The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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Part of the blame for the lack of aerial production rests with the receivers, who have been bottled up by man-to-man cov- erage lately, but fifth-year senior quarter- back Trevor Siemian has not taken the step forward he was expected to with the sig- nal-calling duties all to himself. The field general has completed just 56.2 percent of his throws for 1,564 yards and four touch- downs against six interceptions on the year. The quarterback didn't even have a note- worthy performance in the Wildcats' mar- quee win of the year — a 20-14 victory over Wisconsin, which was ranked No. 17 at the time. He did throw for a touchdown, but completed just 15 of his 29 passes for 182 yards. The defense did most of the heavy lifting in that tilt. Although star Badgers running back Melvin Gordon torched Northwestern for 259 yards, the Wildcats still came up with four timely interceptions and played What: Michigan at Northwestern When: Nov. 8 • 3:30 p.m. ET Radio-TV: ESPN2 will televise the game nationally. The game can be heard on the Michigan Sports Network (950 AM in the Detroit area, as well as the Armed Services Radio, Sirius chan- nel 135 and XM channel 195) with for- mer U-M teammates Dan Dierdorf and Jim Brandstatter, and sideline reporter Doug Karsch. Coaches: Michigan: Brady Hoke (30- 18, fourth season). Northwestern: Pat Fitzgerald (58-51, ninth season). History: Michigan leads the series 55- 15-2 after last year's 27-19 win in three overtimes in Evanston. Northwestern notes: The Wildcats opened the season 3-2, but have been outscored 110-41 in their last three games — all losses — and 72-7 over the last six quarters … The 31-point halftime deficit they faced last week against Iowa was their biggest in four years … North- western was 6-3 in games decided by 11 points or less in its breakthrough 2012 campaign, but dipped to 1-5 in such contests last year and stands 1-3 so far this year in that situation … Redshirt freshman Anthony Walker has started three of the last five games at middle linebacker. He had an impressive Big Ten debut against Penn State, when he led the team with eight tackles and re- turned an interception 49 yards for a TD … Walker and senior Collin Ellis have combined for 57 tackles, three tackles for loss and two interceptions from the middle linebacker position … Michigan has never before played in Evanston in back-to-back seasons; the Wolverines hold a 19-7 advantage all-time at Ryan Field. GAME FACTS