Turnovers and other misc UM notes
Last year's University of Michigan defense was reputed for stopping the run. Talk of the Wolverines' D this season frequently turns to takeaways.
Through seven games, the Wolverines rank second nationally behind Cincinnati with 23 takeaways, thirteen of which have come in the past three weeks.
"It's really (about) getting a lot of guys to the ball,'' Michigan senior strong safety Jamar Adams said Monday. "The more guys on the ball, the more the running back's getting hit from different directions and the ball kind of squirts out of there.
"In the passing game, guys are executing their drops a lot better, the defensive line is getting a pass rush where the quarterbacks kind of have to throw the ball up there sometimes.''
And when that happens, the Wolverines are getting interceptions. Eleven, to be precise.
Adams, free safety Brandent Englemon and cornerback Morgan Trent have two apiece. Nickelback Brandon Harrison has one, as does safety Stevie Brown, linebackers John Thompson and Obi Ezeh and defensive end Tim Jamison.
On the fumble front, defensive end Brandon Graham has forced three, while Jamison and linebacker Shawn Crable have forced two each. Cornerback Donovan Warren leads the Wolverines with a pair of fumble recoveries.
"Certainly it's been a big part of our play in the last month,'' Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. "We've not only caused turnovers, we've taken advantage of them offensively by scoring quite a few touchdowns when we get the ball.''
Michigan's next opportunity to increase its takeaway total comes Saturday against Illinois (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten), which has committed 14 turnovers.
Lineup Update
The makeup of the offensive line this week isn't set in stone, but it seems likely that the Steve Schilling at right guard and Mark Ortmann at right tackle combination will continue for a third game.
"You can tell, the more time they get in there with those positions, they get more comfortable,'' Michigan left tackle Jake Long said.
Schilling started the season at right tackle, but switched to right guard when the team's top two players at the position got hurt. Ortmann then came off the bench to move into Schilling's old position.
The line may not revert to its original makeup until starting right guard Alex Mitchell fully recovers from a sprained knee.
"It may be another week (for Mitchell),'' Carr said. "But we're working hard to get him back.''
At middle linebacker, Carr said he expected middle linebacker Thompson (ankle) to be at full strength. Ezeh, who has started the last three games at the position, is still listed as the starter.
Carr added that he hopes backup weakside linebacker Brandon Logan will return to action this week.
Back to the night
For the first time this season, and the first time since the Penn State game last year, the Wolverines will play at night. Michigan, which is 21-10 overall in night games, beat the Nittany Lions 17-10 in 2006.
"One of the great environments I've ever been in, in college football, was at Penn State,'' Carr said. "There was an electricity there because of a lot of things.
"I think the same thing will happen this week. It is a game where you know there's a lot on the line because of the season.''
Michigan has played Illinois after dark only once, beating the Fighting Illini 35-31 in 2000.
Minnesota game time
Michigan's Oct. 27 home game against Minnesota is set for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff. It will be broadcast by ESPN Classic.