The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/418536
MICHIGAN FOOTBALL the last two games with a winning streak could help us finish out this season strongly." One of the seniors hoping for that bowl, and for a strong finish, is obvi- ously fifth-year senior quarterback Devin Gardner. He has struggled in recent weeks, battling an ankle injury while continuing to play. Hanlon noted his efforts, in a Michi- gan offense that has slowed to a near stall at times in recent weeks. "I think the ankle is more of a prob- lem than many of us know," Hanlon said. "The fact is, when he would go back, if he couldn't find a receiver, he was a viable threat himself at running the football. He doesn't seem to be that threat now. "When that's your basic option, ei- ther throw the ball or run, and not be- ing able to find another receiver, that really puts a crimp in your offense. When he got the ball under his arm, look out. Things happened. He made people miss. "It doesn't look like he has the abil- ity to make people miss in the open field now. When that happens, it re- ally slows your offense." Hanlon noted how tough it has been to see Gardner come down the final stretch of his career unable to do some of the things he used to do the best for the Wolverines. "He used to be that type of quar- terback," Hanlon said. "He's been the one that could go back and throw the football, and he had been throwing it accurately. But right now, I don't know whether he can't push off right, but he's a little bit tentative in his throws. Sometimes they're a little bit behind. "Even when he gets if off, the re- ceiver has to make a pretty good catch in order to get it. He's tentative in how he's throwing the football. You add in the fact that he doesn't really feel comfortable running the ball now, it certainly puts him in a tough situa- tion." MICHIGAN TRIES TO AVOID 0-2 VERSUS LEAGUE ROOKIES Michigan lost at Rutgers in Octo- ber, with the help of some bizarre Big Ten officiating down the stretch. Now Maryland is coming to The Big House, and the Wolverines will try to avoid getting beaten by both of the Big Ten's newcomers. The Wolverines have done well in the past at holding up against teams that are new to the league. Michigan went to State College in 1993, Penn State's first year as a Big Ten school, and beat the Nittany Lions 21-13, partly on the strength of a defensive goal-line stand. When Nebraska joined the league in 2011, Michigan played particularly rude hosts to the Cornhuskers. The Wolverines beat down Bo Pelini's crew 45-17 in Brady Hoke's first year at the Michigan helm. Rutgers broke that streak of Michi- gan welcoming new Big Ten teams with a loss, topping the Wolverines 26-24 in Piscataway, N.J. Maryland will also try to steal a victory, this one at The Big House. Terps head coach Randy Edsall knows it won't be easy, but he's con-