Seeing triple

Triple option won't baffle Blue

By Josh Kleinbaum
Daily Sports Editor

Wipe the thought from your mind right now. Don't lie, it's there, somewhere deep in your brain, mixed in with random names from the Name Game on the first day of section, room numbers in the MLB and when - gasp! - you're final exam is.

You're worried Michigan is going to have a let-down.

Don't.

DAVID ROCHKIND/Daily Freshman B.J. Askew, seen here making a tackle on special teams last week against Notre Dame, may get a chance to play his usual position at running back tomorrow, assuming Michigan avoids a letdown of colossal proportions.

No, this isn't Notre Dame. No, the Wolverines won't be as emotional as they were a week ago. But they don't need to be.

Lloyd Carr knows it, the Wolverines know it and you should too.

This isn't the Irish, this is the Owls, the one cupcake on Michigan's schedule. The Owls, who lost last week to The Houston School of the Football Challenged, 28-3.

Let down? Short of The Great Michigan Football Collapse of 1999, which would go down in history as the greatest blunders of all-time next to Napoleon invading Asian Russia, Michigan won't lose this game.

A letdown means Michigan only wins by 20. Onto the matchups.

Michigan rushing offense vs. Rice rushing defense:

Last week, Anthony Thomas rushed for 138 yards against an Irish defense that prides itself on stopping the run. So he should rush for 200 easy against Rice, which was ranked 88th in the nation in that category last year, right? Wrong.

It's not that Thomas can't, because he can, especially with the offensive line opening holes. He just won't get the opportunity. After carrying the ball a career-high 32 times last week, most of this game should be a breather for Thomas, a chance to rest his tired legs and gear up for Syracuse next week. So expect sophomore Walter Cross and freshman B.J. Askew to get plenty of playing time.

It won't matter, though. Cross and Askew will get the job done.

Linebacker Don Dawson leads the Rice front seven - he had 15 tackles against Houston - but the Owls will all be doing plenty of chasing throughout the game.

Advantage: Michigan

Michigan passing offense vs. Rice passing defense:

To placate Carr and his alternate quarterback system, here is a quarter-by-quarter breakdown of this matchup.

First quarter: After an impressive game last week, Tom Brady is looking to keep the starting quarterback job, for good, for the whole game. Against Rice, Brady shouldn't have too much of a problem. The Owls were regularly beat in the secondary, allowing over 170 passing yards against a weak Houston team.

Second quarter: After an impressive game last week, Drew Henson is looking to wrestle the starting quarterback job from Brady. Against Rice, Brady shouldn't have too much of a problem. The Owls were regularly beat in the secondary, allowing over 170 passing yards against a weak Houston team.

Third and fourth quarters: Although both Brady and Henson should have impressive first halves, Henson should get the nod for the second half. An opponent like Rice is the perfect opportunity to give the sophomore experience.

Advantage: Michigan

Rice rushing offense versus Michigan rushing defense:

Yes, that was a collective sigh you heard coming from Schembechler Hall earlier this week. And you know what that means, right, boys and girls? That's right, another option team is coming to Ann Arbor.

While Michigan safety Tommy Hendricks says the Owls run the option to the T, neither Jarious Jackson nor Donovan McNabb is at the helm. Instead, it's Chad Richardson, a name that strikes fear into the heart of, well, absolutely nobody.

Rice coach Ken Hatfield will have the Owls running it with precision, but it will be precisely into the arms of Michigan defenders.

Advantage: Michigan

Rice passing offense versus Michigan passing defense:

Last week, Michigan's secondary was lit up like the downtown Detroit on the fourth of July. This week, don't expect it to happen.

Hendricks said the Wolverines' linebackers weren't dropping back enough to adequately cover the pass. Carr was surprised Hendricks would rat out the linebackers. Regardless, the problem should be corrected by this week, and Richardson shouldn't find too many open receivers.

Advantage: Michigan

Michigan special teams versus Rice special teams:

The kicking game was a pleasant surprise for the Wolverines last week, but that doesn't mean it will be again. Question marks abound. How much will Hayden Epstein play, on Rosh Hashannah, no less? Was Jeff Del Verne's four field goals last week a fluke? Was Corey Sargent's spectacular punting a fluke? Will Michigan stay fumblitis-free?

Rice, on the other hand, has no question marks. Most of the key starters on special teams return from last year. Scott Grimes, who will handle the long field goals and kickoffs, hit a 51-yarder last week. Derek Crabtree will kick the short ones. The punting is a little suspect, with a freshman, Travis Hale, handling the duties, but his 44.5 average last week is nothing to slouch about, and far better than his predecessors 32.2 average.

This one's a nailbaiter.

Advantage: Rice

The final score isn't a nailbiter. Michigan sets the tone with two first-quarter touchdowns and doesn't relent.

Michigan 48, Rice 6

09-10-99