Michigan’s Hoke, Hoosiers’ Wilson not all that different
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Assistant Editor
Opponent: Michigan Wolverines (5-1)
When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Michigan Stadium
In a way, Michigan coach Brady Hoke and Indiana coach Kevin Wilson are in similar situations. Each is in his third season at a program that needed to endure a rebuilding phase. Both men lead teams that are young in the trenches. And both have something left to prove to their respective fan bases.
Forget that the Wolverines own 11 national titles and that Wilson works for a school gunning for a mere 10th bowl appearance. These two coaches are still testing out the possibilities of what they can accomplish.
Going up against Hoke, Wilson wants more than a moral victory in Ann Arbor.
“We’ve got to find a way to dig a little more out the rest of the season,” Wilson said. “We have to make progress. I think it’s evident we have. It’s a great opportunity and challenge to go up there and play these men this week. We’re capable.”
Hoke, meanwhile, is dealing with accusations that his team is lacking an identity.
“If they are then I haven’t done a good enough job expressing what kind of team we need to be and want to be,” Hoke said. “Physical on both sides of the ball.”
Things were so bad last week against Michigan State that Wilson declined to name a defensive player of the game. Instead, a picture of a Spartan hangs on the wall. Defensive lineman John Lahinen insists the Hoosier defense is “right there,” a step away from being “golden.”
Hoke and Wilson, on different levels and a broader scale, are each thinking the same thing. Hoke is on his third head-coaching job, Wilson his first. Hoke worked his way up the assistant ranks on the defensive side, Wilson on offense. But they have more in common than you think.
Three players to watch
Taylor Lewan, LT: General managers and scouts in the NFL were disappointed to see Lewan shockingly return to Ann Arbor as a fifth-year senior. Unlike most offensive linemen, Lewan fills a leadership role, according to Michigan coaches. A mammoth lineman, Lewan is considered the premier blocker in the Big Ten and might be the best left tackle in college football. He’s 6-foot-8 and 315 pounds.
Devin Gardner, QB: The 6-4, 210-pound redshirt junior is a wild card. His athleticism will test the edges of Indiana’s defense, and his strong arm will keep safeties honest. After playing receiver most of last year, Gardner is still learning the position. How will offensive coordinator Al Borges use Gardner on Saturday? He ran for seven touchdowns in five starts at quarterback in 2012 and has six more scores on the ground this season. Don’t doubt your eyes. He indeed wears No. 98.
Jake Ryan, LB: This guy is terrific. The concern is he’s playing just his second game since tearing an anterior cruciate ligament in spring practice. How effective will Ryan, a second team All-Big Ten defender last year, be?
Series history
The Wolverines have won the last 17 meetings and hold a 52-9 advantage. Indiana last won on Oct. 24, 1987 by a score of 14-10 in Bloomington. The Hoosiers have not won in Ann Arbor since managing a 27-20 triumph on Oct. 21, 1967, the year they won the Big Ten championship under John Pont and made their only Rose Bowl appearance. Still, the last two games of this series – in 2009 and 2010 – came down to the wire and were decided by seven points or less.
Familiar faces
Starting guard Bernard Taylor is a Detroit native who went to Dakota High School. Little-used Billy Ivan, Dong Kim and Matt Zakrzewski are also from the state of Michigan. Offensive line coach Greg Frey held the same position at Michigan from 2008-10. On the Wolverines’ side, Borges was offensive coordinator at Indiana from 2002-03.
Injury report
Indiana is down to its third option at right guard, Jake Reed, and he’s probable (ankle). Reed is needed after losing Dan Feeney (Lisfranc) and David Kaminski (torn anterior cruciate ligament) to season-ending injuries. Linebacker Chase Hoobler (stress fracture) will not play this year and right tackle Peyton Eckert is out for the season with a back issue. As for Michigan, defensive tackle Ondre Pipkins (torn ACL) was lost for the year.
Trivial
Michigan has won 18 straight at home, the longest active streak among schools from a Bowl Championship Series conference. The streak is tied for the fourth-longest in school history.
He said it
“It’s alright. It needs to be better. It will be. We’ve still got a lot of goals to play for that are attainable. But it needs to be better.” – Indiana’s Ted Bolser, to IndySportsLegends.com, on the Hoosiers’ 3-3 record in the first half of the season
Outlook
Wilson admits Indiana isn’t able to play low-scoring games. They have to win shootouts. Indiana needs some turnovers to beat Michigan. How will the Wolverines respond to their sloppy, error-filled loss at Penn State? Outside of Lewan, Michigan has a bad offensive line. Indiana can win this game. The inconsistent Gardner makes too many mistakes and turnovers. He has 10 interceptions. That led to Hoke going conservative in overtime last week. The Wolverines still can’t generate a ground game. Fitzgerald Toussaint is averaging 3.4 yards a carry. They have serious issues, but Hoke has yet to lose at the Big House. For the Hoosiers, losing to a good Michigan State defense was expected last Saturday. Can Nate Sudfeld now get Indiana’s passing offense back in rhythm? His confidence could be better. What Sudfeld can’t do is allow himself to be rattled by Michigan’s loud home crowd. This could be a high-scoring game. Both defenses are vulnerable. The Hoosiers never win many road games. This is one Michigan must and should win. But it’s hard to call it a guarantee.
Follow Chris Goff on Twitter: chrisgoff_ISL.
