Michigan Football Preview 2017

2017 Michigan Football Preview

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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128 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY RYAN TICE Eleventh-year head coach Troy Calhoun has led Air Force to nine bowl games during his first decade on the job. The Falcons have averaged 7.7 wins during that span and most recently enjoyed a pair of 10-win campaigns sandwiched around an 8-6 season in 2015, when they won the Mountain West Confer- ence's Mountain Division. It's exactly what the school envisioned when it hired the former Academy quarter- back from his NFL offensive coordinator gig to take over for his college coach, Fisher DeBerry, after 23 years at the helm. The 2016 season featured a midseason rough patch for Calhoun's Falcons, but then quarterback Arion Worthman, now a junior, stepped into the lineup to rev the Air Force offense back up — although it wasn't through the air. Thanks to a heavy dose of Worthman runs, the Falcons pulled out of a tailspin that fea- tured three straight losses — including a dou- ble-overtime defeat at home to Hawai'i — to drop them to 4-3 before winning six straight to close the year with the youngster under center. Worthman actually came off the bench in his first significant action to break the los- ing streak, after senior captain Nate Romine (who is back for a fifth year this season) was injured. Worthman didn't even throw a pass in the 31-21 win at Fresno State, but he did rush 20 times for 102 yards and two touchdowns. On the year, Worthman never attempted more than 10 passes in a game, while he averaged 21.7 rushes and 112.3 yards on the ground per contest during the year-ending winning streak. Athlon noted that no sig- nal-caller under Calhoun had ever averaged more than 15 carries per game — so it's relatively new territory for the veteran coach. Romine was a sub-50 percent passer (41.7), but led the squad with 1,206 passing yards and 10 touchdowns against four inter- ceptions. Meanwhile, Worthman completed 23 of 39 attempts (59.0 percent) for 546 yards with four scores and two picks. The loss of offensive line coach Clay Hendrix, now the head coach at Furman, is significant, but the front line benefits from three return- ing starters in their final year of eligibility. Senior running back Tim McVey, the top re- turning rusher and receiver, should play a capable Robin to Worthman's Batman. McVey wasn't the top ground gainer last year, but he did lead the team with an average of 8.5 yards per carry and 10 rushing touchdowns, while losing just 12 yards on 83 totes. Through the air, he snared eight passes to tie for second on the team and tallied 193 receiving yards and two TD grabs. He's also a dangerous kickoff returner, averaging 26.3 yards (third in the Mountain West) on 17 runbacks, including a 99-yard touchdown. While some encouraging pieces return to the offense, the defense boasts just one re- turning starter and gives the Falcons just seven on offense and defense, which ranks second to last nationally, above only Michi- gan (five) according to Phil Steele's numbers. Senior linebacker Grant Ross is the lone returning starter on the unit, and he finished third on the team with 67 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks (third). He also forced a fumble and recovered a loose ball, and is the only returner from the top 13 leading tacklers in 2016. Sophomore nose guard Mosese Fifita could be the program's first-ever 300-pounder, but the coaches want him to play at closer to 290. Senior tackle Santo Coppola, a two- game starter in 2016, is the most productive returner up front after logging 28 tackles, including two sacks, a year ago. Senior Luke Strebel made 22 of 25 kicks last year, including 5 of 6 from 40-49 yards, while posting touchbacks on 45 of his 88 kickoffs. He also had four special teams tackles and will be adding even more to his plate this year — he's expected to become the team's starting punter. He is 32 of 36 on field goals in his career, having also kicked in the last eight games of the 2015 campaign. A triple-option attack like Air Force employs running the ball heavily (though they will also do other things) and is never easy to prepare for. The Falcons will enjoy a bye before traveling to Michigan Stadium, but the personnel turn- over will likely make it tough for them to even compete in the Mountain West this year, let alone in the unforgiving Big House. Notes Both coordinators have been in place for an extended period under Calhoun — offensive coordinator Mike Thiessen enters his eighth year as at least a co-coordinator (and has been at the school since 2007), while defensive boss Steve Russ enters year six … Both also played football at Air Force … In 2016, the Falcons finished No. 3 nationally in rushing offense (317.4 yards per game) and ranked 10th in rushing defense (114.2). ❏ Falcons Look To Follow 10-Win Season With Another Strong Year 2017 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2016 Result Sept. 2 VMI — Sept. 16 at Michigan — Sept. 23 San Diego State — Sept. 30 at New Mexico L, 45-40 Oct. 7 at Navy W, 28-14 Oct. 14 UNLV — Oct. 20 at Nevada — Oct. 28 at Colorado State W, 49-46 Nov. 4 Army W, 31-12 Nov. 11 Wyoming L, 35-26 Nov. 18 at Boise State W, 27-20 Nov. 25 Utah State W, 27-20 PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: Tim McVey, Sr., RB — During his first year of playing on the varsity in 2015, he ran for 441 yards and nine touchdown on 53 totes (8.3-yard average), while catching 10 passes for 307 yards and four scores … Last year, he to - taled 901 yards and 12 touchdowns from scrimmage … In his career, the 5-9, 190-pounder averages 8.5 yards per rush and 27.8 yards per reception. Defense: Grant Ross, Sr., LB — Leads all players with 130 career tack - les, 10.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, nine passes broken up and two forced fumbles … In consecutive games against Utah State, Navy and Wyoming, he reached double-digit tackles, totaling 31 in the three con - tests … Despite missing two full contests, he ranked 28th in the Mountain West with an average of 6.1 stops per game. Air Force averaged 38.6 points in junior quarterback Arion Worth- man's five starts last year. PHOTO BY TEAM DMI/COURTESY AIR FORCE GAME 3 • AIR FORCE FALCONS • SEPT. 16 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: U-M leads 2-0 First Meeting: U-M 24, Air Force 7 (Sept. 26, 1964, at Ann Arbor) Last Meeting: U-M 31, Air Force 25 (Sept. 8, 2012, at Ann Arbor) Head Coach: Troy Calhoun, 77-53 at Air Force and overall (11th year) 2016 In Review: 10-3 overall, 5-3 Mountain West (4th Mountain) Final 2016 Ranking: Received votes in both Associ - ated Press and coaches' polls Returning Starters: 8 (6 offense, 1 defense, 1 spe- cialist) Last Bowl Appearance: 2016 (Nova Home Loans Arizona, vs. South Alabama, W 45-21) Conference Championships (last): 3 (1998, WAC) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Nate Romine (1,206 yards, 10 TD, 4 INT) Rushing: Tim McVey (708 yards, 10 TD) Receiving: Tim McVey (193 yards, 2 TD) Tackles: Grant Ross (67) Sacks: Grant Ross (2.5) Interceptions: None

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