The Most Important Michigan Players for the Rest of the Year

Getting a bowl bid is the objective, and Michigan has two more chances to reach the six-win plateau: This Saturday at home versus Maryland and Nov. 29 at Ohio State.

So there’s one, really—one realistic shot at finishing the year at 6-6. And that’s this weekend. It won’t be in the season finale versus the Buckeyes in Columbus, that’s crystal clear and has been for about nine weeks.

That said, coach Brady Hoke will need the most out of his best in order to evenly scrape by before heading into 2015. Those guys’ identities aren’t secret. Everyone knows who they are.

And let’s be honest here: They know who they are, too. It’s time for them to play up to potential or bust.

De’Veon and Drake Express

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A successful rushing game, or lack thereof, could decide Saturday’s clash with the Terps, who have the conference’s No. 12 rush defense and No. 13 total defense. Putting the ball into the hands of De’Veon Smith and/or Drake Johnson would be ideal, as they’re each on the ascent.

Plus, they’re the only guys available in this department.

A week ago, Smith, a 5’11”, 220-pound sophomore, put up a career-high 121 yards during the Wolverines’ win over Northwestern. The week prior, Johnson, a 6’0”, 211-pound redshirt sophomore, burst for 122 during the 34-10 homecoming romping of Indiana.

Additionally, the Terps were just gutted by Michigan State for 242 yards.  

It’s prime time for offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier to unleash a ground attack.

The Devin Connection

Tony Ding/Associated Press/Associated Press

Player	Passing/Receiving Yards	TD	Attempts/Receptions
Devin Gardner (QB)	1,557	8 (13 INT)	139 for 227
Devin Funchess (WR)	595	4	50

What happened here? It’s mid-November, and a pair of stars continue to fade—or, in other words, the exact opposite scenarios have played out for Devin Funchess and Devin Gardner.

During the preseason, Funchess, a 6’5,” 230-pound junior, was widely recognized as one of the country’s best receivers. Today, he remains celebrated, but a down year has certainly raised a few questions, especially in regards to ball security.

Like in 2013, Funchess has been bitten by the drop bug. But his misses aren’t entirely his fault—Gardner hasn’t been very accurate, despite touting a career-high 61 percent completion rate. Gardner’s struggles have made it difficult for things to click with Funchess, who’s been hobbling on a bum leg/lower body injury for most of the season.

Needless to say, but necessary considering the subject of Michigan football, Gardner and Funchess have to find a way to string together two great weeks of football, something that’s yet to be done in 2014.

Not good weeks. Not better-than-average weeks. Great weeks.

D-Line Needs Ojemudia

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UPDATE: Brady Hoke announced that Clark has been dismissed from the team, per Michigan athletic department release (Derek Satterfield, SID). 

Frank Clark was jailed this past weekend in Erie County, Ohio, for his alleged role in a domestic dispute/altercation, per CBS (h/t MGoBlog, Detroit Free Press). Needless to say, his status with the team and university is uncertain at this time. 

With Clark, the defense had a chance to win games. He had been a valuable contributor in each of the Wolverines’ five victories this fall.

Without the 6'2", 277-pound senior, the chances of coming out on top slightly diminish. He’s among the Big Ten’s best pass-rushers and is third in the league with 13.5 tackles for loss. 

He’s been a fixture up front and is sorely needed due to experience and on-the-field leadership. 

Meanwhile, Mario Ojemudia, a 6’3”, 251-pound junior, seems likely to replace him. Playing at a level somewhere in the neighborhood of Clark is the goal, but getting there could be difficult for a guy with one start to his credit.

There is a slight bright side, though: He had a career-high two sacks during a 10-9 win at Northwestern. He’s played in 31 games. He’s been around for three years. Ojemudia’s transition, in theory, should be a plug-and-play scenario for Hoke’s staff.

The D-line and Greg Mattison’s run defense have carried Team 135 by allowing a meager 2.82 yards per attempt—and it’s battle-tested against a handful of upper-echelon ball-carriers. As a whole, the run D ranks No. 3 in the league and No. 7 nationally.

Keeping up with that type of production is the Wolverines’ best shot at landing in a bowl—and now that Clark's gone, that’s going to be a tall order to fill.

Even for Mattison.

Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81