Setting the Stage: Michigan

Colorado State (0-0) at No. 6 Michigan (0-0)
Michigan Stadium | Ann Arbor, Mich.
Saturday, Sept. 3, 10 a.m.

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FORT COLLINS, Colo. – A season ago, Michigan ranked in the top 30 of just about every category where a team wants to rank high.

Topping it all off was scoring defense, where the Wolverines ranked eighth on their march to the College Football Playoff, sitting 27^th in rush and pass defense. The only area Michigan skirted below the top 50 was in pass offense, yet it still ranked 16^th in scoring offense.

There is no easing into the season for Colorado State, and defensive end C.J. Onyechi is more than fine with the matchup.

"I love this, honestly. At the end of the day, we're playing against the best of the best," Onyechi said. "We need that experience as we go on in the season. I want other teams in our conference and the other out-of-conference teams to watch us play a Big 10 team like that and be like, 'wow, they ain't no joke. We can't go into that game lightly.' I think this is a great opportunity to show that."

First-year coach Jay Norvell likes that mindset. As Wednesday hit, the final day he met with the media, he talked about his squad having no problem getting over the hump and closing in their first road trip together.

There are some questions for him, this being a new team has yet to coach. He and his staff have put the team through a number of scenarios and situations, and while they've reacted well in practice, games are a different beast. His true read will come on Saturday.

Still, it's a good feeling knowing his team is in the right head space.

"Absolutely. You really have to start to get your mind prepared for the challenge ahead, and we're going on the road, and going on the road is a little different," he said. "We're a smaller group; we really rely on each other. Then it's just having the right mindset for 60 minutes, so we start talking about that and I think our guys are starting to feel the game coming closer."

The Rams have not faced a ranked team to open the season since 2003 when they played Colorado in Denver, and that was the last game of a six-year stretch when the program had done so. The majority of those meetings were against CU, with Virginia and thrown in once and a 1998 Michigan State showdown starting the run.

The Rams were 4-2 in those games, all under former coach Sonny Lubick, taking two on the road at Michigan State and Virginia. But this is the biggest of those tests, as Michigan is the first top-10 team the Rams will face in a season opener.

"There's no doubt. It's a measuring stick," Norvell said. "They're one of the top programs in the country, and that's something we want to be, so we want to measure ourselves against the best and see where we stand. We'll get our opportunity on Saturday."

On the Run

Hassan Haskins fueled the Michigan run game a year ago, rushing for 1,327 yards and scoring 20 touchdowns, averaging 94.8 yards per game. He's gone, but Blake Corum returns after picking up 952 yards and scoring 11 times as the main reserve. It all happened behind a strong front, one the Rams will have to contend with this weekend.

This is akin to a final on syllabus day, but Onyechi said his group shouldn't view the Wolverine front as an immovable object.

"I'm definitely ready for our D-line to go up against the best of the best," he said. "Apparently, this O-line won the best O-line in college football last year, so we're ready for this challenge.

"It's along the lines of there is no need to look at them like they're some super-human type of people. They strap up their boots just like us. We just have to know our assignments, know our keys and get ready to play big-boy ball. That's what it's all about."

Coming over from Rutgers, he's seen these types of units before – big and strong – and leading a run-heavy attack. Norvell said CSU has depth at the position and is a group they consider a strength. He added it's been a physical camp for the team, but the key will be they have to stand up to the test for all 60 minutes.

If the Rams can do that, Onyechi feels the CSU defense can create pressure in the passing game and take advantage of some things.

"I think this is actually a great test against them, because they're a predominant run team and I feel like if we shut that down and get them to pass, we can control the rest of the game," he said. "I feel like with our pass rush and our third-down package, it's set, so whenever they throw the ball, we're ready for it. I trust our back seven, so I know they're going to take care of it."

Moving the Chains and More

The Air Raid prides itself on being explosive, something the fan base has been anticipating for some time. The Rams ranked 71^st last season in plays of 10 yards or more. They only had eight pass plays of 40 yards on longer, and the best rush was a 69-yarder by Trey McBride on a fake punt.

Hearing about the change was exciting. Learning it even more so. Now, the Rams are ready to put it on display.

"Just hearing it at first, I was like, OK, this is going to be cool. Then actually being in it and living it, it's more of wow, I really can't wait to put it on the field," wideout Ty McCulloch said. "I can't wait to actually see the product we've been working so hard on actually flourish in a way we'll see Saturday and the Saturdays to come. I think the staff and the rest of the players are excited.

"I do believe we're going to see a lot more explosive plays this year. Sadly, we didn't do that much last year, but this offense definitely premiers that, and this offense will showcase our talents."

As good as Michigan's defense is expected to be, that doesn't alter Norvell's approach to calling the game. The offense is built on making big plays, and the Rams will need to hit a few. They'll also have to expect Michigan will as well, so the Rams will have to respond and move to the next play.

Either way, Norvell isn't leaving Ann Arbor with spare ammo.

"They don't give up a lot of big plays, so we're just going to have to keep taking our shots," Norvell said. "They're going to make some, we're going to make some, but we've got to make our share. We've got to walk out of that stadium having fired our shots. We don't want to save any bullets for anything. That's our mindset and the way we want to play, so we're prepared to do that."

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