What to watch for: Michigan State

After a two-game break, the Michigan football team enters state championship week with renewed vigor. Not only is it a chance for the Wolverines to reset and get back in the win column, it’s also a chance for them to do so while beating their in-state rivals and retaining the Paul Bunyan Trophy for another year in Ann Arbor .

At the start of the season, Michigan would have been the heavy favorite to beat Michigan State, but that is no longer the case. Both programs enter the contest with a record of 4-3, and while the Wolverines have regressed since last year, the Spartans have improved.

Michigan State is coming off a convincing 32-20 win over Iowa, gaining 468 total yards with fairly even distribution through the air and on the ground. On the other hand, Michigan’s offense outscored Illinois last week by a total of 322 to 267 yards, yet the Wolverines still lost 21-7.

This year’s portrayal of the rivalry will certainly look different than last year, considering the situation of the two programs entering the matchup. To make it easier for you to decrypt the game, you should note the following:

Who is Michigan’s quarterback?

Seven games into the season, that seems like a stupid question. But that’s exactly how this season went for the Wolverines. Senior Davis Warren, junior Alex Orji and graduate Jack Tuttle each took turns under center and each of them brought more questions than answers with their performances.

Warren and Tuttle had significant turnovers, and Orji was only better in that regard because he simply didn’t throw the ball as often. Michigan coach Sherrone Moore reopened the competition this week hoping to find the player who could best take care of the ball, although he appeared inclined to stick with Tuttle as the starter.

In another attempt to bolster a struggling quarterback room, the Wolverines experimented with having offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell on the sideline against the Fighting Illini. Of course, the change didn’t have an immediate impact on the offense, but Moore plans to continue the experiment against the Spartans.

“I think it was good, especially for the quarterbacks, to see him face-to-face and be on the field,” Moore said Monday. “My own experience as a play caller, being on the field, really helped me. But we’ll just go through the week and figure out what we think is best for the crew.”

Michigan had to figure out a lot in practice this week about where Campbell will call plays from and who will receive them. With Tuttle the likely starter, the Wolverines are hoping he can lead the offense. If he can’t do that, don’t be surprised if the quarterback competition spills out of practice this week and onto the field.

Who will win the revenue battle?

Now that we have established that Michigan has a turnover problem, it is important to note that this is also the case in the state of Michigan. Both teams have thrown nine interceptions and lost six fumbles this season – an incredibly balanced statistic that underscores the common struggle of both offenses.

“When it comes to not caring about football, you would say (the offenses are similar),” Moore said. “But I just want us to be good. I want us to take care of football ourselves and not worry about what they do. We will of course try to take football away from them, but for us we have to do everything we can to keep it.”

Moore focuses primarily on his offense to keep the ball, and for good reason. This is the group that struggled in the turnover game while the Wolverines’ defense was solid. Michigan has snagged six interceptions and recovered two fumbles this season, and the Spartans could give him an opportunity to add to those numbers.

However, if the Wolverines’ offense is unable to keep the ball on its own, the defense’s effectiveness would be significantly diminished. Against Illinois, that was Michigan’s problem – its defense held the fort, but its offense couldn’t capitalize.

The battle against turnovers will certainly be at the forefront on Saturday, and the offense that can best overcome its weaknesses will likely come out on top.

Can the Wolverines contain Aidan Chiles?

Unlike Michigan, which didn’t have a clearly defined starting quarterback all season, Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles has steadily grown into his role. He’s a good passer, averaging 210 yards per game, but he’s dangerous when he gets outside the pocket.

Chiles stretches his legs and regularly runs the ball himself, racking up 133 net yards and three touchdowns. But as good as he can climb, he is prone to sacks. He lost 97 yards on 16 sacks, reducing his average yards per rush to 3.

For the Wolverines’ defense, the key to getting off the field quickly is keeping the Chiles in the pocket. And to do that, their run defense needs to be on point.

“You have to do a great job with the rush lanes, and that’s something we’re going to emphasize and talk about,” Moore said. “…Whether it’s a four-man rush or a five-man rush, where you’re in the pocket and keeping it compressed. Because when he gets out, he can make things happen with his feet and he can make things happen with his arm. So we had to do something there and then combine different looks for him.”

As his nine interceptions show, Chiles is not immune to pressure. So if Michigan’s defense can keep him in check and force him to make quick decisions, there’s a chance to beat him. But if Chiles can escape, he has a chance to ambush the Wolverines.

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With Michigan’s never-ending quarterback competition and turnover issues proving to be the defining features of the season so far, these storylines aren’t going away any time soon. The fact that the Spartans share these turnover issues makes this an exciting battle to watch. And if the Wolverines can’t get the Chiles to give them the ball, their next best option is to pressure him by keeping him in the pocket. Quarterbacks and turnovers will likely decide the game, so be sure to watch out for them.

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