Air Force vs. Michigan: Forcing Falcons to Pass Key to Wolverines Victory

Brady Hoke’s Michigan Wolverines squad is bigger, stronger and infinitely more talented than the Air Force Falcons who will line up on the other side of the field Saturday afternoon.

There’s no question about that.

What Air Force brings to the table is an explosive pseudo triple-option attack that has averaged more than 300 yards rushing per game since 2010, and that causes all sorts of problems for opposing defenses who aren’t up to the task.

In order to keep the Falcons' offense in check, Hoke needs his defense to do one thing: Force the Falcons to the air. Make them pass the ball.

To accomplish that goal, Michigan’s front seven must stick with its assignments and the defensive line, specifically, must take advantage of a nearly 40-pound weight advantage over an undersized Air Force offensive line and shed its blockers routinely.

Jake Ryan and the linebackers need to keep the play in front of them, not off to the side. Air Force has explosive players in their option attack, including quarterback Connor Dietz, that will break off a big play if given the opportunity.

If Michigan can contain the option, Dietz will have no choice but to take to the air, something he tried to do only 11 times last week against Idaho State.

Michigan is not Idaho State, and it has superior talent in the secondary compared to the receivers that Dietz would be targeting through the air.

It’s all about making Air Force deviate from its game plan.

Denard Robinson, Fitzgerald Touissant and the Wolverines’ offense will be able to put points on the board against Air Force. If Idaho State can score 21 points against the Air Force defense, Michigan should be able to drop 35 or more on the same unit.

Michigan will have ample opportunity to regain momentum—and their mojo—against Air Force.

It all comes down to executing the game plan and attention to detail on defense, forcing the Falcons to fly.

Wolverines defensive coordinator Greg Mattison and Hoke will put their defense in the best possible position to shut down Air Force, and they’ll do their best to make sure that Alabama doesn’t beat them twice.

It’s up to the players to live up to the hype and get the job done.

Shutting down the Air Force attack is a daunting challenge for sure.

Michigan’s defense had better be up for it, otherwise it’s going to be a long season in Ann Arbor.