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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — It’s not often that Michigan football has a ranked-on-ranked matchup against Illinois, but what was seen as a gimme in the preseason is now a tough game in Champaign, with the Illini being ranked No. 21 against the No. 22 Wolverines.
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore needs a win to keep his team afloat, but it won’t be easy. Though the Illini had a disappointing season last year, they’re looking more like the 2022 squad that took the Wolverines to the brink, in some ways.
On Monday, Moore broke down what he’s seen from Illinois and he says that it is the embodiment of its head coach, led by a savvy, emerging quarterback.
“Coach Bielema just does an outstanding job building a program,” Moore said. “Physicality, toughness, detailed. And what they do offensively, Luke Altmeyer, their quarterback, he’s gotten so much better. He’s just progressed from last year to this year. You could see him being in the system for another year, and they’ve got skill guys all over the place, with the receivers and the two backs are really good.”
Last year, Altmeyer was a turnover machine, having thrown 13 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. However, this year, his completion percentage is up three points and he’s thrown 14 touchdowns to just one interception.
But that’s only part of the battle.
Though not as stout as the 2022 squad which had Ryan Walters leading the charge as defensive coordinator, this is a plus unit defensively, giving up just under 350 yards per game.
Moore sees a group that’s smart, physical, and can do a lot to confuse you offensively as he’s seen them change schematically from week to week.
“Defensively — tough, physical front,” Moore said. “They’ve mixed up the coverages in these past games. Played a little bit more quarters last game, and that could have been of who they were…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-football-head-coach-sherrone-173912518.html
Author : Wolverines Wire
Publish date : 2024-10-14 17:39:12
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