Hutchinson.

Holding the Black Knights under their average from a season ago in rushing yards, the Michigan defense answered the bell vs. Army. How this unit contains Jonathan Taylor will be one of Saturday’s most fascinating storylines.

EDGE: Michigan

Linebackers

Benefiting from the lopsided margins of their first two games, redshirt junior Mike Maskalunas leads the Badgers with 10 tackles. Fellow linebackers Leo Chenal, Chris Orr and Jack Sanborn have done a tremendous job of filling their gaps and holding opposing ball-carriers to 0.9 YPC.

Losing the leader of their defense, All-American Devin Bush, Michigan is counting on some familiar names to fill even larger roles. Playing the “Viper” position popularized by Jabrill Peppers, senior Khaleke Hudson leads the team with 20 tackles.

Receiving extended playing time for the first time in his Michigan career, redshirt senior Jordan Glasgow has made the post of it, racking up 17 tackles in the first two games – tied for second-most on the team. Throw in junior Josh Ross and senior Josh Uche, and the Wolverines once again have a formidable front seven.

EDGE: Michigan

Secondary

Very young on the back end, Wisconsin has been relying on contributions from a redshirt freshman, Reggie Pearson, and three redshirt sophomores, Deron Harrell, Faion Hicks and Scott Nelson.

The cornerbacks, Harrell and Hicks, have been very stout against the pass, helping hold USF and Central Michigan to a combined total of 174 passing yards. Redshirt juniors Eric Burrell and Collin Wilder – a transfer from Houston – have played well in their time at the safety spots, too.

Similarly to the linebacker situation with Bush, Michigan was forced to replace two starters in the secondary in 2019, safety Tyree Kinnel and cornerback David Long.

While redshirt senior LaVert Hill did intercept a pass vs. Army, he also struggled in the Middle Tennessee game. Fortunately, both redshirt freshman Vincent Gray and junior Ambry Thomas have thrived in their expanded coverage responsibilities.

One of the hardest hitters on the team, redshirt senior Josh Metellus makes receivers think twice about coming over the middle, but must improve his ball skills and avoid unnecessary penalties.

EDGE: Michigan

Specialists

He has converted all 15 of his extra point opportunities, but redshirt freshman Collin Larsh is just 1-3 on field goal chances.

Senior Anthony Lotti is averaging 38.8 yards on six punts in 2019, ranking last among B1G punters.

Surpassing redshirt junior Quinn Nordin as the team’s go-to kicker in 2018, sophomore Jake Moody is 3-3 on field goal attempts this season. Paired with last season’s 5-5 effort, Moody is a perfect 7-7 as a collegiate kicker. Nordin still handles the extra point duties, and is the team’s long (55-plus yards) kicker.

One of the best punters in the B1G, senior Will Hart is averaging 44.8 yards per boot.

EDGE: Michigan